Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Basis of Presentation

The Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the continuity of operations, the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.

The Company incurred losses of $31.2 million and $37.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Company had working capital of $10.7 million at December 31, 2021 and used cash in operations of $15.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The higher loss in 2020 was primarily due to a loss on early extinguishment of debt in the amount of $12.4 million, which was a non-cash charge, reflecting the excess of the fair value of new preferred stock issued over the historical book value of the related convertible debt retired pursuant to certain conversion and exchange agreements entered into in March 2020, offset by higher compensation costs in 2021 related to stock-based non cash bonus awards to employees and an increase in general and administrative expenses primarily related to legal fees and technical studies related to putting the Northern Pipeline into use in 2021.

Cash requirements during the year ended December 31, 2021 primarily reflect certain administrative costs related to the Company’s water project development efforts, the further development of its land and agricultural assets, including its 50% equity investment in SoCal Hemp JV LLC, and fees associated with the Company’s refinancing and issuance of preferred stock. The Company’s present activities are focused on development of its assets in ways that meet growing long-term demand for access to sustainable water supplies and agricultural products.

In July 2020, the Company entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement under which the Company could issue and sell shares of its common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $30 million from time to time in an “at-the-market” offering (the “July 2020 ATM Offering”). As of July 2, 2021, the Company had sold the $30 million in common stock authorized in the July 2020 ATM Offering through the sale of 2,748,339 shares resulting in aggregate net proceeds of approximately $29.2 million.

On June 7, 2021, the Company completed the sale and issuance of 1,219,512 shares of the Company’s common stock to certain institutional investors under a placement agent agreement with B. Riley Securities, Inc. (“BRS”). The shares of common stock were sold at a purchase price of $12.30 per share, for an aggregate gross purchase price of approximately $15 million. The Company used the net proceeds from this offering together with cash on hand to fund a $19 million payment made on June 30, 2021 to complete the acquisition of a 124-mile extension of its Northern Pipeline.

On June 29, 2021, the Company entered into an Underwriting Agreement with BRS as representative of the several underwriters named therein, to issue and sell an aggregate of 2,000,000 depositary shares (the “Depositary Shares”), as well as up to 300,000 Depositary Shares that may be sold pursuant to the exercise of an option to purchase additional Depositary Shares, each representing 1/1000^th of a share of Series A Preferred Stock (“Depositary Share Offering”). The liquidation preference of each share of Series A Preferred Stock is $25,000.00 ($25.00 per Depositary Share). The Depositary Share Offering was completed on July 2, 2021 for net proceeds of approximately $54 million.

In May 2017, the Company entered into a $60 million credit agreement with funds affiliated with Apollo Global Management, LLC (“Apollo”) that replaced and refinanced its then existing $45 million senior secured mortgage debt and provided $15 million of new senior debt to fund immediate construction related expenditures (“Prior Senior Secured Debt”).  The Company entered into two further agreements with Apollo which provided it with the right, at its option, to extend the maturity of the Prior Senior Secured Debt from its then current maturity of May 25, 2021 to May 25, 2022, and to November 25, 2022, respectively. On May 18, 2021, the Company exercised its first extension option to extend the maturity date to May 25, 2022.

On July 2, 2021, the Company entered into a new $50 million senior secured credit agreement with lenders party thereto from time to time (“Lenders”) and BRS, as administrative agent for the Lenders (“Current Senior Secured Debt”) (see Note 6 – “Long-Term Debt”). The proceeds of the Current Senior Secured Debt, together with the proceeds from the Depositary Share Offering, were used (a) to repay all our outstanding obligations under the Prior Senior Secured Debt in the amount of approximately $77.5 million, (b) to deposit approximately $10.2 million into a segregated account, representing an amount sufficient to pre-fund eight quarterly dividend payments on the Series A Preferred Stock underlying the Depositary Shares issued in the Depositary Share Offering, and (c) to pay transaction related expenses. The remaining proceeds will be used for working capital needs and for general corporate purposes. At December 31, 2021, the Company was in compliance with its debt covenants.

The Company may meet its debt and working capital requirements through a variety of means, including extension, refinancing, equity placements, the sale or other disposition of assets, or reductions in operating costs. The covenants in the Current Senior Secured Debt do not prohibit the Company’s use of additional equity financing and allow the Company to retain 100% of the proceeds of any common equity financing.  The Company does not expect the loan covenants to materially limit its ability to finance its water and agricultural development activities.

On March 23, 2022, the Company completed the sale and issuance of 6,857,140 shares of the Company’s common stock to certain institutional and individual investors in a registered direct offering. The shares of common stock were sold at a purchase price of $1.75 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds of $12 million and aggregate net proceeds of approximately $11.8 million. The proceeds will be used for working capital needs and for general corporate purposes. See Note 14 – "Subsequent Events".

Management assesses whether the Company has sufficient liquidity to fund its costs for the next twelve months from the financial statement issuance date. Management evaluates the Company’s liquidity to determine if there is a substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. In the preparation of this liquidity assessment, management applies judgement to estimate the projected cash flows of the Company including the following: (i) projected cash outflows (ii) projected cash inflows and (iii) categorization of expenditures as discretionary versus non-discretionary. The cash flow projections are based on known or planned cash requirements for operating costs as well as planned costs for project development.  

Limitations on the Company’s liquidity and ability to raise capital may adversely affect it. Sufficient liquidity is critical to meet the Company’s resource development activities. Although the Company currently expects its sources of capital to be sufficient to meet its near-term liquidity needs, there can be no assurance that its liquidity requirements will continue to be satisfied. If the Company cannot raise needed funds, it might be forced to make substantial reductions in its operating expenses, which could adversely affect its ability to implement its current business plan and ultimately impact its viability as a company.

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Cadiz Inc. and all subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. We apply the equity method of accounting for investments in which we have significant influence but not a controlling interest.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates in Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles 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 the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. In preparing these financial statements, management has made estimates with regard to goodwill and other long-lived assets, stock compensation and deferred tax assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes rental income through its agricultural leases with Fenner Valley Farms LLC and SoCal Hemp JV LLC.

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Policy Text Block]

Stock-Based Compensation

General and administrative expenses include $4.7 million and $2.1 million of stock-based compensation expenses in the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Stock-based compensation is generally based upon grants of stock awards and restricted stock units (“RSU”) to its employees and consultants under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. For stock awards or RSUs granted, the Company determines the fair value of the stock award or RSU at the date of the grant and recognizes the compensation expense over the vesting period. For RSUs which vest upon completion of certain milestones, the fair value of the RSU is recognized when it is probable that the milestone will be achieved. 

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Net Loss Per Common Share

Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss applicable to common stock by the weighted-average common shares outstanding. Options, restricted stock units, convertible debt, convertible preferred shares and warrants were not considered in the computation of net loss per share because their inclusion would have been antidilutive. Had these instruments been included, the fully diluted weighted average shares outstanding would have increased by approximately 3,000,000 shares and 2,956,000 shares for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Property, Plant, Equipment and Water Programs

Property, plant, equipment and water programs are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, generally ten to forty-five years for land improvements and buildings, and five to fifteen years for machinery and equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the term of the relevant lease agreement or the estimated useful life of the asset.

Water rights, storage and supply programs are stated at cost. Certain costs directly attributable to the development of such programs have been capitalized by the Company. These costs, which are expected to be recovered through future revenues, consist of direct labor, drilling costs, consulting fees for various engineering, hydrological, environmental and additional feasibility studies, and other professional and legal fees. We have not commenced depreciation of these assets as they are not yet in service. While interest on borrowed funds is currently expensed, interest costs related to the construction of water project facilities will be capitalized at the time construction of these facilities commences.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Goodwill

As a result of a merger in May 1988 between two companies which eventually became known as Cadiz Inc., goodwill in the amount of $7,006,000 was recorded.  Approximately $3,193,000 of this amount was amortized prior to the adoption of Accounting Standards Codification 350, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other” (“ASC 350”) on January 1, 2002.  Since the adoption of ASC 350, there have been no goodwill impairments recorded. The Cadiz reporting unit to which $3.8 million of goodwill is allocated had a positive carrying amount on December 31, 2021, and a negative carrying amount in 2020.  As the Company uses the market approach to assess impairment, its common stock price is an important component of the fair value calculation. If the Company’s stock price continues to experience significant price declines, this will impact the fair value of the reporting unit and could lead to potential impairment charges in future periods. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that the Company will not record an impairment loss on goodwill in the future.

Deferred Charges, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Deferred Financing Costs

Deferred loan costs represent costs incurred to obtain debt financing.  Such costs are amortized over the life of the related loan using the effective interest method, and are presented as a reduction of long-term debt.  Deferred loan costs were $2.3 million and $0.8 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. 

Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Impairment of Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets

The Company assesses long-lived assets, excluding goodwill, for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable through the estimated undiscounted future cash flows resulting from the use of the assets. If it is determined that the carrying value of long-lived assets may not be recoverable, the potential impairment charge is measured by using the projected discounted cash-flow method. No impairment charge was recorded during the current fiscal year.

The Company performs an annual impairment test to identify potential goodwill impairment and measure the amount of a goodwill impairment loss to be recognized (if any).  In performing the impairment test, we have the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative assessment for goodwill impairment.  If the qualitative assessment indicates that it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, we perform a quantitative assessment.

This impairment assessment is performed at least annually in the fourth quarter.  An impairment loss will be recognized for the amount by which the reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill in that reporting unit.  In our annual impairment analysis for the fourth quarter 2021, the goodwill was evaluated utilizing a qualitative assessment.  Based on this assessment, we determined that the fair value of the reporting unit was more-likely-than-not greater than its respective carrying value; therefore, no impairment charge was recorded during the current fiscal year.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes

Income taxes are provided for using an asset and liability approach which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities at the applicable enacted tax rates. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Financial assets with carrying values approximating fair value include cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. Financial liabilities with carrying values approximating fair value include accounts payable and accrued liabilities due to their short-term nature. The carrying value of the Company’s secured debt approximates fair value, based on interest rates available to the Company for debt with similar terms. See Note 6 – “Long-Term Debt”, for discussion of fair value of debt.

Equity Method Investments [Policy Text Block]

SoCal Hemp JV

On July 31, 2019, SoCal Hemp JV LLC (the “JV”) was created by Cadiz Real Estate LLC (a fully owned subsidiary of Cadiz Inc.) and SoCal Hemp Co., LLC (a fully owned subsidiary of Glass House Brands, Inc., which is an unrelated company to Cadiz Inc.) when the two parties entered into a Limited Liability Company Agreement (“LLC Agreement”). The JV is 50% owned by Cadiz Real Estate LLC and 50% owned by SoCal Hemp Co., LLC ("SCHCO"). Pursuant to the LLC Agreement, the JV profits and losses are allocated to the members based on their ownership share. The Company accounts for its investment in the JV using the equity method of accounting.

The carrying value of the investment was $1.0 million at December 31, 2021, and $1.4 million at December 31, 2020. During 2021, the Company made contributions to the JV of $0.8 million, offset by $0.2 million in repayments by SCHCO to the Company for their share of initial costs which was funded by the Company under the LLC Agreement, and recorded $1.0 million of losses. The losses resulted from a determination to write-off the cost of the 2021 plantings due to the continued significant reduced market price for hemp biomass experienced in 2021 due to an oversupply of product in the marketplace.

Cash Flow Supplemental [Policy Text Block]

Supplemental Cash Flow Information

During the year ended December 31, 2021, approximately $2.6 million in interest payments on the Company’s senior secured debt was paid in cash. There are no scheduled principal payments due on the Current Senior Secured Debt prior to its maturity.

On May 18, 2021, the Company exercised its first extension option to extend the maturity date of the Prior Senior Secured Debt from May 25, 2021 to May 25, 2022 (“First Option Election Notice”). At the time of the First Option Election Notice, the Company paid an extension option fee equal to 1% of the aggregate amount of the accreted loan value as of the date of such notice (“Extension Option Fee”). The Extension Option Fee was payable in cash or in shares of the Company’s common stock, at the option of the Company in its sole discretion. The Company opted to pay the Extension Option Fee in common stock, and as a result issued 64,356 shares of common stock to its lenders.

In conjunction with the closing of an assignment and assumption agreement (see Note 6 – “Long-Term Debt”), on July 2, 2021, the Company issued 299,210 shares of the Company’s common stock to Apollo related to the repayment of the Prior Senior Secured Debt.

At December 31, 2021, accruals for cash dividends payable on the Series A Preferred Stock was $1.29 million (see Note 8 – “Common and Preferred Stock”). The cash dividends were paid on January 18, 2022.

At December 31, 2021, accruals for purchases of PP&E received was approximately $196 thousand, and are expected to be paid in the first fiscal quarter of 2022.

The balance of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash as shown in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows is comprised of the following:

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash	December 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
(in thousands)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	10,965	$	7,290
Restricted Cash		1,288		-
Long-Term Restricted Cash		7,603		134
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows	$	19,856	$	7,424

The restricted cash amounts primarily represent funds deposited into a segregated account, representing an amount sufficient to pre-fund quarterly dividend payments on Series A Preferred Stock underlying the Depositary Shares issued in the Depositary Share Offering through approximately July 2023. 

Cash payments for income taxes were $10 thousand and $7 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted

In June 2016, FASB issued an accounting standards update which introduces new guidance for the accounting for credit losses on certain financial instruments. This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently assessing this new guidance and expects this new standard will not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Guidance Adopted

In December 2019, FASB issued an accounting standards update which reduces complexity in accounting standards by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740. This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this new standard on January 1, 2021 had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2020, the FASB issued an accounting standards update which simplifies accounting for convertible instruments by removing major separation models required under current U.S. GAAP (“ASU 2020-6”). Consequently, more convertible debt instruments will be reported as a single liability instrument and more convertible preferred stock as a single equity instrument with no separate accounting for embedded conversion features. ASU 2020-06 also removes certain settlement conditions required for equity contracts to qualify for the derivative scope exception, which will permit more equity contracts to be eligible for it. The ASU also simplifies the diluted earnings per share (EPS) calculation in certain areas.  ASU 2020-06 is effective for public business entities, excluding entities eligible to be smaller reporting companies as defined by the SEC, for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020.  The Company early adopted the provisions of ASU 2020-06 effective January 1, 2021, on the modified retrospective transition method, to take advantage of the removal of certain conditions required for equity contracts to qualify for the derivative scope exception.  Adopting ASU 2020-06 did not result in a cumulative impact of adoption during the year ended December 31, 2021.