Unassociated Document
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the Fiscal Quarter Ended March 1, 2009, or
 
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the Transition period from _____ to _________.
 
Commission file number:  0-27446
 
LANDEC CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
 
94-3025618
(State or other jurisdiction of
 
(IRS Employer
incorporation or organization)
 
Identification Number)

3603 Haven Avenue
Menlo Park, California 94025
(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(650) 306-1650

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 at least the past 90 days.
 
  Yes  x          No  ¨
 
Large accelerated filer  ¨
Accelerated filer x
 
Non-accelerated filer  ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)  Smaller reporting company ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
 
Yes ¨          No x

As of March 23, 2009, there were 26,238,953 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

 

 

LANDEC CORPORATION

FORM 10-Q For the Fiscal Quarter Ended March 1, 2009

INDEX
 
           
Page
 
               
      Facing sheet    
1
 
                 
      Index    
2
 
                 
Part I.
    Financial Information        
                 
Item 1.
   
 
a)
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 1, 2009 and May 25, 2008
   
3
 
                   
        b)
Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three Months and Nine Months Ended March 1, 2009 and February 24, 2008
   
4
 
                   
        c)
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended March 1, 2009 and February 24, 2008
   
5
 
                   
        d)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
   
6
 
                   
Item 2.
      Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    
17
 
                   
Item 3.
      Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    
27
 
                   
Item 4
      Controls and Procedures    
28
 
                   
Part II.
      Other Information    
29
 
                   
Item 1.
      Legal Proceedings    
29
 
                   
Item 1A.
      Risk Factors    
29
 
                   
Item 2.
      Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    
36
 
                   
Item 3.
      Defaults Upon Senior Securities    
36
 
                   
Item 4.
      Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    
36
 
                   
Item 5.
      Other Information    
36
 
                   
Item 6.
      Exhibits    
36
 
                   
        Signatures    
37
 
 
 
-2-

 

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.  Financial Statements
LANDEC CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

   
March 1, 2009
 
May 25, 2008
 
   
(Unaudited)
 
(1)
 
ASSETS
 
Current Assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 47,276   $ 44,396  
       Marketable securities
    16,640     14,643  
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $193 and $169 at March 1, 2009 and May 25, 2008, respectively
    12,459     19,460  
Accounts receivable, related party
    376     411  
Inventories, net
    5,294     7,329  
Notes and advances receivable
    491     501  
       Deferred taxes
    2,180     2,180  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    2,042     1,746  
Total Current Assets
    86,758     90,666  
               
Property, plant and equipment, net
    22,116     21,306  
Goodwill, net
    27,361     27,354  
Trademarks, net
    8,228     8,228  
Other assets
    3,759     3,035  
   Total Assets
  $ 148,222   $ 150,589  
   
Current Liabilities:
             
Accounts payable
  $ 10,062   $ 18,991  
Related party accounts payable
    72     273  
Accrued compensation
    1,167     2,197  
Other accrued liabilities
    1,651     2,930  
Deferred revenue
    4,002     3,613  
Total Current Liabilities
    16,954     28,004  
               
Deferred revenue
    3,500     5,000  
Deferred taxes
    3,019     1,569  
Minority interest
    1,641     1,550  
Total Liabilities
    25,114     36,123  
               
Stockholders’ Equity:
             
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 26,238,953 and 26,156,323 shares issued and outstanding at March 1, 2009 and May 25, 2008, respectively
      26       26  
       Additional paid-in capital
    115,713     112,948  
Retained earnings
    7,369     1,492  
Total Stockholders’ Equity
    123,108     114,466  
   Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
  $ 148,222   $ 150,589  

(1) Derived from audited financial statements.

See accompanying notes.

 
-3-

 

LANDEC CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)

   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
March 1,
   
February 24,
   
March 1,
   
February 24,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
Revenues:
                       
Product sales
  $ 51,242     $ 56,907     $ 175,370     $ 172,981  
Services revenue, related party
    930       737       3,086       2,721  
License fees
    1,550       1,720       4,650       4,851  
Research, development and royalty revenues
    189       243       595       642  
Royalty revenues, related party
                      32  
Total revenues
    53,911       59,607       183,701       181,227  
                                 
Cost of revenue:
                               
Cost of product sales
    45,218       48,087       153,342       148,457  
Cost of product sales, related party
    356       150       2,615       1,932  
Cost of services revenue
    746       623       2,473       2,261  
Total cost of revenue
    46,320       48,860       158,430       152,650  
                                 
Gross profit
    7,591       10,747       25,271       28,577  
                                 
Operating costs and expenses:
                               
Research and development
    891       802       2,647       2,411  
Selling, general and administrative
    4,153       4,860       13,278       13,645  
Total operating costs and expenses
    5,044       5,662       15,925       16,056  
Operating income
    2,547       5,085       9,346       12,521  
                                 
Interest income
    220       527       1,032       1,915  
Interest expense
    (2 )     (5 )     (6 )     (18 )
Minority interest expense
    (110 )     (121 )     (406 )     (350 )
Income before taxes
    2,655       5,486       9,966       14,068  
Income tax expense
    (1,115 )     (1,520 )     (4,089 )     (3,900 )
Net income
  $ 1,540     $ 3,966     $ 5,877     $ 10,168  
                                 
Basic net income per share
  $ 0.06     $ 0.15     $ 0.22     $ 0.39  
                                 
Diluted net income per share (Note 4)
  $ 0.06     $ 0.15     $ 0.22     $ 0.38  
                                 
Shares used in per share computation:
                               
Basic
    26,190       26,109       26,175       26,039  
Diluted
    26,564       26,936       26,763       26,961  

See accompanying notes.

 
-4-

 

LANDEC CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
   
Nine months Ended
 
   
March 1,
   
February 24,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net income
  $ 5,877     $ 10,168  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating
activities:
               
       Depreciation and amortization
    2,394       2,273  
Stock-based compensation expense
    650       688  
Tax benefit from stock based compensation
    (1,771 )     (3,675 )
Increase in long-term receivable
    (600 )     (600 )
Minority interest
    406       350  
Deferred taxes
    1,450        
Changes in current assets and current liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable, net
    7,001       2,723  
Accounts receivable, related party
    35       186  
Inventories, net
    2,035       486  
Issuance of notes and advances receivable
    (2,765 )     (2,286 )
Collection of notes and advances receivable
    2,674       1,882  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    (157 )     (398 )
Accounts payable
    (8,929 )     (2,127 )
Related party accounts payable
    (201 )     (129 )
Income taxes payable
    1,632       3,829  
Accrued compensation
    (1,030 )     (1,366 )
Other accrued liabilities
    (1,279 )     317  
Deferred revenue
    (1,111 )     (872 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
    6,311       11,449  
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Purchases of property and equipment
    (3,204 )     (2,364 )
Acquisition related earnout payments
    (7 )     (86 )
Issuance of notes and advances receivable
    (2 )     (10 )
Collection of notes and advances receivable
    103       116  
Purchase of marketable securities
    (32,350 )      
Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities
    30,353        
Net cash used in investing activities
    (5,107 )     (2,344 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Proceeds from sale of common stock
    344       1,120  
Repurchase of subsidiary common stock and options
          (20,837 )
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation
    1,771       3,675  
Increase in other assets
    (124 )     (5 )
Payments on related party note payable
          (66 )
Payments to minority interest holders
    (315 )     (283 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    1,676       (16,396 )
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    2,880       (7,291 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    44,396       62,556  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 47,276     $ 55,265  
                 
Supplemental schedule of noncash operating activities:
               
Income tax expense not payable
  $ 1,771     $ 3,675  
Long-term receivable from Monsanto for guaranteed termination fee
  $ 600     $ 600  
 
See accompanying notes.

 
-5-

 

LANDEC CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
 
1.    Organization, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
Organization
 
Landec Corporation and its subsidiaries ("Landec" or the "Company") design, develop, manufacture, and sell temperature-activated and other specialty polymer products for a variety of food products, agricultural products, and licensed partner applications. The Company sells Intellicoat® coated seed products through its Landec Ag, Inc. (“Landec Ag”) subsidiary and specialty packaged fresh-cut vegetables and whole produce to retailers and club stores, primarily in the United States and Asia through its Apio, Inc. (“Apio”) subsidiary.
 
Basis of Presentation
 
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Landec have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) have been made which are necessary to present fairly the financial position at March 1, 2009 and the results of operations and cash flows for all periods presented.  Although Landec believes that the disclosures in these financial statements are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, certain information normally included in financial statements and related footnotes prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted per the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The accompanying financial data should be reviewed in conjunction with the audited financial statements and accompanying notes included in Landec's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 25, 2008.
 
The results of operations for the three and nine months ended March 1, 2009 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for an entire fiscal year due to some seasonality in Apio’s food business and because the first quarter of fiscal year 2009 was a 14-week quarter which occurs once every five years compared to the standard 13-week quarter.
 
Basis of Consolidation
 
The consolidated financial statements are presented on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and include the accounts of Landec Corporation and its subsidiaries, Apio and Landec Ag.  All material inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated.

                The Company follows FASB Interpretation No. 46R, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities" ("FIN 46R"), which addresses the consolidation of variable interest entities ("VIEs").  Under FIN 46R, arrangements that are not controlled through voting or similar rights are accounted for as VIEs.  An enterprise is required to consolidate a VIE if it is the primary beneficiary of the VIE.

                Under FIN 46R, a VIE is created when (i) the equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties, or (ii) the entity's equity holders as a group either: (a) lack direct or indirect ability to make decisions about the entity through voting or similar rights, (b) are not obligated to absorb expected losses of the entity if they occur, or (c) do not have the right to receive expected residual returns of the entity if they occur.  If an entity is deemed to be a VIE pursuant to FIN 46R, the enterprise that is deemed to absorb a majority of the expected losses or receive a majority of expected residual returns of the VIE is considered the primary beneficiary and must consolidate the VIE.

                Based on the provisions of FIN 46R, the Company has concluded that as a result of the license and supply agreement between Landec and Monsanto Company (see Note 2).  Landec Ag is a VIE.  The Company has also determined that it is the primary beneficiary of Landec Ag and therefore the accounts of Landec Ag are consolidated with the accounts of the Company.

 
-6-

 

Landec Ag exists solely to administer the license and supply agreement between Landec and Monsanto Company.   At both March 1, 2009 and May 25, 2008, Landec Ag had total assets of approximately $500,000.

None of Landec’s assets serve as collateral for the obligations of Landec Ag, and there is no restriction on the recourse of creditors or beneficial interest holders of Landec Ag to the general credit of Landec.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles   requires management to make certain estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. The accounting estimates that require management’s most significant, difficult and subjective judgments include revenue recognition; sales returns and allowances; recognition and measurement of current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities; the assessment of recoverability of long-lived assets; the valuation of intangible assets and inventory; the valuation and nature of impairments of investments; and the valuation and recognition of stock-based compensation.

These estimates involve the consideration of complex factors and require management to make judgments. The analysis of historical and future trends can require extended periods of time to resolve and are subject to change from period to period.  The actual results may differ from management’s estimates.
 
For instance, the carrying value of notes and advances receivable are impacted by current market prices for the related crops, weather conditions and the fair value of the underlying security obtained by the Company, such as liens on property and crops.  The Company recognizes losses when it estimates that the fair value of the related crops or security is insufficient to cover the advance or note receivable.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities

The Company records all highly liquid securities with three months or less from date of purchase to maturity as cash equivalents and consists mainly of certificates of deposit, money market funds and U.S. Treasuries.  Short-term marketable securities consist of certificates of deposit that are FDIC insured and state and municipal bonds with original maturities of more than three months at the date of purchase and less than one year from the date of the balance sheet.  The Company classifies all debt securities with readily determined market values as “available for sale” in accordance with SFAS No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities.”  These investments are classified as marketable securities on the consolidated balance sheet as of March 1, 2009 and are carried at fair market value.  Unrealized gains and losses were not significant for the three and nine months ended March 1, 2009.  The cost of debt securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and discounts to maturity.  This amortization is recorded to interest income.  Realized gains and losses on the sale of available-for-sale securities are also recorded to interest income and were not significant for the three and nine months ended March 1, 2009.  The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method.

Financial Instruments

The Company’s financial instruments are primarily composed of commercial-term trade payables and grower advances, and notes receivable, as well as long-term notes receivables and debt instruments.  For short-term instruments, the historical carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.  Fair values for long-term financial instruments not readily marketable are estimated based upon discounted future cash flows at prevailing market interest rates.  Based on these assumptions, management believes the fair market values of the Company’s financial instruments are not materially different from their recorded amounts as of March 1, 2009.

Investments
 
Equity investments in non-public companies with no readily available market value are carried on the balance sheet at cost as adjusted for impairment losses, if any.  If reductions in the market value of the investments to an amount that is below cost are deemed by management to be other than temporary, the reduction in market value will be realized, with the resulting loss in market value reflected on the income statement.

 
-7-

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
Fair Value Measurements
 
In September 2006, FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure about fair value measurements.  SFAS No. 157 does not require new fair value measurements but provides guidance on how to measure fair value by providing a fair value hierarchy used to classify the source of information.  SFAS No. 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007.  However, on February 12, 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) FAS No. 157-2 which delays the effective date for all non-financial assets and liabilities except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually).  FSP 157- 2 defers the effective date of SFAS No. 157 to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and interim periods within the fiscal years for items within the scope of this FSP.  The Company adopted SFAS No. 157 on May 26, 2008 for financial assets and financial liabilities.  It did not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position for the three and nine months ended March 1, 2009.  The Company will adopt Statement 157 for non-financial assets and liabilities during its fiscal year ending May 30, 2010.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities— Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115.” SFAS No. 159 permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at fair value.  Subsequent adjustments to the fair value of the financial instruments and liabilities an entity elects to carry at fair value will be recognized in earnings.  SFAS No. 159 also establishes additional disclosure requirements.  SFAS No. 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, with early adoption permitted provided the entity also elects to apply the provisions of SFAS No. 157.  The Company adopted SFAS No. 159 on May 26, 2008, but has not elected the fair value measurement provisions for any eligible financial statements.

Business Combinations

The FASB issued SFAS No. 141R (revised 2007), “Business Combinations.” which significantly changes the financial accounting and reporting for business combination transactions.  SFAS No. 141R requires the acquiring entity in a business combination to recognize all (and only) the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the transaction and establishes the acquisition date fair value as the measurement objective for all assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination.  Certain provisions of this standard will, among other things, impact the determination of acquisition-date fair value of consideration paid in a business combination (including contingent consideration); exclude transaction costs from acquisition accounting; and change accounting practices for acquired contingencies, acquisition-related restructuring costs, in-process research and development, indemnification assets, and tax benefits.  For the Company, SFAS No. 141R is effective for business combinations occurring after May 31, 2009.  The Company is currently evaluating the future impacts and disclosures of this standard.

Noncontrolling Interests

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements.”  SFAS No. 160 amends Accounting Research Bulletin (“ARB”) No. 51, “Consolidated Financial Statements” and establishes accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest (minority interest) in a subsidiary.  This statement requires the reporting of all noncontrolling interests as a separate component of stockholders’ equity, the reporting of consolidated net income (loss) as the amount attributable to both the parent and the noncontrolling interests and the separate disclosure of net income (loss) attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interests.  In addition, this statement provides accounting and reporting guidance related to changes in noncontrolling ownership interests. Other than the reporting requirements described above which require retrospective application, the provisions of SFAS No. 160 are to be applied prospectively in the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008.   The Company is currently in the process of determining the impact and disclosure of this standard and expects it will result in a reclassification of income from the noncontrolling interest (minority interest) in Apio Cooling, L.P., in which Apio is the general partner with a 60% ownership position.  Upon adoption, all noncontrolling interest will be included as a component of stockholders’ equity and not in the statement of operations.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

 
-8-

 

Collaborative Arrangements

In December 2007, the FASB ratified the EITF consensus on EITF Issue No. 07-1, “Accounting for Collaborative Arrangements” that discusses how parties to a collaborative arrangement (which does not establish a legal entity within such arrangement) should account for various activities.  The consensus indicates that costs incurred and revenues generated from transactions with third parties (i.e. parties outside of the collaborative arrangement) should be reported by the collaborators on the respective line items in their income statements pursuant to EITF Issue No. 99-19, “Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal Versus Net as an Agent.”  Additionally, the consensus provides that income statement characterization of payments between the participants in a collaborative arrangement should be based upon existing authoritative pronouncements; analogy to such pronouncements if not within their scope; or a reasonable, rational, and consistently applied accounting policy election.  For the Company, EITF Issue No. 07-1 is effective beginning June 1, 2009 and is to be applied retrospectively to all periods presented for collaborative arrangements existing as of the date of adoption.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

Fair Value Measurements
 
The Company adopted Statement 157 on May 26, 2008 for financial assets and liabilities.  The Company also adopted Statement 159 in which entities are permitted to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value.  The Company did not elect the fair value option for any of its eligible financial assets or liabilities under SFAS 159.
 
SFAS No. 157 established a three-tier hierarchy for fair value measurements, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:
 
 
·
Level 1 – observable inputs such as quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.
 
 
·
Level 2 – inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly through corroboration with observable market data.
 
 
·
Level 3 – unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which would require the Company to develop its own assumptions.

As of March 1, 2009, the Company held certain assets that are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis.  These included the Company’s cash equivalents and marketable securities for which the fair value is determined based on observable inputs that are readily available in public markets or can be derived from information available in publicly quoted markets. Therefore, the Company has categorized its cash equivalents and marketable securities as Level 1.  The Company has no other financial assets or liabilities for which fair value measurement has been adopted.
 
Reclassifications
 
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period financial statements to conform to the current period presentation.
 
2.    License Agreement with Monsanto Company

On December 1, 2006, Landec sold its direct marketing and sales seed company, Fielder’s Choice Direct (“FCD”), which included the Fielder’s Choice Direct® and Heartland Hybrid® brands, to American Seeds, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Monsanto Company (“Monsanto”).  The acquisition price for FCD was $50 million in cash paid at the close.  During fiscal year 2007, Landec recorded income from the sale, net of direct expenses and bonuses, of $22.7 million.  The income that was recorded is equal to the difference between the fair value of FCD of $40 million and its net book value, less direct selling expenses and bonuses.  In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the portion of the $50 million of proceeds in excess of the fair value of FCD, or $10 million, was allocated to the technology license agreement described below and is being recognized as revenue ratably over the five year term of the technology license agreement or $2 million per year beginning December 1, 2006.  The fair value was determined by management.

 
-9-

 

On December 1, 2006, Landec also entered into a five-year co-exclusive technology license and polymer supply agreement (“the Agreement”) with Monsanto for the use of Landec’s Intellicoat polymer seed coating technology. Under the terms of the Agreement, Monsanto will pay Landec Ag $2.6 million per year in exchange for (1) a co-exclusive right to use Landec’s Intellicoat temperature-activated seed coating technology worldwide during the license period, (2) the right to be the exclusive global sales and marketing agent for the Intellicoat seed coating technology, and (3) the right to purchase the stock of Landec Ag at any time during the five year term of the Agreement.  Monsanto will also fund all operating costs, including all Intellicoat research and development, product development and non-replacement capital costs during the five year agreement period.  For each of the three and nine months ended March 1, 2009 and February 24, 2008, Landec recognized $1.35 million and $4.05 million, respectively, in revenues from the Agreement.

The Agreement also provides for a fee payable to Landec Ag of $4 million if Monsanto elects to terminate the Agreement or $8 million if Monsanto elects to purchase the stock of Landec Ag.  If the purchase option is exercised before the fifth anniversary of the Agreement, or if Monsanto elects to terminate the Agreement, all annual license fees and supply payments that have not been paid to Landec Ag will become due upon the purchase or termination.    If Monsanto does not exercise its purchase option by the fifth anniversary of the Agreement, Landec Ag will receive the termination fee and all rights to the Intellicoat seed coating technology will revert to Landec.  Accordingly, Landec Ag will receive minimum guaranteed payments of $17 million for license fees and polymer supply payments over five years or $21 million in maximum payments if Monsanto elects to purchase the stock of Landec Ag.  The minimum guaranteed payments and the deferred gain of $2 million per year described above will result in Landec recognizing revenue and operating income of $5.4 million per year for fiscal years 2008 through 2011 and $2.7 million per year for fiscal years 2007 and 2012.  The incremental $4 million to be received in the event Monsanto exercises the purchase option has been deferred and will be recognized upon the exercise of the purchase option.  The fair value of the purchase option was determined by management to be less than the amount of the deferred revenue.

If Monsanto exercises its purchase option, Landec and Monsanto will enter into a new long-term supply agreement in which Landec will continue to be the exclusive supplier of Intellicoat polymer materials to Monsanto.

3.    Stock-Based Compensation

In the three and nine months ended March 1, 2009, the Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $176,000 and $650,000 or $0.01 and $0.02 per basic and diluted share, respectively, which included $71,000 and $226,000 for restricted stock unit awards and $105,000 and $424,000 for stock option grants, respectively.  In the three and nine months ended February 24, 2008, the Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $182,000 and $688,000 or $0.01 and $0.03 per basic and diluted share, respectively, which included $81,000 and $224,000 for restricted stock unit awards and $101,000 and $464,000 for stock option grants, respectively.
 
The following table summarizes the stock-based compensation by income statement line item:
 
   
Three Months
Ended
March 1, 2009
   
Three Months
Ended
February 24,
2008
   
Nine Months
Ended
March 1,
2009
   
Nine Months
Ended
February 24,
2008
 
Research and development
  $ 42,000     $ 39,000     $ 126,000     $ 109,000  
Selling, general and administrative
    134,000       143,000       524,000       579,000  
  Total amort. of stock-based compensation
  $ 176,000     $ 182,000     $ 650,000     $ 688,000  
 
As of March 1, 2009, there was $638,000 of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested equity compensation awards granted under the Company’s incentive stock plans. Total expense is expected to be recognized over the weighted-average period of 1.53 years.
 
During the nine months ended March 1, 2009, the Company granted options to purchase 85,000 shares of Common Stock and 28,335 restricted stock unit awards.

 
-10-

 
 
As of March 1, 2009, the Company has reserved 2.4 million shares of Common Stock for future issuance under its current and former stock plans.

4.    Net Income Per Diluted Share

The following table sets forth the computation of diluted net income per share (in thousands, except per share amounts):
 
   
Three Months
Ended
March 1, 2009
   
Three Months
Ended
February 24,
2008
   
Nine Months
Ended
March 1, 2009
   
Nine Months
Ended
February 24,
2008
 
Numerator:
                       
Net income
  $ 1,540     $ 3,966     $ 5,877     $ 10,168  
                                 
Denominator:
                               
Weighted average shares for basic net income per share
    26,190       26,109       26,175       26,039  
Effect of dilutive securities:
                               
Stock options and restricted stock units
    374       827       588       922  
Weighted average shares for diluted net income per share
    26,564       26,936       26,763       26,961  
                                 
Diluted net income per share
  $ 0.06     $ 0.15     $ 0.22     $ 0.38  

For the three months ended March 1, 2009 and February 24, 2008, the computation of the diluted net income per share excludes the impact of options to purchase 1.1 million shares and 104,500 shares of Common Stock, respectively, as such impacts would be antidilutive for these periods.

For the nine months ended March 1, 2009 and February 24, 2008, the computation of the diluted net income per share excludes the impact of options to purchase 355,511 shares and 92,634 shares of Common Stock, respectively, as such impacts would be antidilutive for these periods.

5.    Income Taxes

The estimated annual effective tax rate for fiscal year 2009 is currently expected to be approximately 41%. The provision for income taxes for the three and nine months ended March 1, 2009 was $1.1 million and $4.1 million, respectively.

The "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008," which contains the "Tax Extenders and Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008", was signed into law on October 3, 2008.  Under the Act, the federal research credit was retroactively extended for amounts paid or incurred after December 31, 2007 and before January 1, 2010.  The effects of the retroactive change in the tax law were recognized during the quarter ended November 30, 2008, which is the quarter in which the law was enacted.  The federal research credit that was available to reduce the Company’s income tax provision for the three and nine months ended March 1, 2009 was not significant.

On September 30, 2008, California enacted Assembly Bill 1452 which among other provisions, suspends net operating loss deductions for 2008 and 2009 and extends the carry forward period of any net operating losses not utilized due to such suspension; adopts the federal 20-year net operating loss carry forward period; phases-in the federal two-year net operating loss carryback periods beginning in 2011 and limits the utilization of tax credits to 50 percent of a taxpayer's taxable income.  The Company does not expect this change in tax law to materially impact its tax provision, except for the increase in the current state tax liability due to the temporary suspension of the utilization of California net operating loss carry forwards.

 
-11-

 

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”).  FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes” (“FAS 109”). This interpretation prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.  FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition of tax benefits, classification on the balance sheet, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition.

As of May 25, 2008, the Company had unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $678,000.  Included in the balance of unrecognized tax benefits as of May 25, 2008 is approximately $599,000 of tax benefits that, if recognized, would result in an adjustment to the Company’s effective tax rate.  The Company does not expect that the amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will change significantly within the next twelve months.
 
In accordance with FIN 48, paragraph 19, the Company has decided to classify interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of its provision for income taxes.  Due to the Company’s historical taxable loss position, the Company did not accrue interest and penalties relating to the income tax on the unrecognized tax benefits as of March 1, 2009 and May 25, 2008 as the amounts were not significant.

Due to tax attribute carryforwards, the Company is subject to examination for tax years 1992 forward for U.S. tax purposes.  The Company was also subject to examination in various state jurisdictions for tax years 1997 forward, none of which were individually significant.

6.      Goodwill and Other Intangibles

The Company’s intangible assets are comprised primarily of goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives (collectively, “intangible assets”), which the Company recognized in accordance with the guidelines in SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141”) (i) upon the acquisition, in December 1999, of all the assets of Apio, Inc. (“Apio”), which consists of the Food Products Technology and Commodity Trading reporting units and (ii) from the repurchase of all minority interests in the common stock of Landec Ag, Inc. (“Landec Ag”), a subsidiary of the Company, in December 2006. SFAS 141 defines goodwill as “the excess of the cost of an acquired entity over the net of the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed at date of acquisition.” All intangible assets, including goodwill, associated with the Apio acquisition were allocated to the Food Products Technology reporting unit pursuant to SFAS 141 based upon the allocation of assets and liabilities acquired and consideration paid for the Food Products Technology reporting unit.  The consideration paid for the Commodity Trading reporting unit approximated its fair market value at the time of acquisition, and therefore no intangible assets were recorded in connection with the Company’s acquisition of this reporting unit.  Goodwill associated with the Technology Licensing reporting unit consists entirely of goodwill resulting from the repurchase of the Landec Ag minority interests.

The Company tests its intangible assets for impairment at least annually, in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (“SFAS 142”).  When evaluating indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment, SFAS 142 requires the Company to compare the fair value of the asset to its carrying value to determine if there is an impairment loss. When evaluating goodwill for impairment, SFAS 142 requires the Company to first compare the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value to determine if there is an impairment loss.  If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, goodwill is not considered impaired; thus application of the second step of the two-step approach in SFAS 142 is not required.  Application of the intangible assets impairment tests requires significant judgment by management, including identification of reporting units, assignment of assets and liabilities to reporting units, assignment of intangible assets to reporting units, and the determination of the fair value of each indefinite-lived intangible asset and reporting unit based upon projections of future net cash flows, discount rates and market multiples, which judgments and projections are inherently uncertain.

The Company tested its intangible assets for impairment as of July 20, 2008 and determined that no adjustments to the carrying values of the intangible assets were necessary as of that date.  On a quarterly basis, the Company considers the need to update its most recent annual tests for possible impairment of its intangible assets, based on management’s assessment of changes in its business and other economic factors since the most recent annual evaluation.  Such changes, if significant or material, could indicate a need to update the most recent annual tests for impairment of the intangible assets during the current period.  The results of these tests could lead to write-downs of the carrying values of the intangible assets in the current period.  

 
-12-

 
 
The Company uses the discounted cash flow (“DCF”) approach to develop an estimate of fair value.  The DCF approach recognizes that current value is premised on the expected receipt of future economic benefits.  Indications of value are developed by discounting projected future net cash flows to their present value at a rate that reflects both the current return requirements of the market and the risks inherent in the specific investment.  The market approach was not used to value the Food Products Technology and Technology Licensing reporting units (the “Reporting Units”) because insufficient market comparables exist to enable the Company to develop a reasonable fair value of its intangible assets due to the unique nature of each of the Company’s Reporting Units.

The DCF approach requires the Company to exercise judgment in determining future business and financial forecasts and the related estimates of future net cash flows. Future net cash flows depend primarily on future product sales, which are inherently difficult to predict. These net cash flows are discounted at a rate that reflects both the current return requirements of the market and the risks inherent in the specific investment.

The DCF associated with the Technology Licensing reporting unit is based on the Company’s current license agreement with Monsanto (the “License Agreement”).  Under the License Agreement, Landec Ag receives a license fee of $2.6 million in cash per year for five years beginning in December 2006, and a fee payable to Landec of $4.0 million if Monsanto elects to terminate the License Agreement, or $8.0 million if Monsanto elects to purchase all of the outstanding stock of Landec Ag.  If the purchase option is exercised before the fifth anniversary of the License Agreement, or if Monsanto elects to terminate the License Agreement, all annual license fees that have not been paid to Landec Ag will become due upon the purchase or termination.  As of May 25, 2008, the fair value of the Technology Licensing reporting unit, as determined by the DCF approach, is more than double its book value, and therefore, no intangible asset impairment was deemed to exist.  The discount rate utilized approximates the risk free interest rate as the cash flow stream is guaranteed under the terms of the License Agreement.  A 1% increase in the discount rate would result in approximately a 2% decline in the fair value of the reporting unit.

The DCF associated with the Food Products Technology reporting unit is based on management’s five-year projection of revenues, gross profits and operating profits by fiscal year and assumes a 40% effective tax rate for each year.  Management takes into account the historical trends of Apio and the industry categories in which Apio operates along with inflationary factors, current economic conditions, new product introductions, cost of sales, operating expenses, capital requirements and other relevant data when developing its projection.  As of May 25, 2008, the fair value of the Food Products Technology reporting unit, as determined by the DCF approach, was more than triple its carrying value, and therefore, no intangible asset impairment was deemed to exist. A 1% increase in the discount rate would result in approximately a 4% decline in the fair value of the reporting unit. Therefore, even significant negative changes in the Company’s revenue and margin projections for the Food Products Technology business or discount rate utilized would be unlikely to result in the impairment of the intangible assets of the Food Products Technology reporting unit as of May 25, 2008.

Although general economic conditions have deteriorated since May 25, 2008, management determined, after considering relevant facts and circumstances, that the deterioration in the economy had not significantly altered the previous assumptions for the Company’s impairment testing.  Thus, management concluded that it is not necessary to update impairment tests as of March 1, 2009.  The Company will perform its routine comprehensive review of its intangible assets for impairment as of July 19, 2009 for the Food Products Technology and Technology Licensing segments.

 
-13-

 

7.    Inventories
 
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or market and consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
   
March 1, 2009
   
May 25,
 2008
 
Raw material
  $ 3,976     $ 4,380  
Finished goods
    1,318       2,949  
   Total
  $ 5,294     $ 7,329  
 
8.    Related Party
 
Apio provides cooling and distributing services for farms in which the Chairman of Apio (the “Apio Chairman”) has a financial interest and purchases produce from those farms.  Apio also purchases produce from Beachside Produce LLC for sale to third parties.  Beachside Produce is owned by a group of entities and persons that supply produce to Apio, including the Apio Chairman.  Revenues and the resulting accounts receivable and cost of product sales and the resulting accounts payable are classified as related party items in the accompanying financial statements as of March 1, 2009 and May 25, 2008 and for the three and nine months ended March 1, 2009 and February 24, 2008.

Apio leases, for approximately $313,000 on a current annual basis, agricultural land that is owned by the Apio Chairman.  Apio, in turn, subleases that land at cost to growers who are obligated to deliver product from that land to Apio for value added products.  There is generally no net statement of income impact to Apio as a result of these leasing activities but Apio creates a guaranteed source of supply for the value added business.  Apio has loss exposure on the leasing activity to the extent that it is unable to sublease the land.  For the three and nine months ended March 1, 2009, the Company subleased all of the land leased from the Apio Chairman and received sublease income of $78,000 and $234,000 respectively, which is equal to the amount the Company paid to lease that land for the period.

Apio's domestic commodity vegetable business was sold to Beachside Produce, effective June 30, 2003.  The Apio Chairman is a 12.5% owner in Beachside Produce.  During the three and nine months ended March 1, 2009, the Company recognized revenues of $330,000 and $1.1 million, respectively, from the sale of products to Beachside Produce.  The related accounts receivable from Beachside Produce are classified as related party in the accompanying financial statements as of March 1, 2009 and May 25, 2008.

All related party transactions are monitored quarterly by the Company and approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.

9.
Comprehensive Income

The comprehensive income of Landec is the same as net income.

10.
Stockholders’ Equity

On November 6, 2008, the Company reincorporated from California to Delaware.  As a result of this reincorporation, the Company has established an additional paid in capital account and reclassified as of May 25, 2008, $112.9 million from Common Stock to additional paid-in capital.

During the three and nine months ended March 1, 2009, 63,884 and 82,630 shares of Common Stock, respectively, were issued upon the vesting of RSUs and upon the exercise of options under the Company’s stock option plans.

 
-14-

 

11.   Business Segment Reporting

Landec operates in three business segments: the Food Products Technology segment, the Commodity Trading segment and the Technology Licensing segment. The Food Products Technology segment markets and packs specialty packaged whole and fresh-cut vegetables that incorporate the BreatheWay specialty packaging for the retail grocery, club store and food services industry.  In addition, the Food Products Technology segment sells BreatheWay packaging to partners for produce products.  The Commodity Trading segment consists of revenues generated from the purchase and sale of primarily whole commodity fruit and vegetable products to Asia and domestically to Wal-Mart. The Technology Licensing segment licenses Landec’s patented Intellicoat seed coatings to the farming industry and licenses the Company’s Intelimer® polymers for personal care products and other industrial products. Corporate includes corporate general and administrative expenses, non-Food Products Technology interest income and Company-wide income tax expenses. All of the assets of the Company are located within the United States of America.  Prior to the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008, Landec’s operating segments were Food Products Technology and Agricultural Seed Technology.  At fiscal year end 2008, the Company reexamined its segment reporting and eliminated the Agricultural Seed Technology segment and established the Commodity Trading and the Technology Licensing segments.  As a result, the segment information for the three and nine months ended February 24, 2008 has been reclassified to conform with the current year classification.  The Company’s international sales are primarily to Canada, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Japan.

 
-15-

 

Operations and identifiable assets by business segment consisted of the following (in thousands):

Three Months Ended March 1, 2009
 
Food Products
Technology
   
Commodity
Trading
   
Technology
Licensing
   
Corporate
   
TOTAL
 
Net sales
  $ 44,522     $ 7,650     $ 1,739     $     $ 53,911  
International sales
  $ 3,445     $ 7,613     $     $     $ 11,058  
Gross profit
  $ 5,203     $ 649     $ 1,739     $     $ 7,591  
Net income (loss)
  $ 2,530     $ 197     $ 1,154     $ (2,341 )   $ 1,540  
Depreciation and amortization
  $ 733     $ 3     $ 43     $     $ 779  
Interest income
  $ 78     $     $     $ 142     $ 220  
Interest expense
  $ 2     $     $     $     $ 2  
Income tax expense
  $     $     $     $ 1,115     $ 1,115  
                                         
Three Months Ended February 24, 2008
                                       
Net sales
  $ 48,762     $ 8,974     $ 1,871     $     $ 59,607  
International sales
  $ 4,149     $ 8,945     $    
$
    $ 13,094  
Gross profit
  $ 8,286     $ 590     $ 1,871     $     $ 10,747  
Net income (loss)
  $ 4,799     $ 36     $ 1,322     $ (2,191 )   $ 3,966  
Depreciation and amortization
  $ 749     $ 5     $ 51     $     $ 805  
Interest income
  $ 97     $     $     $ 430     $ 527  
Interest expense
  $ 5     $     $     $     $ 5  
Income tax expense
  $     $     $     $ 1,520     $ 1,520  
                                         
Nine Months Ended March 1, 2009
                                       
Net sales
  $ 126,307     $ 52,301     $ 5,093     $     $ 183,701  
International sales
  $ 11,035     $ 47,207     $     $     $ 58,242  
Gross profit
  $ 17,194     $ 2,984     $ 5,093     $     $ 25,271  
Net income (loss)
  $ 8,370     $ 1,346     $ 3,425     $ (7,264 )   $ 5,877  
Depreciation and amortization
  $ 2,251     $ 10     $ 133     $     $ 2,394  
Interest income
  $ 350     $     $     $ 682     $ 1,032  
Interest expense
  $ 6     $     $     $     $ 6  
Income tax expense
  $     $     $     $ 4,089     $ 4,089  
                                         
Nine Months Ended February 24, 2008
                                       
Net sales
  $ 127,750     $ 48,279     $ 5,198     $     $ 181,227  
International sales
  $ 11,414     $ 45,476     $     $     $ 56,890  
Gross profit
  $ 20,682     $ 2,697     $ 5,198     $     $ 28,577  
Net income (loss)
  $ 10,902     $ 1,150     $ 3,695     $ (5,579 )   $ 10,168  
Depreciation and amortization
  $ 2,093     $ 15     $ 165     $     $ 2,273  
Interest income
  $ 409     $     $     $ 1,506     $ 1,915  
Interest expense
  $ 18     $     $     $     $ 18  
Income tax expense
  $     $     $     $ 3,900     $ 3,900  
 
During the nine months ended March 1, 2009 and February 24, 2008, sales to the Company’s top five customers accounted for 46% and 47%, respectively, of revenues with the Company’s top customer from the Food Products Technology segment, Costco Wholesale Corp., accounting for 20% and 19% for the nine months ended March 1, 2009 and February 24, 2008, respectively.  The Company expects that, for the foreseeable future, a limited number of customers may continue to account for a significant portion of its net revenues.  The Company’s international sales are primarily to Canada, Taiwan, Indonesia and Japan.

 
-16-

 

Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in Part I—Item 1 of this Form 10-Q and the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in Landec’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 25, 2008.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this report are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.  Potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those mentioned in this report and in particular the factors described below in Part II – Item 1A of this Form 10-Q and those mentioned in Landec’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 25, 2008.  Landec undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this report.
 
Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates

There have been no material changes to the Company's critical accounting policies which are included and described in the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 25, 2008 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 8, 2008.

The revenue recognition policy has been expanded as follows:

Revenue Recognition

Revenue from product sales is recognized when there is persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, title has transferred, the price is fixed and determinable, and collectibility is reasonably assured.  Allowances are established for estimated uncollectible amounts, product returns, and discounts.

Licensing revenue is recognized in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, Revenue Recognition (a replacement of SAB 101), (SAB 104).  Initial license fees are deferred and amortized to revenue over the period of the agreement when a contract exists, the fee is fixed and determinable, and collectibility is reasonably assured.  Noncancellable, nonrefundable license fees are recognized over the period of the agreement, including those governing research and development activities and any related supply agreement entered into concurrently with the license when the risk associated with commercialization of a product is non-substantive at the outset of the arrangement.

Contract revenue for research and development (R&D) is recorded as earned, based on the performance requirements of the contract. Non-refundable contract fees for which no further performance obligations exist, and there is no continuing involvement by the Company, are recognized on the earlier of when the payments are received or when collection is assured.
 
The goodwill and other intangibles policy has been expanded as follows:

Goodwill and Other Intangibles
 
The Company’s intangible assets are comprised primarily of goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives (collectively, “intangible assets”), which the Company recognized in accordance with the guidelines in SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141”) (i) upon the acquisition, in December 1999, of all the assets of Apio, Inc. (“Apio”), which consists of the Food Products Technology and Commodity Trading reporting units and (ii) from the repurchase of all minority interests in the common stock of Landec Ag, Inc. (“Landec Ag”), a subsidiary of the Company, in December 2006. SFAS 141 defines goodwill as “the excess of the cost of an acquired entity over the net of the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed at date of acquisition.” All intangible assets, including goodwill, associated with the Apio acquisition were allocated to the Food Products Technology reporting unit pursuant to SFAS 141 based upon the allocation of assets and liabilities acquired and consideration paid for the Food Products Technology reporting unit.  The consideration paid for the Commodity Trading reporting unit approximated its fair market value at the time of acquisition, and therefore no intangible assets were recorded in connection with the Company’s acquisition of this reporting unit.  Goodwill associated with the Technology Licensing reporting unit consists entirely of goodwill resulting from the repurchase of the Landec Ag minority interests.

 
-17-

 

The Company tests its intangible assets for impairment at least annually, in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (“SFAS 142”).  When evaluating indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment, SFAS 142 requires the Company to compare the fair value of the asset to its carrying value to determine if there is an impairment loss. When evaluating goodwill for impairment, SFAS 142 requires the Company to first compare the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value to determine if there is an impairment loss.  If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, goodwill is not considered impaired; thus application of the second step of the two-step approach in SFAS 142 is not required.  Application of the intangible assets impairment tests requires significant judgment by management, including identification of reporting units, assignment of assets and liabilities to reporting units, assignment of intangible assets to reporting units, and the determination of the fair value of each indefinite-lived intangible asset and reporting unit based upon projections of future net cash flows, discount rates and market multiples, which judgments and projections are inherently uncertain.

The Company tested its intangible assets for impairment as of July 20, 2008 and determined that no adjustments to the carrying values of the intangible assets were necessary as of that date.  On a quarterly basis, the Company considers the need to update its most recent annual tests for possible impairment of its intangible assets, based on management’s assessment of changes in its business and other economic factors since the most recent annual evaluation.  Such changes, if significant or material, could indicate a need to update the most recent annual tests for impairment of the intangible assets during the current period.  The results of these tests could lead to write-downs of the carrying values of the intangible assets in the current period.  

The Company uses the discounted cash flow (“DCF”) approach to develop an estimate of fair value.  The DCF approach recognizes that current value is premised on the expected receipt of future economic benefits.  Indications of value are developed by discounting projected future net cash flows to their present value at a rate that reflects both the current return requirements of the market and the risks inherent in the specific investment.  The market approach was not used to value the Food Products Technology and Technology Licensing reporting units (the “Reporting Units”) because insufficient market comparables exist to enable the Company to develop a reasonable fair value of its intangible assets due to the unique nature of each of the Company’s Reporting Units.

The DCF approach requires the Company to exercise judgment in determining future business and financial forecasts and the related estimates of future net cash flows. Future net cash flows depend primarily on future product sales, which are inherently difficult to predict. These net cash flows are discounted at a rate that reflects both the current return requirements of the market and the risks inherent in the specific investment.

The DCF associated with the Technology Licensing reporting unit is based on the Company’s current license agreement with Monsanto (the “License Agreement”).  Under the License Agreement, Landec Ag receives a license fee of $2.6 million in cash per year for five years beginning in December 2006, and a fee payable to Landec of $4.0 million if Monsanto elects to terminate the License Agreement, or $8.0 million if Monsanto elects to purchase all of the outstanding stock of Landec Ag.  If the purchase option is exercised before the fifth anniversary of the License Agreement, or if Monsanto elects to terminate the License Agreement, all annual license fees that have not been paid to Landec Ag will become due upon the purchase or termination.  As of May 25, 2008, the fair value of the Technology Licensing reporting unit, as determined by the DCF approach, is more than double its book value, and therefore, no intangible asset impairment was deemed to exist.  The discount rate utilized approximates the risk free interest rate as the cash flow stream is guaranteed under the terms of the License Agreement.  A 1% increase in the discount rate would result in approximately a 2% decline in the fair value of the reporting unit.

The DCF associated with the Food Products Technology reporting unit is based on management’s five-year projection of revenues, gross profits and operating profits by fiscal year and assumes a 40% effective tax rate for each year.  Management takes into account the historical trends of Apio and the industry categories in which Apio operates along with inflationary factors, current economic conditions, new product introductions, cost of sales, operating expenses, capital requirements and other relevant data when developing its projection.  As of May 25, 2008, the fair value of the Food Products Technology reporting unit, as determined by the DCF approach, was more than triple its carrying value, and therefore, no intangible asset impairment was deemed to exist. A 1% increase in the discount rate would result in approximately a 4% decline in the fair value of the reporting unit. Therefore, even significant negative changes in the Company’s revenue and margin projections for the Food Products Technology business or discount rate utilized would be unlikely to result in the impairment of the intangible assets of the Food Products Technology reporting unit as of May 25, 2008.

 
-18-

 

Although general economic conditions have deteriorated since May 25, 2008, management determined, after considering relevant facts and circumstances, that the deterioration in the economy had not significantly altered the previous assumptions for the Company’s impairment testing.  Thus, management concluded that it is not necessary to update impairment tests as of March 1, 2009.  The Company will perform its routine comprehensive review of its intangible assets for impairment as of July 19, 2009 for the Food Products Technology  and Technology Licensing segments.

The Company

Landec Corporation and its subsidiaries (“Landec” or the “Company”) design, develop, manufacture and sell temperature-activated and other specialty polymer products for a variety of food products, agricultural products, and licensed partner applications.  This proprietary polymer technology is the foundation, and a key differentiating advantage, upon which Landec has built its business.

Landec’s core polymer products are based on its patented proprietary Intelimer polymers, which differ from other polymers in that they can be customized to abruptly change their physical characteristics when heated or cooled through a pre-set temperature switch.  For instance, Intelimer polymers can change within the range of one or two degrees Celsius from a non-adhesive state to a highly tacky, adhesive state; from an impermeable state to a highly permeable state; or from a solid state to a viscous state.  These abrupt changes are repeatedly reversible and can be tailored by Landec to occur at specific temperatures, thereby offering substantial competitive advantages in Landec’s target markets.

Following the sale of Landec’s former direct marketing and sales seed corn company, FCD, to Monsanto in fiscal year 2007, Landec now has three core businesses – Food Products Technology, Commodity Trading and Technology Licensing (see note 11 of the unaudited financial statements).

Our Food Products Technology business is operated through a subsidiary, Apio, Inc., and combines our proprietary food packaging technology with the capabilities of a large national food supplier and value-added produce processor.  Value-added processing incorporates Landec's proprietary packaging technology with produce that is processed by washing, and in some cases cutting and mixing, resulting in packaged produce to achieve increased shelf life and reduced shrink (waste) and to eliminate the need for ice during the distribution cycle.  This combination was consummated in 1999 when the Company acquired Apio, Inc. and certain related entities (collectively, “Apio”).

Our Commodity Trading business is operated through Apio and combines Apio’s export company, Cal Ex Trading Company (“Cal-Ex”) with Apio’s domestic buy-sell commodity business that purchases and sells whole fruit and vegetable products to Asia and domestically to Wal-Mart.

Our Technology Licensing business includes our proprietary Intellicoat seed coating technology which we have licensed to Monsanto and our Intelimer polymer business that licenses and/or supplies products outside of our Food Products Technology business to companies such as Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (“Air Products”) and Nitta Corporation (“Nitta”).

Landec was incorporated on October 31, 1986.  We completed our initial public offering in 1996 and our Common Stock is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “LNDC.” Our principal executive offices are located at 3603 Haven Avenue, Menlo Park, California 94025 and our telephone number is (650) 306-1650.

 
-19-

 

Description of Core Business

Landec participates in three core business segments– Food Products Technology, Commodity Trading and Technology Licensing.


Food Products Technology Business

The Company began marketing its proprietary Intelimer-based BreatheWay® membranes in 1996 for use in the fresh-cut produce packaging market, one of the fastest growing segments in the produce industry.  Landec’s proprietary BreatheWay packaging technology when combined with fresh-cut or whole produce results in packaged produce with increased shelf life and reduced shrink (waste) without the need for ice during the distribution cycle.  The resulting products are referred to as “value-added” products.  In 1999, the Company acquired Apio, its then largest customer in the Food Products Technology business and one of the nation’s leading marketers and packers of produce and specialty packaged fresh-cut vegetables.  Apio utilizes state-of-the-art fresh-cut produce processing technology and year-round access to specialty packaged produce products which Apio distributes to the top U.S. retail grocery chains, major club stores and to the foodservice industry. The Company’s proprietary BreatheWay packaging business has been combined with Apio into a subsidiary that retains the Apio, Inc. name.  This vertical integration within the Food Products Technology business gives Landec direct access to the large and growing fresh-cut and whole produce market.  During the fiscal year ended May 25, 2008, Apio shipped more than nineteen million cartons of produce to leading supermarket retailers, wholesalers, foodservice suppliers and club stores throughout the United States and internationally, primarily in Asia.

There are four major distinguishing characteristics of Apio that provide competitive advantages in the Food Products Technology market:

 
·
Value-Added Supplier: Apio has structured its business as a marketer and seller of fresh-cut and whole value-added produce.  It is focused on selling products under its Eat Smart® brand and other brands for its fresh-cut and whole value-added products.  As retail grocery and club store chains consolidate, Apio is well positioned as a single source of a broad range of products.

 
·
Reduced Farming Risks:  Apio reduces its farming risk by not taking ownership of farmland, and instead, contracts with growers for produce.  The year-round sourcing of produce is a key component to the fresh-cut and whole value-added processing business.

 
·
Lower Cost Structure: Apio has strategically invested in the rapidly growing fresh-cut and whole value-added business.  Apio’s 96,000 square foot value-added processing plant is automated with state-of-the-art vegetable processing equipment.  Virtually all of Apio’s value-added products utilize Apio’s proprietary BreatheWay packaging technology.  Apio’s strategy is to operate one large central processing facility in one of California’s largest, lowest cost growing regions (Santa Maria Valley) and use packaging technology to allow for the nationwide delivery of fresh produce products.

 
·
Expanded Product Line Using Technology: Apio, through the use of its BreatheWay packaging technology, is introducing on average fifteen new value-added products each year.  These new product offerings range from various sizes of fresh-cut bagged products, to vegetable trays, to whole produce, to vegetable salads and snack packs.  During the last twelve months, Apio has introduced 24 new products.

 
-20-

 

Apio established its Apio Packaging division of the Food Products Technology business in 2005 to advance the sales of BreatheWay packaging technology for shelf-life sensitive vegetables and fruit.  The technology also includes unique packaging solutions for produce in large packages including shipping and pallet-sized containers.

Apio Packaging’s first program has concentrated on bananas and was formally consummated when Apio entered into an agreement to supply Chiquita Brands International, Inc. (“Chiquita”) with its proprietary banana packaging technology on a worldwide basis for the ripening, conservation and shelf-life extension of bananas for most applications on an exclusive basis and for other applications on a non-exclusive basis.  In addition, Apio provides Chiquita with ongoing research and development and process technology support for the BreatheWay membranes and bags, and technical service support throughout the customer chain in order to assist in the development and market acceptance of the technology.

For its part, Chiquita provides marketing, distribution and retail sales support for Chiquita® bananas sold worldwide in BreatheWay packaging.  To maintain the exclusive license, Chiquita must meet quarterly minimum purchase thresholds of BreatheWay banana packages.

The initial market focus for the BreatheWay banana packaging technology using Chiquita bananas has been commercial outlets that normally do not sell bananas because of their short shelf-life – outlets such as quick serve restaurants, convenience stores and coffee chain outlets.  Chiquita is currently developing packaging designs for bananas packaged with Landec’s BreatheWay technology for sale in quick serve restaurants and retail grocery chains.

During fiscal year 2008, the Company expanded the use of its BreatheWay technology to avocados under an expanded licensing agreement with Chiquita.  Commercial sales of avocados into the food service industry began in the fall of 2008 and retail grocery store trials recently began.

In May 2007, Apio entered into an 18-month research and development agreement with Natick Soldier Research, Development & Engineering Center, a branch of the U.S. Military, to develop commercial uses for Landec’s BreatheWay packaging technology within the U.S. Military by significantly increasing the shelf life of produce for overseas shipments.

In June 2008, Apio entered into a collaboration agreement with Seminis Vegetable Seeds, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Monsanto, to develop novel broccoli and cauliflower products for the exclusive sale by Apio in the North American market.  These novel products will be packaged in Landec’s proprietary BreatheWay packaging and will be sold to retail grocery chains, club stores and the food service industry.  Field trials for the initial target varieties began in the fall of 2008.

In addition, the Company has commercialized new lines of fresh cut vegetable side dishes, vegetable salads and vegetable snacks.

Commodity Trading Business

Commodity Trading revenues consist of revenues generated from the purchase and sale of primarily whole commodity fruit and vegetable products to Asia through Apio’s export company, Cal-Ex and from the purchase and sale of whole commodity fruit and vegetable products domestically to Wal-Mart.  The Commodity Trading business is a buy/sell business that realizes a commission-based margin on average in the 5-6% range.

Technology Licensing Businesses

The Technology and Market Opportunity: Intellicoat Seed Coatings

Following the sale of FCD, our strategy has been to work closely with Monsanto to further develop our patented, functional polymer coating technology that can be broadly sold and/or licensed to the seed industry.  In accordance with our license, supply and R&D agreement with Monsanto, we are currently focused on commercializing products for the seed corn market and then plan to broaden the technology to other seed crop applications.

 
-21-

 

Landec's Intellicoat seed coating applications are designed to control seed germination timing, increase crop yields, reduce risks and extend crop-planting windows. These coatings are currently available on hybrid corn, soybeans and male inbred corn used for seed production.  In fiscal year 2000, Landec Ag launched its first commercial product, Pollinator Plusâ coatings, which is a coating application used by seed companies as a method for spreading pollination to increase yields and reduce risk in the production of hybrid seed corn.  There are approximately 650,000 acres of seed production in the United States and in 2008 Pollinator Plus was used by 25 seed companies on approximately 17% of the seed corn production acres in the U.S.

Monsanto has formed a new business called the Seed Treatment Business which will allow Monsanto to develop its seed treatment requirements internally.  The concept of seed treatments is to place an insecticide or fungicide directly onto the seed surface in order to protect the seed and the seedling as it emerges.  Landec’s Intellicoat seed coating technology could be an integral and proprietary part of Monsanto’s commitment to building a major position in seed treatments worldwide by using Landec’s seed coatings as a “carrier” of insecticides/fungicides which can be dispensed at the appropriate time based on time or soil temperature.

The Technology and Market Opportunity: Intelimer Polymer Applications

We believe our technology has commercial potential in a wide range of industrial, consumer and medical applications beyond those identified in our core businesses.  For example, our core patented technology, Intelimer materials, can be used to trigger catalysts, insecticides or fragrances just by changing the temperature of the Intelimer materials or to activate adhesives through controlled temperature change.  In order to exploit these opportunities, we have entered into and will enter into licensing and collaborative corporate agreements for product development and/or distribution in certain fields.  However, given the infrequency and unpredictability of when the Company may enter into any such licensing and research and development arrangements, the Company is unable to disclose its financial expectations in advance of entering into such arrangements.

Industrial Materials and Adhesives

Landec’s industrial product development strategy is to focus on coatings, catalysts, resins, additives and adhesives in the polymer materials market.  During the product development stage, the Company identifies corporate partners to support the ongoing development and testing of these products, with the ultimate goal of licensing the applications at the appropriate time.

Intelimer Polymer Systems

Landec has developed latent catalysts useful in extending pot-life, extending shelf life, reducing waste and improving thermoset cure methods.  Some of these latent catalysts are currently being distributed by Akzo-Nobel Chemicals B.V. through a licensing agreement with Air Products.  The Company has also developed Intelimer polymer materials useful in enhancing the formulating options for various personal care products.  The rights to develop and sell Landec’s latent catalysts and personal care technologies were licensed to Air Products in March 2006.

Personal Care and Cosmetic Applications

Landec’s personal care and cosmetic applications strategy is focused on supplying Intelimer materials to industry leaders for use in lotions and creams, and potentially color cosmetics, lipsticks and hair care.  The Company's partner, Air Products, is currently shipping products to L’Oreal for use in lotions and creams.

Medical Applications

On December 23, 2005, Landec entered into a licensing agreement with Aesthetic Sciences Corporation (“Aesthetic Sciences”) for the exclusive rights to use Landec's Intelimer materials technology for the development of dermal fillers worldwide.  In exchange for the exclusive right to use Landec’s Intelimer technology, the Company received shares of preferred stock valued at $1.8 million which as of March 1, 2009 represented a 17.3% ownership interest in Aesthetic Sciences.  At this time, the Company is unable to predict the ultimate outcome of the collaboration with Aesthetic Sciences and the timing or amount of future revenues, if any.

 
-22-

 

Results of Operations

Revenues (in thousands):

   
Three months
ended 3/1/09
   
Three months
ended 2/24/08
   
Change
   
Nine months
ended 3/1/09
   
Nine months
ended 2/24/08
   
Change
 
Apio Value Added
  $ 43,936     $ 46,889       (6 )%   $ 124,252     $ 125,547       (1 )%
Apio Packaging
    586       1,873       (69 )%     2,055       2,203       (7 )%
 Technology Subtotal
    44,522       48,762       (9 )%     126,307       127,750       (1 )%
Apio Trading
    7,650       8,974       (15 )%     52,301       48,279       8 %
 Total Apio
    52,172       57,736       (10 )%     178,608       176,029       1 %
Tech. Licensing
    1,739       1,871       (7 )%     5,093       5,198       (2 )%
 Total Revenues
  $ 53,911     $ 59,607       (10 )%   $ 183,701     $ 181,227       1 %

Apio Value Added

Apio’s value-added revenues consist of revenues generated from the sale of specialty packaged fresh-cut and whole value-added processed vegetable products that are washed and packaged in our proprietary packaging and sold under Apio’s Eat Smart brand and various private labels.  In addition, value-added revenues include the revenues generated from Apio Cooling, LP, a vegetable cooling operation in which Apio is the general partner with a 60% ownership position.

The decrease in Apio’s value-added revenues for the three and nine months ended March 1, 2009 compared to the same periods last year was primarily due to a decrease in value-added unit sales volumes of 5% and 1%, respectively.

Apio Packaging

Apio packaging revenues consist of Apio’s packaging technology business using its BreatheWay membrane technology. The first commercial application included in Apio packaging is our banana packaging technology.

The decrease in Apio packaging revenues for the three and nine months ended March 1, 2009 compared to the same periods last year was due to the timing of contractual minimum payments from Chiquita as a result of amending the Chiquita license agreement.

Apio Trading

Apio trading revenues consist of revenues generated from the purchase and sale of primarily whole commodity fruit and vegetable products to Asia through Apio’s export company, Cal-Ex, and from the purchase and sale of whole commodity fruit and vegetable products domestically to Wal-Mart.  The export portion of trading revenues for the three and nine months ended March 1, 2009 was $7.6 million and $47.2 million, or 100% and 90%, respectively, of total trading revenues.

 The decrease in revenues in Apio’s trading business for the three months ended March 1, 2009 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to a 1% decrease in trading sales volumes and from lower average per unit sales prices due to product mix changes to lower priced fruit products.  The increase in revenues in Apio’s trading business for the nine months ended March 1, 2009 compared to the same period last year was due to a 5% increase in trading business sales volumes coupled with higher average per unit sales prices during the first half of fiscal year 2009 due to product mix changes to higher priced vegetable products.

Technology Licensing

Technology licensing revenues consist of revenues generated from the licensing agreements with Monsanto, Air Products and Nitta.

The decrease in Technology Licensing revenues for the three and nine months ended March 1, 2009 compared to the same periods of the prior year was not significant to consolidated Landec revenues.

 
-23-

 

Gross Profit (in thousands):

   
Three months
ended 3/1/09
   
Three months
ended 2/24/08
   
Change
   
Nine months
ended 3/1/09
   
Nine months
ended 2/24/08
   
Change
 
Apio Value Added
  $ 4,622     $ 6,434       (28 )%   $ 15,287     $ 18,566       (18 )%
Apio Packaging
    581       1,852       (69 )%     1,907       2,116       (10 )%
Technology Subtotal
    5,203       8,286       (37 )%     17,194       20,682       (17 )%
Apio Trading
    649       590       10 %     2,984       2,697       11 %
  Total Apio
    5,852       8,876       (34 )%     20,178       23,379       (14 )%
Tech. Licensing
    1,739       1,871       (7 )%     5,093       5,198       (2 )%
 Total Gross Profit
  $ 7,591     $ 10,747       (29 )%   $ 25,271     $ 28,577       (12 )%

General

There are numerous factors that can influence gross profit including product mix, customer mix, manufacturing costs, volume, sale discounts and charges for excess or obsolete inventory, to name a few.  Many of these factors influence or are interrelated with other factors.  Therefore, it is difficult to precisely quantify the impact of each item individually.  The Company includes in cost of sales all the costs related to the sale of products in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.  These costs include the following: raw materials (including produce, seeds and packaging), direct labor, overhead (including indirect labor, depreciation, and facility related costs) and shipping and shipping related costs.  The following discussion surrounding gross profit includes management’s best estimates of the reasons for the changes for the three and nine months ended March 1, 2009, compared to the same periods last year as outlined in the table above.

Apio Value-Added

The decrease in gross profit for Apio’s value-added specialty packaging vegetable business for the three months ended March 1, 2009 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to a 6% decrease in revenues coupled with increased costs for raw materials, primarily for produce.  The gross margin for Apio’s value-added business for the third quarter of fiscal year 2009 was 10.5% compared to a gross margin of 13.7% during the third quarter of last year.  The decrease in gross profit for Apio’s value-added business for the nine months ended March 1, 2009 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to increased costs for raw materials, primarily for produce.  The gross margin for Apio’s value-added business for the first nine months of fiscal year 2009 was 12.3% compared to a gross margin of 14.8% during the first nine months of fiscal year 2008.

Apio Packaging

The decrease in gross profit for Apio Packaging for the three and nine months ended March 1, 2009 compared to the same periods last year was primarily due to the timing of contractual minimum payments from Chiquita as a result of amending the Chiquita license agreement.

Apio Trading

Apio’s trading business is a buy/sell business that realizes a commission-based margin typically in the 4-6% range.  The increase in Apio trading gross profit for the three months ended March 1, 2009 compared to the same period last year was due to a shift during the quarter to higher margin vegetable export products from lower margin fruit export products during the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 primarily due to a higher quantity of vegetable products available for export during the third quarter of this year compared to the same period last year.  The increase in Apio trading gross profit during the nine months ended March 1, 2009 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to increased trading revenues of 8%.  The increase in gross profits during the first nine months of fiscal year 2009 was greater than the increase in revenues because the of product mix changes to higher margin vegetable products from lower margin fruit products in our export business which resulted in a higher average gross margin during the first nine months of fiscal year 2009 compared to the same period last year.

Technology Licensing

The decrease in Technology Licensing gross profit for the three and nine months ended March 1, 2009 compared to the same period of the prior year was not significant to consolidated Landec gross profit.

 
-24-

 

Operating Expenses (in thousands):

   
Three months
ended 3/1/09
   
Three months
ended 2/24/08
   
Change
   
Nine months
ended 3/1/09
   
Nine months
ended 2/24/08
   
Change
 
Research and Development:
                                   
Apio
  $ 306     $ 253       21 %   $ 980     $ 908       8 %
Tech. Licensing
    585       549       7 %     1,667       1,503       11 %
  Total R&D
  $ 891     $ 802       11 %   $ 2,647     $ 2.411       10 %
                                                 
Selling, General and Administrative:
                                               
Apio
  $ 2,785     $ 3,759       (26 )%   $ 9,422     $ 10,460       (10 )%
Corporate
    1,368       1,101       24 %     3,856       3,185       21 %
  Total S,G&A
  $ 4,153     $ 4,860       (15 )%   $ 13,278     $ 13,645       (3 )%

Research and Development

Landec’s research and development expenses consist primarily of expenses involved in the development and process scale-up initiatives.  Research and development efforts at Apio are focused on the Company’s proprietary BreatheWay membranes used for packaging produce, with recent focus on extending the shelf life of bananas and other shelf-life sensitive vegetables and fruit.  In the Technology Licensing business, the research and development efforts are focused on uses for our proprietary Intelimer polymers outside of food.

The increase in research and development expenses for the three months and nine months ended March 1, 2009 compared to the same periods last year was not significant.

Selling, General and Administrative

Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of sales and marketing expenses associated with Landec’s product sales and services, business development expenses and staff and administrative expenses.

The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses for the three and nine months ended March 1, 2009 compared to the same periods last year was primarily due to a decrease in sales and marketing expenses at Apio due to the decreases in value-added revenues and from decreases in general and administrative expenses at Apio primarily as a result of not accruing bonuses this year whereas for the same periods last years bonuses were accrued.  These decreases in selling, general and administrative expenses at Apio were partially offset by increases in general and administrative expenses at Corporate as a result of increased fees for audit, tax and legal.

Other (in thousands):

   
Three months
ended 3/01/09
   
Three months
ended 2/24/08
   
Change
   
Nine months
ended 3/01/09
   
Nine months
ended 2/24/08
   
Change
 
Interest Income
  $ 220     $ 527       (58 )%   $ 1,032     $ 1,915       (46 )%
Interest Expense
  $ (2 )   $ (5 )     (60 )%   $ (6 )   $ (18 )     (67 )%
Minority Int. Exp.
  $ (110 )   $ (121 )     (9 )%   $ (406 )   $ (350 )     16 %
Income Taxes
  $ (1,115 )   $ (1,520 )     (27 )%   $ (4,089 )   $ (3,900 )     5 %

 
-25-

 

Interest Income

The decrease in interest income for the three and nine months ended March 1, 2009 compared to the same periods last year was primarily due to lower yields on investments, driven by both declines in interest rates and a shift in our investment portfolio to more conservative investments.

Interest Expense

The decrease in interest expense during the three and nine months ended March 1, 2009 compared to the same periods last year was not significant.

Minority Interest Expense

The minority interest expense consists of the minority interest associated with the limited partners’ equity interest in the net income of Apio Cooling, LP.

The change in the minority interest expense for the three and nine months ended March 1, 2009 compared to the same periods last year was not significant.

Income Taxes

The decrease in the income tax expense for the three months ended March 1, 2009 compared to the same period last year was due to a 52% decrease in pre-tax net income partially offset by the fact that the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 1, 2009 was 42% compared to an effective tax rate of 27.7% for the same period last year.  The increase in the income tax expense for the nine months ended March 1, 2009 compared to the same period last year is due to the Company utilizing all of its net operating loss carry forwards and tax credits during fiscal year 2008 for book income tax expense purposes which resulted in the estimated effective tax rate for fiscal year 2009 for federal and state income tax increasing to 41% from 27.7% last year, partially offset by a 29% decrease in pre-tax net income.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of March 1, 2009, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $47.3 million, a net increase of $2.9 million from $44.4 million at May 25, 2008.

Cash Flow from Operating Activities

Landec generated $6.3 million of cash flow from operating activities during the nine months ended March 1, 2009 compared to generating $11.4 million from operating activities for the nine months ended February 24, 2008.  The primary sources of cash from operating activities during the nine months ended March 1, 2009 were from generating $5.9 million of net income and from non-cash related expenses of $2.5 million, partially offset by a net decrease of $2.1 million in working capital.  The primary changes in working capital were (1) a $7.0 million decrease in accounts receivable due to February 2009 revenues being considerably lower than May 2008 revenues, (2) a $9.1 million decrease in accounts payable due to the timing of payments and the decrease in cost of sales due to February 2009 cost of sales being considerably lower than May 2008 cost of sales, (3) a $1.0 million decrease in accrued compensation primarily due to only $262,000 of bonuses currently being accrued at the Apio level in fiscal year 2009 compared to $1.3 million in bonuses accrued at the Apio level as of May 25, 2008, (4) a $1.3 million decrease in other accrued liabilities primarily attributable to: (a ) a $700,000 decrease in the accrual for auditing and tax fees as a result of paying fiscal year end 2008 audit and tax fees during the first nine months of fiscal year 2009, (b) a $400,000 decrease in the accrual for legal and consulting fees and (c) a $200,000 net decrease in numerous miscellaneous accruals and (5) a $1.1 million decrease in deferred revenue primarily due to recognizing $3.5 million of revenue associated with deferred revenue from the Monsanto licensing agreement during the first nine months of fiscal year 2009, partially offset by the receipt of the annual cash payment of $2.6 million from Monsanto during the third quarter of fiscal year 2009.

 
-26-

 

Cash Flow from Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended March 1, 2009 was $5.1 million compared to $2.3 million for the same period last year.  The primary uses of cash from investing activities during the first nine months of fiscal year 2009 were for the purchase of $3.2 million of property and equipment primarily for the further expansion and automation of Apio’s value-added facility and from the net purchase of $2.0 million of marketable securities.

Cash Flow from Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended March 1, 2009 was $1.7 million compared to the use of $16.4 million for the same period last year.  The primary source of cash from financing activities during the first nine months of fiscal year 2009 was the tax benefit from stock-based compensation of $1.8 million.

Capital Expenditures

During the nine months ended March 1, 2009, Landec purchased vegetable processing equipment to support the further expansion and automation of Apio’s value added processing facility.  These expenditures represented the majority of the $3.2 million of capital expenditures.

Debt

Apio has a $7.0 million revolving line of credit with Wells Fargo Bank N.A.  Outstanding amounts under the revolving line of credit bear interest at the LIBOR adjustable rate plus 1.50%.  The revolving line of credit contains certain restrictive covenants, which require Apio to meet certain financial tests, including minimum levels of net income, maximum leverage ratio, minimum net worth and maximum capital expenditures.  Landec has pledged substantially all of the assets of Apio to secure the line with Wells Fargo.  At March 1, 2009, no amounts were outstanding under the revolving line of credit.  Apio was in compliance with all loan covenants during the nine months ended March 1, 2009.

Landec is not a party to any agreements with, or commitments to, any special purpose entities that would constitute material off-balance sheet financing other than the operating lease commitments listed above.

Landec’s future capital requirements will depend on numerous factors, including the progress of its research and development programs; the continued development of marketing, sales and distribution capabilities; the ability of Landec to establish and maintain new collaborative and licensing arrangements; any decision to pursue additional acquisition opportunities; weather conditions that can affect the supply and price of produce, the timing and amount, if any, of payments received under licensing and research and development agreements; the costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing intellectual property rights; the ability to comply with regulatory requirements; the emergence of competitive technology and market forces; the effectiveness of product commercialization activities and arrangements; and other factors.  If Landec’s currently available funds, together with the internally generated cash flow from operations are not sufficient to satisfy its capital needs, Landec would be required to seek additional funding through other arrangements with collaborative partners, additional bank borrowings and public or private sales of its securities.  There can be no assurance that additional funds, if required, will be available to Landec on favorable terms if at all.

Landec believes that its debt facilities, cash from operations, along with existing cash, cash equivalents and existing borrowing capacities will be sufficient to finance its operational and capital requirements for at least the next twelve months.

Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
 
None.

 
-27-

 

Item 4.    Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management evaluated, with participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in reports filed under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and are effective in providing reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in such reports is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 1, 2009 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.

 
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PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.    Legal Proceedings

The Company is involved in litigation arising in the normal course of business.  The Company is currently not a party to any legal proceedings which management believes could result in the payment of any amounts that would be material to the business or financial condition of the Company.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

The risk factors set forth below include any material changes to, and supersede the description of, the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A of the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended May 25, 2008.

Landec desires to take advantage of the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and of Section 21E and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Specifically, Landec wishes to alert readers that the following important factors could in the future affect, and in the past have affected, Landec’s actual results and could cause Landec’s results for future periods to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of Landec.  Landec assumes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements.

SEC Comments May Result in Changes to the Company’s Financial Statements
 
On February 27, 2009, the Company received an SEC comment letter pertaining to our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 25, 2008 and our Forms 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended August 31, 2008 and November 30, 2008.  The SEC comments addressed various items, including recommended expanded disclosures and the accounting treatment for certain transactions.  On March 27, 2009, we filed our response with the SEC.  We do not yet know if our responses will be accepted as filed.
 
We have incorporated into this Form 10-Q disclosures which are responsive to the SEC comment letter. Because we have not yet received a formal reply from the SEC to our response letter, we do not know if the SEC is satisfied with our responses, or if they consider certain comments to remain unresolved.  At this time, the Company cannot predict whether or not the SEC will agree with the Company’s disclosures and accounting in accordance with GAAP.  Under certain circumstances, the Company could be required to revise its financial statements for prior and/or future periods.
 
The United States' Economy is Currently Undergoing a Period of Slowdown and Unprecedented Volatility, Which May Have an Adverse Effect on Our Business
 
The U.S. and international economy and financial markets have experienced significant slowdown and volatility due to uncertainties related to the availability of credit, energy prices, difficulties in the banking and financial services sectors, softness in the housing market, severely diminished market liquidity, geopolitical conflicts, falling consumer confidence and rising unemployment rates. This slowdown has and could further lead to reduced demand for our products, which in turn, would reduce our revenues and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.  In particular, the slowdown and volatility in the global markets have resulted in softer demand and more conservative purchasing decisions by customers, including a tendency toward lower-priced products, which could negatively impact our revenues, gross margins and results of operations.  In addition to a reduction in sales, our profitability may decrease during downturns because we may not be able to reduce costs at the same rate as our sales decline. These slowdowns are expected to worsen if current economic conditions are prolonged or deteriorate further. We cannot predict the ultimate severity or length of the current economic crisis, or the timing or severity of future economic or industry downturns.

 
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Given the current unfavorable economic environment, our customers may have difficulties obtaining capital at adequate or historical levels to finance their ongoing business and operations, which could impair their ability to make timely payments to us.  This may result in lower sales and/or additional inventory or bad debt expense for Landec.  In addition to the impact of the economic downturn on our customers, some of our vendors and growers may experience a reduction in their availability of funds and cash flows, which could negatively impact their business as well as ours.  A continuing or deepening downturn of the U.S. economy, including increased volatility in the credit markets, could adversely impact our customers’ and vendors’ ability or willingness to conduct business with us on the same terms or at the same levels as they have historically.
 
We are unable to predict the likely duration and severity of the current disruption in the financial markets and adverse economic conditions in the U.S. and other countries and such conditions, if they persist or worsen, will further adversely impact our business, operating results, and financial condition.  Further, these conditions and uncertainty about future economic conditions make it challenging for Landec to forecast its operating results, make business decisions, and identify the risks that may affect its business, sources and use of cash, financial condition and results of operations.
 
Our Future Operating Results Are Likely to Fluctuate Which May Cause Our Stock Price to Decline
 
In the past, our results of operations have fluctuated significantly from quarter to quarter and are expected to continue to fluctuate in the future.  Historically, Landec Ag has been the primary source of these fluctuations, as its revenues and profits were concentrated over a few months during the spring planting season (generally during our third and fourth fiscal quarters).  In addition, Apio can be heavily affected by seasonal and weather factors which have impacted quarterly results, such as the high cost of sourcing product in June/July 2006 and January 2007 due to a shortage of essential value-added produce items.  Our earnings may also fluctuate based on our ability to collect accounts receivables from customers and note receivables from growers and on price fluctuations in the fresh vegetables and fruits markets.  Other factors that affect our food and/or agricultural operations include:
 
 
·
the seasonality of our supplies;
 
 
·
our ability to process produce during critical harvest periods;
 
 
·
the timing and effects of ripening;
 
 
·
the degree of perishability;
 
 
·
the effectiveness of worldwide distribution systems;
 
 
·
total worldwide industry volumes;
 
 
·
the seasonality of consumer demand;
 
 
·
foreign currency fluctuations; and
 
 
·
foreign importation restrictions and foreign political risks.
 
As a result of these and other factors, we expect to continue to experience fluctuations in quarterly operating results.
 
We May Not Be Able to Achieve Acceptance of Our New Products in the Marketplace
 
Our success in generating significant sales of our products will depend in part on the ability of us and our partners and licensees to achieve market acceptance of our new products and technology.  The extent to which, and rate at which, we achieve market acceptance and penetration of our current and future products is a function of many variables including, but not limited to:
 
 
·
price;
 
 
·
safety;
 
 
·
efficacy;
 
 
·
reliability;
 
 
·
conversion costs;
 
 
·
marketing and sales efforts; and

 
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·
general economic conditions affecting purchasing patterns.
 
We may not be able to develop and introduce new products and technologies in a timely manner or new products and technologies may not gain market acceptance.  We are in the early stage of product commercialization of certain Intelimer-based specialty packaging, Intellicoat seed coatings and other Intelimer polymer products and many of our potential products are in development.  We believe that our future growth will depend in large part on our ability to develop and market new products in our target markets and in new markets.  In particular, we expect that our ability to compete effectively with existing food products, agricultural, industrial and medical companies will depend substantially on successfully developing, commercializing, achieving market acceptance of and reducing the cost of producing our products.  In addition, commercial applications of our temperature switch polymer technology are relatively new and evolving.  Our failure to develop new products or the failure of our new products to achieve market acceptance would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
 
We Face Strong Competition in the Marketplace
 
Competitors may succeed in developing alternative technologies and products that are more effective, easier to use or less expensive than those which have been or are being developed by us or that would render our technology and products obsolete and non-competitive.  We operate in highly competitive and rapidly evolving fields, and new developments are expected to continue at a rapid pace.  Competition from large food products, agricultural, industrial and medical companies is expected to be intense.  In addition, the nature of our collaborative arrangements may result in our corporate partners and licensees becoming our competitors.  Many of these competitors have substantially greater financial and technical resources and production and marketing capabilities than we do, and may have substantially greater experience in conducting clinical and field trials, obtaining regulatory approvals and manufacturing and marketing commercial products.
 
We Have a Concentration of Manufacturing in One Location for Apio and May Have to Depend on Third Parties to Manufacture Our Products
 
Any disruptions in our primary manufacturing operation at Apio’s facility in Guadalupe, California would reduce our ability to sell our products and would have a material adverse effect on our financial results.  Additionally, we may need to consider seeking collaborative arrangements with other companies to manufacture our products.  If we become dependent upon third parties for the manufacture of our products, our profit margins and our ability to develop and deliver those products on a timely basis may be affected.  Failures by third parties may impair our ability to deliver products on a timely basis and impair our competitive position.  We may not be able to continue to successfully operate our manufacturing operations at acceptable costs, with acceptable yields, and retain adequately trained personnel.
 
Our Dependence on Single-Source Suppliers and Service Providers May Cause Disruption in Our Operations Should Any Supplier Fail to Deliver Materials
 
We may experience difficulty acquiring materials or services for the manufacture of our products or we may not be able to obtain substitute vendors.  We may not be able to procure comparable materials at similar prices and terms within a reasonable time.   Several services that are provided to Apio are obtained from a single provider.  Several of the raw materials we use to manufacture our products are currently purchased from a single source, including some monomers used to synthesize Intelimer polymers and substrate materials for our breathable membrane products.  Any interruption of our relationship with single-source suppliers or service providers could delay product shipments and materially harm our business.
 
We May Be Unable to Adequately Protect Our Intellectual Property Rights
 
We may receive notices from third parties, including some of our competitors, claiming infringement by our products of patent and other proprietary rights.  Regardless of their merit, responding to any such claim could be time-consuming, result in costly litigation and require us to enter royalty and licensing agreements which may not be offered or available on terms acceptable to us.  If a successful claim is made against us and we fail to develop or license a substitute technology, we could be required to alter our products or processes and our business, results of operations or financial position could be materially adversely affected.  Our success depends in large part on our ability to obtain patents, maintain trade secret protection and operate without infringing on the proprietary rights of third parties.  Any pending patent applications we file may not be approved and we may not be able to develop additional proprietary products that are patentable.  Any patents issued to us may not provide us with competitive advantages or may be challenged by third parties.  Patents held by others may prevent the commercialization of products incorporating our technology.  Furthermore, others may independently develop similar products, duplicate our products or design around our patents.

 
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Our Operations Are Subject to Regulations that Directly Impact Our Business
 
Our food packaging products are subject to regulation under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (the “FDC Act”).  Under the FDC Act, any substance that when used as intended may reasonably be expected to become, directly or indirectly, a component or otherwise affect the characteristics of any food may be regulated as a food additive unless the substance is generally recognized as safe.  We believe that food packaging materials are generally not considered food additives by the FDA because these products are not expected to become components of food under their expected conditions of use.  We consider our breathable membrane product to be a food packaging material not subject to regulation or approval by the FDA.  We have not received any communication from the FDA concerning our breathable membrane product.  If the FDA were to determine that our breathable membrane products are food additives, we may be required to submit a food additive petition for approval by the FDA.  The food additive petition process is lengthy, expensive and uncertain.  A determination by the FDA that a food additive petition is necessary would have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
 
Federal, state and local regulations impose various environmental controls on the use, storage, discharge or disposal of toxic, volatile or otherwise hazardous chemicals and gases used in some of the manufacturing processes.  Our failure to control the use of, or to restrict adequately the discharge of, hazardous substances under present or future regulations could subject us to substantial liability or could cause our manufacturing operations to be suspended and changes in environmental regulations may impose the need for additional capital equipment or other requirements.
 
Our agricultural operations are subject to a variety of environmental laws including, the Food Quality Protection Act of 1966, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act.  Compliance with these laws and related regulations is an ongoing process.  Environmental concerns are, however, inherent in most agricultural operations, including those we conduct.  Moreover, it is possible that future developments, such as increasingly strict environmental laws and enforcement policies could result in increased compliance costs.
 
The Company is subject to the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (“PACA”) law.  PACA regulates fair trade standards in the fresh produce industry and governs all the products sold by Apio.  Our failure to comply with the PACA requirements could among other things, result in civil penalties, suspension or revocation of a license to sell produce, and in the most egregious cases, criminal prosecution, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
 
Adverse Weather Conditions and Other Acts of God May Cause Substantial Decreases in Our Sales and/or Increases in Our Costs
 
Our Food Products business is subject to weather conditions that affect commodity prices, crop yields, and decisions by growers regarding crops to be planted.  Crop diseases and severe conditions, particularly weather conditions such as floods, droughts, frosts, windstorms, earthquakes and hurricanes, may adversely affect the supply of vegetables and fruits used in our business, which could reduce the sales volumes and/or increase the unit production costs. Because a significant portion of the costs are fixed and contracted in advance of each operating year, volume declines due to production interruptions or other factors could result in increases in unit production costs which could result in substantial losses and weaken our financial condition.

 
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We Depend on Strategic Partners and Licenses for Future Development
 
Our strategy for development, clinical and field testing, manufacture, commercialization and marketing for some of our current and future products includes entering into various collaborations with corporate partners, licensees and others. We are dependent on our corporate partners to develop, test, manufacture and/or market some of our products.  Although we believe that our partners in these collaborations have an economic motivation to succeed in performing their contractual responsibilities, the amount and timing of resources to be devoted to these activities are not within our control.  Our partners may not perform their obligations as expected or we may not derive any additional revenue from the arrangements.  Our partners may not pay any additional option or license fees to us or may not develop, market or pay any royalty fees related to products under the agreements.  Moreover, some of the collaborative agreements provide that they may be terminated at the discretion of the corporate partner, and some of the collaborative agreements provide for termination under other circumstances. Our partners may pursue existing or alternative technologies in preference to our technology.  Furthermore, we may not be able to negotiate additional collaborative arrangements in the future on acceptable terms, if at all, and our collaborative arrangements may not be successful.
 
Both Domestic and Foreign Government Regulations Can Have an Adverse Effect on Our Business Operations
 
Our products and operations are subject to governmental regulation in the United States and foreign countries.  The manufacture of our products is subject to periodic inspection by regulatory authorities.  We may not be able to obtain necessary regulatory approvals on a timely basis or at all.  Delays in receipt of or failure to receive approvals or loss of previously received approvals would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.  Although we have no reason to believe that we will not be able to comply with all applicable regulations regarding the manufacture and sale of our products and polymer materials, regulations are always subject to change and depend heavily on administrative interpretations and the country in which the products are sold.  Future changes in regulations or interpretations relating to matters such as safe working conditions, laboratory and manufacturing practices, environmental controls, and disposal of hazardous or potentially hazardous substances may adversely affect our business.
 
We are subject to USDA rules and regulations concerning the safety of the food products handled and sold by Apio, and the facilities in which they are packed and processed.  Failure to comply with the applicable regulatory requirements can, among other things, result in:
 
 
·
fines, injunctions, civil penalties, and suspensions,
 
 
·
withdrawal of regulatory approvals,
 
 
·
product recalls and product seizures, including cessation of manufacturing and sales,
 
 
·
operating restrictions, and
 
 
·
criminal prosecution.
 
We may be required to incur significant costs to comply with the laws and regulations in the future which may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
 
Our International Operations and Sales May Expose Our Business to Additional Risks
 
For the nine months ended March 1, 2009, approximately 32% of our total revenues were derived from product sales to international customers. A number of risks are inherent in international transactions.  International sales and operations may be limited or disrupted by any of the following:
 
 
·
regulatory approval process,
 
 
·
government controls,
 
 
·
export license requirements,
 
 
·
political instability,
 
 
·
price controls,
 
 
·
trade restrictions,
 
 
·
changes in tariffs, or
 
 
·
difficulties in staffing and managing international operations.
 
Foreign regulatory agencies have or may establish product standards different from those in the United States, and any inability to obtain foreign regulatory approvals on a timely basis could have a material adverse effect on our international business, and our financial condition and results of operations.  While our foreign sales are currently priced in dollars, fluctuations in currency exchange rates may reduce the demand for our products by increasing the price of our products in the currency of the countries to which the products are sold.  Regulatory, geopolitical and other factors may adversely impact our operations in the future or require us to modify our current business practices.

 
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Cancellations or Delays of Orders by Our Customers May Adversely Affect Our Business
 
During nine months ended March 1, 2009, sales to our top five customers accounted for approximately 46% of our revenues, with our largest customer, Costco Wholesale Corporation, accounting for approximately 20% of our revenues.  We expect that, for the foreseeable future, a limited number of customers may continue to account for a substantial portion of our net revenues.  We may experience changes in the composition of our customer base as we have experienced in the past. We do not have long-term purchase agreements with any of our customers.  The reduction, delay or cancellation of orders from one or more major customers for any reason or the loss of one or more of our major customers could materially and adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.  In addition, since some of the products processed by Apio at its Guadalupe, California facility are sole sourced to its customers, our operating results could be adversely affected if one or more of our major customers were to develop other sources of supply.  Our current customers may not continue to place orders, orders by existing customers may be canceled or may not continue at the levels of previous periods or we may not be able to obtain orders from new customers.

Our Sale of Some Products May Increase Our Exposure to Product Liability Claims
 
The testing, manufacturing, marketing, and sale of the products we develop involve an inherent risk of allegations of product liability.  If any of our products were determined or alleged to be contaminated or defective or to have caused a harmful accident to an end-customer, we could incur substantial costs in responding to complaints or litigation regarding our products and our product brand image could be materially damaged.  Either event may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.  Although we have taken and intend to continue to take what we believe are appropriate precautions to minimize exposure to product liability claims, we may not be able to avoid significant liability.  We currently maintain product liability insurance.  While we believe the coverage and limits are consistent with industry standards, our coverage may not be adequate or may not continue to be available at an acceptable cost, if at all.  A product liability claim, product recall or other claim with respect to uninsured liabilities or in excess of insured liabilities could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
 
Our Stock Price May Fluctuate in Accordance with Market Conditions
 
The following events may cause the market price of our common stock to fluctuate significantly:
 
 
·
technological innovations applicable to our products,
 
 
·
our attainment of (or failure to attain) milestones in the commercialization of our technology,
 
 
·
our development of new products or the development of new products by our competitors,
 
 
·
new patents or changes in existing patents applicable to our products,
 
 
·
our acquisition of new businesses or the sale or disposal of a part of our businesses,
 
 
·
development of new collaborative arrangements by us, our competitors or other parties,
 
 
·
changes in government regulations applicable to our business,
 
 
·
changes in investor perception of our business,
 
 
·
fluctuations in our operating results and
 
 
·
changes in the general market conditions in our industry.

These broad fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

 
-34-

 

Our Controlling Stockholders Exert Significant Influence over Corporate Events that May Conflict with the Interests of Other Stockholders

Our executive officers and directors and their affiliates own or control approximately 12% of our common stock (including options exercisable within 60 days).  Accordingly, these officers, directors and stockholders may have the ability to exert significant influence over the election of our Board of Directors, the approval of amendments to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and the approval of mergers or other business combination transactions requiring stockholder approval.  This concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying or preventing a merger or other business combination transaction, even if the transaction or amendments would be beneficial to our other stockholders.  In addition, our controlling stockholders may approve amendments to our certificate of incorporation or bylaws to implement anti-takeover or management friendly provisions that may not be beneficial to our other stockholders.

We May Be Exposed to Employment Related Claims and Costs that Could Materially Adversely Affect Our Business

We have been subject in the past, and may be in the future, to claims by employees based on allegations of discrimination, negligence, harassment and inadvertent employment of illegal aliens or unlicensed personnel, and we may be subject to payment of workers' compensation claims and other similar claims.  We could incur substantial costs and our management could spend a significant amount of time responding to such complaints or litigation regarding employee claims, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

We Are Dependent on Our Key Employees and if One or More of Them Were to Leave, We Could Experience Difficulties in Replacing Them and Our Operating Results Could Suffer
 
The success of our business depends to a significant extent upon the continued service and performance of a relatively small number of key senior management, technical, sales, and marketing personnel.  The loss of any of our key personnel would likely harm our business.  In addition, competition for senior level personnel with knowledge and experience in our different lines of business is intense.  If any of our key personnel were to leave, we would need to devote substantial resources and management attention to replace them. As a result, management attention may be diverted from managing our business, and we may need to pay higher compensation to replace these employees.

We May Issue Preferred Stock with Preferential Rights that Could Affect Your Rights
 
Our Board of Directors has the authority, without further approval of our stockholders, to fix the rights and preferences, and to issue shares, of preferred stock.  In November 1999, we issued and sold shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and in October 2001 we issued and sold shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. The Series A Convertible Preferred Stock was converted into 1,666,670 shares of Common Stock in November 2002 and the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock was converted into 1,744,102 shares of Common Stock in May  2004.

The issuance of new shares of preferred stock could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire a majority of our outstanding stock, and the holders of such preferred stock could have voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights superior to those of holders of our Common Stock.
 
We Have Never Paid any Dividends on Our Common Stock
 
We have not paid any cash dividends on our Common Stock since inception and do not expect to do so in the foreseeable future.  Any dividends may be subject to preferential dividends payable on any preferred stock we may issue.
 
Our Profitability Could Be Materially and Adversely Affected if it Is Determined that the Book Value of Goodwill is Higher than Fair Value
 
Our balance sheet includes an amount designated as “goodwill” that represents a portion of our assets and our stockholders’ equity.  Goodwill arises when an acquirer pays more for a business than the fair value of the tangible and separately measurable intangible net assets.  Under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, beginning in fiscal year 2002, the amortization of goodwill has been replaced with an “impairment test” which requires that we compare the fair value of goodwill to its book value at least annually and more frequently if circumstances indicate a possible impairment.  If we determine at any time in the future that the book value of goodwill is higher than fair value then the difference must be written-off, which could materially and adversely affect our profitability.

 
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Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

None.

Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

None.

Item 5.  Other Information

None.

Item 6.  Exhibits
 
Exhibit
   
Number
 
Exhibit Title:
     
31.1+
 
CEO Certification pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
31.2+
 
CFO Certification pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of  2002.
     
32.1+
 
CEO Certification pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
32.2+
 
CFO Certification pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of  2002.


 
+     Filed herewith.

 
-36-

 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements 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.
 
LANDEC CORPORATION
 
     
By:
/s/                      Gregory S. Skinner
 
 
                          Gregory S. Skinner
 
 
Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 

Date:      April 8, 2009

 
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