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EX-10.7 - EX-10.7 - Farmland Partners Inc.fpi-20160331ex107538b28.htm
EX-10.3 - EX-10.3 - Farmland Partners Inc.fpi-20160331ex10388dd96.htm
EX-10.9 - EX-10.9 - Farmland Partners Inc.fpi-20160331ex1098c9033.htm
EX-10.6 - EX-10.6 - Farmland Partners Inc.fpi-20160331ex1060c9763.htm
EX-32.1 - EX-32.1 - Farmland Partners Inc.fpi-20160331ex321c96602.htm
EX-10.8 - EX-10.8 - Farmland Partners Inc.fpi-20160331ex108829156.htm
EX-10.4 - EX-10.4 - Farmland Partners Inc.fpi-20160331ex1045ec50b.htm
EX-31.2 - EX-31.2 - Farmland Partners Inc.fpi-20160331ex312652e4a.htm
EX-10.5 - EX-10.5 - Farmland Partners Inc.fpi-20160331ex105bef4c9.htm
EX-31.1 - EX-31.1 - Farmland Partners Inc.fpi-20160331ex311ff20cf.htm

 

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, 2016

 

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 a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).     Yes     No

 

As of May 9, 2016, 12,071,250 shares of the Registrant’s common stock were outstanding.

 

 

 

 


 

Farmland Partners Inc.

 

FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED

March 31, 2016

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Page

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements

 

 

Combined Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2016 (unaudited) and December 31, 2015

 

Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 (unaudited)

 

Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 (unaudited)

 

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Item 2. 

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

32 

Item 3. 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

54 

Item 4. 

Controls and Procedures

54 

 

 

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION 

 

 

 

 

Item 1. 

Legal Proceedings

55 

Item 1A. 

Risk Factors

55 

Item 2. 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

55 

Item 3. 

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

55 

Item 4. 

Mine Safety Disclosures

55 

Item 5. 

Other Information

56 

Item 6. 

Exhibits

56 

 

 

2


 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Combined Consolidated Balance Sheets

As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015

(Unaudited)

(in thousands except par value and share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

    

2016

    

2015

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Land, at cost

 

$

524,285

 

$

290,828

 

Grain facilities

 

 

5,447

 

 

4,830

 

Groundwater

 

 

7,767

 

 

6,333

 

Irrigation improvements

 

 

13,851

 

 

11,909

 

Drainage improvements

 

 

2,755

 

 

1,641

 

Permanent plantings

 

 

1,845

 

 

1,168

 

Other

 

 

1,363

 

 

913

 

Construction in progress

 

 

603

 

 

286

 

Real estate, at cost

 

 

557,916

 

 

317,908

 

Less accumulated depreciation

 

 

(1,988)

 

 

(1,671)

 

Total real estate, net

 

 

555,928

 

 

316,237

 

Deposits

 

 

264

 

 

765

 

Cash

 

 

35,732

 

 

23,514

 

Notes and interest receivable, net

 

 

2,760

 

 

2,812

 

Deferred offering costs

 

 

267

 

 

267

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

 

1,721

 

 

703

 

Inventory

 

 

225

 

 

249

 

Other

 

 

941

 

 

407

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

597,838

 

$

344,954

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage notes and bonds payable, net

 

$

289,604

 

$

187,074

 

Dividends payable

 

 

2,404

 

 

2,060

 

Accrued interest

 

 

1,539

 

 

681

 

Accrued property taxes

 

 

923

 

 

764

 

Deferred revenue (See Note 2)

 

 

12,045

 

 

4,854

 

Accrued expenses

 

 

1,361

 

 

1,292

 

Total liabilities

 

 

307,876

 

 

196,725

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (See Note 6 and Note 8)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redeemable non-controlling interests in operating partnership, common units

 

 

9,519

 

 

9,695

 

Redeemable non-controlling interests in operating partnership, preferred units

 

 

117,283

 

 

 —

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized; 12,072,321 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2016, and 11,978,675 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2015

 

 

118

 

 

118

 

Additional paid in capital

 

 

118,171

 

 

114,783

 

Retained earnings (deficit)

 

 

(695)

 

 

659

 

Cumulative dividends

 

 

(8,728)

 

 

(7,188)

 

Non-controlling interests in operating partnership

 

 

54,294

 

 

30,162

 

Total equity

 

 

163,160

 

 

138,534

 

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

 

$

597,838

 

$

344,954

 

 

See accompanying notes.

3


 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Combined Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015

(Unaudited)

(in thousands except per share amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

    

2016

    

2015

 

 

OPERATING REVENUES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rental income (See Note 2)

 

$

4,417

 

$

2,030

 

 

Tenant reimbursements

 

 

69

 

 

73

 

 

Other revenue

 

 

206

 

 

 —

 

 

Total operating revenues

 

 

4,692

 

 

2,103

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and depletion

 

 

317

 

 

173

 

 

Property operating expenses

 

 

440

 

 

200

 

 

Acquisition and due diligence costs

 

 

57

 

 

11

 

 

General and administrative expenses

 

 

1,526

 

 

875

 

 

Legal and accounting

 

 

367

 

 

268

 

 

Other operating expenses

 

 

89

 

 

 —

 

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

2,796

 

 

1,527

 

 

OPERATING INCOME

 

 

1,896

 

 

576

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income

 

 

(28)

 

 

 —

 

 

Interest expense

 

 

3,854

 

 

773

 

 

Total other expense

 

 

3,826

 

 

773

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET LOSS

 

 

(1,930)

 

 

(197)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests in operating partnership

 

 

475

 

 

40

 

 

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

 

 

101

 

 

 —

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to the Company

 

$

(1,354)

 

$

(157)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nonforfeitable distributions allocated to unvested restricted shares

 

 

(30)

 

 

(25)

 

 

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

 

 

(113)

 

 

 —

 

 

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

 

 

(283)

 

 

 —

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss available to common stockholders of Farmland Partners Inc.

 

$

(1,780)

 

$

(182)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted per common share data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic net income (loss) available to common stockholders

 

$

(0.15)

 

$

(0.02)

 

 

Diluted net income (loss) available to common stockholders

 

$

(0.15)

 

$

(0.02)

 

 

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

 

 

11,834

 

 

7,530

 

 

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

 

 

11,834

 

 

7,530

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

4


 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Combined Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

    

2016

    

2015

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(1,930)

 

$

(197)

 

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and depletion

 

 

317

 

 

173

 

Amortization of discounts/premiums on debt

 

 

200

 

 

60

 

Amortization of net origination fees related to notes receivable

 

 

(3)

 

 

 —

 

Amortization of below market leases

 

 

(43)

 

 

 —

 

Stock based compensation

 

 

243

 

 

239

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable

 

 

(1,018)

 

 

157

 

Decrease in interest receivable

 

 

4

 

 

 —

 

Increase in other assets

 

 

(192)

 

 

(66)

 

Decrease in inventory

 

 

24

 

 

 —

 

Increase in accrued interest

 

 

857

 

 

257

 

Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses

 

 

9

 

 

(259)

 

Increase in deferred revenue

 

 

7,234

 

 

4,549

 

Increase in accrued property taxes

 

 

78

 

 

37

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

5,780

 

 

4,950

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Real estate acquisitions

 

 

(93,187)

 

 

(11,162)

 

Real estate improvements

 

 

(698)

 

 

(2,073)

 

Principal receipts on notes receivable

 

 

50

 

 

 —

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(93,835)

 

 

(13,235)

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Borrowings from mortgage notes payable

 

 

159,000

 

 

 —

 

Repayments on mortgage notes payable

 

 

(56,000)

 

 

(6,102)

 

Payment of debt issuance costs

 

 

(667)

 

 

(42)

 

Dividends on common stock

 

 

(1,527)

 

 

(897)

 

Distributions to non-controlling interests in operating partnership

 

 

(533)

 

 

(226)

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

 

100,273

 

 

(7,267)

 

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH

 

 

12,218

 

 

(15,552)

 

CASH, BEGINNING OF PERIOD

 

 

23,514

 

 

33,736

 

CASH, END OF PERIOD

 

$

35,732

 

$

18,184

 

Cash paid during period for interest

 

$

2,804

 

$

456

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING TRANSACTIONS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions payable, common

 

$

2,404

 

$

1,130

 

Distributions payable, preferred

 

$

283

 

$

 —

 

Additions to real estate improvements included in accrued expenses

 

$

51

 

$

240

 

Financing fees included in accrued expenses

 

$

3

 

$

61

 

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

 

$

145,826

 

$

 —

 

Deposits included in accrued expenses

 

$

 —

 

$

40

 

Issuance of common stock in conjunction with acquisition

 

$

 —

 

$

713

 

Real estate acquisition costs included in accrued expenses

 

$

6

 

$

240

 

Property tax liability assumed in acquisitions

 

$

80

 

$

3

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

 

5


 

Table of Contents 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Note 1—Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

 

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 March 31, 2016, the Company owned a portfolio of 255 farms, as well as 13 grain storage facilities, 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 March 31, 2016, the Company owned a 40.4% 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”)). 

 

The Company and the Operating Partnership commenced operations upon completion of the underwritten initial public offering of shares of the Company’s common stock (the “IPO”) on April 16, 2014 (see “Note 9—Stockholders’ Equity and Non-controlling Interests”). Concurrently with the completion of the IPO, the Company’s predecessor, FP Land LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“FP Land”), merged with and into the Operating Partnership, with the Operating Partnership surviving (the “FP Land Merger”). As a result of the FP Land Merger, the Operating Partnership succeeded to the business and operations of FP Land, including FP Land’s 100% fee simple interest in a portfolio of 38 farms and three grain storage facilities (the “Contributed Properties”). 

 

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 on 641 acres of farmland owned by the Company and located in Nebraska.

 

Principles of Combination and Consolidation

 

The accompanying combined consolidated financial statements for the periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 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.

 

The Company’s financial condition as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 and the results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, reflect the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. 

 

6


 

Table of Contents 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Interim Financial Information

 

The information in the Company’s combined consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 is unaudited.  All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.  The accompanying financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 include adjustments based on management’s estimates (consisting of normal and recurring accruals), which the Company considers necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods.  The financial information should be read in conjunction with the combined consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015, 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 March 15, 2016.  Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of actual operating results for the entire year ending December 31, 2016.

 

The combined 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.

 

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 could materially differ from those estimates.

 

Real Estate Acquisitions

 

The Company accounts for all acquisitions in accordance with the business combinations standard. When the Company acquires farmland that was previously operated as a rental property, the Company evaluates whether a lease is in place or a crop is being produced at the time of closing of the acquisition. If a lease is in place or a crop is being produced, the Company accounts for the transaction as a business combination and charges the costs associated with the acquisition to acquisition and due diligence costs on the statement of operations, as incurred. Otherwise, acquisitions with no lease in place or crops being produced at the time of acquisition are accounted for as an asset acquisition with the transaction costs incurred capitalized to the assets acquired. When the Company acquires farmland in a sale-lease back transaction, the Company accounts for the transaction as an asset 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 of acquired real estate by valuing the land as if it were unimproved. The Company values improvements, including permanent plantings and grain facilities, at replacement cost as new, 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

7


 

Table of Contents 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

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 combined 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 March 31, 2016, all below market leases had been fully amortized, with amortization totaling $43,085 recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2016. There were no below market leases or related amortization recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2015, and no above market leases at March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015.

 

As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company did not have any 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 in accordance with GAAP.  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 in which the acquisition is abandoned.

 

Total consideration for acquisitions may include a combination of cash and equity securities.  When equity securities are issued, the Company determines 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 acquisition, 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.

 

Real Estate

 

The Company’s real estate consists of land, groundwater and improvements made to the land consisting of permanent plantings, grain facilities, irrigation improvements, drainage improvements and other improvements. The Company records real estate at cost and capitalizes improvements and replacements when they extend the useful life or improve the efficiency of the asset. Construction in progress includes the costs to build new grain storage facilities and install new pivots and wells on newly acquired farms. The Company begins depreciating assets when the asset is ready for its intended use.

 

8


 

Table of Contents 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

The Company expenses costs of repairs and maintenance as such costs are incurred. The Company computes depreciation and depletion for assets classified as improvements using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grain facilities

 

10

-

50

 

Irrigation improvements

 

2

-

40

 

Drainage improvements

 

23

-

65

 

Groundwater

 

3

-

50

 

Permanent plantings

 

13

-

23

 

Other

 

5

-

40

 

 

 

The Company periodically evaluates the estimated useful lives for groundwater based on current state water regulations and depletion levels of the aquifers.

 

When a sale occurs, the Company recognizes the associated gain when all consideration has been transferred, the sale has closed and there is no material continuing involvement. If a sale is expected to generate a loss, the Company first assesses it through the impairment evaluation process—see “Impairment of Real Estate Assets” below.

 

Impairment of Real Estate Assets

 

The Company evaluates its tangible and identifiable intangible real estate assets for impairment indicators whenever events such as declines in a property’s operating performance, deteriorating market conditions or environmental or legal concerns bring recoverability of the carrying value of one or more assets into question. If such events are present, the Company projects the total undiscounted cash flows of the asset, including proceeds from disposition, and compares them to the net book value of the asset. If this evaluation indicates that the carrying value may not be recoverable, an impairment loss is recorded in earnings equal to the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the asset. There have been no impairments recognized on real estate assets in the accompanying financial statements.

 

Cash

 

The Company’s cash at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was held in the custody of two financial institutions. The Company’s balance at any given financial institution may at times exceed federally insurable limits. The Company monitors balances with individual financial institutions to mitigate risks relating to balances exceeding such limits.

 

Debt Issuance Costs

 

Costs incurred by the Company or its predecessor in obtaining debt are deducted from the face amount of mortgage notes and bonds payable.  During the three months ended March 31, 2016, $669,161,  in costs were incurred in conjunction with the MetLife Term Loans and the MSD Bridge Loan (as defined below) (see “Note 7—Mortgage Notes and Bonds Payable”). During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company paid 4% of the principal amount of the MSD Bridge Loan, or $2,120,000 as additional interest in the form of a discount on issuance.  During the three months ended March 31, 2015, $103,215 in costs were incurred in conjunction with the issuance of two bonds under the Farmer Mac Facility (See “Note 7—Mortgage Notes and Bonds Payable”).  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. The Company recorded amortization expense of $223,211 and $47,964 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  The Company wrote off $6,209 and $12,300 in deferred financing fees in conjunction with early repayment of debt during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  Accumulated amortization of deferred financing fees was $539,694 and $310,274 as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

 

9


 

Table of Contents 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Notes and Interest Receivable

 

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

 

Management determines the appropriate classification of debt securities at the time of issuance and reevaluates such designation as of each statement of financial position date. As of March 31, 2016, the Company had two outstanding notes under the FPI Loan Program (as defined below) (see “Note 6—Notes Receivable”) and have designated each of the notes receivable as held-to-maturity based on the Company’s intent and ability to hold the security until maturity. Held-to-maturity securities are stated at amortized cost, adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity computed under the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method. Such amortization, including interest, is included in other revenue within the Company’s combined consolidated statements of operations. See “Note 6—Notes Receivable.”

 

Allowance for Note and Interest Receivable

 

A note is placed on non-accrual status when management determines, after considering economic and business conditions and collection efforts, that the note is impaired or collection of interest is doubtful. The accrual of interest on the instrument ceases when there is concern that principal or interest due according to the note agreement will not be collected. Any payment received on such non-accrual notes are recorded as interest income when the payment is received. The note is reclassified as accrual-basis once interest and principal payments become current. The Company periodically reviews the value of the underlying collateral of farm real estate for the note receivable and evaluates whether the value of the collateral continues to provide adequate security for the note. Should the value of the underlying collateral become less than the outstanding principal and interest, the Company will determine whether an allowance is necessary. Any uncollectible interest previously accrued is also charged off.  As of March 31, 2016, the Company believes the value of the underlying collateral for each of the notes to be sufficient and in excess of the respective outstanding principal and accrued interest.   There were no notes receivable that were past due at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015. 

 

Deferred Offering Costs

 

Deferred offering costs include incremental direct costs incurred by the Company in conjunction with proposed or actual offerings of securities. At the completion of the 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 $0 and $30,360 in offering costs during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company had $267,253 in deferred offering costs related to regulatory, legal, accounting and professional service costs associated with proposed or actual offerings of securities.

 

Accounts Receivable

 

Accounts receivable are presented at face value, net of the allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is established through provisions and is maintained at a level believed adequate by management to absorb estimated bad debts based on historical experience and current economic conditions. The provision is charged against revenue if the provision is established in the same period as the receivable and corresponding revenue was recognized.  If the receivable and corresponding revenue was recorded in a prior period the provision is charged against operating expenses.  The allowance for doubtful accounts was $78,186 as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

 

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 combined 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. Growing crop consists primarily of land preparation, cultivation, irrigation

10


 

Table of Contents 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

and fertilization costs incurred by FPI Agribusiness. Growing crop inventory is charged to cost of products sold when the related crop is harvested and sold. During the quarter ended March 31, 2016, cost of harvested crop sold totaled $88,899 and is included in other operating expenses on the statement of operations.  There was no cost of harvested crops sold for the quarter ended March 31, 2015.

 

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 broker’s commissions, freight and other marketing costs.  

 

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

 

Inventory consisted of the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

March 31, 2016

 

December 31, 2015

Harvested crop

 

$

159

 

$

243

Growing crop

 

 

23

 

 

 —

Fertilizer and pesticides

 

 

43

 

 

6

 

 

$

225

 

$

249

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Rental income includes rents that each tenant pays in accordance with the terms of its lease. Minimum rents pursuant to leases are recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the lease term, including renewal options in the case of bargain renewal options. Deferred revenue includes the cumulative difference between the rental revenue recorded on a straight-line basis and the cash rent received from tenants in accordance with the lease terms. Acquired below market leases are included in deferred revenue on the accompanying combined consolidated balance sheets, which are amortized into rental income over the life of the respective leases, plus the terms of the below market renewal options, if any.

 

Leases in place as of March 31, 2016 had terms ranging from one to five years.  As of March 31, 2016, the Company had 17 leases with renewal options and five leases with rent escalations. The majority of the Company’s leases provide for a fixed annual or semi-annual cash rent payment. Tenant leases on acquired farms generally require the tenant to pay the Company rent for the entire initial year regardless of the date of acquisition, if the acquisition is closed prior to, or shortly after, planting of crops. If the acquisition is closed later in the year, the Company typically receives a partial rent payment or no rent payment at all at the time the acquisition is completed.

 

Certain of the Company’s leases provide for a rent payment determined as a percentage of the gross farm proceeds, a percentage of harvested crops, or a fixed crop quantity at a fixed price. As of March 31, 2016, a majority of such leases provided for a rent payment determined as a percentage of the gross farm proceeds. Revenue under leases providing for a payment equal to a percentage of the harvested crop or a percentage of the gross farm proceeds are recorded at the guaranteed crop insurance minimums and recognized ratably over the lease term during the crop year. Upon notification from the grain facility that grain has been delivered or when the tenant has notified the Company of the total amount of gross farm proceeds, the excess amount to be received over the guaranteed insurance minimums is recorded as revenue.

 

Certain of the Company’s leases provide for minimum cash rent plus a bonus based on gross farm proceeds. Revenue under this type of lease is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term based on the minimum cash rent. Bonus rent is recognized upon notification from the tenant of the gross farm proceeds for the year.

 

Tenant reimbursements include reimbursements for real estate taxes that each tenant pays in accordance with the terms of its lease. When leases require that the tenant reimburse the Company for property taxes paid by the Company, the reimbursement is reflected as tenant reimbursement revenue on the statements of operations, as earned, and the related

11


 

Table of Contents 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

property tax as property operating expense, as incurred. When a lease requires that the tenant pay the taxing authority directly, the Company does not incur this cost.  If and when it becomes probable that a tenant will not be able to bear the property-related costs, the Company will accrue the estimated expense.

 

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 $149,283 were recognized during the three month ended March 31, 2016, with no revenues recognized in 2015’s comparable period. 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.

 

      The Company recognizes interest income on notes receivable on an accrual basis over the life of the note. Direct origination costs are netted against loan origination fees and are amortized over the life of the note using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method, as an adjustment to interest income which is included in operating revenues as a component of other revenue in the Company’s Combined Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Income Taxes

 

As a REIT, the Company is permitted to deduct dividends, for income tax purposes, paid to its stockholders, thereby eliminating the U.S. federal taxation of income represented by such distributions at the Company level, provided certain requirements are met. REITs are subject to a number of organizational and operational requirements. If the Company fails to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, the Company will be subject to U.S. federal income tax (including any applicable alternative minimum tax) on its taxable income at regular corporate tax rates.  The Company incurred no income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

 

The Operating Partnership leases certain of its farms to the TRS, which is subject to federal and state income taxes. The TRS accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis of assets and liabilities and their respective income tax basis and for operating loss, capital loss and tax credit carryforwards based on enacted income tax rates expected to be in effect when such amounts are realized or settled. However, deferred tax assets are recognized only to the extent that it is more likely than not they will be realized after consideration of available evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, future projected taxable income and tax planning strategies. There was no taxable income from the TRS for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, and at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company did not have any deferred tax assets or liabilities.

 

The Company performs quarterly reviews for any uncertain tax positions and, if necessary, will record future tax consequences of uncertain tax positions in the financial statements.  An uncertain tax position is defined as a position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return that is not more likely than not (greater than 50 percent probability) to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position and which is reflected in measuring current or deferred income tax assets and liabilities for interim or annual periods.  At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company did not identify any uncertain tax positions.

 

When the Company acquires a property in a business combination, the Company evaluates such acquisition for any related deferred tax assets or liabilities and determines if a deferred tax asset or liability should be recorded in conjunction with the purchase price allocation. If a built-in gain is acquired, the Company evaluates the required holding period (generally 5 - 10 years) and determines if it has the ability and intent to hold the underlying assets for the necessary holding period. If the Company has the ability to hold the underlying assets for the required holding period, no deferred tax liability is recorded with respect to the built-in gain.

 

Derivatives and Hedge Accounting

 

The Company enters into marketing contracts to sell commodities. Derivatives and hedge accounting guidance requires a company to evaluate these contracts to determine whether the contracts are derivatives. Certain contracts that meet the definition of a derivative may be exempt from derivative accounting if designated as normal purchases or normal

12


 

Table of Contents 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

sales. The Company evaluates all contracts at inception to determine if they are derivatives and if they meet the normal purchases and normal sales designation requirements. All contracts entered into during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and the year ended December 31, 2015 met the criteria to be exempt from derivative accounting and have been designated as normal purchase and sales exceptions for hedge accounting.

 

Segment Reporting

 

The Company’s chief operating decision maker does not evaluate performance on a farm-specific or transactional basis and does not distinguish the Company’s principal business or group its operations on a geographical basis for purposes of measuring performance. Accordingly, the Company believes it has a single operating segment for reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP.

 

Earnings Per Share

 

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period, excluding the weighted average number of unvested restricted shares (“participating securities” as defined in “Note 9—Stockholders’ Equity and Non-controlling Interests”).  Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period, plus other potentially dilutive securities such as stock grants or shares that would be issued in the event that OP units or Preferred units are redeemed for shares of common stock of the Company.  No adjustment is made for shares that are anti-dilutive during a period.

 

Non-controlling Interests

 

The Company’s non-controlling interests represent interests in the Operating Partnership not owned by the Company. The Company evaluates whether non-controlling interests are subject to redemption features outside of its control. The Company classifies non-controlling interests that are contingently redeemable solely for cash (unless stockholder approval is obtained to redeem for shares of common stock) one year after issuance or deemed probable to eventually become redeemable and which have redemption features outside of its control, as redeemable non-controlling interests in the mezzanine section of the combined consolidated balance sheets. For the non-controlling interests represented by OP units, the Company has elected to accrete the change in redemption value subsequent to issuance and during the respective 12-month holding period, after which point the OP units will be marked to redemption value at the end of each reporting period.   The redeemable non-controlling interests represented by Preferred units are carried at their liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid cumulative dividends. The Preferred units, after the 10th anniversary of the initial issuance, are redeemable and convertible without action or approval of the General Partner or the Partnership. The majority of the Company’s non-controlling interests, which are redeemable for cash or shares of the Company’s common stock at the Company’s option, are reported in the equity section of the Company’s combined consolidated balance sheets. The amounts reported for non-controlling interests on the Company’s combined consolidated statements of operations represent the portion of income or losses not attributable to the Company.

 

Stock Based Compensation

 

 From time to time, the Company may award restricted shares of its common stock under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) as compensation to officers, employees, non-employee directors and non-employee consultants (see “Note 9—Stockholders’ Equity and Non-controlling Interests”).  The shares of restricted stock issued to officers, employees and non-employee directors vest over a period of time as determined by the Company’s board of directors at the date of grant. Compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period based upon the fair market value of the shares on the date of grant, as adjusted for forfeitures.  The Company recognizes expense related to nonvested shares granted to non-employee consultants over the period that services are performed.  The change in fair value of the shares to be issued upon vesting is remeasured at the end of each reporting period and is recorded in general and administrative expenses on the combined consolidated statements of operations.  As a result of changes in the fair value of the nonvested shares, the Company recorded a decrease in stock based compensation of $11,792 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and a $34,343 increase for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

 

13


 

Table of Contents 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

New or Revised Accounting Standards

 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”) . ASU 2014-09 completes the joint effort by the FASB and International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) to improve financial reporting by creating common revenue recognition guidance for GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net).” ASU 2016-08 clarifies the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing.” ASU 2016-10 clarifies the implementation guidance on identifying performance obligations. These ASUs apply to all companies that enter into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services. These ASUs are effective for public entities for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted, but not before interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Entities have the choice to apply these ASUs either retrospectively to each reporting period presented or by recognizing the cumulative effect of applying these standards at the date of initial application and not adjusting comparative information. The Company is currently evaluating the requirements of these standards and has not yet determined the impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis (“ASU 2015-02”), which amends or supersedes the scope and consolidation guidance under existing GAAP. The new standard changes the way a reporting entity evaluates whether (a) limited partnerships and similar entities should be consolidated, (b) fees paid to decision makers or service providers are variable interests in a variable interest entity (“VIE”), and (c) variable interests in a VIE held by related parties require the reporting entity to consolidate the VIE. ASU 2015-02 also eliminates the VIE consolidation model based on majority exposure to variability that applied to certain investment companies and similar entities. ASU 2015-02 is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. On January 1, 2016, the Company adopted ASU 2015-02.  The guidance does not amend the existing disclosure requirements for variable interest entities (“VIEs”) or voting interest model entities.  The guidance, however, modified the requirements to qualify under the voting interest model. Under the revised guidance, the Operating Partnership will be a variable interest entity of the Parent Company. As the Operating Partnership is already consolidated in the balance sheets of the Parent Company, the identification of this entity as a variable interest entity has no impact on the consolidated financial 

 

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs (“ASU 2015-03”). ASU 2015-03 requires the presentation of debt issuance costs in the balance sheet as a deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability instead of a deferred charge asset. ASU 2015-03 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, but early adoption is permitted. The Company elected to early adopt the provisions of ASU 2015-03. The Company had unamortized deferred financing fees of $820,711 and $380,970 as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. These costs have been classified as a reduction of mortgage notes and bonds payable, net. All periods presented have been retroactively adjusted.

 

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 and 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 does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have any impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-15, Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated With Line-of-Credit Arrangements — Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to Staff Announcement at June 18, 2015 EITF Meeting (“ASU 2015-15”), which clarified that the SEC would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs related to a line-of-credit arrangement as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the arrangement. ASU 2015-15 is effective for annual periods beginning after

14


 

Table of Contents 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

December 15, 2015, but early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2015-15 in the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016.  The Company did not have any debt issuance costs related to a line-of-credit arrangement as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 and thus, the adoption of ASU 2015-15 did not have an effect on the Company’s combined consolidated financial statement or financial covenants.

 

In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-16,  Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustment (“ASU 2015-16”) pertaining to entities that have reported provisional amounts for items in a business combination for which the accounting is incomplete by the end of the reporting period in which the combination occurs and during the measurement period have an adjustment to provisional amounts recognized. The guidance requires that an acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. Any adjustments should be calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date.  ASU 2015-16 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted.  The Company adopted the guidance effective for the quarterly period ended December 31, 2015.  In the fourth quarter of 2015 the Company had two purchase price allocation adjustments which resulted in a $42,578 decrease in land and a corresponding increase in other assets in addition to a $688 decrease in depreciation expense and accumulated depreciation.  The Company has several business combinations which are still within the measurement period and could result in future adjustments.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 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. 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.  ASU 2016-02 is expected to impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements as the Company has an operating lease arrangement for which it is the lessee. Topic 842 supersedes the previous leases standard, Topic 840 Leases.  The standard is effective on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted.  The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of this new guidance.

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2016-09”). ASU 2016-09 simplifies the accounting for share-based payment award transactions including: income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the requirements of ASU 2016-09 and has not yet determined its impact on the Company’s combined consolidated financial statements.

 

15


 

Table of Contents 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

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 due in the second half of the year. As such, 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.  Payments received in advance are included in deferred revenue until they are earned. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company had $12,044,816 and $4,853,837, respectively, in deferred revenue. There were no unamortized below market leases at March 31, 2016 and $43,085 in below market leases included in deferred revenue at December 31, 2015.

 

The following sets forth a summary of the cash rent received during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 and the rental income recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash rent received

 

Rental income recognized

 

 

 

For the three months ended

 

For the three months ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

(in thousands)

    

2016

    

2015

    

2016

    

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leases in effect at the beginning of the year

 

$

7,379

 

$

5,159

 

$

3,582

 

$

1,737

 

Leases entered into during the year

 

 

3,413

 

 

1,367

 

 

835

 

 

293

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

10,792

 

$

6,526

 

$

4,417

 

$

2,030

 

 

Future minimum lease payments from tenants under all non-cancelable leases in place as of March 31, 2016, including lease advances, when contractually due, but excluding tenant reimbursement of expenses for the remainder of 2016 and each of the next four years as of March 31, 2016 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

    

Future rental

 

Year Ending December 31,

 

payments

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remaining nine months of 2016

 

$

10,885

 

2017

 

 

15,857

 

2018

 

 

11,635

 

2019

 

 

2,928

 

2020

 

 

509

 

 

 

$

41,814

 

 

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.

 

 

16


 

Table of Contents 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Note 3—Concentration Risk

 

Credit Risk

 

      For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 the Company had certain tenant concentrations as presented in the table below.  Astoria Farms and Hough Farms were considered related parties for the three months ended March 31, 2015 (see ‘‘Note 4—Related Party Transactions’’).  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:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Rental income recognized

 

Cash rent received

 

 

For the three months ended

 

For the three months ended

 

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

    

2016

    

2015

    

    

2016

    

2015

    

Astoria Farms

    

$

126

    

2.9

%  

$

547

    

26.9

%  

 

$

 —

    

 -

%  

$

2,188

    

33.5

%  

Hough Farms

 

 

492

 

11.1

%  

 

123

 

6.1

%  

 

 

 —

 

 -

%  

 

529

 

8.1

%  

Justice Family Farms  (1)

 

 

1,398

 

31.6

%  

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 

4,297

 

39.8

%  

 

 —

 

 -

%  

Hudye Farms tenant A

 

 

202

 

4.6

%  

 

202

 

9.9

%  

 

 

 —

 

 -

%  

 

678

 

10.4

%  

 

 

$

2,218

 

50.2

%  

$

872

 

42.9

%  

 

$

4,297

 

39.8

%  

$

3,395

 

52.0

%  


(1)

The Justice farms were acquired in two separate transactions that closed on December 22, 2014 and June 2, 2015.

 

Geographic Risk

 

The following table summarizes the percentage of approximate total acres owned as of March 31, 2016 and 2015 and rental income recorded by the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 by location of the farms:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Approximate % of total acres

 

Rental Income

 

 

As of March 31,

 

For the three months ended March 31,

Location of Farm

    

2016

    

2015

 

 

2016

    

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Illinois

 

26.4

%

11.6

 

21.7

%

27.8

%

Colorado

 

19.0

%

39.3

 

14.8

%

25.6

%

Other

 

15.7

%

5.4

 

6.0

%

5.7

%

North Carolina

 

10.4

%

 —

%

 

27.4

%

 —

%

Arkansas

 

9.7

%

16.4

 

7.1

%

9.2

%

South Carolina

 

9.3

%

14.8

 

12.5

%

18.8

%

Nebraska

 

5.5

%

6.8

 

8.1

%

7.2

%

Mississippi

 

4.0

%

5.7

%

 

2.4

%

5.7

%

 

 

100.0

%

100.0

%

 

100.0

%

100.0

%

 

 

Note 4—Related Party Transactions

 

As of March 31, 2016 and 2015, 6% and 16%, respectively, of the acres in the Company’s farm portfolio were rented to and operated by Astoria Farms or Hough Farms, both of which were related parties prior to December 31, 2015.  Astoria Farms is a partnership in which Pittman Hough Farms LLC (“Pittman Hough Farms”), which was previously 75% owned by Mr. Pittman, had a 33.34% interest. The balance of Astoria Farms was held by limited partnerships in which Mr. Pittman previously was the general partner. Hough Farms is a partnership in which Pittman Hough Farms previously had a  25% interest. Effective as of December 31, 2015, Mr. Pittman neither owns any direct or indirect interest in, nor has control of, either Astoria Farms or Hough Farms. The aggregate rent recognized by the Company for these entities for the three months ended March 31, 2016, and 2015 was $617,959 and $670,429, respectively.

  

American Agriculture Corporation (‘‘American Agriculture’’) is a Colorado corporation that was previously 75% owned by Mr. Pittman and 25% owned by Jesse J. Hough, who provides consulting services to the Company.  Effective as of December 31, 2015, Mr. Pittman does not own any interest in American Agriculture and American Agriculture is no longer a related party. 

17


 

Table of Contents 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

 

The Company reimbursed American Agriculture $0 and $16,816 for general and administrative expenses during the three months ended March 31, 2016  and 2015, respectively, which are included in general and administrative expenses in the combined consolidated statements of operations.

 

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 for business purposes.  American Ag Aviation is a Colorado limited liability company that is owned 100% by Mr. Pittman.  During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company incurred costs of $47,053 which were reimbursable to 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, as follows: (i) general and administrative - expensed as general and administrative expenses within the Company’s combined consolidated statements of operations; (ii) land acquisition (accounted for as an asset acquisition) - allocated to the acquired real estate assets within the Company’s combined consolidated balance sheets; and (iii) land acquisition (accounted for as a business combination) - expensed as acquisition and due diligence costs within the Company’s combined consolidated statements of operations.

 

On April 1, 2015, the TRS and Hough Farms entered into a custom farming arrangement, pursuant to which Hough Farms performs custom farming on 641 acres owned by the Company located in Nebraska and Illinois.  During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company incurred $1,250 in custom farming costs, which are included in inventory in the combined consolidated balance sheets.  As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company owed Hough Farms $0 and $11,946, respectively for fungicide application related costs, which are included in accrued expenses in the combined consolidated balance sheet.

 

Note 5—Real Estate

 

As of March 31, 2016, the Company owned 255 separate farms, as well as 13 grain storage facilities.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company acquired the following farms:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands except acre)

    

 

    

 

    

Total

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date

 

approximate

 

Purchase

 

Acquisition

 

 

 

Acquisition / Farm

 

State

 

acquired

 

acres

 

price

 

costs

 

Type of acquisition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Knowles

 

Georgia

 

1/12/2016

 

608

 

$

1,202

 

$

2

 

Asset Acquisition

 

Borden

 

Michigan

 

1/21/2016

 

265

 

 

1,630

 

 

 —

 

Business Combination

 

Reinart Farm

 

Texas

 

1/27/2016

 

2,056

 

 

6,117

 

 

1

 

Asset Acquisition

 

Chenoweth

 

Illinois

 

2/26/2016

 

40

 

 

371

 

 

 —

 

Asset Acquisition

 

Forsythe Farms (1)

 

Illinois

 

3/2/2016

 

22,128

 

 

197,145

 

 

1,321

 

Asset Acquisition

 

Knight

 

Georgia

 

3/11/2016

 

208

 

 

624

 

 

3

 

Asset Acquisition

 

Gurga

 

Illinois

 

3/24/2016

 

80

 

 

667

 

 

 —

 

Asset Acquisition

 

Condrey

 

Louisiana

 

3/31/2016

 

7,400

 

 

31,764

 

 

14

 

Asset Acquisition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32,785

 

$

239,520

 

$

1,341

 

 

 


(1)

This acquisition closed on March 2, 2016.  The purchase price of the property was comprised of (a) $50.0 million in cash, (b) an aggregate of 2,608,695 OP Units valued at $11.05 per OP Unit and (c) 117,000 Preferred units.   See “Note 9 – Stockholders’ Equity and Non-controlling Interests”.

 

18


 

Table of Contents 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company acquired the following farms:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands except acres)

    

 

    

 

    

Total

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date

 

approximate

 

Purchase

 

Acquisition

 

 

 

Acquisition / Farm

 

State

 

acquired

 

acres

 

price

 

costs

 

Type of acquisition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swarek

 

Mississippi

 

1/14/2015

 

850

 

$

3,512

 

$

6

 

Asset acquisition

 

Stonington Bass

 

Colorado

 

2/18/2015

 

997

 

 

2,080

 

 

1

 

Business combination

 

Benda Butler

 

Nebraska

 

2/24/2015

 

73

 

 

606

 

 

1

 

Asset acquisition

 

Benda Polk

 

Nebraska

 

2/24/2015

 

123

 

 

861

 

 

2

 

Asset acquisition

 

Timmerman (1)

 

Colorado

 

3/13/2015

 

315

 

 

2,026

 

 

0

 

Asset acquisition

 

Cypress Bay

 

South Carolina

 

3/13/2015

 

502

 

 

2,303

 

 

4

 

Asset acquisition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,860

 

$

11,388

 

$

14

 

 

 


(1)

On March 13, 2015, the Company issued 63,581 shares of common stock (with a fair value of $712,743 as of the date of closing) as partial consideration for the acquisition of the Timmerman farm.

 

The preliminary allocation of purchase price for the farms acquired during the three months ended March 31, 2016 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

    

Land

    

Groundwater

    

Irrigation
improvements

    

Permanent
plantings &
other

    

Timber

    

Accrued
property
taxes

    

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Borden

 

$

779

 

$

 —

 

$

63

 

$

788

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

1,630

 

Knowles

 

 

795

 

 

 —

 

 

65

 

 

 —

 

 

342

 

 

 —

 

 

1,202

 

Reinart Farm

 

 

4,188

 

 

1,434

 

 

495

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

6,117

 

Chenoweth

 

 

371

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

371

 

Forsythe Farms

 

 

195,590

 

 

 —

 

 

1,277

 

 

357

 

 

 —

 

 

(79)

 

 

197,145

 

Knight

 

 

482

 

 

 —

 

 

142

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

624

 

Gurga

 

 

668

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(1)

 

 

667

 

Condrey

 

 

30,584

 

 

 —

 

 

557

 

 

623

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

31,764

 

 

 

$

233,457

 

$

1,434

 

$

2,599

 

$

1,768

 

$

342

 

$

(80)

 

$

239,520

 

 

The allocation of the purchase price for the farms acquired during the three months ended March 31, 2016 is preliminary and may change during the measurement period if the Company obtains new information regarding the assets acquired or liabilities assumed at the acquisition date.

 

The allocation of purchase price for the farms acquired during the three months ended March 31, 2015 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

    

Land

    

Groundwater

    

Irrigation
improvements

    

Permanent
plantings &
other

 

Timber

 

Accrued
property
taxes

    

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swarek

 

$

3,471

 

$

 —

 

$

41

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

3,512

 

Stonington Bass

 

 

1,995

 

 

 —

 

 

80

 

 

5

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

2,080

 

Benda Butler

 

 

607

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(1)

 

 

606

 

Benda Polk

 

 

862

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(1)

 

 

861

 

Timmerman

 

 

1,365

 

 

626

 

 

37

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(2)

 

 

2,026

 

Cypress Bay

 

 

1,959

 

 

 —

 

 

276

 

 

68

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

2,303

 

 

 

$

10,259

 

$

626

 

$

434

 

$

73

 

$

 —

 

$

(4)

 

$

11,388

 

 

The Company has included the results of operations for the acquired real estate in the combined consolidated statements of operations from the dates of acquisition. The real estate acquired in business combinations during the three months ended March 31, 2016 contributed $27,519 to total revenue and $8,405 to net loss (including related real estate acquisition costs of $260) for the three months ended March 31, 2016.  The real estate acquired during the three months ended March 31, 2015 contributed $0 to total revenue and $2,471 to net loss (including related real estate acquisition costs of $1,277) for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

 

19


 

Table of Contents 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

      During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company accounted for the Borden farm as a business combination.  However, as the farm was owner occupied historical results were not available and the Company has not included unaudited pro forma financial information reflecting the pro forma results as if the farm had been acquired on January 1, 2015.

 

      During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company accounted for the Stonington Bass farm as a business combination.  However, as historical results for the farm were not available the Company has not included unaudited pro forma financial information reflecting the pro forma results as if the farm had been acquired on January 1, 2014. 

 

 

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. These loans are collateralized by farm real estate and are expected to be 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. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Principal Outstanding as of

 

Maturity

 

Loan

    

Payment Terms

 

March 31, 2016

    

December 31, 2015

    

Date

 

Mortgage Note

 

Principal & interest due at maturity

 

$

1,800

(1)

$

1,800

 

1/15/2017

(1)

Mortgage Note

 

Year 1 interest paid at note issuance, with remaining principal & interest due at maturity

 

 

980

 

 

980

 

10/30/2017

 

Term Note

 

Principal & interest due at maturity

 

 

 -

 

 

50

 

2/2/2016

(3)

 Total outstanding principal

 

 

 

 

2,780

 

 

2,830

 

 

 

Points paid, net of direct issuance costs

 

 

 

 

(8)

 

 

(10)

 

 

 

Net prepaid interest

 

 

 

 

(12)

(2)

 

(8)

(2)

 

 

 Total notes and interest receivable

 

 

 

$

2,760

 

$

2,812

 

 

 


(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 has a commitment to fund an additional $200,000 under this note, subject to the borrower satisfying certain requirements.

(2)

Includes prepaid interest of $42,685, net of $30,400 of accrued interest receivable at March 31, 2016, and prepaid interest of $60,025, net of $52,244 of accrued interest receivable at December 31, 2015.

(3)

The note, including all outstanding interest, was paid in full in January 2016.

 

The collateral for the mortgage notes receivable consists of real estate and improvements present on such real estate.  For income tax purposes the aggregate cost of the investment of the mortgage notes is the carrying amount per the table above.

 

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.

20


 

Table of Contents 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

·

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 March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the fair value of the notes receivable were $2,796,158 and $2,842,145, respectively.

 

 

Note 7—Mortgage Notes and Bonds Payable

 

As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company had the following indebtedness outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annual

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Value of

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

 

 

 

 

Collateral

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rate as of

 

Principal Outstanding as of

 

Maturity

 

as of

Loan

    

Payment Terms

    

Interest Rate Terms

    

March 31, 2016

    

March 31, 2016

    

December 31, 2015

    

Date

    

March 31, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Midwest Bank

 

Annual Interest/quarterly interest

 

Greater of LIBOR + 2.59% or 2.80%

 

3.02%

 

$

650

(1)

$

650

(1)

June 2016

 

$

1,142

First Midwest Bank

 

Annual Interest/quarterly interest

 

Greater of LIBOR + 2.59% or 2.80%

 

3.02%

 

 

26,000

(1)

 

26,000

(1)

June 2016

 

 

23,979

Farmer Mac Bond #1

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

2.40%

 

2.40%

 

 

20,700

 

 

20,700

 

September 2017

 

 

31,727

Farmer Mac Bond #2

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

2.35%

 

2.35%

 

 

5,460

 

 

5,460

 

October 2017

 

 

8,998

Farmer Mac Bond #3

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

2.50%

 

2.50%

 

 

10,680

 

 

10,680

 

November 2017

 

 

10,671

Farmer Mac Bond #4

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

2.50%

 

2.50%

 

 

13,400

 

 

13,400

 

December 2017

 

 

23,542

Farmer Mac Bond #5

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

2.56%

 

2.56%

 

 

30,860

 

 

30,860

 

December 2017

 

 

52,680

Farmer Mac Bond #6

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

3.69%

 

3.69%

 

 

14,915

 

 

14,915

 

April 2025

 

 

20,072

Farmer Mac Bond #7

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

3.68%

 

3.68%

 

 

11,160

 

 

11,160

 

April 2025

 

 

18,172

Farmer Mac Bond #8A

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

3.20%

 

3.20%

 

 

41,700

 

 

41,700

 

June 2020

 

 

80,809

Farmer Mac Bond #8B

 

(3)

 

Libor + 1.80%

 

1.98%

 

 

2,100

(2)

 

5,100

 

May 2016

 

 

 —

Farmer Mac Bond #9B

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

3.35%

 

3.35%

 

 

6,600

 

 

6,600

 

July 2020

 

 

9,788

MetLife Term Loan  #1

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

Greater of LIBOR + 1.75% or 2% adjusted every 3 years

 

2.38%

 

 

90,000

 

 

 —

 

March 2026

 

 

197,261

MetLife Term Loan #2

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

2.66% adjusted every 3 years

 

2.66%

 

 

 —

(4)

 

 —

 

March 2026

 

 

 —

MetLife Term Loan #3

 

Semi-annual interest only

 

2.66% adjusted every 3 years

 

2.66%

 

 

16,000

 

 

 —

 

March 2026

 

 

31,764

Total outstanding principal

 

 

290,225

 

 

187,225

 

 

 

$

510,605

Debt issuance costs

 

 

(821)

 

 

(381)

 

 

 

 

 

Unamortized premium

 

 

200

 

 

230

 

 

 

 

 

Total mortgage notes and bonds payable, net

 

$

289,604

 

$

187,074

 

 

 

 

 


(1)

Messrs. Pittman and Hough unconditionally agreed to jointly and severally guarantee $11.0 million.

(2)

The $2.1 million bond is cross collateralized with the $41,700 bond.  The $2.1 million was paid in full in May 2016.

(3)

Bond is an amortizing loan with monthly principal payments that commenced on October 2, 2015 and monthly interest payments that commenced on July 2, 2015, with all remaining principal and outstanding interest due at maturity.

(4)

The $21.0 million available under this term loan had not been funded as of March 31, 2016.

 

21


 

Table of Contents 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

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 (the “FMW Loan Agreement”).  Using proceeds from the MetLife Term Loans, as described below, this indebtedness was paid in full, including accrued interest, on April 14, 2016.  The FMW Loan Agreement provided for loans in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $30,780,000 with collateral consisting of real estate and related farm rents.

 

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 ratios of up to 60%, after giving effect to the overcollateralization obligations described below.  Prepayment of each bond issuance is not permitted unless otherwise agreed upon by all parties to the Bond Purchase Agreement. 

 

As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Operating Partnership had approximately $157.6 million and approximately $160.6 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 of $96,268,417. The Company was in compliance with all applicable covenants at March 31, 2016.

 

      In connection with the Bond Purchase Agreement, on August 22, 2014, the Company and the Operating Partnership also entered into a pledge and security agreement (as amended and restated, 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 Agreement

 

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 three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company paid debt issuance costs on the Bridge Loan totaling $173,907 and interest totaling $2,271,867, of which $2,120,000, or 4% of the Bridge Loan's principal amount, considered additional interest paid as discount on issuance, both of which were accrued and paid during

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Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

the period.  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.

 

Interest on the Bridge Loan was payable in cash monthly and accrued at a rate of LIBOR plus 3.00% per annum. In addition, under the Bridge Loan Agreement, the Bridge Borrower paid an additional one-time interest charge of 4.00% of the loan amount.

 

In connection with the Bridge Loan, on February 29, 2016, the Company and the Operating Partnership entered into a guaranty whereby the Company and the Operating Partnership jointly and severally agreed unconditionally to guarantee all of the Bridge Borrower’s obligations under the Bridge Loan.

 

MetLife Term Loans

 

      On March 29, 2016, five wholly owned subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership, entered into a loan agreement (the “MetLife Loan Agreement”) with 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 $21.0 million term loan (“Term Loan 2”) and (iii) a $16.0 million term loan (“Term Loan 3” and, together with Term Loan 1 and Term Loan 2, the “MetLife Term Loans”). The proceeds of the MetLife Term Loans were used to repay existing debt (including amounts outstanding under the existing Bridge Loan), to acquire additional properties and for general corporate purposes. Each MetLife Term Loan matures on March 29, 2026 and is collateralized by first lien mortgages on certain of the Company’s properties.

 

      Interest on Term Loan 1 is payable in cash 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 initially bears interest at a rate of 2.38% per annum until June 29, 2016. 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 in cash 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 MetLife Term Loans generally are subject to a minimum prepayment premium of 1.00%.

 

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

 

      The MetLife Loan Agreement 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 at March 31, 2016.

 

      The MetLife Loan Agreement 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,

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Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

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.

 

Aggregate Maturities

 

As of March 31, 2016, aggregate maturities of long-term debt for the succeeding years are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

Year Ending December 31,

    

Future Maturities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remaining months of 2016

 

$

28,750

 

2017

 

 

81,100

 

2018

 

 

 —

 

2019

 

 

 —

 

2020

 

 

48,300

 

Thereafter

 

 

132,075

 

 

 

$

290,225

 

 

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 March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the fair value of the mortgage notes payable was $280,466,124 and $185,171,599, respectively.

 

Note 8—Commitments and Contingencies

 

The Company is not currently subject to any known material contingencies arising from its business operations, nor to any material known or threatened litigation.

 

In April 2015, the Company entered into a lease agreement for office space.  The lease expires on July 31, 2019.  The lease commenced June 1, 2015 and has a current monthly payment of $10,032 increasing to $10,200 in June of 2016.  As of March 31, 2016, future minimum lease payments are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

    

Future rental

 

Year Ending December 31,

 

payments

 

Remainder of 2016

 

$

91

 

2017

 

 

124

 

2018

 

 

126

 

2019

 

 

74

 

 

 

$

415

 

 

A sale of any of the Contributed Properties 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. 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 Code by any of the equity interest holders of the recipient of the OP units.

 

As of March 31, 2016, the Company had the following properties under contract.  These acquisitions closed in the second quarter of 2016 for cash.  The initial accounting for the transactions are not yet complete, making certain disclosures unavailable at this time.

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Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands except for acres)

    

 

    

Total

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

approximate

 

 

 

 

Farm Name

 

State

 

acres

 

Purchase price

 

Buckelew

 

Mississippi

 

624

 

$

2,304

 

Brett

 

Georgia

 

213

 

 

575

 

Powell

 

Georgia

 

274

 

 

955

 

 

 

 

 

1,111

 

$

3,834

 

 

 

Note 9—Stockholders’ Equity and Non-controlling Interests

 

The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s stockholders’ equity and non-controlling interests for the three months ended March 31, 2016:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non‑controlling

 

 

 

 

    

 

    

 

 

    

Additional

    

 

 

    

 

    

Interests in

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paid-in

 

Retained

 

Cumulative

 

Operating

 

Total

 

    

Shares

    

Par Value

    

Capital

    

Earnings (Deficit)

    

Dividends

    

Partnership

    

Equity

Balance December 31, 2015

 

11,979

 

$

118

 

$

114,783

 

$

659

 

$

(7,188)

 

$

30,162

 

$

138,534

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(1,354)

 

 

 —

 

 

(475)

 

 

(1,829)

Grant of unvested restricted stock

 

96

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

Forfeiture of unvested restricted stock

 

(3)

 

 

 —

 

 

(1)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(1)

Stock based compensation

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

244

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

244

Dividends accrued or paid

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(283)

 

 

 —

 

 

(1,540)

 

 

(753)

 

 

(2,576)

Issuance of OP units as consideration for real estate acquisition

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

28,826

 

 

28,826

Adjustment to arrive at redemption value of redeemable non-controlling interests in Operating Partnership

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(38)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(38)

Adjustment to non-controlling interests resulting from changes in ownership of the Operating Partnership

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

3,466

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(3,466)

 

 

 —

Balance at March 31, 2016

 

12,072

 

$

118

 

$

118,171

 

$

(695)

 

$

(8,728)

 

$

54,294

 

$

163,160

 

Non-controlling Interests in Operating Partnership

 

The Company consolidates its Operating Partnership.  As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company owned a 40.4% and 74.1%, respectively, interest in the Operating Partnership, and the remaining 59.6% and 25.9% interest, respectively, is included in non-controlling interest in Operating Partnership on the combined consolidated balance sheets.  This non-controlling interest in the Operating Partnership is held in the form of OP units and Preferred units.

 

On or after 12 months of becoming a holder of OP units, 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 a cash amount equal to the number of tendered units multiplied by the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common stock (determined in accordance with, and subject to adjustment under, the terms of the Partnership Agreement of the), unless the terms of such units or a separate agreement entered into between the Operating Partnership and the holder of such units provide that they do not have a right of redemption or provide for a shorter or longer period before such holder may exercise such right of redemption or impose conditions on the exercise of such right

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Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

of redemption. On or before the close of business on the tenth business day after the Company receives a notice of redemption, the Company may, as the parent of the general partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, but subject to the restrictions on the ownership of common stock imposed under the Company’s charter and the transfer restrictions and other limitations thereof, elect to acquire some or all of the tendered units in exchange for cash or shares of the Company’s common stock, based on an exchange ratio of one share of common stock for each OP unit (subject to anti-dilution adjustments provided in the Partnership Agreement). As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there were 1,945,000 outstanding OP units eligible to be 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 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 the IPO, the July 2014 offering, the July 2015 offering, the issuance of stock compensation, and common stock and OP units issued as partial consideration for certain acquisitions, changes in the ownership percentages between the Company’s stockholders’ equity and non-controlling interest in the Operating Partnership occurred during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.  During the first three months of 2016 the Company decreased the non-controlling interest in the Operating Partnership and increased additional paid in capital by $3,466,247.  During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company decreased the non-controlling interest in the Operating Partnership and increased additional paid in capital by $817,704.

 

Redeemable Non-controlling Interests in Operating Partnership, Common Units

 

On June 2, 2015, the Company issued 1,993,709 OP units in conjunction with an asset acquisition. Beginning 12 months after issuance, the OP units may be tendered for redemption for cash, or at the Company’s option, for shares of common stock on a one for one basis up to a maximum of 1,109,985 shares of common stock. The remaining 883,724 OP units (the “Excess Units”) may be redeemed only for cash, unless the Company obtains stockholder approval to redeem such Excess Units with shares of its common stock.  As the tender for redemption of the Excess Units for shares is outside of the control of the Company, these units are accounted for as temporary equity on the combined consolidated balance sheets. The Company has elected to accrete the change in redemption value of Excess Units subsequent to issuance and during the respective 12-month holding period, after which point the units will be 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

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Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

operating partnership, preferred units on the balance sheet with the offset recorded to additional paid in capital.  On March 2, 2016, 117,000 Preferred units were issued as partial consideration in the Forsythe real estate transaction (See “Note 5—Real Estate”).  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 as of March 31, 2016 was $117,283,000 including accrued distributions.

 

On or after March 2, 2026, the tenth anniversary of the closing of the 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.

 

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 temporary equity on the combined 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.

 

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Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s redeemable non-controlling interest in the Operating Partnership for the three months ended March 31, 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

 

 —

 

 

(101)

 

 —

 

 

 —

Distributions to non-controlling interest

 

 —

 

 

(113)

 

 —

 

 

283

Adjustment to arrive at redemption value of redeemable non-controlling interests in Operating Partnership, common

 

 —

 

 

38

 

 —

 

 

 —

Balance at March 31, 2016

 

884

 

$

9,519

 

117

 

$

117,283

 

Distributions

 

The Company’s board of directors declared and paid the following distributions to common stockholders and holders of OP units for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and the year ended December 31, 2015:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal Year

    

Declaration Date

    

Record Date

    

Payment Date

    

Distributions
per Common
Share/OP unit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016

 

March 8, 2016

 

April 1, 2016

 

April 15, 2016

 

$

0.1275

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

February 25, 2015

 

April 1, 2015

 

April 15, 2015

 

$

0.1160

 

 

 

June 2, 2015

 

July 1, 2015

 

July 15, 2015

 

 

0.1275

 

 

 

August 12, 2015

 

October 1, 2015

 

October 15, 2015

 

 

0.1275

 

 

 

November 20,2015

 

January 4, 2016

 

January 15,2016

 

 

0.1275

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

0.4985

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additionally, in conjunction with the 3.00% cumulative preferential distribution on the Preferred units, the Company has accrued $282,750 in distributions payable as of March 31, 2016.  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 capital gains or return of capital.

Stock Repurchase Plan

 

On October 29, 2014, the Company announced that its board of directors approved a program to repurchase up to $10,000,000 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

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Table of Contents 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

fund repurchases under the program using cash on hand. The Company repurchased and retired 2,130 shares of its common stock on August 26, 2015, at an average price of $9.81, plus commissions, and is authorized to repurchase up to an additional $9,979,068 of its common stock under the program. There were no repurchases made during the three months ended March 31, 2016.

 

Equity Incentive Plan

 

On May 5, 2015, the Company’s stockholders approved the amendment and restatement of the Plan, which increased the aggregate number of shares of the Company’s common stock reserved for issuance under the Plan to 615,070 shares (including the 309,000 shares of restricted common stock that have been granted to the Company’s executive officers, certain of the Company’s employees, the Company’s non-executive directors and Jesse J. Hough, the Company’s consultant). As of March 31, 2016, there were 306,070 of shares available for future grant under the Plan.

 

The Company may issue equity-based awards to officers, 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 March 31, 2016 is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

    

Weighted

 

(shares in thousands)

 

Number of

 

average grant

 

 

    

shares

    

date fair value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nonvested at December 31, 2015

 

145

 

$

13.87

 

Granted

 

97

 

 

10.71

 

Vested

 

(1)

 

 

11.14

 

Forfeited

 

(3)

 

 

11.15

 

Nonvested at March 31, 2016

 

238

 

$

12.63

 

 

      For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company recognized $242,746 and $239,034, respectively, of stock-based compensation expense related to these restricted stock awards.  As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there was $3,147,806 and $1,246,683, 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 and 1.3, respectively.

 

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Table of Contents 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Loss per Share

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(in thousands except per share amounts)

 

For the three months ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

    

2016

    

2015

 

Numerator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to Farmland Partners Inc.

 

$

(1,354)

 

$

(157)

 

Less:  Nonforfeitable distributions allocated to unvested restricted shares

 

 

(30)

 

 

(25)

 

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

 

 

(113)

 

 

 —

 

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

 

 

(283)

 

 

 —

 

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

 

$

(1,780)

 

$

(182)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average number of common shares - basic

 

 

11,834

 

 

7,530

 

Conversion of preferred units  (1)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

Unvested restricted shares  (2)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

Redeemable non-controlling interest  (1)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

Weighted-average number of common shares - diluted

 

 

11,834

 

 

7,530

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss per share attributable to common stockholders - basic

 

$

(0.15)

 

$

(0.02)

 

Loss per share attributable to common stockholders - diluted

 

$

(0.15)

 

$

(0.02)

 


(1)

Anti-dilutive for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

(2)

Anti-dilutive for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

 

Redeemable non-controlling interest includes 883,724 OP units which are redeemable solely for cash, unless stockholder approval is obtained to redeem for shares of common stock. The OP units and any unvested restricted shares are considered participating securities which require the use of the two-class method for the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share.

 

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 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 4,153,581 and 0 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The weighted average number of Excess Units held by the non-controlling interest was 883,724 for the three months ended March 31, 2016.  There were no Excess Units held by the non-controlling interest as of March 31, 2015.

 

      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.   During the first three months of 2016, the weighted average shares outstanding (on an as-if converted to common stock basis) was 3,661,251.  These shares were not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation as they would be anti-dilutive.

 

30


 

Table of Contents 

Farmland Partners Inc.

Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, diluted weighted average common shares do not include the impact of 159,780 and 214,283 shares, respectively, of unvested compensation-related shares because the effect of these items on diluted earnings per share would be anti-dilutive.

 

Note 10—Subsequent Events

 

See “Note 7 – Mortgage Notes and Bonds Payable” for debt issuances and repayments that occurred subsequent to March 31, 2016.

 

See “Note 8—Commitments and Contingencies” for real estate acquisitions that occurred subsequent to March 31, 2016.

 

Subsequent to March 31, 2016, the Company entered into purchase agreements with unrelated third parties to acquire the following farms all of which are to be settled for cash:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands except acres)

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

approximate

 

 

Purchase

Farm Name

 

State

 

acres

 

 

Price

Early

 

Texas

 

640

 

$

1,800

Unruh

 

South Carolina

 

330

 

 

1,525

Keanansville

 

Florida

 

291

 

 

1,600

Missel

 

Colorado

 

1,261

 

 

1,760

Ulrich

 

Colorado

 

142

 

 

5,500

Durdan

 

Illinois

 

203

 

 

1,904

East Chenoweth

 

Illinois

 

77

 

 

695

 

 

 

 

2,944

 

$

14,784

 

The above acquisitions are expected to close in the second quarter of 2016, subject to the satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions.  There can be no assurance that these conditions will be satisfied or that the pending acquisitions will be consummated on the terms described herein, or at all.

 

On May 3, 2016, the Company’s board of directors declared a distribution of $0.1275 per share of common stock and OP unit payable on July 15, 2016 to holders of record as of July 1, 2016.

 

 

 

31


 

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 combined 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, 2015, filed with the Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 15, 2016, 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 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, 2015 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 incorporated in Maryland that owns and seeks to acquire high-quality farmland located in agricultural markets throughout North America. As of the date of this Annual Report, the majority of the acres in our portfolio are used to grow primary crops, such as corn, soybeans, wheat, rice and cotton, while some of our farms produce specialty crops, such as blueberries, vegetables and edible beans.  However, over the long term, we expect that our farmland portfolio will be comprised of approximately 80% primary crop farmland and 20% specialty crop farmland, which we believe will give 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, the Company announced the launch of the FPI Loan Program, an agricultural lending product aimed at farmers, as a complement to the Company's primary business of acquiring and owning farmland and leasing it to farmers.  Under the FPI Loan Program, we intend to make loans to third-party farmers (both tenant and non-tenant) to provide partial financing for 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

32


 

are held by, and our operations are primarily conducted through, the Operating Partnership and its wholly owned subsidiaries. As of the date of this Quarterly Report we own a 40.4% interest in the limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership. See Note 9 to our combined consolidated financial statements 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.

 

      As of the date of the Quarterly Report, we own 258 farms with approximately 108,163 total acres and 13 grain storage facilities.  The distribution of farms by state is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

Location of Farm

    

# of Farms

 

Acres

Illinois

 

156

 

28,238

Nebraska

 

29

 

5,860

Colorado

 

27

 

20,151

Arkansas

 

10

 

10,415

South Carolina

 

9

 

9,925

Georgia

 

7

 

2,670

North Carolina

 

6

 

11,086

Mississippi

 

5

 

4,927

Louisiana

 

3

 

9,373

Kansas

 

2

 

1,772

Michigan

 

2

 

446

Texas

 

1

 

2,056

Virginia

 

1

 

1,244

 

 

258

 

108,163

 

We intend to continue to acquire additional farmland to achieve scale and further diversify our portfolio by geography crop type and tenants. During the first quarter of 2016, we continued our geographic and crop diversification with acquisitions in one new state, as well as the acquisition of a new blueberry farm.  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 acres (approximately 641 acres as of March 31, 2016) 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.

 

33


 

Recent Developments

 

Completed Acquisitions

 

Since December 31, 2015, we have completed the following 11 acquisitions, all of which were settled for cash with the exception of the Forsythe Farms acquisition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands except acres)

 

 

 

Date

 

Approximate

 

Purchase

 

Acquisitions

    

State

    

acquired

    

acres

    

price

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Borden

 

Michigan

 

1/21/2016

 

265

 

$

1,630

 

Knowles

 

Georgia

 

1/12/2016

 

608

 

 

1,202

 

Reinart Farm

 

Texas

 

1/27/2016

 

2,056

 

 

6,117

 

Chenoweth

 

Illinois

 

2/26/2016

 

40

 

 

371

 

Forsythe Farms (1)

 

Illinois

 

3/2/2016

 

22,128

 

 

197,145

 

Knight

 

Georgia

 

3/11/2016

 

208

 

 

624

 

Gurga

 

Illinois

 

3/24/2016

 

80

 

 

667

 

Condrey

 

Louisiana

 

3/31/2016

 

7,400

 

 

31,764

 

Buckelew

 

Mississippi

 

4/4/2016

 

624

 

 

2,304

 

Brett

 

Georgia

 

4/4/2016

 

213

 

 

575

 

Powell

 

Georgia

 

4/6/2016

 

274

 

 

955

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

33,896

 

$

243,354

 

 

(1)

This acquisition closed on March 2, 2016.  The purchase price of the property was comprised of (a) $50.0 million in cash, (b) an aggregate of 2,608,695 OP units, valued at $11.05 per OP unit and (c) 117,000 Preferred units.  See Note 9—Stockholders’ Equity and non-controlling Interests”.

 

Properties under Contract

 

Subsequent to March 31, 2016, we entered into purchase agreements with unrelated third parties to acquire the following farms, all of which are to be settled for cash:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands except acres)

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

approximate

 

Purchase

 

Acquisitions

    

State

    

acres

    

price

 

Early

 

Texas

 

640

 

$

1,800

 

Unruh

 

South Carolina

 

330

 

 

1,525

 

Keanansville

 

Florida

 

291

 

 

1,600

 

Missel

 

Colorado

 

1,261

 

 

1,760

 

Ulrich

 

Colorado

 

142

 

 

5,500

 

Durdan

 

Illinois

 

203

 

 

1,904

 

East Chenoweth

 

Illinois

 

77

 

 

695

 

 

 

 

 

2,944

 

$

14,784

 

 

The acquisitions are expected to close in the second quarter of 2016, subject to the satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions.  There can be no assurance that these conditions will be satisfied or that the pending acquisitions will be consummated on the terms described herein, or at all.

 

Financing Activity

 

      On February 29, 2016, two wholly owned subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership 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.

 

34


 

      On March 29, 2016, five wholly owned subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership entered into a loan agreement (the “MetLife Loan Agreement”) with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”), which provides for a total of $127.0 million of term loans, comprised of (i) a $90 million term loan (“Term Loan 1”), (ii) a $21.0 million term loan (“Term Loan 2”) and (iii) a $16.0 million term loan (“Term Loan 3” and, together with Term Loan 1 and Term Loan 2, the “MetLife Term Loans”). On the same date, we used proceeds from the MetLife Term Loans to repay the Bridge Loan in full.

 

      On April 14, 2016, we used proceeds from the MetLife Term Loans to repay all amounts outstanding under the Amended and Restated Business Loan Agreement with First Midwest Bank, which was subsequently amended on February 24, 2015, July 24, 2015 and March 6, 2016 (the “FMW Loan Agreement”). See “—Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

 

FPI Loan Program

 

We believe that our existing systems and personnel are well suited to source, perform due diligence, close and manage loans under the FPI Loan Program at little or no additional cost to us. We believe that the business of making loans secured by mortgages on farmland is highly complementary to, and synergistic with, our core business of investing in farmland. We generally find potential borrowers during the process of sourcing farm acquisitions. We conduct due diligence on loan collateral the same way we conduct due diligence on potential farm acquisitions, and we screen potential borrowers the same way we screen potential tenants. The FPI Loan Program offering gives us an increased visibility in the marketplace, thereby benefiting our core farmland investing business.

 

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 and 2015, 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

35


 

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 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

 

      The market for farmland is dominated by buyers who are existing farm owners and operators. As a result of a decline in commodity prices in 2014 and 2015, farmland values in many agricultural markets have experienced modest declines recently after substantial increases over the prior several years. While demand for agricultural commodities has been growing steadily, unusually favorable weather conditions in the world’s major growing regions have led to a significant increase in supply. We believe that the current reduction in land values is likely to be limited and short-lived as global demand for food and agricultural commodities continues to outpace trendline supply, and represents a significant investment opportunity.

 

Across our entire portfolio, we are experiencing flat to modestly lower rent rates in connection with lease renewals. In order to offer our tenants a better match between cash inflows and outflows, in 2016 a higher portion of our fixed cash leases, as compared to 2015, provides for payment of 50% of a year’s rent after harvest.  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. We believe rental rates for farmland are a function of farmland operators’ view of the long-term profitability of farmland, and that many farm operators will continue to 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 more acres. Furthermore, because it is generally customary in the farming 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 when profitability is higher. As a result, in our experience, many farm operators will aggressively pursue rental opportunities in close proximity to their existing operations when they arise, even when the farmer anticipates lower current returns or short-term losses. In addition, because many farmers both own farmland and rent additional farmland from other landowners, we believe that many farmers will choose to subsidize losses on rented land during periods of lower profitability with relatively higher profits generated by land that they own and that has comparatively lower fixed costs.  Due to the short term nature of most of our 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.

 

36


 

Lease Expirations

 

Farm leases are generally short-term in nature.  Our portfolio, as of March 31, 2016, had the following lease expirations as a percentage of approximate acres leased and annual minimum cash rents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands except acres)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ending December 31,

    

Approximate Acres

 

% of Approximate Acres

 

Annual Cash Rents

 

% of Annual Cash Rents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remaining nine months of 2016

 

27,773

 

29.1

%  

$

5,068

 

25.1

%

2017

 

12,887

 

13.5

%  

 

3,773

 

18.7

%

2018

 

43,839

 

45.9

%  

 

8,710

 

43.0

%

2019

 

8,903

 

9.3

%  

 

2,401

 

11.9

%

2020

 

2,102

 

2.2

%  

 

273

 

1.3

%

 

 

95,504

 

100.0

%  

$

20,225

 

100.0

%

 

As of March 31, 2016, we have 16,408 acres for which lease payments are based on a percentage of farming revenues and 641 acres that are leased to our taxable REIT subsidiary, which are not included in the table above.  From time to time, we may enter into recreational leases on our farms.  We currently have eight ancillary lease agreements with terms ranging from one to five years.  These leases are not included in the annual minimum cash rents within the above table.  We expect market rents in the coming year to be consistent with expiring rents.  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.

 

Rental Revenues

 

Our revenues are generated from renting farmland to operators of farming businesses. Our leases have terms ranging from one to five 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 in certain instances 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 the leases for our portfolio 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

37


 

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. The lease agreements with some of our tenants provide for a rent determined as a percentage of the farm’s gross proceeds, but even in those cases our downside is generally limited by crop insurance, hedging, or a minimum cash rent. In addition, the impact of weaker crop prices is often offset by the higher crop yields that generally accompany lower crop prices.

 

Our exposure to short-term crop price fluctuations, related to farming operations conducted by our TRS, is generally limited by current marketing contracts or other sales arrangements, which the Company may enter into throughout the growing season, and by the availability of grain storage capacity, which gives us the ability to delay the delivery of crops until after seasonal price declines.

 

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 annual crops, particularly corn, experienced significant declines in 2014 and 2015, but we do not believe that such declines represent a trend that will continue over the long term. Rather, we believe that those declines in prices for annual crops represented a combination of correction to historical norms (adjusted for inflation) and high yields induced by unusually favorable weather patterns, and that continued long-term growth trends in global population and GDP per capita will result in increased prices for primary crops over time. 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.

 

38


 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

      The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual amounts may differ significantly from these estimates and assumptions. We have provided a summary of our significant accounting policies in the notes to the historical combined consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this filing. We have set forth below those accounting policies that we believe require material subjective or complex judgments and have the most significant impact on our financial condition and results of operations. We evaluate our estimates, assumptions and judgments on an ongoing basis, based on information that is then available to us, our experience and various matters that we believe are reasonable and appropriate for consideration under the circumstances.

 

Real Estate Acquisitions

 

We account for all acquisitions in accordance with the business combinations standard. When we acquire farmland that was previously operated as a rental property, we evaluate whether a lease is in place or a crop is being produced at the time of closing of the acquisition.  If a lease is in place or a crop is being produced at the time of acquisition, we account for the transaction as a business combination and charge the costs associated with the acquisition to acquisition and due diligence costs on the statement of operations as incurred. Otherwise, acquisitions with no lease in place or crops being produced at the time of acquisition are accounted for as an asset acquisition.  When we acquire farmland in a sale-lease back transaction with newly originated leases entered into with the seller, we account for the transaction as an asset acquisition and capitalize the transaction costs incurred in connection with the acquisition.

 

Upon acquisition of real estate, we allocate 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, perennials) and grain facilities and may also consist of intangible assets including in-place leases, above market and below market leases and tenant relationships. We allocate the purchase price to the fair value of the tangible assets of acquired real estate by valuing the land as if it were unimproved. We value improvements, including permanent plantings and grain facilities, at replacement cost as new adjusted for depreciation.

 

Our estimates of land value are made using a comparable sales analysis. Factors considered by us in our analysis of land value include soil types and water availability and the sales prices of comparable farms. Our estimates of groundwater value are made using historical information obtained regarding the applicable aquifer.  Factors considered by us in our 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.  We include 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, we value 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 will be 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 combined consolidated balance sheets, is amortized as an increase of 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.

 

The purchase price is allocated to in-place lease values and tenant relationships, if they are acquired, based on our evaluation of the specific characteristics of each tenant’s lease and our overall relationship with the tenant. The value of in-place lease intangibles and tenant relationships will be included as components of deferred leasing intangibles, and will be amortized over the remaining lease term (and 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. We capitalize acquisition costs and due diligence costs if the asset is

39


 

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.

 

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 on liquidation preference in the case of Preferred Units.

 

Using information available at the time of acquisition, we allocate the total consideration to tangible assets and liabilities and identified intangible assets and liabilities. We may adjust the preliminary purchase price allocations after obtaining more information about asset valuations and liabilities assumed.

 

Real Estate

 

Our real estate consists of land, groundwater and improvements made to the land consisting of grain facilities, irrigation improvements, other assets and drainage improvements. We record real estate at cost and capitalize improvements and replacements when they extend the useful life or improve the efficiency of the asset. We expense costs of repairs and maintenance as such costs are incurred.  We begin depreciating assets when the asset is ready for its intended use.   We compute depreciation and depletion for assets classified as improvements using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of 10-50 years for grain facilities, 2-40 years for irrigation improvements, 23-65 for drainage improvements, 3-50 years for groundwater, 13-23 years for permanent plantings, and 5-40 years for other assets acquired. We periodically evaluate the estimated useful lives for groundwater based on current state water regulations and depletion levels of the aquifers. 

 

Impairment of Real Estate Assets

 

      We evaluate our tangible and identifiable intangible real estate assets for impairment indicators whenever events such as declines in a property’s operating performance, deteriorating market conditions, or environmental or legal concerns bring recoverability of the carrying value of one or more assets into question. If such events are present, we project the total undiscounted cash flows of the asset, including proceeds from disposition, and compare it to the net book value of the asset. If this evaluation indicates that the carrying value may not be recoverable, an impairment loss is recorded in earnings equal to the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the asset. There have been no impairments recognized on real estate assets in the accompanying financial statements.

 

Inventory of our TRS

 

The costs of growing crop are accumulated until the time of harvest at the lower of cost or market value and are included in inventory in our combined consolidated financial statements.  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.  Growing crop consists primarily of land preparation, cultivation, irrigation and fertilization costs incurred by FPI Agribusiness. Growing crop inventory is charged to cost of products sold when the related crop is harvested and sold.

 

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 crops 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 broker’s commissions, freight and other marketing costs.  

 

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

 

40


 

Revenue Recognition

 

Rental income includes rents that each tenant pays in accordance with the terms of its lease. Minimum rents pursuant to leases are recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the lease term, including renewal options in the case of below market leases. Deferred revenue includes the cumulative difference between the rental revenue recorded on a straight-line basis and the cash rent received from tenants in accordance with the lease terms. Acquired below market leases are included in deferred revenue on the accompanying combined consolidated balance sheets, which are amortized into rental income over the life of the respective leases, plus the terms of the below market renewal options, if any.

 

Leases in place as of March 31, 2016 had terms ranging from one to five years.  As of March 31, 2016 we had 17 leases with renewal options and five leases with rent escalations. The majority of our leases provide for a fixed cash rent payment. Tenant leases on acquired farms generally require the tenant to pay the Company rent for the entire initial year regardless of the date of acquisition, if the acquisition is closed prior to, or shortly after, planting of crops. If the acquisition is closed later in the year, we typically receive a partial rent payment or no rent payment at all. 

 

Certain of the our leases provide for a rent payment determined as a percentage of the gross farm proceeds, a percentage of harvested crops, or a fixed crop quantity at a fixed price. As of March 31, 2016, a majority of such leases provided for a rent payment determined as a percentage of the gross farm proceeds. Revenue under leases providing for a payment equal to a percentage of the harvested crop or a percentage of the gross farm proceeds are recorded at the guaranteed crop insurance minimums and recognized ratably over the lease term during the crop year. Upon notification from the grain facility that grain has been delivered in our name or when the tenant has notified us of the total amount of gross farm proceeds the excess amount to be received over the guaranteed insurance minimums is recorded as revenue.

 

Certain of our leases provide for minimum cash rent plus a bonus based on gross farm proceeds. Revenue under this type of lease is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term based on the minimum cash rent. Bonus rent is recognized upon notification from the tenant of the gross farm proceeds for the year.

 

Tenant reimbursements include reimbursements for real estate taxes that each tenant pays in accordance with the terms of its lease. When leases require that the tenant reimburse us for property taxes paid by us, the reimbursement is reflected as tenant reimbursement revenue on the statements of operations, as earned, and the related property tax as property operating expense, as incurred. When a lease requires that the tenant pay the taxing authority directly, we do not incur this cost.  If and when it becomes probable that a tenant will not be able to bear the property-related costs, we will accrue the estimated expense.

 

We record revenue from the sale of harvested crops when the harvested crop has been delivered to a grain facility and title has transferred. 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.

 

We recognize interest income on notes receivable on an accrual basis over the life of the note. Direct origination costs are netted against loan origination fees and are amortized over the life of the note using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method, as an adjustment to interest income which is included in operating revenue as a component of other income in our Combined Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Income Taxes

 

      As a REIT, for income tax purposes we are permitted to deduct dividends paid to our stockholders, thereby eliminating the U.S. federal taxation of income represented by such distributions at the Company level, provided certain requirements are met. REITs are subject to a number of organizational and operational requirements. If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax (including any applicable alternative minimum tax) on our taxable income at regular corporate tax rates.

 

The Operating Partnership leases certain of its farms to the TRS, which is subject to federal and state income taxes.  We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are

41


 

recognized for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis of assets and liabilities and their respective income tax basis and for operating loss, capital loss and tax credit carryforwards based on enacted income tax rates expected to be in effect when such amounts are realized or settled.  However, deferred tax assets are recognized only to the extent that it is more likely than not they will be realized on consideration of available evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, future projected taxable income and tax planning strategies.  There was no taxable income from the TRS for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, and at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we did not have any deferred tax assets or liabilities.

 

     We perform a quarterly review for any uncertain tax positions and, if necessary, will record future tax consequences of uncertain tax positions in the financial statements.  An uncertain tax position is defined as a position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return that is not more likely than not (greater than 50 percent probability) to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position and which is reflected in measuring current or deferred income tax assets and liabilities for interim or annual periods. At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we did not identify any uncertain tax positions.

 

     When we acquire a property in a business combination, we evaluate such acquisition for any related deferred tax assets or liabilities and determine if a deferred tax asset or liability should be recorded in conjunction with the purchase price allocation.  If a built-in gain is acquired, we evaluate the required holding period (generally 5-10 years) and determine if we have the ability and intent to hold the underlying assets for the necessary holding period.  If we have the ability to hold the underlying assets for the required holding period, no deferred tax liability will be recorded with respect to the built-in gain.

 

New or Revised Accounting Standards

 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU)  No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”).   ASU 2014-09 completes the joint effort by the FASB and International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) to improve financial reporting by creating common revenue recognition guidance for GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net).” ASU 2016-08 clarifies the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing.” ASU 2016-10 clarifies the implementation guidance on identifying performance obligations. These ASUs apply to all companies that enter into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services. These ASUs are effective for public entities for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted, but not before interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Entities have the choice to apply these ASUs either retrospectively to each reporting period presented or by recognizing the cumulative effect of applying these standards at the date of initial application and not adjusting comparative information. The Company is currently evaluating the requirements of these standards and has not yet determined the impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

      In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis (“ASU 2015-02”), which amends or supersedes the scope and consolidation guidance under existing GAAP. The new standard changes the way a reporting entity evaluates whether (a) limited partnerships and similar entities should be consolidated, (b) fees paid to decision makers or service providers are variable interests in a variable interest entity (“VIE”), and (c) variable interests in a VIE held by related parties require the reporting entity to consolidate the VIE. ASU 2015-02 also eliminates the VIE consolidation model based on majority exposure to variability that applied to certain investment companies and similar entities. ASU 2015-02 is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. On January 1, 2016, we adopted ASU 2015-02.  The guidance does not amend the existing disclosure requirements for variable interest entities (“VIEs”) or voting interest model entities.  The guidance, however, modified the requirements to qualify under the voting interest model. Under the revised guidance, the Operating Partnership will be a variable interest entity of the Parent Company. As the Operating Partnership is already consolidated in the balance sheets of the Parent Company, the identification of this entity as a variable interest entity has no impact on the consolidated financial 

 

42


 

      In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03 Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs (“ASU 2015-03”). ASU 2015-03 requires the presentation of debt issuance costs in the balance sheet as a deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability instead of a deferred charge asset. ASU 2015-03 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, but early adoption is permitted. We elected to early adopt the provisions of ASU 2015-03. We had unamortized deferred financing fees of $820,711 and $380,970 as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. These costs have been classified as a reduction of mortgage notes and bonds payable, net. All periods presented have been retroactively adjusted.

 

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 and 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 does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have any impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

       In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-15 Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated With Line-of-Credit Arrangements — Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to Staff Announcement at June 18, 2015 EITF Meeting, (“ASU 2015-15”),  which clarified that the SEC would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs related to a line-of-credit arrangement as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the arrangement. ASU 2015-15 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, but early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2015-15 in the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016.  The adoption of ASU 2015-15 did not have a material effect on the Company’s combined consolidated financial statement or financial covenants.

 

      In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU No.2015-16 Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments (“ASU 2015-16”), pertaining to entities that have reported provisional amounts for items in a business combination for which the accounting is incomplete by the end of the reporting period in which the combination occurs and during the measurement period have an adjustment to provisional amounts recognized. The guidance requires that an acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. Any adjustments should be calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date.  ASU 2015-16 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted.  We adopted the guidance effective for the quarterly period ended December 31, 2015.  In the fourth quarter of 2015 we had two purchase price allocation adjustments which resulted in a $42,578 decrease in land and a corresponding increase in other assets in addition to a $688 decrease in depreciation expense and accumulated depreciation.  We have several business combinations which are still within the measurement period and could result in adjustments.

 

      In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 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.  ASU 2016-02 is expected to impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements as the Company has an operating lease arrangement for which it is the lessee. Topic 842 supersedes the previous leases standard, Topic 840 Leases.  The standard is effective on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted.  The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of this new guidance.

      In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2016-09).    ASU 2016-09 simplifies the accounting for share-based

43


 

payment award transactions including: income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the requirements of ASU 2016-09 and has not yet determined its impact on the Company’s combined consolidated financial statements.

 

Results of Operations

 

Comparison of the three months ended March 31, 2016 to the three months ended March 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

For the three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

2016

    

2015

    

$ Change

    

% Change

 

OPERATING REVENUES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rental income

 

$

4,417

 

$

2,030

 

$

2,387

 

118

%

Tenant reimbursements

 

 

69

 

 

73

 

 

(4)

 

(5)

%

Other revenue

 

 

206

 

 

 —

 

 

206

 

NM

 

Total operating revenues

 

 

4,692

 

 

2,103

 

 

2,589

 

123

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and depletion

 

 

317

 

 

173

 

 

144

 

83

%

Property operating expenses

 

 

440

 

 

200

 

 

240

 

120

%

Acquisition and due diligence costs

 

 

57

 

 

11

 

 

46

 

418

%

General and administrative expenses

 

 

1,526

 

 

875

 

 

651

 

74

%

Legal and accounting

 

 

367

 

 

268

 

 

99

 

37

%

Other operating expenses

 

 

89

 

 

 —

 

 

89

 

NM

%

Total operating expenses

 

 

2,796

 

 

1,527

 

 

1,269

 

83

%

OPERATING INCOME

 

 

1,896

 

 

576

 

 

1,320

 

229

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income

 

 

(28)

 

 

 —

 

 

(28)

 

NM

%

Interest expense

 

 

3,854

 

 

773

 

 

3,081

 

399

%

Total other expense

 

 

3,826

 

 

773

 

 

3,053

 

395

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET LOSS

 

$

(1,930)

 

$

(197)

 

$

(1,733)

 

880

%

NM=Not Meaningful

 

Our rental income for the period presented was impacted by the twenty acquisitions completed in the last three quarters of 2015 and, to a lesser extent, the eight acquisition completed in the first quarter of 2016. 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 93 farms on 49,345 acres.

 

Total rental income under cash leases for the same-property portfolio decreased to $571,850 for the three months ended March 31, 2016, from $637,891 for the three months ended March 31, 2015, as a result of average annual rent for the same-property portfolio declining year over year to $328 per acre in 2016’s first quarter from $361 in 2015’s comparative period.

 

Total rental income increased $2.4 million, or 118%, for the three months ended March 31, 2016, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2015, primarily resulting from the completion of 28 acquisitions completed after March 31, 2015.  For the three months ended March 31, 2016, the average annual cash rent for the entire portfolio increased modestly to $199 per acre from $192 per acre for the same period in 2015.

 

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Although our portfolio grew considerably year-over-year, revenues recognized from tenant reimbursement of property taxes declined 5%. This decline is the result of amending a number of leases to include the property tax amounts in the base rent, thus not requiring a separate reimbursement of this amount.

 

Other revenues totaled $206,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2016, compared to no other revenues realized in same period in 2015.  The $206,000 recognized in the first three months of 2016 consisted of $149,000 realized on crop sales from our farming operation in the TRS, in addition to $57,000 earned on interest and amortization of net loan fees from the FPI Loan Program.  The TRS was formed in March 2015 with the sales recognized in the first quarter of 2016 representing the first revenues generated by the entity.  The FPI Loan Program was launched in August 2015 and has mortgage notes receivable totaling $2.8 million as of March 31, 2016.

 

Depreciation and depletion expense increased $144,000, or 83%, for the three months ended March 15, 2016, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2015, as a result of acquiring approximately $5.8 million in depreciable assets in the last three quarters of 2015 and an additional $6.2 million depreciable assets during the first quarter of 2016.  Additionally, approximately $5.6 million was invested in property improvements during the last three quarters of 2015.

 

Property operating expenses increased $240,000, or 120%, for the three months ended March 31, 2016, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2015, of which $199,000 was attributable to properties acquired since March 31, 2015, primarily attributable to property taxes.  The increase in property operating expenses also includes an increase in insurance expense totaling $42,000.  

 

General and administrative expenses increased $651,000, or 74%, for the three months ended March 31, 2016, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2015.  The increase in general and administrative expenses was largely a result of increased costs related to our continued growth. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, employee compensation expenses increased $443,000, as compared with the same period in 2015, due to an increase in our employee headcount from six employees at the beginning of 2015 to 13 employees at March 31, 2016.  Included in compensation costs is $31,000 for the new employee benefits program which did not exist in the same period of 2015.  During the three months ended March 31, 2016, our public company costs increased $80,000 due to increased investor relations, regulatory and compliance activity, and conference attendance.  Additional increases during the quarter ended March 31, 2016 compared to the prior year were a $73,000 increase in travel and a $25,000 increase in office rent expense.

 

Legal and accounting expenses increased $99,000, or 37%, for the three months ended March 31, 2016, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2015, primarily as a result of increased costs related to the increased number of transactions, growth of our portfolio and general corporate matters.

 

Other operating expenses totaling $89,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2016 is related to cost of crop sales on the $149,000 of revenue recognized on crop sales from our farming operation in our TRS.  There were no crop sales or related cost of sales recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2015.

 

Other income totaled $28,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2016, as compared to no other income realized in the same period of the prior year.  The other income recognized in the three months period March 31, 2016 consisted of $13,000 from timber sales and $15,000 on trading gains.

 

Interest expense increased by approximately $3.1 million, or 399%, for the three months ended March 31, 2016, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2015.  We recognized additional interest expense of approximately $2.4 million during the period related to interest and amortization of deferred loan fees associated with the $53.0 million Bridge Loan, as all costs related to the Bridge Loan were both incurred and amortized during the period.  Interest expense increased approximately $712,000 as the result of an increase in our average outstanding borrowings during the quarter, which were $206.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and $110.5 million for the comparative period in 2015.  These increases were partially offset by the amortization of a premium on our debt of $30,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2016.  We do not believe this increase in interest expense represents a trend because, in the future, we do not intend to enter into short-term financing arrangements like the Bridge Loan which is the primary cause of the increase.  Going forward, we intend to control interest expense by using long-term debt financing arrangements, such as the MetLife Term Loans, which provide for substantially lower interest rates.

45


 

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.

 

On February 29, 2016, we closed on the $53.0 million Bridge Loan, the proceeds of which were used to fund the cash portion of the consideration for the Forsythe acquisition.  The Bridge Loan was paid in full, including accrued interest on, March 29, 2016.

 

       On March 29, 2016, five wholly owned subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership entered into the MetLife Loan Agreement, which provides a total of $127 million of term loans. The proceeds of the MetLife Terms Loans were used to repay existing debt (including amounts outstanding under the existing term loan agreement the Bridge Loan, to acquire additional properties and for general corporate purposes. Each Term Loan matures on March 29, 2026 and is secured by first lien mortgages on certain of the Company’s properties.

 

Over the remaining nine months of 2016, $28.8 million of our borrowings will mature. In April, we used proceeds from the MetLife Term Loans to pay-off $26.7 million of these maturities.  To satisfy our remaining short-term maturing debt obligations, we intend to utilize a combination of our expected cash flow from operations, proceeds from debt refinancings from prospective lenders and potential equity issuances.  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.  We have a substantial amount of indebtedness outstanding 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, under which we may issue and sell from time to time, through the sales agents, shares of our common stock having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $25 million.  This “at-the-market” equity offering program (the “ATM Program”) is intended to provide cost-effective financing alternatives in the capital markets and 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 recently announced 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.

 

Our long-term liquidity needs consist primarily of funds necessary to acquire additional farmland, make other investments and certain long-term capital expenditures, make principal and interest payments on outstanding borrowings, and make distributions necessary to qualify for taxation as a REIT. We expect to meet our long-term liquidity requirements through various sources of capital, including future equity issuances (including issuances of OP units), net cash provided by operations, long-term mortgage indebtedness and other secured and unsecured borrowings.

 

Our ability to incur additional debt will depend on a number of factors, including our degree of leverage, the value of our unencumbered assets, compliance with the covenants under our existing debt agreements, borrowing restrictions that may be imposed by lenders and the conditions of debt markets. Our ability to access the equity capital markets will depend on a number of factors as well, including general market conditions for REITs and market perceptions about our company.

 

46


 

Consolidated Indebtedness

 

First Midwest Bank Indebtedness

 

In connection with our initial public offering and the related formation transactions, on April 16, 2014, the Operating Partnership, as borrower, and First Midwest Bank, as lender, entered into the FMW Loan Agreement, which provided for loans in the initial aggregate principal amount of approximately $30,780,000 (together, the “Multi-Property Loan”). The Multi-Property Loan is secured by first mortgages and assignments of rents encumbering 24 of our farms and two of our grain storage facilities. As of March 31, 2016, we had $26.7 million outstanding under the multi-property loan.  The Multi-Property loan was paid in full, including all accrued interest, during April 2016.

 

Farmer Mac Facility

 

We entered into the Bond Purchase Agreement with Farmer Mac and Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Farmer Mac, as bond purchaser (the “Purchaser”), regarding a secured bond purchase facility that has a maximum borrowing capacity of $165 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 ratios of up to 60%, after giving effect to the overcollateralization obligations described below. Prepayment of each bond issuance is not permitted unless otherwise agreed upon by all parties to the Bond Purchase Agreement.

 

The Operating Partnership’s ability to borrow under 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 1.5 to 1.00; and a minimum tangible net worth. We were in compliance with all applicable covenants at March 31, 2016. On August 3, 2015, we amended the Bond Purchase Agreement in order to calculate the fixed charge coverage ratio using our Adjusted EBITDA (as defined in the Bond Purchase Agreement) rather than our EBITDA (as defined in the Bond Purchase Agreement).

 

In connection with the Bond Purchase Agreement, on August 22, 2014, we and the Operating Partnership also entered into a pledge and security agreement (as amended and restated, 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.  As of March 31, 2016, we had $157.6 million outstanding under the Farmer Mac Facility.

 

Bridge Loan Agreement

 

On February 29, 2016, two wholly owned subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership entered into the Bridge Loan Agreement with the Bridge Lender, which 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.  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.

 

Interest on the Bridge Loan was payable in cash monthly and accrued at a rate of LIBOR plus 3.00% per annum.  Additionally, a one-time interest charge of 4.00% of the loan amount was paid as discount on issuance.

 

47


 

In connection with the Bridge Loan, on February 29, 2016, the Company and the Operating Partnership entered into a guaranty whereby the Company and the Operating Partnership jointly and severally agreed unconditionally to guarantee all of the Bridge Borrower’s obligations under the Bridge Loan.

 

MetLife Term Loans

 

      On March 29, 2016, five wholly owned subsidiaries  of the Operating Partnership entered into the MetLife Loan Agreement, which provides a total of $127 million of term loans, comprised of (i) a $90 million term loan (“Term Loan 1”), (ii) a $21.0 million term loan (“Term Loan 2”) and (iii) a $16 million term loan (“Term Loan 3” and, together with Term Loan 1 and Term Loan 2, the “MetLife Term Loans”). The proceeds of the MetLife Term Loans were used to repay existing debt (including amounts outstanding under the existing Bridge Loan agreement) to acquire additional properties and for general corporate purposes. Each Term Loan matures on March 29, 2026 and is secured by first lien mortgages on certain of our properties.

 

      Interest on Term Loan 1 is payable in cash 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 initially bears interest at a rate of 2.38% per annum until June 29, 2016. 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 in cash 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 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 Term Loans generally are subject to a minimum prepayment premium of 1.00%.

 

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

 

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

 

      The MetLife Loan Agreement 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 March 31, 2016 there was $106 million outstanding on the loans with the remaining $21 million funded in April, and the proceeds, along with additional funds on hand, used to pay in full the outstanding indebtedness under the FMW Loan Agreement.  As of March 31, 2016, we were in compliance with all covenants under the MetLife Loan Agreement. 

 

48


 

Sources and Uses of Cash

 

The following table summarizes our cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

For the three months ended March 31,

 

 

    

2016

    

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

5,780

 

$

4,950

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

$

(93,835)

 

$

(13,235)

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

$

100,273

 

$

(7,267)

 

 

Comparison of the three months ended March 31, 2016 to the three months ended March 31, 2015

 

As of March 31, 2016, we had $35.7 million of cash and cash equivalents compared to $18.2 million at March 31, 2015.

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

Net cash provided by operating activities increased $830,000, primarily as a result of the following:

·

Receipt of $10.7 million in cash rents for the three months ended March 31, 2016, as compared to receiving $6.5 million in cash rents in the three months ended March 31, 2015; offset by the following:

·

An increase in cash paid for interest of $2.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, as compared to the same period of 2015;

·

An increase in operating expenses of approximately $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the same period of 2015.

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

 

Net cash used for investing activities increased $80.6 million primarily as a result of the following:

·

Completing eight acquisitions in 2016 for aggregate cash consideration of $93.2 million, as compared to $11.2 million  in aggregate cash consideration for six acquisitions in 2015;

·

A $1.4 million decrease in investments in real estate improvements during the three months ended March 31, 2016 from $2.1 million in 2015’s three month period, as compared to $698,000 in 2016.

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities increased $107.5 million primarily as a result of the following:

·

Borrowings from mortgage notes payable of $159.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016 as compared to no borrowings in the prior year’s same period.  Borrowings in 2016 included the $53.0 million Bridge Loan and $106.0 million MetLife loan;

·

Debt payments increasing $49.9 million over the prior year including the pay-off of the $53.0 million Bridge Loan in 2016;  

·

Increase in loan fees paid of $625,000 primarily associated with the Bridge Loan in 2016;

·

Increase of $937,000 in dividends paid on common stock and OP units over the prior year.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

As of March 31, 2016, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

49


 

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 also 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 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:

 

·

Crop year revenue adjustment.  In accordance with GAAP, rental payments are recognized as income on a straight-line basis over the terms of the respective leases.  With respect to leases entered into on acquired property, crop year revenue adjustment represents the difference between the pro rata contractual cash revenue for each crop year spread equally over the quarterly periods of ownership (without regard to the date of acquisition within the quarter) and the rent recognized on a straight-line basis in accordance with GAAP.  This application results

50


 

in income recognition that can differ significantly from the current GAAP accounting.  By adjusting for this item, we believe AFFO provides useful supplemental information reflective of the realized economic impact of our leases on a crop year basis, which is useful in assessing the sustainability of our operating performance.

 

·

Real estate related acquisition and due diligence costs.  Acquisition and due diligence expenses 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 fees totaled $2.4 million and $81,000 for the quarters ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  Acquisition and due diligence fees during the first three months of 2016 included $2.3 million in interest and loan fees associated with the short-term Bridge Loan and Forsythe acquisition as these fees are a non-recurring item.     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, considered additional interest paid as discount on issuanceA 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.  Real estate acquisition related audit fees totaled $20,000 and $70,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  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. 

 

·

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.

 

51


 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands except per share amounts)

 

For the three months ended March 31,

 

 

    

2016

    

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(1,930)

 

$

(197)

 

Depreciation and depletion

 

 

317

 

 

173

 

FFO

 

 

(1,613)

 

 

(24)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crop year revenue adjustment

 

 

1,101

 

 

70

 

Stock based compensation

 

 

243

 

 

239

 

Indirect equity offering costs

 

 

24

 

 

 —

 

Real estate related acquisition and due diligence costs (1)

 

 

2,371

 

 

81

 

Distributions on Preferred units

 

 

(283)

 

 

 —

 

AFFO

 

$

1,843

 

$

366

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AFFO per diluted weighted average share data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AFFO weighted average common shares

 

 

17,030

 

 

9,689

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss available to common stockholders

 

$

(0.15)

 

$

(0.02)

 

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

 

 

0.05

 

 

 —

 

Depreciation and depletion

 

 

0.02

 

 

0.02

 

Crop year revenue adjustment

 

 

0.06

 

 

0.01

 

Stock based compensation

 

 

0.01

 

 

0.02

 

Indirect equity offering costs

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

Real estate related acquisition and due diligence costs

 

 

0.14

 

 

0.01

 

Distributions on Preferred units

 

 

(0.02)

 

 

 —

 

AFFO per diluted weighted average share

 

$

0.11

 

$

0.04

 


(1)

Real estate related acquisition and due diligence costs include $2.3 million in interest and loan fees associated with the short-term $53.0 million Bridge Loan as these costs are non-recurring costs incurred in conjunction with the Forsythe farm acquisition.

 

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):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

    

For the three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2016

    

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

 

11,834

 

7,530

 

Weighted average OP units on an as-if converted basis

 

4,153

 

1,945

 

Weighted average unvested restricted stock

 

159

 

214

 

Weighted average redeemable non-controlling interest in operating partnership

 

884

 

 —

 

AFFO weighted average common shares

 

17,030

 

9,689

 

 

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

52


 

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.  A reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA is set forth in the table below.

 

We further adjust EBITDA for certain additional items such as crop year revenue adjustment, 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.  We believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful 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 loss to our EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the periods indicated below (unaudited):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

For the three months ended March 31,

 

 

    

2016

    

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(1,930)

 

$

(197)

 

Interest expense

 

 

3,854

 

 

773

 

Income tax expense

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

Depreciation and depletion

 

 

317

 

 

173

 

EBITDA

 

$

2,241

 

$

749

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crop year revenue adjustment

 

 

1,101

 

 

70

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

243

 

 

239

 

Indirect equity offering costs

 

 

24

 

 

 —

 

Real estate acquisition related acquisition and due diligence costs

 

 

77

(1)

 

81

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

3,686

 

$

1,139

 


(1)

Real estate acquisition related acquisition and due diligence costs differ from the amount in the calculation of AFFO due to the non-recurring $2.3 million interest and loan amortization costs on the short-term Bridge Loan, which has been paid in full, and are already included in interest expense in Adjusted EBITDA.

 

53


 

Inflation

 

All of the leases for the farmland in our portfolio have one- to five-year terms, pursuant to which each tenant is responsible for substantially all of the operating expenses related to the property, including taxes, 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.

 

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 March 31, 2016, approximately $134.7 million, or 46%, of our debt had variable interest rates, of which $106.0 million has interest rates which may be reset every three years starting in March 2019 until maturity in March 2026. Assuming no increase in the level of our variable rate debt, if interest rates increased by 1.0%, or 100 basis points, our short-term cash flow would decrease by approximately $288,000 per year.  The impact of a 1% interest rate increase in 2019 and thereafter would decrease the cash flow approximately $1.3 million.  At March 31, 2016, LIBOR was approximately 44 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 $600,000 annually.

 

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 March 31, 2016 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

54


 

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. We are not presently subject to any material litigation nor, to our knowledge, is any material litigation threatened against us.

 

Item 1A.Risk Factors.

 

As of March 31, 2016, 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, 2015 filed with the SEC on March 15, 2016.

 

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

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Share Repurchase Program

 

On October 29, 2014, our board of directors approved a program to repurchase up to $10,000,000 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 the 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 three months ended March 31, 2016 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 1, 2016 - January 31, 2016

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

 —

 

$

9,979

February 1, 2016 - February 29, 2016

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

9,979

March 1, 2016 - March 31, 2016

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

9,979

Total

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

 —

 

$

9,979

 

Item 3.Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

 

None.

 

Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures.

 

Not applicable.

 

55


 

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.

 

56


 

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: May 10, 2016

/s/ Paul A. Pittman

 

Paul A. Pittman

 

Executive Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

Dated: May 10, 2016

/s/ Luca Fabbri

 

Luca Fabbri

 

Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer

 

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

57


 

Exhibit Index

 

 

 

 

Exhibit
Number

    

Description of Exhibit

10.1

 

Amendment No. 1 to the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Farmland Partners Operating Partnership, LP, dated as of March 2, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 3, 2016).

10.2

 

Security Holders Agreement, dated as of March 2, 2016, by and among Farmland Partners Inc., Forsythe Family Farms, Inc., Gerald R. Forsythe, Forsythe-Fournier Farms, LLC, Forsythe-Fawcett Farms, LLC, Forsythe-Bernadette Farms, LLC, Forsythe Land Company, Forsythe Family Farms, L.P., Forsythe Family Farms II, L.P. and Forsythe-Breslow Farms, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 3, 2016).

10.3*

 

Amendment No. 1, dated as of February 22, 2016, to the Contribution Agreement dated as of November 9, 2015, by and among Forsythe Family Farms, Inc., Gerald R. Forsythe, Forsythe-Fournier Farms, LLC, Forsythe-Fawcett Farms, LLC, Forsythe-Bernadette Farms, LLC, Forsythe Land Company, Forsythe Family Farms, L.P., Forsythe Family Farms II, L.P. and Forsythe-Breslow Farms, LLC and FPI Illinois I LLC, FPI Illinois II LLC, Farmland Partners Inc. and Farmland Partners Operating Partnership, LP.

10.4*

 

Term Loan Agreement, dated as of February 29, 2016, between FPI Illinois I LLC and FPI Illinois II LLC, as borrowers, and MSD FPI Partners, LLC, as lender.

10.5*

 

Guaranty, dated as of February 29, 2016, by Farmland Partners Inc. and Farmland Partners Operating Partnership, LP as guarantors in favor of MSD FPI Partners, LLC.

10.6*

 

Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Business Loan Agreement, dated as of March 6, 2016, by and between Farmland Partners Operating Partnership LP and First Midwest Bank.

10.7*

 

Loan Agreement, dated as of March 29, 2016, between FPI Illinois I LLC, FPI Illinois II LLC, Cottonwood Valley Land LLC, PH Farms LLC and FPI Properties LLC as borrower and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company as lender.

10.8*

 

Guaranty, dated as of March 29, 2016, by Farmland Partners Operating Partnership LP in favor of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.

10.9*

 

Indemnification Agreement by and between Farmland Partners Inc. and each of its directors and officers listed on Schedule A thereto.

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

 

58