Seneca Foods Corp - FORM 10-K - EX-13 - ANNUAL REPORT 2017

Attached files

file	filename
EX-31.2 - EXHIBIT 31.2 TJB CERTIFICATION 302 10-K 2017 - Seneca Foods Corp	ex312certification302.htm
EX-31.1 - EX 31.1 KHK CERTIFICATION 302 10/K - Seneca Foods Corp	ex311certification302.htm
EX-32 - EX 32 906 CERTIFICATION 10-K FY 2017 - Seneca Foods Corp	ex32certification906.htm
EX-21 - EXHIBIT 21 SUBSIDIARIES 10-K 3/31/2017 - Seneca Foods Corp	ex21sub10k03312017.htm
EX-23 - BDO CONSENT 10-K FY 2017 - Seneca Foods Corp	ex2310kbdoconcent.htm
10-K - FY 2017 10-K - Seneca Foods Corp	10k03312017.htm

Exhibit 13

Five Year Selected Financial Data


Summary of Operations and Financial Condition
(In thousands of dollars, except per share data and ratios)

Years ended March 31,	2017			2016 (a)			2015			2014			2013(b)

Net sales	$	1,245,681		$	1,275,360		$	1,286,350		$	1,340,208		$	1,276,297

Operating income before interest (c)	$	29,121		$	88,549		$	20,354		$	24,906		$	72,315
Interest expense, net		9,672			8,044			6,862			7,564			8,867
Net earnings (c)		12,613			54,458			9,899			13,779			41,413

Basic earnings per common share (c)	$	1.27		$	5.46		$	0.91		$	1.24		$	3.59
Diluted earnings per common share (c)		1.27			5.42			0.90			1.23			3.57

Working capital	$	555,993		$	274,429		$	463,545		$	452,771		$	446,899
Inventories		598,056			567,707			472,412			451,250			479,730
Net property, plant, and equipment		237,476			188,837			185,557			183,917			188,407
Total assets		946,019			895,327			806,448			768,853			798,456
Long-term debt
less current portion		329,138			35,967			271,634			216,239			230,016
Stockholders' equity		434,261			405,174			351,730			393,632			367,166

Additions to property, plant, and equipment	$	32,512		$	9,966		$	23,734		$	19,448		$	16,371

Net earnings/average equity		3.0	%		14.4	%		2.7	%		3.6	%		11.5	%
Earnings before taxes/sales		1.6	%		6.3	%		1.1	%		1.3	%		5.0	%
Net earnings/sales		1.0	%		4.3	%		0.8	%		1.0	%		3.2	%
Long-term debt/equity (d)		83.7	%		10.1	%		77.2	%		54.9	%		62.6	%
Total debt/equity ratio	1.2:1			1.2:1			1.3:1			1.0:1			1.2:1
Current ratio	5.2:1			1.7:1			4.8:1			4.5:1			3.8:1

Total stockholders' equity per equivalent common share (e)	$	43.63		$	40.63		$	34.81		$	35.25		$	32.83
Stockholders' equity per common share		44.20			41.15			35.33			36.12			33.62
Class A Global Market System
closing price range		42.65-27.03			35.78-25.85			32.65-25.06			36.07-27.80			33.63-21.42
Class B Global Market System
closing price range		46.00-32.89			44.88-32.00			41.00-27.91			36.29-27.42			33.40-21.41
Common cash dividends declared per share		-			-			-			-			-
Price earnings ratio		29.00			6.70			34.00			25.60			9.20

(a) The fiscal 2016 financial results include five months and one month of operating activity related to the Gray and Diana acquisitions, respectively.
(b) The fiscal 2013 financial results include two and one-half months of operating activity related to the Sunnyside acquisition.
(c) The effect of using the LIFO inventory valuation method in Fiscal 2017 was to increase operating earnings by $6.0 million and
net earnings by $3.9 million or $0.40 per share ($0.40 diluted). The effect of using the LIFO inventory valuation method in fiscal 2016
was to increase operating earnings by $24.8 million and net earnings by $16.1 million or $1.62 per share ($1.60 diluted).
The effect of using the LIFO inventory valuation method in fiscal 2015 was to reduce operating earnings by $10.7 million and net earnings by
$6.9 million or $0.64 per share ($0.63 diluted). The effect of using the LIFO inventory valuation method in fiscal 2014
was to reduce operating earnings by $20.4 million and net earnings by $13.2 million or $1.19 per share ($1.19 diluted). The effect of
using the LIFO inventory valuation method in fiscal 2013 was to increase operating earnings by $4.2 million and net
earnings by $2.7 million or $0.24 per share ($0.24 diluted).
(d) The long-term debt to equity percentage for fiscal 2017 and 2015-2013 include the Revolving Credit Facility as discussed
in Note 4, Long-Term Debt. During fiscal 2016, the Revolving Credit Facility was included in current liabilities. If calculated on a
comparable basis to other fiscal years, the fiscal 2016 percentage would be 77.2%.
(e) Equivalent common shares are either common shares or, for convertible preferred shares, the number of common shares that the
preferred shares are convertible into. See Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for conversion details.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

OVERVIEW

Our Business

Seneca Foods is one of North America's leading providers of packaged fruits and vegetables, with facilities located throughout the United States. Its high quality products are primarily sourced from over 2,000 American farms.

Seneca holds a large share of the retail private label, food service, and export canned vegetable markets, distributing to over 90 countries. Products are also sold under the highly regarded brands of Libby's®, Aunt Nellie's®, Green Valley®, READ®, Cherryman® and Seneca labels, including Seneca snack chips. In addition, Seneca provides vegetable products under a contract packing agreement with B&G Foods North America, under the Green Giant label.

During 2016, the Company acquired 100% of the stock of two businesses which pack and sell maraschino cherries, fruit cocktail cherries and glace or candied fruit products: Gray & Company ("Gray") and Diana Fruit Co., Inc. ("Diana"). In 2016, fruit represented 20% of the Company's sales including the acquisitions.

The Company's business strategies are designed to grow the Company's market share and enhance the Company's sales and margins and include: 1) expand the Company's leadership in the packaged fruit and vegetable industry; 2) provide low cost, high quality fruit and vegetable products to consumers through the elimination of costs from the Company's supply chain and investment in state-of-the-art production and logistical technology; 3) focus on growth opportunities to capitalize on higher expected returns; and 4) pursue strategic acquisitions that leverage the Company's core competencies.

All references to years are fiscal years ended March 31 unless otherwise indicated.

Restructuring

During 2016, the Company recorded a restructuring charge of $10.4 million related to the closing of a plant in the Northwest of which $0.2 million was related to severance cost, $5.1 million was related to asset impairments (contra fixed assets), and $5.1 million was related to other costs ($3.6 related to operating lease costs). During 2016, the Company reduced the costs of a plant closing in the Midwest, started in 2015, by $0.1 million, mostly related to severance costs. During 2017, the Company increased the costs related to the closing of the plant in the Northwest, started in 2016, by $0.5 million, mostly related to operating equipment move costs partially offset by an adjustment to a lease liability. In addition, in 2017 the Company incurred $1.3 million related to severance costs for a plant in the West.

During 2015, the Company recorded a restructuring charge of $1.4 million related to the closing of a plant in the Midwest and the realignment of two other plants, one in the Midwest and the other in the Northwest, of which $0.8 million was related to severance cost, $0.3 million was related to equipment costs (contra fixed assets), and $0.3 million was related to equipment relocation costs.

These charges are included under Plant Restructuring in the Consolidated Statements of Net Earnings.

Divestitures, Other Charges and Credits

Other operating expense in 2017 includes a charge for $1.2 million related to costs incurred due to some roof collapses at a Northwest plant as a result of heavy snowfall. In addition, there was a charge for an impairment of a long-term asset of $1.1 million. The Company also recorded a loss of $0.2 million on the sale of fixed assets.

Other operating income in 2016 included a gain of $24.3 million related to a contractual payment received in conjunction with a relationship transfer agreement with General Mills. The Company reversed a provision for the Prop 65 litigation of $0.2 million and reduced an environmental accrual by $0.1 million. The Company also recorded a gain of $0.4 million from the sale of other fixed assets.

Other operating income in 2015 included a gain of $5.0 million related to a contractual payment received in connection with the closing of a Midwest plant and a charge of $0.3 million related to environmental costs related to a Company-owned plant in New York State. The Company also recorded a gain of $0.1 million from the sale of other fixed assets.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company's primary cash requirements are to make payments on the Company's debt, finance seasonal working capital needs and to make capital expenditures. Internally generated funds and amounts available under the revolving credit facility are the Company's primary sources of liquidity, although the Company believes it has the ability to raise additional capital by issuing additional stock, if it desires.

Revolving Credit Facility

The Company completed the closing of a five-year revolving credit facility ("Revolver") on July 5, 2016. Maximum borrowings under the Revolver total $400.0 million from April through July and $500.0 million from August through March. The Revolver balance as of March 31, 2017 was $214.8 million and is included in Long-Term Debt in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet due to the Revolver's July 5, 2021 maturity. In order to maintain availability of funds under the facility, the Company pays a commitment fee on the unused portion of the Revolver. The Revolver is secured by the Company's accounts receivable and inventories and contains a financial covenant and borrowing base requirements. The Company utilizes its Revolver for general corporate purposes, including seasonal working capital needs, to pay debt principal and interest obligations, and to fund capital expenditures and acquisitions. Seasonal working capital needs are affected by the growing cycles of the vegetables and fruits the Company packages. The majority of vegetable and fruit inventories are produced during the months of June through November and are then sold over the following year. Payment terms for vegetable and fruit produce are generally three months but can vary from a few days to seven months. Accordingly, the Company's need to draw on the Revolver may fluctuate significantly throughout the year.

The Company believes that cash flows from operations and availability under its new Revolver will provide adequate funds for the Company's working capital needs, planned capital expenditures and debt service obligations for at least the next 12 months.

Seasonality

The Company's revenues typically are higher in the second and third fiscal quarters. This is due, in part, because the Company sells, on a bill and hold basis, Green Giant canned and frozen vegetables to B&G Foods at the end of each pack cycle, which typically occurs during these quarters. B&G Foods buys the product from the Company at cost plus an equivalent case tolling fee. See the Critical Accounting Policies section for further details. The Company's non-Green Giant sales also exhibit seasonality with the third fiscal quarter generating the highest sales due to increased retail sales during the holiday season.

The seasonality of the Company's business is illustrated by the following table:

	First Quarter			Second Quarter		Third Quarter		Fourth Quarter
	(In thousands)
Year ended March 31, 2017:
Net sales	$	252,614		$	357,247	$	369,705	$	266,115
Gross margin		19,975			30,212		37,475		18,721
Net (loss) earnings		(62	)		6,144		8,181		(1,650	)
Inventories (at quarter end)		586,829			771,996		656,368		598,056
Revolver outstanding (at quarter end)		264,000			342,935		232,586		214,781

Year ended March 31, 2016:
Net sales	$	226,258		$	313,202	$	432,198	$	303,702
Gross margin		20,899			29,073		53,382		44,041
Net earnings		2,968			6,522		31,123		13,845
Inventories (at quarter end)		482,556			761,703		631,181		567,707
Revolver outstanding (at quarter end)		197,350			304,468		309,211		271,592

Short-Term Borrowings

During 2017 and 2016, the Company entered into some interim lease notes which financed down payments for various equipment orders at market rates. As of March 31, 2017, these interim notes had not been converted into capital leases since the equipment was not yet delivered. These notes, which total $0.2 million and $0.4 million as of March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, are included in notes payable in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. These notes are expected to be converted into capital leases within the next twelve months. Until then, they bear interest at an annual rate of 2.29% in 2017 and 1.94% in 2016.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The maximum level of short-term borrowings during 2017 was affected by the new $100.0 million unsecured term loan partially offset by higher inventory due to the large pack totaling $30.3 million. The maximum level of short-term borrowings during 2016 was affected by the two acquisitions totaling $38.3 million and the higher inventory due to the large pack totaling $95.2 million. Details of the acquisitions are outlined in Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

General terms of the Revolver include payment of interest at LIBOR plus an agreed upon spread.

The following table documents the quantitative data for Short-Term Borrowings during 2017 and 2016:

	Fourth Quarter						Year Ended
	2017			2016			2017			2016
	(In thousands)
Reported end of period:
Revolver outstanding	$	214,781		$	271,592		$	214,781		$	271,592
Weighted average interest rate		2.22	%		1.95	%		2.22	%		1.95	%
Reported during period:
Maximum Revolver	$	245,857		$	321,000		$	361,800		$	323,980
Average Revolver outstanding	$	231,946		$	304,104		$	275,647		$	260,886
Weighted average interest rate		2.12	%		1.92	%		1.93	%		1.93	%

Management's Discussion and Analysis of

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Long-Term Debt

At March 31, 2017, the Company has two mortgages outstanding for $12.1 million. As discussed in Note 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company classified its Revolver balance as long-term debt at March 31, 2017. On August 16, 2016, the Company paid off four industrial revenue bonds ("IRBs"), totaling $22.6 million. On December 9, 2016, the Company entered into a $100.0 million unsecured term loan with a maturity date of December 9, 2021. The Company did not issue any significant long-term debt in 2016 and 2015, other than the Revolver.

As of March 31, 2017, scheduled maturities of long-term debt in each of the five succeeding fiscal years and thereafter are presented below. The March 31, 2017 Revolver balance of $214.8 million is presented as being due in fiscal 2022, based upon the Revolver's July 20, 2022 maturity date (in thousands):

2018	$	3,495
2019		3,702
2020		3,217
2021		5,518
2022		316,485
Thereafter		216
Total	$	332,633

Restrictive Covenants

The Company's debt agreements, including the Revolver and term loan, contain covenants that restrict the Company's ability to incur additional indebtedness, pay dividends on the Company's capital stock, make other restricted payments, including investments, sell the Company's assets, incur liens, transfer all or substantially all of the Company's assets and enter into consolidations or mergers. The Company's debt agreements also require the Company to meet certain financial covenants, including a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio, a minimum interest coverage ratio and minimum tangible net worth. The Revolver also contains borrowing base requirements related to accounts receivable and inventories. These financial requirements and ratios generally become more restrictive over time and are subject to allowances for seasonal fluctuations. The most restrictive financial covenant in the debt agreements is the interest coverage ratio within the Farm Credit term loan which for 2017 is defined as greater than 3 to 1. The Company computes its financial covenants as if the Company were on the FIFO method of inventory accounting. The Company was in compliance with all such financial covenants as of March 31, 2017.

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures in 2017 totaled $32.1 million and there were two major projects in 2017 as follows: 1) $2.0 million to purchase land in Princeville, Illinois, and 2) $4.8 million to buy fixed assets of a seed processing facility in Nampa, Idaho. In addition, there were lease buyouts, equipment replacements and other improvements in 2017. Capital expenditures in 2016 totaled $9.9 million and were equipment replacements and other improvements, and cost saving projects but no major projects in 2016. Capital expenditures in 2015 totaled $26.2 million and there were two major projects in 2015 as follows: 1) $7.5 million to complete a warehouse project in Sunnyside, Washington started in 2014, and 2) $2.1 million to buyout a Clyman, Wisconsin equipment lease.

Accounts Receivable

In 2017, accounts receivable decreased by $4.7 million or 6.1% versus 2016, due to the impact of decreased sales volume in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to 2016. In 2016, accounts receivable increased by $6.2 million or 8.8% versus 2015, due to higher sales volume in the fourth quarter of 2016 compared to 2015 and the cherry businesses we added in 2016.

Inventories

In 2017, inventories increased by $30.3 million primarily reflecting the effect of higher finished goods quantities and higher work in process quantities. The LIFO reserve balance was $133.3 million at March 31, 2017 versus $139.3 million at the prior year end.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

In 2016, inventories increased by $95.3 million primarily reflecting the effect of higher finished goods quantities and higher work in process quantities and the $24.8 million LIFO reserve decline. The LIFO reserve balance was $139.3 million at March 31, 2016 versus $164.1 million at the prior year end.

The Company believes that the use of the LIFO method better matches current costs with current revenues.

Critical Accounting Policies

In October 2015, the Company, B&G Foods North America ("B&G"), General Mills, Inc. and General Mills Operations Limited ("GMOL") entered into a Relationship Transfer Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the Relationship Transfer Agreement (i) the Company consented to the assignment by GMOL of the Second Amended and Restated Alliance Agreement ("Alliance Agreement") and certain related agreements to B&G in connection with the sale by GMOL of its Green Giant and Le Sueur businesses to B&G, (ii) effective upon such assignment, each of the Company and General Mills have released the other party from any future obligations under the Alliance Agreement and certain related agreements; (iii) GMOL paid Seneca for this assignment $24.3 million at the closing of the sale of GMOL's Green Giant and Le Sueur business to B&G. The effective date of the assignment was November 2, 2015. Subsequent to that date, the Company and B&G have entered into a Contract Packing Agreement that replaced the Alliance Agreement. During the year ended March 31, 2017, the Company sold for cash, on a bill and hold basis, $95.8 million of Green Giant finished goods inventory to B&G. As of March 31, 2017, $43.3 million of this product, included in 2017 sales, remained unshipped. At the time of the sale of the Green Giant vegetables, title of the specified inventory transferred. The Company believes it has met the criteria required by the accounting standards for bill and hold treatment.

Trade promotions are an important component of the sales and marketing of the Company's branded products and are critical to the support of the business. Trade promotion costs, which are recorded as a reduction of net sales, include amounts paid to encourage retailers to offer temporary price reductions for the sale of the Company's products to consumers, amounts paid to obtain favorable display positions in retail stores, and amounts paid to retailers for shelf space in retail stores. Accruals for trade promotions are recorded primarily at the time of sale of product to the retailer based on expected levels of performance. Settlement of these liabilities typically occurs in subsequent periods primarily through an authorized process for deductions taken by a retailer from amounts otherwise due to the Company. As a result, the ultimate cost of a trade promotion program is dependent on the relative success of the events and the actions and level of deductions taken by retailers for amounts they consider due to them. Final determination of the permissible deductions may take extended periods of time.

The Company assesses its long-lived assets for impairment whenever there is an indicator of impairment. Property, plant, and equipment are depreciated over their assigned lives. The assigned lives and the projected cash flows used to test impairment are subjective. If actual lives are shorter than anticipated or if future cash flows are less than anticipated, a future impairment charge or a loss on disposal of the assets could be incurred. Impairment losses are evaluated if the estimated undiscounted value of the cash flows is less than the carrying value. If such is the case, a loss is recognized when the carrying value of an asset exceeds its fair value.

Obligations and Commitments

As of March 31, 2017, the Company was obligated to make cash payments in connection with its debt, operating and capital leases, and purchase commitments. The effect of these obligations and commitments on the Company's liquidity and cash flows in future periods are listed below. All of these arrangements require cash payments over varying periods of time. Certain of these arrangements are cancelable on short notice and others require additional payments as part of any early termination.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

	Contractual Obligations
	March 31, 2017

							2023
	2018			2019-20		2021-22	and beyond		Total
	(In thousands)
Long-term debt	$	3,495	$	6,919	$	322,003	$	216	$	332,633
Interest		10,888		20,585		14,714		1,255		47,442
Operating lease obligations		39,794		65,745		40,672		14,136		160,347
Purchase commitments		192,531		—		—		—		192,531
Capital lease obligations		4,839		10,258		11,082		12,854		39,033
Total	$	251,547	$	103,507	$	388,471	$	28,461	$	771,986

In addition, the Company's defined benefit plan has an unfunded pension liability of $8.2 million which is subject to certain actuarial assumptions. The unfunded status decreased by $29.6 million during 2017 reflecting the actual fair value of plan assets and the projected benefit obligation as of March 31, 2017. This unfunded status reduction was recognized via the actual gain on plan assets and the decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss of $16.9 million after the income tax benefit of $10.4 million. The increase in projected benefit obligation from $214.0 million to $216.0 million was a function of using the full yield curve approach, a decrease in the discount rate from 4.36% to 4.35% and the change to using an updated mortality table. During 2016, the Company converted to the 2006 base rates from the RP-2014 mortality study with the Blue Collar adjustment, with a generational projection of future mortality improvements from 2006 using Scale MP-2016 for calculating the pension obligation in 2017 and the related pension expense in 2018. Effective March 31, 2016, the Company elected to change the approach used to calculate the service and interest cost components of the net periodic benefit cost for its pension and postretirement benefit plans to provide a more precise measurement of service and interest costs. Historically, the Company calculated the service and interest cost components utilizing a single weighted-average discount rate derived from the yield curve used to measure the benefit obligation at the beginning of the period. Now the new estimate utilizes a full yield curve approach in the estimation of these components by applying the specific spot rates along the yield curve used in determination of the benefit obligation to their underlying projected cash flows. The change does not affect the measurement of pension and postretirement obligations and is accounted for as a change in accounting estimate, which is applied prospectively.

Plan assets increased from $176.2 million as of March 31, 2016 to $207.8 million as of March 31, 2017 due to a gain on plan assets of $34.3 million from a continued recovery in market conditions and the $8.2 million contribution by the Company. The Company made this contribution to maintain its funding status at an acceptable level.

During 2017, the Company entered into new capital and operating leases of approximately $46.8 million, based on the if-purchased value, which was primarily for agricultural and packaging equipment.

Purchase commitments represent estimated payments to growers for crops that will be grown during the calendar 2017 season.

Due to uncertainties related to uncertain tax positions, the Company is not able to reasonably estimate the cash settlements required in future periods.

The Company has no off-balance sheet debt or other unrecorded obligations other than operating lease obligations and purchase commitments noted above.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Standby Letters of Credit

The Company has standby letters of credit for certain insurance-related requirements. The majority of the Company's standby letters of credit are automatically renewed annually, unless the issuer gives cancellation notice in advance. On March 31, 2017, the Company had $13.1 million in outstanding standby letters of credit. These standby letters of credit are supported by the Company's Revolver and reduce borrowings available under the Revolver.

Cash Flows

In 2017, the Company's cash and cash equivalents increased by $3.4 million, which is due to the net impact of $24.3 million provided by operating activities, $31.7 million used in investing activities, and $10.8 million provided by financing activities.

Operating Activities

Cash provided by operating activities decreased to $24.3 million in 2017 from $39.2 million in 2016. The decrease is primarily attributable to a significant decrease in net earnings and an increase in inventories in 2017 versus 2016. The 2017 LIFO credit of $6.0 million resulted in a decrease in the tax payment deferral of $2.1 million. During 2017, the Company made an $8.2 million contribution to its pension plan compared to a $23.1 million contribution in the previous year. The 2016 net earnings reflect the effect of a one-time $24.3 million payment received from General Mills related to a relationship transfer agreement.

Cash provided by operating activities increased to $39.2 million in 2016 from $19.4 million in 2015. The increase is primarily attributable to an increase in net earnings in 2016 versus 2015, and by a decrease in other current assets (mostly lease deposits) partially offset by an increase in inventories in 2016 versus 2015. The 2016 earnings reflect a LIFO credit of $24.8 million resulted in a decrease in the tax payment deferral of $8.9 million. During 2016, the Company made a $23.1 million contribution to its pension plan compared to a $0.4 million contribution in the previous year.

The cash requirements of the business fluctuate significantly throughout the year to coincide with the seasonal growing cycles of vegetables and fruits. The majority of the inventories are produced during the packing months, from June through November, and are then sold over the following year. Cash flow from operating activities is one of the Company's main sources of liquidity.

Investing Activities

Cash used in investing activities was $31.7 million for 2017, principally reflecting capital expenditures. Capital expenditures aggregated $32.1 million in 2017 versus $9.9 million in 2016. The increase was primarily attributable to more large projects in 2017 along with lease buyouts, equipment replacements and other improvements. There were two major projects in 2017 as follows: 1) $2.0 million to purchase land in Princeville, Illinois, and 2) $4.8 million to buy fixed assets of a seed processing facility in Nampa, Idaho.

Cash used in investing activities was $47.6 million for 2016, principally reflecting capital expenditures and two acquisitions totaling $38.8 million. Capital expenditures aggregated $9.9 million in 2016 versus $26.2 million in 2015. The decrease was primarily attributable to the fact there were no large projects in 2016.

Financing Activities

Cash provided by financing activities was $10.8 million in 2017 representing the new Farm Credit note for $100.0 million and a net decrease in the Revolver of $56.8 million and the payoff of $22.6 million industrial revenue bonds, partially offset by a partial payoff of interim funding of $0.2 million and the purchase of $2.8 million of treasury stock during 2017 versus $6.3 million purchased in 2016.

Cash provided by financing activities was $6.5 million in 2016 representing a net increase in the Revolver of $22.6 million partially offset by a partial payoff of interim funding of $9.5 million and the purchase of $6.3 million of treasury stock during 2016 versus $33.5 million purchased in 2015.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Classes of similar products/services:	2017		2016		2015
	(In thousands)
Net Sales:
Green Giant *	$	119,812	$	144,310	$	161,993
Canned vegetables		705,297		746,501		754,556
Frozen		98,597		94,710		94,648
Fruit		286,464		253,658		234,918
Snack		12,430		12,336		11,667
Other		23,081		23,845		28,568
Total	$	1,245,681	$	1,275,360	$	1,286,350

* Green Giant includes canned and frozen vegetables exclusively for B&G Foods/General Mills.

Fiscal 2017 versus Fiscal 2016

Net sales for 2017 decreased $29.7 million, from $1,275.4 million to $1,245.7 million. The decrease primarily reflects a $24.5 million decrease in Green Giant sales, a $32.8 million increase in fruit sales, a $3.9 million increase in frozen sales, a $41.2 million decrease in canned vegetables sales and a $0.8 million decrease in other sales. The decrease in sales is attributable to lower selling prices/less favorable sales mix of $86.9 million partially offset by increased sales volume of $57.2 million. The decreased selling prices/less favorable sales mix is primarily due to canned fruit and vegetables. Canned fruit sales include a $48.4 million increase from Gray and Diana sales which was acquired during the third and fourth quarters of 2016.

Cost of product sold as a percentage of sales increased from 88.4% in 2016 to 91.5% in 2017 primarily as a result of lower selling prices and an $18.8 million LIFO credit decrease in 2017 versus 2016.

Selling, general and administrative expense was up slightly at 5.9% of sales in 2017 as compared to 5.8% in 2016.

Plant restructuring costs, which are described in detail in the Restructuring section of Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, decreased from $10.3 million in 2016 to $2.4 million in 2017. About $1.8 million of this charge was due to the closing of a plant in the West during the year.

Interest expense, net, increased from $8.0 million in 2016 to $9.7 million in 2017 due to higher overall average borrowing rates in 2017 versus 2016.

As a result of the aforementioned factors, pre-tax earnings decreased from $80.5 million in 2016 to $20.0 million in 2017. The effective tax rate was 37.0% in 2017 and 32.3% in 2016. Of the 4.7 percentage point increase in the effective tax rate for the year, the major contributor to this increase is the permanent differences not deductible which account for 2.6% of this increase. The other significant change is in the manufacturer's deduction, which is based on taxable income. As a result of significant bonus depreciation in the fourth quarter of 2017, the percentage of the deduction in relationship to book income is lower than last year by 2.2%.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Fiscal 2016 versus Fiscal 2015

Net sales for 2016 decreased $11.0 million, from $1,286.4 million to $1,275.4 million. The decrease primarily reflects a $0.7 million increase in Snack sales, a $18.8 million increase in fruit sales in part due to the October 2015 Gray acquisition and the February 2016 Diana acquisition, a $17.7 million decrease in Green Giant sales, a $8.1 million decrease in canned vegetables sales and a $4.7 million decrease in other sales. The decrease in sales is attributable to decreased sales volume of $11.1 million partially offset by higher selling prices/more favorable sales mix of $0.1 million. The slightly increased selling prices/more favorable sales mix is primarily due to canned and frozen vegetables.

Cost of product sold as a percentage of sales decreased from 93.4% in 2015 to 88.4% in 2016 primarily as a result of a $24.6 million LIFO charge decrease in 2016, due to lower commodity and steel costs, and somewhat higher selling prices in 2016 versus 2015.

Selling, general and administrative expense was 5.8% of sales in 2016 and 5.2% of sales in 2015. This increase is due in part to higher employment costs in 2016 than 2015.

Plant restructuring costs, which are described in detail in the Restructuring section of Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, increased from $1.4 million in 2015 to $10.3 million in 2016. The $10.3 million was mostly due to the closing of a plant in the Northwest.

Interest expense, net, increased from $6.9 million in 2015 to $8.0 million in 2016 due to the higher average Revolver borrowings in 2016 versus 2015 due to the two acquisitions in 2016 and the higher inventories in 2016 than 2015.

As a result of the aforementioned factors, pre-tax earnings increased from $14.1 million in 2015 to $80.5 million in 2016. The effective tax rate was 32.3% in 2016 and 29.9% in 2015. Of the 2.4 percentage point increase in the effective tax rate for the year, the major contributor to this increase is with the federal credits for Research and Development, Work Opportunity Tax Credit and fuel. These credits are largely fixed and with the significant increase in pre-tax earnings for 2016, these credits are a smaller percentage of pre-tax earnings in comparison to 2015. This accounts for 2.0 percent of the increase.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The new standard will be effective for the Company on April 1, 2018 (beginning of fiscal 2019). Early adoption is permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company has selected the modified retrospective approach for its transition method and applied the five-step model of the new standard to a selection of contracts within each of the revenue streams and has compared the results to our current accounting practices. The Company has evaluated the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The Company has substantially completed its evaluation of significant contracts and is currently assessing the impact of adopting the standards update on our consolidated financial statements. The Company will continue its evaluation of the standards update through the date of adoption.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes which requires that all deferred tax liabilities and assets of the same tax jurisdiction or a tax filing group, as well as any related valuation allowance, be offset and be presented as a single noncurrent amount in a classified balance sheet. This standard is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 (beginning of fiscal 2019). Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted this standard during 2016 on a prospective basis.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases. The new standard establishes a right-of-use ("ROU") model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 (beginning fiscal 2020), including interim periods within those fiscal years. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for lessees for capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. While we are still evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of the new standard on our consolidated financial statements, we expect that upon adoption we will recognize ROU assets and lease liabilities and that the amounts could be material.

In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-01 ("ASU 2017-01"), which clarifies the definition of a business, with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. ASU 2017-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those fiscal years, and early adoption is permitted for transactions which occur before the issuance or effective date of the amendments, only when the transaction has not been reported in the financial statements that have been issued or made available for issuance. ASU 2017-01 is to be applied on a prospective basis. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2017-01 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate Risk

The Company maintained $12.0 million in cash equivalents as of March 31, 2017. As a result of its regular borrowing activities, the Company's operating results are exposed to fluctuations in interest rates, which it manages primarily through its regular financing activities. The Company uses a revolving credit facility with variable interest rates and a new $100.0 million term loan to finance capital expenditures, acquisitions, seasonal working capital requirements and to pay debt principal and interest obligations. In addition, long-term debt includes secured notes payable. Long-term debt bears interest at fixed and variable rates. With $375.6 million in average variable-rate debt during fiscal 2017, a 1% change in interest rates would have had a $3.8 million effect on interest expense. The following table provides information about the Company's financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. The table presents principal cash flows and related weighted average interest rates by expected maturity date. Weighted average interest rates on long-term variable-rate debt are based on rates as of March 31, 2017.

Interest Rate Sensitivity of Long-Term Debt and Short-Term Investments
March 31, 2017
(In thousands)

	P A Y M E N T S B Y Y E A R
																			Total/			Estimated
																			Weighted			Fair
	2018			2019			2020			2021			2022			Thereafter			Average			Value

Fixed-rate L/T debt:
Principal cash flows	$	3,495		$	3,702		$	3,217		$	5,518		$	1,868		$	216		$	18,016		$	18,309
Average interest rate		5.55	%		5.55	%		5.37	%		5.74	%		7.92	%		12.00	%		6.02	%
Variable-rate L/T debt:
Principal cash flows	$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	314,617		$	-		$	314,617		$	314,617
Average interest rate		-	%		-	%		-	%		-	%		2.50	%		-	%		2.50	%
Average Revolver debt:
Principal cash flows																			$	275,650		$	275,650
Average interest rate																				1.88	%
Short-term investments:
Average balance																			$	2,268		$	2,268
Average interest rate																				0.45	%

Commodity Risk

The materials that the Company uses, such as vegetables, fruits, steel, ingredients, and packaging materials, as well as the electricity and natural gas used in the Company's business, are commodities that may experience price volatility caused by external factors including market fluctuations, availability, weather, currency fluctuations, and changes in governmental regulations and agricultural programs. These events may result in reduced supplies of these materials, higher supply costs, or interruptions in the Company's production schedules. If prices of these raw materials increase and the Company is not able to effectively pass such price increases along to its customers, operating income will decrease. With $192.5 million in produce costs expected during 2018, a 1% change would have a $1.9 million effect on inventory costs. A 1% change in steel unit costs would equate to a $1.1 million cost impact.

The Company does not currently hedge or otherwise use derivative instruments to manage interest rate or commodity risks.

Consolidated Statements of Net Earnings

Seneca Foods Corporation and Subsidiaries
(In thousands, except per share amounts)

Years ended March 31,	2017			2016			2015


Net sales	$	1,245,681		$	1,275,360		$	1,286,350

Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold		1,139,298			1,127,965			1,201,987
Selling, general, and administrative expense		72,996			73,515			67,381
Other operating expense (income), net		2,437			(24,971	)		(4,748	)
Plant restructuring		1,829			10,302			1,376
Total costs and expenses		1,216,560			1,186,811			1,265,996

Operating income		29,121			88,549			20,354
(Earnings) loss from equity investment		(578	)		48			(628	)
Interest expense, net of interest income of
$54, $18, and $4, respectively		9,672			8,044			6,862

Earnings before income taxes		20,027			80,457			14,120
Income tax expense		7,414			25,999			4,221
Net earnings	$	12,613		$	54,458		$	9,899

Basic earnings per common share	$	1.27		$	5.46		$	0.91

Diluted earnings per common share	$	1.27		$	5.42		$	0.90

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Seneca Foods Corporation and Subsidiaries
(In thousands)

Years ended March 31,	2017		2016		2015

Comprehensive income (loss):
Net earnings	$	12,613	$	54,458	$	9,899
Change in pension and postretirement benefits
(net of income tax of $10,367, $2,179, and $13,140, respectively)		17,221		3,408		(20,552	)

Total	$	29,834	$	57,866	$	(10,653	)

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Seneca Foods Corporation and Subsidiaries
(In thousands)

March 31,	2017			2016

Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	11,992		$	8,602
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts
of $50 and $111, respectively		72,080			76,788
Assets held for sale		-			5,025
Inventories:
Finished products		435,247			366,911
In process		32,528			17,122
Raw materials and supplies		130,281			183,674
		598,056			567,707
Refundable income taxes		2,471			-
Other current assets		3,671			15,765
Total Current Assets		688,270			673,887
Deferred income tax asset, net		-			12,897
Other assets		20,273			19,706
Property, plant, and equipment:
Land		25,219			22,430
Buildings and improvements		216,859			204,944
Equipment		414,859			359,927
		656,937			587,301
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		419,461			398,464
Net property, plant, and equipment		237,476			188,837
Total Assets	$	946,019		$	895,327

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current Liabilities:
Notes payable	$	166		$	402
Accounts payable		72,824			67,410
Accrued vacation		11,867			11,792
Accrued payroll		6,593			9,438
Other accrued expenses		32,493			27,627
Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations		8,334			279,815
Income taxes payable		-			2,974
Total Current Liabilities		132,277			399,458
Long-term debt, less current portion		329,138			35,967
Pension liabilities		8,193			37,798
Other liabilities		3,775			11,942
Deferred income taxes, net		4,181			-
Capital lease obligations, less current portion		34,194			4,988
Total Liabilities		511,758			490,153
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' Equity:
Preferred stock		1,324			1,344
Common stock		3,024			3,023
Additional paid-in capital		97,458			97,373
Treasury stock, at cost		(66,499	)		(65,709	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(11,175	)		(28,396	)
Retained earnings		410,129			397,539
Total Stockholders' Equity		434,261			405,174
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	$	946,019		$	895,327


See notes to consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Seneca Foods Corporation and Subsidiaries
(In thousands)

Years ended March 31,	2017			2016			2015

Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$	12,613		$	54,458		$	9,899
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to
net cash provided by operations:
Depreciation and amortization		24,824			21,737			21,834
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)		6,524			(533	)		(612	)
Loss (gain) on the sale of assets		177			(432	)		2
Impairment provision		2,881			10,302			264
(Earnings) loss from equity investment		(578	)		48			(628	)
401(k) match stock contribution		2,017			1,820			2,123
Changes in operating assets and liabilities (net of acquisitions):
Accounts receivable		4,708			1,289			6,373
Inventories		(30,349	)		(52,185	)		(21,162	)
Other current assets		12,094			12,544			6,155
Accounts payable, accrued expenses,
and other liabilities		(5,142	)		(12,136	)		(5,690	)
Income taxes		(5,445	)		2,246			874
Net cash provided by operating activities		24,324			39,158			19,432

Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant, and equipment		(32,139	)		(9,864	)		(26,213	)
Purchase of an equity method investment		-			-			(16,242	)
Cash paid for acquisitions (net of cash acquired)		-			(38,795	)		-
Proceeds from the sale of assets		427			1,026			337
Net cash used in investing activities		(31,712	)		(47,633	)		(42,118	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		506,831			355,932			384,510
Payments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations		(491,494	)		(333,382	)		(328,862	)
Payments on notes payable		(236	)		(9,501	)		(2,352	)
Change in other assets		(1,493	)		(305	)		(312	)
Purchase of treasury stock		(2,807	)		(6,252	)		(33,506	)
Preferred stock dividends paid		(23	)		(23	)		(23	)
Net cash provided by financing activities		10,778			6,469			19,455

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		3,390			(2,006	)		(3,231	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year		8,602			10,608			13,839
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$	11,992		$	8,602		$	10,608

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest	$	8,352		$	6,820		$	5,116
Income taxes		6,284			24,108			6,003
Noncash transactions:
Property, plant and equipment issued under capital lease		35,559			5,313			-
Assets previously held for sale reclassified back to
property, plant and equipment		5,025			-			-

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity

Seneca Foods Corporation and Subsidiaries
(In thousands, except share amounts)
											Accumulated
						Additional					Other
	Preferred			Common		Paid-In		Treasury			Comprehensive			Retained
	Stock			Stock		Capital		Stock			Loss			Earnings

Balance March 31, 2014	$	5,332		$	2,958	$	93,260	$	(29,894	)	$	(11,252	)	$	333,228
Net earnings		-			-		-		-			-			9,899
Cash dividends paid
on preferred stock		-			-		-		-			-			(23	)
Equity incentive program		-			-		100		-			-			-
Stock issued for profit sharing plan		-			1		56		-			-			-
Contribution of 401(k) match		-			-		-		2,123			-			-
Purchase of treasury stock		-			-		-		(33,506	)		-			-
Preferred stock conversion		(3,213	)		51		3,162		-			-			-
Change in pension and postretirement
benefits adjustment (net of tax $13,140)		-			-		-		-			(20,552	)		-
Balance March 31, 2015		2,119			3,010		96,578		(61,277	)		(31,804	)		343,104
Net earnings		-			-		-		-			-			54,458
Cash dividends paid
on preferred stock		-			-		-		-			-			(23	)
Equity incentive program		-			-		33		-			-			-
Contribution of 401(k) match		-			-		-		1,820			-			-
Purchase of treasury stock		-			-		-		(6,252	)		-			-
Preferred stock conversion		(775	)		13		762		-			-			-
Change in pension and postretirement
benefits adjustment (net of tax $2,179)		-			-		-		-			3,408			-
Balance March 31, 2016		1,344			3,023		97,373		(65,709	)		(28,396	)		397,539
Net earnings		-			-		-		-			-			12,613
Cash dividends paid
on preferred stock		-			-		-		-			-			(23	)
Equity incentive program		-			-		66		-			-			-
Contribution of 401(k) match		-			-		-		2,017			-			-
Purchase of treasury stock		-			-		-		(2,807	)		-			-
Preferred stock conversion		(20	)		1		19		-			-			-
Change in pension and postretirement
benefits adjustment (net of tax $10,367)		-			-		-		-			17,221			-
Balance March 31, 2017	$	1,324		$	3,024	$	97,458	$	(66,499	)	$	(11,175	)	$	410,129

	Preferred Stock														Common Stock
			6	%			10	%
	Cumulative Par				Cumulative Par							2003 Series
	Value $.25				Value $.025				Participating			Participating			Class A			Class B
	Callable at Par				Convertible				Convertible Par			Convertible Par			Common Stock			Common Stock
	Voting				Voting				Value $.025			Value $.025			Par Value $.25			Par Value $.25
Shares authorized and designated:
March 31, 2017			200,000				1,400,000				90,826			500			20,000,000			10,000,000

Shares outstanding:
March 31, 2015			200,000				807,240				90,826			50,500			7,926,280			1,967,958
March 31, 2016			200,000				807,240				90,826			500			7,918,069			1,894,599
March 31, 2017			200,000				807,240				89,251			500			7,910,508			1,884,839
Stock amount		$	50			$	202			$	1,064		$	8		$	2,520		$	504

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Seneca Foods Corporation and Subsidiaries

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations — Seneca Foods Corporation (the "Parent Company") and subsidiaries (the "Company") conducts its business almost entirely in food packaging, operating 27 plants and 31 warehouses in ten states. The Company markets private label and branded packaged foods to retailers and institutional food distributors.

Principles of Consolidation — The consolidated financial statements include the accounts for the Parent Company and all of its wholly-owned subsidiaries after elimination of intercompany transactions, profits, and balances.

Revenue Recognition — Sales and related cost of product sold are recognized when legal title passes to the purchaser, which is primarily upon shipment of products. When customers, under the terms of specific orders, request that the Company invoice but hold the goods ("Bill and Hold") for future shipment, the Company recognizes revenue when legal title to the finished goods inventory passes to the purchaser. Generally, the Company receives cash from the purchaser when legal title passes. During the years ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company sold for cash, on a bill and hold basis, $95.8 million and $126.1 million, respectively, of Green Giant finished goods inventory. At the time of the sale of the Green Giant vegetables, title of the specified inventory transferred. The Company believes it has met the criteria required by the accounting standards for Bill and Hold treatment. As of March 31, 2017, $43.3 million of 2017 product remained unshipped.

Trade promotions are an important component of the sales and marketing of the Company's branded products, and are critical to the support of the business. Trade promotion costs, which are recorded as a reduction of sales, include amounts paid to retailers for shelf space, to obtain favorable display positions and to offer temporary price reductions for the sale of our products to consumers. Accruals for trade promotions are recorded primarily at the time of sale to the retailer based on expected levels of performance. Settlement of these liabilities typically occurs in subsequent periods primarily through an authorized process for deductions taken by a retailer from amounts otherwise due to the Company. As a result, the ultimate cost of a trade promotion program is dependent on the relative success of the events and the actions and level of deductions taken by retailers. Final determination of the permissible deductions may take extended periods of time.

Concentration of Credit Risk — Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist of trade receivables and interest-bearing investments. Wholesale and retail food distributors comprise a significant portion of the trade receivables; collateral is generally not required. A relatively limited number of customers account for a large percentage of the Company's total sales. GMOL sales represented 6%, 11% and 13% of net sales in each of 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The top ten customers, including GMOL, represented approximately 42%, 48% and 49% of net sales for 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Company closely monitors the credit risk associated with its customers. The Company places substantially all of its interest-bearing investments with financial institutions and monitors credit exposure. Cash and short-term investments in certain accounts exceed the federal insured limit; however, the Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts.

Cash Equivalents — The Company considers all highly liquid instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less as cash equivalents.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments — The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents (Level 1), accounts receivable, short-term debt (Level 2) and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. See Note 9, Fair Value of Financial Instruments, for a discussion of the fair value of long-term debt.

The three-tier value hierarchy is utilized to prioritize the inputs used in measuring fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobserved inputs (Level 3). The three levels are defined as follows:

·	Level 1- Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

·	Level 2- Quoted prices for similar instruments; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs or significant value-drivers are observable.

·	Level 3- Model-derived valuations in which one or more inputs or value-drivers are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Deferred Financing Costs — Deferred financing costs incurred in obtaining debt are amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the debt, which is not materially different than using the effective interest rate method. As of March 31, 2017, there were $0.9 million of unamortized financing cost included in other current assets and $0.2 million of unamortized financing costs included as a contra to long-term debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Inventories — Substantially all inventories are stated at the lower of cost; determined under the last-in, first-out ("LIFO") method; or market.

Income Taxes — The provision for income taxes includes federal and state income taxes currently payable and those deferred because of temporary differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities and tax credit carryforwards. The Company uses the flow-through method to account for its investment tax credits.

The Company evaluates the likelihood of realization of its net deferred income tax assets by assessing its valuation allowance and by adjusting the amount of such allowance, if necessary. The factors used to assess the likelihood of realization are the Company's forecast of future taxable income, the projected reversal of temporary differences and available tax planning strategies that could be implemented to realize the net deferred income tax assets.

Current rules on the accounting for uncertainty on income taxes prescribe a minimum recognition threshold for a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return that is required to be met before being recognized in the financial statements. Those rules also provide guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued on unrecognized tax benefits as well as interest received from favorable settlements within income tax expense.

Shipping and Handling Costs — The Company includes all shipping and handling costs billed to customers in net sales and the corresponding costs in cost of products sold. The shipping and handling costs billed to customers in net sales were $38.0 million, $38.3 million and $38.8 million in 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.

Advertising Costs — Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs charged to operations were $2.1 million, $2.0 million and $1.7 million in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Accounts Receivable and Doubtful Accounts — Accounts receivable is stated at invoice value, which is net of any off invoice promotions. A provision for doubtful accounts is recorded based upon an assessment of credit risk within the accounts receivable portfolio, experience of delinquencies (accounts over 15 days past due) and charge-offs (accounts removed from accounts receivable for expectation of non-payment), and current market conditions. Management believes these provisions are adequate based upon the relevant information presently available.

Earnings per Common Share — The Company has three series of convertible preferred stock, which are deemed to be participating securities that are entitled to participate in any dividend on Class A common stock as if the preferred stock had been converted into common stock immediately prior to the record date for such dividend. Basic earnings per share for common stock is calculated using the "two-class" method by dividing the earnings attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average of common shares outstanding during the period. Restricted stock is included in all earnings per share calculations.

Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing earnings attributable to common stockholders by the sum of the weighted average common shares outstanding plus the dilutive effect of convertible preferred stock using the "if-converted" method, which treats the contingently-issuable shares of convertible preferred stock as common stock.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Years ended March 31,	2017		2016		2015
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Basic
Net earnings	$	12,613	$	54,458	$	9,899
Deduct preferred stock dividends		23		23		23
Undistributed earnings		12,590		54,435		9,876
Earnings attributable to participating
preferred shareholders		115		544		160
Earnings attributable to common
shareholders	$	12,475	$	53,891	$	9,716
Weighted average common shares
outstanding		9,785		9,878		10,690
Basic earnings per common share	$	1.27	$	5.46	$	0.91
Diluted
Earnings attributable to common
shareholders	$	12,475	$	53,891	$	9,716
Add dividends on convertible
preferred stock		20		20		20
Earnings attributable to common
stock on a diluted basis	$	12,495	$	53,911	$	9,736
Weighted average common shares
outstanding-basic		9,785		9,878		10,690
Additional shares to be issued related to
the equity compensation plan		2		3		5
Additional shares to be issued under
full conversion of preferred stock		67		67		67
Total shares for diluted		9,854		9,948		10,762
Diluted earnings per share	$	1.27	$	5.42	$	0.90

Depreciation and Valuation — Property, plant, and equipment are stated at cost. Interest incurred during the construction of major projects is capitalized. For financial reporting, the Company provides for depreciation on the straight-line method at rates based upon the estimated useful lives of the various assets. Depreciation was $24.2 million, $21.4 million, and $21.5 million in 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. The estimated useful lives are as follows: buildings and improvements — 30 years; machinery and equipment — 10-15 years; computer software — 3-5 years; vehicles — 3-7 years; and land improvements — 10-20 years. The Company assesses its long-lived assets for impairment whenever there is an indicator of impairment. Impairment losses are evaluated if the estimated undiscounted cash flows from using the assets are less than carrying value. A loss is recognized when the carrying value of an asset exceeds its fair value. There were $5.1 million of impairment losses in 2016 included in Plant Restructuring (see Note 14, Plant Restructuring). There were no significant impairment losses in 2017 and 2015.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the related revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual amounts could differ from those estimates.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards — In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The new standard will be effective for the Company on April 1, 2018 (beginning of fiscal 2019). Early adoption is permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company has selected the modified retrospective approach for its transition method and applied the five-step model of the new standard to a selection of contracts within each of the revenue streams and has compared the results to our current accounting practices. The Company has evaluated the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The Company has substantially completed its evaluation of significant contracts and is currently assessing the impact of adopting the standards update on our consolidated financial statements. The Company will continue its evaluation of the standards update through the date of adoption.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Reclassifications — Certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period classification.

2. Acquisitions

In October 2015, the Company completed the acquisition of 100% of the stock of Gray & Company. The business, based in Hart, Michigan, is a processor of maraschino cherries and a provider of glace or candied fruit products. This acquisition includes a plant in Dayton, Oregon. The purchase price was approximately $23.8 million (net of cash acquired) plus the assumption of certain liabilities. In conjunction with the closing, the Company paid off $12.0 million of liabilities acquired. The rationale for the acquisition was twofold: (1) the business is a complementary fit with the existing business and (2) it provides an extension of the Company's product offerings. This acquisition was financed with proceeds from the Company's revolving credit facility. The purchase price to acquire Gray & Company was allocated based on the internally developed fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed and the independent valuation of inventory, intangibles, and property, plant, and equipment. The purchase price of $23.8 million has been allocated as follows (in millions):

Purchase Price (net of cash received)	$	23.8

Allocated as follows:
Current assets	$	36.6
Other long-term assets		1.4
Property, plant and equipment		13.7
Deferred taxes		(7.7	)
Current liabilities		(16.0	)
Other long-term liabilities		(4.2	)
Total	$	23.8

In February 2016, the Company completed the acquisition of 100% of the stock of Diana Fruit Co., Inc. The business, based in Santa Clara, California, is a processor of maraschino cherries and cherries for fruit cocktail. The purchase price was approximately $15.0 million (net of cash acquired) plus the assumption of certain liabilities. In conjunction with the closing, the Company paid off $1.4 million of liabilities acquired. The rationale for the acquisition was the business is a complementary fit with the recent acquisition of Gray & Company. This acquisition was financed with proceeds from the Company's revolving credit facility. The purchase price to acquire Diana was allocated based on the internally developed fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed and the independent valuation of inventory, intangibles, and property, plant, and equipment. The purchase price of $15.0 million has been allocated as follows (in millions):

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Purchase Price (net of cash received)	$	15.0

Allocated as follows:
Current assets	$	16.8
Other long-term assets		0.5
Property, plant and equipment		0.9
Deferred taxes		0.4
Current liabilities		(3.6	)
Total	$	15.0

The Company's Consolidated Statement of Net Earnings for the year ended March 31, 2016 includes five months of the acquired Gray & Company and one month of Diana Fruit operating results which amounted to Net Sales of $25.5 million and Net Loss of $1.7 million. If Gray and Diana had been acquired at the beginning of the year ended March 31, 2015, total Net Sales would be $1,324.8 million (unaudited) for 2016 and $1,363.7 million (unaudited) for 2015 and Net Earnings would have been $54.2 million (unaudited) for 2016 and $8.6 million (unaudited) for 2015.

In April 2014, the Company purchased a 50% equity interest in Truitt Bros. Inc. ("Truitt") for $16.2 million. The purchase agreement grants the Company the right to acquire the remaining 50% ownership of Truitt in the future under certain conditions. Truitt is known for its industry innovation related to packing shelf stable foods in trays, pouches and bowls. Truitt has two state-of-the-art plants located in Oregon and Kentucky. This investment is included in Other Assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2017 and is accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Subsequent to 2017 year end, the Company purchased the remaining 50% equity interest in Truitt Bros., Inc. (see Note 16, Subsequent Event).

3. Short-Term Borrowings

The Company completed the closing of a new five-year revolving credit facility ("Revolver") on July 5, 2016. Maximum borrowings under the Revolver total $400.0 million from April through July and $500.0 million from August through March. The Revolver balance as of March 31, 2017 was $214.8 million, with a weighted average interest rate of 2.22% (LIBOR plus a spread) and is included in Long-Term Debt in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Revolver is secured by accounts receivable and inventories with a carrying value of $670.2 million. The Company had $13.1 million and $13.2 million of outstanding standby letters of credit as of March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, which reduces borrowing availability under the Revolver. See Note 4, Long-Term Debt, for additional comments related to the Revolver.

During 2017 and 2016, the Company entered into some interim lease notes which financed down payments for various equipment orders at market rates. As of March 31, 2017, these interim notes had not been converted into operating leases since the equipment was not yet delivered. These notes, which total $0.2 million and $0.4 million as of March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, are included in notes payable in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. These notes are expected to be converted into operating leases within the next twelve months. Until then, they bear interest at an annual rate of 2.29% in 2017 and 1.94% in 2016.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

4. Long-Term Debt

	2017		2016
	(In thousands)
Revolving credit facility,
2.22% and 1.95%, due through 2022	$	214,781	$	271,592
Farm Credit term loan,
3.38% due 2022		99,836		-
Secured Industrial Revenue
Development Bonds, 3.02%		-		22,630
Secured promissory note,
6.98%, due through 2022		10,340		12,114
Lease financing obligations,
2.62%, due through 2020		4,679		5,313
Secured promissory note,
6.35%, due through 2020		1,782		2,474
2.00%, due through 2021		999		1,200
Other		216		216
		332,633		315,539
Less current portion		3,495		279,572
	$	329,138	$	35,967

See Note 3, Short-Term Borrowings, for discussion of the Revolver.

The Company's debt agreements limit the payment of dividends and other distributions. There is an annual total distribution limitation of $50,000, less aggregate annual dividend payments totaling $23,000 that the Company presently pays on two outstanding classes of preferred stock.

On August 16, 2016, the Company paid off four industrial revenue bonds ("IRBs"), totaling $22.6 million.

On December 9, 2016, the Company entered into a $100.0 million unsecured term loan payable to Farm Credit East, ACA, with a variable interest rate. The maturity date for this term loan is of December 9, 2021. The Company incurred financing costs totaling $0.2 million which have been classified as a discount to the debt.

The carrying value of assets pledged for secured debt, including the Revolver, is $803.2 million.

Debt repayment requirements for the next five fiscal years are (in thousands):

Years ending March 31:
2018	$	3,495
2019		3,702
2020		3,217
2021		5,518
2022		316,485
Thereafter		216
Total	$	332,633

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

5. Leases

The Company had capital leases of $40.9 million as of March 31, 2017 and $5.3 million as of March 31, 2016.

Leased assets under capital leases consist of the following:

	2017		2016
Land		-		-
Buildings		5,313		5,313
Equipment		35,597		-
		40,910		5,313
Less accumulated amortization		1,706		89
		39,204		5,224

The Company has operating leases expiring at various dates through 2031. Operating leases generally provide for early purchase options one year prior to expiration.

The following is a schedule, by year, of minimum operating and capital lease payments due as of March 31, 2017 (in thousands):

Years ending March 31:	Operating		Capital
2018	$	39,794	$	6,307
2019		35,297		6,306
2020		30,448		6,307
2021		24,506		6,307
2022		16,166		6,307
2023-2031		14,136		14,046
Total minimum payment required	$	160,347	$	45,580
Less interest				6,547
Present value of minimum lease payments				39,033
Amount due within one year				4,839
Long-term capital lease obligation			$	34,194

Lease expense in fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $48.3 million, $51.4 million and $49.6 million, respectively.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

6. Income Taxes

The Company files a consolidated federal and various state income tax returns. The provision for income taxes is as follows:

	2017			2016				2015
	(In thousands)
Current:
Federal		$	395		$	24,579			$	4,380
State			495			1,953				453
			890			26,532				4,833
Deferred:
Federal			6,259			(689	)			(925	)
State			265			156				313
			6,524			(533	)			(612	)
Total income taxes		$	7,414		$	25,999			$	4,221

A reconciliation of the expected U.S. statutory rate to the effective rate follows:
	2017		2016		2015
Computed (expected tax rate)	35.0	%	35.0	%	35.0	%
State income taxes (net of federal tax benefit)	4.1		2.7		2.9
State tax credits	(2.5)		(0.9)		(8.7)
Federal credits	(1.8)		(0.4)		(2.4)
Manufacturer's deduction	(1.7)		(3.9)		(5.0)
(Reversal of) addition to uncertain tax positions	0.2		0.2		(1.0)
Other permanent differences not deductible	2.4		(0.2)		0.7
Change in valuation allowance	0.2		0.1		9.9
Other	1.1		(0.3)		(1.5)
Effective income tax rate	37.0	%	32.3	%	29.9	%

The effective tax rate was 37.0% in 2017 and 32.3% in 2016. Of the 4.7 percentage point increase in the effective tax rate for the year, the major contributor to this increase is the permanent differences not deductible which account for 2.6% of this increase. The other significant change is in the manufacturer's deduction, which is based on taxable income. As a result of significant bonus depreciation in the fourth quarter of 2017, the percentage of the deduction in relationship to book income is lower than last year by 2.2%.

The following is a summary of the significant components of the Company's deferred income tax assets and liabilities as of March 31:

	2017			2016
	(In thousands)
Deferred income tax assets:
Future tax credits	$	3,827		$	3,807
Employee benefits		3,119			3,174
Insurance		924			881
Other comprehensive loss		7,135			18,154
Interest		32			21
Prepaid revenue		444			571
Other		472			2,804
Severance		-			3
		15,953			29,415

Deferred income tax liabilities:
Property basis and depreciation difference		12,786			9,330
481(a) adjustment		429			880
Inventory valuation		1,032			1,247
Intangibles		213			235
Earnings from equity investment		193			69
Pension		3,590			2,896
		18,243			14,657
Valuation allowance - non-current		1,891			1,861
Net deferred income tax (liability) asset	$	(4,181	)	$	12,897

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Net non-current deferred income tax liabilities of $4.2 million as of March 31, 2017 and net non-current deferred income tax assets of $12.9 million as of March 31, 2016 are recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Company has State tax credit carryforwards amounting to $1.2 million (California, net of Federal impact), $0.9 million (New York, net of Federal impact), and $1.7 million (Wisconsin, net of Federal impact), which are available to reduce future taxes payable in each respective state through 2032 (Wisconsin), through 2032 (New York), and through 2027 (California). The Company has performed the required assessment regarding the realization of deferred tax assets and at March 31, 2017, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance amounting to $1.9 million, which relates primarily to tax credit carryforwards which management has concluded it is more likely than not they will not be realized in the ordinary course of operations. Although realization is not assured, management has concluded that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets for which a valuation allowance was determined to be unnecessary will be realized in the ordinary course of operations. The amount of net deferred tax assets considered realizable, however, could be reduced if actual future income or income taxes rates are lower than estimated or if there are differences in the timing or amount of future reversals of existing taxable or deductible temporary differences.

Current rules on the accounting for uncertainty on income taxes prescribe a minimum recognition threshold for a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return that is required to be met before being recognized in the financial statements. Those rules also provide guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. The Company classifies the liability for uncertain tax positions in other accrued expenses or other long-term liabilities depending on their expected settlement. The change in the liability for the years ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 consists of the following:

	2017			2016
	(In thousands)
Beginning balance	$	694		$	464

Tax positions related to current year:
Additions		67			291

Tax positions related to prior years:
Additions		-			241
Reductions		(46	)		(7	)
Settlements		-			(166	)
Lapses in statues of limitations		-			(129	)
Balance as of March 31,	$	715		$	694

Neither balances at March 31, 2017 nor 2016 include tax positions that are highly certain but for which there is uncertainty about the timing. Because of the impact of deferred tax accounting, other than interest and penalties, the disallowance of these positions would not impact the annual effective tax rate but would accelerate the payment of cash to the tax authority to an earlier period.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued on unrecognized tax benefits as well as interest received from favorable settlements within income tax expense. During the years ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company recognized approximately $0.1 million decrease and $0.1 million decrease, respectively, in interest and penalties. As of March 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company had approximately $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively, of interest and penalties accrued associated with unrecognized tax benefits.

Although management believes that an adequate provision has been made for uncertain tax positions, there is the possibility that the ultimate resolution could have an adverse effect on the earnings of the Company. Conversely, if resolved favorably in the future, the related provisions would be reduced, thus having a positive impact on earnings. It is anticipated that audit settlements will be reached during 2018 with federal and state taxing authorities that could have an impact on earnings. Due to the uncertainty of amounts and in accordance with its accounting policies, the Company has not recorded any potential impact of these settlements.

The federal income tax returns for years after March 31, 2013 are subject to examination.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

7. Stockholders' Equity

Preferred Stock — The Company has authorized three classes of preferred stock consisting of 200,000 shares of Six Percent (6%) Voting Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.25 ("6% Preferred"); 30,000 shares of Preferred Stock Without Par Value to be issued in series by the Board of Directors, none of which are currently designated or outstanding; and 8,200,000 shares of Preferred Stock with $.025 par value, Class A, to be issued in series by the Board of Directors ("Class A Preferred"). The Board of Directors has designated four series of Class A Preferred including 10% Cumulative Convertible Voting Preferred Stock—Series A ("Series A Preferred"); 10% Cumulative Convertible Voting Preferred Stock—Series B ("Series B Preferred"); Convertible Participating Preferred Stock; and Convertible Participating Preferred Stock, Series 2003.

The Convertible Participating Preferred Stock and Convertible Participating Preferred Stock, Series 2003 are convertible at the holders' option on a one-for-one basis into shares of Class A Common Stock, subject to antidilution adjustments. These series of preferred stock have the right to receive dividends and distributions at a rate equal to the amount of any dividends and distributions declared or made on the Class A Common Stock. No dividends were declared or paid on this preferred stock in fiscal 2017, 2016 or 2015. In addition, these series of preferred stock have certain distribution rights upon liquidation. Upon conversion, shares of these series of preferred stock become authorized but unissued shares of Class A Preferred and may be reissued as part of another series of Class A Preferred. As of March 31, 2017, the Company has an aggregate of 6,710,249 shares of non-designated Class A Preferred authorized for issuance.

The Convertible Participating Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference of $12 per share and a stated value of $11.931 per share. There were 89,251 shares outstanding as of March 31, 2017 after conversions of 1,575 shares into Class A Common Stock during the year. The Convertible Participating Preferred Stock, Series 2003 was issued as partial consideration of the purchase price in the Chiquita Processed Foods acquisition. The 967,742 shares issued in that 2003 acquisition were valued at $16.60 per share which represented the then market value of the Class A Common Stock into which the preferred shares were immediately convertible. This series has a liquidation preference of $15.50 per share and has 500 shares outstanding as of March 31, 2017.

There are 407,240 shares of Series A Preferred outstanding as of March 31, 2017 which are convertible into one share of Class A Common Stock and one share of Class B Common stock for every 20 shares of Series A Preferred. There are 400,000 shares of Series B Preferred outstanding as of March 31, 2017 which are convertible into one share of Class A Common Stock and one share of Class B Common Stock for every 30 shares of Series B preferred. There are 200,000 shares of 6% Preferred outstanding as of March 31, 2017 which are callable at their par value at any time at the option of the Company. The Company paid dividends of $20,000 on the Series A and Series B Preferred and $3,000 on the 6% Preferred during each of fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015.

Common Stock — The Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock have substantially identical rights with respect to any dividends or distributions of cash or property declared on shares of common stock, and rank equally as to the right to receive proceeds on liquidation or dissolution of the Company after payment of the Company's indebtedness and liquidation right to the holders of preferred shares. However, holders of Class B Common Stock retain a full vote per share, whereas the holders of Class A Common Stock have voting rights of 1/20th of one vote per share on all matters as to which shareholders of the Company are entitled to vote. During 2017, there were no shares of Class B Common Stock issued in lieu of cash compensation under the Company's Profit Sharing Bonus Plan.

Unissued shares of common stock reserved for conversion privileges of designated non-participating preferred stock were 33,695 of both Class A and Class B as of March 31, 2017 and 2016. Additionally, there were 89,751 and 91,326 shares of Class A reserved for conversion of the Participating Preferred Stock as of March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Treasury Stock — During 2017, the Company repurchased $2.4 million, or 73,400 shares of its Class A Common Stock and $0.4 million, or 9,042 shares of its Class B Common Stock. As of March 31, 2017, there is a total of $66.5 million, or 2,300,146 shares, of repurchased stock. These shares are not considered outstanding. The Company contributed $2.0 million or 63,846 treasury shares for the 401(k) match in 2017 as described in Note 8, Retirement Plans.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

8. Retirement Plans

The Company has a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan (the "Plan") covering all employees who meet certain age-entry requirements and work a stated minimum number of hours per year. Annual contributions are made to the Plan sufficient to satisfy legal funding requirements.

The following tables provide a reconciliation of the changes in the Plan's benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets over the two-year period ended March 31, 2017 and a statement of the unfunded status as of March 31, 2017 and 2016:

	2017			2016
	(In thousands)
Change in Benefit Obligation

Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	214,036		$	212,908
Service cost		8,375			10,502
Interest cost		7,633			8,902
Plan amendments		92			-
Actuarial (gain) loss		(3,201	)		(11,340	)
Benefit payments and expenses		(10,913	)		(6,936	)
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	216,022		$	214,036

Change in Plan Assets

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	176,238		$	157,948
Actual gain on plan assets		34,304			2,126
Employer contributions		8,200			23,100
Benefit payments and expenses		(10,913	)		(6,936	)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	207,829		$	176,238

Unfunded Status	$	(8,193	)	$	(37,798	)

The unfunded status decreased by $29.6 million during 2017 reflecting the actual fair value of plan assets and the projected benefit obligation as of March 31, 2017. This unfunded status reduction was recognized via the actual gain on plan assets and the decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss of $16.9 million after the income tax benefit of $10.8 million. The increase in projected benefit obligation was a function of using the full yield curve approach, a decrease in the discount rate from 4.36% to 4.35% and the change to using an updated mortality table. During 2016, the Company converted to the 2006 base rates from the RP-2014 mortality study with the Blue Collar adjustment, with a generational projection of future mortality improvements from 2006 using Scale MP-2016 for calculating the pension obligation in 2017 and the related pension expense in 2018. Effective March 31, 2016, the Company elected to change the approach used to calculate the service and interest cost components of the net periodic benefit cost for its pension and postretirement benefit plans to provide a more precise measurement of service and interest costs. Historically the Company calculated the service and interest cost components utilizing a single weighted-average discount rate derived from the yield curve used to measure the benefit obligation at the beginning of the period. Now the new estimate utilizes a full yield curve approach in the estimation of these components by applying the specific spot rates along the yield curve used in determination of the benefit obligation to their underlying projected cash flows. The change does not affect the measurement of pension and postretirement obligations and is accounted for as a change in accounting estimate, which is applied prospectively.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

	2017			2016
	(In thousands)
Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other
Comprehensive Pre-Tax Loss

Prior service cost	$	(826	)	$	(843	)
Net loss		(17,580	)		(45,248	)
Accumulated other comprehensive pre-tax loss	$	(18,406	)	$	(46,091	)

	Pension and
	post retirement plan
	adjustments, net
	of tax
	(In thousands)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Balance at March 31, 2016		$	(28,396	)

Other comprehensive gain before reclassifications			17,221
Reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss			-
Net current period other comprehensive loss			17,221
Balance at March 31, 2017		$	(11,175	)


The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit cost for the Plan for fiscal years 2017, 2016, and 2015:

	2017				2016				2015
	(In thousands)
Service cost		$	8,375			$	10,502		$	8,515
Interest cost			7,633				8,902			8,236
Expected return on plan assets			(12,696	)			(11,685	)		(11,360	)
Amortization of net loss			2,858				3,854			350
Prior service cost			109				109			-
Net periodic benefit cost		$	6,279			$	11,682		$	5,741

The Plan's accumulated benefit obligation was $199.2 million at March 31, 2017, and $195.3 million at March 31, 2016.

Prior service costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period of active participants. Gains and losses in excess of 10% of the greater of the benefit obligation and the market-related value of assets are amortized over the average remaining service period of active participants.

The assumptions used to measure the Company's benefit obligation and pension expense are shown in the following table:

	2017			2016

Weighted Average Assumptions for Balance Sheet Liability at End of Year:

Discount rate - projected benefit obligation		4.35	%		4.36	%
Expected return on plan assets		7.25	%		7.25	%
Rate of compensation increase		3.00	%		3.00	%

Weighted Average Assumptions for Benefit Cost at Beginning of Year:

Discount rate - pension expense		4.34	%		4.15	%
Discount rate - service cost		4.67	%		4.15	%
Discount rate - interest cost		3.62	%		4.15	%
Expected return on plan assets		7.25	%		7.25	%
Rate of compensation increase		3.00	%		3.00	%

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The Company's plan assets consist of the following:


	Target			Percentage of Plan
	Allocation			Assets at March 31,
	2018			2017			2016

Plan Assets

Equity securities		99	%		99	%		99	%
Debt securities		-			-			-
Real estate		-			-			-
Cash		1			1			1
Total		100	%		100	%		100	%

All securities, which are valued at fair market value, are considered to be level 1, due to the active public market.

	2017		2016
	Market Value		Market Value
	(In thousands)
Assets by Industry Type

Asset Category
Cash and cash equivalents:
Money market funds	$	1,585	$	1,497
Total cash and cash equivalents		1,585		1,497
Common equity securities:
Materials		10,952		9,379
Industrials		25,383		30,355
Telecommunication services		18,060		9,325
Consumer staples		43,641		33,048
Energy		16,110		14,658
Financials		33,818		34,891
Health Care		17,587		10,538
Information technology		13,887		9,681
Utilities		26,806		22,866
Total common equity securities		206,244		174,741
Total assets	$	207,829	$	176,238

Expected Return on Plan Assets

The expected long-term rate of return on Plan assets is 7.25%. The Company expects 7.25% to fall within the 40-to-50 percentile range of returns on investment portfolios with asset diversification similar to that of the Plan's target asset allocation.

Investment Policy and Strategy

The Company maintains an investment policy designed to achieve a long-term rate of return, including investment income through dividends and equity appreciation, sufficient to meet the actuarial requirements of the Plan. The Company seeks to accomplish its return objectives by prudently investing in a diversified portfolio of public company equities with broad industry representation seeking to provide long-term growth consistent with the performance of relevant market indices, as well as maintain an adequate level of liquidity for pension distributions as they fall due. The strategy of being fully invested in equities has historically provided greater rates of return over extended periods of time. The Company's gain on plan assets during 2017 was 19.5% as compared to the S&P 500 unaudited loss (including dividends) of 19.7%. Plan assets include Company common stock with a fair market value of $18.4 million as of March 31, 2017 and $18.4 million as of March 31, 2016.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Cash Flows

Expected contributions for fiscal year ending March 31, 2018 (in thousands):

Expected Employer Contributions $ -
Expected Employee Contributions -

Estimated future benefit payments reflecting expected future
service for the fiscal years ending March 31 (in thousands):

2018	$	7,784
2019		8,409
2020		8,995
2021		9,682
2022		10,295
2023-2027		61,816

401(k) Plans

The Company also has employees' savings 401(k) plans covering all employees who meet certain age-entry requirements and work a stated minimum number of hours per year. Participants may make contributions up to the legal limit. The Company's matching contributions are discretionary. Costs charged to operations for the Company's matching contributions amounted to $1.9 million, $1.8 million, and $2.3 million in fiscal 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. In fiscal 2017 and 2016, the matching contribution was entirely treasury stock. This stock portion of the matching contribution is valued at current market value while the treasury stock is valued at cost.

Multi-employer Plan

The Company contributes to the Teamsters California State Council of Cannery and Food Processing Unions, International Brotherhood of Teamsters Pension Fund (Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Plan# 91-6145047/001) ("Teamsters Plan") under the terms of a collective-bargaining agreement with some of its Modesto, California employees. The term of the current collective bargaining agreement is June 1, 2015 through June 30, 2018.

For the fiscal years ended March 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, contributions to the Teamsters Plan were $2.3 million, $2.5 million and $2.4 million, respectively. The contributions to this plan are paid monthly based upon the number of hours worked by covered employees. They represent less than 5% of the total contributions received by this plan during the most recent plan year.

The risks of participating in multi-employer plans are different from single-employer plans in the following aspects: (a) assets contributed to a multi-employer plan by one employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers, (b) if a participating employer stops contributing to the multi-employer plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be borne by the remaining participating employers and (c) if the Company chooses to stop participating in the plan, the Company may be required to pay a withdrawal liability based on the underfunded status of the plan.

The Teamsters Plan received a Pension Protection Act "green" zone status for the plan year beginning January 1, 2016. The zone status is based on information the Company received from the plan and is certified by the plan's actuary. Among other factors, plans in the green zone are at least 80 percent funded.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

9. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amount and estimated fair values of the Company's debt are summarized as follows:

	2017				2016
	Carrying		Estimated		Carrying		Estimated
	Amount		Fair Value		Amount		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Long-term debt, including
current portion	$	332,633	$	332,926	$	315,539	$	315,478

Capital leases, including
current portion	$	39,033	$	37,505	$	5,231	$	5,076

The estimated fair value for long-term debt and capital leases is determined by the quoted market prices for similar debt (comparable to the Company's financial strength) or current rates offered to the Company for debt with the same maturities which is Level 2 from the fair value hierarchy. Since quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets are not available (Level 1), the Company makes use of observable market based inputs to calculate fair value, which is Level 2.

10. Inventories

Effective December 30, 2007 (beginning of 4th quarter of Fiscal Year 2008), the Company changed its inventory valuation method from the lower of cost, determined under the FIFO method, or market to the lower of cost, determined under the LIFO method, or market. In the high inflation environment that the Company was experiencing, the Company believed that the LIFO inventory method was preferable over the FIFO method because it better compares the cost of current production to current revenue. The effect of LIFO was to increase net earnings by $3.9 million in 2017; to increase net earnings by $16.1 million in 2016, and reduce net earnings by $6.9 million in 2015, compared to what would have been reported using the FIFO inventory method. The increase in earnings per share was $0.40 ($0.40 diluted) in 2017; increase earnings per share was $1.62 ($1.60 diluted) in 2016, and reduce earnings per share was $0.64 ($0.63 diluted) in 2015. There was no LIFO liquidations during the three-year period ended March 31, 2017. The inventories by category and the impact of using the LIFO method are shown in the following table:

	2017		2016		2015
	(In thousands)

Finished products	$	534,995	$	467,337	$	414,154
In process		35,982		25,855		22,651
Raw materials and supplies		160,333		213,790		199,674
		731,310		706,982		636,479
Less excess of FIFO cost over LIFO cost		133,254		139,275		164,067
Total inventories	$	598,056	$	567,707	$	472,412

11. Other Operating Income and Expense

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

12. Segment Information

The Company manages its business on the basis of two reportable segments — the primary segment is the packaging and sale of fruits and vegetables and secondarily, the packaging and sale of snack products and finally, other products. The Company markets its product almost entirely in the United States. Export sales represented 7.7%, 8.5%, and 9.0% of total sales in 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. In 2017, 2016, and 2015, the sale of Green Giant vegetables accounted for 10%, 11%, and 13% of net sales, respectively. "Other" in the table below represents activity related to can sales, trucking, seed sales, and flight operations.

	Fruit and
	Vegetable		Snack		Other		Total
	(In thousands)
2017:
Net sales	$	1,210,170	$	12,430	$	23,081	$	1,245,681
Operating income		26,543		945		1,633		29,121
Interest expense, net		9,518		17		137		9,672
Income tax expense		6,475		355		584		7,414
Identifiable assets		940,300		2,833		2,886		946,019
Capital expenditures		30,969		225		1,318		32,512
Depreciation and amortization		23,525		346		953		24,824

2016:
Net sales	$	1,239,179	$	12,336	$	23,845	$	1,275,360
Operating income		87,120		1,164		265		88,549
Interest expense, net		7,923		18		103		8,044
Income tax expense		25,551		372		76		25,999
Identifiable assets		888,968		2,697		3,662		895,327
Capital expenditures		9,232		52		682		9,966
Depreciation and amortization		20,438		351		948		21,737

2015:
Net sales	$	1,246,115	$	11,667	$	28,568	$	1,286,350
Operating income		18,865		779		710		20,354
Interest expense, net		6,778		12		72		6,862
Income tax expense		3,775		225		221		4,221
Identifiable assets		798,640		3,235		4,573		806,448
Capital expenditures		22,177		157		1,400		23,734
Depreciation and amortization		20,445		367		1,022		21,834

The fruit and vegetable segment, consisting of Green Giant, canned fruit and vegetables and frozen products, represented 99%, 99% and 99% of assets and 97%, 100% and 102% of pre-tax earnings in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Classes of similar products/services:	2017		2016		2015
	(In thousands)
Net Sales:
Green Giant *	$	119,812	$	144,310	$	161,993
Canned vegetables		705,297		746,501		754,556
Frozen		98,597		94,710		94,648
Fruit		286,464		253,658		234,918
Snack		12,430		12,336		11,667
Other		23,081		23,845		28,568
Total	$	1,245,681	$	1,275,360	$	1,286,350

* Green Giant includes canned and frozen vegetables exclusively for B&G Foods.

13. Legal Proceedings and Other Contingencies

In the ordinary course of its business, the Company is made a party to certain legal proceedings seeking monetary damages, including proceedings involving product liability claims, workers' compensation along with other employee claims, tort and other general liability claims, for which it carries insurance, as well as patent infringement and related litigation. The Company is in a highly regulated industry and is also periodically involved in government actions for regulatory violations and other matters surrounding the manufacturing of its products, including, but not limited to, environmental, employee, and product safety issues. While it is not feasible to predict or determine the ultimate outcome of these matters, the Company does not believe that an adverse decision in any of these legal proceedings would have a material adverse impact on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statement

14. Plant Restructuring

During 2016, the Company recorded a restructuring charge of $10.3 million related to the closing of a plant in the Northwest of which $0.2 million was related to severance cost, $5.1 million was related to asset impairments (contra fixed assets), and $5.1 million was related to other costs ($3.6 related to operating lease costs). During 2016, the Company reduced the costs of the plant closing in the Midwest, started in 2015, by $0.1 million, mostly related to severance costs. During 2017, the Company increased the costs related to the closing of the plant in the Northwest, started in 2016, by $0.5 million, mostly related to operating equipment move costs partially offset by impairment credits. In addition, in 2017 the Company incurred $1.3 million related to severance costs for a plant in the West.

These charges are included under Plant Restructuring in the Consolidated Statements of Net Earnings. Severance Payable and Other Costs Payable are included in Other Accrued Expenses on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following table summarizes the restructuring and related asset impairment charges recorded and the accruals established during 2015, 2016 and 2017:

				Long-Lived			Other
	Severance			Asset			Costs
	Payable			Impairment			Payable			Total
	(In thousands)

Balance March 31, 2014	$	10		$	-		$	-		$	10
Charge to expense		842			264			270			1,376
Cash payments/write offs		(137	)		-			-			(137	)
Balance March 31, 2015		715			264			270			1,249
Charge to expense		162			5,065			5,075			10,302
Cash payments/write offs		(877	)		(354	)		(1,448	)		(2,679	)
Balance March 31, 2016		-			4,975			3,897			8,872
Charge to expense		1,578			(384	)		635			1,829
Cash payments/write offs		(1,541	)		182			(4,227	)		(5,586	)
Balance March 31, 2017	$	37		$	4,773		$	305		$	5,115

15. Related Party Transactions

A small percentage (less than 1% in fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015) of vegetables supplied to the Company's New York packaging plants are grown by a director of Seneca Foods Corporation, which supplied the Company approximately $1.0 million, $1.0 million, and $0.8 million pursuant to a raw vegetable grower contract in fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Chairman of the Audit Committee reviewed the relationship and determined that the contract was negotiated at arm's length and on no more favorable terms than to other growers in the marketplace.

During the years ended March 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company made charitable contributions to a related party foundation in the amount of approximately $1.3 million, $2.3 million and $2.2 million, respectively. The Foundation is a nonprofit entity that supports charitable activities by making grants to unrelated organizations or institutions. This Foundation is managed by current employees of the Company.

16. Subsequent Event

On April 1, 2017, the Company and David J. Truitt entered into a Share Purchase agreement to buy David's 50% ownership interest in Truitt Bros., Inc. ("TBI"). With this transaction, the Company now owns 100% of TBI which it retains as a wholly owned subsidiary and will be consolidated in all future reporting periods. The Company had owned a 50% interest in TBI for the past three years which was recorded as an equity investment.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Board of Directors and Stockholders
Seneca Foods Corporation
Marion, New York

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Seneca Foods Corporation as of March 31, 2017 and 2016 and the related consolidated statements of net earnings, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended March 31, 2017. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Seneca Foods Corporation at March 31, 2017 and 2016, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended March 31, 2017 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Seneca Foods Corporation's internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and our report dated May 25, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ BDO USA, LLP
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

May 25, 2017

Management's Annual Report on Internal Control
Over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over the Company's financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act). Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect all misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Our management assessed the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2017. In making this assessment, our management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013). Based on our assessment, management believes that, as of March 31, 2017, our internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.

The Company's independent registered public accountant has issued its report on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Their report appears on the next page.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Board of Directors and Stockholders

Seneca Foods Corporation

Marion, New York

We have audited Seneca Foods Corporation's internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Item 9A of Form 10-K, Management's Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2017, based on the COSO criteria.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Standards Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Seneca Foods Corporation as of March 31, 2017 and 2016, and the related consolidated statements of net earnings, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended March 31, 2017 and our report dated May 25, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ BDO USA, LLP
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

May 25, 2017

Shareholder Information and Quarterly Results

The Company's common stock is traded on The NASDAQ Global Stock Market. The 7.9 million Class A outstanding shares and 1.9 million Class B outstanding shares are owned by 172 and 182 shareholders of record, respectively. The high and low closing prices of the Company's common stock during each quarter of the past two years are shown below:

Class A:	2017				2016
Quarter	High		Low		High		Low
First	$	36.50	$	29.32	$	31.63	$	27.60
Second		40.88		27.03		31.09		26.00
Third		42.65		27.90		31.00		25.85
Fourth		41.52		34.30		35.78		26.90

Class B:	2017				2016
Quarter	High		Low		High		Low
First	$	38.50	$	32.89	$	34.93	$	32.00
Second		46.00		36.00		43.85		32.00
Third		44.70		33.00		36.00		32.00
Fourth		44.00		38.20		44.88		32.00

Common Stock Performance Graph

The graph below shows the cumulative, five year total return for the Company's Common Stock compared with the NASDAQ Market Total U.S. Return Index (which includes the Company) and a peer group of companies (described below).

Performance data assumes that $100.00 was invested on March 31, 2012, in the Company's Class A Common Stock, the NASDAQ Market, and the peer group. The data assumes the reinvestment of all cash dividends and the cash value of other distributions. Stock price performance shown in the graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance. The companies in the peer group are B&G Foods Inc., Fresh Del Monte, Hanover Foods Corporation, John B. Sanfilippo & Son Inc., Treehouse Foods, Inc. and Hain Celestial Group Inc. The peer group members are in related food businesses, but not necessarily direct competitors in canning.

Shareholder Information and Quarterly Results

As of March 31, 2017, the most restrictive credit agreement limitation on the Company's payment of dividends, to holders of Class A or Class B Common Stock is an annual total limitation of $50,000, reduced by aggregate annual dividend payments totaling $23,000 that the Company presently pays on two outstanding classes of preferred stock. Payment of dividends to common stockholders is made at the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors and depends, among other factors, on earnings; capital requirements; and the operating and financial condition of the Company. The Company has not declared or paid a common dividend in many years.

Quarterly Results

The following is a summary of the unaudited interim results of operations by quarter:

	First			Second		Third		Fourth
	(In thousands, except per share data)
Year ended March 31, 2017:
Net sales	$	252,614		$	357,247	$	369,705	$	266,115
Gross margin		19,975			30,212		37,475		18,721
Net (loss) earnings		(62	)		6,144		8,181		(1,650	)
Basic earnings per common share		(0.01	)		0.62		0.83		(0.17	)
Diluted earnings per common share		(0.01	)		0.62		0.82		(0.17	)

Year ended March 31, 2016:
Net sales	$	226,258		$	313,202	$	432,198	$	303,702
Gross margin		20,899			29,073		53,382		44,041
Net earnings		2,968			6,522		31,123		13,845
Basic earnings per common share		0.30			0.65		3.12		1.39
Diluted earnings per common share		0.29			0.65		3.10		1.38

Earnings for the fourth quarter have historically reflected adjustments of previously estimated raw material cost and production levels. Due to the dependence on the fruit and vegetable yields of the Company's food packaging, interim costing must be estimated.

Attached files

Seneca Foods Corp Reports

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