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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)

Registration No. 333-199754

PROSPECTUS

 

                                                     Since 1924

The First Name in Avocados

Calavo Growers, Inc.

1,397,213 Shares of Common Stock

 

 

This prospectus relates to the offer and sale from time to time of up to 1,397,213 shares of our common stock by the RFG Nominee Trust, which is referred to in this prospectus as the “Trust” or the “selling shareholder.” The selling shareholder may elect not to sell any of such shares or only some of such shares. We will not sell any shares of our common stock under this prospectus, and we will not receive any proceeds from the Trust’s sale of shares of our common stock offered by this prospectus. We have agreed to pay the Trust’s brokerage commissions that are incurred in connection with the sale of the shares. We have also agreed to pay all expenses that are incurred in connection with the registration of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus.

As described in more detail in this prospectus under “Prospectus Summary - The Offering,” the number of shares offered for sale by the Trust consists of (1) 1,097,213 outstanding shares of our common stock that were issued to the Trust on October 23, 2014 upon the attainment of an earn-out target specified in an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 25, 2011, among us, the selling shareholder and several other parties, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 31, 2013, and by Amendment No. 2 to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 1, 2013 (the “Second Merger Agreement Amendment”), and (b) 300,000 currently unissued shares of our common stock, which represent our estimate of the maximum number of additional shares of common stock that we could be required to issue to the Trust pursuant to the terms of the Second Merger Agreement Amendment that provide for the issuance of additional earn-out shares to the Trust if, and to the extent that, the Trust sells any of such 1,097,213 outstanding earn-out shares pursuant to this prospectus on the NASDAQ Global Select Market for less than a specified aggregate price.

As described in more detail in this prospectus under “Plan of Distribution,” if the Trust elects to sell any shares offered by this prospectus, it will do so on the NASDAQ Global Select Market through broker-dealers. No other shareholders are entitled to sell shares through the use of this prospectus.

 

 

Investing in our common stock involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 4 of this prospectus for a discussion of risks that you should consider before you invest in our common stock.

Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “CVGW.” On November 11, 2014, the last reported sales price for our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market was $46.85 per share.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is November 12, 2014.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS			1
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY			2
RISK FACTORS			4
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS			4
USE OF PROCEEDS			4
SELLING SHAREHOLDER			5
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK			6
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION			6
LEGAL MATTERS			7
EXPERTS			7
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION			8
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE			8

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

As described in more detail in this prospectus under “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference,” this prospectus is part of a “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in order to permit the Trust to sell the shares of our common stock that are described in this prospectus.

This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the shares of common stock that are described in this prospectus, nor does this prospectus constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction.

You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus or any related prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of the document or that any information we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus is correct as of any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, even though this prospectus or any related prospectus supplement is delivered or shares are sold on a later date. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

You should rely only on the information that is contained in this prospectus, any related prospectus supplement and in any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Neither the Trust nor we have authorized any broker, salesperson, dealer or other person to provide you with information that is different from that contained in this prospectus, any related prospectus supplement or in any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you are not entitled to rely upon any such different information.

We note that the representations, warranties and covenants made in any agreement filed as an exhibit to the registration statement on Form S-3 or to any document that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, and should not be deemed to be representations, warranties or covenants with you or to you. Furthermore, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied upon as accurately representing our current financial condition or business.

References in this prospectus to “Calavo,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Calavo Growers, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our common stock involves certain risks. Before you decide whether to purchase any shares of our common stock, in addition to the other information in this prospectus, you should carefully consider the risks described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as such risk factors may be updated from time to time by our future filings with the SEC. If one or more of these risks materializes, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected. In that event, the value of our common stock could decline. The risks that are described in this prospectus or in any document that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus are not the only risks that we face. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, any related prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical facts that are contained in this prospectus, any related prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including statements regarding our future results of operations, financial condition, business strategy and business prospects, should be considered forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “may,” “could,” “anticipate,” “predict,” or “expect” and similar expressions.

These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause our actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that are, in many cases, beyond our control. Forward-looking statements are not promises or guarantees of future performance. Actual events or results may differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Except to the extent expressly required by applicable law, we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Risks that may cause actual events or results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, without limitation, increased competition, unfavorable general business conditions, increased packaging, shipping and energy costs, the unavailability of required transportation services, product liability claims, conducting substantial amounts of business internationally, increased prices paid by us for agricultural products, decreased market prices for our products, adverse weather and growing conditions confronting growers who supply products to us, new governmental regulations, disruption of water supplies and increased water prices, changes in interest and currency exchange ratios, the failure to achieve anticipated benefits from our acquisition of other businesses, labor disputes and loss of key personnel, as well as the other risks that are described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which we have filed with the SEC and are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as such risk factors may be updated from time to time by our future filings with the SEC.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We will not sell any shares of our common stock under this prospectus, and we will not receive any proceeds from the Trust’s sale of shares of our common stock offered by this prospectus. We have agreed to pay the Trust’s brokerage commissions that are incurred in connection with the sale of the shares offered by this prospectus. We have also agreed to pay all expenses that are incurred in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of such shares.

 

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SELLING SHAREHOLDER

The following table presents information about the shares of our common stock that are offered by this prospectus. The Trust is the sole selling shareholder named in this prospectus and exists for the benefit of the Sellers. Whether sales of shares will be made by the Trust, and the timing and amount of each sale, is within the sole discretion of the trustee of the Trust, and such trustee will act independently of us in making decisions to sell shares. Registration of the shares under the Securities Act does not require the Trust to sell any of the shares. A donee, purchaser or other transferee of shares from the Trust is not entitled to use this prospectus to sell any of the shares offered by the Trust pursuant to this prospectus.

The following table is based in part on information provided to us by the Trust and assumes that the Trust will sell all of the shares that are offered by this prospectus. The percentage of shares beneficially owned by the Trust prior to this offering was calculated based upon 17,294,401 shares of our common stock that were outstanding as of October 31, 2014. Such number of outstanding shares includes the 1,097,213 shares that were issued to the Trust on October 23, 2014.

The number of shares being offered by the Trust pursuant to this prospectus, as set forth in the following table, consists of the 1,097,213 outstanding shares of our common stock that were beneficially owned by the Trust as of October 31, 2014 and 300,000 currently unissued shares that represent our estimate of the maximum number of additional shares of common stock that we could be obligated to issue to the Trust pursuant to the Second Merger Agreement Amendment. However, the number of such additional shares (if any) that we may be required to issue to the Trust is not determinable as of the date of this prospectus, and will not be determinable for at least 120 days after the date of this prospectus, and the Trust therefore is not currently the beneficial owner of any of such 300,000 contingent shares pursuant to the beneficial ownership principles set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

 

Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned Prior to this Offering

Number of

Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned After Completion of this Offering

Number of

Shares Being

Number of

Selling shareholder

Shares

Percent

Offered

Shares

Percent

RFG Nominee Trust (1)

1,097,213

6.3

%

1,397,213

0

0

 

(1)

The trustee of the Trust is Kenneth J. Catchot, who has sole voting and investment power over the shares that are owned by the Trust. Mr. Catchot is Manager of Renaissance Food Group, LLC, which is our wholly owned subsidiary. Mr. Catchot has a beneficial ownership interest in approximately 42.5% of the shares that are owned by the Trust. The Trust disclaims beneficial ownership of the 580,426 shares of our common stock that are owned directly by Mr. Catchot, and such shares are not listed in the above table or covered by this prospectus. The address of the Trust and Mr. Catchot is 11171 Sun Center Drive, Suite 200, Rancho Cordova, California 95670-6190.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

We have authority to issue 100,000,000 shares of common stock. As of October 31, 2014, 17,294,401 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding. The following summary of our common stock is qualified by reference to the provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws, which are filed as exhibits to the Form S-3 registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

We have one class of common stock. Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by shareholders, provided that shareholders have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Holders of shares of common stock are entitled to receive on a pro rata basis such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors in its discretion from funds legally available for that use. They are also entitled to share on a pro rata basis in any distribution to shareholders upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up. Common shareholders do not have preemptive rights to subscribe to any additional stock issuances by us, and they do not have the right to require the redemption of their shares or the conversion of their shares into any other class of our stock.

The following provisions of our bylaws may have the effect of discouraging, delaying or preventing someone from acquiring us or merging with us, which might cause the market price of our common stock to decline or prevent shareholders from realizing a premium over the market price of their shares:

 

•

Our bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to the nomination of candidates for election as directors and the proposal of other business for consideration at shareholders’ meetings, other than nominations or proposals made by or at the direction of the board of directors or a committee of the board of directors;

 

•

Within the range specified by our bylaws, our board of directors determines the size of our board and may create new directorships and elect new directors, which may enable an incumbent board to maintain control by adding directors; and

 

•

Our board of directors may amend our bylaws without a vote of our shareholders, which may enable our board to change our bylaws to deter a proxy contest in connection with an unsolicited takeover offer.

The transfer agent and registrar of our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.; 250 Royall Street; Canton, Massachusetts 02021. Its telephone number is (800) 962-4284.

Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “CVGW.”

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Pursuant to the Second Merger Agreement Amendment, the Trust is entitled to sell the shares that are offered pursuant to this prospectus on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. Sales of the shares may be at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices relating to the prevailing market prices, at varying prices determined at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. The Trust may use one or more of the following methods when selling the shares on the NASDAQ Global Select Market:

 

•

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

 

•

block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; and

 

•

purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account.

 

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We have agreed to pay the Trust’s reasonable and customary brokerage commissions that are incurred in connection with the sale of the shares. We have also agreed to pay all expenses that are incurred in connection with the registration of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus.

We have provided the Trust with a copy of this prospectus. If the Trust uses this prospectus for any sale of its shares, the Trust will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, including by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act.

We agreed in the Second Merger Agreement Amendment to keep this prospectus effective only until the date that all of the shares acquired by the Trust under the Second Merger Agreement Amendment have been sold by the Trust or, if earlier, until the date that the Trust has owned all such shares for six months and is entitled to sell the shares pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Once the Trust has owned shares of our common stock for at least six months, it may elect to sell some or all of such shares under Rule 144 rather than under this prospectus.

The Trust has advised us that, as of the date of this prospectus, it has entered into an agreement with Janney Montgomery Scott LLC to serve as the Trust’s broker in connection with sales of the shares by the Trust on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. The Trust reserves the right to determine the number of shares, if any, that will be sold and to enter into agreements with other broker-dealers or to terminate its agreement with Janney Montgomery Scott LLC. The agreement with Janney Montgomery Scott LLC states that its brokerage commissions, charges and other fees are set forth on its website. The brokerage commissions, which are subject to change, are currently anticipated to be $0.025 per share.

The Trust and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the shares covered by this prospectus may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. The Trust has advised us that neither it nor its trustee is a registered broker-dealer.

The Trust and any other person participating in the sale of the shares covered by this prospectus will be subject to certain provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. In particular, Regulation M under the Exchange Act generally provides that a selling shareholder and specified affiliated persons engaged in the distribution of securities are subject to restrictions on the purchase of such securities during the period of distribution described in Regulation M. Furthermore, Regulation M generally provides that persons engaged in a distribution of securities are prohibited from simultaneously engaging in market-making and certain other activities with respect to such securities for a specified period of time prior to the commencement of such distributions. Other anti-manipulation rules under the Exchange Act may also apply to sales of the shares covered by this prospectus.

LEGAL MATTERS

TroyGould PC, Los Angeles, California, has issued an opinion about certain matters with respect to the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus. Marc L. Brown, who is a member of TroyGould PC, is a director of Calavo and beneficially owns 13,886 shares of our common stock.

EXPERTS

Our consolidated financial statements appearing in our Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended October 31, 2013 (including the schedule appearing therein), and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2013, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements have been incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance with that act, file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The periodic reports, proxy statements and other information filed by us are available for inspection and copying at prescribed rates at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room. The SEC also maintains an Internet site that contains all reports, proxy statements and other information that we file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we have filed with the SEC under the Securities Act for the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus (the “registration statement”). The registration statement, including the exhibits to the registration statement and the documents incorporated by reference into the registration statement, contains additional information about us and the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus. The rules and regulations of the SEC allow us to omit from this prospectus certain information that is included in the registration statement. For further information about us and our common stock, you should review the registration statement, the exhibits filed with the registration statement and the documents incorporated by reference into the registration statement.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to incorporate into this prospectus by reference the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to the documents containing that information. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and information that we later file with the SEC will automatically update and, where applicable, modify or supersede that information.

We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the following documents that we have filed, or will file, with the SEC:

 

•

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2013, filed with the SEC on January 13, 2014;

 

•

Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended January 31, 2014, April 30, 2014 and July 31, 2014, filed with the SEC on March 11, 2014, June 6, 2014 and September 15, 2014, respectively;

 

•

Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 26, 2013, January 10, 2014, April 25, 2014, September 5, 2014, September 10, 2014, September 30, 2014 and October 29, 2014, respectively;

 

•

The description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on December 6, 2001, and any amendment or report subsequently filed for the purpose of updating such description; and

 

•

Each document that we file with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date on which we filed the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and before the termination of this offering, with information in each such filing to be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus as of the date we make the filing with the SEC.

 

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You may request a copy of any of these filings from us at no cost by writing or calling our Corporate Controller at the following address or telephone number: Calavo Growers, Inc.; 1141-A Cummings Road; Santa Paula, California 93060; (805) 525-1245.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no portion of any document that is “furnished” but not “filed” in accordance with SEC rules under Exchange Act shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the registration statement. Any statement contained in the registration statement or in a document incorporated by reference into the registration statement will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of the registration statement to the extent that a statement contained in the registration statement or in any other subsequently filed document that is incorporated by reference into the registration statement modifies or supersedes the statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of the registration statement.

 

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Common Stock

 

 

                                                     Since 1924

The First Name in Avocados

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

November 12, 2014