Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

 

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008

Or

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission File Number: 1-7183      

TEJON RANCH CO.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   77-0196136

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

P.O. Box 1000, Lebec, California 93243

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (661) 248-3000

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

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

 

Large accelerated filer  x

  

Accelerated filer  ¨

  

Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Smaller reporting company  ¨

     

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

The number of the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock on November 10, 2008 was 16,986,020.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TEJON RANCH CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX

 

          Page No.

PART I.

  

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

Item 1.

  

Financial Statements

  
  

Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 and September 30, 2007

   1
  

Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007

   2
  

Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 and September 30, 2007

   3
  

Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008, and Year Ended December 31, 2007

   4
  

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

   5

Item 2.

  

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

   16

Item 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   27

Item 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

   29

PART II.

  

OTHER INFORMATION

  

Item 1.

  

Legal Proceedings

   30

Item 1A.

  

Risk Factors

   30

Item 2.

  

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

   30

Item 3.

  

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

   30

Item 4.

  

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

   30

Item 5.

  

Other Information

   30

Item 6.

  

Exhibits

   30

SIGNATURES

  


Table of Contents

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

TEJON RANCH CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30
    Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
     2008    2007     2008     2007  

Revenues:

         

Real estate - commercial/industrial

   $ 8,046    $ 4,165     $ 21,358     $ 12,413  

Farming

     6,436      6,796       8,391       9,950  
                               

Total revenues

     14,482      10,961       29,749       22,363  

Costs and Expenses:

         

Real estate - commercial/industrial

     2,823      3,289       10,535       8,941  

Real estate - resort/residential

     1,458      1,008       3,228       2,486  

Farming

     4,794      4,686       6,919       6,882  

Corporate expenses

     1,060      2,081       6,394       6,214  
                               

Total expenses

     10,135      11,064       27,076       24,523  
                               

Operating income (loss)

     4,347      (103 )     2,673       (2,160 )

Other Income (Expense):

         

Investment income

     358      908       1,534       2,596  

Interest expense

     —        —         (70 )     (70 )

Other income

     83      15       331       30  
                               

Total other income

     441      923       1,795       2,556  

Income from operations before equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures

     4,788      820       4,468       396  

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures, net

     834      9,454       1,522       10,119  
                               

Income before income tax expense

     5,622      10,274       5,990       10,515  

Income tax expense

     1,738      4,070       1,855       4,167  
                               

Net income

   $ 3,884    $ 6,204     $ 4,135     $ 6,348  
                               

Net income per share, basic

   $ 0.23    $ 0.37     $ 0.24     $ 0.38  
                               

Net income per share, diluted

   $ 0.22    $ 0.35     $ 0.24     $ 0.36  
                               

See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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TEJON RANCH CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

 

     September 30,
2008
    December 31,
2007
 

ASSETS

    

Current Assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,248     $ 9,454  

Marketable securities - available for sale

     55,288       67,559  

Accounts receivable

     6,339       9,352  

Inventories

    

Water

     7,042       1,871  

Farming

     4,158       2,137  

Other

     38       121  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     10,911       9,059  
                

Total current assets

     85,024       99,553  

Property and equipment - net

     64,957       50,357  

Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures

     29,751       24,464  

Other assets

    

Long term water contracts

     6,155       250  

Other

     922       879  
                

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 186,809     $ 175,503  
                

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Current Liabilities:

    

Trade accounts payable

   $ 2,537     $ 1,511  

Other accrued liabilities

     532       656  

Deferred income

     896       572  

Income tax payable

     1,099       1,359  

Short-term debt

     2,750       —    

Current portion of long-term debt

     30       28  
                

Total current liabilities

     7,844       4,126  

Long-term debt, less current portion

     366       389  

Long-term deferred gains

     1,688       1,688  

Other liabilities

     3,387       2,954  

Pension liability

     1,292       1,292  
                

Total liabilities

     14,577       10,449  

Commitments and contingencies

    

Stockholders’ Equity:

    

Common stock

     8,492       8,450  

Additional paid-in capital

     122,584       118,370  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (3,284 )     (2,071 )

Retained earnings

     44,440       40,305  
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     172,232       165,054  
                

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

   $ 186,809     $ 175,503  
                

Balance sheet at December 31, 2007 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date.

See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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TEJON RANCH CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

 

     Nine Months
Ended September 30
 
     2008     2007  

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

    

Net income

   $ 4,135     $ 6,348  

Items not affecting cash:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     1,948       1,657  

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures, net

     (1,522 )     (10,119 )

Non-cash retirement plan expense

     654       735  

Deferred compensation - stock grants/options

     2,786       3,683  

Deferred income taxes

     365       (1,172 )

Gain from the sale of real estate

     (5,436 )     (712 )

Non-cash straight line income

     (189 )     (506 )

Loss on sale of marketable securities

     229       —    

Other than temporary loss on fair market value of investment

     304       —    

Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation

     (244 )     (343 )

Distribution of earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures

     —         7,801  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Receivables, inventories and other assets, net

     (4,809 )     (1,374 )

Current liabilities, net

     966       5,572  
                

NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

     (813 )     11,570  

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

    

Maturities and sales of marketable securities

     32,462       11,912  

Funds invested in marketable securities

     (22,995 )     (13,228 )

Property and equipment expenditures

     (17,603 )     (8,225 )

Proceeds from sale of real estate

     6,589       —    

Investment in long-term water contracts

     (6,006 )     —    

Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures

     (3,829 )     (3,504 )

Distribution of equity from unconsolidated joint ventures

     55       —    

Other

     (265 )     (114 )
                

NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES

     (11,592 )     (13,159 )

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

    

Borrowings of short-term debt

     7,750       —    

Repayments of short-term debt

     (5,000 )     —    

Repayments of long-term debt

     (21 )     (20 )

Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation

     244       343  

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     1,226       2,144  
                

NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES

     4,199       2,467  

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     (8,206 )     878  

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD

     9,454       4,662  
                

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD

   $ 1,248     $ 5,540  
                

See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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TEJON RANCH CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In thousands, except shares outstanding)

 

     Common
Stock Shares
Outstanding
   Common
Stock
   Additional
Paid-In
Capital
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Retained
Earnings
   Total  

Balance at January 1, 2007

   16,776,049    $ 8,388    $ 110,558     $ (2,888 )   $ 32,972    $ 149,030  

Net income

   —        —        —         —         7,333      7,333  

Changes in unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities, net of taxes of $457

   —        —        —         692       —        692  

Benefit plan adjustment net of taxes $44

   —        —        —         67       —        67  

SERP liability adjustment, net of taxes of $79

   —        —        —         120       —        120  

Equity in other comprehensive income of unconsolidated joint venture, net of taxes of $41

   —        —        —         (62 )     —        (62 )
                     

Comprehensive income

                  8,150  
                     

Exercise of stock options and related tax benefit of $343

   101,539      51      2,436       —         —        2,487  

Restricted stock issuance

   22,394      11      (11 )     —         —        —    

Stock compensation

   —        —        5,387       —         —        5,387  
                                           

Balance at December 31, 2007

   16,899,982      8,450      118,370       (2,071 )     40,305      165,054  

Net income

   —        —        —         —         4,135      4,135  

Changes in unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities, net of taxes of $906

   —        —        —         (1,209 )     —        (1,209 )

Equity in other comprehensive income of unconsolidated joint venture, net of taxes of $4

   —        —        —         (4 )     —        (4 )
                     

Comprehensive income

                  2,922  
                     

Exercise of stock options and related tax benefit of $244

   56,064      28      1,442       —         —        1,470  

Restricted stock issuance

   28,665      14      (14 )     —         —        —    

Stock compensation

   —        —        2,786       —         —        2,786  
                                           

Balance at September 30, 2008

   16,984,711    $ 8,492    $ 122,584     $ (3,284 )   $ 44,440    $ 172,232  
                                           

See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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TEJON RANCH CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2008

NOTE A – BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The summarized information of Tejon Ranch Co. and its Subsidiaries, or the Company, furnished pursuant to the instructions to Part I of Form 10-Q is unaudited and reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of the Company’s management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim period. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.

The Company has identified three reportable segments: commercial/industrial real estate development and services, or commercial/industrial real estate, resort/residential real estate development, and farming. Information for the Company’s reported segments is presented in its consolidated condensed statements of operations. The Company’s reporting segments follow the same accounting policies used for the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Management evaluates a segment’s performance based upon a number of factors including pretax results.

The results of the period reported herein are not indicative of the results to be expected for the full year due to the seasonal nature of the Company’s agricultural activities and timing of real estate sales and leasing activities. Historically, the Company’s largest percentages of farming revenues are recognized during the third and fourth quarters of the year.

For further information and a summary of significant accounting policies, refer to the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

NOTE B – NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE

Basic net income or loss per share is based upon the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share is based upon the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding and the weighted average number of shares outstanding assuming the issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options and vesting of stock grants per Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement No. 128, “Earnings per Share.”

 

     Three months ended
September 30
   Nine months ended
September 30
     2008    2007    2008    2007

Weighted average number of shares outstanding:

           

Common stock

   16,959,133    16,899,593    16,929,870    16,844,049

Commons stock equivalents - stock options, grants

   597,359    608,717    666,865    664,962
                   

Diluted shares outstanding

   17,556,492    17,508,310    17,596,735    17,509,011
                   

 

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NOTE C – MARKETABLE SECURITIES

FASB Statement No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities,” requires that an enterprise classify all debt securities as either held-to-maturity, trading or available-for-sale. The Company has elected to classify its securities as available-for-sale and therefore is required to adjust securities to fair value at each reporting date.

The following is a summary of available-for-sale securities at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007:

 

     September 30, 2008    December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

   Cost    Estimated
Fair Value
   Cost    Estimated
Fair Value

Marketable Securities:

           

U.S. Treasury and agency notes

           

with unrecognized losses for less than 12 months

   $ 3,857    $ 3,838    $ 922    $ 921

with unrecognized losses for 12 months or more

     20      12      8,061      8,036

with unrecognized gains

     20,608      20,722      32,155      32,311
                           

Total U.S. Treasury and agency notes

     24,485      24,572      41,138      41,268

Corporate notes

           

with unrecognized losses for less than 12 months

     15,565      14,149      3,757      3,677

with unrecognized losses for 12 months or more

     13,188      12,009      13,298      13,062

with unrecognized gains

     2,425      2,449      9,481      9,552
                           

Total Corporate notes

     31,178      28,607      26,536      26,291

Municipal notes

           

with unrecognized losses for less than 12 months

     1,884      1,834      —        —  

with unrecognized gains

     275      275      —        —  
                           

Total Municipal notes

     2,159      2,109      —        —  
                           
   $ 57,822    $ 55,288    $ 67,674    $ 67,559
                           

We evaluate our securities for impairment based on the specific facts and circumstances surrounding each security valued below cost. Factors considered include the length of time the securities have been valued below cost, the financial condition of the issuer, the severity of the decline and our ability and intent to hold the security to maturity. At September 30, 2008 the cost of investment securities exceeded the fair market value of investment securities by $2,534,000. Of this decline in fair value, $304,000 is related to unrealized losses on securities that are deemed to be other than temporary. This is a group of five securities with total par value of $725,000. These securities have been downgraded to BBB and have maturity periods exceeding one year. Due to the downgrade, the general condition of the financial services and insurance industry, and the length of time that these securities may take to recover their full value, we have deemed these securities to be other than temporarily impaired. This fair value adjustment of $304,000 is reflected in our statement of operations. The balance of the decline in fair value is deemed to be a temporary decline and is reflected as an adjustment to other comprehensive income.

 

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As of September 30, 2008, the adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in consolidated stockholders’ equity reflects a decrease in the market value of available-for-sale securities of $1,209,000, which is net of a tax benefit of $906,000. As of September 30, 2008, the Company’s gross unrealized holding gains equal $138,000 and gross unrealized holding losses equal $2,672,000. Through the nine months ending September 30, 2008, the Company sold $2,600,000 of securities for cash funding needs. The sale of these securities resulted in a net loss of $229,000. During the quarter ending September 30, 2008, the Company had no unrealized gains or losses that were reclassified to net income from accumulated other comprehensive income related to the maturity of investments.

The following table summarizes the maturities, at par, of marketable securities by year:

 

At September 30, 2008

   < 1 year    1-2 years    2-3 years    3-4 years    4-5 years    5-6 years    Total

U.S. Treasury and agency notes

   $ 6,065    $ 2,680    $ 6,010    $ 2,080    $ 5,442    $ 2,346    $ 24,623

Corporate notes

     9,160      3,743      2,866      7,826      7,101      —        30,696

Municipal notes

     275      —        265      350      1,265      —        2,155
                                                
   $ 15,500    $ 6,423    $ 9,141    $ 10,256    $ 13,808    $ 2,346    $ 57,474
                                                

At December 31, 2007

   < 1 year    1-2 years    2-3 years    3-4 years    4-5 years    5-6 years    Total

U.S. Treasury and agency notes

   $ 5,519    $ 19,192    $ 4,468    $ 5,596    $ 3,390    $ 2,897    $ 41,062
                                                

Corporate notes

     4,479      10,422      2,231      5,865      3,269      —        26,266
                                                
   $ 9,998    $ 29,614    $ 6,699    $ 11,461    $ 6,659    $ 2,897    $ 67,328
                                                

All of our securities are valued using level one indicators, which are quoted market prices for the same or equivalent securities. The Company’s investments in corporate notes are with companies that have an investment grade rating from Standard & Poor’s.

NOTE D – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Tejon Ranch Public Facilities Financing Authority, or TRPFFA, a joint powers authority formed by Kern County and the Tejon-Castac Water District, formed a Community Facilities District, or CFD, that has placed liens on 1,728 acres of the Company’s land. These liens are to secure payment of special taxes related to $30,000,000 of bond debt sold by the CFD. The Company is obligated, as a landowner in the district, to pay its share of the special taxes assessed each year. The 1,728 acres of land includes the Tejon Industrial Complex, or TIC development. Proceeds from the sale of CFD bonds are used to reimburse the Company for public infrastructure related to the TIC development. There have been no reimbursements thus far during 2008. During 2007, the Company paid approximately $940,000 in special taxes related to the CFD. As development continues to occur at TIC, new owners of land and new lease tenants, through triple net leases, will bear an increasing portion of the assessed special tax. As this occurs, the Company’s special tax obligation will be reduced. It is expected that the Company will have special tax payments in 2008 of approximately $440,000, but this could change in the future based on the amount of bonds outstanding within the CFD and the amount of taxes paid by others. As and if development and values increase around TIC, the Company may be able to have approximately 1,400 acres released from the CFD lien.

The Company leases land to National Cement Company of California Inc., or National, for the purpose of manufacturing Portland cement from limestone deposits on the leased acreage. The California Regional Water Quality Control Board, or RWQCB, for the Lahontan Region has issued several orders with respect to environmental conditions on the property currently leased to National:

 

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  1. Groundwater plume of chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds. This order directs the Company’s former tenant Lafarge Corporation, or Lafarge, the current tenant National, and the Company to, among other things, clean up groundwater contamination on the leased property. In 2003 Lafarge and National installed a groundwater pump-and-treat system to clean up the groundwater. The Company is advised that Lafarge and National continue to operate the cleanup system.

 

  2. Cement kiln dust. National and Lafarge have consolidated, closed and capped cement kiln dust piles located on land leased from the Company. An order of the RWQCB directs National, Lafarge and the Company to maintain and monitor the effectiveness of the cap. Maintenance of the cap and groundwater monitoring remain as on-going activities.

 

  3. Former industrial waste landfills. This order requires Lafarge, National and the Company to complete the cleanup of groundwater associated with the former industrial waste landfills. The Company is advised that the cleanup is complete. Lafarge continues to monitor the groundwater.

 

  4. Diesel fuel. An order of the RWQCB directs Lafarge, National and the Company to clean up contamination from a diesel fuel tank and pipeline. The Company is advised that Lafarge and National have substantially completed their groundwater cleanup and that groundwater monitoring remains an on-going activity.

To date, the Company is not aware of any failure by Lafarge or National to comply with the orders or informal requests of the RWQCB. RWQCB is in the process of reviewing the work that National has completed related to the water cleanup activities described above, to determine if any of these activities are no longer necessary and can be stopped due to the success of the cleanup efforts. Under current and prior leases, National and Lafarge are obligated to indemnify the Company for costs and liabilities arising directly or indirectly out of their use of the leased premises. The Company believes that all of the matters described above are included within the scope of the National or Lafarge indemnity obligations and that Lafarge and National have sufficient resources to perform any reasonably likely obligations relating to these matters. If they do not and the Company is required to perform the remedial work at its own cost, it is unlikely that the amount of any such expenditure by the Company would be material.

On November 29, 2004, a complaint was filed asking for the Antelope Valley ground water basin to be adjudicated. This means that the rights of all parties overlying the basin, including the Company’s land, should be fixed based on various principles of water law and on negotiations among the principal parties or groups of water users. Because the case is still in its early stages it is too early to ascertain what effect, if any, this case may have on the Centennial project or the Company’s remaining lands in the Antelope Valley. Because the water supply plan for the Centennial project includes several sources of water in addition to ground water underlying the Company’s lands, and because the creation of an efficient market for local water rights is frequently an outcome of adjudication proceedings, we anticipate that sufficient water to supply the Centennial project’s needs will continue to be available for its use.

For further discussion, refer to the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Part I, Item 3—“Legal Proceedings.” There have been no significant changes since the filing of the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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NOTE E – INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED JOINT VENTURES

The Company maintains investments in unconsolidated joint ventures. The Company accounts for its investments in these unconsolidated joint ventures using the equity method of accounting. The Company’s investment in its unconsolidated joint ventures at September 30, 2008 is $29,751,000. The Company’s equity in the net earnings of the unconsolidated joint ventures is $1,522,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The joint ventures have not been consolidated as of September 30, 2008 because they are not variable interest entities and the Company does not control the investments. The Company’s current unconsolidated joint ventures are as follows:

 

   

Petro Travel Plaza LLC is an unconsolidated joint venture with Travel Centers of America, LLC for the development and management of travel plazas and convenience stores. This is a 60%-owned venture which owns and operates a travel plaza/commercial highway operation in the TIC. It houses multiple commercial eating establishments as well as diesel and gasoline operations. The Company does not control the investment due to its having only 50% voting rights, and because our partner performs the day-to-day operations at the facility. At September 30, 2008, the Company had an equity investment balance of $6,284,000 in this joint venture.

 

   

Centennial Founders, LLC is an unconsolidated joint venture in which the Company has a 50% ownership interest. This is a venture with Pardee Homes, Lewis Investment Company, and Standard Pacific Corp. that was organized to pursue the entitlement and development of land that the Company owns in Los Angeles County. At September 30, 2008, the Company’s equity investment balance in this joint venture was $5,667,000. Within our Centennial joint venture two of our partners, Pardee Homes and Standard Pacific, are home builders. As with other home builders, they have seen their business decline in recent years and their internal financing has become more difficult. At the present time, despite the current market in housing, both of these partners continue to be committed to the Centennial development. If it becomes necessary for any of our current partners to leave the joint venture, the Centennial joint venture operating agreement requires the exiting partner to leave its capital contributions in the venture. The exiting partner’s capital investment would be paid back in the future from operating profits.

 

   

Tejon Dermody Industrial LLC is an unconsolidated joint venture between the Company and DP Properties for the development and ownership of a 652,000-square foot industrial building in the TIC. The Company owns a 50% interest in this venture. At September 30, 2008, the Company’s equity investment balance in this joint venture was $9,000. The venture is in the process of being dissolved following the sale in 2007 of its primary asset, the 652,000 square foot industrial building.

 

   

Five West Parcel LLC is an unconsolidated joint venture between the Company and Rockefeller Group Development Corporation for the development of a parcel in Tejon Industrial Complex – West. The establishment of such a joint venture is part of an agreement involving the designation of 500 acres in Tejon Industrial Complex–West and East as a Foreign Trade Zone, or FTZ, and the development of the property within the FTZ for warehouse distribution and light manufacturing. The Company owns a 50% interest in this joint venture. At September 30, 2008, the Company’s equity investment balance in this joint venture was $4,599,000.

 

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Tejon Mountain Village LLC is an unconsolidated joint venture between the Company and DMB TMV LLC (a wholly owned subsidiary of DMB Associates, Inc.) formed to obtain all necessary government entitlement approvals and to develop the Tejon Mountain Village project. The Company owns a 50% interest in this venture. At September 30, 2008, the Company’s equity investment balance was $13,192,000.

Unaudited condensed financial information of the Company’s unconsolidated joint ventures as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 is as follows:

Statement of Operations

for the Nine months ending September 30, 2008

(In thousands)

 

     Petro
Travel
Plaza
    Centennial
Founders
    Tejon
Dermody
Industrial
    Five West
Parcel
    Tejon
Mountain
Village
    Total  

Gross revenues

   $ 60,776     $ 623     $ 2     $ 1,232     $ —       $ 62,634  
                                                

Net income (loss)

   $ 2,492     $ (221 )   $ (3 )   $ 330     $ (53 )   $ 2,545  
                                                

Partner’s share of net income (loss)

     997       (111 )     (2 )     165       (26 )     1,023  
                                                

Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated joint venture

   $ 1,495     $ (110 )   $ (1 )   $ 165     $ (27 )   $ 1,522  
                                                

Balance Sheet Information as of September 30, 2008

            

Current assets

   $ 10,343     $ 2,966     $ 18     $ 1,794     $ 483     $ 15,604  

Property and equipment, net

     18,968       42,030       —         18,404       54,180       133,582  

Other assets

     26       1       —         —         —         27  

Long-term debt

     (9,845 )     —         —         (10,391 )     —         (20,236 )

Other liabilities

     (2,591 )     (52 )     —         (231 )     (1,171 )     (4,045 )
                                                

Net assets

   $ 16,901     $ 44,945     $ 18     $ 9,576     $ 53,492     $ 124,932  
                                                

 

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Statement of Operations

for the Nine months ending September 30, 2007

(In thousands)

 

     Petro
Travel
Plaza
    Centennial
Founders
    Tejon
Dermody
Industrial
   Five
West
Parcel
    Tejon
Mountain
Village
    Total  

Gross revenues

   $ 66,101     $ 443     $ 19,068    $ —       $ —       $ 85,612  
                                               

Net income (loss)

   $ 2,719     $ (322 )   $ 17,446    $ (122 )   $ (27 )   $ 19,694  
                                               

Partner’s share of net income (loss)

     1,088       (161 )     8,723      (61 )     (14 )     9,575  
                                               

Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated joint venture

   $ 1,631     $ (161 )   $ 8,723    $ (61 )   $ (13 )   $ 10,119  
                                               

Balance Sheet Information as of September 30, 2007

             

Current assets

   $ 13,286     $ 971     $ 581    $ 1,586     $ 987     $ 17,411  

Property and equipment, net

     15,719       34,012       —        8,458       41,035       99,224  

Other assets

     30       1       —        —         —         31  

Long-term debt

     (10,536 )     —         —        —         —         (10,536 )

Other liabilities

     (4,787 )     (140 )     3      (1,649 )     (897 )     (7,470 )
                                               

Net assets

   $ 13,712     $ 34,844     $ 584    $ 8,395     $ 41,125     $ 98,660  
                                               

The Company’s investment balance in its unconsolidated joint ventures differs from its capital accounts in the respective joint ventures. The differential represents the difference between the cost basis of assets contributed by the Company and the agreed-upon contribution value of the assets contributed.

NOTE F – INTEREST RATE RISK MANAGEMENT

At September 30, 2008, the Company had no outstanding interest rate swap agreements. However, Petro Travel Plaza LLC, a joint venture of the Company, has an interest rate swap agreement with respect to $5,700,000 of its long-term debt to manage interest rate risk by converting floating interest rate debt to fixed-rate debt. This swap agreement matures in November 2009 and is a contract to exchange variable-rate for fixed-rate interest payments periodically over the life of the agreement. The interest rate swap fixed rate is 4.33%. The joint venture accounts for the swap agreement as a cash flow hedge in accordance with FASB Statement No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Investments and Hedging Activities.”

The Company records its pro rata change in the fair market value of the interest rate swap in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). As of September 30, 2008, the Company’s portion of the fair value of the interest rate swap was a loss of $47,000. The estimated fair value of the swap was determined by using level one indicators, which are market price quotes as of September 30, 2008. The quotes are received from the joint venture’s bank, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

NOTE G – STOCK COMPENSATION - OPTIONS

The Company’s 1998 Stock Incentive Plan, or the 1998 Plan, provides for the making of awards to employees, consultants, and advisors of the Company with respect to 2,350,000 shares of common stock. At the 2008 Annual Meeting, the shareholders of the Company approved an amendment to the Plan to increase the number of shares in the 1998 Plan from 1,600,000 to 2,350,000. Since the adoption of the 1998 Plan through September 30, 2008, the Company has granted options to purchase 1,129,292 shares at a price

 

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equal to the fair market value at date of grant, 674,934 of which have been exercised or forfeited, leaving 454,358 granted options outstanding at September 30, 2008. Options granted under the 1998 Plan vest over a five-year period and have ten-year contractual terms. All options granted to date are currently vested.

The Non-Employee Director Stock Incentive Plan, or NDSI Plan, is intended to enable the Company to attract, retain, and motivate non-employee directors by providing for or increasing the proprietary interest of such persons in the Company. The NDSI Plan provides for the grant of awards to non-employee directors with respect to an aggregate of 200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. Since adoption of the NDSI Plan through September 30, 2008, the Company has granted options under the plan to purchase 83,518 shares at a price equal to the fair market value at date of grant, of which 35,255 options have been exercised, leaving 48,263 granted options outstanding at September 30, 2008. Options granted under the NDSI Plan vest one year from the date of grant and have a ten year contractual term.

The value of the options is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing formula and the expense was amortized over the options’ vesting periods. The following weighted-average assumptions were used in estimating the fair value of the options: risk-free interest rate of 5.00%, dividend rate of 0.0%, volatility factor of the expected market price of our common stock of 0.34, and a weighted-average expected life of the options of five years from the option grant date. No options were granted in 2007 or during the first nine months of 2008.

Exercise prices for options outstanding as of September 30, 2008 ranged from $16.75 to $27.90. The weighted-average remaining contractual life of those options is approximately three years. None of the options granted under the 1998 Plan contain conversion features.

The following is a summary of the Company’s stock option activity and related information for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2008, and the year ended December 31, 2007:

 

     2008     2007  
     Options     Weighted-Average
Exercise Prices
Per Share
    Options     Weighted-Average
Exercise Prices
Per Share
 

Outstanding beginning of period

   558,685     $ 24.26     660,224     $ 23.55  

Granted

   —         —       —         —    

Exercised

   (56,064 )     (21.87 )   (101,539 )     (21.12 )
                            

Outstanding end of period

   502,621     $ 24.52     558,685     $ 24.26  
                            

Options exercisable end of period

   502,621     $ 24.52     558,685     $ 24.26  

All granted options fully vested during 2007, and all related expenses for those options were recorded through that time period.

As of September 30, 2008, there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options. No shares vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2008; therefore the fair value of shares vesting was zero. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 were $856,000 and $2,918,000, respectively. As of September 30, 2008, there were 502,621 options vested and exercisable with a weighted-average exercise price of $24.52, aggregate intrinsic value of $6,347,000, and weighted-average remaining contractual life of approximately three years.

 

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There was no compensation cost related to stock option arrangements recognized in income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compensation cost related to stock option arrangements was $271,000. The total related recognized tax benefit in 2007 was $108,000. No share-based payment compensation costs were capitalized during this period.

NOTE H – STOCK COMPENSATION - RESTRICTED STOCK AND PERFORMANCE SHARE GRANTS

The 1998 Plan and the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan provide for the making of stock grant awards to employees based upon time-based criteria or through the achievement of performance-related objectives. The Company has issued three types of stock grant awards under these plans: restricted stock with time-based vesting, performance share grants that only vest upon the achievement of specified performance conditions, and performance share grants that include threshold, target, and maximum achievement levels based on the achievement of specific performance conditions. The Company has issued 52,909 shares of restricted stock that vest over four-year periods of time and of this amount 44,509 shares have vested. The Company currently has 362,190 performance share grants outstanding that will only vest upon the achievement of specified performance goals related to development activities. The Company also has granted performance units with stock awards ranging from zero shares if below threshold performance conditions to 68,527 for threshold performance, 102,790 shares for target performance, and 154,185 for maximum performance. These awards are tied to corporate cash flow goals and the achievement of specified development activities.

The fair value of restricted stock with time-based vesting features is based upon the Company’s share price on the date of grant and is expensed over the service period. Fair value of performance grants that cliff vest based on the achievement of performance conditions is based on the share price of the Company’s stock on the day of grant once the Company determines that it is probable that the award will vest. This fair value is expensed over the service period applicable to these grants. For performance grants that contain a range of shares from zero to maximum we determine, based on historic and projected results, the probability of (1) achieving the performance objective, and (2) the level of achievement. Based on this information, we determine the fair value of the award and measure the expense over the service period related to these grants. Because the ultimate vesting of all performance grants is tied to the achievement of a performance condition, we adjust compensation cost according to the actual outcome of the performance condition.

Total expense related to this plan for the nine months ending September 30, 2008 was $2,505,000. There was $3,258,000 of costs related to the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan for the first nine months of 2007.

During the third quarter of 2008, it was determined that certain annual performance conditions related to TIC would not be achieved and the related cumulative compensation cost previously recorded for these awards was reversed. Additional changes in estimates related to performance grants resulted in a reduction of expected compensation costs during the period and prospectively under the plan. The combined impact of these changes resulted in a reduction in expense and increases in pretax income of $1,713,000 during the third quarter of 2008. The effect of this change in estimate increased our net income by $1,182,000, or $0.07 per share, diluted.

Under the Board of Directors’ compensation plan, each director receives their annual compensation in stock. Under this plan, 31,254 shares of stock have been granted since the plan was adopted in 2004. Total expenses relating to director stock compensation during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 was $281,000. There was $153,000 of cost related to this plan for the first nine months of 2007.

 

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NOTE I – RETIREMENT PLAN

The Company has a defined benefit plan that covers many of its employees. The benefits are based on years of service and the employee’s five-year final average salary. Contributions are intended to provide for benefits attributable to service both to date and expected to be provided in the future. The Company funds the plan in accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The Company expects to contribute approximately $380,000 to the plan during 2008.

Plan assets consist of equity, debt and short-term money market investment funds. The plan’s current investment policy targets 65% equities, 25% debt and 10% money market funds. Equity and debt investment percentages are allowed to fluctuate plus or minus 20% around the respective targets to take advantage of market conditions. At September 30, 2008, the investment mix was approximately 77% equity, 19% debt, and 4% money market funds. At December 31, 2007, the investment mix was approximately 71% equity, 24% debt and 5% money market funds. Equity investments consist of a combination of individual equity securities plus value funds, growth funds, large cap funds and international stock funds. Debt investments consist of U.S. Treasury securities and investment grade corporate debt. The weighted-average discount rate and rate of increase in future compensation levels used in determining the periodic pension cost is 5.0% in 2008 and 2007. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is 7.5% in 2008 and 2007. The long-term rate of return on plan assets is based on the historical returns within the plan and expectations for future returns.

The expected total pension and retirement expense was as follows for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007:

 

(In thousands)

   2008     2007  

Cost components:

    

Service cost-benefits earned during the period

   $ (149 )   $ (279 )

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

     (153 )     (310 )

Expected return on plan assets

     150       301  

Net amortization and deferral

     (81 )     (21 )
                

Total net periodic pension cost

   $ (233 )   $ (309 )
                

Effective February 1, 2007, the Company ceased admitting new employees into the defined benefit pension plan. Concurrently, the Company reduced the benefit accrual percentage for current plan participants on a prospective basis, and aligned its retirement age with the social security retirement age.

NOTE J – INCOME TAXES

For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company had net income tax expense of $1,855,000 compared to a net income tax expense of $4,167,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. These tax figures represent effective income tax rates of approximately 31% and 40%, respectively. The Company has certain permanent income tax deductions relating to oil and mineral depletion allowances that reduce its effective tax rate. As net income or loss approaches zero for a period, the greater the impact this deduction has on the effective tax rate. Our depletion allowance has increased during the first nine months of 2008 due to an increase in oil and gas revenues. As of September 30, 2008, our balance sheet reflects an income tax liability of $1,099,000.

 

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Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” or FIN 48. Based on the requirements of FIN 48, the Company evaluated its tax positions for all income tax items subject to FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” Each existing tax position was evaluated based on its technical merits and satisfied the “more likely than not to be sustained upon examination” test. The tax benefits were then measured as the largest amount of benefit, determined on a cumulative basis, that is “more likely than not” to be realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company determined that no positions failed to qualify for full recognition of the tax benefit. There have been no material changes in our tax benefits from December 31, 2007. For further discussion, refer to “Note 9—Income Taxes” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The Company classifies interest and penalties incurred on tax payments as income tax expenses.

The Company had no unrecognized tax benefits at January 1, 2008. The Company incurred $1,100 of interest and penalties during the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Tax years from 2003 to 2007 remain subject to examination by the Federal, California and Arizona State taxing authorities. The Company is currently undergoing an Internal Revenue Service examination for the 2005 and 2006 tax years.

NOTE K – SEGMENT REPORTING - REAL ESTATE - COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL

The revenue components of our commercial/industrial real estate segment for the nine months ending September 30 are as follows:

 

(In thousands)

   2008    2007

Commercial leases

   $ 4,520    $ 4,282

Land sales

     6,589      712

Oil and mineral royalties

     7,095      4,031

Grazing leases

     849      870

All other land management ancillary services

     2,305      2,518
             
   $ 21,358    $ 12,413
             

NOTE L – NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

FASB Statement No. 163, “Accounting for Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 60,” or Statement 163, was issued in May 2008. Statement 163 requires that an insurance enterprise recognize a claim liability prior to an event of default (insured event) when there is evidence that credit deterioration has occurred in an insured financial obligation. Statement 163 also clarifies how FASB Statement No. 60, “Accounting & Reporting by Insurance Enterprises,” applies to financial guarantee insurance contracts, including the recognition and measurement to be used to account for premium revenue and claim liabilities. Statement 163 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. We have reviewed Statement 163 and we do not expect this pronouncement to have a material impact on our results of operation or financial condition.

FASB Statement No. 162, “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles,” or Statement 162, was issued in May 2008. Statement 162 identifies the sources of accounting principles and the framework for selecting the principles to be used in the preparation of financial statements of nongovernmental entities that are presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting

 

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principles (GAAP) in the United States. Statement 162 is effective 60 days following the Securities and Exchange Commission’s approval of Public Company Accounting Oversight Board amendments to AU Section 411, “The Meaning of Present Fairly in Conformity With Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.” We have reviewed Statement 162 and we do not expect this pronouncement to have a material impact on our results of operation or financial condition.

FASB Statement No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities – an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133,” or Statement 161, was issued in March 2008. Statement 161 changes the disclosure requirement for derivative instruments and hedging activities by enhancing the current disclosure framework in Statement 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” Statement 161 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. We have reviewed Statement 161 and we do not expect this pronouncement to have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition.

FASB Statement No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations,” or Statement 141(R), was issued in December 2007. Statement 141 (R) is intended to improve the relevance, representational faithfulness and comparability of information reported in respect of a business combination and its effects. The statement establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer recognizes and measures identifiable assets acquired, goodwill acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. It also establishes disclosure requirements that allow financial statement users to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. This statement applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. We have reviewed Statement 141(R), and we do not expect that this pronouncement will have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition.

FASB Statement No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment of ARB No. 51,” or Statement 160, was issued in December 2007. Statement 160 is designed to improve the relevance, comparability and transparency of consolidated financial statements that include a noncontrolling interest, more commonly known as a minority interest. The statement establishes accounting and reporting standards that address the proper presentation in the financial statements of ownership interest, share of income, changes in ownership and required disclosure upon deconsolidation. Statement 160 applies to all entities that prepare consolidated financial statements, but will only affect those entities that have an outstanding noncontrolling interest in one or more subsidiaries. Although we prepare consolidated financial statements, we currently have no outstanding noncontrolling interests. Therefore, we do not expect adoption of this statement to have a material effect on our results of operations or our financial condition. Statement 160 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008.

 

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

Throughout - “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and Item 3 - “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” we have made forward-looking statements, including statements regarding strategic alliances, the almond, pistachio and grape industries, the future plantings of permanent crops, future yields, prices and water availability for our crops and real estate operations, future prices, production and demand for oil and other minerals, future development of our property, future revenue and income of our jointly-owned travel plaza and other joint venture

 

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operations, potential losses to the Company as a result of pending environmental proceedings, the adequacy of future cash flows to fund our operations, market value risks associated with investment and risk management activities and with respect to inventory, accounts receivable and our own outstanding indebtedness and other future events and conditions. In some cases these statements are identifiable through the use of words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “project”, “target”, “can”, “could”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “would”, and similar expressions. In addition, any statements that refer to projections of our future financial performance, our anticipated growth, and trends in our business and other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performances and are subject to assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performance, or achievement implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and important factors include, but are not limited to, weather, market and economic forces, availability of financing for land development activities, and success in obtaining various governmental approvals and entitlements for land development activities. No assurance can be given that the actual future results will not differ materially from the forward-looking statements that we make for a number of reasons including those described above and in Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of this report.

Overview

We are a diversified real estate development and agribusiness company committed to responsibly using our land and resources to meet the housing, employment, and lifestyle needs of Californians and create value for our shareholders. Current operations consist of land planning and entitlement, land development, commercial sales and leasing, leasing of land for mineral royalties, grazing leases, income portfolio management, and farming. Our prime asset is approximately 270,000 acres of contiguous, largely undeveloped land that, at its most southerly border, is 60 miles north of Los Angeles and, at its most northerly border, is 15 miles east of Bakersfield.

Over the past few years, we have implemented a strategy that has led to our transformation from an agricultural operations-based company to a real estate development company. In order to execute our strategy, we entered into joint venture agreements for the development of portions of our land, began conceptual land planning and land entitlement projects, and undertook a program of divesting non-strategic assets. During May 2008, in connection with this strategy, we announced a conservation agreement with five of the major environmental resource groups pursuant to which we agreed to set aside land for conservation purposes in exchange for their agreement not to oppose our current real estate developments. This arrangement allows us to pursue our business model which is designed to create value through the entitlement and development of land for commercial/industrial and resort/residential uses while at the same time protecting significant portions of our land for conservation purposes.

We currently operate in three business segments: commercial/industrial real estate development and services; resort/residential real estate development; and farming.

Commercial/industrial real estate development and services generates revenues from lease activities, land sales, build-to-suit building sales and leases, oil and mineral royalties and grazing leases. Resort/residential land development does not currently produce revenues but is actively involved in the land entitlement process and conservation activities. Farming produces revenues from the sale of grapes, almonds, and pistachios.

 

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For the first nine months of 2008 we had net income of $4,135,000, compared to net income of $6,348,000 for the first nine months of 2007. The decrease in net income during the first nine months of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007 resulted primarily from a decrease in equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures and a decrease in farming revenues. A significant improvement in commercial/industrial real estate revenues helped to partially offset this decline.

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of our interim financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We consider an accounting estimate to be critical if (1) the accounting estimate requires us to make assumptions about matters that were highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimate was made, and (2) changes in the estimates that are likely to occur from period to period, or use of different estimates that we reasonably could have used in the current period, would have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to revenue recognition, impairment of long-lived assets, capitalization of costs, profit recognition related to land sales, stock compensation, and our defined benefit retirement plan. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Our critical accounting policies have not changed since the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10 – K for the year ended December 31, 2007. Please refer to this filing for a description of our critical accounting policies.

Results of Operations

Total revenue from segment operations for the first nine months of 2008 was $29,749,000 compared to $22,363,000 for the first nine months of 2007, representing an increase of $7,386,000, or 33%. Other income, including investment income, was $1,865,000 for the first nine months of 2008 compared to $2,626,000 for the same period of 2007, representing a decrease in other income of $761,000, or 29%. The increase in revenue during the first nine months of 2008 is due to increased commercial/industrial real estate revenue which was partially offset by a decline in farming revenues. Commercial/industrial real estate development and services revenue increased $8,945,000 for the first nine months of 2008 due to an improvement in revenue of $5,877,000 from the sale of developed and undeveloped land and increased oil and mineral revenue of $3,064,000. Total land sales revenue for the first nine months of 2008 was $6,589,000 compared to $712,000 during the first nine months of 2007. The 2008 land sales consisted of two separate transactions within TIC-West with the first transaction being the sale of 23.75 acres to an industrial warehouse developer for $2,431,000 and the second transaction being the sale of 4.15 acres to a hotel developer for $2,300,000. We also sold 700 acres of undeveloped agricultural land for $1,858,000. Oil and mineral revenues increased based on higher commodity prices and improved production levels which more than offset declines in sand and rock royalties arising from a drop in demand for these materials that are used primarily in the construction industry. Improved returns from our power plant lease contributed $240,000 of additional revenue in the first nine months of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007.

 

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Farming revenues decreased $1,559,000 in the first nine months of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007, due to a decrease in pistachio revenue as a result of decreased production in this off-cycle year, the absence of walnut revenue because the walnut trees were removed following our 2007 walnut crop (which was our final harvest of walnuts), and because fewer prior-year crop almonds were available for sale. During the first nine months of 2008, the sale of prior-year crop almonds accounted for $2,095,000 of farming revenue compared to $3,416,000 of farming revenue during the first nine months of 2007. The majority of our 2008 almond crop remains in inventory at September 30, 2008 due to the timing of the almond harvest. Investment income fell during the first nine months of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007 due to a decline in funds invested which resulted in lower investment income, a loss from the sale of securities and a fair value write down of $304,000 on securities with other than temporary impairments.

Net income for the first nine months of 2008 was $4,135,000, or $0.24 per share, diluted, compared to net income of $6,348,000, or $0.36 per share diluted, for the same period in 2007. The decline in net income during the first nine months of 2008 is attributable to a decline in equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures and increased expenses in each operating segment. Partially offsetting these negative variances was the increase in revenue described above. The decline in equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures is related to the sale of the building owned by the Tejon/Dermody joint venture during the third quarter of 2007, which resulted in an $8,545,000 gain. Expenses within our commercial/industrial segment increased $1,594,000 during the first nine months of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007. The largest increase in cost in the commercial/industrial segment was the direct cost of sales of $1,152,000 related to our land sale transactions. Other costs directly stemming from our land transactions also increased during the nine months ended September 30, 2008. These include increases in legal fees, commissions, and commercial water payments. Stock compensation for commercial/industrial employees declined in the first nine months of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007 due to changes in estimates of the number of shares that will actually be granted based upon estimated ranges of success related to performance goals at our TIC development. Within our resort/residential real estate segment, expenses increased $742,000 during the first nine months of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007 primarily due to increases in compensation expense due to the timing of hiring employees and additional stock compensation expense. Farming expenses increased $37,000 during the first nine months of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007 due to an increase of $156,000 in depreciation expense for water assets and a $93,000 increase in fuel costs combined with $112,000 of increased farm production costs. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $201,000 in water fixed costs as a result of the 35% State Water Project allocation and a decline of $114,000 in compensation expenses. Corporate general and administrative costs increased $180,000 during the first nine months of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007 due primarily to a $275,000 increase in professional fees due to the timing of incurrence of these fees, $101,000 of amortization of new long-term water contracts and increases in donations and in charges related to our holding company. These general and administrative cost increases were partially offset by a $428,000 decrease in stock compensation cost due to changes in estimates related to the achievement of performance goals related to absorption at our TIC development.

Total revenues for the third quarter of 2008, including investment and other income, were $14,923,000, compared to $11,884,000 for the third quarter of 2007. This increase of $3,039,000 in total revenues is primarily attributable to a land sale transaction that occurred during the third quarter of 2008. Commercial/industrial real estate land sales revenues increased $2,300,000 compared to the same quarter of 2007. Oil and mineral revenues during this period improved $1,555,000 compared to the same period in 2007 due to higher production and prices. Farming revenues decreased $360,000 as a result of the sale of fewer pistachios in the third quarter of 2008 as compared to the third quarter of 2007 because of reduced production in this off-cycle year. Grape revenues also declined in the third quarter of 2008 due to reduced production compared to the same period of 2007. Corporate income decreased $482,000 during the third quarter of 2008 compared to the third quarter of 2007 due to a $304,000 fair value adjustment on securities that were deemed to be impaired on an other than temporary basis and a decrease in investment income due to a reduction in funds invested.

 

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Net income for the third quarter of 2008 was $3,884,000, or $0.22 per share, diluted, compared to net income of $6,204,000, or $0.35 per share, diluted, for the same period of 2007. This decline in net income results primarily from the decrease in equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures of $8,620,000. The third quarter of 2007 included the sale of the building owned by the Tejon Dermody joint venture which resulted in $8,545,000 of gain. The increase in commercial/industrial revenue of $3,881,000 in the third quarter of 2008 helped to offset the absence of a similar building sale transaction in the third quarter of 2008. Also helping to offset the reduction in equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures are reduced expenses in our commercial/industrial real estate segment and our corporate operations. We experienced reduced expenses in these areas primarily as a result of stock compensation adjustments related to changes in estimates, as described earlier. Expenses in our commercial/industrial segment declined $466,000 in the third quarter of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007 due to reduced compensation costs of $683,000, which were partially offset by increased cost of sales of $63,000 and other increased operating costs including professional services, fuel, and depreciation. Resort residential expenses increased $450,000 in the third quarter of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007 primarily due to increased compensation costs, net of amounts capitalized to real estate projects, and charitable contributions. Farming segment costs increased $108,000 during the third quarter of 2008 compared to the third quarter of 2007 due to increased fuel costs, commencement of amortization of new water assets, and higher cultural costs. Water fixed costs increased during the period due to the higher prices paid for supplemental water. Corporate expenses decreased $1,021,000 in the third quarter of 2008 compared to the third quarter of 2007 mainly driven by compensation cost decreases of $1,326,000 that are partially offset by increases in professional service fees, donations, and timing of holding company costs.

The undeveloped land sale described earlier includes the opportunity for us to receive additional funds over a twenty-five year period, related to the buyer’s production and sale of the rock and aggregate minerals. The beginning of this potential revenue stream is dependent on the buyer receiving all of the appropriate governmental permits for a rock and aggregate mining operation. This permitting process can take as long as three years with no guaranty of success. The obligation of the buyer consists of a minimum payment each year of $200,000, with such obligation commencing with the start of mining operations. The ultimate annual payment received each year is based upon rock and aggregate production and sales prices.

Future activities within the commercial/industrial segment will be focused on the marketing and development of commercial/industrial product and infrastructure development for the Tejon Industrial Complex-East, or TIC-East, development. Our marketing efforts for TIC-East and West are focused on educating potential users about the logistical benefits of our site and the success that current tenants and owners within our development have experienced. We believe that in the long-term as California’s population continues to grow we will see increases in industrial activity at TIC. Our development strategy fits within the logistics model that many companies are using, which favors larger single-site buildings rather than a number of decentralized smaller distribution centers. Buildings of 1.0 million square feet or larger are difficult to build in Los Angeles due to the number of acres necessary for a building of that size. We believe that our ability to provide land parcels to support buildings of that size will provide us with a potential marketing advantage. A potential disadvantage to our development strategy is our distance from the Port of Los Angeles in comparison to the traditional warehouse/distribution centers east of Los Angeles. Temporary or long-term downturns in the economy can also have an adverse impact on our ability to sell or lease our industrial/commercial products.

 

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While potential tenants’ interest in our commercial/industrial real estate development continues, prospective activity is in decline. The weakening economy and tightening of credit markets has created downward pressure on consumer spending, causing many firms to delay expansion and supply chain reengineering efforts as they evaluate their alternatives. The continuing economic downward forces in the current business cycle could cause an increasing decline in short-term and potentially long-term demand for our commercial and industrial developments. We cannot project the duration of this downturn or the actual effect in may have on our operations, but do expect it to have a negative impact on our operations, the extent of which is difficult for us to predict at this time.

During the remainder of 2008, we anticipate that our commercial/industrial and resort/residential real estate segments will continue to experience increases in costs, net of amounts capitalized, primarily related to professional service fees, marketing costs, commissions, planning costs, and staffing costs as we continue with our real estate activities and pursue development opportunities.

The actual timing and completion of entitlement and development is difficult to predict due to the uncertainties of the approval process and market factors. Infrastructure development and marketing activities and costs could continue over the next several years as we develop our land holdings. In the course of pursuing these development activities we routinely engage in conversations with environmental groups and government agencies that could have an interest in or influence over the planned future activities that we undertake on our land. Land development impacts diverse groups with varying concerns and we regularly meet with many of these groups to ensure that we address these concerns proactively in order to allow our development plans to proceed with the greatest amount of support and concurrence.

These types of conversations with environmental groups and government agencies evolved into formal discussions and negotiations that resulted in an agreement that was announced on May 8, 2008, with document signing on June 17, 2008. This Conservation and Land Use Agreement calls for the permanent protection of up to 240,000 acres of our land through phased dedicated conservation easements on approximately 178,000 acres of our land and an option to purchase conservation easements on an additional 62,000 acres of our land.

The Conservation and Land Use Agreement is designed to ensure permanent protection of the most sensitive resources of the ranch, establish the Tejon Ranch Conservancy, or Conservancy to adopt and implement a ranch-wide management plan to preserve and enhance the conserved land, provide an option for environmental resource groups to acquire at fair market value determined through an appraisal process additional lands that the Company might otherwise develop, and allow us to proceed with entitlement and development of Centennial, Tejon Mountain Village, TIC, and future development in the TIC area without opposition from leading environmental organizations that are party to the agreement.

The Conservation and Land Use Agreement provides certainty for us and the environmental resource groups. For Tejon, the agreement provides certainty that its existing development plans will not be opposed by the environmental resource groups that are party to the agreement, and that we will be able to continue to protect our land while still engaging in current revenue producing activities, including farming, ranching, and oil and mineral extraction activities. For the environmental groups the agreement provides certainty that the ecological resources on our lands will be permanently protected.

 

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The Conservation and Land Use Agreement details a master plan for the Company’s land which establishes the balance between conservation, development and our historic land use activities. The agreement is designed to remove many of the obstacles that have plagued similar efforts in California to develop large tracts of formerly open space and we expect to be able to move ahead with the entitlement of our current development projects in a much more timely fashion. Please refer to our Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 8, 2008 and our Form 8-K filed on June 23, 2008 for additional information related to the Conservation and Land Use Agreement.

We will also continue to evaluate land resources to determine the highest and best uses of our land holdings. Future sales of land are dependent on market circumstances and specific opportunities. Our goal in the future is to increase land value and create future revenue growth through planning and development of residential communities and commercial and industrial properties.

For the remainder of 2008 and during 2009 the California State Water Project will continue to face environmental challenges regarding the moving of state project water through the Sacramento Delta. These challenges resulted in a court-ordered shut down of the Delta pumps, which are of primary importance to the California water system because these pumps are part of the system that moves water from Northern California to Southern California. After a temporary contingency pumping plan was approved by the Court, which protects a certain species of fish, the Court allowed the Delta pumps to be turned back on but continued to limit their usage. The usage is limited to approximately 50% capacity until all studies are completed as to the environmental impact to the Delta. This curtailment of water from the Delta impacts the delivery of our state water entitlements and during 2008 limited us to only 50% of our total supply. This limitation, along with the effects of a drought in California, is reflected in the 35% allocation of water from the State Water Project in 2008. At this time we are anticipating even more severe cuts in 2009 unless the current drought conditions are alleviated. There are many groups, governmental and private, working together to come up with a solution over the next year to alleviate the curtailment of water from the Delta.

All of our crops are sensitive to the size of each year’s world crop. Large crops in California and abroad can rapidly depress prices. We estimate that our 2008 almond crop production will be comparable to or exceed that of 2007. Prices have been relatively stable but the large 2008 statewide almond crop could exert negative pressure on prices. Pistachio production was down 2,160,000 pounds in 2008 as compared to 2007. This was an anticipated decline following two high yield years. As a result of the smaller crop, prices have increased over those received in 2007. Grape yields in 2008 are marginally lower than the prior year, but prices have remained stable or experienced slight improvement. With the expectation of statewide grape production in 2008 being in line with demand, the pressure on prices of recent years has been alleviated at the present time and grape prices should stabilize at current levels. Our long-term projection is that crop production, especially of almonds and pistachios will increase on a statewide basis over time because of new plantings, which could negatively impact future prices if the growth in demand does not continue to keep pace with production. A positive factor for the almond industry is that demand for product has remained very strong both in the United States and in our export markets and at this time this level of demand is expected to continue. However, improved global production and the recent increase in the value of the dollar could negatively impact exports and decrease the current pricing for almonds.

Prices received for many of our products are dependent upon prevailing market conditions and commodity prices. Therefore, we are unable to accurately predict revenue and we cannot pass on to our customers any cost increases caused by general inflation, except to the extent such inflation is reflected in market conditions and commodity prices. The operations of the Company are seasonal and future results of operations cannot be predicted based on quarterly results. Future real estate sales and leasing activity are

 

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dependent on market circumstances and specific opportunities and therefore are difficult to predict from period to period.

For further discussion of the risks and uncertainties that could potentially adversely affect us, please refer to Part I, Item 7 – “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

We continue to be involved in various environmental proceedings related to leased acreage. For a further discussion, please refer to “Note D – Commitments and Contingencies” in the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements in this report.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense totaled $1,855,000 for the first nine months of 2008. This is compared to $4,167,000 of income tax expense for the same period of 2007. These represent effective income tax rates of approximately 31% in 2008 and 40% in 2007. The substantial change in the Company’s 2008 effective tax rate compared to 2007 is due to the permanent tax differences resulting from the Company’s oil and mineral tax depletion deductions that reduce the effective tax rate incurred by the Company. The depletion deduction has increased during 2008 due to the growth in oil and mineral revenues. The Company is currently undergoing an Internal Revenue Service examination for the 2005 and 2006 tax years.

Cash Flow and Liquidity

Our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled approximately $56,536,000 at September 30, 2008, a decrease of $20,477,000, or 27% from the corresponding amount at the end of 2007. Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities decreased during the first nine months of 2008 compared to the first nine months of 2007 due to $11,177,000 of investments in water inventory and long-term water contracts, continuing investments in our real-estate projects, and investments in our joint ventures. This increase in cash outflows was partially offset by non-cash operating expenses reflected in our net income.

The following table shows our cash flow activities for the nine months ended September 30:

 

(In thousands)

   2008     2007  

Operating activities

   $ (813 )   $ 11,570  

Investing activities

   $ (11,592 )   $ (13,159 )

Financing activities

   $ 4,199     $ 2,467  

During the first nine months of 2008, our operations used $813,000 of cash as a result of increases in farming and water inventories and payments of income taxes related to 2007 income. During the first nine months of 2007, the $11,570,000 net cash provided by operations resulted from the distribution of earnings from an unconsolidated joint venture and from the positive impact of non-cash expenses when added back to operations.

During the first nine months of 2008, we used $11,592,000 of cash for investing, primarily reflecting capital investments of $17,603,000 in our real estate projects, the purchase of land in San Diego County through an IRS Section 1031 exchange, and the

 

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purchase of new long-term water contracts for $6,006,000. We also invested $3,829,000 in our unconsolidated joint ventures. These cash outflows were partially offset by cash provided from marketable securities and three land sales. Cash used in investing activities during the first nine months of 2007 was $13,159,000, primarily reflecting capital investments of $8,225,000 in our real estate projects, a net increase in funds invested in marketable securities, and $3,504,000 contributed to unconsolidated joint ventures.

It is anticipated that throughout the remainder of 2008 we will continue to invest funds in our real estate development projects and joint ventures. We estimate that our capital investment requirements over the remainder of 2008 could total between $4,000,000 and $6,000,000, approximately. These amounts include contributions to our joint ventures, investments in infrastructure and entitlement activities in our real estate projects, and the potential purchase of additional water resources. During 2008, we have added to our water resources through the purchase of additional state water contracts and the purchase of approximately 8,400 acre feet of water from a Kern County land owner. We view these water purchases as a long-term asset to be used to support ranch-wide development and agricultural activities. These water purchases also provide additional sources of water to help ensure that we have adequate water supplies to meet our needs as the State of California deals with the environmental challenges of moving water through the Sacramento Delta. Because the water purchased is not needed to meet our 2008 water needs, we will bank the water or trade the water to other users during 2008, receiving repayment of the water in the following years.

During the first nine months of 2008, financing activities provided $4,199,000 in cash, primarily from net borrowings on our line of credit and $1,226,000 in proceeds from the exercise of stock options. In March 2008, we borrowed $5,000,000 against our line of credit and used the proceeds primarily to fund the purchase of land in San Diego County and to invest in long-term water contracts. The line of credit was subsequently repaid during April and May 2008 using funds received from maturing and sold securities and sales of land. We subsequently borrowed $2,750,000 against our line of credit between July and September 2008 to fund contributions to our joint ventures. It is expected that these borrowings will be repaid from maturing securities and distributions from joint ventures over the next six months. Cash provided by financing activities for the first nine months of 2007 totaled $2,467,000, primarily due to proceeds from the exercise of stock options.

It is difficult to accurately predict cash flows due to the nature of our businesses and fluctuating economic conditions. Our earnings and cash flows will be affected from period to period by the commodity nature of our farming operations and by the timing of sales and leases of property within our development projects. The timing of sales and leases within our development projects is difficult to predict due to the time necessary to complete the development process and negotiate sales or lease contracts, in addition to the effect the overall economy may have on demand Often, the timing aspects of land development can lead to particular years or periods having more or less earnings than comparable periods. Based on our experience, we believe that we will have adequate cash flows and cash balances over the next twelve months to fund internal operations.

Capital Structure and Financial Condition

Management considers our financial structure and condition to be solid. At September 30, 2008, total capitalization was $175,378,000, consisting of $3,146,000 of debt and $172,232,000 of equity, resulting in a debt-to-total-capitalization ratio of less than two percent.

 

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We have a long-term revolving line of credit of $30,000,000 that, as of September 30, 2008, had an outstanding balance of $2,750,000. At the Company’s option, the interest rate on this line of credit can be fixed at 1.50% over a selected LIBOR rate or float at 0.75% less than the bank’s prime lending rate. During the term of this credit facility, we can borrow at any time and partially or wholly repay any outstanding borrowings and then re-borrow, as necessary. Any outstanding principal balance is due and payable in full in September 2009. This note is unsecured. Our outstanding long-term debt, less current portion of $30,000, is $366,000 at September 30, 2008. This debt is being used to provide long-term financing for a building being leased to Starbucks and the debt is secured by the leased building and land. Principal and interest on this note are payable monthly, with the principal portion of the monthly payment being approximately $2,100. This note has a maturity date of May 1, 2018.

Our current and future capital resource requirements will be provided primarily from current cash and marketable securities, cash flow from ongoing operations, proceeds from the sale of developed parcels and undeveloped land, potential sale of assets, additional use of debt, proceeds from the reimbursement of public infrastructure costs through the Community Facilities District bond debt (described in “Note D—Commitments and Contingencies” in the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements in this report), distributions from our joint ventures, and the issuance of common stock. As noted above, at September 30, 2008 we have $56,536,000 in cash and securities and $27,250,000 available on credit lines to meet any short-term liquidity needs. We continue to expect that substantial future investments will be required in order to develop our land assets. In order to meet these long-term capital requirements, we may need to secure additional debt financing and continue to renew our existing credit facilities. In addition to debt financing, we will use other capital alternatives such as joint ventures with financial partners, sales of assets, and the issuance of common stock. There is no assurance that we will be able to obtain financing from any of these sources or that we will be able to obtain financing at favorable terms. We believe that we have adequate capital resources to fund our cash needs and our capital investment requirements over the next few years.

Contractual Cash Obligations

The following table summarizes our contractual cash obligations and commercial commitments over the next five years:

 

     Payments Due by Period

(In thousands)

   Total    One Year or
Less
   Years 2-3    Years 4-5    After 5
Years

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS:

              

Long-term debt

   $ 396    $ 30    $ 66    $ 76    $ 224

Interest on fixed rate debt

     144      26      45      36      37

Line of credit commitment fees

     99      99      —        —        —  

Short-term debt

     2,750      2,750      —        —        —  

Tejon Ranch Conservancy

     5,675      606      969      800      3,300

Cash contract commitments

     7,395      7,395      —        —        —  
                                  

Total contractual obligations

   $ 16,459    $ 10,906    $ 1,080    $ 912    $ 3,561
                                  

The categories above include purchase obligations and other long-term liabilities reflected on our balance sheet under GAAP. A “purchase obligation” is defined in Item 303(a)(5)(ii)(D) of Regulation S-K as “an agreement to purchase goods or services that is enforceable and legally binding on [us] that specifies all significant terms, including: fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased;

 

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fixed, minimum or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the transaction.” Based on this definition, the table above includes only those contracts that include fixed or minimum obligations. It does not include normal purchases, which are made in the ordinary course of business.

Our cash contract commitments consist of contracts in various stages of completion related to infrastructure development within our industrial developments and entitlement costs related to our industrial and residential development projects. At the present time, we do not have any capital lease obligations or purchase obligations outstanding. Our operating lease obligations are for office equipment, several vehicles, and a temporary trailer providing office space, and total, on average, approximately $21,000 per month.

Our financial obligations to the Conservancy are prescribed in the Conservation and Land Use Agreement executed in June 2008. Our advances to the Conservancy are dependent on the timing of occurrence of certain events and are therefore subject to change in amount and period. The amounts included above are the minimum amounts we anticipate contributing through the year 2021. The obligation shown above is one-half of the total required obligations due to the other one-half of the obligation being funded by the TMV LLC and the Centennial Founders, LLC.

As discussed in “Note I – Retirement Plans” in the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements in this report, we have long-term liabilities for employee retirement plans. The payments related to retirement plans are not included above since they are dependent upon when the employee retires or leaves the Company. In addition, minimum pension funding requirements are not included above, as such amounts are not available for all periods presented. We estimate that we will contribute approximately $380,000 to the pension plan in 2008. During 2007, we made approximately $465,000 in pension plan contributions.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The following table shows contingent obligations we have with respect to certain bonds issued by the CFD:

 

     Amount of Commitment Expiration Per Period

(In thousands)

   Total    One Year or
Less
   Years 2-3    Years 4-5    After 5
Years

OTHER COMMERCIAL COMMITMENTS:

              

Standby letter of credit

   $ 4,584    $ 4,584    $ —      $ —      $ —  
                                  

Total other commercial commitments

   $ 4,584    $ 4,584    $ —      $ —      $ —  
                                  

The standby letter of credit is related to the issuance of CFD bonds by TRPFFA. The standby letter of credit, requested by TRPFFA, is in place to provide additional credit enhancement and covers approximately two years worth of interest on the outstanding bonds. The annual cost for this letter of credit is approximately $70,000. This letter of credit will not be drawn upon unless we, as the largest landowner in the district, fail to make our property tax payments. This letter of credit was originally for a two-year period and will be renewed, if necessary, in 2009.

 

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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact the financial position, results of operations, or cash flows of the Company due to adverse changes in financial or commodity market prices or rates. We are exposed to market risk in the areas of interest rates and commodity prices.

Financial Market Risks

Our exposure to financial market risks includes changes to interest rates and credit risks related to marketable securities, interest rates related to our outstanding indebtedness and trade receivables.

The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve principal while at the same time maximizing yields and prudently managing risk. To achieve this objective and limit interest rate exposure, we limit our investments to securities with a maturity of less than six years and an investment grade rating from Moody’s or Standard and Poor’s. See “Note C—Marketable Securities” in the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements in this report.

We are exposed to interest rate risk on our long term debt currently outstanding and on our line of credit, which as of September 30, 2008, had an outstanding balance of $2,750,000. The interest rate on our line-of-credit can be tied to the lending bank’s prime rate and would change when that rate changes, or tied to a LIBOR rate on a fixed basis and change only at maturity of the fixed-rate feature. The long-term debt of $396,000 has a fixed interest rate of 6.75%, and the fair value of this long-term debt will change based on interest rate movements in the market. The floating rate feature in our line of credit can expose us to variability in interest payments due to changes in interest rates. We believe it is prudent at times to limit the variability of floating-rate interest payments and in the past have entered into interest rate swaps to manage those fluctuations.

At September 30, 2008, we had no outstanding interest rate swap agreements. However, Petro Travel Plaza LLC, an unconsolidated joint venture of the Company, has an interest rate swap agreement with respect to $5,700,000 of its long-term debt to manage interest rate risk by converting floating interest rate debt to fixed-rate debt. This swap agreement matures in November 2009. The interest rate swap fixed rate is 4.33%. The joint venture accounts for the swap agreement as a cash flow hedge in accordance with FASB Statement No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Investments and Hedging Activities.”

We record our pro rata change in the fair market value of the interest rate swap in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). As of September 30, 2008, the Company’s portion of the fair market value of the interest rate swap was a loss of $47,000. Estimated fair value of the swap was determined by market price quotes as of September 30, 2008, received from the joint venture’s bank. We have no reason to believe that the bank that holds the contractual swap agreement is experiencing credit problems that could call into question their ability to continue with this agreement.

Market risk related to our farming inventories ultimately depends on the value of almonds, grapes, and pistachios at the time of payment or sale. Market risk related to our water inventories depends on the value of that water at the time we sell or trade it. Given the uncertainty surrounding the availability of water in California and the continuing drought that the state is experiencing, we believe that water values will continue to increase. We reflect our water inventory on our balance sheet at cost. Credit risk related to our receivables depends upon the financial condition of our customers. Based on historical experience with our current customers and periodic credit evaluations of our customers’ financial conditions, we believe our credit risk is minimal. Market risk is discussed below in the section pertaining to commodity price exposure.

 

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The following tables provide information about our financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. The tables present our debt obligations and marketable securities and their related weighted-average interest rates by expected maturity dates.

Interest Rate Sensitivity Financial Market Risks

Principal Amount by Expected Maturity

At September 30, 2008

(In thousands)

 

     2008     2009     2010     2011     2012     Thereafter     Total     Fair Value at
09/30/08

Assets:

                

Marketable securities

   $ 3,007     $ 16,796     $ 3,358     $ 12,405     $ 8,371     $ 13,885     $ 57,822     $ 55,288

Weighted average interest rate

     4.04 %     3.97 %     4.38 %     4.58 %     4.79 %     4.54 %     4.38 %  

Liabilities

                

Short-term debt

   $ 2,750     $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 2,750     $ 2,750

Weighted average interest rate

     4.25 %     —         —         —         —         —         4.25 %  

Long-term debt

   $ 8     $ 31     $ 33     $ 35     $ 37     $ 252     $ 396     $ 396

Weighted average interest rate

     6.75 %     6.75 %     6.75 %     6.75 %     6.75 %     6.75 %     6.75 %  

Interest Rate Sensitivity Financial Market Risks

Principal Amount by Expected Maturity

At December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

 

     2008     2009     2010     2011     2012     Thereafter     Total     Fair Value at
12/31/07

Assets:

                

Marketable securities

   $ 10,030     $ 29,835     $ 6,736     $ 11,498     $ 6,671     $ 2,904     $ 67,674     $ 67,559

Weighted average interest rate

     4.01 %     4.03 %     4.42 %     5.19 %     4.78 %     4.88 %     4.37 %  

Liabilities

                

Long-term debt

   $ 28     $ 31     $ 33     $ 35     $ 37     $ 253     $ 417     $ 417

Weighted average interest rate

     6.75 %     6.75 %     6.75 %     6.75 %     6.75 %     6.75 %     6.75 %  

In comparison to the prior year, our risk with regard to fluctuations in interest rates has decreased slightly with regard to our marketable securities due to a decline in outstanding balances. Our risk with regard to our indebtedness increased due to the outstanding balance on our line of credit.

 

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Commodity Price Exposure

As of September 30, 2008, we have exposure to adverse price fluctuations associated with certain inventories and accounts receivable. Farming inventories consist of farming cultural and processing costs related to 2008 and 2007 crop production. The farming costs inventoried are recorded at actual costs incurred. Historically, these costs have been recovered each year when that year’s crop harvest has been sold.

With respect to accounts receivable, the amount at risk relates primarily to farm crops. These receivables are recorded as estimates of the prices that ultimately will be received for the crops. The final price is generally not known for several months following the close of our fiscal year. Of the accounts receivable outstanding at September 30, 2008, $3,686,000 is at risk to changing prices. Of the amount at risk to changing prices, $690,000 is attributable to almonds and $2,996,000 is attributable to pistachios. The comparable amount of accounts receivable at risk to price changes at December 31, 2007 was $7,091,000. Of the December 31, 2007 amount at risk to changing prices, $2,727,000 was related to almonds, $3,407,000 was related to pistachios, and $957,000 was related to walnuts.

The price estimated for recording accounts receivable for almonds recorded at September 30, 2008 was $1.78 per pound, as compared to $1.67 per pound at December 31, 2007. For each $.01 change in the price of almonds, our receivable for almonds increases or decreases by $3,900. Although the final price of almonds (and therefore the extent of the risk) is not presently known, over the last three years prices have ranged from $1.00 to $3.80. With respect to pistachios, the price estimated for recording the receivable was $2.10 per pound. For each $.01 change in the price of pistachios, our receivable for pistachios increases or decreases by $14,300. The range of final prices over the last three years for pistachios has ranged from $1.05 to $2.30 per pound.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Controller, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that all information required in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act was accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period required by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

(b) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rule 13a-15 or Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Not applicable.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A or elsewhere in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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

Not applicable.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

Not applicable.

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

None

 

Item 5. Other Information

None

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

(a) Exhibits –
          Page Number
    3.1          Restated Certificate of Incorporation    FN 1
    3.2          By-Laws    FN 1
    4.1          Form of First Additional Investment Right    FN 2
    4.2          Form of Second Additional Investment Right    FN 3
    4.3          Registration and Reimbursement Agreement    FN 12
  10.1          Water Service Contract with Wheeler Ridge-Maricopa Water Storage District (without exhibits),
amendments originally filed under Item 11 to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
   FN 4

 

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  10.5         Petro Travel Plaza Operating Agreement    FN 5
*10.6         Amended and Restated Stock Option Agreement Pursuant to the 1992 Employee Stock Incentive Plan    FN 5
*10.7         Severance Agreement    FN 5
*10.8         Director Compensation Plan    FN 5
*10.9         Non-Employee Director Stock Incentive Plan    FN 5
*10.9(1)   Stock Option Agreement Pursuant to the Non-Employee Director Stock Incentive Plan    FN 5
*10.10       1998 Stock Incentive Plan    FN 5
*10.10(1)   Stock Option Agreement Pursuant to the 1998 Stock Incentive Plan    FN 5
*10.11       Employment Contract - Robert A. Stine    FN 5
*10.15       Amendment to 1998 Stock Incentive Plan    FN 6
  10.16       Lease Agreement with Calpine Corp.    FN 7
  10.17       Tejon/DP Partners Operating Agreement    FN 7
  10.18       Centennial Founders LLC Agreement    FN 8
  10.19         Form of Securities Purchase Agreement    FN 9
  10.20         Form of Registration Rights Agreement    FN 10
*10.21         2004 Stock Incentive Program    FN 11
*10.22         Form of Restricted Stock Agreement    FN 11
*10.23         Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement    FN 11
  10.24         Tejon Mountain Village LLC Operating Agreement    FN 13
  10.28         Tejon Ranch Conservation and Land Use Agreement    FN 14
  31.1         Certification as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002   
  31.2         Certification as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002   
  32        

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

  

 

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* Management plan, compensatory plan or arrangement

 

FN 1

   This document, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. (file number 1-7183) under Item 14 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 1987, is incorporated herein by reference.

FN 2

   This document, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. (file number 1-7183) as Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 7, 2004, is incorporated herein by reference.

FN 3

   This document, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. (file number I-7183) as Exhibit 4.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 7, 2004, is incorporated herein by reference.

FN 4

   This document, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. (file number 1-7183) under Item 14 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 1994, is incorporated herein by reference.

FN 5

   This document, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. (file number 1-7183) under Item 6 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the period ending December 31, 1997, is incorporated herein by reference.

FN 6

   This document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. (file number 1-7183) under Item 14 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000, is incorporated herein by reference.

FN 7

   This document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. (file number 1-7183) under Item 14 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, is incorporated herein by reference.

FN 8

   This document, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. (file number 1-7183) under Item 6 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for the period ending September 30, 2002, is incorporated herein by reference

FN 9

   This document, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. (file number 1-7183) as Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 7, 2004, is incorporated herein by reference.

FN 10

   This document, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. (file number 1/7183) as Exhibit 10.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 7, 2004, is incorporated herein by reference.

FN 11

   This document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. (file number 1-7183) under Item 14 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, is incorporated herein by reference.

FN 12

   This document, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. (file number 1-7183) as Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 20, 2005, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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FN 13

   This document, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. (file number 1-7183) as Exhibit 10.24 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 24, 2006, is incorporated herein by reference.

FN 14

   This document, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. (file number 1-7183) as Exhibit 10.28 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 23, 2008, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(b) Current Reports on Form 8-K filed during the period covered by this report -

 

  1. Press release announcing the results of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2008. The date of the report was August 1, 2008.

 

  2. Press release providing notification that erroneous information was being circulated regarding trading in the company’s stock by its largest shareholder. The date of the report was September 3, 2008.

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

    TEJON RANCH CO.
    (The Company)
  November 10, 2008     BY   /s/ Allen E. Lyda
  DATE      

Allen E. Lyda

Vice President, Chief

Financial Officer

 

34