Asset Sales and Disposals

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2024

Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]

Northern Properties

In October 2022, the Company entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement, as amended, (the “Agreement”) with PGIM Real Estate Finance, LLC (“PGIM”) to sell 3,537 acres of land and citrus orchards in Tulare County, California (the “Northern Properties”) for a purchase price of approximately $100,405,000. On January 25, 2023, the Board approved the Agreement creating a binding agreement of the Company to sell the Northern Properties and the transaction closed on January 31, 2023. During the quarter ended April 30, 2023, the purchase price was decreased by $397,000 for reimbursement of certain cultural costs and prepaid expenses, resulting in a final purchase price of $100,008,000. After transaction costs the Company received net proceeds of $98,411,000.

The following is a summary of the transaction (in thousands):


Net cash proceeds received	$	85,494
Debt directly repaid through the transaction	12,917
Total net proceeds received	98,411
Less: net book value of assets sold
Cultural costs	3,853
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	155
Property, plant and equipment, net	53,144
Intangible assets, net	12
Other assets	1,320
Accrued liabilities	(68)
	58,416
Gain on disposal of assets	$	39,995

The proceeds were used to pay down all of the Company’s domestic debt except the AgWest Farm Credit $40,000,000 non-revolving line of credit.

On January 31, 2023, the Company entered into a Farm Management Agreement (“FMA”) with an affiliate of PGIM to provide farming, management and operations services related to the Northern Properties. The FMA had an initial term expiring March 31, 2024, and thereafter continues from year to year unless earlier terminated under the terms of the FMA. Further, on January 31, 2023, the Company entered into a Grower Packing and Marketing Agreement to provide packing, marketing and selling services for lemons harvested on the Northern Properties for a minimum five-year term, subject to certain benchmarking standards.

3. Asset Sales and Disposals (continued)

Yuma Property

In December 2023, the Company sold 12 acres of real property located in Yuma, Arizona for a sales price of $775,000. After transaction and closing costs, the Company recorded a gain on disposal of assets of approximately $187,000 during the quarter ended January 31, 2024.

Cadiz Ranch

In April 2023, the Company determined that citrus farming operations were economically unviable on 670 acres of leased agricultural land at the Cadiz Ranch. As a result, the Company ceased farming operations at the Cadiz Ranch, disposed of the related property, plant and equipment and recorded a loss on disposal of assets of $9,012,000 during the quarter ended April 30, 2023.