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Item 2.
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
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The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction
with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as filed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October
31, 2017 as well as the consolidated financial statements and notes contained herein.
Forward-Looking Statements
The “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” (MD&A)
portion of this Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements, including statements about these topics:
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(1)
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we face significant competition in the home and office distribution business,
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(2)
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we rely upon a single software vendor for our route
accounting and online storefront, and
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(3)
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the outstanding debt levels may adversely impact the business profitability and ability to finance
future expansion.
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The following factors could strain sales and margins and cause actual
results to differ materially from statements in MD&A about topic (1): We incorporate by reference into this paragraph
the full Risk Factor on page 12 of our 2017 Form 10-K beginning “
We face significant
competition in the home and office distribution business
”.
The following factors could strain our ability to compete in the
marketplace and cause actual results to differ materially from statements in MD&A about topic (2): We incorporate
by reference into this paragraph the full Risk Factor on page 13 of our 2017 Form 10-K beginning “
We
rely on a single software vendor
”.
The following factors could strain liquidity and working capital
availability and cause actual results to differ materially from statements in MD&A about topic (3): We incorporate
by reference into this paragraph the full Risk Factor on page 15 of our 2017 Form 10-K beginning “
Our
Company is significantly leveraged
”.
Results of Operations
Overview and Trends
Sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 declined 5% from the first
quarter fiscal 2017, however sales of water products increased 2%, due to our strategy of focusing sales efforts on new water customers.
The most notable sales decline for the period was in the office products category which accounted for over 70% of the net sales
decline.
The revenue decline resulted in a decrease in gross profit of $469,000
or 6%.
Our operating expenses were higher in the first quarter of fiscal 2018
compared to the comparable period in 2017 which resulted in a loss from operations of $928,000 in 2018 compared to income of $232,000
in 2017. This was driven by higher selling and general and administrative expenses due to costs associated with the planned merger
with Cott Corporation and an impairment charge on a write-down of ERP software that had previously been capitalized.
However, due to the reduction in the corporate tax rate and the resulting
$1,400,000 tax benefit recognized upon revaluing the deferred tax assets and liabilities, the company recorded net income of $565,000
in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 versus a net loss of $74,000 in the comparable period in 2017.
Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended January 31, 2018 (First Quarter)
Compared to the Three Months Ended January 31, 2017
Sales
Sales for the three months ended January 31, 2018 were $13,878,000
compared to $14,650,000 for the corresponding period in 2017, a decrease of $772,000 or 5%. Other than water, all sales categories
declined. The most notable decline was that of office products. The comparative breakdown of sales of the product lines for the
respective three-month periods ended January 31, 2018 and 2017 is as follows:
Product Line (000’s $)
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2018
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2017
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Difference
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% Diff.
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Water
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$
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6,621
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|
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$
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6,520
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$
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101
|
|
|
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2
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%
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Coffee
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|
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2,559
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|
|
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2,700
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|
|
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(141
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)
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|
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(5
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%)
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Refreshment
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|
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1,965
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|
|
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2,049
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|
|
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(84
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)
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|
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(4
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%)
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Equipment Rental
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|
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1,769
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|
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1,779
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(10
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)
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|
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(1
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%)
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Office Products
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|
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576
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|
|
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1,127
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|
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(551
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)
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|
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(49
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%)
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Other
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|
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388
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|
|
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475
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|
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(87
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)
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|
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(18
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%)
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Total
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$
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13,878
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$
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14,650
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|
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$
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(772
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)
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|
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(5
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%)
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Water
– Sales of water increased 2% for the first quarter
2018 as compared to the same period of 2017. The increase is attributable to a volume increase of 1% as prices have remained stable.
Coffee
– The decrease in sales was attributable to
a decline in our traditional higher volume bulk and K-cup lines. Bulk products sales continued to be negatively influenced by the
single serve lines and K-cup sales declined as a result of ongoing commoditization of coffee products. The Cool Beans® brand
single serve coffee sales increased 16% though the volume did not offset lost sales in other coffee packaging.
Refreshment
– Complementary coffee products, single
serve drinks, small package water, and cups, all declined.
Equipment Rental
– The decrease in sales was a result
of a 1% decrease in the average monthly rental price per rental unit. The number of rental units in the field increased by less
than 1%.
Office Products
– The decrease in sales was a result
of a reduced online presence for the category and less focus on sales from our sales department.
Other
– The decrease is attributable to a decrease
in the sale of equipment.
Gross Profit/Cost of Goods Sold
– The decrease
in sales for the three months ended January 31, 2018, resulted in a lower gross profit of $7,225,000 from $7,694,000 for the comparable
period in 2017. As a percentage of sales, gross margin was 52% compared to 53% for the same period a year ago.
Cost of goods sold includes all costs to bottle water, costs of
purchasing and receiving products for resale, including freight, as well as costs associated with product quality, warehousing
and handling costs, internal transfers, and the repair and service of rental equipment, but does not include the costs of distributing
our product to our customers. We include distribution costs in selling, general, and administrative expense, and the amount is
reported below. The reader should be aware that other companies may include distribution costs in their cost of goods sold, in
which case, on a comparative basis, such other companies may have a lower gross margin as a result.
Operating Expenses and Loss/Income from Operations
Total operating expenses increased to $8,153,000 in the first fiscal
quarter of 2018 from $7,462,000 in the comparable period in 2017, an increase of $691,000, or 9%.
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses of $7,492,000
in the first fiscal quarter of 2018 increased $320,000, or 4%, from $7,172,000 in the comparable period in 2017. Of total SG&A
expenses, route distribution costs decreased $2,000, as a result of lower labor costs offset by an increase in truck operating
and fuel costs; combined selling and marketing costs decreased $26,000, or 3%, as a result of a decrease in sales staffing; and
administration costs increased $348,000, or 12%, as a result of costs associated with the planned merger with Cott Corporation.
Advertising expenses were $123,000 in the first fiscal quarter of
2018 compared to $119,000 in the first quarter of 2017, an increase of $4,000, or 3%. The increase in advertising costs is primarily
related to sponsorship costs.
Amortization decreased to $142,000 in the first fiscal quarter of
2018 from $170,000 in the comparable quarter in 2017, a decrease of $28,000, or 16%. Amortization is attributable to intangible
assets that were acquired as part of acquisitions.
We had a loss from the sale and disposal of assets in the first
quarter of 2018 totaling $396,000 compared to no gains or losses for the comparable period in 2017. The abandonment of the implementation
of a new enterprise resource planning, (“ERP”) software, resulted in an impairment of property and equipment that accounted
for $385,000 of the loss in fiscal 2018.
The loss
from operations for the three months ended January 31, 2018 was $928,000
compared to income from operations of $232,000 in the comparable period in 2017, a decline of $1,160,000. The decline was the result
of lower sales resulting in lower gross profit combined with the current period cost associated with the planned merger with Cott
Corporation and the impairment write-off of the software costs capitalized related to the ERP system.
Interest, Taxes, and Other Expenses
Interest expense was $234,000 for the three months ended January
31, 2018 compared to $351,000 in the three months ended January 31, 2017, a decrease of $117,000. The decrease is attributable
to lower debt balances and lower average interest rates.
The loss before income taxes was $1,161,000 for the three months
ended January 31, 2018 compared to $118,000 in the corresponding period in 2017, a decline of $1,043,000. The tax benefit for the
first quarter of 2018 was $1,727,000 compared to $44,000 in 2017. As a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the Company
recognized a benefit of $1,402,000 due to a remeasurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities. In addition to the reduction
of the deferred tax liability the Company had an additional tax benefit of $325,000 as a result of the first quarter 2018 loss
before taxes.
Net Income (Loss)
The net income for the three months ended January 31, 2018 was $565,000
compared to a net loss of $75,000 in the corresponding period in 2017. The increase is attributable to the increased tax benefit
recognized through the remeasurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities offset by lower sales and gross profit combined with
increased merger costs and the loss on disposal of an asset.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of January 31, 2018, we had working capital of $2,628,000 compared
to $3,359,000 as of October 31, 2017, a decrease of $731,000. The most significant change in working capital was due to the use
of cash for investment purposes in the purchase of equipment in the first quarter of 2018. Cash provided from operations during
the three months ended January 31, 2018 was $200,000. The Company also reduced debt by $385,000 during the first quarter of 2018.
Our Credit Agreement with Bank of America (the “Bank”)
provides a senior financing facility consisting of term debt and a revolving line of credit. As of January 31, 2018 we had $7,733,000
outstanding on our term loan. There was a balance of $2,015,200 outstanding on the line of credit and a letter of credit issued
for $1,327,000 to collateralize the Company’s liability insurance program as of that date. Consequently, as of January 31,
2018, there was $2,658,000 available to borrow from the revolving line of credit.
Our term debt amortizes over a five year period with 59 equal monthly
installments of $133,333 and a final payment of $4,133,333 due in May 2020. The revolving line of credit matures in May 2018. There
are various restrictive covenants under the Agreement, and the Company is prohibited from entering into other debt agreements without
the bank’s consent. The Agreement also prohibits the Company from paying dividends without the prior consent of the bank.
Effective September 12, 2016, the Company amended its Agreement
with the Bank (the “Second Amendment”). Under the Second Amendment, interest is paid at a rate of one-month LIBOR plus
a margin based on the achievement of a specified leverage ratio. As of January 31, 2018, the margin was 2.50% for the term note
and 2.25% for the revolving line of credit. The Company fixed the interest rate on a portion of its term debt by entering into
an interest rate swap. As of January 31, 2018, the Company had $3,867,000 of the term debt subject to variable interest rates.
The one-month LIBOR was 1.56% on January 31, 2018 resulting in total variable interest rates of 4.06% and 3.81%, for the term note
and the revolving line of credit, respectively, as of January 31, 2018.
The following information pertains to the Company's outstanding interest rate swap at
January 31, 2018. The pay rate is fixed and the receive rate is one month LIBOR.
Instrument
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Notional Amount
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Pay Rate
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Receive Rate
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Interest rate swap
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|
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$
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3,866,668
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|
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1.25%
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|
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1.56%
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The Second Amendment requires the
Company to be in compliance with certain financial covenants as follows: (i) a maximum annual limit for capital expenditures of
$4,000,000 each fiscal year,
(ii) consolidated adjusted operating cash flows to consolidated total debt service ratio, as
defined, to be no less than 1.5 to 1 for any reference period ending on or after October 31, 2016 and (iii) senior funded debt
to consolidated adjusted EBITDA, as defined, to be no greater than 2.5 to 1 as of the end of any fiscal quarter ending on or after
October 31, 2016.
On June 13, 2017, the Company entered
into a Third Amendment (the “Third Amendment”) to the Agreement.
The Third Amendment increases the aggregate
principal amount available under the revolving line of credit from $5,000,000 to $6,000,000.
The
Third Amendment allows the Company to use up to $2,000,000 of proceeds from the revolving line of credit to make payments on the
Subordinated Debt.
The Amendment also allows payments of interest on Subordinated Notes. As of January 31, 2018, the Company
was not in compliance with (ii) and (iii) of the financial covenants. The Bank waived the covenant compliance requirements for
(ii) and (iii) for the period ended January 31, 2018.
In addition to the senior debt, as of January 31, 2018, the Company
has subordinated debt owed to Peter and John Baker in the aggregate principal amount of $4,500,000 that is due November 20, 2020.
The interest rate on each of these notes is 12% per annum.
In addition to our senior and subordinated debt commitments, we have significant future
cash commitments, primarily in the form of operating leases that are not reported on the consolidated balance sheet.
The following table sets forth our contractual commitments in the remainder of the current
year and future fiscal years as of January 31, 2018:
Contractual Obligations
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|
Payment due by Period
|
|
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Total
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Remainder of 2018
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2019-2020
|
|
2021-2022
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After 2022
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Debt (1)
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|
$
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14,248,000
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|
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$
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3,215,000
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|
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$
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6,533,000
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|
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$
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4,500,000
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|
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$
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-
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Interest on Debt (2)
|
|
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2,212,000
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|
|
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741,000
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|
|
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1,441,000
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|
|
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30,000
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|
|
|
-
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Operating Leases
|
|
|
8,246,000
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|
|
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2,118,000
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|
|
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4,236,000
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|
|
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1,840,000
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|
|
|
52,000
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Total
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$
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24,706,000
|
|
|
$
|
6,074,000
|
|
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$
|
12,210,000
|
|
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$
|
6,370,000
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|
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$
|
52,000
|
|
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(1)
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Interest based on 50% of outstanding senior debt at the hedged interest rate discussed above, 50% of outstanding senior debt
at a variable rate of 4.06%, line of credit at a rate of 3.81%, and subordinated debt at a rate of 12%.
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(2)
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Customer deposits have been excluded from the table. Deposit balances vary from period to period with water sales but future
increases and decreases in the balances are not accurately predictable. Deposits are excluded because, net of periodic additions
and reductions, it is probable that a customer deposit balance will always be outstanding as long as the business operates.
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We have no other material contractual obligations or commitments.