Back to GetFilings.com
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 MARCH 31, 2004
Commission File Number 333-63825
SCOTIA PACIFIC COMPANY LLC
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 68-0414690
(State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization) Identification Number)
P. O. BOX 712
125 MAIN STREET, 2ND FLOOR 95565
SCOTIA, CALIFORNIA (Zip Code)
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (707) 764-2330
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes |X| No |_|
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as
defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
Yes |_| No |X|
REGISTRANT MEETS THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN GENERAL INSTRUCTION H(1)(A) AND (B)
OF FORM 10-Q AND IS THEREFORE FILING THIS FORM WITH THE REDUCED DISCLOSURE
FORMAT.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I. - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements:
Balance Sheet
Statement of Loss
Statement of Cash Flows
Condensed Notes to Financial Statements
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
PART II. - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
Signature
APPENDIX A - GLOSSARY OF DEFINED TERMS
SCOTIA PACIFIC COMPANY LLC
BALANCE SHEET
(IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS)
MARCH 31, DECEMBER 31,
2004 2003
------------- --------------
(UNAUDITED)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash...................................... $ 3.7 $ 5.2
Marketable securities, restricted................................................ 23.3 22.2
Receivables from Palco........................................................... 7.9 4.9
Prepaid timber harvesting costs.................................................. 5.6 5.6
Other current assets............................................................. 0.8 1.2
------------- --------------
Total current assets.......................................................... 41.3 39.1
Timber and timberlands, net of accumulated depletion of $284.2 and
$282.2, respectively............................................................. 229.3 230.0
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $17.7 and
$17.1, respectively............................................................. 26.0 25.7
Deferred financing costs, net....................................................... 13.0 13.5
Restricted cash, marketable securities and other investments........................ 21.1 35.4
Other assets........................................................................ 4.5 4.7
------------- --------------
$ 335.2 $ 348.4
============= ==============
LIABILITIES AND MEMBER DEFICIT
Current liabilities:
Due to Palco..................................................................... $ 1.2 $ 0.9
Accrued interest................................................................. 10.6 24.5
Other accrued liabilities........................................................ 2.5 2.4
Short-term borrowings ........................................................... 21.7 -
Current maturities of long-term debt, excluding $6.1 and $4.6, respectively, of
repurchased Timber Notes held in the SAR Account.............................. 17.2 17.6
------------- --------------
Total current liabilities..................................................... 53.2 45.4
Long-term debt, less current maturities and excluding $53.3 and $54.3, respectively,
of repurchased Timber Notes held in the SAR Account.............................. 697.9 713.9
Other noncurrent liabilities........................................................ 0.3 0.3
------------- --------------
Total liabilities............................................................. 751.4 759.6
------------- --------------
Contingencies (See Note 3)
Member deficit...................................................................... (416.2) (411.2)
------------- --------------
$ 335.2 $ 348.4
============= ==============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
SCOTIA PACIFIC COMPANY LLC
STATEMENT OF LOSS
(IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS)
THREE MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 31,
-------------------------
2004 2003
----------- ------------
(UNAUDITED)
Log sales to Palco...................................................................... $ 15.9 $ 18.4
----------- ------------
Operating expenses:
General and administrative........................................................... 5.2 5.5
Depletion, depreciation and amortization............................................. 2.8 3.3
Losses on sales of timberlands and other assets...................................... - 0.4
----------- ------------
8.0 9.2
----------- ------------
Operating income........................................................................ 7.9 9.2
----------- ------------
Other income (expense):
Interest and other income............................................................ 1.3 0.3
Interest expense..................................................................... (13.9) (14.3)
----------- ------------
(12.6) (14.0)
----------- ------------
Net loss................................................................................ $ (4.7) $ (4.8)
=========== ============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
SCOTIA PACIFIC COMPANY LLC
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS)
THREE MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 31,
-------------------------
2004 2003
----------- ------------
(UNAUDITED)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss ............................................................................ $ (4.7) $ (4.8)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
used for operating activities:
Losses on sales of timberlands and other assets................................... - 0.4
Depletion, depreciation and amortization.......................................... 2.8 3.3
Amortization of deferred financing costs.......................................... 0.3 0.3
Increase (decrease) in cash resulting from changes in:
Receivables from Palco.......................................................... (3.0) (3.7)
Prepaid timber harvesting costs................................................. - 0.3
Due to Palco.................................................................... 0.3 0.1
Accrued interest................................................................ (13.9) (14.1)
Other accrued liabilities....................................................... 0.1 (0.1)
Other........................................................................... 0.4 -
----------- ------------
Net cash used for operating activities.......................................... (17.7) (18.3)
----------- ------------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from sales of timberlands and other assets.................................. - 0.7
Capital expenditures................................................................. (2.2) (1.6)
----------- ------------
Net cash used for investing activities.......................................... (2.2) (0.9)
----------- ------------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Principal payments on Timber Notes and other timber related debt..................... (12.7) (12.1)
Net changes in restricted cash....................................................... 9.4 9.9
Borrowings (repayments) under line of credit agreement, net.......................... 21.7 14.7
----------- ------------
Net cash provided by financing activities....................................... 18.4 12.5
----------- ------------
NET DECREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH............................. (1.5) (6.7)
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD....................... 5.2 10.1
----------- ------------
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH AT END OF PERIOD............................. $ 3.7 $ 3.4
=========== ============
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repurchases of debt using restricted cash............................................ $ 3.6 $ -
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Interest paid........................................................................ $ 27.4 $ 28.1
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
SCOTIA PACIFIC COMPANY LLC
CONDENSED NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. GENERAL
The information contained in the following notes to the financial
statements is condensed from that which would appear in the annual financial
statements; accordingly, the financial statements included herein should be
reviewed in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes thereto
contained in the Form 10-K. Any capitalized terms used but not defined in these
Condensed Notes to Financial Statements are defined in the "Glossary of Defined
Terms" contained in Appendix A. Accounting measurements at interim dates
inherently involve greater reliance on estimates than at year end. The results
of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative
of the results to be expected for the entire year.
The financial statements included herein are unaudited; however, they
include all adjustments of a normal recurring nature which, in the opinion of
management, are necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position of
the Company at March 31, 2004, the results of operations for the three months
ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, and the cash flows for the three months ended
March 31, 2004 and 2003. The Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Palco which
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MGI. MGI is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary
of MAXXAM.
LIQUIDITY AND CASH RESOURCES
The Company's cash flows from operations are significantly impacted by
harvest volumes and log prices. In January 2004, the State Board of Equalization
adopted the new Harvest Value Schedule for the first half of 2004. The prices
published in that schedule reflected a 12.7% increase in the SBE Price for small
redwood logs and a 3.4% decrease for small Douglas-fir logs from the prices
published for the second half of 2003.
On the note payment date in January 2004, the Company had $4.1 million set
aside in the note payment account to pay the $27.2 million of interest due (net
of $2.0 million of additional interest due in respect of Timber Notes held by
the Company). The funds available under the Line of Credit were used to pay the
remaining amount of interest due. The Company repaid $12.7 million of principal
on the Timber Notes (an amount equal to Scheduled Amortization) using funds held
in the SAR Account.
With respect to the note payment date in July 2004, the Company expects to
use the funds available under the Line of Credit to pay the entire $26.7 million
of interest which will be due (net of $2.1 million of additional interest which
would be due in respect of Timber Notes held by the Company). The Company
expects to repay $4.6 million of principal on the Timber Notes (an amount equal
to Scheduled Amortization) using funds held in the SAR Account.
As discussed further in Note 3, regulatory compliance and litigation have
caused and may continue to cause delays in harvesting, which could result in a
decline in harvest.
With respect to short-term liquidity, the Company believes that cash flows
from operations and funds available under the Line of Credit (in respect of
interest payments) and the SAR Account (in respect of principal payments),
should provide sufficient funds to meet its working capital, capital
expenditures and debt service obligations through 2004 and early 2005; however,
there can be no assurance that this will be the case. With respect to long-term
liquidity, although the Company believes that cash flows from operations and
funds available under the Line of Credit and the SAR Account should be adequate
to meet its working capital, capital expenditure and debt service obligations,
unless log prices continue to improve, there can be no assurance that this will
be the case. In addition, liquidity, capital resources and results of operations
will be adversely affected if harvest levels decline or costs increase as a
result of the various regulatory, environmental and litigation matters discussed
in Note 3.
2. RESTRICTED CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, MARKETABLE SECURITIES AND OTHER INVESTMENTS
The following amounts are restricted under the terms of the Company's debt
agreements (in millions):
MARCH 31, DECEMBER 31,
2004 2003
------------ --------------
Current assets:
Restricted cash and cash equivalents............................................... $ - $ 1.4
Marketable securities, restricted:
Amounts held in SAR Account..................................................... 23.3 22.2
------------ --------------
23.3 23.6
Long-term restricted cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and other
investments:
Amounts held in SAR Account........................................................ 73.0 87.7
Other amounts restricted under the Indenture....................................... 2.5 2.5
Less: Amounts attributable to Timber Notes held in
SAR Account..................................................................... (54.4) (54.8)
------------ --------------
21.1 35.4
------------ --------------
Total restricted cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and other investments.. $ 44.4 $ 59.0
============ ==============
3. CONTINGENCIES
Regulatory and environmental matters play a significant role in the
Company's business, which is subject to a variety of California and federal laws
and regulations, as well as the HCP, dealing with timber harvesting practices,
threatened and endangered species and habitat for such species, and air and
water quality.
Environmental Plans
From March 1999 until October 2002, the Company prepared THPs in
accordance with the SYP. The SYP was intended to comply with regulations of the
California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection requiring timber companies to
project timber growth and harvest on their timberlands over a 100-year planning
period and to demonstrate that their projected average annual harvest for any
decade within a 100-year planning period would not exceed the average annual
growth level during the last decade of the 100-year planning period. The forest
practice rules allow companies which do not have a sustained yield plan to
follow an alternative procedure. As discussed below, on October 31, 2003, the
Court hearing the EPIC-SYP/Permits lawsuit entered a judgment invalidating the
SYP and the California Permits. As a result of this case, the Company has since
October 2002 been obtaining review and approval of THPs under this alternative
procedure and expects to follow this procedure for the foreseeable future.
The HCP and related Federal Permits allow incidental "take" of certain
federally-listed species located on the Company's timberlands so long as there
is no "jeopardy" to the continued existence of such species. The HCP identifies
the measures to be instituted in order to minimize and mitigate the anticipated
level of take to the greatest extent practicable. The HCP and Federal Permits
have terms of 50 years. Since the consummation of the Headwaters Agreement in
March 1999, there has been a significant amount of work required in connection
with the implementation of the Environmental Plans, and this work could continue
for several more years.
Water Quality
Laws and regulations dealing with water quality are impacting the Company
primarily in three areas: efforts by the EPA and the North Coast Water Board to
establish TMDLs in water courses that have been declared to be water quality
impaired; actions by the North Coast Water Board to impose waste discharge
reporting requirements in respect of watersheds on the Company's timberlands and
in some cases, clean-up or prevention measures; and other actions by the North
Coast Water Board during the THP approval process which impose certain
operational requirements on individual THPs.
Under the California Water Quality Act and the CWA, the EPA is required to
establish the TMDLs in water courses that have been declared to be "water
quality impaired." The EPA and the North Coast Water Board are in the process of
establishing TMDLs for many northern California rivers and certain of their
tributaries, including nine water courses that flow within the Company's
timberlands. The Company expects this process to continue into 2010. The final
TMDL requirements applicable to the Company's timberlands may require aquatic
protection measures that are different from or in addition to those in the HCP
or that result from the prescriptions to be developed pursuant to the watershed
analysis process provided for in the HCP.
Since the 2002-2003 winter operating period, the Company and Palco have
been required to submit "Reports of Waste Discharge" to the North Coast Water
Board each year in order to conduct winter harvesting activities in the Elk
River and Freshwater watersheds. After consideration of these reports, the North
Coast Water Board imposed requirements on the Company and Palco to implement
additional mitigation and erosion control practices in these watersheds for the
last two winter operating periods. In addition, the North Coast Water Board has
extended the requirements for certain mitigation and erosion control practices
to the Bear, Jordan and Stitz watersheds. Reporting and mitigation requirements
imposed by the North Coast Water Board have modestly increased operating costs
and may in the future further increase costs, cause delays in THP approvals or
lower harvest levels. In addition, the North Coast Water Board has issued the
Elk River Order for the Elk River watershed which is aimed at addressing
existing sediment production sites through clean up actions. The North Coast
Water Board has also initiated the process which could result in similar orders
for the Freshwater and Bear Creek watersheds, and is contemplating similar
actions for the Jordan and Stitz Creek watersheds. The Elk River Order, as well
as additional orders in the other watersheds (should they be issued), could
result in significant costs to the Company and Palco beginning in 2004 that
could extend over a number of years. Palco's appeal of the Elk River Order to
the State Water Board was denied. Palco is in the process of appealing in state
court the decision of the State Water Board. These matters could reduce harvest
levels as Palco is not able to readily move its harvesting activities between
watersheds due to, among other things, historic harvest patterns, adjacency
restrictions, and the age classes of trees.
Effective January 1, 2004, California Senate Bill 810 provides regional
water quality control boards with additional authority related to the approval
of THPs on land within impaired watersheds. The Company is uncertain of the
operational and financial effects which will ultimately result from Senate Bill
810; however, because substantially all rivers and waterbodies on the Company's
timberlands are classified as impaired, implementation of this law could result
in delays in obtaining approvals of THPs, lower harvest levels and increased
costs and additional protection measures beyond those contained in the HCP.
Timber Harvest Litigation
A California state court has invalidated the SYP in connection with two
lawsuits filed against Palco and the Company, as described below, which decision
has been appealed. Other actions are pending which seek to prevent the Company
from implementing the HCP, implementing certain of the Company's approved THPs,
or carrying out certain other operations. The Services Agreement requires Palco
to prepare and file on behalf of the Company (at Palco's cost) all pleadings and
motions, and otherwise diligently pursue, appeals of any denial, and defense of
any challenge to approval, of any THP or the Environmental Plans or similar plan
or permit and related matters.
In March 1999, the EPIC-SYP/Permits lawsuit was filed. This action
alleged, among other things, various violations of the CESA and the California
Environmental Quality Act, and challenged, among other things, the validity and
legality of the SYP and the California Permits. The plaintiffs sought, among
other things, to set aside California's approval of the SYP and the California
Permits and injunctive relief to prevent implementation of THPs approved in
reliance upon these documents. In March 1999, the USWA lawsuit, a similar
action, was filed challenging the validity and legality of the SYP. The
EPIC-SYP/Permits and USWA lawsuits were consolidated for trial. On October 31,
2003, the Court entered a judgment invalidating the SYP and the California
Permits due to several deficiencies in agency procedures and the failure of the
Company and Palco to submit a complete and comprehensible SYP. The Court's
decision, however, allowed for harvesting on THPs which rely on the SYP and were
approved prior to July 23, 2003. The short-term effect of the ruling was to
preclude approval, under the SYP, of a small number of THPs which were under
review but had not been approved, and a minor reduction in 2003 harvesting that
had been expected from these specific THPs. As a result of this case, the
Company has since October 2002 been obtaining review and approval of new THPs
under a procedure provided for in the forest practice rules that does not depend
upon the SYP and the California Permits and expects to follow this procedure for
the foreseeable future. On November 19, 2003, Palco appealed the October 31,
2003, decision. On January 29, 2004, the plaintiffs in these lawsuits filed
claims against the defendants totaling $5.8 million for reimbursement of
attorneys fees and other expenses incurred in connection with these matters.
In July 2001, the Bear Creek lawsuit was filed and later amended to add
the EPA as a defendant. The lawsuit alleges that the Company's and Palco's
harvesting and other forestry activities under certain of its approved THPs will
result in discharges of pollutants in violation of the CWA. The plaintiff
asserts that the CWA requires the defendants to obtain a permit from the North
Coast Water Board before beginning timber harvesting and road construction
activities and is seeking to enjoin these activities until such permit has been
obtained. The plaintiff also seeks civil penalties of up to $27,500 per day for
the defendant's alleged continued violation of the CWA. On October 14, 2003, in
connection with certain motions that had been filed, the Court upheld the
validity of an EPA regulation which exempts harvesting and other forestry
activities from certain discharge requirements. Both state and federal agencies,
along with Palco and other timber companies, have relied upon this regulation
for more than 25 years. However, the Court interpreted the regulation in such a
way as to narrow the forestry operations which are exempted, thereby limiting
the regulation's applicability and subjecting culverts and ditches to permit
requirements. This ruling has widespread implications for the timber industry in
the United States. The case is not yet final as the trial has not yet been held,
and there are many unresolved issues involving interpretation of the Court's
decision and its application to actual operations. Should the decision
ultimately become final and held to apply to all Palco's timber operations, it
may have some or all of the following effects: impose additional permitting
requirements, delay approvals of THPs, increase harvesting costs, and add water
protection measures beyond those contained in the HCP. Nonetheless, it is not
likely that civil penalties will be awarded for operations that occurred prior
to the Court's decision due to the historical reliance by timber companies on
the regulation and the Company's belief that the requirements under the HCP are
adequate to ensure that sediment and pollutants from its harvesting activities
will not reach levels harmful to the environment. While the impact of a
conclusion to this case that upholds the October 14, 2003, ruling may be
adverse, the Company does not believe that such an outcome would have a material
adverse impact on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or
liquidity. Nevertheless, due to the numerous ways in which the Court's
interpretation of the regulation could be applied to actual operations, there
can be no assurance that this will be the case. The Court denied a motion by
Palco requesting that the Court permit an intermediate appeal of its October 14
ruling.
On November 20, 2002, the Cook and the Cave actions were filed which name
Palco and certain affiliates as defendants. On April 4, 2003, the plaintiffs in
these actions filed amended complaints and served the defendants with notice of
the actions. The Cook action alleges, among other things, that defendants'
logging practices have contributed to an increase in flooding along Freshwater
Creek (which runs through the Company's timberlands), resulting in personal
injury and damage to the plaintiffs' properties. Plaintiffs further allege that
in order to have THPs approved in the affected areas, the defendants engaged in
certain unfair business practices. The plaintiffs seek, among other things,
compensatory and exemplary damages, injunctive relief, and appointment of a
receiver to ensure that the watershed is restored. The Cave action contains
similar allegations and requests similar relief with respect to the Elk River
watershed (a portion of which is contained on the Company's timberlands). The
Company does not believe the resolution of these actions should result in a
material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or
liquidity.
On February 25, 2003, the District Attorney of Humboldt County filed the
Humboldt DA action. The suit was filed under California's unfair competition law
and alleges that Palco, the Company and Salmon Creek used certain unfair
business practices in connection with completion of the Headwaters Agreement,
and that this resulted in the ability to harvest significantly more trees under
the Environmental Plans than would have otherwise been the case. The suit sought
a variety of remedies including a civil penalty of $2,500 for each additional
tree that has been or will be harvested due to this alleged increase in harvest,
as well as restitution and an injunction in respect of the additional timber
harvesting allegedly being conducted. In response to motions filed by the
Company and Palco for sanctions and dismissal of this suit, on April 30, 2004,
the Court issued a ruling requiring the District Attorney to amend his suit to
prove that "extrinsic" fraud occurred. In addition, the Court eliminated the
remedies being sought, other than for civil penalties, and suggested that it
would be inappropriate to base civil penalties on the additional trees
harvested. The Court also ruled that it declined "at this juncture" to impose
sanctions on the District Attorney. The Company believes that this suit is
without merit and that the April 30 ruling diminished significantly its exposure
with respect to this matter; however, there can be no assurance that the Company
will ultimately prevail or that an adverse outcome would not be material to the
Company's financial position, results of operations and/or liquidity.
On December 17, 2003, the HWC 2003 lawsuit, naming the Company and Palco
as a real parties in interest, was filed. The plaintiffs allege that the North
Coast Water Board should have required waste discharge reports in respect of all
timber harvesting activities in the Freshwater and Elk River watersheds, and are
seeking to have this requirement imposed on the Company and Palco. The Company
does not believe that the resolution of this action should result in a material
adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
On November 16 2001, Palco filed the THP No. 520 lawsuit alleging that the
State Water Board had no legal authority to impose mitigation measures that were
requested by the staff of the North Coast Water Board during the THP review
process and rejected by the CDF. When the staff of the North Coast Water Board
attempted to impose these mitigation measures in spite of the CDF's decision,
Palco appealed to the State Water Board, which imposed certain of the requested
mitigation measures and rejected others. Palco filed the THP No. 520 lawsuit
challenging the State Water Board's decision, and in January 2003, the Superior
Court granted Palco's request for an order invalidating the imposition of these
additional measures. The State Water Board appealed this decision and on March
18, 2004 the appellate court reversed the decision of the Superior Court. The
appellate court's decision could result in increased demands by the regional and
state water boards and their staffs to impose controls and limitations upon
Palco's timber harvesting beyond those provided for by the Environmental Plans
or could provide additional regulatory powers to the regional and state water
boards and their staffs beyond those provided in Senate Bill 810. Palco has
filed a petition for review of the appellate court's decision by the California
Supreme Court.
4. COMPREHENSIVE LOSS AND MEMBER DEFICIT
Comprehensive loss includes the following (in millions):
THREE MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 31,
-------------------------
2004 2003
----------- ------------
Net loss................................................................................ $ (4.7) $ (4.8)
Other comprehensive loss:
Net change in fair value of available-for-sale investments........................... (0.3) (0.1)
----------- ------------
Total comprehensive loss................................................................ $ (5.0) $ (4.9)
=========== ============
A reconciliation of the activity in member deficit is as follows (in millions):
THREE MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 31,
------------------------
2004 2003
---------- -----------
Balance at beginning of period.......................................................... $ (411.2) $ (405.5)
Comprehensive loss...................................................................... (5.0) (4.9)
----------- ------------
Balance at end of period................................................................ $ (416.2) $ (410.4)
=========== ============
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following should be read in conjunction with the financial statements
in Part I. Item 1. of this Report and Item 7. "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and Item 8.
"Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of the Form 10-K. Any capitalized
terms used but not defined in this Item are defined in the "Glossary of Defined
Terms" contained in Appendix A. Except as otherwise noted, all references to
Notes represent the Condensed Notes to Financial Statements included herein.
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains statements which constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the PSLRA. These statements
appear in a number of places in this section and in Part II. Item 1. "Legal
Proceedings." Such statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking
terminology such as "believes," "expects," "may," "estimates," "will," "should,"
"plans" or "anticipates" or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or
comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy. Readers are cautioned
that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance and involve significant risks and uncertainties, and that actual
results may vary materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of
various factors. These factors include the effectiveness of management's
strategies and decisions, general economic and business conditions, developments
in technology, new or modified statutory or regulatory requirements, litigation
developments, and changing prices and market conditions. This Form 10-Q and the
Form 10-K identify other factors which could cause differences between such
forward-looking statements and actual results. No assurance can be given that
these are all of the factors that could cause actual results to vary materially
from the forward-looking statements.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Regulatory and environmental matters as well as certain pending legal
matters play a significant role in the Company's operations. See Item 1.
"Business - Regulatory and Environmental Factors" in the Form 10-K and Note 3
for a discussion of these matters.
Logging operations on the Company's timberlands are highly seasonal and
have historically been significantly higher in the months of April through
November than in the months of December through March. Management expects that
the Company's revenues and cash flows will continue to be markedly seasonal
because of the harvesting, road use, wet weather and other restrictions imposed
by the HCP and regulation. As a result of these restrictions, a substantial
majority of the future harvesting on the Company's timberlands can be expected
to be concentrated during the period from June through October of each year.
Log Sales to Pacific Lumber
The following table presents price, volume and revenue amounts for the
Company for the periods indicated (revenues in millions).
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2004 THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2003
-------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
PRICE PRICE
MBFES $/MBFE REVENUES MBFES $/MBFE REVENUES
---------- ------------ ------------ ----------- ------------ ------------
Redwood............................ 19,800 $ 717 $ 14.2 26,600 $ 650 $ 17.3
Douglas Fir........................ 3,500 447 1.6 3,000 344 1.0
Other.............................. 400 174 0.1 500 236 0.1
---------- ------------ ----------- ------------
23,700 668 $ 15.9 30,100 612 $ 18.4
========== ============ =========== ============
For the three months ended March 31, 2004, the Company experienced a
decrease in log revenues due predominately to a decrease in the volume of larger
logs delivered; however, this decrease was offset somewhat by a 9% increase in
average realized price compared to the first three months of 2003. Also, redwood
log volume deliveries as a percentage of total volume increased 9% at a realized
price increase of 10% for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to the
same period of 2003.
Operating Income and Net Loss
Operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2004 declined from
the prior year period due to the decrease in log sales discussed above. Results
for the three months ended March 31, 2004 benefitted, however, from a decline in
expenses, principally as a result of a lower volume of harvest.
Net loss between the 2003 and 2004 first quarters was substantially
unchanged as higher earnings from investments and a decrease in interest expense
offset the decrease in operating income.
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES
This section contains statements which constitute "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the PSLRA. See this section and above for
cautionary information with respect to such forward-looking statements.
Due to its highly leveraged condition, the Company is more sensitive than
less leveraged companies to factors affecting its operations, including low log
prices, governmental regulation and litigation affecting timber harvesting
practices on the Company's timberlands (see Note 3), and general economic
conditions.
At March 31, 2004, the Company had unused availability of $35.8 million
under the Line of Credit, and there was $21.7 million outstanding under this
facility.
On the note payment date in January 2004, the Company had $4.1 million set
aside in the note payment account to pay the $27.2 million of interest due (net
of $2.0 million of additional interest due in respect of Timber Notes held by
the Company). The funds available under the Line of Credit were used to pay the
remaining amount of interest due. The Company repaid $12.7 million of principal
on the Timber Notes (an amount equal to Scheduled Amortization) using funds held
in the SAR Account.
With respect to the note payment date in July 2004, the Company expects to
use the funds available under the Line of Credit to pay the entire $26.7 million
of interest which will be due (net of $2.1 million of additional interest which
would be due in respect of Timber Notes held by the Company). The Company
expects to repay $4.6 million of principal on the Timber Notes (an amount equal
to Scheduled Amortization) using funds held in the SAR Account.
In March 2004, $3.6 million of funds from the SAR Account were used to
repurchase $3.8 million principal amount of Timber Notes, as permitted under the
Indenture, resulting in a small gain (net of unamortized deferred financing
costs) on the repurchase of debt.
With respect to short-term liquidity, the Company believes that cash flows
from operations and funds available under the Line of Credit (in respect of
interest payments) and the SAR Account (in respect of principal payments),
should provide sufficient funds to meet its working capital, capital
expenditures and debt service obligations through 2004 and early 2005; however,
there can be no assurance that this will be the case. With respect to long-term
liquidity, although the Company believes that cash flows from operations and
funds available under the Line of Credit and the SAR Account should be adequate
to meet its working capital, capital expenditure and debt service obligations,
unless log prices continue to improve, there can be no assurance that this will
be the case. In addition, liquidity, capital resources and results of operations
will be adversely affected if harvest levels decline or costs increase as a
result of the various regulatory, environmental and litigation matters discussed
in Note 3.
Palco's cash flows from operations may be adversely affected by diminished
availability of logs from the Company, lower lumber prices, adverse weather
conditions, or pending legal, regulatory and environmental matters. Palco will
require funds available under its credit agreement in order to meet its working
capital and capital expenditure requirements for the next year.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
The Company does not have any off-balance sheet financing or
unconsolidated special purpose entities. The Company does not utilize interest
rate swaps, hedging arrangements or any other type of derivative instruments.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
See Item 7. "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations--Critical Accounting Policies" of the Form 10-K for a
discussion of the Company's critical accounting policies.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company is exposed to changes in interest rates under the Line of
Credit, which was established in conjunction with the offering of the Timber
Notes. As of March 31, 2004, there were $21.7 million in borrowings outstanding
under the Line of Credit. Based on the amount of borrowings outstanding under
the Line of Credit during the three months ended March 31, 2004, the impact of a
1.0% change in interest rates effective from the beginning of the year would not
have been material to the Company's interest expense for the period.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed
to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company's reports
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and
reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and that such information is accumulated and
communicated to the Company's management, including its Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding
required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and
procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter
how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of
achieving the desired control objectives, and management necessarily was
required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of
possible controls and procedures.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company carried
out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the
Company's management, including the Company's Chief Executive Officer and the
Company's Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and
operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures. Based on the
foregoing, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
There have been no significant changes in the Company's internal controls
or in other factors that could significantly affect the internal controls
subsequent to the date the Company completed its evaluation.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The information set forth in Note 3 is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
A. EXHIBITS:
* 31.1 Section 302 Certification of Chief Executive Officer
* 31.2 Section 302 Certification of Chief Financial Officer
* 32.1 Section 906 Certification of Chief Executive Officer
* 32.2 Section 906 Certification of Chief Financial Officer
* Included with this filing
B. REPORTS ON FORM 8-K:
Since the filing of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2003, the Company has filed or furnished on the dates
indicated the following current reports on Form 8-K:
On April 20, 2004, the Company filed a current report on Form 8-K (under
Item 9), related to the filing of a certificate in respect of the Company's
Timber Notes.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized, who has signed this report on behalf of
the Registrant and as the principal financial and accounting officer of the
Registrant.
SCOTIA PACIFIC COMPANY LLC
Date: May 10, 2004 By: /S/ GARY L. CLARK
---------------------------------------------------------
Gary L. Clark
Vice President - Finance and Administration
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
APPENDIX A
GLOSSARY OF DEFINED TERMS
Bear Creek lawsuit: An action entitled Environmental Protection Information
Association v. Pacific Lumber, Scotia Pacific Company LLC (No. C01-2821) pending
in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
California Permits: The Permits issued by California pursuant to the HCP
Cave action: An action entitled Steve Cave, et al. v. Gary Clark, et al. (No.
DR020719) pending in the Superior Court of Humboldt County, California
CDF: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
CESA: California Endangered Species Act
Company: Scotia Pacific Company LLC, a limited liability company wholly owned by
Palco
Cook action: An action entitled Alan Cook, et al. v. Gary Clark, et al. (No.
DR020718) pending in the Superior Court of Humboldt County, California
CWA: Federal Clean Water Act
Elk River Order: Clean up and abatement order issued to Palco by the North Coast
Water Board for the Elk River watershed
Environmental Plans: The HCP and the SYP
EPA: Environmental Protection Agency
EPIC-SYP/Permits lawsuit: An action entitled Environmental Protection
Information Association, Sierra Club v. California Department of Forestry and
Fire Protection, California Department of Fish and Game, The Pacific Lumber
Company, Scotia Pacific Company LLC, Salmon Creek Corporation, et al. pending in
the Superior Court of Humboldt County, California ( No. CV990445)
ESA: The federal Endangered Species Act
Federal Permits: The Permits issued by the federal government pursuant to the
HCP
Form 10-K: The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003
Harvest Value Schedule: A schedule setting forth SBE prices which is published
bi-annually by the California State Board of Equalization for purposes of
computing yield taxes on timber sales.
HCP: The habitat conservation plan covering multiple species approved in March
1999 in connection with the consummation of the Headwaters Agreement
Headwaters Agreement: The September 1996 agreement between Palco, the Company,
Salmon Creek , the United States and California which provided the framework for
the acquisition by the United States and California of the Headwaters
Timberlands
Headwaters Timberlands: Approximately 5,600 acres of Palco timberlands
consisting of two forest groves commonly referred to as the Headwaters Forest
and the Elk Head Springs Forest which were sold to the United States and
California in March 1999
Humboldt DA action: A civil suit filed in the Superior Court of Humboldt County,
California, by the District Attorney of Humboldt County entitled The People of
the State of California v. Pacific Lumber, Scotia Pacific Holding Company and
Salmon Creek Corporation (No. DR030070)
HWC 2003 lawsuit: An action entitled Humboldt County Watershed Council, et al.
v. North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, et al. (No. CV030961),
naming Palco as real party in interest, pending in the Superior Court of
Humboldt County, California
Indenture: The indenture governing the Timber Notes
Line of Credit: The agreement between a group of lenders and the Company
pursuant to which the Company may borrow in order to pay up to one year's
interest on the Timber Notes
MAXXAM: MAXXAM Inc.
Mbfe: A concept developed for use in structuring the Timber Notes; under this
concept one thousand board feet, net Scribner scale, of residual old growth
redwood timber equates to one Mbfe
MGI: MAXXAM Group Inc., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of MAXXAM
North Coast Water Board: North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
Palco: The Pacific Lumber Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MGI
Permits: The incidental take permits issued by the United States and California
pursuant to the HCP
PSLRA: Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
Salmon Creek: Salmon Creek LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Palco
SAR Account: Funds held in a reserve account titled the Scheduled Amortization
Reserve Account and used to support principal payments on the Timber Notes
SBE Price: The applicable stumpage price for a particular species and size of
log, as set forth in the most recent Harvest Value Schedule.
Scheduled Amortization: The amount of principal which the Company must pay
through each Timber Note payment date in order to avoid prepayment or deficiency
premiums
Services Agreement: Agreement between the Company and Palco under which Palco
provides operational, management and related services to the Company with
respect to the Company's timberlands
State Water Board: California State Water Resources Control Board
SYP: The sustained yield plan approved in March 1999, in connection with the
consummation of the Headwaters Agreement
take: Adverse impacts on species which have been designated as endangered or
threatened
THP: Timber harvesting plan required to be filed with and approved by the CDF
prior to the harvesting of timber
THP No. 520 lawsuit: An action entitled The Pacific Lumber Company, et al. v.
California State Water Resources Control Board (No. DR010860) pending in the
Superior Court of Humboldt County, California
Timber Notes: The Company's 6.55% Series B Class A-1 Timber Collateralized
Notes, 7.11% Series B Class A-2 Timber Collateralized Notes and 7.71% Series B
Class A-3 Timber Collateralized Notes due July 20, 2028
TMDLs: Total maximum daily load limits
USWA lawsuit: An action entitled United Steelworkers of America, AFL-CIO, CLC,
and Donald Kegley v. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, The
Pacific Lumber Company, Scotia Pacific Company LLC and Salmon Creek Corporation
(No. CV-990452) pending in the Superior Court of Sacramento County, California