a50258163.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
Form 10-Q
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( X )
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QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012
OR
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( )
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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Commission File Number 1-9035
POPE RESOURCES, A DELAWARE
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
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91-1313292
|
(State or other jurisdiction of
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(IRS Employer
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incorporation or organization)
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Identification Number)
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19245 10th Avenue NE, Poulsbo, WA 98370
Telephone: (360) 697-6626
(Address of principal executive offices including zip code)
(Registrant's telephone number including area code)
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 o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No o
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 definition of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one)
Large Accelerated Filer o |
Accelerated Filer x |
Non-accelerated Filer o |
Smaller Reporting Company o |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)YesoNo x
Partnership units outstanding at April 30, 2012: 4,409,427
Pope Resources
Index to Form 10-Q Filing
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2012
Description
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Page Number
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4
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5
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6
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7
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12
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30
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30
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30
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31
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31
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31
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31
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31
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31
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32
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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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Pope Resources, a Delaware Limited Partnership
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March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011
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(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
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2012
|
|
|
2011
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Partnership cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$ |
209 |
|
|
$ |
249 |
|
ORM Timber Funds cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
934 |
|
|
|
2,404 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
1,143 |
|
|
|
2,653 |
|
Accounts receivable, net
|
|
|
1,532 |
|
|
|
1,876 |
|
Building and land held for sale
|
|
|
1,258 |
|
|
|
1,255 |
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Current portion of contracts receivable
|
|
|
13 |
|
|
|
80 |
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Prepaid expenses and other
|
|
|
795 |
|
|
|
853 |
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Total current assets
|
|
|
4,741 |
|
|
|
6,717 |
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Properties and equipment, at cost
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Timber and roads, net of accumulated depletion
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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of $73,371 and $71,955
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|
|
153,149 |
|
|
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154,236 |
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Timberland
|
|
|
34,130 |
|
|
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34,130 |
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Land held for development
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|
|
28,615 |
|
|
|
28,413 |
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Buildings and equipment, net of accumulated
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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depreciation of $6,221 and $6,203
|
|
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5,924 |
|
|
|
6,019 |
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Total properties and equipment, at cost
|
|
|
221,818 |
|
|
|
222,798 |
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Other assets
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Contracts receivable, net of current portion
|
|
|
300 |
|
|
|
409 |
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Other
|
|
|
480 |
|
|
|
484 |
|
Total other assets
|
|
|
780 |
|
|
|
893 |
|
Total assets
|
|
$ |
227,339 |
|
|
$ |
230,408 |
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|
|
|
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|
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LIABILITIES, PARTNERS' CAPITAL AND NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
|
|
|
|
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Current liabilities
|
|
|
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|
|
|
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Accounts payable
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$ |
1,380 |
|
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$ |
1,328 |
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Accrued liabilities
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|
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1,886 |
|
|
|
3,021 |
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Current portion of long-term debt
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|
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32 |
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|
|
32 |
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Deferred revenue
|
|
|
661 |
|
|
|
447 |
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Other current liabilities
|
|
|
388 |
|
|
|
468 |
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Total current liabilities
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|
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4,347 |
|
|
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5,296 |
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Long-term liabilities
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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Long-term debt, net of current portion
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|
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45,689 |
|
|
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45,793 |
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Other long-term liabilities
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|
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2,136 |
|
|
|
2,161 |
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Partners' capital and noncontrolling interests
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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General partners' capital (units issued and outstanding 60 and 60)
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|
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1,064 |
|
|
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1,063 |
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Limited partners' capital (units issued and outstanding 4,291 and 4,269)
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|
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74,484 |
|
|
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74,696 |
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Noncontrolling interests
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|
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99,619 |
|
|
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101,399 |
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Total partners' capital and noncontrolling interests
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|
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175,167 |
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|
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177,158 |
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Total liabilities, partners' capital, and noncontrolling interests
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$ |
227,339 |
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$ |
230,408 |
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|
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See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
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Pope Resources, a Delaware Limited Partnership
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For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011
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(in thousands, except per unit data)
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Three Months Ended March 31,
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2012
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2011
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|
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|
|
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Revenue
|
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$ |
8,804 |
|
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$ |
17,674 |
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Cost of timber and land sold
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|
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(4,141 |
) |
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(8,856 |
) |
Operating expenses
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|
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(2,429 |
) |
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(2,978 |
) |
General and administrative expenses
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|
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(1,164 |
) |
|
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(1,078 |
) |
Income from operations
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|
|
1,070 |
|
|
|
4,762 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Other income (expense)
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|
|
|
|
|
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Interest expense
|
|
|
(530 |
) |
|
|
(574 |
) |
Capitalized interest
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|
|
130 |
|
|
|
98 |
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Interest income
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|
|
7 |
|
|
|
12 |
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Total other expense
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(393 |
) |
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(464 |
) |
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Income before income taxes
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|
677 |
|
|
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4,298 |
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Income tax benefit (expense)
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36 |
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(56 |
) |
Net income
|
|
|
713 |
|
|
|
4,242 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Other comprehensive income adjustments
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- |
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- |
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Other comprehensive income
|
|
|
713 |
|
|
|
4,242 |
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Plus: Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling
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|
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interests ORM Timber Funds
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|
|
493 |
|
|
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(562 |
) |
Comprehensive income attributable to unitholders
|
|
$ |
1,206 |
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$ |
3,680 |
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Allocable to general partners
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$ |
17 |
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$ |
51 |
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Allocable to limited partners
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1,189 |
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3,629 |
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$ |
1,206 |
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$ |
3,680 |
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Earnings per unit attributable to unitholders
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|
|
|
|
|
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Basic
|
|
$ |
0.27 |
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$ |
0.82 |
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Diluted
|
|
$ |
0.27 |
|
|
$ |
0.82 |
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|
|
|
|
|
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Weighted average units outstanding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Basic
|
|
|
4,345 |
|
|
|
4,306 |
|
Diluted
|
|
|
4,347 |
|
|
|
4,309 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Distributions per unit
|
|
$ |
0.35 |
|
|
$ |
0.25 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
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|
Pope Resources, a Delaware Limited Partnership
|
Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
2011
|
|
Net income
|
|
$ |
713 |
|
|
$ |
4,242 |
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depletion
|
|
|
1,386 |
|
|
|
3,292 |
|
Capitalized development activities, net of reimbursements
|
|
|
(205 |
) |
|
|
(252 |
) |
Equity-based compensation
|
|
|
371 |
|
|
|
227 |
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
170 |
|
|
|
173 |
|
Deferred taxes
|
|
|
(23 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Cash flows from changes in operating accounts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts receivable, net
|
|
|
344 |
|
|
|
(1,161 |
) |
Contracts receivable
|
|
|
176 |
|
|
|
298 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
|
|
|
73 |
|
|
|
35 |
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
|
|
(1,083 |
) |
|
|
745 |
|
Deferred revenue
|
|
|
214 |
|
|
|
11 |
|
Other current liabilities
|
|
|
(80 |
) |
|
|
21 |
|
Other long-term liabilities
|
|
|
(25 |
) |
|
|
(25 |
) |
Other, net
|
|
|
(7 |
) |
|
|
1 |
|
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
|
|
2,024 |
|
|
|
7,607 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reforestation and roads
|
|
|
(329 |
) |
|
|
(243 |
) |
Buildings and equipment
|
|
|
(43 |
) |
|
|
(158 |
) |
Proceeds from fixed asset sale
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
- |
|
ORM Timber Fund II, Inc. land acquisition
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(140 |
) |
Net cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(354 |
) |
|
|
(541 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Repayment of line of credit, net
|
|
|
(96 |
) |
|
|
(4,320 |
) |
Repayment of long-term debt
|
|
|
(8 |
) |
|
|
(7 |
) |
Proceeds from option exercises
|
|
|
12 |
|
|
|
525 |
|
Payroll taxes paid upon restricted unit vesting
|
|
|
(257 |
) |
|
|
(226 |
) |
Cash distributions to unitholders
|
|
|
(1,544 |
) |
|
|
(1,094 |
) |
Cash distributions - ORM Timber Funds, net of distributions to Partnership
|
|
|
(1,287 |
) |
|
|
(2,500 |
) |
Net cash used in financing activities
|
|
|
(3,180 |
) |
|
|
(7,622 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
(1,510 |
) |
|
|
(556 |
) |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
|
|
2,653 |
|
|
|
2,423 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the three-month period
|
|
$ |
1,143 |
|
|
$ |
1,867 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
|
|
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2012
1.
|
The condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 and for the three-month periods then ended have been prepared by Pope Resources, A Delaware Limited Partnership (the “Partnership”) pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited, but, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments and accruals) necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods. The financial information as of December 31, 2011, is derived from the Partnership’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2011, and should be read in conjunction with such financial statements and notes. The results of operations for the interim periods are not indicative of the results of operations that may be achieved for the entire fiscal year ending December 31, 2012.
|
2.
|
The financial statements in the Partnership's 2011 annual report on Form 10-K include a summary of significant accounting policies of the Partnership and should be read in conjunction with this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
|
3.
|
Basic net earnings per unit are calculated by dividing net income attributable to unitholders, adjusted for non-forfeitable distributions paid out to unvested restricted unitholders and Fund II preferred shareholders, by the weighted average units outstanding during the period. Diluted net earnings per unit are calculated by dividing net income attributable to unitholders, adjusted for non-forfeitable distributions paid out to unvested restricted unitholders and Fund II preferred shareholders, by the weighted average units outstanding during the year plus additional units that would have been outstanding assuming the exercise of in-the-money unit equivalents using the treasury stock method, unless the assumed exercise is antidilutive.
|
The table below displays how we arrived at options used to calculate dilutive unit equivalents and subsequent treatment of dilutive unit equivalents based on net income for the period:
|
|
Quarter Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
2012
|
|
|
2011
|
|
Average per unit trading price
|
|
$ |
43.64 |
|
|
$ |
41.70 |
|
Options used in calculation of dilutive unit equivalents
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income attributable to Pope Resources’ unitholders
|
|
$ |
1,206 |
|
|
$ |
3,680 |
|
Dilutive unit equivalents used to calculate dilutive EPS
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
The following table shows how we arrived at basic and diluted income per unit:
|
|
Quarter Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
2012
|
|
|
2011
|
|
Net income attributable to Pope Resources' unitholders
|
|
$ |
1,206 |
|
|
$ |
3,680 |
|
Less:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income attributable to unvested restricted unitholders
|
|
|
(21 |
) |
|
|
(142 |
) |
Dividends paid to Fund II preferred shareholders
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
(4 |
) |
Net income for calculation of EPS
|
|
$ |
1,181 |
|
|
$ |
3,534 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average units outstanding (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
4,345 |
|
|
|
4,306 |
|
Dilutive effect of unit equivalents
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
Diluted
|
|
|
4,347 |
|
|
|
4,309 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings per unit: Basic
|
|
$ |
0.27 |
|
|
$ |
0.82 |
|
Earnings per unit: Diluted
|
|
$ |
0.27 |
|
|
$ |
0.82 |
|
Options to purchase 4,500 units for a weighted exercise price of $17.40 were outstanding at March 31, 2012. Options to purchase 6,500 units at prices ranging from $10.75 to $17.40 per unit were outstanding as of March 31, 2011. There were no out-of-the money options to exclude from the calculation of dilutive unit equivalents for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.
4.
|
In January 2012, the Partnership granted 20,350 restricted units pursuant to the management incentive compensation program. These restricted units vest ratably over four years with the grant date fair value equal to the market place on the date of grant. We recognized $147,000 and $107,000 of equity compensation expense in the first quarters of 2012 and 2011, respectively, related to restricted units granted pursuant to the management incentive compensation program. Simultaneous with the restricted unit grant to management, members of our Board of Directors received 6,000 restricted units in January 2012. Restricted units granted to directors are not part of the management incentive compensation program, but are included in the calculation of total equity compensation expense. These awards to directors vest 50% on the third anniversary and 50% on the fourth anniversary of the date of grant. Total equity compensation expense is recognized over the shorter of the vesting period or the period from date of grant to the point of retirement eligibility. For the first quarters of 2012 and 2011, equity compensation expense was $371,000 and $227,000 respectively.
|
5.
|
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: interest paid, net of amounts capitalized, totaled $274,000 and $430,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Income taxes paid in the first three months of 2012 was $209,000 compared to $29,000 of income taxes paid in the first three months of 2011.
|
6.
|
The Partnership’s financial instruments included cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable, for which the carrying amount of each represents fair value based on current market interest rates or their short-term nature. Carrying amounts of contracts receivable, although long-term, also approximate fair value. Pursuant to accounting guidance, these instruments for the period presented are considered a Level 1 fair value measurement.
|
The Partnership's long-term debt is not actively traded and, as such, fair values were estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, based on the Partnership’s current estimated incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements, which are considered Level 3 inputs. As of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, consolidated fixed-rate debt outstanding had a fair value of approximately $45.6 million and $46.6 million, respectively.
7.
|
The Partnership has two general partners: Pope MGP, Inc. and Pope EGP, Inc. In total, these two entities own 60,000 partnership units. The allocation of distributions and loss between the general and limited partners is pro rata across all units outstanding.
|
8.
|
In the presentation of the Partnership’s revenue and operating income (loss) by segment all intersegment revenue and expense is eliminated to determine externally reported operating income (loss) by business segment. The tables that follow reconcile internally reported income (loss) from operations to externally reported income (loss) from operations by business segment, for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011:
|
|
|
Fee Timber |
|
|
Timberland
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Pope Resources
|
|
ORM Timber
|
|
|
Total Fee
|
|
|
Management &
|
|
|
Real
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, (in thousands)
|
|
Timber
|
|
Funds
|
|
|
Timber
|
|
|
Consulting
|
|
|
Estate
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
Consolidated
|
|
2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue internal
|
|
$ |
7,108 |
|
|
$ |
1,536 |
|
|
$ |
8,644 |
|
|
$ |
476 |
|
|
$ |
311 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
9,431 |
|
Eliminations
|
|
|
(139 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(139 |
) |
|
|
(476 |
) |
|
|
(12 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(627 |
) |
Revenue external
|
|
|
6,969 |
|
|
|
1,536 |
|
|
|
8,505 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
299 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
8,804 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of timber and land sold
|
|
|
(2,945 |
) |
|
|
(1,196 |
) |
|
|
(4,141 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(4,141 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating, general and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
administrative expenses internal
|
|
|
(873 |
) |
|
|
(804 |
) |
|
|
(1,677 |
) |
|
|
(523 |
) |
|
|
(856 |
) |
|
|
(1,164 |
) |
|
|
(4,220 |
) |
Eliminations
|
|
|
12 |
|
|
|
476 |
|
|
|
488 |
|
|
|
139 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
627 |
|
Operating, general and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
administrative expenses external
|
|
|
(861 |
) |
|
|
(328 |
) |
|
|
(1,189 |
) |
|
|
(384 |
) |
|
|
(856 |
) |
|
|
(1,164 |
) |
|
|
(3,593 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
internal
|
|
|
3,290 |
|
|
|
(464 |
) |
|
|
2,826 |
|
|
|
(47 |
) |
|
|
(545 |
) |
|
|
(1,164 |
) |
|
|
1,070 |
|
Eliminations
|
|
|
(127 |
) |
|
|
476 |
|
|
|
349 |
|
|
|
(337 |
) |
|
|
(12 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Income (loss) from operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
external
|
|
$ |
3,163 |
|
|
$ |
12 |
|
|
$ |
3,175 |
|
|
$ |
(384 |
) |
|
$ |
(557 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,164 |
) |
|
$ |
1,070 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue internal
|
|
$ |
11,440 |
|
|
$ |
6,136 |
|
|
$ |
17,576 |
|
|
$ |
567 |
|
|
$ |
227 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
18,370 |
|
Eliminations
|
|
|
(117 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(117 |
) |
|
|
(567 |
) |
|
|
(12 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(696 |
) |
Revenue external
|
|
|
11,323 |
|
|
|
6,136 |
|
|
|
17,459 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
215 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
17,674 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of timber and land sold
|
|
|
(4,508 |
) |
|
|
(4,348 |
) |
|
|
(8,856 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(8,856 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating, general and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
administrative expenses internal
|
|
|
(1,168 |
) |
|
|
(890 |
) |
|
|
(2,058 |
) |
|
|
(544 |
) |
|
|
(1,072 |
) * |
|
|
(1,078 |
) |
|
|
(4,752 |
) |
Eliminations
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
567 |
|
|
|
582 |
|
|
|
114 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
696 |
|
Operating, general and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
administrative expenses external
|
|
|
(1,153 |
) |
|
|
(323 |
) |
|
|
(1,476 |
) |
|
|
(430 |
) |
|
|
(1,072 |
) |
|
|
(1,078 |
) |
|
|
(4,056 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
internal
|
|
|
5,764 |
|
|
|
898 |
|
|
|
6,662 |
|
|
|
23 |
|
|
|
(845 |
) |
|
|
(1,078 |
) |
|
|
4,762 |
|
Eliminations
|
|
|
(102 |
) |
|
|
567 |
|
|
|
465 |
|
|
|
(453 |
) |
|
|
(12 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Income (loss) from operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
external
|
|
$ |
5,662 |
|
|
$ |
1,465 |
|
|
$ |
7,127 |
|
|
$ |
(430 |
) |
|
$ |
(857 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,078 |
) |
|
$ |
4,762 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*Includes $267,000 of environmental remediation expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.
|
ORM Timber Fund I, LP (Fund I), ORM Timber Fund II, Inc. (Fund II), and ORM Timber Fund III (REIT) Inc., (Fund III, and collectively with Fund I and Fund II, the Funds) were formed by Olympic Resource Management LLC (ORMLLC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Pope Resources, for the purpose of attracting capital to purchase timberlands. The objective of these Funds is to generate a return on investments through the acquisition, management, value enhancement and sale of timberland properties. Each Fund will operate for a term of ten years from the end of the drawdown period, with Fund I terminating in August 2017, Fund II terminating in March 2021, and Fund III with an as-yet-undefined term because its drawdown period is still open. Fund III will also have a term of 10 years following the end of the drawdown period. The drawdown period will end at the earlier of placement of all committed capital or 3 years from the date of the final close which is expected by June 30, 2012.
|
|
Pope Resources and ORMLLC together own 20% of Fund I and Fund II and will own between 5% and 10% of Fund III. The Funds are consolidated into the Partnership’s financial statements. The Funds’ statements of operations for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011 reflect income of $12,000 and $1.5 million, respectively. These operating results exclude management fees paid to ORMLLC of $476,000 and $567,000 for the first quarters of 2012 and 2011, respectively, which are eliminated in consolidation.
|
|
The Partnership’s consolidated balance sheet included assets and liabilities of the Funds as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, which were as follows:
|
(in thousands)
|
|
March 31, 2012
|
|
|
December 31, 2011
|
|
Assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
|
$ |
934 |
|
|
$ |
2,404 |
|
Other current assets
|
|
|
156 |
|
|
|
546 |
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
1,090 |
|
|
|
2,950 |
|
Timber, timberland and roads (net of $14,415 and $13,729 of accumulated depletion in 2012 and 2011)
|
|
|
135,750 |
|
|
|
136,313 |
|
Other long-term assets
|
|
|
122 |
|
|
|
126 |
|
Total assets
|
|
$ |
136,962 |
|
|
$ |
139,389 |
|
Liabilities and equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities excluding long-term debt
|
|
$ |
1,317 |
|
|
$ |
1,525 |
|
Current portion of long-term debt
|
|
|
32 |
|
|
|
32 |
|
Long-term debt
|
|
|
11,028 |
|
|
|
11,036 |
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
12,377 |
|
|
|
12,593 |
|
Funds' equity
|
|
|
124,585 |
|
|
|
126,796 |
|
Total liabilities and equity
|
|
$ |
136,962 |
|
|
$ |
139,389 |
|
10.
|
The Partnership has an accrual for estimated environmental remediation costs of $2.1 million as of March 31, 2012 and $2.2 million as of December 31, 2011. The environmental remediation liability represents estimated payments to be made to monitor and remedy certain areas in and around the townsite and millsite at Port Gamble, Washington, and at Port Ludlow, Washington.
|
The environmental liability at March 31, 2012 includes an estimate of $175,000 that management expects to expend in the next 12 months and $2.0 million thereafter. Statistical models have been used to estimate the liability and suggest a potential aggregate range of loss from zero to $4.8 million which represents a two-standard-deviation range from the mean of possible outcomes generated by the Monte Carlo simulation model.
The Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) is continuing to make progress toward the completion of an updated Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS) related to the Port Gamble remediation site. DOE now expects issuance of a final RI/FS in the second or third quarter of 2012. Development of a clean-up action plan and consent decree, with timetables and financial arrangements for completing the remediation, would follow on the heels of achieving that milestone.
During the first quarter of 2012, tests were performed to evaluate suitability and effectiveness of a remediation method within the resort community of Port Ludlow. A draft report has been issued and circulated for comments by environmental remediation consultants and legal counsel. We will continue monitoring the site with the intent to obtain data that point toward feasibility of remedies if and when appropriate.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This report contains a number of projections and statements about our expected financial condition, operating results, and business plans and objectives. These statements reflect management’s estimates based upon our current goals, in light of management’s knowledge of existing circumstances and expectations about future developments. Statements about expectations and future performance are “forward looking statements” which describe our goals, objectives and anticipated performance. These statements are inherently uncertain, and some or all of these statements may not come to pass. Accordingly, you should not interpret these statements as promises that we will perform at a given level or that we will take any or all of the actions we currently expect to take. Our future actions, as well as our actual performance, will vary from our current expectations, and under various circumstances these variations may be material and adverse. Some of the factors that may cause our actual operating results and financial condition to fall short of our expectations are set forth in the part of this report entitled “Risk Factors” in PART II, ITEM 1A below. Some of the issues that may have an adverse and material impact on our business, operating results and financial condition include economic conditions that affect consumer demand for our products and the prices we receive for them both domestically and overseas, particularly in certain parts of Asia; government regulation that affects our ability to access our timberlands and harvest logs from those lands; the implications of significant indirect sales to overseas customers, including currency translation, regulatory and tax matters; the effect of financial market conditions on our investment portfolio and related liquidity; environmental and land use regulations that limit our ability to harvest timber and develop property; access to debt financing by our customers as well as ourselves; the impacts of climate change and natural disasters on our timberlands and on surrounding areas; and the potential impacts of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates as they affect demand for our products and customers’ ability to pay. From time to time we identify other risks and uncertainties in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements in this report reflect our estimates as of the date of the report, and we cannot undertake to update these statements as our business operations and environment change.
This discussion should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes included with this report.
EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW
Pope Resources, A Delaware Limited Partnership (“we” or the “Partnership”), is engaged in three primary businesses. The first, and by far most significant segment in terms of owned assets and operations, is the Fee Timber segment. This segment includes timberlands owned directly by the Partnership and operations of the three private equity funds (“Funds”). When we refer to the timberland owned by the Partnership, we describe it as the Partnership’s tree farms. We refer to timberland owned by the Funds as the Funds’ tree farms. When referring collectively to the Partnership’s and Funds’ timberland we will refer to them as the Combined tree farms. Operations in this segment consist of growing timber to be harvested as logs for sale to export brokers and domestic manufacturers. The second most significant business in terms of total assets owned is the development and sale of real estate. Real Estate activities primarily take the form of securing permits, entitlements, and, in some cases, installing infrastructure for raw land development and then realizing that land’s value by selling larger parcels to buyers who will take the land further up the value chain, either to home buyers or to operators and lessors of commercial property. Since these land projects span multiple years, the Real Estate segment may incur losses for multiple years while a project is developed, and will not recognize operating income until that project is sold. In addition, within this segment we sometimes negotiate and sell conservation easements (CE’s) on Fee Timber properties to preclude future development. Our third business, which we refer to as Timberland Management & Consulting, or “TM&C,” is raising and investing capital from third parties for private equity timber funds, and thereafter managing those funds for the benefit of all investors.
Our current strategy for adding timberland acreage is centered on our private equity timber fund business model, which consists of raising investment capital from third-party investors and investing that capital, along with our own co-investment, into new timberland properties. We have closed and invested capital from two timber funds, having acquired a total of $150 million in commercial timberland properties. Our 20% co-investment in the Funds, which totals $28 million, affords us a share of the Funds’ operating cash flows while allowing us to earn asset management and timberland management fees as well as incentive fees based upon the overall success of each fund. Management also believes that this strategy allows us to maintain more sophisticated expertise in timberland acquisition, valuation, and management than could be cost-effectively maintained for the Partnership’s timberlands alone. We believe our co-investment strategy also boosts our credibility with existing and prospective investors by demonstrating that we have both an operational as well as a financial commitment to the Funds’ successes. We are in the process of raising a third fund with a target total Fund III size of $100 million. To date, we have closed on $51 million of committed capital for Fund III, $7 million of which represents our co-investment. The Funds are consolidated into our financial statements with the income attributable to equity owned by third parties reflected in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income under the caption “Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests-ORM Timber Funds.”
Land held for sale in western Washington by our Real Estate segment is suitable primarily for residential and commercial building sites. The markets for these resources have recently suffered along with regional and national markets, producing a decline in our sales. The challenge for our Real Estate segment center around how and when to “harvest” a parcel of land and capture the optimum value increment by selling the property, balancing the long-term risks and costs of carrying and developing a property against the potential for income and positive cash flows upon sale.
Revenue and net income declined in the first quarter of 2012 versus the same period in 2011 primarily due to limiting our harvest volume in response to an expected softening of demand from the China log export market. Log inventories have accumulated to very high levels in China, prompting log buyers there to decrease both shipments and prices. Log buyers in Korea lowered their price offers for logs as well, attempting to follow the price downward. These actions by two of our principal Asian log buying markets, combined with an increase in trans-ocean fuel and freight rates, have served to slow the flow of logs to China and Korea. Late in 2011 and early in 2012, we took advantage of a robust spot market for Japan peeler logs and some encouraging interest from the domestic mills to offset the dip in China export market by harvesting 15 million board feet (MMBF) in the first quarter of 2012 compared to 29 MMBF in the fourth quarter of 2011 and 30 MMBF harvested in the first quarter of 2011. Realized log prices were flat, losing 1%, or $5 per thousand board feet (MBF), from $564/MBF to $559/MBF, between first quarter 2011 and first quarter 2012, but there are nuances to this in the species mix that are discussed in more detail below. We expect our harvest volume for the full year 2012 to be between 75 and 85 MMBF, with the final total depending on the strength or weakness of log markets as well as weather patterns in the final quarter of the year.
We have a unit repurchase program which permits repurchases through December 2012. Between December 2008 and March 31, 2012, we repurchased roughly 125,000 units with a weighted average unit purchase price of $20.04 and we have an unutilized authorization for unit repurchases of $2.5 million. On December 31, 2010, we repurchased 334,340 units from a single unitholder, outside the scope of the formal repurchase program, for $35.55 per unit. The units represented 7.2% of the total units outstanding at that time and were retired. We did not make any unit repurchases during the first quarter of either 2012 or 2011.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table reconciles and compares key revenue and cost elements that impacted our net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 versus the first and fourth quarters of 2011. In addition to the table’s numerical analysis, the explanatory text that follows the table describes certain of these changes by business segment.
|
|
Q1 2012 vs. Q1
|
|
|
Q1 2012 vs. Q4
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2011
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Net income attributable to Pope Resources' unitholders:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1st Quarter 2012
|
|
$ |
1,206 |
|
|
$ |
1,206 |
|
4th Quarter 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,349 |
|
1st Quarter 2011
|
|
|
3,680 |
|
|
|
|
|
Variance
|
|
$ |
(2,474 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,143 |
) |
Detail of variance:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fee Timber
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Log volumes (A)
|
|
$ |
(8,918 |
) |
|
$ |
(8,330 |
) |
Log price realizations (B)
|
|
|
(73 |
) |
|
|
(87 |
) |
Production costs
|
|
|
2,776 |
|
|
|
3,023 |
|
Depletion
|
|
|
1,906 |
|
|
|
2,904 |
|
Other Fee Timber
|
|
|
357 |
|
|
|
117 |
|
Timberland Management & Consulting
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Timberland Management & Consulting
|
|
|
46 |
|
|
|
14 |
|
Real Estate
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Land and conservation easement sales
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(428 |
) |
Other Real Estate
|
|
|
33 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
Environmental remediation costs
|
|
|
267 |
|
|
|
631 |
|
General & administrative costs
|
|
|
(86 |
) |
|
|
(168 |
) |
Net interest expense
|
|
|
71 |
|
|
|
(37 |
) |
Other (taxes and noncontrolling interest)
|
|
|
1,147 |
|
|
|
1,215 |
|
Total variances
|
|
$ |
(2,474 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,143 |
) |
(A)
|
Volume variance calculated by extending change in sales volume by the average log sales price for the comparison period.
|
(B)
|
Price variance calculated by extending the change in average realized price by current period sales volume.
|
Fee Timber
Fee Timber results include operations from 114,000 acres of timberland owned by the Partnership and 61,000 acres of timberland owned by the Funds. Fee Timber revenue is earned primarily from the harvest and sale of logs from these timberlands which are located in western Washington and northwestern Oregon and, to a lesser extent, from the ground leases for cellular communication towers, gravel mines and quarries, together with the sale of other resources from our timberlands. Our Fee Timber revenue is driven primarily by the volume of timber harvested and the average log price realized on the sale of that harvested timber. Harvest volumes are generally expressed in million board feet (MMBF) increments and harvest revenue and related costs are generally expressed in terms of revenue or cost per thousand board feet (MBF). Fee Timber expenses, which consist predominantly of harvest, hauling, and depletion costs, vary directly and roughly proportionately with harvest volume and the resulting revenues. Revenue and costs related to harvest activities on timberland owned by the Funds are consolidated into this discussion of operations.
When discussing our Fee Timber operations, we compare current results to both the previous quarter and the corresponding quarter of the prior year. These comparisons offer an understanding of trends in log prices and patterns of harvest volumes that affect Fee Timber operating results. Revenue and operating income for the Fee Timber segment for the quarters ended March 31, 2012, December 31, 2011, and March 31, 2011 were as follows:
(in millions)
Quarter ended
|
|
Log Sale
Revenue
|
|
|
Mineral, Cell Tower & Other Revenue
|
|
|
Total Fee Timber Revenue
|
|
|
Operating
Income
|
|
|
Harvest
Volume
(MMBF)
|
|
Partnership tree farms
|
|
$ |
6.6 |
|
|
$ |
0.4 |
|
|
$ |
7.0 |
|
|
$ |
3.2 |
|
|
|
11.7 |
|
Funds' tree farms
|
|
|
1.5 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1.5 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
2.8 |
|
Total Fee Timber March 31, 2012
|
|
$ |
8.1 |
|
|
$ |
0.4 |
|
|
$ |
8.5 |
|
|
$ |
3.2 |
|
|
|
14.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Partnership tree farms
|
|
$ |
8.1 |
|
|
$ |
0.4 |
|
|
$ |
8.5 |
|
|
$ |
3.8 |
|
|
|
13.9 |
|
Funds' tree farms
|
|
|
8.4 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
8.5 |
|
|
|
1.8 |
|
|
|
15.3 |
|
Total Fee Timber December 31, 2011
|
|
$ |
16.5 |
|
|
$ |
0.5 |
|
|
$ |
17.0 |
|
|
$ |
5.6 |
|
|
|
29.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Partnership tree farms
|
|
$ |
11.0 |
|
|
$ |
0.3 |
|
|
$ |
11.3 |
|
|
$ |
5.7 |
|
|
|
18.8 |
|
Funds' tree farms
|
|
|
6.1 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
6.1 |
|
|
|
1.4 |
|
|
|
11.5 |
|
Total Fee Timber March 31, 2011
|
|
$ |
17.1 |
|
|
$ |
0.3 |
|
|
$ |
17.4 |
|
|
$ |
7.1 |
|
|
|
30.3 |
|
Comparing Q1 2012 to Q4 2011. Fee Timber revenue declined $8.5 million, or 50%, from fourth quarter, primarily as a result of a 15 MMBF, or 50%, decrease in volume harvested, as well as a slight decline of $6/MBF, or 1%, in realized log prices. We regularly front-load annual harvest volumes within the year to take advantage of our high proportion of low elevation timberlands that allow for winter logging. However, we departed significantly from this pattern in the fourth quarter of 2011 as a result of incorporating harvest volume from Funds’ tree farms, mild weather, and a decision to dip into deferred harvest volumes from 2008-2010. Over 52% of the Q4 2011 harvest, compared to 19% during Q1 2012, came from the Funds’ tree farms, which carry a higher proportion of inventory in whitewood species than the Partnership’s tree farms. The weighting of first quarter 2012 harvest volume to the Partnership’s tree farms, which have a higher mix of Douglas-fir than the Funds’ tree farms, was in response to the pricing environment of whitewood and Douglas-fir sawlogs. First, soft log export demand from China resulted in a $48/MBF, or 9%, decline in whitewood sawlog prices from $534/MBF in Q4 2011 to $486/MBF in Q1 2012. Conversely, Douglas-fir sawlog prices, which are influenced more by the domestic market and log export demand from Japan, experienced a $16/MBF, or 3%, decline from $603/MBF in the fourth quarter of 2011 to $587/MBF in the first quarter of 2012. The impact of lower whitewood sawlog prices and a heavier Douglas-fir log mix were essentially offsetting, as our average realized log price gave up $6/MBF, or 1%, from the fourth quarter of 2011 to the first quarter of 2012.
Operating income for the first quarter 2012 decreased by $2.4 million, or 43%, from fourth quarter 2011 results as a result of the decline in harvest volume, offset in part by a reduction in road expenses from 46% of fourth quarter 2011 operating expenses to 18% of total first quarter 2012 operating expenses. Road expenses were elevated during 2011 to prepare and maintain tree farms for harvesting.
The Funds generated $1.5 million of revenue in the first quarter of 2012 compared with revenue of $8.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, driven by an 82% drop in harvest from 15 MMBF in the fourth quarter of 2011 to 3 MMBF in the first quarter of 2012. Our shift away from whitewood sawlogs had a disproportionate impact on the Funds’ tree farms where whitewood inventory is much higher than on Partnership tree farms as mentioned earlier. This significant drop in harvest volume also explained the reduction in Fund operating income from $1.8 million during the fourth quarter of 2011 to $12,000 during the first quarter of 2012.
Comparing Q1 2012 to Q1 2011. Fee Timber revenue for the first quarter of 2012 declined by $8.9 million, or 51%, over the comparable period in the prior year. The decrease in revenue is due to a 16 MMBF, or 52%, decrease in harvest volume. As mentioned earlier, it is common for us to front-load log production into the early part of the year. We capitalized on this capability in the first quarter of 2011, which allowed us to respond to log buyers for the export markets who were emboldened by demand from China. In the first quarter of 2012, the China market was plagued with high inventory levels, so we chose not to start the year on an accelerated basis. Whitewood prices declined $51/MBF, or 9%, from the first quarter of 2011 to the first quarter of 2012 while Douglas-fir gave up only $15/MBF, or 2%, during the same time period. In response to this pricing environment and the heavier mix of Douglas-fir on Partnership tree farms, we weighted our harvest activity in the first quarter of 2012 to the Partnership’s tree farms, which comprised 81% of first quarter 2012 volume compared with 62% of first quarter 2011 volume. This allowed us to capture more of the Douglas-fir sawlog market and mitigate further price erosion due to the soft whitewood market. Operating income for the first quarter of 2012 decreased $3.9 million, or 55%, over first quarter 2011 due to the reduction in harvest volume.
First quarter 2012 Fund revenue dropped 75% to $1.5 million from $6.1 million for the same quarter in 2011 on a 9 MMBF, or 76%, reduction in harvest volume. Operating income for the period decreased from $1.4 million in 2011 to $12,000 in 2012 for the same reasons.
Log Volume
We harvested the following log volumes by species from the Combined tree farms for the quarters ended March 31, 2012, December 31, 2011, and March 31, 2011:
Volume (in MMBF)
|
|
Quarter Ended
|
|
Sawlogs
|
|
|
Mar-12
|
|
% Total
|
|
|
Dec-11
|
|
% Total
|
|
|
Mar-11
|
|
% Total
|
|
|
Douglas-fir
|
|
|
11.1 |
|
|
77 |
% |
|
|
20.0 |
|
|
68 |
% |
|
|
19.1 |
|
|
63 |
% |
|
Whitewood
|
|
|
0.9 |
|
|
6 |
% |
|
|
3.8 |
|
|
13 |
% |
|
|
6.5 |
|
|
21 |
% |
|
Cedar
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
1 |
% |
|
|
0.4 |
|
|
1 |
% |
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
2 |
% |
|
Hardwood
|
|
|
0.4 |
|
|
2 |
% |
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
3 |
% |
|
|
0.7 |
|
|
2 |
% |
Pulpwood
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Species
|
|
|
2.0 |
|
|
14 |
% |
|
|
4.5 |
|
|
15 |
% |
|
|
3.5 |
|
|
12 |
% |
Total
|
|
|
|
14.5 |
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
29.2 |
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
30.3 |
|
|
100 |
% |
Comparing Q1 2012 to Q4 2011. Harvest volumes declined 15 MMBF, or 50%, from the fourth quarter of 2011 to the first quarter of 2012 in reaction to relatively lower demand from the China market. Notwithstanding the lukewarm demand from China, the export market was aided by a small uptick in demand from the Japan peeler market and, to a lesser extent, by improvements in domestic markets. The decline in sawlog consumption on the part of the China market prompted us to reduce our whitewood harvest volumes from 13% during the fourth quarter of 2011 to 6% during the first quarter of 2012. By comparison, Douglas-fir demand from Japan and some domestic markets led us to increase harvest of Douglas-fir from 68% during the fourth quarter of 2011 to 77% of total harvest volume in the first quarter of 2012. As a result of these offsetting factors, average log prices remained flat, softening by $6/MBF, or 1%, from the fourth quarter of 2011 to the first quarter of 2012.
Unlike the Japan log export market, which prefers higher quality Douglas-fir, China has demonstrated an indifference to species and more of a focus on cost. This market dynamic has prompted us to harvest and sell predominantly lower valued whitewood to them. However, a backlog of log inventory in the China market led to a steep, albeit anticipated, decline in demand in the first quarter of 2012. We responded by lowering harvest levels and diverting volume into the Japan log export market. During the first quarter of 2012, this harvest volume was weighted from units comprised primarily of Douglas-fir to satisfy the demand of Japan export customers and, to a lesser extent, domestic customers seeking Douglas-fir sawlogs. This shift away from whitewoods had a disproportionate impact on harvest from the Funds’ tree farms, where inventories are heavier to whitewood species. During the first quarter of 2012, Douglas-fir comprised 78% of the 12 MMBF harvested from the Partnership’s tree farms, while whitewood comprised 4% of that total. Similarly, the Funds’ first quarter 2012 harvest of 3 MMBF consisted of 71% Douglas-fir and 16% whitewood. The Douglas-fir component for Combined tree farms was 77% of the total harvest and whitewood 6% after blending the two ownerships. This compares to the fourth quarter of 2011 when Douglas-fir comprised 76% of the 14 MMBF harvested from the Partnership’s tree farms, while whitewood comprised 5% of that total. The Funds’ fourth quarter 2011 harvest of 15 MMBF consisted of 61% Douglas-fir and 21% whitewood. The Douglas-fir component for the Combined tree farms was 68% of total harvest and whitewood 13% after blending the two ownerships. With log deliveries to sawmills curtailed due to continuing soft domestic lumber demand, the resulting shortage of sawmill residual chips continued to impact demand for chips from whole logs, thus driving up pulpwood prices. As such, we continued to sell into pulpwood markets with the best pricing.
Comparing Q1 2012 to Q1 2011. The comparison between the first quarters of 2012 and 2011 was very similar to the description above between the fourth quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of 2012. We deliberately decreased harvest volumes by 52% in the first quarter of 2012 from the first quarter of 2011 due to tepid first quarter 2012 demand from the China log export market that was, conversely, seemingly insatiable during the first quarter of 2011. The high proportion of whitewood during the first quarter of 2011 reflects 38% of harvest volume from the Funds compared to only 19% during the first quarter of 2012. The higher proportion of whitewoods in the timber inventory of the Funds’ tree farms was well suited in 2011 to the surging demand from China.
Log Prices
Logs from the Combined tree farms serve a number of different domestic and export markets, with domestic mills having historically represented our largest market segment. This customer mix shifted in the fourth quarter of 2010 when logs destined for export markets represented the largest share of our total log sales, as the China market accepted lower quality than what has traditionally defined an export log. As a result, significant volumes that used to be sold to domestic mills instead flowed to the China market beginning with 2010 when the export mix surged to 33% and peaked at 45% in 2011. From 2010 through the fourth quarter of 2011, the relative strength of the China export market was a driving force for much of our log pricing. This shifted during the first quarter of 2012 when a greater portion of export volume was comprised of higher-value Douglas-fir logs going to Japan. This resulted in an increase in spread between realized export and domestic log prices from $57/MBF, or 10%, during the first quarter of 2011 to $64/MBF, or 12%, in the first quarter of 2012. We realized the following log prices by species for the quarters ended March 31, 2012, December 31, 2011, and March 31, 2011:
|
|
|
Quarter Ended
|
|
|
|
|
Mar-12
|
|
|
Dec-11
|
|
|
Mar-11
|
|
Average price realizations (per MBF):
|
|
|
|
|
Sawlogs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Douglas-fir
|
|
$ |
587 |
|
|
$ |
603 |
|
|
$ |
602 |
|
|
Whitewood
|
|
|
486 |
|
|
|
534 |
|
|
|
537 |
|
|
Cedar
|
|
|
953 |
|
|
|
799 |
|
|
|
1,007 |
|
|
Hardwood
|
|
|
585 |
|
|
|
623 |
|
|
|
499 |
|
Pulpwood
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Species
|
|
|
418 |
|
|
|
398 |
|
|
|
361 |
|
Overall
|
|
|
|
559 |
|
|
|
565 |
|
|
|
564 |
|
The following table compares the dollar and percentage change in log prices from each of the first and fourth quarters of 2011 to the first quarter of 2012:
|
|
|
Change to March 2012
|
|
|
|
|
Dec-11
|
|
|
Mar-11
|
|
|
|
|
$/MBF
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
$/MBF
|
|
|
%
|
|
Sawlogs
|
Douglas-fir
|
|
$ |
(16 |
) |
|
|
-3 |
% |
|
$ |
(15 |
) |
|
|
-2 |
% |
|
Whitewood
|
|
|
(48 |
) |
|
|
-9 |
% |
|
|
(51 |
) |
|
|
-9 |
% |
|
Cedar
|
|
|
154 |
|
|
|
19 |
% |
|
|
(54 |
) |
|
|
-5 |
% |
|
Hardwood
|
|
|
(38 |
) |
|
|
-6 |
% |
|
|
86 |
|
|
|
17 |
% |
Pulpwood
|
All Species
|
|
|
20 |
|
|
|
5 |
% |
|
|
57 |
|
|
|
16 |
% |
Overall
|
|
|
|
(6 |
) |
|
|
-1 |
% |
|
|
(5 |
) |
|
|
-1 |
% |
Whitewood sawlog prices declined 9% from each of the fourth and first quarters of 2011 compared to the first quarter of 2012. This was the result of softer log export demand from China in 2012. By comparison, Douglas-fir sawlog prices, influenced more by the Japan log export market and domestic markets, gave up 3% and 2% in the first quarter of 2012 from the fourth quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of 2011, respectively. The reduction in whitewood sawlog prices and heavier Douglas-fir log mix were essentially offsetting, resulting in a $6/MBF, or 1%, and $5/MBF, or 1%, reduction in realized first quarter 2012 log prices from the fourth and first quarters of 2011, respectively.
Douglas-fir: Douglas-fir is noted for its structural characteristics that make it generally preferable to other softwoods for the production of construction grade lumber and plywood. Demand and price for Douglas-fir sawlogs has historically been very dependent upon the level of new home construction in the U.S. The direct link between Douglas-fir sawlog prices and domestic housing starts was less pronounced with the housing crash in 2008, but the effect was offset in 2011 by demand from the export market in China. There has been some softening in this export market to China during the first quarter of 2012, offset by an increase in prices paid by the Japan peeler market and some domestic mills, which served to reduce the average price realized on Douglas-fir logs by $16/MBF, or 3%, in the current quarter compared to the fourth quarter of 2011. Similarly, the realized price decreased $15/MBF, or 2%, from the first quarter of 2011 to the first quarter of 2012.
Whitewood: “Whitewood” is a term used to describe several softwood species, but for us primarily refers to western hemlock. Though generally considered to be of a lower quality than Douglas-fir, these logs are also used for manufacturing construction grade lumber. Historically, there has been a modest export market for whitewood logs, with most of this volume going to Korea. This changed beginning in 2010 as the China log export market demonstrated an appetite for softwood logs with little apparent regard or discrimination as to species. During 2010 and 2011, to the extent we were able to access whitewood stands, we harvested this species preferentially to take advantage of its higher relative price lift resulting from surging export demand. This strategy benefitted the Funds’ tree farms more than the Partnership tree farms because the former contain a higher proportion of whitewood and the Partnership’s whitewood stands tend to be at higher elevations and not easily accessible during winter. The substantial reduction in the China market in 2012 served to bring whitewood prices down during the first quarter by $48/MBF, or 9%, and $51/MBF, or 9%, over the fourth and first quarters of 2011, respectively.
Cedar: Cedar is a minor component in most upland timber stands and is generally used for outdoor applications such as fencing, siding and decking. Although there is a link between demand for these products and housing starts, this link is not as strong as with most other softwood species. Cedar prices experienced a seasonal uptick of $154/MBF, or 19%, from Q4 2011 to Q1 2012, as decreased Q1 logging levels led to shortages of minor species. Cedar prices decreased by $54/MBF, or 5%, from Q1 2011 to Q1 2012.
Hardwood: “Hardwood” can refer to many different species, but on our tree farms primarily consists of red alder and in this paragraph we are referring to the sawlog market for this species. The local mills that process red alder sawlogs are using the resource to manufacture lumber for use in furniture and cabinet construction. Hardwood prices have experienced a gradual increase over the past several years, from $446 in 2009 up to $585 in the first quarter of 2012, with peaks and dips in between. This is due to mill consolidations and shutdowns, leaving the most efficient mills in operation. Notwithstanding this upward movement, hardwood prices are off $38/MBF, or 6%, from the fourth quarter of 2011 to the first quarter of 2012 as many alder mills are maintaining low inventories in the early part of 2012. Hardwood prices increased $86/MBF, or 17%, from the same period in 2011, when many mills struggled to operate at a profit and were unwilling to pay much for alder, bringing hardwood prices down.
Pulpwood: Pulpwood is a lower quality conifer or hardwood log unsuitable for the manufacture of lumber and is thus manufactured into wood chips. These chips are used primarily to make a full range of pulp and paper products from unbleached linerboard (used in paper bags and cardboard boxes) to fine paper and specialty products. The pulpwood market has enjoyed relative strength in recent years as a direct result of sawmills taking significant downtime in response to the slowdown in housing starts. Sawmills typically provide the bulk of the chips used by pulp manufacturers, so curtailed sawmill production helped to push up the price of pulpwood logs sold directly to pulp mills as a primary alternative raw material source. For the quarter ended March 31, 2012, pulpwood prices were up $20/MBF, or 5%, over the fourth quarter of 2011 and up $57/MBF, or 16%, over the same period in 2011.
Customers
We have explained the shift in the export market for our logs from Japan to China and Korea and how this has created pricing pressure on our domestic customers. The recent oversupply of Pacific Northwest logs in China led coupled with an increase in freight costs has slowed demand and decreased pricing to the export markets in China and Korea. As a result, we chose to divert logs to domestic mills and take advantage of a continuing strong market in Japan for peelers, both of which were markets that showed increased appetite for our logs and were willing to pay higher prices than China and Korea.
The ultimate decision on where to sell logs is based on the net proceeds we receive after considering the delivered log prices from a prospective customer and the hauling cost needed to get logs to that customer. In instances where harvest operations are in close proximity to a mill relative to the export yard of a broker, we may take advantage of favorable haul costs over selling to an export customer at a higher delivered price but whose yard may be a greater distance from a harvest unit. The higher net delivered log value earned by selling to the domestic mill will, in such instances, result in sales of logs otherwise intended for Asia being diverted to domestic markets. As such, realized log price movements can be influenced by marketing decisions predicated on a net return rather than merely focusing on the delivered log price.
The table below categorizes timber sold by customer type for the quarters ended March 31, 2012, December 31, 2011, and March 31, 2011:
|
|
Q1 2012
|
|
|
Q4 2011
|
|
|
Q1 2011
|
|
|
|
Volume
|
|
|
|
|
|
Volume
|
|
|
|
|
|
Volume
|
|
|
|
|
Destination
|
|
MMBF
|
|
%
|
|
|
Price
|
|
|
MMBF
|
|
%
|
|
|
Price
|
|
|
MMBF
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
Price
|
|
Export brokers
|
|
|
7.3 |
|
|
50 |
% |
|
$ |
609 |
|
|
|
8.4 |
|
|
29 |
% |
|
$ |
642 |
|
|
|
16.4 |
|
|
|
54 |
% |
|
$ |
615 |
|
Domestic mills
|
|
|
5.2 |
|
|
36 |
% |
|
|
545 |
|
|
|
16.3 |
|
|
56 |
% |
|
|
572 |
|
|
|
10.3 |
|
|
|
34 |
% |
|
|
558 |
|
Pulpwood
|
|
|
2.0 |
|
|
14 |
% |
|
|
418 |
|
|
|
4.5 |
|
|
15 |
% |
|
|
398 |
|
|
|
3.6 |
|
|
|
12 |
% |
|
|
361 |
|
Total
|
|
|
14.5 |
|
|
100 |
% |
|
$ |
559 |
|
|
|
29.2 |
|
|
100 |
% |
|
$ |
565 |
|
|
|
30.3 |
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
$ |
564 |
|
Comparing Q1 2012 to Q4 2011. Volume sold to the export market rose to 50% of total volume in Q1 2012 compared to 29% of total fourth quarter 2011 volume, but this came with a $33/MBF, or 5%, realized price decline. Volume sold to domestic mills declined to 36% of total volume for Q1 2012 from 56% in Q4 2011 with an attendant decline in prices paid by domestic mills of $27/MBF, or 5%. The spread between export and domestic prices was flat at 12% from the fourth quarter 2011 to the first quarter of 2012, which led to some logs being sold to domestic mills in the fourth quarter when the difference in haul cost resulted in higher net return from domestic customers despite having a lower sales price. Pulpwood volumes remained flat at 14% of the total first quarter volume compared to 15% of the fourth quarter 2011 volume. Pulpwood prices increased by $20/MBF, or 5%, from the fourth quarter of 2011 to the first quarter of 2012 which reflects higher pulp mill demand for logs resulting from a general, seasonal drop in log harvest levels during the winter months. Overall average log price remained flat, losing $6/MBF, or 1%, from the fourth quarter of 2011 to the first quarter of 2012.
Comparing Q1 2012 to Q1 2011. Volume sold to export brokers as a percentage of total harvest dipped slightly to 50% in Q1 2012 from 54% for the comparable period in the prior year. In contrast, volumes sold to domestic mills increased marginally to 36% of total sales in the first quarter of 2012 compared to 34% of first quarter 2011’s total, with a slight decrease in prices paid by domestic mills of $13/MBF, or 2%. Overall export prices declined $6/MBF, or 1%, even as the spread between realized export and domestic log prices increased slightly in the first quarter of 2012 to a 12% lift of $64/MBF from the first quarter of 2011 spread of 10%, or $57/MBF. Pulpwood volumes increased from 12% of first quarter 2011 volume to 14% of first quarter 2012 volume with a $57/MBF, or 16%, increase in price. Overall average log price was flat, giving up $5/MBF, or 1%, in the first quarter of 2012 from the same period in 2011.
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales for the Fee Timber segment consists of harvest and haul costs and depletion expense. Harvest, haul, and depletion expenses all vary directly with actual harvest volume. Harvest costs will vary by terrain, with steeper slopes requiring more expensive cable systems with a high labor component, while more moderate slopes can be harvested with mechanized equipment and lower relative labor costs. Harvest and haul costs represent the direct cost incurred to convert trees into logs and deliver those logs to the point of sale. Depletion expense represents the cost of acquiring or growing the harvested timber. The applicable depletion rate is derived by dividing the aggregate cost of merchantable stands of timber (age 35 and older), together with capitalized road expenditures, by the estimated volume of merchantable timber available for harvest at the beginning of that year. The depletion rate is applied to the volume harvested in a given period to calculate depletion expense for that period. Because of the relatively recent acquisition dates, and thus relatively higher acquisition costs, of the Funds’ tree farms, the depletion rates associated with harvests from those properties is considerably higher than for harvests from the Partnership’s tree farms. Partnership depletion consists primarily of historical timber cost that has been owned by the Partnership for many decades, as well as the Columbia tree farm property that was acquired in 2001.
Fee Timber cost of sales for the quarters ended March 31, 2012, December 31, 2011, and March 31, 2011, respectively, is as follows, with the first table expressing these costs in total dollars and the second table expressing the costs on a per unit of production basis:
($ in millions)
Quarter Ended
|
Harvest, Haul
and Other
|
Depletion
|
Total Cost of
Sales
|
Harvest Volume
(MMBF)
|
March 31, 2012
|
$2.7
|
$1.4
|
$4.1
|
14.5
|
December 31, 2011
|
5.7
|
4.3
|
10.0
|
29.2
|
March 31, 2011
|
5.6
|
3.3
|
8.9
|
30.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(amounts per MBF)
Quarter Ended
|
Harvest, Haul
and Other
|
Depletion
|
Total Cost of Sales
|
|
March 31, 2012
|
$190
|
$96
|
$286
|
|
December 31, 2011
|
195
|
147
|
342
|
|
March 31, 2011
|
185
|
109
|
294
|
|
Comparing Q1 2012 to Q4 2011. Cost of sales declined by $5.9 million, or 59%, in the first quarter of 2012 relative to the fourth quarter of 2011. The decline is due to a decrease in harvest volume of 15 MMBF, or 50%, in response to the lack of demand and attendant decline in prices in the China export market. Harvest, haul, and other costs decreased $5/MBF during the first quarter of 2012 from the fourth quarter of 2011 as a result of a decrease in harvest from units requiring more expensive cable logging methods. Depletion costs decreased by $51/MBF in the first quarter which reflects a shift in harvest from the Funds’ tree farms, which had 52% of fourth quarter 2011 volume versus 19% of first quarter 2012 volume, to the Partnership’s tree farms, which had 48% of fourth quarter 2011 volume versus 81% of first quarter 2012 volume.
Comparing Q1 2012 to Q1 2011. Cost of sales decreased $4.8 million, or 54%, in the first quarter of 2012 versus the comparable period in 2011 as a result of a 16 MMBF, or 52%, decrease in harvest volume more than offset by a $5/MBF increase in harvest, haul, and other costs in the current quarter when compared to the same period in 2011. The higher per unit cost results from an increase in the harvest of stands requiring more costly logging methods and longer haul distances. Conversely, depletion costs decreased $13/MBF in the first quarter of 2012 relative to the first quarter of 2011 due to a shift in harvest from the Funds’ tree farms where the harvest declined from 12 MMBF in 2011 to 3 MMBF in 2012. Fund volume represented 38% of first quarter 2011 harvest compared with 19% of first quarter 2012. Depletion rates for the Funds’ tree farms are higher than depletion rates for the Partnership’s tree farms because the former were purchased more recently and thus at a higher relative acquisition cost.
Depletion expense for the quarters ended March 31, 2012, December 31, 2011, and March 31, 2011 was calculated as follows:
|
|
Quarter Ended March 31, 2012
|
|
|
|
Partnership
|
|
|
|
|
|
Funds
|
|
|
|
|
|
Combined
|
|
Volume harvested (MMBF)
|
|
|
11.7 |
|
|
|
81 |
% |
|
|
2.8 |
|
|
|
19 |
% |
|
|
14.5 |
|
Rate/MBF
|
|
$ |
60 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
245 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
96 |
|
Depletion expense (in thousands)
|
|
$ |
699 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
687 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,386 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quarter Ended December 31, 2011
|
|
|
|
Partnership
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Funds
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Combined
|
|
Volume harvested (MMBF)
|
|
|
13.9 |
|
|
|
48 |
% |
|
|
15.3 |
|
|
|
52 |
% |
|
|
29.2 |
|
Rate/MBF
|
|
$ |
63 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
224 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
147 |
|
Depletion expense (in thousands)
|
|
$ |
870 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,420 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
4,290 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quarter Ended March 31, 2011
|
|
|
|
Partnership
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Funds
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Combined
|
|
Volume harvested (MMBF)
|
|
|
18.8 |
|
|
|
62 |
% |
|
|
11.5 |
|
|
|
38 |
% |
|
|
30.3 |
|
Rate/MBF
|
|
$ |
63 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
184 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
109 |
|
Depletion expense (in thousands)
|
|
$ |
1,175 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,117 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,292 |
|
When the percentage of harvest from the Funds’ tree farms declines, as it did from the fourth and first quarters of 2011 compared to the first quarter of 2012, the Combined depletion rate drops also to reflect the Partnership’s more pronounced harvest weighting. Variability of Fund depletion expense on a $/MBF basis between the quarters reflects weighting of harvest volume to different tree farms within the Funds, each of which has their own depletion rate.
Operating Expenses
Fee Timber operating expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 were $1.2 million compared to $1.3 million and $1.5 million for the quarters ended December 31, 2011, and March 31, 2011, respectively. Operating expenses include management, silviculture and the cost of both maintaining existing roads and building temporary roads required for harvest activities for the 114,000 acres owned by the Partnership and the 61,000 acres owned by the Funds. The decrease in operating expense in the first quarter of 2012 over the fourth and first quarters of 2011 is due to a decrease in road building and maintenance which were increased during 2011 to support both current and future harvest operations. Roads are typically built one year in advance of harvest. However, it was necessary to build some roads concurrently with 2011 harvesting on portions of the newly acquired Funds’ tree farms. Combined road maintenance costs for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 were $216,000, or 18%, of Combined operating expenses compared to $604,000, or 46%, and $520,000, or 35%, of Combined operating expenses for the quarters ended December 31, 2011, and March 31, 2011, respectively.
Timberland Management & Consulting
The Timberland Management & Consulting (TM&C) segment primarily develops timberland investment portfolios on behalf of the Funds. As of March 31, 2012, the TM&C segment managed two private equity timber funds that own a total of 61,000 acres of commercial timberland in western Washington and western Oregon that were originally purchased for $150 million. Equity capital in these funds includes a $28 million co-investment by the Partnership of 20% of total fund equity capital with the remaining 80% coming from third-party investors. In addition, as of March 31, 2012 we have committed capital of $51 million for our third private equity timber fund, ORM Timber Fund III, which includes our co-investment of $7 million. We are planning on completing fund raising for this fund by June 2012 with targeted total capital commitments of $100 million. The Partnership will provide a co-investment of between 5%-10% of total committed capital in the third fund with the balance coming from third-party investors.
See Accounting Matters ~ Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates ~ Timber Fund Management Fees for more information on accounting for management fees paid by third-party investors and consolidation considerations.
Revenue and expense generated through the management of the Funds is accounted for within the TM&C segment, but accounting guidance requires us to consolidate the Funds’ financial performance into our financial statements because of the governance control the Partnership is deemed to have over the Funds. As such, all fees earned by the TM&C segment associated with managing the Funds are eliminated in our consolidated financial statements. The revenue earned from management of these Funds represents an expense to the Fee Timber segment which is also eliminated when the Funds are consolidated into the Partnership’s financial statements with the portion of those fees paid by third-party investors reflected as income in the Partnership’s Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income under the caption “Plus: Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests ORM Timber Funds”. Funds I and II are owned 20% by the Partnership and, as a result, 80% of these management fees are paid by third-party investors. Fees will only be earned for management of Fund III after capital has been placed in timberland investments.
Revenue and operating loss for the TM&C segment for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:
(in thousands)
Quarter Ended
|
|
March 31, 2012
|
|
|
March 31, 2011
|
|
Revenue internal
|
|
$ |
476 |
|
|
$ |
567 |
|
Intersegment eliminations
|
|
|
(476 |
) |
|
$ |
(567 |
) |
Revenue external
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income (loss) internal
|
|
$ |
(47 |
) |
|
$ |
23 |
|
Intersegment eliminations
|
|
|
(337 |
) |
|
|
(453 |
) |
Operating loss external
|
|
$ |
(384 |
) |
|
$ |
(430 |
) |
Comparing Q1 2012 to Q1 2011. TM&C had no revenue for either of the first quarters in 2012 or 2011 after eliminating $476,000 and $567,000, respectively, of revenue earned from managing the Funds. The decrease in revenue eliminated resulted from a decline in management fees earned. The fees earned from managing the Funds include a variable component related to harvest volume from the Funds’ tree farms. As such, the reduction in first quarter 2012 harvest volume compared to first quarter 2011 results in a decline in management fees generated from the Funds.
Operating losses generated by the TM&C segment for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 totaled $384,000 and $430,000, respectively, after eliminating revenue earned from managing the Funds as discussed above. The decrease in operating loss is attributable to a decrease in legal costs resulting from the creation of Fund III during 2011.
Real Estate
The Partnership’s Real Estate segment consists primarily of revenue from the sale of land within its 2,800-acre portfolio, sales of conservation easements and timberland tracts from the Partnership’s timberland portfolio, and residential and commercial property rents from our Port Gamble and Poulsbo properties. The Partnership’s Real Estate holdings are located primarily in the Washington counties of Pierce, Kitsap, and Jefferson. Land sales include the sale of unimproved land which generally consists of larger acreage sales rather than single lot sales and are normally completed with very little capital investment prior to sale. Rural residential lot sales generally require some capital improvements such as zoning, road building, or utility access improvements prior to completing the sale. Commercial and residential plat land sales represent land sold after development rights have been obtained and are generally sold with certain infrastructure improvements.
Sales of development rights can take different forms, but can reflect an outright sale of fee simple interest in conservation tracts where the Partnership retains no interest in or harvesting rights on the property post-sale as well as conservation easement sales that allow us to retain harvesting rights and other timberland management rights, but bars any future subdivision of or real estate development on the property.
Results from Real Estate operations are expected to vary significantly from year to year as we make multi-year investments in entitlements and infrastructure prior to selling entitled or developed land. Revenue and operating loss for the Real Estate segment for each of the first quarter 2012 and first quarter of 2011 are as follows:
(in thousands)
Quarter Ended
|
|
Revenue
|
|
|
Operating loss
|
|
March 31, 2012
|
|
$ |
299 |
|
|
$ |
557 |
|
March 31, 2011
|
|
|
215 |
|
|
|
857 |
|
Real Estate revenue and gross margin detail for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 is displayed in the table below:
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the three months ended:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Description
|
|
Revenue
|
|
|
Gross margin
|
|
Rentals
|
|
|
297 |
|
|
|
297 |
|
Other
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
March 31, 2012 Total
|
|
$ |
299 |
|
|
$ |
299 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rentals
|
|
$ |
212 |
|
|
$ |
212 |
|
Other
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
March 31, 2011 Total
|
|
$ |
215 |
|
|
$ |
215 |
|
Comparing Q1 2012 to Q1 2011. The Real Estate segment was without land sales in the first quarters of 2011 and 2012. Notwithstanding the absence of land sales, rental activity in 2012 was boosted primarily by additional revenue from the May 2011 acquisition of a commercial office building in Poulsbo.
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales includes costs incurred in connection with land sales. In the absence of land transactions in both the first quarters of 2011 and 2012, there are no costs of sales.
Operating Expenses
Real Estate operating expenses were $856,000 for the first quarter of 2012. Real Estate operating expenses during the same period in 2011, excluding $267,000 in environmental remediation charges associated with a second and separate remediation effort completed during the third quarter of 2011 at Port Gamble, were $805,000. This 6% increase in operating expenses from 2011 to 2012, excluding the 2011 environmental remediation charges, is primarily attributable to depreciation and insurance costs related to the acquisition of the commercial building in Poulsbo and an increase in maintenance expenses related to our residential and commercial properties.
Basis in Real Estate Projects
“Land Held for Development” on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets represents the Partnership’s cost basis in land that has been identified as having greater value as development property rather than as timberland. Our Real Estate segment personnel work with local officials to establish entitlements for further development of these parcels. Project costs that are clearly associated with development and construction of a real estate project are capitalized.
When facts and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of properties may be impaired, an evaluation of recoverability is performed by comparing the currently recorded carrying value of such property or properties to the projected future undiscounted cash flows of the same property or properties. If it is determined that the carrying value of such assets may not be fully recoverable, we would recognize an impairment loss, adjusting for the difference between the carrying value and the estimated fair market value, and would recognize an expense in this amount against current operations. We have continuously owned most of our land for decades. As a result, the land basis associated with most of our development properties is well below even the weakened current market values prevalent today. As such, we do not anticipate an asset impairment charge on our development projects.
Those properties that are for sale, under contract, and for which the Partnership has an expectation they will sell within the next 12 months, are classified on our balance sheet as a current asset under “Building and Land Held for Sale”. The $1.3 million amount currently in Building and Land Held for Sale reflects our expectation of sales in 2012 of the Partnership’s current headquarters building and a 10-acre multi-family parcel from the Harbor Hill project in Gig Harbor, Washington.
Environmental Remediation
The Partnership has an accrual for estimated environmental remediation costs of $2.1 million as of March 31, 2012 and $2.2 million as of December 31, 2011. The environmental remediation liability represents estimated payments to be made to monitor and remedy certain areas in and around the millsite of Port Gamble, and at Port Ludlow, Washington.
The environmental liability at March 31, 2012 is comprised of $175,000 that the Partnership expects to expend in the next 12 months and $2.0 million thereafter. Statistical models have been used to estimate the liability and suggest a potential aggregate range of loss from zero to $4.8 million.
The Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) is continuing to make progress toward the completion of an updated Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS) related to the Port Gamble remediation site. DOE now expects issuance of a final RI/FS in the second or third quarter of 2012. Development of a clean-up action plan and consent decree, with timetables and financial arrangements for completing the remediation, would follow on the heels of achieving that milestone.
During the first quarter of 2012, tests were performed to evaluate suitability and effectiveness of a remediation method within the resort community of Port Ludlow. A draft report has been issued and circulated for comments by environmental remediation consultants and legal counsel. We will continue monitoring the site with the intent to obtain data that point toward feasibility of remedies if and when appropriate.
Activity in the environmental remediation liability is detailed as follows:
|
|
Balances at
|
|
|
Additions
|
|
|
Expenditures
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
the Beginning
|
|
|
to
|
|
|
for
|
|
|
Balance at
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
of the Period
|
|
|
Accrual
|
|
|
Remediation
|
|
|
Period-end
|
|
Year ended December 31, 2011
|
|
$ |
1,933 |
|
|
$ |
977 |
|
|
$ |
707 |
|
|
$ |
2,203 |
|
Quarter ended March 31, 2012
|
|
|
2,203 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
65 |
|
|
|
2,138 |
|
General and Administrative (G&A)
G&A expenses for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were $1.2 million and $1.1 million, respectively. This increase in G&A expense in 2012 is due primarily to the intra-year timing of restricted unit grants to members of Pope MGP, Inc.’s Board of Directors. In 2012 these annual grants occurred in the first quarter, while in 2011 they occurred in the second quarter. Excluding the effect of this particular equity compensation expense, total G&A expenses declined from the first quarter of 2011 to the first quarter of 2012. This decline results from a combination of factors, including: lower incentive compensation accruals and the reduction of state and local use taxes.
Interest Income and Expense
Interest income for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 declined to $7,000 compared to $12,000 for the corresponding period of 2011. The decrease in interest income is due to significant paydowns since the first quarter of 2011 on contracts receivable related to land transactions.
Interest expense for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 was $530,000 and $574,000, respectively. This decrease results from a $2.2 million reduction in weighted average quarterly borrowings on the operating line of credit in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the first quarter of 2011 coupled with an increase in patronage accrued during the first quarter of 2012 over 2011. The debt arrangement between the Partnership and Northwest Farm Credit Services (NWFCS) includes an annual rebate of a portion of interest expense paid in the prior year (patronage). This patronage program of NWFCS is a feature common to all customer loan agreements of this lender. The patronage rebate received by the Partnership for 2011 was 66 basis points. As of March 31, 2011 and 2012, quarterly interest expense was reduced by $27,000 and $54,000 due to the patronage accrual, respectively. The Partnership’s debt consists primarily of mortgage debt with fixed interest rates and an operating line of credit that uses LIBOR with a spread that ranges from 225 to 325 basis points, depending on financial covenant tests.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2012, $130,000 of interest expense was capitalized compared with $98,000 during the first quarter of 2011. The increase is due to an increase in the basis of projects where development activities are ongoing.
Income Tax
Pope Resources is a limited partnership and is therefore not subject to federal income tax. Taxable income/loss is instead reported to unitholders each year on a Form K-1 for inclusion in each unitholder’s tax return. Pope Resources does have corporate subsidiaries, however, that are subject to income tax liability and that is why a line item for such tax appears in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. The corporate tax-paying entities are utilized for our third-party service fee business.
The Partnership recorded a tax benefit of $36,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2012. For the first quarter of 2011, the Partnership recorded $56,000 in tax expense.
Noncontrolling interests-ORM Timber Funds
Noncontrolling interests-ORM Timber Funds represent that 80% portion of the Funds’ net income or loss which is attributable to third-party owners of the Funds. As such, in 2011 we deducted 80% of the Funds’ income and in 2012 we added back 80% of the Funds’ losses.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements other than immaterial operating leases.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We ordinarily finance our business activities using funds from operations and, where appropriate in management’s assessment, commercial credit arrangements with banks or other financial institutions. Funds generated internally from operations and externally through financing are expected to provide the required resources for the Partnership's future capital expenditures for at least the next twelve months.
The Partnership’s debt agreements have covenants which are measured quarterly. Among the covenants measured, is a requirement that the Partnership not exceed a maximum debt-to-total-capitalization ratio of 30%, with total capitalization calculated using fair market (vs. carrying) value of timberland, roads and timber. The Partnership is in compliance with this covenant as of March 31, 2012 and expects to remain in compliance for at least the next twelve months. As such, all long-term debt agreements are appropriately classified on the balance sheet. The Partnership has a $20.0 million operating line of credit which had $4.9 million drawn as of March 31, 2012, down slightly from $5.0 million at December 31, 2011, which reflects a $96,000 paydown during the first quarter.
Fund II has an $11 million timberland mortgage with MetLife Insurance Company. The mortgage is a non-amortizing 10-year loan with an interest rate of 4.85%. The agreement allows for, but does not require, annual principal payments of up to 10% without incurring a make-whole premium.
The $954,000 increase in cash used for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 to March 31, 2011 is due primarily to the following:
|
|
Three months
|
|
|
Three months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ended
|
|
|
ended
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
March 31, 2012
|
|
|
March 31, 2011
|
|
|
Change
|
|
Cash provided by operations
|
|
$ |
2,024 |
|
|
$ |
7,607 |
|
|
$ |
(5,583 |
) |
Investing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reforestation and roads
|
|
|
(329 |
) |
|
|
(243 |
) |
|
|
(86 |
) |
Buildings and equipment
|
|
|
(43 |
) |
|
|
(158 |
) |
|
|
115 |
|
Proceeds from fixed asset sale
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
18 |
|
Timberland acquisition
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(140 |
) |
|
|
140 |
|
Cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(354 |
) |
|
|
(541 |
) |
|
|
187 |
|
Financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Repayment of line of credit and long-term debt
|
|
|
(104 |
) |
|
|
(4,327 |
) |
|
|
4,223 |
|
Cash distributions to unitholders
|
|
|
(1,544 |
) |
|
|
(1,094 |
) |
|
|
(450 |
) |
Cash from option exercises, net
|
|
|
12 |
|
|
|
525 |
|
|
|
(513 |
) |
Payroll taxes paid upon restricted unit vesting
|
|
|
(257 |
) |
|
|
(226 |
) |
|
|
(31 |
) |
Cash distributions to fund investors, net of distributions to Partnership
|
|
|
(1,287 |
) |
|
|
(2,500 |
) |
|
|
1,213 |
|
Cash used in financing activities
|
|
|
(3,180 |
) |
|
|
(7,622 |
) |
|
|
4,442 |
|
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$ |
(1,510 |
) |
|
$ |
(556 |
) |
|
$ |
(954 |
) |
Cash provided by operating activities was $2.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 versus $7.6 million for the corresponding period in 2011. The decrease in cash provided by operating activities primarily results from a 16 MMBF decrease in timber volume harvested in the first quarter of 2012 versus 2011’s comparable period.
Cash used in investing activities was $354,000 for the first three months of 2012 versus $541,000 for the corresponding period in 2011. The decrease in cash used in investing activities is primarily due to a small timberland acquisition for Fund II that occurred in the first quarter of 2011 that did not have a counterpart in 2012.
Cash used in financing activities was $3.2 million and $7.6 million for the first quarters of 2012 and 2011, respectively. The reduction in cash used in financing activities is attributable to a reduction in cash used to paydown the operating line of credit and a reduction in distributions from the Funds in 2012 from 2011 offset in part by higher cash distributions to unitholders and the absence in the current quarter of cash from option exercises.
Seasonality
Fee Timber. The Partnership owns 114,000 acres of timberland in western Washington and the Funds own collectively 61,000 acres of timberland in western Washington and western Oregon. We are able to conduct year-round harvest activities on the 70,000-acre Hood Canal tree farm and 12,000 acres of the Funds’ properties because these properties are concentrated at low elevations. In contrast, the 44,000-acre Columbia tree farm and the remaining 49,000 acres of the Funds’ ownership are at a higher elevation where harvest activities are generally not possible during the winter months when snow precludes access to the lands. Generally, we concentrate our harvests from the Hood Canal tree farm in those months when weather limits operations on other properties, thus taking advantage of reduced competition for log supply to our customers and improving prices realized. As such, when these various tree farms are combined, we can operate so that the pattern of quarterly volumes harvested is flatter than would be the case if looking at one tree farm in isolation.
Timberland Management & Consulting. Management revenue generated by this segment is made up of asset and timberland management fees. These fees, which primarily relate to our activities on behalf of the Funds and are eliminated in consolidation, vary based upon the amount of capital managed, the number of acres managed, and the volume of timber harvested from properties owned by the Funds and are not expected to be significantly seasonal.
Real Estate. While Real Estate results are not expected to be seasonal, the nature of the activities in this segment will likely result in periodic large transactions that will have significant positive impacts on both revenue and operating income of the Partnership in periods in which these transactions close, and relatively limited revenue and income in other periods. While the variability of these results is not primarily a function of seasonal weather patterns, we do expect to see some seasonal fluctuations in this segment because of the general effects of weather on Pacific Northwest development activities.
Capital Expenditures and Commitments
Projected capital expenditures in 2012 are $3.4 million, of which $1.1 million relates to the Gig Harbor site. These expenditures could be increased or decreased as a consequence of future economic conditions. Projected capital expenditures are subject to permitting timetables and progress towards closing on specific land transactions.
ACCOUNTING MATTERS
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
An accounting policy is deemed to be “critical” if it is important to a company’s results of operations and financial condition, and requires significant judgment and estimates on the part of management in its application. The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect certain amounts reported in the financial statements and related disclosures. Actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions. Management believes its most critical accounting policies and estimates relate to the calculation of timber depletion as well as modeling performed to determine liabilities for matters such as environmental remediation, and potential asset impairments.
Timber Fund Management Fees. The Partnership’s wholly owned subsidiary, ORMLLC, earns management fees related to managing the Funds. As a result, the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements, excluding the Funds, include 100% of these management fees as revenue. The stand-alone financial statements for the Funds include 100% of these management fees as expenses. The dollar amounts are the same, allowing for elimination of these two amounts in consolidation, and initially, no income impact in consolidation. However, each Fund is 80% owned by third-party investors, and, as a result, 80% of these management fees are paid by these third-party investors. The 80% of management fees paid by third-party investors flows to the Partnership’s Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income under the caption “Plus: Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests ORM Timber Funds,” effectively bringing the 80% of management fees back into consolidated income of the Partnership.
Total management fees of $476,000 and $567,000 were generated in the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. To summarize the aforementioned consolidation process, these management fees were eliminated from revenue in the Partnership’s TM&C segment and from operating expenses in the Partnership’s Fee Timber segment. The 80% of management fees paid by third-party investors in the Funds were added back to consolidated income in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income under the caption “Plus: Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests ORM Timber Funds.”
For a further discussion of our critical accounting policies and estimates see Accounting Matters in the Management Discussion and Analysis section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
Interest Rate Risk
The consolidated fixed-rate debt outstanding had a fair value of approximately $45.6 million and $46.6 million as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, based on the current interest rates for similar financial instruments. A change in the interest rate on fixed-rate debt will affect the fair value of the debt, whereas a change in the interest rate on variable-rate debt will affect interest expense and cash flows. A hypothetical 1% change in prevailing interest rates would change the fair value of the Partnership's fixed-rate long-term debt obligations by $2.6 million. We are not subject to material foreign currency risk, derivative risk, or similar uncertainties.
The Partnership’s management maintains a system of internal controls, which management views as adequate to promote the timely identification and reporting of material, relevant information. Those controls include (1) requiring executive management and all managers in accounting roles to sign and adhere to a Code of Conduct and (2) implementation of a confidential hotline for employees to contact the Audit Committee directly with financial reporting concerns. Additionally, the Partnership’s senior management team meets regularly to discuss significant transactions and events affecting the Partnership’s operations. The Partnership’s President & Chief Executive Officer and Vice President & Chief Financial Officer (“Executive Officers”) lead these meetings and consider whether topics discussed represent information that should be disclosed under generally accepted accounting principles and the rules of the SEC. The Board of Directors of the Partnership’s general partner includes an Audit Committee. The Audit Committee reviews the earnings release and all reports on Form 10-Q and 10-K prior to their filing. The Audit Committee is responsible for hiring the Partnership’s external auditors and meets with those auditors at least eight times each year.
Our Executive Officers are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures. They have designed such controls to ensure that others make all material information known to them within the organization. Management regularly evaluates ways to improve internal controls.
As of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report on Form 10-Q our Executive Officers completed an evaluation of the disclosure controls and procedures and have determined them to be effective. There have been no changes to internal control over financial reporting that materially affected, or that are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
From time to time, the Partnership may be subject to legal proceedings and claims that may have a material adverse impact on its business. Management is not aware of any current legal proceedings or claims that are expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse impact on its business, prospects, financial condition or results of operations.
There have been no material changes to the risk factors affecting our business, financial condition or future results from those set forth in Item 1A “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. However, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in such section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. Additional risks and uncertainties no currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.
(a) – (e) None
None
None
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(b)
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There have been no material changes in the procedures for shareholders of the Partnership’s general partner to nominate directors to the board.
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Exhibits.
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31.1
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Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).
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31.2
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Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).
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32.1
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Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 (furnished with this report in accordance with SEC Rel. No. 33-8238).
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32.2
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Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 (furnished with this report in accordance with SEC Rel. No. 33-8238).
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101.INS
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XBRL Instance Document
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101.SCH
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XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
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101.CAL
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XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
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101.DEF
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XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
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101.LAB
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XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
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101.PRE
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XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
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Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on May 4, 2012.
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POPE RESOURCES,
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A Delaware Limited Partnership
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By:
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POPE MGP, Inc.
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Managing General Partner
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By: /s/ David L. Nunes
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David L. Nunes
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President and Chief Executive Officer
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(Principal Executive Officer)
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By: /s/ Thomas M. Ringo
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Thomas M. Ringo
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Vice President and CFO
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(Principal Accounting and Financial Officer)
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32