Lifeway Foods - 10-Q quarterly report FY2011 Q3

Lifeway Foods, Inc. (The “Company”) commenced operations in February 1986 and incorporated under the laws of the state of Illinois on May 19, 1986. The Company’s principal business activity is the production of dairy products. Specifically, the Company produces Kefir, a drinkable product which is similar to but distinct from yogurt, in several flavors sold under the name “Lifeway’s Kefir;” a plain farmer’s cheese sold under the name “Lifeway’s Farmer’s Cheese;” a fruit sugar-flavored product similar in consistency to cream cheese sold under the name of “Sweet Kiss;” and a dairy beverage, similar to Kefir, with increased protein and calcium, sold under the name “Basics Plus.”  The Company also produces a vegetable-based seasoning under the name “Golden Zesta.” The Company currently distributes its products throughout the Chicago Metropolitan area and various cities in the East Coast through local food stores.  In addition, the products are sold throughout the United States and Ontario, Canada by distributors. The Company also distributes some of its products to Eastern Europe.

A summary of the significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of the accompanying financial statements follows:

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q.  Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.  However, such information reflects all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments), which are, in the opinion of Management, necessary for fair statement of results for the interim periods.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, LFI Enterprises, Inc., Helios Nutrition, Ltd., Pride of Main Street, L.L.C., Starfruit, L.L.C., Fresh Made, Inc. and Starfruit Franchisor, L.L.C.  In 2010, the Company acquired the assets of First Juice, Inc. (“First Juice”) and consolidated the operations into the operations of the Company.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.  The financial statements include the results of operations from the acquisition of the assets of First Juice from October 14, 2010 through the end of the period (see Note 3).

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.  Significant estimates made in preparing the consolidated financial statements include the allowance for doubtful accounts and discounts, the valuation of investment securities, the valuation of goodwill, intangible assets, and deferred taxes.

Sales of Company produced dairy products are recorded at the time of shipment and the following four criteria have been met: (i)  The product has been shipped and the Company has no significant remaining obligations; (ii)  Persuasive evidence of an agreement exists; (iii)  The price to the buyer is fixed or determinable and (iv)  Collection is probable.  In addition, shipping costs invoiced to the customers are included in net sales and the related cost in cost of sales.  Discounts and allowances are reported as a reduction of gross sales unless the allowance is attributable to an identifiable benefit separable from the purchase of the product, the value of which can be reasonably estimated, which would be charged to the appropriate expense account.

 

 

 

All highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less are considered to be cash equivalents.

The Company maintains cash deposits at several institutions located in the greater Chicago, Illinois and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania metropolitan areas.

All investment securities are classified as available-for-sale and are carried at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Amortization, accretion, interest and dividends, realized gains and losses, and declines in value judged to be other-than-temporary on available-for-sale securities are recorded in other income. All of the Company's securities are subject to a periodic impairment evaluation. This evaluation depends on the specific facts and circumstances. Factors that we consider in determining whether an other-than-temporary decline in value has occurred include: the market value of the security in relation to its cost basis; the financial condition of the investee; and the intent and ability to retain the investment for a sufficient period of time to allow for possible recovery in the market value of the investment.

 

Credit terms are extended to customers in the normal course of business.  The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and generally requires no collateral.

Accounts receivable are recorded at invoice amounts, and reduced to their estimated net realizable value by recognition of an allowance for doubtful accounts and anticipated discounts.  The Company’s estimate of the allowances for doubtful accounts and anticipated discounts are based upon historical experience, its evaluation of the current status and contract terms of specific receivables, and unusual circumstances, if any.  Accounts are considered past due if payment is not made on a timely basis in accordance with the Company’s credit terms.  Accounts considered uncollectible are charged against the allowance.

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, cost being determined by the first-in, first-out method.

 

Property and equipment is stated at depreciated cost or fair value where depreciated cost is not recoverable.  Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method.  When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gain or loss is recognized in income for the period.  The cost of maintenance and repairs is charged to income as incurred; significant renewals and betterments are capitalized.

Property and equipment is being depreciated over the following useful lives:

 

 

 

 

The Company accounts for intangible assets at historical cost.  Intangible assets acquired in a business combination are recorded under the purchase method of accounting at their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition.  Goodwill represents the excess purchase price over the fair value of the net tangible and other identifiable intangible assets acquired.  Goodwill is not amortized, but is reviewed for impairment at least annually.  Brand assets represent the fair value of brands acquired.  Brand assets have an indefinite life and therefore are not amortized, rather are reviewed periodically for impairment.  The Company amortizes other intangible assets over their estimated useful lives, as disclosed in the table below.

The Company reviews intangible assets and their related useful lives at least once per year to determine if any adverse conditions exist that would indicate the carrying value of these assets may not be recoverable.   The Company conducts more frequent impairment assessments if certain conditions exist, including:  a change in the competitive landscape, any internal decisions to pursue new or different strategies, a loss of a significant customer, or a significant change in the market place including changes in the prices paid for the Company’s products or changes in the size of the market for the Company’s products.

If the estimate of an intangible asset’s remaining useful life is changed, the remaining carrying amount of the intangible asset is amortized prospectively over the revised remaining useful life.

Intangible assets are being amortized over the following useful lives:

Deferred income taxes are the result of temporary differences that arise from income and expense items reported for financial accounting and tax purposes in different periods. Deferred taxes are classified as current or non-current, depending on the classification of the assets and liabilities to which they relate.  Deferred taxes arising from temporary differences that are not related to an asset or liability are classified as current or non-current depending on the periods in which the temporary differences are expected to reverse.

The principal sources of temporary differences are different depreciation and amortization methods for financial statement and tax purposes, unrealized gains or losses related to investments, capitalization of indirect costs for tax purposes, purchase price adjustments, and the recognition of an allowance for doubtful accounts for financial statement purposes.

 

 

The Company has analyzed filing positions in all of the federal and state jurisdictions where it is required to file income tax returns, as well as all open tax years in these jurisdictions. The only periods subject to examination for the Company’s federal return are the 2009 and 2010 tax years. The Company believes that its income tax filing positions and deductions would be sustained on audit and does not anticipate any adjustments that would result in a material change to its financial position. Therefore, no reserves for uncertain income tax positions have been recorded.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2010, the IRS completed a review of the Company’s 2007 and 2008 federal tax return filings, resulting in a liability of approximately $220,000 being recognized and paid during 2010.  The Company’s policy for recording interest and penalties associated with audits is to record such items as a component of income before taxes. There were no such items during the periods covered in this report.

Treasury stock is recorded using the cost method.

 

Earnings per common share were computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 and for the year ended December 31, 2010, diluted and basic earnings per share were the same, as the effect of dilutive securities options outstanding was not significant.

Certain 2010 balance sheet amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2011 presentation.

 Note 3 – ACQUISITIONS

On October 14, 2010, Lifeway purchased certain assets of First Juice, Inc., a producer of organic fruit and vegetable juice beverages designed for children.  The consideration for substantially all of the assets was an aggregate of $770,000, consisting of a $500,000 previous investment in preferred stock and an additional $270,000 cash paid in 2010.  Production was moved to Lifeway facilities upon closing of the acquisition.  The acquisition was consummated to expand the Company’s presence in the children’s market, increase distribution channels for existing Lifeway products, and increase diversification of the Company’s products.   There were no significant liabilities assumed.  Acquisition costs for legal and professional fees have been included in General and Administrative costs and were not significant.  The entire amount of goodwill resulting from the acquisition is tax deductible.

 

The estimated fair value of assets acquired, including the real property, and liabilities assumed consisted of the following:

Had the acquisition occurred on January 1, 2010, the impact on the gross revenue and net income of the Company would not have been significant and would have had no impact on earnings per share for the full year ended December 31, 2010.

 

Intangible assets, and the related accumulated amortization, consist of the following:

Amortization expense is expected to be as follows for the 12 months ending September 30:

Amortization expense during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 and the year ended December 31, 2010 was $587,874, $527,281 and $724,537, respectively.

The cost and fair value of investments classified as available for sale are as follows:

Proceeds from the sale of investments were $5,669,158, $990,397 and $2,868,975 during the year ended December 31, 2010 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Gross gains of $451,420, $27,291 and $245,890 and gross losses of $200,940, $62,824 and $192,793 were realized on these sales during the year ended December 31, 2010 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.