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WVVI > SEC Filings for WVVI > Form 10-Q on 14-Aug-2009All Recent SEC Filings

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Form 10-Q for WILLAMETTE VALLEY VINEYARDS INC


14-Aug-2009

Quarterly Report


MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Forward Looking Statements

This Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and other sections of this Form 10-Q contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company's business, and beliefs and assumptions made by management. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including, but not limited to: availability of financing for growth, availability of adequate supply of high quality grapes, successful performance of internal operations, impact of competition, changes in wine broker or distributor relations or performance, impact of possible adverse weather conditions, impact of reduction in grape quality or supply due to disease, impact of governmental regulatory decisions, and other risks disclosed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports. In addition, such statements could be affected by general industry and market conditions and growth rates, and general domestic economic conditions. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and, except as otherwise required by law, we disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why the actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Critical Accounting Policies

The foregoing discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires the Company's management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to revenue recognition, collection of accounts receivable, valuation of inventories, and amortization of vineyard development costs. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. A description of our critical accounting policies and related judgments and estimates that affect the preparation of our financial statements is set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. Such policies were unchanged during the three and six months ended June 30, 2009.

Overview

The Company's principal sources of revenue are derived from sales and distribution of wine. The Company experienced a dramatic jump in net earnings of $253,784 for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009, a 61% increase over the comparable prior year period. Net earnings for the six month were $418,940 and increased 93% over the prior year's six month period.

As a result, the Company generated $0.05 and $0.09 basic earnings per share during the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, an increase of $0.02 and $0.05 basic earnings per share versus the comparable prior year periods.

Sales revenue for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 increased $167,400 and $404,965, or 4.3% and 5.6%, from the comparable prior year periods.


Sales revenue growth for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 versus 2008 is being principally driven by new product placements and order activity from our chain store customers. The main channel of the growth is through our National Sales business unit which deals with out of state customers where product is sold through distributors in each state. Additionally in-state sales were slightly down versus the prior year. The mix of sales in-state has shifted from purchased brands to produced brands mainly due to the availability of three produced Pinot Noir products that became available for sale in the 4th Quarter of 2008. The decrease in purchased brands sales in-state from 2008 to 2009 is largely the result of reduced order activity by on-premise customers who are experiencing significant reductions in consumer demand in a struggling economy.

Taken as a whole, the three sales departments: National Sales, Oregon Wholesale (Bacchus Fine Wines) and Retail showed increased performance on their net contribution for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 versus the comparable prior year period.

Net operating income performance for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 was improved mainly due the increased sales volume in National Sales, coupled with improved gross profit which is enhanced by decreased sales, general and administrative expenses. Cost of sales has decreased mainly due to a shift in the mix of sales from purchased brands to produced brands where we achieve a higher gross profit. Additionally, improved inventory controls have resulted in reduced inventory shrinkage and therefore have improved operations. Sales, General and Administrative expense decreases are primarily due to reduced accounting and legal professional service fees related to the independent audit. These savings are somewhat offset by higher sales labor costs including related fringe benefits. This trend in improved operating income performance is consistent with the first quarter of 2009 and therefore the Company's year-to-date operating income is also improved as compared to 2008.

The winery bottled approximately 45,000 cases in the second quarter of 2009, mainly 2008 vintage Riesling and 2008 vintage Pinot Gris.

The Company has an asset-based loan agreement with Umpqua Bank that allows it to borrow up to $2,000,000. This maturity date on this loan agreement is June 2010. At June 30, 2009, the Company had a credit line balance of $1,042,440 and $957,560 of available credit. The interest rate charged in the quarter was 3.25%. The interest rate on this note is a variable interest rate and is subject to change from time to time based on changes in an independent index which is the Prime Rate as published in the Wall Street Journal (the "Index"). The index rate at June 30, 2009 is 3.25%. The loan agreement contains, among other things, certain restrictive financial covenants with respect to total equity, debt-to-equity and debt coverage that must be maintained by the Company on a quarterly basis. As of June 30, 2009, the Company was in compliance with all of the financial covenants.

The Company's wines continued to accumulate prized recognition from national wine groups and publications.

Willamette Valley Vineyards' 2006 Estate Pinot Noir and 2006 Signature Cuvee Pinot Noir both took Gold at the Grand Harvest Awards. This international competition is sponsored by Vineyard & Winery Management Magazine and has a special focus on terroir. All wines are judged in the context of the viticultural region where they are grown in order to "learn more about how terroir contributes qualities of excellence and distinctiveness to wines".

Additionally, the '06 Estate Pinot Noir also took "Double Gold" and was nominated for Best of Show at the Hilton Head Island Wine and Food Festival in South Carolina; the 2006 Dijon Clone Chardonnay took Critic's Gold at the 2009 Critic's Challenge, judged by many of America's most accomplished wine journalists; and the 2007 Dry Riesling took a Gold medal at the Tasters Guild 22nd annual International Wine Judging, where forty experienced judges from around the country completed over 2,100 evaluations of wine from 36 states/provinces and 13 countries. The judging panels were comprised of a carefully selected mix of winemakers, retailers, wine writers, restaurateurs, and knowledgeable consumers.


The first annual Oregon Wine Awards, a competition for and by Oregon wine industry specialists awarded three of our wines "Double Gold" in their categories, an honor that the competition classifies as "Best of the Best": 2006 WVV Signature Cuvee Pinot Noir, 2007 WVV Riesling and the 2003 Griffin Creek Syrah.

On April 22, the Oregon Certified Sustainable Wine ("OCSW") website launched. Hosted by the Oregon Wine Board, OCSW is a certification program that encompasses LIVE, Organic and Biodynamic wine certifications under one symbol in the hopes of making it easier for the consumer to choose sustainable wines. Willamette Valley Vineyards was one of the first wineries to qualify for this new certification. The new website (www.ocsw.org <http://www.ocsw.org/>) features an interview with winery Founder Jim Bernau.

On April 26, Willamette Valley Vineyards received the honor of "Best Local Winery" in the Statesman Journal's annual Best of the Mid-Valley contest. This honor was based entirely on consumer votes. WVV's custom Tour & Tastings were highlighted in the article.

In the April, 2009 issue of Simply Wine Today, the cover story "Going Green: the organic trend" featured a photo of Founder Jim Bernau on a bio-diesel fueled tractor under the headline "Wineries on a Green Path: Eco-Friendly Wines". This continuing coverage of WVV's sustainable efforts goes to the heart of our Company's values.

Our Cork ReHarvest program, which was launched at the beginning of the first quarter, has continued to garner media coverage into the second quarter, both locally and abroad. Cork ReHarvest is a cradle-to-cradle cork recycling program, executed with zero increase to the company's carbon footprint. This program was highlighted in the May/June issue of UK based publication Living Woods Magazine, with a follow-up feature story to appear in the July/August issue.

During Willamette University's Atkinson Graduate School of Management graduation ceremonies on May 17th, WVV Founder Jim Bernau was honored with the annual Glenn L. Jackson Leadership Award. The award was presented to Bernau by Gerry Frank, who was the first to receive the award in 1984. The award is presented annually to an individual in business or government who has demonstrated the values of entrepreneurship in public/private partnerships.

On May 28th the book Oregon: the Taste of Wine, underwritten by WVV, was honored by the Independent Book Publishers Association with the Ben Franklin Book Award. Named in honor of America's most cherished publisher/printer, the Benjamin Franklin Awards recognize excellence in independent publishing. The book received a gold medal in the Regional category, competing against all books nationwide with a regional slant. This book was entirely underwritten by the winery as a fundraiser for Salud, the medical clinic for Oregon farmworkers.

In the second week of June, Bacchus Fine Wines, WVV's Wholesale Dept hosted sold-out trade and consumer tasting events with world-renowned owner of Riedel Crystal Stemware, Georg Riedel. Georg tasted through several WVV wines paired with the perfect Riedel Crystal glass in the Vinum XL product line. WVV is the distributor of Riedel glassware in Oregon.

On June 11th, at the annual SEDCOR (Strategic Economic Development Corporation) honors luncheon, Willamette Valley Vineyards was awarded the Agri-Business of the year award. This award is presented to an active SEDCOR member who has demonstrated excellence in agri-business in the past year, and who supports and maintains the significant role and future of agriculture in the Mid-Willamette Valley economy. SEDCOR is a private, non-profit member organization comprised of more than 500 business and community leaders.


On the evening of June 24th, WVV and Jim Bernau played host to Fred Meyer CEO for a wine dinner that was auctioned off for $35,000 at the Northwest Grocery Association's annual gala dinner and auction. The bidding on this auction item was intense, surpassing all previous records. This donation will go to support the grocery industry as a whole.

On June 25th Willamette Valley Vineyards, in cooperation with Ken Wright Cellars, EIEIO & Company Ltd. and Federal Express, hosted Oregon's first virtual wine tasting with Hong Kong. The video conference and wine tasting brought together more than two dozen Hong Kong wine distributors, sommeliers and retailers to taste through a flight of high-quality Oregon wines. The event came on the heels of Hong Kong lifting duties on US wine imports in February 2008, which could improve the importation of Oregon wines. As a result of this event the Company secured distribution through a prominent Hong Kong importer.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Revenue

Net revenue for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 increased $167,400 and $404,965, or 4.3% and 5.6%, from the comparable prior year periods. The increase in the quarter and the year is primarily due to increased product placements in National chain stores and related out-of-state distributors. This is offset slightly by the decrease in in-state wholesale revenue which is driven by the decreased volume of order activity in purchased brands. The reduction in the volume of in-state order activity is mainly due to on-premise accounts that are experiencing significant reductions in consumer demand in a struggling economy. Retail consumer sales for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 are slightly favorable over last year by less than 1.0%. Increases in Retail direct to consumer sales are almost entirely offset by the reduction in tasting room sales and room rental sales.

Our revenues from winery operations are summarized as follows:

                                               Three months ended               Six months ended
                                                    June 30,                        June 30,
                                              2009            2008            2009            2008

Retail Sales, Rental Income and Events     $   595,255     $   592,677     $ 1,128,530     $ 1,122,205
In-state sales                               1,825,696       1,864,762       3,482,582       3,577,877
Out-of-state sales                           1,774,850       1,505,630       3,303,723       2,758,066
Misc. sales                                          -               -          10,991            (947 )
Total Revenue                                4,195,801       3,963,069       7,925,826       7,457,201

Less excise taxes                             (143,418 )       (78,086 )      (233,205 )      (169,545 )
Net Revenue                                $ 4,052,383     $ 3,884,983       7,692,621       7,287,656

Retail sales, rental income and events for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 increased $2,578 and $6,325 respectively or 0.4% and 0.6% compared to the corresponding prior year periods. For the quarter, the incremental revenue is primarily due to increased volumes of tasting room sales offset by direct to consumer retail sales. For the first six months of 2009, the direct to consumer retail sales is offset somewhat by reduced tasting room sales, on-site room rentals and event revenue versus prior year.


Sales in the state of Oregon, through our wholesale department, Bacchus Fine Wines, decreased $39,066 and $95,296, or -2.1% and -2.3%, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the corresponding prior year period. The decrease is largely the result of reduced order activity for purchased brands by on-premise customers whom are experiencing significant reductions in consumer demand in a struggling economy. This is mostly offset by the favorable increase in the volume of Willamette Valley Vineyard brand Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris varietals. The release of the 2007 vintage Pinot Noir in the fourth quarter of 2008, allowed a key customer to begin receiving shipments that were unavailable in the first nine months of 2008. Sales to our largest in-state customer for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 represent 19.8% and 19.5% of total in-state sales. The Company does not anticipate a shortage of the 2007 vintage Pinot Noir in 2009.

Out-of-state sales in the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 increased $269,219 and $545,657, or 17.9% or 19.8% respectively, versus the comparable prior year periods. The increase in the quarter and the year is primarily due to increased volume of 2007 and 2008 Pinot Gris shipments to a key customer and their related out of state distributors. These distributors are carefully managing their inventory levels even though sales to end consumers are up over last year.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 increased $84,560 and $312,815, or 4.4% and 8.8% respectively, versus the comparable prior year periods.

As a percentage of net revenue, gross profit from winery operations was 49.2% and 50.3% respectively in the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, compared to 49.2% and 48.8% in the comparable prior year periods. The increase in gross profit as a percentage of net revenue is mainly due to the mix of sales towards produced brands versus purchased brands in our in-state wholesale distributor, Bacchus Fine Wines. This shift in the mix of sales represents a higher percentage of total gross profit. This improvement in gross profit percentage is slightly offset by the increase in the volume of out of state sales towards lower margin products versus prior year. The Company continues to focus on improved distribution of higher margin Willamette Valley Vineyards brand products as well as continuing our efforts to reduce grape and production costs.

Selling, General and Administrative Expense

Selling, general and administrative expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 decreased $108,188 and $74,962, or 6.6% and 2.4% respectively, compared to the corresponding prior year periods. This decrease is due primarily to decreased accrued professional service fees for Accounting audit services and legal services. The savings in professional service fees is somewhat offset by incremental labor and related fringe benefit expenses for sales and administrative staff in the second quarter and six months ended 2009. In total, as a percentage of net revenues from winery operations, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased to 37.9% and 40.3% respectively for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, as compared to 42.4% and 43.6% for the comparable prior year period.

Interest Income, Interest Expense

Interest income decreased $16,222 and $17,193, or -100% and -100%, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, compared to the comparable prior year periods. Interest expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively, increased $18,501 and $28,835 or 104.4% and 72.0%, compared to the corresponding prior year periods. The average interest rate paid for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively was 4.6% and 4.6%.


Income Taxes

Income tax expense was $169,846 and $287,388 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, compared to $105,017 and $145,085 for the prior year periods. Our estimated tax rate for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 was 40.1% and 40.7%,respectively.

Net Income and Earnings per Share

As a result of the factors listed above, net income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 was $253,784 and $418,940, respectively, compared to net income of $157,527 and $217,625, respectively in the comparable prior year periods. This is an increase of 61.1% and 92.5% versus 2008 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively. Diluted earnings per share was $0.05 for the quarter ended June 30, 2009, compared to $0.03 per diluted share, in the comparable prior year period. Diluted earnings per share for the six months ended June 30, 2009 was $0.09 compared to $0.04 in 2008, an increase of 125%.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At June 30, 2009, we had a working capital balance of $9.9 million and a current ratio of 4.11:1. At December 31, 2008, we had a working capital balance of $9.4 million and a current ratio of 4.23:1. We had a cash balance of $0 at June 30, 2009, compared to a cash balance of $350,361 at December 31, 2008. The decrease in cash in the year was primarily due to the build-up of inventory and payments on grape contracts related to the 2008 harvest.

Total cash used in operating activities in the six months ended June 30, 2009 was ($1,147,308) compared to cash used by operating activities of ($862,329) for the same period in the prior year. The increase in cash used in operating activities versus prior year was primarily due to the timing of payments related to trade payables and a smaller change in trade receivables versus prior year. This is offset somewhat by a reduced build-up of inventory versus 2008.

Total cash used in investing activities in the six months ended June 30, 2009 was ($198,930), compared to ($489,132) in the prior year period. The decrease was due to the reduction in capital expenditures, although the Company anticipates some increased capital expenditures for machinery and equipment going into the third quarter of 2009.

Total cash provided by financing activities in the six months ended June 30, 2009 was $995,877 compared to $334,202 provided by financing activities in the prior year period. Cash provided by financing activities primarily consists of revolving credit line advances needed to support working capital requirements. This is offset somewhat by cash used to repay long-term debt. The Company has a cash overdraft position of -$76,920 at the period ended June 30, 2009. This represents check remittances that have not yet cleared the bank. As these checks post they will be automatically funded by our revolving line of credit to bring our overdraft position to zero.

At June 30, 2009, the line of credit balance was $1,042,440, on a maximum borrowing amount of $2,000,000. We have a loan agreement with Umpqua Bank that contains, among other things, certain restrictive financial covenants with respect to total equity, debt-to-equity and debt coverage that must be maintained by us on a quarterly basis. As of June 30, 2009, we were in compliance with all of the financial covenants.


As of June 30, 2009, we had a total long-term debt balance of $2,376,774, including the portion due in the next year, owed to Farm Credit Services. There was $15,037 of new long-term debt related to a vehicle purchase incurred in the quarter ended June 30, 2009. The remaining debt balance mainly represents the debt service with Farm Credit Services which was used to acquire vineyard land, finance our Hospitality Center, invest in new winery equipment to increase our winemaking capacity, and complete a larger storage facility.

At June 30, 2009, we owed $24,837 on grape contracts. For the 2009 harvest, there are grape purchase contracts in place with local growers that will be accrued when the grapes are received, typically in October.

We believe that cash flow from operations and funds available under our existing credit facilities will be sufficient to meet our foreseeable short and long-term needs.

Segment Reporting

The Company's in-state self-distribution business know as Bacchus Fine Wines sells wholesale purchased wines from other wineries and glassware in addition to Company produced wines. The sale of purchased wines and glassware is a unique characteristic versus the Retail and Out-Of-State sales organizations of the Company and therefore warrants segment discussion. The purchased wine and glassware segment is shown below as Bacchus Distribution. For purposes of segment reporting the produced wines sold by Bacchus are consolidated with Retail and Out-of-State sales and shown below as Produced Wines. Sales, general and administrative expenses are not allocated between operating segments, therefore net income information for the respective segments is not available.

The following table outlines the sales, cost of sales and gross profit, for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2009 by operating segment:

Three months ended June 30, 2009

                   Bacchus          Produced
                 Distribution         Wine            Total

Net Sales       $    1,012,754     $ 3,039,629     $ 4,052,383

Cost of Sales   $      774,632     $ 1,282,052     $ 2,056,684

Gross Profit    $      238,122     $ 1,757,577     $ 1,995,699

% of sales                23.5 %          57.8 %          49.2 %

Six months ended June 30, 2009

                   Bacchus          Produced
                 Distribution         Wine            Total

Net Sales       $    1,920,280     $ 5,772,341     $ 7,692,621

Cost of Sales   $    1,417,587     $ 2,402,241     $ 3,819,828

Gross Profit    $      502,693     $ 3,370,100     $ 3,872,793

% of sales                26.2 %          58.4 %          50.3 %


Total inventory for Bacchus Distribution was $2,546,373 of purchased wines and $413,279 of non-wine merchandise at period end June 30, 2009. This compares to produced wine inventory of $4,942,035 and $3,717,976 of non-wine merchandise and work-in-process for the same period. At June 30, 2008 total inventory for Bacchus Distribution was $2,230,858 of purchased wines and $257,485 of non-wine merchandise. This compares to produced wine inventory of $6,333,354 and $913,279 of non-wine merchandise and work-in-process for the same period.

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