UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-Q


 

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

 

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2017

 

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: 001- 36405

 


 

FARMLAND PARTNERS INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 


 

Maryland

 

46-3769850

(State of Organization)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

 

 

4600 South Syracuse Street, Suite 1450

Denver, Colorado

 

80237-2766

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

(720) 452-3100

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)


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   ☐ No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files).   ☒  Yes   ☐  No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large Accelerated Filer

 

Accelerated Filer

 

 

 

 

 

Non-Accelerated Filer

☐  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

Smaller reporting company

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☒

 

If emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☒

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).   ☐  Yes   ☒  No

 

As of July 14, 2017, 32,947,972 shares of the Registrant’s common stock were outstanding.

 

 

 


 

Farmland Partners Inc.

 

FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED

June 30, 2017

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION  

 

Page

 

 

 

 

Item 1.  

Financial Statements

 

 

 

Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (unaudited)

 

3

 

Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 (unaudited)

 

4

 

Statements of Changes in Equity for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 (unaudited)

 

5

 

Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 (unaudited)

 

6

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

7

Item 2.  

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

 

30

Item 3.  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

51

Item 4.  

Controls and Procedures

 

51

 

 

 

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION  

 

51

 

 

 

 

Item 1.  

Legal Proceedings

 

51

Item 1A.  

Risk Factors

 

51

Item 2.  

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

52

Item 3.  

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

52

Item 4.  

Mine Safety Disclosures

 

52

Item 5.  

Other Information

 

52

Item 6.  

Exhibits

 

52

 

 

2


 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016

(Unaudited)

(in thousands except par value and share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30,

 

December 31,

 

    

2017

    

2016

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Land, at cost

 

$

834,953

 

$

551,392

Grain facilities

 

 

8,489

 

 

6,856

Groundwater

 

 

12,072

 

 

11,933

Irrigation improvements

 

 

46,011

 

 

15,988

Drainage improvements

 

 

7,740

 

 

4,757

Permanent plantings

 

 

51,663

 

 

1,845

Other

 

 

6,608

 

 

2,901

Construction in progress

 

 

9,357

 

 

1,615

Real estate, at cost

 

 

976,893

 

 

597,287

Less accumulated depreciation

 

 

(6,419)

 

 

(3,224)

Total real estate, net

 

 

970,474

 

 

594,063

Deposits

 

 

99

 

 

5,721

Cash

 

 

29,422

 

 

47,166

Notes and interest receivable, net

 

 

5,960

 

 

2,843

Deferred offering costs

 

 

326

 

 

216

Deferred financing fees, net

 

 

391

 

 

 —

Accounts receivable, net

 

 

3,293

 

 

4,181

Inventory

 

 

75

 

 

283

Prepaid and other assets

 

 

2,979

 

 

1,056

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

1,013,019

 

$

655,529

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage notes, line of credit and bonds payable, net

 

$

485,400

 

$

308,779

Dividends and distributions payable

 

 

4,998

 

 

2,938

Accrued interest

 

 

3,079

 

 

1,538

Accrued property taxes

 

 

1,574

 

 

1,225

Deferred revenue (See Note 2)

 

 

9,328

 

 

982

Accrued expenses

 

 

3,823

 

 

4,558

Total liabilities

 

 

508,202

 

 

320,020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redeemable non-controlling interests in operating partnership, preferred units

 

 

118,755

 

 

119,915

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized; 32,829,338 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2017, and 17,351,446 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2016

 

 

324

 

 

172

Additional paid in capital

 

 

342,891

 

 

172,100

Retained earnings

 

 

2,408

 

 

4,103

Cumulative dividends

 

 

(22,796)

 

 

(14,473)

Non-controlling interests in operating partnership

 

 

63,235

 

 

53,692

Total equity

 

 

386,062

 

 

215,594

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS IN OPERATING PARTNERSHIP AND EQUITY

 

$

1,013,019

 

$

655,529

 

See accompanying notes.

3


 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016

(Unaudited)

(in thousands except per share amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended

 

For the Six Months Ended

 

 

June 30,

 

June 30,

 

    

2017

    

2016

    

2017

    

2016

OPERATING REVENUES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rental income (See Note 2)

 

$

10,471

 

$

5,881

 

$

17,274

 

$

10,298

Tenant reimbursements

 

 

652

 

 

95

 

 

756

 

 

164

Other revenue

 

 

337

 

 

55

 

 

579

 

 

261

Total operating revenues

 

 

11,460

 

 

6,031

 

 

18,609

 

 

10,723

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

 

2,056

 

 

365

 

 

3,544

 

 

683

Property operating expenses

 

 

1,196

 

 

541

 

 

2,999

 

 

981

Acquisition and due diligence costs

 

 

183

 

 

48

 

 

698

 

 

105

General and administrative expenses

 

 

2,052

 

 

1,657

 

 

4,133

 

 

3,183

Legal and accounting

 

 

302

 

 

186

 

 

701

 

 

552

Other operating expenses

 

 

120

 

 

 —

 

 

276

 

 

89

Total operating expenses

 

 

5,909

 

 

2,797

 

 

12,351

 

 

5,593

OPERATING INCOME

 

 

5,551

 

 

3,234

 

 

6,258

 

 

5,130

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income

 

 

(16)

 

 

(33)

 

 

(22)

 

 

(62)

Loss on disposition of assets

 

 

92

 

 

 —

 

 

92

 

 

 —

Interest expense

 

 

3,454

 

 

1,950

 

 

6,169

 

 

5,804

Total other expense

 

 

3,530

 

 

1,917

 

 

6,239

 

 

5,742

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS)

 

 

2,021

 

 

1,317

 

 

19

 

 

(612)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests in operating partnership

 

 

(334)

 

 

(408)

 

 

41

 

 

67

Net (income) loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests in operating partnership

 

 

 —

 

 

(37)

 

 

 —

 

 

64

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to the Company

 

 

1,687

 

 

872

 

 

60

 

 

(481)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nonforfeitable distributions allocated to unvested restricted shares

 

 

(37)

 

 

(23)

 

 

(80)

 

 

(53)

Distributions on redeemable non-controlling interests in operating partnership, common units

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(113)

Distributions on redeemable non-controlling interests in operating partnership, preferred units

 

 

(878)

 

 

(887)

 

 

(1,755)

 

 

(1,170)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) available to common stockholders of Farmland Partners Inc.

 

$

772

 

$

(38)

 

$

(1,775)

 

$

(1,817)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted per common share data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic net income (loss) available to common stockholders

 

$

0.02

 

$

0.00

 

$

(0.06)

 

$

(0.15)

Diluted net income (loss) available to common stockholders

 

$

0.02

 

$

0.00

 

$

(0.06)

 

$

(0.15)

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

 

 

32,457

 

 

12,452

 

 

29,594

 

 

12,146

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

 

 

32,457

 

 

12,452

 

 

29,594

 

 

12,146

Dividends declared per common share

 

$

0.1275

 

$

0.1275

 

$

0.2550

 

$

0.2550

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

 

4


 

 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

For the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non‑controlling

 

 

 

 

    

 

    

 

 

    

Additional

    

Retained

    

 

    

Interests in

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paid-in

 

Earnings

 

Cumulative

 

Operating

 

Total

 

    

Shares

    

Par Value

    

Capital

    

(Deficit)

    

Dividends

    

Partnership

    

Equity

Balance at December 31, 2015

 

11,979

 

$

118

 

$

114,783

 

$

659

 

$

(7,188)

 

$

30,162

 

$

138,534

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(481)

 

 

 —

 

 

(67)

 

 

(548)

Grant of unvested restricted stock

 

109

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

Issuance of stock under the at-the-market offering, net of costs of $81

 

697

 

 

 8

 

 

7,592

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

7,600

Conversion of OP units to shares of common stock

 

428

 

 

 4

 

 

4,183

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(4,187)

 

 

 —

Stock based compensation

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

558

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

558

Dividends and distributions accrued or paid

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(1,170)

 

 

 —

 

 

(3,282)

 

 

(1,509)

 

 

(5,961)

Issuance of OP units as partial consideration for asset acquisition

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

28,825

 

 

28,825

Reclassification of common units from mezzanine equity

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

9,518

 

 

9,518

Forfeiture of unvested restricted stock

 

(4)

 

 

 —

 

 

(1)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(1)

Adjustments to non-controlling interests resulting from changes in ownership of operating partnership

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

4,193

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(4,193)

 

 

 —

Balance at June 30, 2016

 

13,209

 

$

130

 

$

130,138

 

$

178

 

$

(10,470)

 

$

58,549

 

$

178,525

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2016

 

17,351

 

 

172

 

 

172,100

 

 

4,103

 

 

(14,473)

 

 

53,692

 

 

215,594

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

60

 

 

 —

 

 

(41)

 

 

19

Grant of unvested restricted stock

 

206

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

Costs incurred related to the at-the-market offering

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(104)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(104)

Conversion of OP units to shares of common stock

 

457

 

 

 4

 

 

4,491

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(4,495)

 

 

 —

Stock based compensation

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

788

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

788

Dividends and distributions accrued or paid

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(1,755)

 

 

(8,323)

 

 

(1,666)

 

 

(11,744)

Issuance of common stock as partial consideration for asset acquisition and business combination

 

14,815

 

 

148

 

 

168,835

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

168,983

Issuance of OP units as partial consideration for business combination

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

2,493

 

 

2,493

Issuance of OP units as partial consideration for asset acquisitions

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

10,033

 

 

10,033

Adjustments to non-controlling interests resulting from changes in ownership of operating partnership

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(3,219)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

3,219

 

 

 —

Balance at June 30, 2017

 

32,829

 

$

324

 

$

342,891

 

$

2,408

 

$

(22,796)

 

$

63,235

 

$

386,062

 

See accompanying notes.

 

 

 

5


 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Six Months Ended

 

 

June 30,

 

    

2017

    

2016

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

19

 

$

(612)

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and depletion and other amortization

 

 

3,544

 

 

683

Amortization of deferred financing fees and discounts/premiums on debt

 

 

103

 

 

204

Amortization of net origination fees related to notes receivable

 

 

(5)

 

 

(4)

Amortization of below market leases

 

 

 —

 

 

53

Stock based compensation

 

 

788

 

 

558

Loss on disposition of assets

 

 

92

 

 

 —

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable

 

 

1,785

 

 

(1,248)

Increase in interest receivable

 

 

(10)

 

 

(49)

Increase in other assets

 

 

(492)

 

 

(170)

Decrease (increase) in inventory

 

 

306

 

 

(142)

Increase in accrued interest

 

 

1,541

 

 

796

Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses

 

 

(14,256)

 

 

978

Increase in deferred revenue

 

 

4,508

 

 

3,860

Increase in accrued property taxes

 

 

367

 

 

56

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

 

 

(1,710)

 

 

4,963

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Real estate acquisitions, net of cash acquired

 

 

(91,675)

 

 

(105,568)

Real estate and other improvements

 

 

(11,270)

 

 

(3,708)

Principal receipts on notes receivable

 

 

 —

 

 

50

Issuance of notes receivable

 

 

(3,101)

 

 

 —

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(106,046)

 

 

(109,226)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Borrowings from mortgage notes payable and lines of credit

 

 

101,790

 

 

195,685

Repayments on mortgage notes payable

 

 

 —

 

 

(84,750)

Proceeds from ATM offering

 

 

 —

 

 

7,681

Payment of offering costs

 

 

(274)

 

 

(52)

Payment of debt issuance costs

 

 

(659)

 

 

(887)

Dividends on common stock

 

 

(6,350)

 

 

(3,121)

Dividends on preferred stock

 

 

(2,915)

 

 

 —

Distributions to non-controlling interests in operating partnership

 

 

(1,580)

 

 

(1,343)

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

 

90,012

 

 

113,213

NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH

 

 

(17,744)

 

 

8,950

CASH, BEGINNING OF PERIOD

 

 

47,166

 

 

23,514

CASH, END OF PERIOD

 

$

29,422

 

$

32,464

Cash paid during period for interest

 

$

4,712

 

$

4,804

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING TRANSACTIONS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividend payable, common stock

 

$

4,186

 

$

1,688

Distributions payable, common units

 

$

812

 

$

811

Distributions payable, preferred units

 

$

1,755

 

$

1,170

Additions to real estate improvements included in accrued expenses

 

$

1,286

 

$

15

Financing fees included in accrued expenses

 

$

104

 

$

38

Issuance of common stock and equity from non-controlling interests in operating partnership in conjunction with acquisitions

 

$

181,510

 

$

145,826

Deferred offering costs recorded through equity in the period

 

$

104

 

$

 —

Below market lease acquisitions

 

$

 —

 

$

29

Real estate acquisition costs included in accrued expenses

 

$

 1

 

$

35

Offering costs included in accrued expenses

 

$

31

 

$

 —

See accompanying notes.

 

6


 

Note 1—Organization and Significant Accounting Policie s

 

Organization

 

Farmland Partners Inc., collectively with its subsidiaries (the “Company”), is an internally managed real estate company that owns and seeks to acquire high-quality farmland located in agricultural markets throughout North America. The Company was incorporated in Maryland on September 27, 2013. The Company is the sole member of the general partner of Farmland Partners Operating Partnership, LP (the “Operating Partnership”), which was formed in Delaware on September 27, 2013. As of June 30, 2017, the Company owned a portfolio of approximately 154,165 acres which are consolidated in these financial statements. All of the Company’s assets are held by, and its operations are primarily conducted through, the Operating Partnership and the wholly owned subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership. As of June 30, 2017, the Company owned a 83.7% interest in the Operating Partnership (see “Note 9—Stockholders’ Equity and Non-controlling Interests” for additional discussion regarding Class A common units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership (“OP units”) and Series A preferred units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership (“Preferred units”)). Unlike holders of our common stock, holders of OP units and Preferred units do not have voting rights or the power to direct our affairs.

 

The Company elected  to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”), under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), commencing with its short taxable year ended December 31, 2014.

 

On March 16, 2015, the Company formed FPI Agribusiness Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary (the “TRS” or “FPI Agribusiness”), as a taxable REIT subsidiary.  The TRS was formed to provide volume purchasing services to the Company’s tenants and also to operate a small scale custom farming business. As of June 30, 2017, the TRS performs these custom farming operations on 716 acres of farmland owned by the Company and located in Florida and California. 

  

AFCO Mergers

 

On February 2, 2017, the Company completed the previously announced merger with American Farmland Company (“AFCO”) at which time one of the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries was merged with and into American Farmland Company L.P. (“AFCO OP”) with AFCO OP surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership (the “Partnership Merger”), and AFCO merged with and into another one of our wholly owned subsidiaries with such wholly owned subsidiary surviving (the “Company Merger” and together with the Partnership Merger, the “AFCO Mergers”). 

 

At the effective time of the Company Merger, each share of common stock of AFCO, par value $0.01 per share (“AFCO Common Stock”), issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Company Merger (other than any shares of AFCO Common Stock owned by any wholly owned subsidiary of AFCO or by the Company or the Operating Partnership or any wholly owned subsidiary of the Company or the Operating Partnership), was automatically converted into the right to receive, subject to certain adjustments, 0.7417 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Company Merger Consideration”). In addition, in connection with the Company Merger, each outstanding AFCO restricted stock unit that had become fully earned and vested in accordance with its terms was, at the effective time of the Company Merger, converted into the right to receive the Company Merger Consideration. The Company issued 14,763,604 shares of its common stock as consideration in the Company Merger, 17,373 shares of its common stock in respect of fully earned and vested AFCO restricted stock units, and 218,525 OP units in connection with the Partnership Merger at a share price of $11.41 per share on the date of the merger for a total consideration of $171.1 million, net of $75.0 million in assumed debt.

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements for the periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 are presented on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of the Company and the Operating Partnership. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. 

 

7


 

Interim Financial Information

 

The information in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 is unaudited.  The accompanying financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 include adjustments based on management’s estimates (consisting of normal and recurring accruals), which the Company considers necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods.  The financial information should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, which the Company filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 23, 2017.  Operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of actual operating results for the entire year ending December 31, 2017.

 

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial statements.  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations.

 

During the second quarter of 2017, the Company identified and recorded an out-of-period adjustment related to tenant reimbursement revenue that should have been recorded in the first quarter of 2017. The Company concluded that this adjustment was not material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the periods impacted. The adjustment is reflected as a $0.2 million increase in tenant reimbursement revenue in the consolidated statements of income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 with a corresponding increase to accounts receivable in the consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2017.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from previously estimated amounts, and such differences may be material to our consolidated financial statements.

 

Real Estate Acquisitions  

   

When the Company acquires farmland where substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets it is not considered a business. As such, the Company accounts for these types of acquisitions as asset acquisitions. When substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is not concentrated in a single identifiable assets or a group or similar assets and contains acquired inputs, processes and outputs, these acquisitions are accounted for as a business combination.

 

The Company considers single identifiable assets as tangible assets that are attached to and cannot be physically removed and used separately from another tangible asset without incurring significant cost or significant diminution in utility or fair value. The Company considers similar assets as assets that have a similar nature and risk characteristics.

 

Whether our acquisitions are treated as an asset acquisition under ASC 360 or a business combination under ASC 805, the fair value of the purchase price is allocated among the assets acquired and any liabilities assumed by valuing the property as if it was vacant.  The “as-if-vacant” value is allocated to land, buildings, improvements, permanent plantings and any liabilities, based on management’s determination of the relative fair values of such assets and liabilities as of the date of acquisition.

   

Upon acquisition of real estate, the Company allocates the purchase price of the real estate based upon the fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired, which historically have consisted of land, drainage improvements, irrigation improvements, groundwater, permanent plantings (bushes, shrubs, vines, and perennial crops), and grain facilities, and may also consist of intangible assets including in-place leases, above market and below market leases, and tenant relationships. The Company allocates the purchase price to the fair value of the tangible assets by valuing the land as if it

8


 

were unimproved. The Company values improvements, including permanent plantings and grain facilities, at replacement cost, adjusted for depreciation.

   

Management’s estimates of land value are made using a comparable sales analysis. Factors considered by management in its analysis of land value include soil types and water availability and the sales prices of comparable farms. Management’s estimates of groundwater value are made using historical information obtained regarding the applicable aquifer.  Factors considered by management in its analysis of groundwater value are related to the location of the aquifer and whether or not the aquifer is a depletable resource or a replenishing resource.  If the aquifer is a replenishing resource, no value is allocated to the groundwater.  The Company includes an estimate of property taxes in the purchase price allocation of acquisitions to account for the expected liability that was assumed. 

   

When above or below market leases are acquired, the Company values the intangible assets based on the present value of the difference between prevailing market rates and the in-place rates measured over a period equal to the remaining term of the lease for above market leases and the initial term plus the term of any below market fixed rate renewal options for below market leases that are considered bargain renewal options. The above market lease values are amortized as a reduction of rental income over the remaining term of the respective leases. The fair value of acquired below market leases, included in deferred revenue on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, is amortized as an increase to rental income on a straight-line basis over the remaining non-cancelable terms of the respective leases, plus the terms of any below market fixed rate renewal options that are considered bargain renewal options of the respective leases. As of June 30, 2016, all below market leases had been fully amortized, with amortization totaling $0.1 million recorded in the six months ended June 30, 2016. As of December 31, 2016, all below market leases had been fully amortized. There were no above market leases in place during the six months ended June 30, 2017 or the year ended December 31, 2016.

   

As of June 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company had $1.1 million and $0 respectively recorded for in-place lease or tenant relationship intangibles. The purchase price is allocated to in-place lease values and tenant relationships, if they are acquired, based on the Company’s evaluation of the specific characteristics of each tenant’s lease, availability of replacement tenants, probability of lease renewal, estimated down time, and its overall relationship with the tenant. The value of in-place lease intangibles and tenant relationships will be included as an intangible asset and will be amortized over the remaining lease term (including expected renewal periods of the respective leases for tenant relationships) as amortization expense. If a tenant terminates its lease prior to its stated expiration, any unamortized amounts relating to that lease, including (i) above and below market leases, (ii) in-place lease values, and (iii) tenant relationships, would be recorded to revenue or expense as appropriate.

   

The Company capitalizes acquisition costs and due diligence costs if the asset is expected to qualify as an asset acquisition. If the asset acquisition is abandoned, the capitalized asset acquisition costs will be expensed to acquisition and due diligence costs in the period of abandonment. Costs associated with a business combination are expensed to acquisition and due diligence costs as incurred.

   

Total consideration for acquisitions may include a combination of cash and equity securities.  When equity securities are issued, we determine the fair value of the equity securities issued based on the number of shares of common stock and OP units issued multiplied by the stock price on the date of closing in the case of common stock and OP units and by liquidation preference in the case of preferred units.

   

Using information available at the time of business combination, the Company allocates the total consideration to tangible assets and liabilities and identified intangible assets and liabilities.  During the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may adjust the preliminary purchase price allocations after obtaining more information about assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition.  

 

Inventory

 

The costs of growing crops are accumulated until the time of harvest at the lower of cost or market value and are included in inventory in the consolidated balance sheets. Costs are allocated to growing crops based on a percentage of the total costs of production and total operating costs that are attributable to the portion of the crops that remain in inventory at the end of the period. The costs of growing crops incurred by FPI Agribusiness consist primarily of costs related to land

9


 

preparation, cultivation, irrigation and fertilization. Growing crop inventory is charged to cost of products sold when the related crop is harvested and sold. The cost of harvested crop was $0.1 million and $0. 3 million, respectively, as of June 30, 2017 and 2016.

 

Harvested crop inventory includes costs accumulated during both the growing and harvesting phases.  Growing crop inventory includes costs accumulated during the current crop year for crops which have not been harvested. Both harvested and growing crop are stated at the lower of cost or the estimated net realizable value, which is the market price, based upon the nearest market in the geographic region, less any cost of disposition.  Cost of disposition includes brokers’ commissions, freight and other marketing costs.  

 

Other inventory, such as fertilizer and pesticides, is valued at the lower of cost or market.

 

As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, inventory consisted of the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

    

June 30, 2017

 

December 31, 2016

Harvested crop

 

$

75

 

$

283

 

 

$

75

 

$

283

 

New or Revised Accounting Standards  

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09,  Revenue from Contracts with Customers: (Topic 606)   (“ASU 2014-09”) . ASU 2014-09 amends the guidance for revenue recognition to replace numerous, industry-specific requirements and converges areas under this topic with those of the International Financial Reporting Standards. ASU 2014-09 implements a five-step process for customer contract revenue recognition that focuses on transfer of control, as opposed to transfer of risk and rewards. The amendment also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenues and cash flows from contracts with customers. Other major provisions include the capitalization and amortization of certain contract costs, ensuring the time value of money is considered in the transaction price, and allowing estimates of variable consideration to be recognized before contingencies are resolved in certain circumstances. While the Company is still completing its assessment of the impact of this guidance, it does not believe that it will have a material impact on the financial statements as the majority of the Company’s contracts with customers relate to leases that fall within the scope of ASU 2016-02 (see below). Other contract types undergoing evaluation are considered ancillary to the Company’s operations and financial statements. The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We are currently assessing the impact of ASU 2014-09, as amended; however, the majority of our revenue is from net-lease agreements which will be in the scope of the leasing standard as described below.    

   

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11,  Inventory (Topic 330) . The amendments require that an entity should measure inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated sales price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The amendments should be applied prospectively with earlier application permitted as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. The Company has adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2017 and there has been no impact on the financial results of the Company.

   

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases:  (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”),   which sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both parties to a contract (i.e. lessees and lessors).  The new standard requires lessees to apply a dual approach, classifying leases as either finance or operating leases based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase by the lessee.  This classification will determine whether lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest method or on a straight line basis over the term of the lease, respectively.  A lessee is also required to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term of greater than 12 months regardless of their classification.  Leases with a term of 12 months or less will be accounted for similar to existing guidance for operating leases today. The new standard requires lessors to account for leases using an approach that is substantially equivalent to existing guidance for sales-type leases, direct financing leases and operating leases.  While the Company is still completing its assessment of the impact of this guidance, the following is anticipated to reflect the primary effects of this guidance on the accounting and reporting:

10


 

 

(i)

For leases in which the Company is the lessee, the Company does not expect the guidance to have a material impact as there are only three operating leases for office space and for subleased property in Nebraska. Two of these leases have terms less than 12 months and the Company will elect not to apply the recognition requirements of ASU 2016-02. The Company will record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for the third lease that has a term greater than 12 months, but the Company does not expect it to have a  significant impact on the consolidated financial statements;

 

(ii)

For leases in which the Company is the lessor, the Company does not expect there to be a material impact as the majority of the Company’s leases do not contain a non-lease component. While the Company is expecting there to be other ancillary impacts for leases in which the Company is the lessor, they are not expected to be material to the consolidated financial statements. Under the new guidance lease procurement costs which were previously capitalized will be expensed as incurred. Lastly, under the new guidance, there are certain circumstances in which buyer-lessors in sale and leaseback transactions could potentially result in recording the transaction as a financial receivable if such transaction fails sale and leaseback criteria, which the Company is still evaluating.

 

The standard is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with modified retrospective restatement for each reporting period presented at the time of adoption. Early adoption is permitted. The Company has not yet determined whether this guidance will be early adopted.

   

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (“ASU 2016-15”).  ASU 2016-15 is intended to reduce diversity in practice across all industries.  The amendments in this update provide guidance on the following eight specific cash flow issues: 1) Debt Prepayment or Debt Extinguishment Costs; 2) Settlement of Zero-Coupon Debt Instruments or Other Debt Instruments with Coupon Interest Rates That Are Insignificant in Relation to the Effective Interest Rate of the Borrowing; 3) Contingent Consideration Payments Made after a Business Combination; 4) Proceeds from the Settlement of Insurance Claims; 5) Proceeds from the Settlement of Corporate-Owned Life Insurance Policies, including Bank-Owned Life Insurance Policies; 6) Distributions Received from Equity Method Investees; 7) Beneficial Interests in Securitization Transactions; and 8) Separately Identifiable Cash Flows and Application of the Predominance Principle.  ASU 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years and retrospective restatement is required.  Early adoption is permitted.  The Company is currently evaluating the requirements of ASU 2016-15 and does not anticipate a material impact on our statement of cash flows.      

   

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combination (Topic 805): Clarifying the definition of a business (“ASU 2017-01”).  ASU 2017-01 is intended to clarify the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of businesses. The Company has determined that with the adoption of this guidance some acquisitions that were deemed business combinations will be deemed asset acquisitions and costs associated with these asset acquisitions will be capitalized to the acquisition rather than being expensed. ASU 2017-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early adoption is permitted.  The Company has adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2017. The Company expects the vast majority of its acquisitions to be deemed asset acquisitions under this new guidance.   

11


 

Note 2—Revenue Recognition

 

For the majority of its leases, the Company receives at least 50% of the annual lease payment from tenants either during the first quarter of the year or at the time of acquisition of the related farm, with the remainder of the lease payment, generally secured by growing or harvested crops, due in the second half of the year. The rental income received is recorded on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The lease term generally includes periods when a tenant: (1) may not terminate its lease obligation early; (2) may terminate its lease obligation early in exchange for a fee or penalty that the Company considers material enough such that termination would not be probable; (3) possesses renewal rights and the tenant’s failure to exercise such rights imposes a penalty on the tenant material enough such that renewal appears reasonably assured; or (4) possesses bargain renewal options for such periods.  Leases in place as of June 30, 2017 have terms ranging from one to ten years. Payments received in advance are included in deferred revenue until they are earned. As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had $9.3 million and $ 1.0 million , respectively, in deferred revenue.

 

The following sets forth a summary of rental income recognized for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rental income recognized

 

 

For the three months ended

 

For the six months ended

 

 

June 30,

 

June 30,

(in thousands)

    

2017

    

2016

    

2017

    

 

2016

Leases in effect at the beginning of the year

 

$

2,958

 

$

3,522

 

$

6,160

 

$

7,139

Leases entered into during the year (1)

 

 

7,513

 

 

2,359

 

 

11,114

 

 

3,159

 

 

$

10,471

 

$

5,881

 

$

17,274

 

$

10,298


(1)

Includes all leases resulting from acquisitions completed during the period including those leases as a result of the AFCO mergers.

 

Future minimum lease payments from tenants under all non-cancelable leases in place as of June 30, 2017, including lease advances, when contractually due, but excluding tenant reimbursement of expenses for the remainder of 2017 and each of the next four years and thereafter as of June 30, 2017 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

    

Future rental

 

Year Ending December 31,

 

payments

 

2017 (remaining six months)

 

$

11,047

 

2018

 

 

25,865

 

2019

 

 

18,621

 

2020

 

 

6,714

 

2021

 

 

3,111

 

Thereafter

 

 

4,092

 

 

 

$

69,450

 

 

Since lease renewal periods are exercisable at the option of the lessee, the preceding table presents future minimum lease payments due during the initial lease term only.

 

The Company records revenue from the sale of harvested crops when the harvested crop has been delivered to a grain facility and title has transferred. Revenues from the sale of harvested crops totaling $ 0.4 million and $ 0.1 million were recognized for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively and $0. 2 mil lion and $0 being recognized during the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Harvested crops delivered under marketing contracts are recorded using the fixed price of the marketing contract at the time of delivery to a grain facility. Harvested crops delivered without a marketing contract are recorded using the market price at the date the harvested crop is delivered to the grain facility and title has transferred.

 

12


 

Note 3—Concentration Risk

 

Credit Risk

 

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company had certain tenant concentrations as presented in the table below. If a significant tenant, representing a tenant concentration, fails to make rental payments to the Company or elects to terminate its leases, and the land cannot be re-leased on satisfactory terms, there could be a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial performance and the Company’s ability to continue operations.  Rental income received is recorded on a straight-line basis over the applicable lease term.   The following is a summary of the Company’s significant tenants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rental income recognized

 

Rental income recognized

 

 

For the three months ended June 30,

 

For the six months ended June 30,

($ in thousands)

    

2017

    

2016

    

    

2017

    

2016

    

Tenant A (1)

 

$

1,201

    

11.3

%  

$

 —

 

 —

%  

 

$

1,978

 

11.5

%  

$

 —

 

 —

%  


(1)

Tenant A is a tenant who is currently leasing a number of permanent crop farms in California .

 

Geographic Risk

 

The following table summarizes the percentage of approximate total acres owned as of June 30, 2017 and 2016 and rental income recorded by the Company for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 by location of the farms:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Approximate %

 

Rental Income (1)

 

 

of total acres

 

For the three months ended

 

For the six months ended

 

 

As of June 30,

 

June 30,

 

June 30,

Location of Farm (2)

    

2017

    

2016

 

 

2017

    

2016

 

 

2017

    

2016

 

Corn belt

 

30.8

%

30.2

 

32.7

%

41.2

%

 

36.7

%

35.9

%

Delta and South

 

18.8

%

22.4

 

14.2

%

12.0

%

 

13.3

%

11.9

%

High Plains

 

20.4

%

24.6

%

 

8.9

%

14.0

%

 

9.7

%

15.4

%

Southeast

 

25.8

%

22.8

 

22.3

%

32.8

%

 

20.2

%

36.8

%

West Coast

 

4.2

%

 —

%

 

21.9

%

 —

%

 

20.1

%

 —

%

 

 

100.0

%

100.0

%

 

100.0

%

100.0

%

 

100.0

%

100.0

%


(1)

Due to regional disparities in the use of leases with crop share components and seasonal variations in the recognition of crop share revenue, regional comparisons by rental income are not fully representative of each region's income producing capacity until a full year is taken into account.

(2)

Corn Belt includes farms located in Illinois, Michigan, and eastern Nebraska. Delta and South includes farms located in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. High Plains includes farms located in Colorado, Kansas, western Nebraska, and Texas. Southeast includes farms located in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. West Coast includes farms located in California. 

 

 

 

 

Note 4—Related Party Transactions

 

On July 21, 2015, the Company entered into a lease agreement with American Agriculture Aviation LLC (“American Ag Aviation”) for the use of a private plane.  American Ag Aviation is a Colorado limited liability company that is owned 100% by Mr. Pittman.  The Company incurred costs of $135,478 and $96,469, respectively, during the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 and $51,687 and $49,416, respectively, during the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 from American Ag Aviation for use of the aircraft in accordance with the lease agreement. These costs were recognized based on the nature of the associated use of the aircraft, as follows: (i) general and administrative - expensed as general and administrative expenses within the Company’s consolidated statements of operations; (ii) land acquisition (accounted for as an asset acquisition) - allocated to the acquired real estate assets within the Company’s consolidated balance sheets; and (iii) land acquisition (accounted for as a business combination) - expensed as acquisition and due diligence costs within the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

 

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Note 5—Real Estate

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company completed 15 acquisitions which were accounted for as asset acquisitions in Illinois, South Carolina, South Dakota, Arkansas, Michigan, Georgia, Kansas, California, and Colorado. Consideration totaled $111.6 million and was comprised of cash, shares and OP units.  No intangible assets were acquired through these acquisitions.

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company completed 11 acquisitions which were accounted for as asset acquisitions in Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, Illinois, and Louisiana.  Consideration totaled $242.9 million and was comprised of cash, OP units, and Preferred units.  No intangible assets were acquired through these acquisitions.

 

The following outlines the preliminary fair value allocation of the assets and liabilities acquired as a result of the completion of the AFCO Mergers accounted for as a business combination as of June 30, 2017:

 

 

 

 

($ in thousands)

 

 

Land, at cost

$

180,309

Irrigation improvements

 

26,045

Permanent plantings

 

48,308

Buildings

 

1,493

In-place leases (1)

 

1,139

Lease origination costs

 

264

Cash

 

3,832

Other

 

1,250

Inventory

 

99

Accrued expenses

 

(16,595)

Gross Total Consideration

 

246,144

Mortgage notes and bonds payable, net

 

(75,000)

Total Consideration

$

171,144


(1)

Weighted average amortization period of the in-place lease liability is 3 years.

 

The following outlines the fair value allocation of the assets and liabilities acquired as a result of the completion of acquisitions in Michigan, Mississippi, Texas, Illinois and Colorado, which were accounted for as business combinations as of June 30, 2016:

 

 

 

 

 

($ in thousands)

 

 

 

Land, at cost

 

$

6,452

Groundwater

 

 

634

Irrigation improvements

 

 

374

Permanent plantings

 

 

763

Below market lease

 

 

(29)

Total Consideration

 

$

8,194

 

The Company has included the results of operations for the acquired real estate in the consolidated statements of operations from the dates of acquisition. The real estate acquired in business combinations during the six months ended June 30, 2017 contributed $5.8 million to total revenue and $1.4 million to net loss.

 

The pro forma information presented below does not purport to represent what the actual results of operations of the Company would have been had the business combination outlined above occurred as of the beginning of the periods presented, nor does it purport to predict the results of operations of future periods.

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The pro forma information is presented below as if the real estate acquired in the business combination during the six months ended June 30, 2017 had been acquired as of January 1, 2016.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the three months ended

 

For the six months ended

($ in thousands)

 

June 30,

 

June 30,

Proforma

 

2017

    

2016

 

2017

    

2016

Revenue

 

$

11,460

 

$

6,031

 

$

18,609

 

$

10,723

Pro forma estimate (1)

 

 

 -

 

 

4,305

 

 

993

 

 

7,098

Total operating revenue

 

$

11,460

 

$

10,336

 

$

19,602

 

$

17,821

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

2,021

 

$

1,317

 

$

19

 

$

(612)

Pro forma estimate

 

 

 -

 

 

2,742

 

 

(367)

 

 

1,710

Total net income (loss)

 

$

2,021

 

$

4,059

 

$

(348)

 

$

1,098

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss available to common stockholders of Farmland Partners Inc.

 

$

773

 

$

1,915

 

$

(2,042)

 

$

(377)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share basic and diluted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) per basic share attributable to common stockholders

 

$

0.02

 

$

0.07

 

$

(0.06)

 

$

(0.01)

Income (loss) per diluted share attributable to common stockholders

 

$

0.02

 

$

0.07

 

$

(0.06)

 

$

(0.01)

Weighted-average number of common shares - basic

 

 

31,927

 

 

26,598

 

 

31,927

 

 

26,598

Weighted-average number of common shares - diluted

 

 

31,927

 

 

26,598

 

 

31,927

 

 

26,598


(1)

Represents a linear extrapolation of revenues over the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 and therefore does not take into account the irregularity of certain of the Company's revenue components, such as crop share lease payments.

 

Prudential Termination Agreement

 

On February 18, 2017,  the Company entered into a Termination Agreement (the “Termination Agreement”) with Prudential Capital Mortgage Company (the “Prudential Sub-Advisor”) pursuant to which the Company and the Prudential Sub-Advisor agreed to terminate, effective as of March 31, 2017, the Amended and Restated Sub-Advisory Agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”), dated as of October 23, 2015, by and among American Farmland Company, American Farmland Advisors, American Farmland Company L.P. and Prudential and certain related property management agreements (together with the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the “Prudential Agreements”).

 

The Termination Agreement provided that, as of March 31, 2017, Prudential no longer provides services to the Company under the Prudential Agreements. The Company paid the Prudential Sub-Advisor $1.6 million in cash, which is equal to the fee that would have been owed to Prudential for services through the quarter ended March 31, 2017, plus a termination fee of approximately $0.2 million. The income statement impact to the Company for the six months ended June 30, 2017 totaled $0.7 million with the remaining $0.9 million being included in the accruals as a component of the purchase accounting surrounding the AFCO Mergers as this represented the costs incurred by AFCO prior to the AFCO Mergers. 

 

 

 

Note 6—Notes Receivable

 

In August 2015, the Company introduced an agricultural lending product aimed at farmers as a complement to the Company's business of acquiring and owning farmland and leasing it to farmers (the “FPI Loan Program”).  Under the FPI Loan Program, the Company makes loans to third-party farmers (both tenant and non-tenant) to provide financing for working capital requirements and operational farming activities, farming infrastructure projects, and for other farming and agricultural real estate related projects. The Company seeks to make loans that are collateralized by farm real estate and in principal amounts of $500,000 or more at fixed interest rates with maturities of up to three years. The Company expects the borrower to repay the loans in accordance with the loan agreements based on farming operations and access to other forms of capital, as permitted.  

 

Notes receivable are stated at their unpaid principal balance and include unamortized direct origination costs and accrued interest through the reporting date, less any allowance for losses and unearned borrower paid points. 

 

15


 

As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had the following notes receivable:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

($ in thousands)

 

 

 

Principal Outstanding as of

 

Maturity

Loan

    

Payment Terms

 

June 30, 2017

    

December 31, 2016

    

Date

Mortgage Note (1)

 

Principal & interest due at maturity

 

$

1,800

 

$

1,800

 

1/15/2017

Mortgage Note (2)

 

Principal & interest due at maturity

 

 

240

 

 

980

 

3/16/2022

Mortgage Note (2)

 

Principal due at maturity & interest due monthly

 

 

2,194

 

 

 -

 

3/16/2022

Mortgage Note

 

Principal & interest due at maturity

 

 

1,647

 

 

 -

 

4/27/2018

 Total outstanding principal

 

 

5,881

 

 

2,780

 

 

Points paid, net of direct issuance costs

 

 

(16)

 

 

(4)

 

 

Interest receivable (net prepaid interest)

 

 

95

 

 

67

 

 

 Total notes and interest receivable

 

$

5,960

 

$

2,843

 

 


(1)

In January 2016, the maturity date of the note was extended to January 15, 2017 with year one interest received at the time of the extension and principal and remaining interest due at maturity.  The Company is currently in negotiations to extend the terms with the borrower. The Company currently believes that collectability is reasonably assured.

(2)

The original note was renegotiated and a second note was entered into simultaneously with the borrower during the three months ended March 31, 2017. The notes include mortgages on two additional properties in Colorado that include repurchase options for the properties at a fixed price that are exercisable between the second and fifth anniversary of the notes by the borrower.

 

The collateral for the mortgage notes receivable consists of real estate and improvements present on such real estate.

 

Fair Value

 

FASB ASC 820-10 establishes a three-level hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. The three levels are defined as follows:

 

·

Level 1 —Inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

·

Level 2 —Inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets and inputs that are observable or can be substantially corroborated for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.

·

Level 3 —Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable, supported by little or no market activity and are significant to the fair value measurement.

 

The fair value of notes receivable is valued using Level 3 inputs under the hierarchy established by GAAP and is calculated based on a discounted cash flow analysis, using interest rates based on management’s estimates of market interest rates on mortgage notes receivable with comparable terms whenever the interest rates on the notes receivable are deemed not to be at market rates. As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the fair value of the notes receivable was $6.0 million and $2.8 million, respectively.

 

 

16


 

Note 7—Mortgage Notes, Lines of Credit and Bonds Payable

 

As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had the following indebtedness outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annual

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Value of

($ in thousands)

 

 

 

Interest

 

Principal

 

 

 

Collateral

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rate as of

 

Outstanding as of

 

 

 

as of

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30,

 

June 30,

 

December 31,

 

Maturity

 

June 30,

Loan

    

Payment Terms

    

Interest Rate Terms

    

2017

    

2017

    

2016

    

Date

    

2017

Farmer Mac Bond #1

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

2.40%

 

2.40%

 

$

20,700

 

$

20,700

 

September 2017

 

$

30,352

Farmer Mac Bond #2

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

2.35%

 

2.35%

 

 

5,460

 

 

5,460

 

October 2017

 

 

9,564

Farmer Mac Bond #3

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

2.50%

 

2.50%

 

 

10,680

 

 

10,680

 

November 2017

 

 

11,507

Farmer Mac Bond #4

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

2.50%

 

2.50%

 

 

13,400

 

 

13,400

 

December 2017

 

 

23,595

Farmer Mac Bond #5

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

2.56%

 

2.56%

 

 

30,860

 

 

30,860

 

December 2017

 

 

56,218

Farmer Mac Bond #6

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

3.69%

 

3.69%

 

 

14,915

 

 

14,915

 

April 2025

 

 

21,504

Farmer Mac Bond #7

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

3.68%

 

3.68%

 

 

11,160

 

 

11,160

 

April 2025

 

 

18,447

Farmer Mac Bond #8A

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

3.20%

 

3.20%

 

 

41,700

 

 

41,700

 

June 2020

 

 

80,925

Farmer Mac Bond #9

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

3.35%

 

3.35%

 

 

6,600

 

 

6,600

 

July 2020

 

 

7,720

MetLife Term Loan #1 (1)

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

3.48% adjusted every three years

 

3.48%

 

 

90,000

 

 

90,000

 

March 2026

 

 

198,139

MetLife Term Loan #2

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

2.66% adjusted every three years

 

2.66%

 

 

16,000

 

 

16,000

 

March 2026

 

 

31,690

MetLife Term Loan #3

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

2.66% adjusted every three years

 

2.66%

 

 

21,000

 

 

21,000

 

March 2026

 

 

27,498

MetLife Term Loan #4 (1)

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

3.48% adjusted every three years

 

3.48%

 

 

15,685

 

 

15,685

 

June 2026

 

 

30,569

MetLife Term Loan #5

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

3.26% adjusted every three years

 

3.26%

 

 

8,379

 

 

 —

 

January 2027

 

 

16,549

MetLife Term Loan #6

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

3.21% adjusted every three years

 

3.21%

 

 

27,158

 

 

 —

 

February 2027

 

 

55,340

MetLife Term Loan #7

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

3.45% adjusted every three years

 

3.45%

 

 

21,253

 

 

 —

 

June 2027

 

 

46,994

Farm Credit of Central Florida

 

(2)

 

LIBOR + 2.6875% adjusted monthly

 

3.81%

 

 

5,102

 

 

5,102

 

September 2023

 

 

9,691

Prudential

 

(3)

 

3.20%

 

3.20%

 

 

6,600

 

 

6,600

 

July 2019

 

 

11,659

Rutledge Note Payable #1

 

Quarterly interest only

 

3 month LIBOR + 1.3% adjusted quarterly

 

2.45%

 

 

25,000

 

 

 —

 

January 2022

 

 

46,041

Rutledge Note Payable #2

 

Quarterly interest only

 

3 month LIBOR + 1.3% adjusted quarterly

 

2.45%

 

 

25,000

 

 

 —

 

January 2022

 

 

50,061

Rutledge Note Payable #3

 

Quarterly interest only

 

3 month LIBOR + 1.3% adjusted quarterly

 

2.45%

 

 

25,000

 

 

 —

 

January 2022

 

 

59,354

Rutledge Note Payable #4

 

Quarterly interest only

 

3 month LIBOR + 1.3% adjusted quarterly

 

2.45%

 

 

15,000

 

 

 —

 

January 2022

 

 

28,398

Rutledge Note Payable #5

 

Quarterly interest only

 

3 month LIBOR + 1.3% adjusted quarterly

 

2.45%

 

 

30,000

 

 

 —

 

January 2022

 

 

61,924

Total outstanding principal

 

 

486,652

 

 

309,862

 

 

 

$

933,739

Debt issuance costs

 

 

(1,693)

 

 

(1,193)

 

 

 

 

 

Unamortized premium

 

 

50

 

 

110

 

 

 

 

 

Total mortgage notes and bonds payable, net

 

$

485,009

 

$

308,779

 

 

 

 

 


(1)

During the six months ended June 30, 2017 the Company converted the interest rate on MetLife Term Loans 1 and 4 from variable to fixed rates that can be adjusted to an adjustable rate every three years over their remaining terms.

(2)

Loan is an amortizing loan with quarterly interest payments that commenced on January 1, 2017 and quarterly principal payments that commence on October 1, 2018, with all remaining principal and outstanding interest due at maturity.

(3)

Loan is an amortizing loan with semi-annual principal and interest payments that commence on July 1, 2017, with all remaining principal and outstanding interest due at maturity.  

 

During 2017, $81.1 million of the Company’s borrowings will mature. Any cash that we use to satisfy our outstanding debt obligations will reduce the amounts available to acquire additional farms, which could adversely affect our growth prospects. As of June 30, 2017, the Company has $3.1 million in capacity available under the Farm Credit of Central Florida Mortgage Note (as defined below). We anticipate refinancing the debt due to mature in 2017 with similar financial institutions, and we are currently in discussions with lenders to do so. However, we can provide no assurances that we will be able to refinance the debt on similar terms or at all and thus alternative sources of capital may be necessary. As of June 30, 2017, we had $486.7 million of debt, which may expose us to the risk of default under our debt obligations, restrict our operations and our ability to grow our business and revenues and restrict our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders.

17


 

 

First Midwest Bank Indebtedness

 

On April 16, 2014, the Operating Partnership, as borrower, and First Midwest Bank, as lender, entered into the Amended and Restated Business Loan Agreement, which was subsequently amended on February 24, 2015, July 24, 2015 and March 6, 2016.  Using proceeds from the MetLife Term Loans, as described below, this indebtedness was paid in full, including accrued interest, on April 14, 2016. 

 

Farmer Mac Facility  

   

The Company and the Operating Partnership are parties to the Amended and Restated Bond Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2015 and amended as of June 2, 2015 and August 3, 2015 (the “Bond Purchase Agreement”), with Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (“Farmer Mac”) and Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Farmer Mac, as bond purchaser (the “Purchaser”), regarding a secured note purchase facility (the “Farmer Mac Facility”) that has a maximum borrowing capacity of $165.0 million.  Pursuant to the Bond Purchase Agreement, the Operating Partnership may, from time to time, issue one or more bonds to the Purchaser that will be secured by pools of mortgage loans, which will, in turn, be secured by first liens on agricultural real estate owned by the Company. The mortgage loans may have effective loan-to-value of up to 60%.  Prepayment of each bond issuance is not permitted unless otherwise agreed upon by all parties to the Bond Purchase Agreement. 

   

As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Operating Partnership had approximately $155.5 million and approximately $155.5 million outstanding, respectively, under the Farmer Mac Facility.  The Farmer Mac facility is subject to the Company’s ongoing compliance with a number of customary affirmative and negative covenants, as well as financial covenants, including:  a maximum leverage ratio of not more than 60%;  a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.50 to 1.00; and a minimum tangible net worth requirement. The Company was in compliance with all applicable covenants at June 30, 2017.

   

In connection with the Bond Purchase Agreement, on March 1, 2015, the Company and the Operating Partnership also entered into an amended and restated pledge and security agreement (the “Pledge Agreement”) in favor of the Purchaser and Farmer Mac, pursuant to which the Company and the Operating Partnership agreed to pledge, as collateral for the Farmer Mac Facility, all of their respective right, title and interest in (i) mortgage loans with a value at least equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding bond held by the Purchaser and (ii) such additional collateral as necessary to have total collateral with a value at least equal to 110% of the outstanding notes held by the Purchaser. In addition, the Company agreed to guarantee the full performance of the Operating Partnership’s duties and obligations under the Pledge Agreement .  

   

The Bond Purchase Agreement and the Pledge Agreement include customary events of default, the occurrence of any of which, after any applicable cure period, would permit the Purchaser and Farmer Mac to, among other things, accelerate payment of all amounts outstanding under the Farmer Mac Facility and to exercise its remedies with respect to the pledged collateral, including foreclosure and sale of the agricultural real estate underlying the pledged mortgage loans.

 

Bridge Loan

 

On February 29, 2016, two wholly owned subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership (together, the “Bridge Borrower”) entered into a term loan agreement (the “Bridge Loan Agreement”) with MSD FPI Partners, LLC, an affiliate of MSD Partners, L.P. (the “Bridge Lender”), that provided for a loan of $53.0 million (the “Bridge Loan”), the proceeds of which were used primarily to fund the cash portion of the consideration for the acquisition of the Forsythe farms, which was completed on March 2, 2016.  During the six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company accrued and paid debt issuance costs on the Bridge Loan totaling $173,907, and interest totaling $2,271,867, of which $2,120,000, or 4.0%, of the Bridge Loan's principal amount was con sidered additional interest paid on issuance .  The Bridge Loan was paid in full, including accrued interest, and without prepayment penalty, on March 29, 2016 using proceeds from the MetLife Term Loans, as described below.

 

18


 

MetLife Term Loans

 

On March 29, 2016, five wholly owned subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership entered into a loan agreement (the “First MetLife Loan Agreement”) and, together with the Second MetLife Loan Agreement, the “MetLife Loan Agreements”) with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”), which provides for a total of $127.0 million of term loans, comprised of (i) a $90.0 million term loan (“Term Loan 1”), (ii) a $16.0 million term loan (“Term Loan 2”) and (iii) a $21.0 million term loan (“Term Loan 3” and, together with Term Loan 1 and Term Loan 2, the “Initial MetLife Term Loans” and, together with Term Loan 4, Term Loan 5, Term Loan 6 and Term Loan 7 described below, the “MetLife Term Loans”). The proceeds of the Initial MetLife Term Loans were used to repay existing debt (including amounts outstanding under the Bridge Loan), to acquire additional properties and for general corporate purposes. Each Initial MetLife Term Loan is collateralized by first lien mortgages on certain of the Company’s properties.

   

On June 29, 2016, five wholly owned subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership entered into a loan agreement (the “Second MetLife Loan Agreement”) with MetLife which provides for a loan of approximately $15.7 million to the Company with a maturity date of June 29, 2026 (“Term Loan 4”). Interest on Term Loan 4 is payable semi-annually and accrues at a floating rate that will be adjusted quarterly to a rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) the three-month LIBOR plus an initial floating rate spread of 1.750%, which may be adjusted by MetLife on each of September 29, December 29, March 29 and June 29 of each year to an interest rate equal to the greater of (a) the three month LIBOR plus the floating rate spread or (b) 2.00% per annum. Term Loan 4 initially bears interest at a rate of 2.39% per annum until September 29, 2016, and on September 29, 2016 the rate changed to 2.60% per annum. Effective March 29, 2017, the Company exercised its option to convert the interest rate on Term Loan 4 from a floating rate to an adjustable rate.  The new adjustable rate is 3.48% which may be adjusted by MetLife on each of March 29, 2020 and March 29, 2023. Proceeds from Term Loan 4 were used to acquire additional properties and for general corporate purposes.

   

Interest on Term Loan 1 is payable semi-annually and accrues at a floating rate that will be adjusted quarterly to a rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) the three-month LIBOR plus an initial floating rate spread of 1.750%, which may be adjusted by MetLife on each of March 29, 2019, March 29, 2022 and March 29, 2025 to an interest rate consistent with interest rates quoted by MetLife for substantially similar loans secured by real estate substantially similar to the Company’s properties securing Term Loan 1 or (b) 2.000% per annum. Term Loan 1 bore interest at a rate of 2.40% per annum until September 29, 2016, and on September 29, 2016 the rate changed to 2.60% per annum. Effective March 29, 2017, the Company exercised its option to convert the interest rate on Term Loan 4 from a floating rate to an adjustable rate.  The new adjustable rate is 3.48% which may be adjusted by MetLife on each of March 29, 2020 and March 29, 2023.Subject to certain conditions, the Company may at any time during the term of Term Loan 1 elect to have all or any portion of the unpaid balance of Term Loan 1 bear interest at a fixed rate that is initially established by the lender in its sole discretion that may be adjusted from time to time to an interest rate consistent with interest rates quoted by MetLife for substantially similar loans secured by real estate substantially similar to the Company’s properties securing Term Loan 1. On any floating rate adjustment date, the Company may prepay any portion of Term Loan 1 that is not subject to a fixed rate without penalty.

   

Interest on Term Loan 2 and Term Loan 3 is payable semi-annually and accrues at an initial rate of 2.66% per annum, which may be adjusted by MetLife on each of March 29, 2019, March 29, 2022 and March 29, 2025 to an interest rate consistent with interest rates quoted by MetLife for substantially similar loans secured by real estate substantially similar to the Company’s properties securing Term Loan 2 and Term Loan 3.

   

Subject to certain conditions, amounts outstanding under Term Loan 2 and Term Loan 3, as well as any amounts outstanding under Term Loan 1 that are subject to a fixed interest rate, may be prepaid without penalty up to 20% of the original principal amounts of such loans per year or in connection with any rate adjustments. Any other prepayments under the Initial MetLife Term Loans generally are subject to a minimum prepayment premium of 1.00%.  

 

In connection with the Initial MetLife Term Loans, on March 29, 2016, the Company and the Operating Partnership each entered into a separate guaranty (the “Initial MetLife Guaranties”) whereby the Company and the Operating Partnership jointly and severally agreed to unconditionally guarantee all of the borrowers’ obligations under the First MetLife Loan Agreement.

   

19


 

In connection with the Term Loan 4, on June 29, 2016, the Company and the Operating Partnership each entered into a separate guaranty (the “Term Loan 4 Guaranties”) whereby the Company and the Operating Partnership jointly and severally agreed to unconditionally guarantee all of the borrowers’ obligations under the Second MetLife Loan Agreement.

 

On January 12, 2017, five wholly owned subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership entered into a loan agreement (the “Fifth MetLife Loan Agreement”) with MetLife which provides for a loan of approximately $8.4 million to the Company with a maturity date of January 12, 2027 (“Term Loan 5”). Interest on Term Loan 5 is payable semi-annually and accrues at a 3.26% per annum fixed rate, and may be adjusted by MetLife on each of January 12, 2020, January 12, 2023 and January 12, 2026 at the option of the Lender to a rate that is consistent with similar loans. Proceeds from Term Loan 5 were used to acquire additional properties and for general corporate purposes.

   

In connection with the Term Loan 5, on January 12, 2017, the Company and the Operating Partnership each entered into a separate guaranty (the “Term Loan 5 Guaranties”) whereby the Company and the Operating Partnership jointly and severally agreed to unconditionally guarantee all of the borrowers’ obligations under the Fifth MetLife Loan Agreement.  

   

On February 14, 2017, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership entered into a loan agreement (the “Sixth MetLife Loan Agreement”) with MetLife which provides for a loan of approximately $27.2 million to the Company with a maturity date of February 14, 2027 (“Term Loan 6”). Interest on Term Loan 6 is payable semi-annually and accrues at a 3.21% per annum fixed rate, and may be adjusted by MetLife on each of February 14, 2020, February 14, 2023 and February 14, 2026 at the option of the Lender to a rate that is consistent with similar loans. Proceeds from Term Loan 6 were used to acquire additional properties.

   

In connection with the Term Loan 6, on February 14, 2017, the Company and the Operating Partnership each entered into a separate guaranty (the “Term Loan 6 Guaranties) whereby the Company and the Operating Partnership jointly and severally agreed to unconditionally guarantee all of the borrowers’ obligations under the Sixth MetLife Loan Agreement.

 

On June 7, 2017, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership, entered into a loan agreement (the “Seventh MetLife Loan Agreement”) with MetLife which provides for a loan of approximately $21.3 million to the Company with a maturity date of June 7, 2027 (“Term Loan 7”). Interest on Term Loan 7 is payable semi-annually and accrues at a 3.45% per annum fixed rate, and may be adjusted by MetLife on each of June 7, 2020, June 7, 2023 and June 7, 2026 at the option of the Lender to a rate that is consistent with similar loans. Proceeds from Term Loan 7 were used to acquire additional properties.

   

In connection with the Term Loan 7, on June 7, 2017, the Company and the Operating Partnership each entered into a separate guaranty (the “Term Loan 7 Guaranties” together with the Initial MetLife Guaranties, the Term Loan 4 Guaranties, the Term Loan 5 Guaranties and the Term Loan 6 Guaranties, the “MetLife Guaranties”) whereby the Company and the Operating Partnership jointly and severally agreed to unconditionally guarantee all of the borrowers’ obligations under the Seventh MetLife Loan Agreement.

 

Each of the MetLife Loan Agreements contains a number of customary affirmative and negative covenants, including the requirement to maintain a loan to value ratio of no greater than 60%. The MetLife Guaranties also contain a number of customary affirmative and negative covenants.  The Company was in compliance with all covenants under the MetLife Term Loans as of June 30, 2017.

   

Each of the MetLife Loan Agreements includes certain customary events of default, including a cross-default provision related to other outstanding indebtedness of the borrowers, the Company and the Operating Partnership, the occurrence of which, after any applicable cure period, would permit MetLife, among other things, to accelerate payment of all amounts outstanding under the MetLife Term Loans and to exercise its remedies with respect to the pledged collateral, including foreclosure and sale of the Company’s properties that collateralize the MetLife Term Loans.

 

20


 

Farm Credit of Central Florida Mortgage Note  

   

On August 31, 2016, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership entered into a loan agreement (the “Farm Credit Mortgage Note”) with Farm Credit of Central Florida (“Farm Credit”) which provides for a loan of approximately $8.2 million to the Company with a maturity date of September 1, 2023.  As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, approximately $5.1 million had been drawn down under this facility.  Interest on Farm Credit Mortgage Note is payable quarterly and accrues at a floating rate that will be adjusted monthly to a rate per annum equal to the one-month LIBOR plus 2.6875%, which is subject to adjustment on the first day of September 2016, and on the first day of each month thereafter. Principal is payable quarterly commencing on October 1, 2018, with all remaining principal and outstanding interest due at maturity. Proceeds from the Farm Credit Mortgage Note are to be used for the acquisition and development of additional properties.

   

The Farm Credit Mortgage Note contains a number of customary affirmative and negative covenants, as well as a covenant requiring the Company to maintain a debt service coverage ratio of 1.25 to 1.00 beginning on December 31, 2019.

 

Prudential  Note  

   

On December 21, 2016, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership entered into a loan agreement with The Prudential Insurance Company of America (“Prudential”) which provides for a loan of approximately $6.6 million to the Company with a maturity date of July 1, 2019 (the “Prudential Note”).  Interest on the Prudential Note is payable in cash semi-annually and accrues at a fixed rate of 3.20% per annum. Proceeds from the Prudential Note were used for the acquisition of additional properties.

   

Beginning on December 21, 2017, the Prudential Note requires the Company to maintain a loan to value no greater than 60%.

 

Rutledge Credit Facilities  

Upon closing of the AFCO Mergers, by virtue of AFCO OP becoming a subsidiary of the Company, the Company assumed AFCO’s outstanding indebtedness under four loan agreements (the “Existing Rutledge Loan Agreements”) between AFCO OP and Rutledge Investment Company (“Rutledge”), which are further described below:

1.

Loan Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2013, with respect to a $25,000,000 senior secured credit facility bearing interest at an annual rate of 3 month LIBOR plus 1.3%. The loan agreement requires AFCO OP to make quarterly interest payments on April 1, July 1, October 1 and January 1 of each calendar year. Additionally, the loan agreement requires AFCO OP to pay a quarterly non-usage fee equal to 0.25% per annum of the committed loan amount minus the average outstanding principal balance of the loan amount over the prior three-month period.

2.

Loan Agreement, dated as of January 14, 2015, with respect to a $25,000,000 senior secured credit facility bearing interest at an annual rate of 3 month LIBOR plus 1.3%. The loan agreement requires AFCO OP to make quarterly interest payments on April 1, July 1, October 1 and January 1 of each calendar year. Additionally, the loan agreement requires AFCO OP to pay a quarterly non-usage fee equal to 0.25% per annum of the committed loan amount minus the average outstanding principal balance of the loan amount over the prior three-month period.

3.

Loan Agreement, dated as of August 18, 2015, with respect to a $25,000,000 senior secured credit facility bearing interest at an annual rate of 3 month LIBOR plus 1.3%. The loan agreement requires AFCO OP to make quarterly interest payments on April 1, July 1, October 1 and January 1 of each calendar year. Additionally, the loan agreement requires AFCO OP to pay a quarterly non-usage fee equal to 0.25% per annum of the committed loan amount minus the average outstanding principal balance of the loan amount over the prior three-month period.

4.

Loan Agreement, dated as of December 22, 2015, with respect to a $15,000,000 senior secured credit facility bearing interest at an annual rate of 3 month LIBOR plus 1.3%. The loan agreement requires AFCO OP to make quarterly interest payments on April 1, July 1, October 1 and January 1 of each calendar year. Additionally, the

21


 

loan agreement requires AFCO OP to pay a quarterly non-usage fee equal to 0.25% per annum of the committed loan amount minus the average outstanding principal balance over the loan amount of the prior three-month period.

 

In connection with the completion of the AFCO Mergers, on February 3, 2017, AFCO OP, in its capacity as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and the Operating Partnership, and Rutledge entered into the Second Amendment (the “Rutledge Amendment”) to the Existing Rutledge Loan Agreements. Pursuant to the Rutledge Amendment, among other things, the maturity dates for each of the Existing Rutledge Loan Agreements were extended to January 1, 2022 and the aggregate loan value under the Existing Rutledge Loan Agreements may not exceed 50% of the appraised value of the collateralized properties. Certain AFCO properties acquired by the Company in the Mergers serve as collateral under the Existing Rutledge Loan Agreements.

On February 3, 2017, the Company and the Operating Partnership each entered into guaranty agreements (the “Existing Loan Guarantees”) pursuant to which they unconditionally guarantee the obligations of AFCO OP under the Existing Loan Agreements.

In addition, in connection with the completion of the Mergers, on February 3, 2017, AFCO OP entered into a fifth loan agreement with Rutledge Investment Company (the “Fifth Rutledge Loan Agreement” and together with the Existing Rutledge Loan Agreements, as amended, the “Rutledge Loan Agreements”), with respect to a senior secured credit facility in the aggregate amount of $30.0 million, with a maturity date of January 1, 2022 and an annual interest rate of 3 month LIBOR plus 1.3%. The Fifth Rutledge Loan Agreement requires AFCO OP to make quarterly interest payments. Additionally, the Fifth Rutledge Loan Agreement contains certain customary affirmative and negative covenants, including (i) AFCO OP must pay a quarterly non-usage fee equal to 0.25% of the committed loan amount minus the average outstanding principal balance of the loan amount during the prior three-month period, (ii) AFCO OP must maintain a leverage ratio of 60% or less and (iii) the aggregate amounts outstanding under all of the Rutledge Loans may not exceed 50% of the aggregate appraised value of the properties serving as collateral under the Rutledge Loan Agreements.

On February 3, 2017, the Company and the Operating Partnership each entered into separate guarantees (the “Fifth Loan Guarantees” and together with the Existing Loan Guarantees, the “Guarantees”) whereby they are required to unconditionally guarantee AFCO OP’s obligations under the Fifth Rutledge Loan Agreement. As of June 30, 2017 $0 remains available under this facility.

 

As of June 30, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all covenants under the Rutledge Loan Agreements.

 

Debt Issuance Costs

 

Costs incurred by the Company in obtaining debt are deducted from the face amount of mortgage notes and bonds payable.  During the six months ended June 30, 2017, $0.8 million in costs were incurred in conjunction with the MetLife and Rutledge Term Loans. During the six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company paid 4% of the principal amount of the MSD Bridge Loan, or $2,120,000, as additional interest on issuance. Debt issuance costs are amortized using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method, over the respective terms of the related indebtedness. Any unamortized amounts upon early repayment of mortgage notes payable are written off in the period in which repayment occurs. Fully amortized deferred financing fees are removed from the balance sheet upon maturity or repayment of the underlying debt. Accumulated amortization of deferred financing fees was $0.4 million and $ 0.7 million  as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

 

22


 

Aggregate Maturities

 

As of June 30, 2017, aggregate maturities of long-term debt for the succeeding years are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

($ in thousands)

 

 

 

 

Year Ending December 31,

    

Future Maturities

 

2017 (remaining six months)

 

$

81,100

 

2018

 

 

 —

 

2019

 

 

6,600

 

2020

 

 

48,300

 

2021

 

 

 —

 

Thereafter

 

 

350,652

 

 

 

$

486,652

 

 

Fair Value

 

The fair value of the mortgage notes payable is valued using Level 3 inputs under the hierarchy established by GAAP and is calculated based on a discounted cash flow analysis, using interest rates based on management’s estimates of market interest rates on long-term debt with comparable terms whenever the interest rates on the mortgage notes payable are deemed not to be at market rates. As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the fair value of the mortgage notes payable was $451.7 million  and $300.1 million, respectively.

 

Note 8—Commitments and Contingencies

 

On October 26, 2016, a purported class action lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Maryland against AFCO, seeking to represent a proposed class of all AFCO stockholders captioned Parshall v. American Farmland Company et. al., Case No. 24C16005745. The complaint names as defendants AFCO, the members of AFCO’s board of directors, AFCO OP, the Company, the Operating Partnership, Farmland Partners OP GP LLC, FPI Heartland LLC, FPI Heartland Operating Partnership, LP and FPI Heartland GP LLC.  The complaint alleges that the AFCO directors breached their duties to AFCO in connection with the evaluation and approval of the AFCO Mergers. In addition, the complaint alleges, among other things, that AFCO, AFCO OP, the Company, Farmland Partners OP GP LLC, FPI Heartland LLC, FPI Heartland Operating Partnership, LP and FPI Heartland GP LLC aided and abetted those breaches of duties. On April 18, 2017, the court approved an order to dismiss the lawsuit without prejudice.

 

In April 2015, the Company entered into a lease agreement for office space.  The lease expires on July 31, 2019.  The lease commenced on June 1, 2015 and had an initial monthly payment of $10,032, which increased to $10,200 and $10,367 in June of 2016 and June of 2017, respectively, and increases annually thereafter.  The Company also entered into two annual leases for farmland and office space on January 1, 2017 and February 2, 2017, respectively. As of June 30, 2017, future minimum lease payments are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

($ in thousands)

    

Future rental

 

Year Ending December 31,

 

payments

 

2017 (remaining six months)

 

$

81

 

2018

 

 

126

 

2019

 

 

74

 

2020

 

 

 —

 

2021

 

 

 —

 

 

 

$

281

 

 

A sale of any of the 38 properties contributed to the Company’s portfolio at the time of its initial public offering that would not provide continued tax deferral to Pittman Hough Farms is contractually restricted until the fifth (with respect to certain properties) or seventh (with respect to certain other properties) anniversary of the completion of the formation transactions, which occurred on April 16, 2014. Furthermore, if any such sale or defeasance is foreseeable, the Company is required to notify Pittman Hough Farms and to cooperate with it in considering strategies to defer or mitigate the recognition of gain under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, by any of the equity interest holders of the recipient of the OP units .

 

23


 

The Company entered into a lease agreement in which the Company agreed to complete certain improvement projects on one Florida farm and four South Carolina farms. As of June 30, 2017, future capital commitments associated with the projects are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

($ in thousands)

 

Future Capital

Year Ending December 31,

 

Commitments

2017 (remaining six months)

 

$

6,115

2018

 

 

845

 

 

$

6,960

 

 

 

 

 

Note 9—Stockholders’ Equity and Non-controlling Interests

 

Non-controlling Interests in Operating Partnership

 

The Company consolidates its Operating Partnership.  As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 the Company owned a 83.7% and 75.1% interest, respectively, in the Operating Partnership, and the remaining 16.3% and 24.9% interest, respectively, is included in non-controlling interests in Operating Partnership on the consolidated balance sheets.  The non-controlling interests in the Operating Partnership are held in the form of OP units and Preferred units.

 

On or after 12 months of becoming a holder of OP units, unless the terms of an agreement with such OP unit holder dictate otherwise, each limited partner, other than the Company, has the right, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, as amended (the “Partnership Agreement”), to tender for redemption all or a portion of such units in exchange for cash, or in the Company’s sole discretion, for shares of the Company’s common stock on a one-for-one basis.  If cash is paid in satisfaction of a redemption request, the amount will be equal to the number of tendered units multiplied by the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common stock on the date of the redemption notice (determined in accordance with, and subject to adjustment under, the terms of the Partnership Agreement).  Any redemption request must be satisfied by the Company on or before the close of business on the tenth business day after the Company receives a notice of redemption. On March 27, 2017, the Company issued 129,174 shares of common stock in exchange for 129,174 OP units that had been tendered for redemption. On April 12, 2017, the Company issued 328,122 shares of common stock in exchange for 328,122 OP units that had been tendered for redemption. There were 5. 2 million and 3.0 million outstanding OP units eligible to be tendered for redemption as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. On July 10, 2017, the Company issued 118,634 shares of common stock in exchange for 118,634 OP units that had been tendered for redemption. On July 19, 2017, the Company issued 531,827 shares of common stock in exchange for 531,827 OP units that had been tendered for redemption.

 

If the Company gives the limited partners notice of its intention to make an extraordinary distribution of cash or property to its stockholders or effect a merger, a sale of all or substantially all of its assets, or any other similar extraordinary transaction, each limited partner may exercise its right to tender its OP units for redemption, regardless of the length of time such limited partner has held its OP units.

 

Regardless of the rights described above, the Operating Partnership will not have an obligation to issue cash to a unitholder upon a redemption request if the Company elects to redeem OP units for shares of common stock. When an OP unit is redeemed, non-controlling interest in the Operating Partnership is reduced and stockholders’ equity is increased.

 

The Operating Partnership intends to continue to make distributions on each OP unit in the same amount as those paid on each share of the Company’s common stock, with the distributions on the OP units held by the Company being utilized to make distributions to the Company’s common stockholders.

 

Pursuant to the consolidation accounting standard with respect to the accounting and reporting for non-controlling interest changes and changes in ownership interest of a subsidiary, changes in parent’s ownership interest when the parent retains controlling interest in the subsidiary should be accounted for as equity transactions. The carrying amount of the non-controlling interest shall be adjusted to reflect the change in its ownership interest in the subsidiary, with the offset to equity attributable to the parent. As a result of equity issuances including and subsequent to the IPO, changes in the

24


 

ownership percentages between the Company’s stockholders’ equity and non-controlling interest in the Operating Partnership occurred during the six months ended June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2016.  During the first six months of 2017, the Company increased the non-controlling interest in the Operating Partnership and decreased additional paid in capital by $3.2 million . During the period ended June 30, 2016, the Company decreased the non-controlling interest in the Operating Partnership and increased additional paid in capital by $4.2 million.

 

Redeemable Non-controlling Interests in Operating Partnership, Class A Common Units

 

On June 2, 2015, the Company issued 1,993,709 OP units in conjunction with an asset acquisition. Beginning on June 2, 2016, the OP units became eligible to be tendered for redemption for cash, or at the Company’s option, for shares of common stock on a one for one basis. In connection with its annual meeting of stockholders held on May 25, 2016, the Company obtained stockholder approval to issue shares of its common stock upon the redemption of 883,724 of the OP units (the “Excess Units”). Prior to such stockholder approval, the Company would have been required to redeem the Excess Units for cash.  As the tender for redemption of the Excess Units for shares of common stock was outside of the control of the Company until May 25, 2016, these units were accounted for as mezzanine equity on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2015. After the redemption became within the control of the Company these excess units formed part of the non-controlling interests in the Operating Partnership. The Company elected to accrete the change in redemption value of the Excess Units subsequent to issuance and during the respective 12-month holding period, after which point the units were marked to redemption value at each reporting period.

 

Redeemable Non-controlling Interests in Operating Partnership, Preferred Units

 

On March 2, 2016, the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership entered into Amendment No.1 (the “Amendment”) to the Partnership Agreement in order to provide for the issuance, and the designation of the terms and conditions, of the Preferred units. Under the Amendment, among other things, each Preferred unit has a $1,000 liquidation preference and is entitled to receive cumulative preferential cash distributions at a rate of 3.00% per annum of the $1,000 liquidation preference, which is payable annually in arrears on January 15 of each year or the next succeeding business day.  The cash distributions are accrued ratably over the year and credited to redeemable non-controlling interest in operating partnership, preferred units on the balance sheet with the offset recorded to retained earnings. Dividends on preferred shares have been recorded through retained earnings in 2017 as opposed to additional paid in capital in 2016 due to the Company generating retained earnings during 2017.  On March 2, 2016, 117,000 Preferred units were issued as partial consideration in the March 2, 2016 Illinois farm acquisition. Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution, the Preferred units are entitled to a priority distribution ahead of OP units in an amount equal to the liquidation preference plus an amount equal to all distributions accumulated and unpaid to the date of such cash distribution.  Total liquidation value of such preferred units as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 was $118.8 million and $119.9 million, respecti vely, including accrued distributions.

 

On or after March 2, 2026, the tenth anniversary of the closing of the Forsythe acquisition (the “Conversion Right Date”), holders of the Preferred units have the right to convert each Preferred unit into a number of OP units equal to (i) the $1,000 liquidation preference plus all accrued and unpaid distributions, divided by (ii) the volume-weighted average price per share of the Company’s common stock for the 20 trading days immediately preceding the applicable conversion date. All OP units received upon conversion may be immediately tendered for redemption for cash or, at the Company’s option, for shares of common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Partnership Agreement. Prior to the Conversion Right Date, the Preferred units may not be tendered for redemption by the Holder.

 

On or after March 2, 2021, the fifth anniversary of the closing of the Forsythe acquisition, but prior to the Conversion Right Date, the Operating Partnership has the right to redeem some or all of the Preferred units, at any time and from time to time, for cash in an amount per unit equal to the $1,000 liquidation preference plus all accrued and unpaid distributions.

 

In the event of a Termination Transaction (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) prior to conversion, holders of the Preferred units generally have the right to receive the same consideration as holders of OP units and common stock, on an as-converted basis.

 

25


 

Holders of the Preferred units have no voting rights except with respect to (i) the issuance of partnership units of the Operating Partnership senior to the Preferred units as to the right to receive distributions and upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Operating Partnership, (ii) the issuance of additional Preferred units and (iii) amendments to the Partnership Agreement that materially and adversely affect the rights or benefits of the holders of the Preferred units.

 

The Preferred units are accounted for as mezzanine equity on the consolidated balance sheet as the units are convertible and redeemable for shares at a fixed and determinable price and date at the option of the holder and upon the occurrence of an event not solely within the control of the Company.

 

The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s redeemable non-controlling interest in the Operating Partnership for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common

 

Preferred

($ in thousands)

    

Redeemable
OP units

    

Redeemable
non-controlling
interests

 

Redeemable
Preferred units

    

Redeemable
non-controlling
interests

Balance at December 31, 2015

 

884

 

$

9,695

 

 —

 

$

 —

Issuance of redeemable OP units as partial consideration for real estate acquisition

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

117

 

 

117,000

Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest

 

 —

 

 

(64)

 

 —

 

 

 —

Accrued distributions to non-controlling interest

 

 —

 

 

(113)

 

 —

 

 

1,170

Redemption of common units for common stock

 

(884)

 

 

(9,518)

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2016

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

117

 

$

118,170

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2016

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

117

 

$

119,915

Issuance of redeemable OP units as partial consideration for real estate acquisition

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

Distributions paid to non-controlling interest

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

(2,915)

Accrued distributions to non-controlling interest

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

1,755

Redemption of OP units for common stock

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

Balance at June 30, 2017

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

117

 

$

118,755

 

Distributions

 

The Company’s board of directors declared and paid the following distributions to common stockholders and holders of OP units for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and the year ended December 31, 2016:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal Year

    

Declaration Date

    

Record Date

    

Payment Date

    

Distributions
per Common
Share/OP unit

2017

 

May 9, 2017

 

June 30, 2017

 

July 14, 2017

 

$

0.1275

 

 

February 22, 2017

 

April 1, 2017

 

April 14, 2017

 

 

0.1275

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

0.2550

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016

 

March 8, 2016

 

April 1, 2016

 

April 15, 2016

 

$

0.1275

 

 

May 9, 2016

 

July 1, 2016

 

July 15, 2016

 

 

0.1275

 

 

August 3, 2016

 

September 30, 2016

 

October 14, 2016

 

 

0.1275

 

 

November 3, 2016

 

January 2, 2017

 

January 13, 2017

 

 

0.1275

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

0.5100

 

Additionally, in connection with the 3.00% cumulative preferential distribution on the Preferred units, the Company has accrued $1.8 million in distributions payable as of June 30, 2017.  The distributions are payable annually in arrears on January 15 of each year.

 

In general, common stock cash dividends declared by the Company will be considered ordinary income to stockholders for income tax purposes.  From time to time, a portion of the Company’s dividends may be characterized as qualified dividends, capital gains or return of capital.

Stock Repurchase Plan

26


 

 

On March 15, 2017, the Company’s board of directors approved a program to repurchase up to $25,000,000 in shares of the Company’s common stock. Repurchases under this program may be made from time to time, in amounts and prices as the Company deems appropriate.  Repurchases may be made in open market or privately negotiated transactions in compliance with Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, subject to market conditions, applicable legal requirements, trading restrictions under the Company’s insider trading policy and other relevant factors. This stock repurchase plan does not obligate the Company to acquire any particular amount of common stock, and it may be modified or suspended at any time at the Company's discretion. The Company expects to fund repurchases under the program using cash on hand.  There were no repurchases made during the six months ended June 30, 2017.

 

Equity Incentive Plan

 

On May 3, 2017, the Company’s stockholders approved the Second Amended and Restated Farmland Partners Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Second Amended Plan”).  The Second Amended Plan, among other things, increased the aggregate number of shares of the Company’s common stock reserved for issuance from 615,070, which was available under the First Amended and Restated Farmland Partners Inc. Equity Incentive Plan (together with the Second Amended Plan, the “Plan”), to 1,265,851 (including the 529,195 shares of restricted common stock that have been issued under the Plan and 750,000 shares reserved for future issuance). As of June 30, 2017, there were 0.7 million of shares available for future grant under the Plan.

 

The Company may issue equity-based awards to officers, non-employee directors, employees, independent contractors and other eligible persons under the Plan. The Plan provides for the grant of stock options, share awards (including restricted stock and restricted stock units), stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalent rights, performance awards, annual incentive cash awards and other equity based awards, including LTIP units, which are convertible on a one-for-one basis into OP units.  The terms of each grant are determined by the compensation committee of the board of directors. 

 

From time to time, the Company may award restricted shares of its common stock under the Plan, as compensation to officers, employees, non-employee directors and non-employee consultants. The shares of restricted stock vest over a period of time as determined by the compensation committee of the Company’s board of directors at the date of grant. The Company recognizes compensation expense for awards issued to officers, employees and non-employee directors for restricted shares of common stock on a straight-line basis over the vesting period based upon the fair market value of the shares on the date of issuance, adjusted for forfeitures.  The Company recognizes compensation expense for awards issued to non-employee consultants in the same period and in the same manner as if the Company paid cash for the underlying services.  

 

A summary of the nonvested shares as of June 30, 2017 is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Number of

 

average grant

 

(shares in thousands)

    

shares

    

date fair value

 

Unvested at December 31, 2015

 

145

 

$

13.87

 

Granted

 

109

 

 

10.72

 

Vested

 

(70)

 

 

13.96

 

Forfeited

 

(4)

 

 

11.13

 

Unvested at June 30, 2016

 

180

 

 

11.99

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unvested at December 31, 2016

 

189

 

 

11.98

 

Granted

 

206

 

 

11.30

 

Vested

 

(108)

 

 

12.88

 

Forfeited

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

Unvested at June 30, 2017

 

287

 

$

11.16

 

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company recognized $0. 8 million and $ 0.6 million , respectively, of stock-based compensation expense related to restricted stock awards.  As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, there were $2. 8 million and $ 1.2 million , respectively, of total unrecognized compensation costs related to nonvested stock awards, which are expected to be recognized over weighted-average periods of 1.8 years. The change in fair value of the shares issued to non-employees to be issued upon vesting is remeasured at the end of each reporting period

27


 

and is recorded in general and administrative expenses on the consolidated statements of operations. The remaining restricted stock awards issued to non-employees vested during the six months ended June 30, 2017, resulting in no change in fair value for the three months ended June 30, 2017.

 

At-the-Market Offering Program (the “ATM Program”)

 

On September 15, 2015, the Company entered into equity distribution agreements under which the Company may issue and sell from time to time, through sales agents, shares of its common stock having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $25 million. During the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company made no sales under the ATM Program.

 

Deferred Offering Costs

 

Deferred offering costs include incremental direct costs incurred by the Company in connection with proposed or actual offerings of securities. At the completion of a securities offering, the deferred offering costs are charged ratably as a reduction of the gross proceeds of equity as stock is issued. If an offering is abandoned, the previously deferred offering costs will be charged to operations in the period in which the offering is abandoned. The Company incurred $174,937 and $52,000 in offering costs during the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had $326,000 and $216,000 respectively in deferred offering costs related to regulatory, legal, accounting and professional service costs associated with proposed or completed offerings of securities.

 

Earnings (Loss) per Share

 

The computation of basic and diluted loss per share is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the three months ended

 

For the six months ended

 

 

June 30,

 

June 30,

(in thousands except per share amounts)

    

2017

 

2016

 

2017

    

2016

Numerator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net profit (loss) attributable to Farmland Partners Inc.

 

$

1,687

 

$

872

 

$

60

 

$

(481)

Less:  Nonforfeitable distributions allocated to unvested restricted shares

 

 

(37)

 

 

(23)

 

 

(80)

 

 

(53)

Less:  Distributions on redeemable non-controlling interests in Operating Partnership, common

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(113)

Less:  Distributions on redeemable non-controlling interests in Operating Partnership, preferred

 

 

(878)

 

 

(887)

 

 

(1,755)

 

 

(1,170)

Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders

 

$

772

 

$

(38)

 

$

(1,775)

 

$

(1,817)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average number of common shares - basic

 

 

32,457

 

 

12,452

 

 

29,594

 

 

12,146

Conversion of preferred units (1)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

Unvested restricted shares (1)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

Weighted-average number of common shares - diluted

 

 

32,457

 

 

12,452

 

 

29,594

 

 

12,146

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (Loss) per share attributable to common stockholders - basic

 

$

0.02

 

$

0.00

 

$

(0.06)

 

$

(0.15)

Earnings (Loss) per share attributable to common stockholders - diluted

 

$

0.02

 

$

0.00

 

$

(0.06)

 

$

(0.15)


(1)

Anti-dilutive for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and the three and six months ended June 30, 2016.

 

Unvested shares of the Company’s restricted common stock are, and until May 26, 2016, the Excess Units were, considered participating securities which require the use of the two-class method for the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share. On May 25, 2016, the Company obtained stockholder approval allowing the Company to issue shares of common stock upon the redemption of the Excess Units, which allowed the Company to remove the Excess Units from the mezzanine section of the consolidated balance sheets. As such, as of June 30, 2017, the Company no longer has any OP units included as redeemable non-controlling interests outstanding in the mezzanine section of the consolidated balance sheets.

 

The limited partners’ outstanding OP units (which may be redeemed for shares of common stock) and Excess Units have been excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation as there would be no effect on the amounts since the

28


 

limited partners’ share of income would also be added back to net income. Any anti-dilutive shares have been excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation. Unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are participating securities and shall be included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. Accordingly, distributed and undistributed earnings attributable to unvested restricted shares (participating securities) have been excluded, as applicable, from net income or loss attributable to common stockholders utilized in the basic and diluted earnings per share calculations. Net income or loss figures are presented net of non-controlling interests in the earnings per share calculations. The weighted average number of OP units held by the non-controlling interest was 6. 3 million and 5.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

The outstanding Preferred units are non-participating securities and thus are included in the computation of diluted earnings per share on an as-if converted basis.  Any anti-dilutive shares are excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2016, these shares were not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation as they would be anti-dilutive.

 

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, diluted weighted average common shares do not include the impact of 0.3 million and  0. 2 million, respectively, unvested compensation-related shares. The effect of these items on diluted earnings per share would be anti-dilutive.

 

The following equity awards and units are outstanding as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

June 30, 2017

 

December 31, 2016

Shares

 

32,542

 

17,163

OP Units

 

6,374

 

5,692

Unvested restricted stock

 

287

 

188

 

 

39,203

 

23,043

 

Note 10—Subsequent Events

 

On July 10, 2017, the Company issued 118,634 shares of common stock in exchange for 118,634 OP units that had been tendered for redemption. Furthermore, o n July 19, 2017, the Company issued 531,827 shares of common stock in exchange for 531,827 OP units that had been tendered for redemption. See “Note 9-Stockholders’ Equity and Non-Controlling Interests-Non-Controlling Interests in Operating Partnership.”

 

On July 19, 2017, the Company’s board of directors declared a distribution of $0.1275 per share of common stock and OP unit payable on October 13, 2017 to holders of record as of October 2, 2017.

 

29


 

 

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

 

The following analysis of our financial condition and results of operations   should be read in conjunction with our  consolidated financial statements and the notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, as well as the information contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 23, 2017, which is accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.  References to “we,” “our,” “us” and “our company” refer to Farmland Partners Inc., a Maryland corporation, together with our consolidated subsidiaries, including Farmland Partners Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), of which we are the sole member of the sole general partner.

 

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

We make statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (set forth in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)). These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements concerning our proposed acquisition of American Farmland Company, projections, predictions, expectations, estimates, or forecasts as to our business, financial and operational results, future economic performance, crop yields and prices and future rental rates for our properties, as well as statements of management’s goals and objectives and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. When we use the words “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” or similar expressions or their negatives, as well as statements in future tense, we intend to identify forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, beliefs and expectations, such forward-looking statements are not predictions of future events or guarantees of future performance and our actual results could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.  Some factors that might cause such a difference include the following: general volatility of the capital markets and the market price of our common stock, changes in our business strategy, availability, terms and deployment of capital, our ability to refinance existing indebtedness at or prior to maturity on favorable terms, or at all, availability of qualified personnel, changes in our industry, interest rates or the general economy, the degree and nature of our competition, our ability to identify new acquisitions and close on pending acquisitions , and the other factors described in the risk factors described in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and in other documents that we file from time to time with the SEC. Given these uncertainties, undue reliance should not be placed on such statements.  We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, except to the extent required by law.  

 

Overview and Background

 

We are an internally managed real estate company that owns and seeks to acquire high-quality farmland located in agricultural markets throughout North America. As of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we own farms with an aggregate of approximately 154,165 acres in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Virginia. As of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, approximately 75% of the acres in our portfolio are used to grow primary crops, such as corn, soybeans, wheat, rice and cotton, and approximately 25% of the acres in  our portfolio produce specialty crops, such as blueberries, vegetables, citrus, nuts and edible beans.  We believe our portfolio gives investors exposure to the increasing global food demand trend in the face of growing scarcity of high quality farmland and will reflect the approximate breakdown of U.S. agricultural output between primary crops and animal protein (whose production relies principally on primary crops as feed), on one hand, and specialty crops, on the other. 

 

In addition, in August 2015, we announced the launch of the FPI Loan Program, an agricultural lending product aimed at farmers, as a complement to our primary business of acquiring and owning farmland and leasing it to farmers.  Under the FPI Loan Program, we make loans to third-party farmers (both tenant and non-tenant) to provide partial financing for

30


 

working capital requirements and operational farming activities, farming infrastructure projects, and for other farming and agricultural real estate related purposes. 

 

We were incorporated in Maryland on September 27, 2013, and we are the sole member of the general partner of the Operating Partnership, which is a Delaware limited partnership that was formed on September 27, 2013. All of our assets are held by, and our operations are primarily conducted through, the Operating Partnership and its wholly owned subsidiaries. As of June 30, 2017 we own a 83.7% interest in the Operating Partnership. See “Note 9 – Stockholders’ Equity and Non-controlling Interests” within the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional information regarding the non-controlling interests.

 

We have elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, commencing with our short taxable year ended December 31, 2014.

 

The following table sets forth our ownership of acreage by region:

 

 

 

 

Region (1)

 

Total Acres

Corn Belt

 

47,472

Delta & South

 

28,912

High Plains

 

31,504

Southeast

 

39,805

West Coast

 

6,472

 

 

154,165


(1)

Corn Belt includes farms located in Illinois, Michigan, eastern Nebraska. Delta and South includes farms located in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. High Plains includes farms located in Colorado, Kansas, western Nebraska, and Texas. Southeast includes farms located in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. West Coast includes farms located in California.

 

We intend to continue to acquire additional farmland to achieve scale and further diversify our portfolio by geography, crop type and tenants. We also may acquire, and make loans secured by mortgages on, properties related to farming, such as grain storage facilities, grain elevators, feedlots, processing plants and distribution centers, as well as livestock farms or ranches. In addition, we engage directly in farming through FPI Agribusiness Inc., our taxable REIT subsidiary (the “TRS” or “FPI Agribusiness”), whereby we operate a small number of development properties (approximately 716 acres as of June 30, 2017) relying on custom farming contracts with local farm operators.  Additionally, the TRS operates a volume purchasing program for participating tenants by working with suppliers to pool tenant purchasing power and create cost savings through bulk orders.

   

Our principal source of revenue is rent from tenants that conduct farming operations on our farmland. The majority of the leases that are in place as of the date of this Quarterly Report have fixed annual rental payments. Some of our leases have variable rents based on the revenue generated by our farm-operator tenants. We believe that this mix of fixed and variable rents will help insulate us from the variability of farming operations and reduce our credit-risk exposure to farm-operator tenants, while making us an attractive landlord in certain regions where variable leases are customary. However, we may be exposed to tenant credit risk and farming operation risks, particularly with respect to leases that do not require advance payment of 100% of the annual rent, leases for which the rent is based on a percentage of a tenant's farming revenues and leases with terms greater than one year.

 

In addition, an increasing number of our leases provide for crop share lease payments, which we only recognize revenue to the amount of the crop insurance minimum, the excess cannot be recognized as revenue until the tenant enters into a contract to sell their crop. Generally, we expect tenants to enter into contracts to sell their crop following the harvest of the crop.

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Recent Developments

 

Completed Acquisitions

 

AFCO Mergers 

 

       On February 2, 2017, we completed the previously announced merger with American Farmland Company (“AFCO”) at which time one of our wholly owned subsidiaries was merged with and into American Farmland Company L.P. (“AFCO OP”) with AFCO OP surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership (the “Partnership Merger”), and AFCO merged with and into another one of our wholly owned subsidiaries with such wholly owned subsidiary surviving. 

 

       At the effective time of the Company Merger, each share of common stock of AFCO, par value $0.01 per share (“AFCO Common Stock”), issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Company Merger (other than any shares of AFCO Common Stock owned by any wholly owned subsidiary of AFCO or by us or the Operating Partnership or any wholly owned subsidiary of us or the Operating Partnership), was automatically converted into the right to receive, subject to certain adjustments, 0.7417 shares of our common stock (the “Company Merger Consideration”). In addition, in connection with the Company Merger, each outstanding AFCO restricted stock unit that had become fully earned and vested in accordance with its terms was, at the effective time of the Company Merger, converted into the right to receive the Company Merger Consideration. We issued 14,763,604 shares of our common stock as consideration in the Company Merger and 17,373 shares of our common stock in respect of fully earned and vested AFCO restricted stock units.

 

       At the effective time of the Partnership Merger, each common unit of limited partnership interest in AFCO OP issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Partnership Merger, was converted automatically into the right to receive, subject to certain adjustments, 0.7417 OP units. We issued 218,525 OP units as consideration in the Partnership Merger.

 

       We believe that following the AFCO Mergers, our portfolio gives investors exposure to the increasing global food demand trend in the face of growing scarcity of high quality farmland and will reflect the approximate breakdown of U.S. agricultural output between primary crops and animal protein (whose production relies principally on primary crops as feed), on one hand, and specialty crops, on the other.

 

Prudential Termination Agreement

 

On February 18, 2017, we entered into a Termination Agreement (the “Termination Agreement”) with Prudential Capital Mortgage Company (“the Prudential Sub-Advisor”) pursuant to which we and the Prudential Sub-Advisor agreed to terminate, effective as of March 31, 2017, the Amended and Restated Sub-Advisory Agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”), dated as of October 23, 2015, by and among American Farmland Company, American Farmland Advisors, American Farmland Company L.P. and Prudential and certain related property management agreements (together with the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the “Prudential Agreements”).

 

The Termination Agreement provided that, as of March 31, 2017, Prudential no longer provides services to us under the Prudential Agreements. We paid the Prudential Sub-Advisor $1.6 million in cash, which is equal to the fee that would have been owed to Prudential for services through the quarter ended March 31, 2017, plus a termination fee of $0.2 million. The income statement impact to the Company for the six month period ended June 30, 2017 totaled $0.7 million with the remaining $0.9 million being included in the accruals as a component of the purchase accounting surrounding the AFCO Mergers as this represented the costs incurred by AFCO prior to the AFCO Mergers. 

32


 

Completed Acquisitions

 

Since December 31, 2016, we have completed 16 acquisitions, including the AFCO Mergers, in Illinois, South Carolina, Michigan, Georgia, Kansas, California, Colorado, Alabama, Florida, Arkansas, and South Dakota. Consideration totaled $282.7 million and was comprised of cash, OP units, and shares of our common stock.

 

Factors That May Influence Future Results of Operations and Farmland Values

 

The principal factors affecting our operating results and the value of our farmland include global demand for food relative to the global supply of food, farmland fundamentals and economic conditions in the markets in which we own farmland, and our ability to increase or maintain rental revenues while controlling expenses. Although farmland prices may show a decline from time to time, we believe that any reduction in U.S. farmland values overall is likely to be short-lived as global demand for food and agricultural commodities typically exceeds global supply. In addition, although prices for many crops experienced significant declines in 2014, 2015 and 2016, we do not believe that such declines represent a trend that will continue over the long term. Rather, we believe that long-term growth trends in global population and GDP per capita will result in increased prices for primary crops over time.

 

Demand

 

We expect that global demand for food, driven primarily by significant increases in the global population and GDP per capita, will continue to be the key driver of farmland values. We further expect that global demand for most crops will continue to grow to keep pace with global population growth, which we anticipate will lead to either higher prices and/or higher yields and, therefore, higher rental rates on our farmland, as well as sustained growth in farmland values over the long-term. We also believe that growth in global GDP per capita, particularly in developing nations, will contribute significantly to increasing demand for primary crops. As global GDP per capita increases, the composition of daily caloric intake is expected to shift away from the direct consumption of primary crops toward animal-based proteins, which is expected to result in increased demand for primary crops as feed for livestock. According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (“UN FAO”), these factors are expected to require more than one billion additional tons of global annual grain production by 2050, a 45.5% increase from 2005-2007 levels and more than two times the 475 million tons of grain produced in the United States in 2014.  Furthermore, we believe that, as GDP per capita grows, a significant portion of additional household income is allocated to food and that once individuals increase consumption of, and spending on, higher quality food, they will strongly resist returning to their former dietary habits, resulting in greater inelasticity in the demand for food. As a result, we believe that, as global demand for food increases, rental rates on our farmland and the value of our farmland will increase over the long-term. Global demand for corn and soybeans as inputs in the production of biofuels such as ethanol and soy diesel also could impact the prices of corn and soybeans, which, in the long-term, could impact our rental revenues and our results of operations. However, the success of our business strategy is not dependent on growth in demand for biofuels and we do not believe that demand for corn and soybeans as inputs in the production of biofuels will materially impact our results of operations or the value of our farmland, primarily because we believe that growth in global population and GDP per capita will be more significant drivers of global demand for primary crops over the long-term.

 

Supply

 

Global supply of agricultural commodities is driven by two primary factors, the number of tillable acres available for crop production and the productivity of the acres being farmed. Although the amount of global cropland in use has gradually increased over time, growth has plateaued over the last 20 years.  Cropland area continues to increase in developing countries, but after accounting for expected continuing cropland loss, the UN FAO projects only 171 million acres will be added from 2005-2007 to 2050, a 4.3% increase. In comparison, world population is expected to grow over the same period to 9.7 billion, a nearly 40% increase. While we expect growth in the global supply of arable land, we also expect that landowners will only put that land into production if increases in commodity prices and the value of farmland cause landowners to benefit economically from using the land for farming rather than alternative uses. We also believe that decreases in the amount of arable land in the United States and globally as a result of increasing urbanization will partially offset the impact of additional supply of farmland. The global supply of food is also impacted by the productivity per acre of tillable land. Historically, productivity gains (measured by average crop yields) have been driven by advances

33


 

in seed technology, farm equipment, irrigation techniques and chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Furthermore, we expect the increasing shortage of water in many irrigated growing regions in the United States and other growing regions around the globe, often as a result of new water restrictions imposed by laws or regulations, to lead to decreased productivity growth on many acres and, in some cases, cause yields to decline on those acres.

 

Conditions in Our Existing Markets

 

Our portfolio spans numerous farmland markets and crop types, which provides us broad diversification across conditions in these markets. Across all regions, farmland acquisitions continue to be dominated by buyers who are existing farm owners and operators; institutional and investor acquirors remain a small fraction of the industry. We generally see firm demand for high quality properties across all regions and crop types.

 

With regard to leasing dynamics, we believe quality farmland in the United States has a near-zero vacancy rate as a result of the supply and demand fundamentals discussed above. Our view is that rental rates for farmland are a function of farmland operators’ view of the long-term profitability of farmland, and that many farm operators will compete for farmland even during periods of decreased profitability due to the scarcity of farmland available to rent. In particular, we believe that due to the relatively high fixed costs associated with farming operations (including equipment, labor and knowledge), many farm operators in some circumstances will rent additional acres of farmland when it becomes available in order to allocate their fixed costs over additional acres. Furthermore, because it is generally customary in the industry to provide the existing tenant with the opportunity to re-lease the land at the end of each lease term, we believe that many farm operators will rent additional land that becomes available in order to control the ability to farm that land in future periods. As a result, in our experience, many farm operators will aggressively pursue rental opportunities in their operable geographic area, even when the farmer anticipates lower current returns or short-term losses.

 

In our primary row crop farmland, we see flat to modestly lower rent rates in connection with 2017 lease renewals. This is consistent with, on the one hand, headwinds in primary crop markets and, on the other, tenant demand for leasing high quality farmland. In 2016, we had a higher portion than in 2015 of our fixed cash leases providing for payment of 50% of a year’s rent after harvest rather than substantially all of the lease paid prior to harvest, as compared to 2016. This structure better matches operator cash flows. Given per acre revenue on our primary crop farmland and crop insurance levels, we do not expect that this structure materially changes tenant credit risk. Due to the short term nature of most of our primary crop leases, we believe that a recovery of crop prices and farm profitability will be reflected relatively rapidly in our revenues via increases in rent rates. Across specialty crops, operator profitability generally remains healthy. Participating lease structures are common in many specialty crops and base lease rates are consistent with 2016. 

 

Lease Expirations

 

Farm leases are generally short-term in nature.  As of June 30, 2017, our portfolio had the following lease expirations as a percentage of approximate acres leased and annual minimum cash rents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

($ in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ending December 31,

    

Approximate Acres

 

% of Approximate Acres

 

Annual Cash Rents

 

% of Annual Cash Rents

 

2017 (remaining six months)

 

29,292

 

19.0

%  

$

5,772

 

17.4

%

2018

 

33,978

 

22.1

%  

 

6,708

 

20.2

%

2019

 

59,031

 

38.4

%  

 

10,760

 

32.4

%

2020

 

12,198

 

7.9

%  

 

3,612

 

10.9

%

2021

 

13,184

 

8.6

%  

 

2,293

 

6.9

%

2022 and beyond

 

6,199

 

4.0

%  

 

4,092

 

12.2

%

 

 

153,882

 

100.0

%  

$

33,237

 

100.0

%

 

As of June 30, 2017, we had 72,432 acres for which lease payments are based on a percentage of farming revenues and 716 acres that are leased to our TRS, which are not included in the table above.  From time to time, we may enter into recreational leases on our farms.  We expect market rents in the coming year to be flat.  Since lease renewal periods are exercisable at the option of the lessee, the preceding table presents future lease expirations during the initial lease term only.

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Rental Revenues

 

Our revenues are primarily generated from renting farmland to operators of farming businesses. Our leases have terms ranging from one to ten years.  Although the majority of our leases do not provide the tenant with a contractual right to renew the lease upon its expiration, we believe it is customary to provide the existing tenant with the opportunity to renew the lease, subject to any increase in the rental rate that we may establish. If the tenant elects not to renew the lease at the end of the lease term, the land will be offered to a new tenant.

 

The leases for the majority of the properties in our portfolio provide that tenants must pay us at least 50% (and often 100%) of the annual rent in advance of each spring planting season.  As a result, we collect a significant portion of total annual rents in the first calendar quarter of each year.  We believe our use of leases pursuant to which at least 50% of the annual rent is payable in advance of each spring planting season mitigates the tenant credit risk associated with the variability of farming operations that could be adversely impacted by poor crop yields, weather conditions, mismanagement, undercapitalization or other factors affecting our tenants. Prior to acquiring farmland property, we take into consideration the competitiveness of the local farm-operator tenant environment in order to enhance our ability to quickly replace a tenant that is unwilling to renew a lease or is unable to pay a rent payment when it is due.  Some of our leases provide for a reimbursement of the property taxes we pay. We expect that, going forward, a progressively smaller percentage of our leases will provide for such a reimbursement.

 

Expenses

 

Substantially all of our farm leases are structured in such a way that we are responsible for major maintenance, certain insurance and taxes (which are sometimes reimbursed to us by our tenants), while our tenant is responsible for minor maintenance, water usage and all of the additional input costs related to farming operations on the property, such as seed, fertilizer, labor and fuel. We expect that substantially all of the leases for farmland we acquire in the future will continue to be structured in a manner consistent with substantially all of our existing leases. As the owner of the land, we generally only bear costs related to major capital improvements permanently attached to the property, such as irrigation systems, drainage tile, grain storage facilities, permanent plantings or other physical structures customary for farms. In cases where capital expenditures are necessary, we typically seek to offset, over a period of multiple years, the costs of such capital expenditures by increasing rental rates. We also incur the costs associated with maintaining liability and casualty insurance.

 

We incur costs associated with running a public company, including, among others, costs associated with employing our personnel and compliance costs. We incur costs associated with due diligence and acquisitions, including, among others, travel expenses, consulting fees, and legal and accounting fees. We also incur costs associated with managing our farmland. The management of our farmland, generally, is not labor or capital intensive because farmland generally has minimal physical structures that require routine inspection and maintenance, and our leases, generally, are structured to require the tenant to pay many of the costs associated with the property. Furthermore, we believe that our platform is scalable, and we do not expect the expenses associated with managing our portfolio of farmland to increase significantly as the number of farm properties we own increases over time. Rather, we expect that as we continue to add additional farmland to our portfolio, we will be able to achieve economies of scale, which will enable us to reduce our operating costs per acre .

 

Crop Prices

 

Our exposure to short-term crop price declines is limited as most of our leases do not factor in per bushel prices and instead are set on a rental rate per acre basis. This approach is common throughout agriculture for several reasons.  This approach recognizes that the value of leased land to a tenant is more closely linked to the total revenue produced on the property which is driven by crop yield and crop price.   This approach simplifies the administrative requirements for the landlord and the tenant significantly.  This approach supports the tenants’ desire to maintain access to their leased farms which are in short supply, a concept expanded upon below, by providing the landlord consistent rents.    Crop price exposure is also limited because tenants also benefit from the fundamental revenue hedging that occurs when large crops mitigate the lower crop prices triggered by their large crop.  Similarly, smaller crops have a tendency to increase the crop prices triggered and help increase revenue even when confronted by a smaller crop.   Further risk mitigation is available

35


 

to tenants, and indirectly to us, via crop insurance and hedging programs implemented by tenants.   Our TRS takes advantage of this risk mitigation programs and strategies also.

We believe quality farmland in the United States has a near-zero vacancy rate as a result of the supply and demand fundamentals. Our view is that rental rates for farmland are a function of farmland operators’ view of the long-term profitability of farmland, and that many farm operators will compete for farmland even during periods of decreased profitability due to the scarcity of farmland available to rent. In particular, we believe that due to the relatively high fixed costs associated with farming operations (including equipment, labor and knowledge), many farm operators in some circumstances will rent additional acres of farmland when it becomes available in order to allocate their fixed costs over additional acres. Furthermore, because it is generally customary in the industry to provide the existing tenant with the opportunity to re-lease the land at the end of each lease term, we believe that many farm operators will rent additional land that becomes available in order to control the ability to farm that land in future periods. As a result, in our experience, many farm operators will aggressively pursue rental opportunities in their operable geography, even when the farmer anticipates lower current returns or short-term losses.

The value of a crop is affected by many factors that can differ on a yearly basis. Weather conditions and crop disease in major crop production regions worldwide creates a significant risk of price volatility, which may either increase or decrease the value of the crops that our tenants produce each year. Other material factors adding to the volatility of crop prices are changes in government regulations and policy, fluctuations in global prosperity, fluctuations in foreign trade and export markets, and eruptions of military conflicts or civil unrest. Prices for many primary crops, particularly corn, experienced meaningful declines in 2014, 2015, and 2016. We do not believe such declines represent a trend over the long term. Rather, we believe those declines represented a combination of correction to historical norms (adjusted for inflation) and high yields induced by farmer planting decisions and unusually favorable weather patterns. We expect that continued long-term growth trends in global population and GDP per capita will result in increased prices for primary crops over time. We expect pricing across specialty crops to generally remain firm relative to 2016 as U.S. and global consumer demand remains strong and supply is broadly balanced to demand. Although annual rental payments under the majority of our leases are not based expressly on the quality or profitability of our tenants' harvests, any of these factors could adversely affect our tenants' ability to meet their obligations to us and our ability to lease or re-lease properties on favorable terms.

 

Interest Rates

 

We expect that future changes in interest rates will impact our overall operating performance by, among other things, increasing our borrowing costs. While we may seek to manage our exposure to future changes in rates through interest rate swap agreements or interest rate caps, portions of our overall outstanding debt will likely remain at floating rates. In addition, a sustained material increase in interest rates may cause farmland prices to decline if the rise in real interest rates (which is defined as nominal interest rates minus the inflation rate) is not accompanied by rises in the general levels of inflation. However, our business model anticipates that the value of our farmland will increase, as it has in the past, at a rate that is equal to or greater than the rate of inflation, which may in part offset the impact of rising interest rates on the value of our farmland, but there can be no guarantee that this appreciation will occur to the extent that we anticipate or at all.

 

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Except as set forth in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, there have been no changes to our critical accounting policies disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

New or Revised Accounting Standards

 

For a summary of the new or revised accounting standards please refer to “Note 1 – Organization and Significant Accounting Policies” within the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

Results of Operations

 

Comparison of the three months ended June 30, 2017 to the three months ended June 30, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the three months ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

($ in thousands)

    

2017

    

2016

    

$ Change

    

% Change

OPERATING REVENUES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rental income

 

$

10,471

 

$

5,881

 

$

4,590

 

78

%

Tenant reimbursements

 

 

652

 

 

95

 

 

557

 

586

%

Other revenue

 

 

337

 

 

55

 

 

282

 

513

%

Total operating revenues

 

 

11,460

 

 

6,031

 

 

5,429

 

90

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

 

2,056

 

 

365

 

 

1,691

 

463

%

Property operating expenses

 

 

1,196

 

 

541

 

 

655

 

121

%

Acquisition and due diligence costs

 

 

183

 

 

48

 

 

135

 

281

%

General and administrative expenses

 

 

2,052

 

 

1,657

 

 

395

 

24

%

Legal and accounting

 

 

302

 

 

186

 

 

116

 

62

%

Other operating expenses

 

 

120

 

 

 —

 

 

120

 

NM

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

5,909

 

 

2,797

 

 

3,112

 

111

%

OPERATING INCOME

 

 

5,551

 

 

3,234

 

 

2,317

 

72

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income

 

 

(16)

 

 

(33)

 

 

17

 

(52)

%

Loss on disposition of assets

 

 

92

 

 

 —

 

 

92

 

NM

 

Interest expense

 

 

3,454

 

 

1,950

 

 

1,504

 

77

%

Total other expense

 

 

3,530

 

 

1,917

 

 

1,613

 

84

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME

 

$

2,021

 

$

1,317

 

$

704

 

53

%

 

NM=Not Meaningful

 

Our rental income for the period presented was impacted by the eight acquisitions completed in the last two quarters of 2016 and, to a greater extent, the 15 acquisitions and the AFCO Mergers completed in the first two quarters of 2017. To highlight the effect of changes due to acquisitions, we have separately discussed the rental income for the same-property portfolio, which includes only properties owned and operated for the entirety of both periods presented. The same-property portfolio for the periods presented includes 107,206 acres, which represents 70% of our current portfolio on an acreage basis.

 

Total rental income under cash leases for the same-property portfolio decreased to $4.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, from $5.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016, as a result of average annual rent for the same-property portfolio decreasing year over year to $163 per acre in the second quarter of 2017 from $201 in the comparative three-month period ended June 30, 2016. In the fourth quarter of 2016 we recognized $6.5 million in revenue in connection with the termination of certain leases. Had we recognized such revenue through the remaining life of the cancelled leases, the average annual rent for the same property portfolio would have decreased from $201 in the second quarter of 2016 to $187 in the second quarter of 2017. This decrease is primarily due to the fact that more of our leases now require the tenant to pay a portion of its rent through crop share payments rather than through fixed cash rental

37


 

payments.  Under GAAP, we cannot recognize crop share revenue until our tenant has a contractual agreement to sell the crop, therefore such revenue is not included in our results of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2017.

 

Total rental income increased $4.6 million, or 78%, for the three months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2016, resulting entirely from the completion of 23 acquisitions and the AFCO Mergers after June 30,  2016.  For the three months ended June 30, 2017, the average annual cash rent for the entire portfolio decreased to $200 per acre from $202 per acre for the same period in 2016 due to the fact that more of our leases include a larger amount of crop share revenue which is not included within these calculations as discussed above.

 

Revenues recognized from tenant reimbursement of property taxes increased 586%. This increase is the result of identifying and recording an out-of-period adjustment related to tenant reimbursement revenue that should have been recorded in the first quarter of 2017. The adjustment is reflected as a $0.2 million increase in tenant reimbursement revenue.  The remaining increase is the result of an increased number of leases requiring reimbursement of property taxes to the Company by the tenant.

 

Other revenues totaled $337,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2017, compared to $55,000 in the comparative three-month period ended June 30, 2016. The $337,000 recognized in the three months ended June 30, 2017 consisted of $251,000 realized on crop sales from our farming operation in the TRS, in addition to $86,000 earned on interest and amortization of net loan fees from notes receivable compared to $0 and $55,000, respectively, recognized in the three months ended June 30, 2016. Mortgage notes receivable under the FPI Loan Program totaled $6.0 million as of June 30, 2017 compared to $2.8 million as of June 30, 2016.

 

Depreciation and depletion expense increased $1.7 million, or 463%, for the three months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2016, as a result of acquiring approximately $1.9 million in depreciable assets in the last two quarters of 2016 and an additional $84.6 million in depreciable assets during the first two quarters of 2017. Additionally, approximately $3.8 million was invested in property improvements during the last two quarters of 2016 along with $4.0 million in property improvements during the first two quarters of 2017.

 

Property operating expenses increased $0.7 million, or 121%, for the three months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2016, primarily related to property taxes attributable to properties acquired since June 30, 2016.

 

Acquisition and due diligence costs totaled $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 as compared to $0.0 million recognized in the same period of the prior year.  The acquisition and due diligence costs recognized in the three months ended June 30, 2017 primarily consisted of $0.2 million of land acquisition costs related to potential acquisitions that were not pursued further.

 

General and administrative expenses increased $0.4  million, or 24%, for the three months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2016.  The increase in general and administrative expenses was largely a result of increased costs related to our continued growth. During the three months ended June 30, 2017, employee compensation expenses increased $0.4 million which includes an increase in employee benefits expenses, as compared with the same period in 2016, due to an increase in the number of employees from 12 as of June 30, 2016 to 19 as of June 30, 2017.

 

Legal and accounting expenses increased $116,000, or 62%, for the three months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2016, primarily as a result of increased costs related to transactions, including the AFCO Mergers, the continued growth of our portfolio and general corporate matters.

 

Other operating expenses totaling $120,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2017 is related to cost of crop sales on the $251,000 of revenue recognized on crop sales from our TRS’s farming operations, compared to no cost of crop sales during the three months ended June 30, 2016 due to $0 of revenue recognized on crop sales in that period.

 

38


 

Interest expense increased $1.5 million, or 77%, for the three months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2016. This increase is the result of an increase in our outstanding borrowings from $298.2 million as of June 30, 2016 to $486.7 million as of June 30, 2017.  The increase in our total borrowings was primarily driven by the use of debt financing to acquire new properties as well as the debt assumed in the AFCO Mergers.

 

Comparison of the six months ended June 30, 2017 to the six months ended June 30, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

($ in thousands)

    

2017

    

2016

    

$ Change

    

% Change

OPERATING REVENUES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rental income

 

$

17,274

 

$

10,298

 

$

6,976

 

68

%  

Tenant reimbursements

 

 

756

 

 

164

 

 

592

 

361

%  

Other revenue

 

 

579

 

 

261

 

 

318

 

122

%  

Total operating revenues

 

 

18,609

 

 

10,723

 

 

7,886

 

74

%  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

 

3,544

 

 

683

 

 

2,861

 

419

%  

Property operating expenses

 

 

2,999

 

 

981

 

 

2,018

 

206

%  

Acquisition and due diligence costs

 

 

698

 

 

105

 

 

593

 

565

%  

General and administrative expenses

 

 

4,133

 

 

3,183

 

 

950

 

30

%  

Legal and accounting

 

 

701

 

 

552

 

 

149

 

27

%  

Other operating expenses

 

 

276

 

 

89

 

 

187

 

210

%  

Total operating expenses

 

 

12,351

 

 

5,593

 

 

6,758

 

121

%  

OPERATING INCOME

 

 

6,258

 

 

5,130

 

 

1,128

 

22

%  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income

 

 

(22)

 

 

(62)

 

 

40

 

(65)

%  

Loss on disposition of assets

 

 

92

 

 

 —

 

 

92

 

NM

 

Interest expense

 

 

6,169

 

 

5,804

 

 

365

 

 6

%  

Total other expense

 

 

6,239

 

 

5,742

 

 

497

 

 9

%  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET LOSS

 

$

19

 

$

(612)

 

$

631

 

(103)

%  

NM=Not Meaningful

 

Our rental income for the period presented was impacted by the eight acquisitions completed in the last two quarters of 2016 and, to a greater extent, the 15 acquisitions and the AFCO Mergers completed in the first two quarters of 2017. To highlight the effect of changes due to acquisitions, we have separately discussed the rental income for the same-property portfolio, which includes only properties owned and operated for the entirety of both periods presented. The same-property portfolio for the periods presented includes 74,420 acres, which represents 48% of our current portfolio on an acreage basis.

 

Total rental income under cash leases for the same-property portfolio decreased to $5.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, from $7.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016, as a result of average annual rent for the same-property portfolio decreasing year over year to $145 per acre in the first two quarters of 2017 from $215 in the comparative six-month period ended June 30, 2016. In the fourth quarter of 2016 we recognized $6.5 million in revenue in connection with the termination of certain leases. Had we recognized such revenue through the remaining life of the cancelled leases, the average annual rent for the same property portfolio would have decreased from $215 in the first two quarters of 2016 to $178 in the first two quarters of 2017. This decrease is primarily due to the fact that more of our leases now require the tenant to pay a portion of its rent through crop share payments rather than through fixed cash rental payments.  Under GAAP, we cannot recognize crop share revenue until our tenant has a contractual agreement to sell the crop, therefore such revenue is not included in our results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2017.  

 

Total rental income increased $7.0 million, or 68%, for the six months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2016, resulting entirely from the completion of 23 acquisitions and the AFCO Mergers after June 30, 2016.  For the six months ended June 30, 2017, the average annual cash rent for the entire portfolio decreased to $200 per acre from $202 per acre for the same period in 2016 due to the fact that more of our leases include a larger amount of crop share revenue which is not included within these calculations as discussed above.

 

39


 

Revenues recognized from tenant reimbursement of property taxes increased 361%. This increase is the result of identifying and recording an out-of-period adjustment related to tenant reimbursement revenue that should have recorded in the first quarter of 2017. The adjustment is reflected as a $0.2 million increase in tenant reimbursement revenue.

 

Other revenues totaled $0.6 million during the six months ended June 30, 2017, compared to $0.3 million in the comparative six-month period ended June 30, 2016. The $0.6 million recognized in the six months ended June 30, 2017 consisted of $0.4 million realized on crop sales from our farming operation in the TRS, in addition to $0.2 million earned on interest and amortization of net loan fees from notes receivable compared to $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively, recognized in the six months ended June 30, 2016. Mortgage notes receivable under the FPI Loan Program totaled $6.0 million as of June 30, 2017 compared to $2.8 million as of June 30, 2016.

 

Depreciation and depletion expense increased $2.9 million, or 419%, for the six months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2016, as a result of acquiring approximately $1.9 million in depreciable assets in the last two quarters of 2016 and an additional $84.6 million in depreciable assets during the first two quarters of 2017. Additionally, approximately $3.8 million was invested in property improvements during the last two quarters of 2016 along with $4.0 million in property improvements during the first two quarters of 2017.  

 

Property operating expenses increased $2.0 million, or 206%, for the six months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2016, primarily related to property taxes attributable to properties acquired since June 30, 2016. The increase in property operating expenses also includes an increase in expense relating to the Prudential contract assumed in the AFCO Mergers and terminated as of March 31, 2017, totaling $0.7 million compared to no such costs in the same period in 2016.

 

Acquisition and due diligence costs totaled $0.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 as compared to $0.1 million recognized in the same period of the prior year. The acquisition and due diligence costs recognized in the six months ended June 30, 2017 primarily consisted of $0.4 million of costs related to the AFCO Mergers, $0.3 million of land acquisition costs related to potential acquisitions that were not pursued further.

 

General and administrative expenses increased $1.0 million, or 30%, for the six months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2016.  The increase in general and administrative expenses was largely a result of increased costs related to our continued growth. During the six months ended June 30, 2017, employee compensation expenses increased $0.8 million which includes an increase in employee benefits expenses, as compared with the same period in 2016, due to an increase in the number of employees from 12 as of June 30, 2016 to 19 as of June 30, 2017. During the six months ended June 30, 2017, our public company costs increased due to increased investor relations, regulatory, compliance activity   and general and administrative activity. This activity amounted to an increase of $0.2 million during the six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016.

 

Legal and accounting expenses increased $149,000, or 27%, for the six months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2016, primarily as a result of increased costs related to transactions, including the AFCO Mergers, the continued growth of our portfolio and general corporate matters.

 

Other operating expenses totaling $276,000 during the six months ended June 30, 2017 is related to cost of crop sales on the $436,000 of revenue recognized on crop sales from our TRS’s farming operations, compared to other operating expenses totaling $89,000 during the six months ended June 30, 2016 related to cost of crop sales on the $149,000 of revenue recognized on crop sales in that period.

 

Interest expense increased $0.4 million, or 6%, for the six months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2016. This increase resulted from an increase in our outstanding borrowings from $298.2 million as of June 30, 2016 to $486.7 million as of June 30, 2017, which was offset by the absence of additional interest expense during the six months ended June 30, 2017 related to interest and amortization of deferred loan fees associated with the $53.0 million Bridge Loan compared to $2.4 million during the six months ended June 30, 2016. The increase in our total borrowings was primarily driven by the use of debt financing to acquire new properties as well as the debt assumed in the AFCO Mergers. 

 

40


 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Overview

 

Liquidity is a measure of our ability to meet potential cash requirements, including ongoing commitments to repay any outstanding borrowings, fund and maintain our assets and operations, make distributions to our stockholders and to OP unitholders, and other general business needs.

 

Our short-term liquidity requirements consist primarily of funds necessary to acquire additional farmland and make other investments consistent with our investment strategy, make principal and interest payments on outstanding borrowings, make distributions necessary to qualify for taxation as a REIT and fund our operations. Our sources of funds primarily will be cash on hand, operating cash flows and borrowings from prospective lenders.

 

During 2017, $81.1 million of our borrowings will mature. Any cash that we use to satisfy our outstanding debt obligations will reduce the amounts available to acquire additional farms, which could adversely affect our growth prospects. As of the date of this report, the Company has $3.1 million in capacity available under the Farm Credit of Central Florida Mortgage Note (as defined below). We anticipate refinancing the debt due to mature in 2017 with similar financial institutions and we are currently in discussions with lenders to do so. However, we can provide no assurances that we will be able to refinance the debt on similar terms or at all and thus alternative sources of capital may be necessary. As of  June 30, 2017, we had $486.7 million of debt, which may expose us to the risk of default under our debt obligations , restrict our operations and our ability to grow our business and revenues and restrict our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders.

 

In addition to utilizing current and any future available borrowings, we entered into equity distribution agreements on September 15, 2015 in connection with the ATM Program, under which the Company has issued and sold from time to time, through the sales agents, shares of our common stock having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $25 million. Through June 30, 2017, the Company has generated $11.1 million in net cash proceeds under the ATM Program which is intended to provide cost-effective financing alternatives in the capital markets. We intend to use the net proceeds from the ATM Program, if any, for future farmland acquisitions in accordance with our investment strategy and for general corporate purposes, which may also include originating loans to farmers under our loan program.  We only intend to utilize the ATM Program if the market price of our common stock reaches levels which are deemed appropriate by our board of directors.

 

Consolidated Indebtedness

 

Farmer Mac Facility

 

We are party to the Amended and Restated Bond Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2015 and amended as of June 2, 2015 and August 3, 2015 (the “Bond Purchase Agreement”), with Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (“Farmer Mac”) and Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Farmer Mac, as bond purchaser (the “Purchaser”), regarding a secured note purchase facility (the “Farmer Mac Facility”) that has a maximum borrowing capacity of $165.0 million. Pursuant to the Bond Purchase Agreement, the Operating Partnership may, from time to time, issue one or more bonds to the Purchaser that will be secured by pools of mortgage loans, which will, in turn, be secured by first liens on agricultural real estate owned by us. The mortgage loans may have effective loan-to-value of up to 60%.  Prepayment of each bond issuance is not permitted unless otherwise agreed upon by all parties to the Bond Purchase Agreement.

 

As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had approximately $155.5 million and approximately $155.5 million outstanding, respectively, under the Farmer Mac Facility. The Farmer Mac Facility is subject to our ongoing compliance with a number of customary affirmative and negative covenants, as well as financial covenants, including: a maximum leverage ratio of not more than 60%; a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.50 to 1.00; and a minimum tangible net worth requirement. We were in compliance with all applicable covenants at June 30, 2017.

 

41


 

In connection with the Bond Purchase Agreement, on March 1, 2015, we and the Operating Partnership also entered into an amended and restated pledge and security agreement (the “Pledge Agreement”) in favor of the Purchaser and Farmer Mac, pursuant to which we and the Operating Partnership agreed to pledge, as collateral for the Farmer Mac Facility, all of their respective right, title and interest in (i) mortgage loans with a value at least equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding bond held by the Purchaser and (ii) such additional collateral as necessary to have total collateral with a value at least equal to 110% of the outstanding notes held by the Purchaser. In addition, we agreed to guarantee the full performance of the Operating Partnership’s duties and obligations under the Pledge Agreement.

 

The Bond Purchase Agreement and the Pledge Agreement include customary events of default, the occurrence of any of which, after any applicable cure period, would permit the Purchaser and Farmer Mac to, among other things, accelerate payment of all amounts outstanding under the Farmer Mac Facility and to exercise its remedies with respect to the pledged collateral, including foreclosure and sale of the agricultural real estate underlying the pledged mortgage loans.

 

Bridge Loan

 

On February 29, 2016, two wholly owned subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership (together, the “Bridge Borrower”) entered into a term loan agreement (the “Bridge Loan Agreement”) with MSD FPI Partners, LLC, an affiliate of MSD Partners, L.P. (the “Bridge Lender”), that provided for a loan of $53.0 million (the “Bridge Loan”), the proceeds of which were used primarily to fund the cash portion of the consideration for the acquisition of the Forsythe farms, which was completed on March 2, 2016.  During the six months ended June 30, 2016, we accrued and paid debt issuance costs on the Bridge Loan totaling $173,907, and interest totaling $2,271,867, of which $2,120,000, or 4.0%, of the Bridge Loan’s principal amount was considered additional interest paid on issuance.  The Bridge Loan was paid in full, including accrued interest, and without prepayment penalty, on March 29, 2016 using proceeds from the MetLife Term Loans, as described below.

 

MetLife Term Loans

 

On March 29, 2016, five wholly owned subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership entered into a loan agreement (the “First MetLife Loan Agreement” and together with the Second MetLife Loan Agreement, the “MetLife Loan Agreements”) with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”), which provides for a total of $127.0 million of term loans, comprised of (i) a $90.0 million term loan (“Term Loan 1”), (ii) a $16.0 million term loan (“Term Loan 2”) and (iii) a $21.0 million term loan (“Term Loan 3” and, together with Term Loan 1 and Term Loan 2, the “Initial MetLife Term Loans” and, together with Term Loan 4, Term Loan 5, Term Loan 6 and Term Loan 7 (described below), the “MetLife Term Loans”). The proceeds of the Initial MetLife Term Loans were used to repay existing debt (including amounts outstanding under the Bridge Loan), to acquire additional properties and for general corporate purposes. Each Initial MetLife Term Loan is collateralized by first lien mortgages on certain of our properties.

 

On June 29, 2016, five wholly owned subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership entered into a loan agreement (the “Second MetLife Loan Agreement”) with MetLife, which provides for a loan of approximately $15.7 million to the Company with a maturity date of June 29, 2026 (“Term Loan 4”). Interest on Term Loan 4 is payable semi-annually and accrues at a floating rate that will be adjusted quarterly to a rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) the three-month LIBOR plus an initial floating rate spread of 1.750%, which may be adjusted by MetLife on each of September 29, December 29, March 29 and June 29 of each year to an interest rate equal to the greater of (a) the three month LIBOR plus the floating rate spread or (b) 2.00% per annum. Term Loan 4 initially bears interest at a rate of 2.39% per annum until September 29, 2016, and on September 29, 2016 the rate changed to 2.60% per annum. Effective March 29, 2017, the Company exercised its option to convert the interest rate on Term Loan 4 from a floating rate to an adjustable rate.  The new adjustable rate is 3.48% which may be adjusted by MetLife on each of March 29, 2020 and March 29, 2023.  Proceeds from Term Loan 4 were used to acquire additional properties and for general corporate purposes.

 

Interest on Term Loan 1 is payable semi-annually and accrues at a floating rate that will be adjusted quarterly to a rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) the three-month LIBOR plus an initial floating rate spread of 1.750%, which may be adjusted by MetLife on each of March 29, 2019, March 29, 2022 and March 29, 2025 to an interest rate consistent with interest rates quoted by MetLife for substantially similar loans secured by real estate substantially similar to the Company’s properties securing Term Loan 1 or (b) 2.000% per annum. Term Loan 1 bore interest at a rate of 2.40% per annum until

42


 

September 29, 2016 and on September 29, 2016 the rate changed to 2.60% per annum. Effective March 29, 2017, the Company exercised its option to convert the interest rate on Term Loan 4 from a floating rate to an adjustable rate.  The new adjustable rate is 3.48% which may be adjusted by MetLife on each of March 29, 2020 and March 29, 2023.  Subject to certain conditions, we may at any time during the term of Term Loan 1 elect to have all or any portion of the unpaid balance of Term Loan 1 bear interest at a fixed rate that is initially established by the lender in its sole discretion that may be adjusted from time to time to an interest rate consistent with interest rates quoted by MetLife for substantially similar loans secured by real estate substantially similar to the Company’s properties securing Term Loan 1. On any floating rate adjustment date, we may prepay any portion of Term Loan 1 that is not subject to a fixed rate without penalty.

 

Interest on Term Loan 2 and Term Loan 3 is payable semi-annually and accrues at an initial rate of 2.66% per annum, which may be adjusted by MetLife on each of March 29, 2019, March 29, 2022 and March 29, 2025 to an interest rate consistent with interest rates quoted by MetLife for substantially similar loans secured by real estate substantially similar to our properties securing Term Loan 2 and Term Loan 3.

 

Subject to certain conditions, amounts outstanding under Term Loan 2 and Term Loan 3, as well as any amounts outstanding under Term Loan 1 that are subject to a fixed interest rate, may be prepaid without penalty up to 20% of the original principal amounts of such loans per year or in connection with any rate adjustments. Any other prepayments under the Initial MetLife Term Loans generally are subject to a minimum prepayment premium of 1.00%.

 

In connection with the Initial MetLife Term Loans, on March 29, 2016, the Company and the Operating Partnership each entered into a separate guaranty (the “Initial MetLife Guaranties”) whereby the Company and the Operating Partnership jointly and severally agreed to unconditionally guarantee all of the borrowers’ obligations under the First MetLife Loan Agreement.

 

In connection with the Term Loan 4, on June 29, 2016, the Company and the Operating Partnership each entered into a separate guaranty (the “Term Loan 4 Guaranties”) whereby the Company and the Operating Partnership jointly and severally agreed to unconditionally guarantee all of the borrowers’ obligations under the Second MetLife Loan Agreement.

 

On January 12, 2017, five wholly owned subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership, entered into a loan agreement (the “Fifth MetLife Loan Agreement”) with MetLife which provides for a loan of approximately $8.4 million to the Company with a maturity date of January 12, 2027 (“Term Loan 5”). Interest on Term Loan 5 is payable semi-annually and accrues at a 3.26% per annum fixed rate, and may be adjusted by MetLife on each of January 12, 2020, January 12, 2023 and January 12, 2026 at the option of the Lender to a rate that is consistent with similar loans. Proceeds from Term Loan 5 were used to acquire additional properties and for general corporate purposes.

 

In connection with the Term Loan 5, on January 12, 2017, the Company and the Operating Partnership each entered into a separate guaranty (the “Term Loan 5 Guaranties”) whereby the Company and the Operating Partnership jointly and severally agreed to unconditionally guarantee all of the borrowers’ obligations under the Fifth MetLife Loan Agreement.

 

On February 14, 2017, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership, entered into a loan agreement (the “Sixth MetLife Loan Agreement”) with MetLife which provides for a loan of approximately $27.2 million to the Company with a maturity date of February 14, 2027 (“Term Loan 6”). Interest on Term Loan 6 is payable semi-annually and accrues at a 3.21% per annum fixed rate, and may be adjusted by MetLife on each of February 14, 2020, February 14, 2023 and February 14, 2026 at the option of the Lender to a rate that is consistent with similar loans. Proceeds from Term Loan 6 were used to acquire additional properties.

 

In connection with the Term Loan 6, on February 14, 2017, the Company and the Operating Partnership each entered into a separate guaranty (the “Term Loan 6 Guaranties”) whereby the Company and the Operating Partnership jointly and severally agreed to unconditionally guarantee all of the borrowers’ obligations under the Sixth MetLife Loan Agreement.

 

On June 7, 2017, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership entered into a loan agreement (the “Seventh MetLife Loan Agreement”) with MetLife which provides for a loan of approximately $21.3 million to the Company with a maturity date of June 7, 2027 (“Term Loan 7”). Interest on Term Loan 7 is payable semi-annually and accrues at a 3.45% per annum fixed rate, and may be adjusted by MetLife on each of June 7, 2020, June 7, 2023 and June 7, 2026 at the option

43


 

of the Lender to a rate that is consistent with similar loans. Proceeds from Term Loan 7 were used to acquire additional properties.

 

In connection with the Term Loan 7, on June 7, 2017, the Company and the Operating Partnership each entered into a separate guaranty (the “Term Loan 7 Guaranties” and, together with the Initial MetLife Guaranties, the Term Loan 4 Guaranties, the Term Loan 5 Guaranties and the Term Loan 6 Guaranties, the “MetLife Guaranties”) whereby the Company and the Operating Partnership jointly and severally agreed to unconditionally guarantee all of the borrowers’ obligations under the Seventh MetLife Loan Agreement.

 

Each of the MetLife Loan Agreements contains a number of customary affirmative and negative covenants, including the requirement to maintain a loan to value ratio of no greater than 60%. The MetLife Guaranties also contain a number of customary affirmative and negative covenants.

 

Each of the MetLife Loan Agreements includes certain customary events of default, including a cross-default provision related to other outstanding indebtedness of the borrowers, the Company and the Operating Partnership, the occurrence of which, after any applicable cure period, would permit MetLife, among other things, to accelerate payment of all amounts outstanding under the MetLife Term Loans and to exercise its remedies with respect to the pledged collateral, including foreclosure and sale of the Company’s properties that secure the MetLife Term Loans. As of June 30, 2017 there was $199.5 million outstanding under the MetLife Term Loans and we were in compliance with all covenants under the MetLife Loan Agreements.

 

Farm Credit of Central Florida Mortgage Note

 

On August 31, 2016, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership entered into a loan agreement (the “Farm Credit Mortgage Note”) with Farm Credit of Central Florida (“Farm Credit”) which provides for a loan of approximately $8.2 million to the Company with a maturity date of September 1, 2023. As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, approximately $5.1 million had been drawn down under this facility. Interest on the Farm Credit Mortgage Note is payable quarterly and accrues at a floating rate that will be adjusted monthly to a rate per annum equal to the one-month LIBOR plus 2.6875% which is subject to adjustment on the first day of September 2016, and on the first day of each month thereafter. Principal is payable quarterly commencing on October 1, 2018, with all remaining principal and outstanding interest due at maturity. Proceeds from Farm Credit Mortgage Note are to be used for the acquisition and development of additional land.

 

The Farm Credit Mortgage Note contains a number of customary affirmative and negative covenants, as well as a covenant requiring us to maintain a debt service coverage ratio of 1.25 to 1.00 beginning on December 31, 2019.

 

Prudential Note

 

On December 21, 2016, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership entered into a loan agreement  with The Prudential Insurance Company of America (“Prudential”)  which provides for a loan of approximately $6.6 million to the Company with a maturity date of July 1, 2019 (the “Prudential Note”).  Interest on the Prudential Note is payable in cash semi-annually and accrues at a fixed rate of 3.20% per annum. Proceeds from the Prudential Note were used for the acquisition of additional land.

 

Beginning on December 21, 2017, the Prudential Note requires the Company to maintain a loan to value no greater than 60%.

 

Rutledge Credit Facilities  

Upon closing of the AFCO Mergers, by virtue of AFCO OP becoming a subsidiary of the Company, the Company assumed AFCO’s outstanding indebtedness under four loan agreements (the “Existing Rutledge Loan Agreements”) between AFCO OP and Rutledge Investment Company (“Rutledge”), which are further described below:

1.

Loan Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2013, with respect to a $25,000,000 senior secured credit facility bearing interest at an annual rate of 3 month LIBOR plus 1.3%. The loan agreement requires AFCO OP to make

44


 

quarterly interest payments on April 1, July 1, October 1 and January 1 of each calendar year. Additionally, the loan agreement requires AFCO OP to pay a quarterly non-usage fee equal to 0.25% per annum of the committed loan amount minus the average outstanding principal balance of the loan amount over the prior three-month period.

2.

Loan Agreement, dated as of January 14, 2015, with respect to a $25,000,000 senior secured credit facility bearing interest at an annual rate of 3 month LIBOR plus 1.3%. The loan agreement requires AFCO OP to make quarterly interest payments on April 1, July 1, October 1 and January 1 of each calendar year. Additionally, the loan agreement requires AFCO OP to pay a quarterly non-usage fee equal to 0.25% per annum of the committed loan amount minus the average outstanding principal balance of the loan amount over the prior three-month period.

3.

Loan Agreement, dated as of August 18, 2015, with respect to a $25,000,000 senior secured credit facility bearing interest at an annual rate of 3 month LIBOR plus 1.3%. The loan agreement requires AFCO OP to make quarterly interest payments on April 1, July 1, October 1 and January 1 of each calendar year. Additionally, the loan agreement requires AFCO OP to pay a quarterly non-usage fee equal to 0.25% per annum of the committed loan amount minus the average outstanding principal balance of the loan amount over the prior three-month period.

4.

Loan Agreement, dated as of December 22, 2015, with respect to a $15,000,000 senior secured credit facility bearing interest at an annual rate of 3 month LIBOR plus 1.3%. The loan agreement requires AFCO OP to make quarterly interest payments on April 1, July 1, October 1 and January 1 of each calendar year. Additionally, the loan agreement requires AFCO OP to pay a quarterly non-usage fee equal to 0.25% per annum of the committed loan amount minus the average outstanding principal balance over the loan amount of the prior three-month period.

In connection with the completion of the AFCO Mergers, on February 3, 2017, AFCO OP, in its capacity as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and the Operating Partnership, and Rutledge entered into the Second Amendment and the “Rutledge Amendment”) to the Existing Rutledge Loan Agreements. Pursuant to the Rutledge Amendment, among other things, the maturity dates for each of the Existing Rutledge Loan Agreements were extended to January 1, 2022 and the aggregate loan value under the Existing Rutledge Loan Agreements may not exceed 50% of the appraised value of the collateralized properties.  Certain AFCO properties acquired by the Company in the AFCO Mergers serve as collateral under the Existing Rutledge Loan Agreements. As of June 30, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all covenants under the Rutledge Loan Agreements.

On February 3, 2017, the Company and the Operating Partnership each entered into guaranty agreements (the “Existing Loan Guarantees”) pursuant to which they will unconditionally guarantee the obligations of AFCO OP under the Existing Loan Agreements.

In addition, in connection with the Completion of the Mergers, on February 3, 2017, AFCO OP entered into a fifth loan agreement with Rutledge Investment Company (the “Fifth Rutledge Loan Agreement” and together with the Existing Rutledge Loan Agreements, as amended, the “Rutledge Loan Agreements”), with respect to a senior secured credit facility in the aggregate amount of $30 million, with a maturity date of January 1, 2022 and an annual interest rate of 3 month LIBOR plus 1.3%. The Fifth Rutledge Loan Agreement requires AFCO OP to make quarterly interest payments. Additionally, the Fifth Rutledge Loan Agreement contains certain customary affirmative and negative covenants, including (i) AFCO OP must pay a quarterly non-usage fee equal to 0.25% of the committed loan amount minus the average outstanding principal balance of the loan amount during the prior three-month period, (ii) AFCO OP must maintain a leverage ratio of 60% or less and (iii) the aggregate amounts outstanding under all of the Rutledge Loans may not exceed 50% of the aggregate appraised value of the properties serving as collateral under the Rutledge Loan Agreements.

On February 3, 2017, the Company and the Operating Partnership each entered into separate guarantees (the “Fifth Loan Guarantees” and together with the Existing Loan Guarantees, the “Guarantees”) whereby they are required to unconditionally guarantee AFCO OP’s obligations under the Fifth Rutledge Loan Agreement. As of June 30, 2017 $0 remains available under this facility.

As of the date of this Quarterly Report, there is an aggregate of $120.0 million outstanding under Rutledge Loan Agreements. As of June 30, 2017, we were in compliance with all covenants under the Rutledge Loan Agreements.

45


 

Sources and Uses of Cash

 

The following table summarizes our cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the six months ended June 30,

(in thousands)

    

2017

    

2016

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

 

$

(1,710)

 

$

4,963

Net cash used in investing activities

 

$

(106,046)

 

$

(109,226)

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

$

90,012

 

$

113,213

 

Comparison of the six months ended June 30, 2017 to the six months ended June 30, 2016

 

As of June 30, 2017, we had $29.4 million of cash and cash equivalents compared to $32.5 million at June 30, 2016.

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

Net cash provided by operating activities decreased $6.7 million, primarily as a result of the following:

 

·

Receipt of $24.6 million in cash rents for the six months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to receiving $13.4 million in cash rents in the six months ended June 30, 2016 (receipt of $6.4  million in cash rents for the three months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to receiving $2.4 million in cash rents in the three months ended June 30, 2016);

·

A decrease in cash paid for interest of $0.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to the same period of 2016;

·

An increase in cash paid for other operating expenses of approximately $5.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to the same period of 2016; and

·

Cash payments totaling $12.1 million made in relation to settling assumed obligations as part of the AFCO Mergers.

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

 

Net cash used for investing activities decreased $3.2 million primarily as a result of the following:

 

·

Completing 15 acquisitions and the AFCO Mergers during the six months ended June 30, 2017 for aggregate cash consideration of $91.7 million, as compared to $105.6 million in aggregate cash consideration for 16 acquisitions during the six months ended June 30, 2016;

·

A $7.6 million increase in investments in real estate improvements during the six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016;

·

A $3.1 million increase in notes receivable issued by the Company during the six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016.

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

Net cash provided by financing activities decreased $23.2 million primarily as a result of the following:

 

·

Borrowings from mortgage notes payable decreased $93.9 million as compared to the borrowings during the six months ended June 30, 2016;    

·

Debt payments decreased $84.7 million as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2016 which includes the pay-off of the $53.0 million Bridge Loan;

·

A $7.7 million decrease in proceeds from the At the Market offering as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2016;

·

A $2.9 million increase in dividends paid on preferred stock as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2016;

46


 

·

Increase of $3.2 million in dividends paid on common stock as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2016;

·

An increase in distributions of $0.2 million to non-controlling interests as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2016;

·

A $0.2 million decrease in debt issuance costs as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2016; and

·

A $0.2 million increase in the payments associated with offering costs as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2016.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

As of June 30, 2017, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

Funds from Operations (“FFO”) and Adjusted Funds from Operations (“AFFO”)

 

We calculate FFO in accordance with the standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or NAREIT. NAREIT defines FFO as net income (loss) (calculated in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains (or losses) from sales of depreciable operating property, plus real estate related depreciation, depletion and amortization (excluding amortization of deferred financing costs), and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. FFO is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure. Management presents FFO as a supplemental performance measure because it believes that FFO is beneficial to investors as a starting point in measuring our operational performance. Specifically, in excluding real estate related depreciation and amortization and gains and losses from sales of depreciable operating properties, which do not relate to or are not indicative of operating performance, FFO provides a performance measure that, when compared year over year, captures trends in occupancy rates, rental rates and operating costs. We believe that, as a widely recognized measure of the performance of REITs, FFO will be used by investors as a basis to compare our operating performance with that of other REITs. 

 

However, because FFO excludes depreciation and amortization and captures neither the changes in the value of our properties that result from use or market conditions nor the level of capital expenditures necessary to maintain the operating performance of improvements on our properties, all of which have real economic effects and could materially impact our results from operations, the utility of FFO as a measure of our performance is limited. In addition, other equity REITs may not calculate FFO in accordance with the NAREIT definition as we do, and, accordingly, our FFO may not be comparable to such other REITs’ FFO. Accordingly, FFO should be considered only as a supplement to net income as a measure of our performance. FFO should not be used as a measure of our liquidity, nor is it indicative of funds available to fund our cash needs, including our ability to pay dividends or service indebtedness. FFO also should not be used as a supplement to or substitute for cash flow from operating activities computed in accordance with GAAP.

 

We do not, however, believe that FFO is the only measure of the sustainability of our operating performance.  Changes in GAAP accounting and reporting rules that were put in effect after the establishment of NAREIT’s definition of FFO in 1999 result in the inclusion of a number of items in FFO that do not correlate with the sustainability of our operating performance.  Therefore, in addition to FFO, we present AFFO and AFFO per share, fully diluted, both of which are non-GAAP measures.  Management considers AFFO a useful supplemental performance metric for investors as it is more indicative of the Company’s operational performance than FFO.  AFFO is not intended to represent cash flow or liquidity for the period, and is only intended to provide an additional measure of our operating performance.  Even AFFO, however, does not properly capture the timing of cash receipts, especially in connection with full-year rent payments under lease agreements entered into in connection with newly acquired farms.  Management considers AFFO per share, fully diluted to be a supplemental metric to GAAP earnings per share.  AFFO per share, fully diluted provides additional insight into how our operating performance could be allocated to potential shares outstanding at a specific point in time.  Management believes that AFFO is a widely recognized measure of the operations of REITs, and presenting AFFO will enable investors to assess our performance in comparison to other REITs.  However, other REITs may use different methodologies for calculating AFFO and AFFO per share, fully diluted and, accordingly, our AFFO and AFFO per share, fully diluted may not always be comparable to AFFO and AFFO per share amounts calculated by other REITs.  AFFO and AFFO per share, fully diluted should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) or earnings per share (determined in accordance

47


 

with GAAP) as an indication of financial performance, or as an alternative to net income (loss) earnings per share (determined in accordance with GAAP) as a measure of our liquidity, nor are they indicative of funds available to fund our cash needs, including our ability to make distributions.

 

AFFO is calculated by adjusting FFO to exclude or include the income and expenses that we believe are not reflective of the sustainability of our ongoing operating performance, as further explained below:

 

·

Real estate related acquisition and due diligence costs.   Acquisition (including audit fees associated with these acquisitions) and due diligence costs are incurred for investment purposes and therefore, do not correlate with the ongoing operations of our portfolio.  We believe that excluding these costs from AFFO provides useful supplemental information reflective of the realized economic impact of our leases, which is useful in assessing the sustainability of our operating performance. Acquisition and due diligence costs totaled $1.5 million and $2.4 million for the periods ended June 30, 2017, and 2016, respectively.  Real estate related acquisition and due diligence costs   for the period ended June 30, 2016 included $2.3 million in interest and loan fees associated with the short-term Bridge Loan and the Forsythe acquisition and as the interest and fees are a non-recurring item they have been excluded from the AFFO calculation. Included in the $2.3 million of interest and loan fees is only a portion of the interest, approximately $2.1 million, or 4% of the Bridge Loan's principal amount, which was considered additional interest paid on issuance. A portion of the audit fees we incur are directly related to acquisitions, which varies with the number and complexity of the acquisitions we evaluate and complete in a given period.  As such, these costs do not correlate with the ongoing operations of our portfolio. Total acquisition related audit fees excluded from AFFO totaled $0.1 million and $2.4 million for the period ended June 30, 2017, and 2016, respectively.  Also included in real estate related acquisition and due diligence costs for the period ended June 30, 2017 is $0.7 million in fees paid to the Prudential Sub-Advisor following the completion of the AFCO Mergers, including a $160,000 termination fee. We believe that excluding these costs from AFFO provides useful supplemental information reflective of the realized economic impact of our current acquisition strategy, which is useful in assessing the sustainability of our operating performance.  These exclusions also improves comparability of our results over each reporting period and of our Company with other real estate operators.

 

·

Stock based compensation.   Stock based compensation is a non-cash expense and therefore, does not correlate with the ongoing operations.  We believe that excluding these costs from AFFO improves comparability of our results over each reporting period and of our Company with other real estate operators.

 

·

Indirect offering costs.   Indirect offering costs are fees for services incurred by the Company to grow and maintain an active institutional investor presence.  As we continue to acquire more farms, our ability to access capital through the equity markets will remain a critical component of our growth strategy.  As of September 30, 2015, we began excluding indirect offering costs from AFFO as we believe it improves comparability of our results over each reporting period and of our Company with other real estate operators. Prior to this date the company did not incur indirect offering costs.

 

·

Distributions on Preferred units .  Dividends on Preferred units, which are convertible into OP units on or after March 2, 2026, have a fixed and certain impact on our cash flow, thus they are subtracted from FFO.  We believe this improves comparability of our Company with other real estate operators.

 

·

Common shares fully diluted.   In accordance with GAAP, common shares used to calculate earnings per share are presented on a weighted average basis.  Common shares on a fully diluted basis includes shares of common stock, OP units, redeemable OP units and unvested restricted stock outstanding at the end of the period on a share equivalent basis, because all shares are participating securities and thus share in the performance of the Company.  The conversion of Preferred units is excluded from the calculation of common shares fully diluted as they are not participating securities, thus don’t share in the performance of the Company and their impact on shares outstanding is uncertain.

 

48


 

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income (loss) to FFO, AFFO and net (loss) income available to common stockholders per share to AFFO per share, fully diluted, the most directly comparable GAAP equivalents, respectively, for the periods indicated below as previously reported (unaudited):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the three months ended June 30,

 

For the six months ended June 30,

(in thousands except per share amounts)

    

2017

    

2016

    

2017

    

2016

Net income (loss)

 

$

2,021

 

$

1,317

 

$

19

 

$

(612)

Depreciation and depletion

 

 

2,056

 

 

365

 

 

3,544

 

 

683

FFO

 

 

4,077

 

 

1,682

 

 

3,563

 

 

71

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock based compensation

 

 

360

 

 

314

 

 

788

 

 

556

Indirect equity offering costs

 

 

 —

 

 

24

 

 

 —

 

 

48

Real estate related acquisition and due diligence costs

 

 

183

 

 

66

 

 

1,510

 

 

2,437

Distributions on Preferred units

 

 

(877)

 

 

(887)

 

 

(1,755)

 

 

(1,170)

AFFO

 

$

3,743

 

$

1,199

 

$

4,106

 

$

1,942

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AFFO per diluted weighted average share data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AFFO weighted average common shares

 

 

39,166

 

 

18,991

 

 

36,187

 

 

18,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) per share available to common stockholders

 

$

0.02

 

$

0.00

 

$

(0.06)

 

$

(0.15)

Income available to redeemable non-controlling interest and non-controlling interest in operating partnership

 

 

0.04

 

 

0.07

 

 

0.06

 

 

0.11

Depreciation and depletion

 

 

0.05

 

 

0.02

 

 

0.10

 

 

0.04

Stock based compensation

 

 

0.01

 

 

0.02

 

 

0.02

 

 

0.03

Real estate related acquisition and due diligence costs

 

 

0.00

 

 

0.00

 

 

0.04

 

 

0.14

Distributions on Preferred units

 

 

(0.02)

 

 

(0.05)

 

 

(0.05)

 

 

(0.06)

AFFO per diluted weighted average share

 

$

0.10

 

$

0.06

 

$

0.11

 

$

0.11

 

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of AFFO share information to basic weighted average common shares outstanding, the most directly comparable GAAP equivalent, for the periods indicated below (unaudited):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

For the three months ended June 30,

 

For the six months ended June 30,

(in thousands)

 

2017

    

2016

  

2017

    

2016

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

 

32,457

 

12,452

 

29,594

 

12,146

Weighted average OP units on an as-if converted basis

 

6,417

 

5,824

 

6,287

 

4,974

Weighted average unvested restricted stock

 

292

 

182

 

306

 

171

Weighted average redeemable non-controlling interest in operating partnership

 

 —

 

533

 

 —

 

709

AFFO weighted average common shares

 

39,166

 

18,991

 

36,187

 

18,000

 

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

 

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) is a key financial measure used to evaluate our operating performance but should not be construed as an alternative to operating income, cash flows from operating activities or net income, in each case as determined in accordance with GAAP. EBITDA is not a measure defined in accordance with GAAP. We believe that EBITDA is a standard performance measure commonly reported and widely used by analysts and investors in our industry. However, while EBITDA is a performance measure widely used across several industries, we do not believe that it correctly captures our business operating performance because it includes non-cash expenses and recurring adjustments that are necessary to better understand our business operating performance.  Therefore, in addition to EBITDA, our management uses adjusted EBITDA (“Adjusted EBITDA”), a non-GAAP measure.

 

We further adjust EBITDA for certain additional items such as stock based compensation, indirect offering costs, real estate acquisition related audit fees and real estate related acquisition and due diligence costs (for a full discussion of these adjustments see AFFO adjustments discussed above) that we consider necessary to understand our operating performance.  As of September 30, 2015, we began excluding indirect offering costs from EBITDA as we believe it improves comparability of our results over each reporting period and of our Company with other real estate operators. Prior to this date the Company had not incurred any indirect offering costs.  We believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful

49


 

supplemental information to investors regarding our ongoing operating performance that, when considered with net income and EBITDA, is beneficial to an investor’s understanding of our operating performance.

 

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are:

 

·

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect our cash expenditures, or future requirements, for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;

·

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;

·

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect the interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our debt;

·

Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect any cash requirements for these replacements; and

·

Other companies in our industry may calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA differently than we do, limiting the usefulness as a comparative measure.

 

Because of these limitations, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a measure of discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results of operations and using EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA only as a supplemental measure of our performance.

 

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of our net income to our EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the periods indicated below (unaudited):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the three months ended

 

For the six months ended

 

 

June 30,

 

June 30,

(in thousands)

    

2017

    

2016

 

2017

    

2016

Net income (loss)

 

$

2,021

 

$

1,317

 

$

19

 

$

(612)

Interest expense

 

 

3,454

 

 

1,950

 

 

6,169

 

 

5,804

Depreciation and depletion

 

 

2,056

 

 

365

 

 

3,544

 

 

683

EBITDA

 

$

7,531

 

$

3,632

 

$

9,732

 

$

5,875

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

360

 

 

314

 

 

788

 

 

556

Indirect equity offering costs

 

 

 —

 

 

24

 

 

 —

 

 

48

Real estate related acquisition and due diligence costs

 

 

183

 

 

66

 

 

1,510

 

 

143

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

8,074

 

$

4,036

 

$

12,030

 

$

6,622

 

Inflation

 

All of the leases for the farmland in our portfolio have one- to five-year terms, with the exception of two that have ten-year terms, pursuant to which each tenant is responsible for substantially all of the operating expenses related to the property, including maintenance, water usage and insurance. As a result, we believe that the effect on us of inflationary increases in operating expenses may be offset in part by the operating expenses that are passed through to our tenants and by contractual rent increases because our leases will be renegotiated every one to five years.  We do not believe that inflation has had a material impact on our historical financial position or results of operations.

 

Seasonality

 

Because the leases for a majority of the properties in our portfolio require payment of at least 50% of the annual rent in advance of each spring planting season, we receive a significant portion of our cash rental payments in the first calendar quarter of each year, although we recognize rental revenue from these leases on a pro rata basis over the non-cancellable term of the lease in accordance with GAAP.

 

50


 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Market risk includes risks that arise from changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices, equity prices and other market changes that affect market-sensitive instruments. In pursuing our business strategies, the primary market risk to which we are exposed is interest rate risk. Our primary interest rate exposure will be the daily LIBOR. We may use fixed interest rate financing to manage our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. On a limited basis, we also may use derivative financial instruments to manage interest rate risk. We will not use such derivatives for trading or other speculative purposes.

 

At June 30, 2017, $125.1 million, or 26%, of our debt had variable interest rates. Assuming no increase in the level of our variable rate debt, if interest rates increased by 1.0%, or 100 basis points, our cash flow would decrease by approximately $1.3 million per year. At June 30, 2017, LIBOR was approximately 122 basis points. Assuming no increase in the level of our variable rate debt, if LIBOR were reduced to 0 basis points, our cash flow would increase approximately $1.4 million per year.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

As required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act, management has evaluated, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2017 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

 

The nature of our business exposes our properties, us and the Operating Partnership to the risk of claims and litigation in the normal course of business.

 

On October 26, 2016, a purported class action lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Maryland against the directors of AFCO, AFCO, certain affiliates of AFCO and the Company under the caption   Parshall v. American Farmland Company et. al., Case No. 24C16005745.   The complaint alleges that the AFCO directors breached their duties to AFCO in connection with the evaluation and approval of the proposed merger with the Company. In addition, the complaint alleges, among other things, that the Company aided and abetted those breaches of duties. The initial complaint sought equitable relief, including a potential injunction against the AFCO Mergers, but the plaintiffs did not seek further proceedings and the merger has closed.  On April 18, 2017, the court approved an order to dismiss the lawsuit without prejudice.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

 

As of June 30, 2017, There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in response to “Part I - Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the SEC on February 23, 2017.

 

51


 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Share Repurchase Program

 

On March 15, 2017, our board of directors approved a program to repurchase up to $25,000,000 in shares of our common stock. Repurchases under this program may be made from time to time, in amounts and prices as we deem appropriate.  Repurchases may be made in open market or privately negotiated transactions in compliance with Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act, subject to market conditions, applicable legal requirements, trading restrictions under our insider trading policy, and other relevant factors. This share repurchase program does not obligate us to acquire any particular amount of common stock, and it may be modified or suspended at any time at our discretion. We expect to fund repurchases under the program using cash on its balance sheet. Our repurchase activity for the six months ended June 30, 2017 under the share repurchase program is presented in the following table.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

($ in thousands)

    

Total Shares Purchased

 

 

Average Price Paid per Share

 

Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly announced Plans or Programs

 

 

Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet be Purchased Under the Share Repurchase Program

April 1, 2017 - April 30, 2017

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

 —

 

$

25,000

May 1, 2017 - May 31, 2017

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

25,000

June 1, 2017 - June 30, 2017

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

25,000

Total

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

 —

 

$

25,000

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

 

None.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Other information.

 

None.

 

Item 6. Exhibits.

 

The exhibits listed in the accompanying Exhibit Index are filed, furnished or incorporated by reference (as stated therein) as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

52


 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

Farmland Partners Inc.

 

 

Dated: July 21, 2017

/s/ Paul A. Pittman

 

Paul A. Pittman

 

Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

Dated: July 21, 2017

/s/ Luca Fabbri

 

Luca Fabbri

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

53


 

Exhibit Index

 

 

 

 

Exhibit
Number

    

Description of Exhibit

31.1*

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2*

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1*

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101.INS

 

XBRL Instance Document*

101.SCH

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema*

101.CAL

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase*

101.DEF

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase*

101.LAB

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase*

101.PRE

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase*


*    Filed herewith

 

54


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