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Real Estate Development
12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2023
Real Estate [Abstract]  
Real Estate Development Real Estate Development
Real estate development assets are comprised of land and land development costs for the East Area II property in the amount of $9,987,000 and $9,706,000 as of October 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
East Area I, Retained Property and East Area II
In fiscal year 2005, the Company began capitalizing the costs of two real estate development projects east of Santa Paula, California, for the development of 550 acres of land into residential units, commercial buildings and civic facilities. In November 2015 (the “Transaction Date”), the Company entered into a joint venture with The Lewis Group of Companies (“Lewis”) for the residential development of its East Area I real estate development project. To consummate the transaction, the Company formed Limoneira Lewis Community Builders, LLC (“LLCB”) as the development entity, contributed its East Area I property to LLCB, and sold a 50% interest to Lewis for $20,000,000.
The Company and LLCB also entered into a Retained Property Development Agreement on the Transaction Date (the “Retained Property Agreement”). Under the terms of the Retained Property Agreement, LLCB transferred certain contributed East Area I property, which is entitled for commercial development, back to the Company (the “Retained Property”) and arranged for the design and construction of certain improvements to the Retained Property, subject to certain reimbursements by the Company. The balance in East Area II includes estimated costs incurred by and reimbursable to LLCB of $3,444,000 as of October 31, 2023 and 2022, which is included in payables to related parties.
6. Real Estate Development (continued)
In January 2018, LLCB entered into a $45,000,000 unsecured Line of Credit Loan Agreement and Promissory Note (the “Loan”) with Bank of America, N.A. to fund early development activities. Effective as of February 22, 2023, the Loan maturity date was extended to February 22, 2024, and the maximum borrowing amount was reduced to $35,000,000. As of February 1, 2023, the interest rate on the Loan transitioned from the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) to the Bloomberg Short-Term Bank Yield Index rate (“BSBY”) plus 2.85% and is payable monthly. The Loan contains certain customary default provisions and LLCB may prepay any amounts outstanding under the Loan without penalty. The Loan had no outstanding balance of as of October 31, 2023.
In February 2018, the Company and certain principals from Lewis guaranteed the obligations under the Loan. The guarantors are jointly and severally liable for all Loan obligations in the event of default by LLCB. The guarantee continues in effect until all of the Loan obligations are fully paid and the Loan terminates. The $1,080,000 estimated value of the guarantee was recorded in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and is included in other long-term liabilities with a corresponding value in equity in investments. Additionally, a Reimbursement Agreement was executed between the Lewis guarantors and the Company, which provides for unpaid liabilities of LLCB to be shared pro-rata by the Lewis guarantors and the Company in proportion to their percentage interest in LLCB.
In October 2022, the Company entered into a joint venture with Lewis for the development of the Retained Property. The Company formed LLCB II, LLC (“LLCB II”) as the development entity, contributed the Retained Property to the joint venture and sold a 50% interest to Lewis for $7,975,000. After transaction costs, the Company received net proceeds of $7,917,000 and recorded a gain on the transaction of $4,652,000, of which $465,000 was deferred and $4,187,000 is included in (gain) loss on disposal of assets, net in the consolidated statements of operations for fiscal year 2022. The joint venture partners will share in the capital contributions to fund project costs until loan proceeds and/or revenues are sufficient to fund the project. In connection with the closing, the Company and Lewis amended LLCB’s Limited Liability Company Agreement to provide that LLCB is to include the processing of final approval for additional residential units to be developed and constructed on the Retained Property. The Company made contributions of $525,000 to LLCB II in fiscal year 2023.
Through October 31, 2023, LLCB has closed on lot sales representing 707 residential units since inception, including 121 residential units in fiscal year 2023.
Other Real Estate Development Projects
In fiscal year 2020, the Company entered into an agreement to sell its Sevilla property for $2,700,000, which closed in November 2022. After transaction and other costs, the Company received cash proceeds of approximately $2,577,000 and recorded an immaterial loss on disposal of assets during fiscal year 2023.
In December 2017, the Company sold its Centennial property with a net book value of $2,983,000 for $3,250,000. The Company received cash and a $3,000,000 promissory note secured by the property for the balance of the purchase. In fiscal year 2022, the promissory note was paid in full and the deferred gain of $161,000 was recorded in (gain) loss on disposal of assets, net.