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EX-10.4 - STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT - ALICO, INC.e48082ex10-4.htm
EX-31.1 - CERTIFICATION - ALICO, INC.e48082ex31-1.htm
EX-32.2 - CERTIFICATION - ALICO, INC.e48082ex32-2.htm
EX-31.2 - CERTIFICATION - ALICO, INC.e48082ex31-2.htm
EX-10.5 - RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT - ALICO, INC.e48082ex10-5.htm
EX-10.3 - STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT - ALICO, INC.e48082ex10-3.htm
EX-32.1 - CERTIFICATION - ALICO, INC.e48082ex32-1.htm
EX-10.2 - RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT - ALICO, INC.e48082ex10-2.htm
EX-10.1 - ALICO, INC. 2011 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN - ALICO, INC.e48082ex10-1.htm
EX-10.6 - RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT - ALICO, INC.e48082ex10-6.htm

 
 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

R Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
   
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012
 
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: 0-261

 

Alico, Inc.

  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)  

 

Florida 59-0906081
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
   
10070 Daniels Interstate Court Fort Myers, FL 33913
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 239-226-2000

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. R Yes £ No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). R Yes £ No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated file £ Accelerated filer R Non-accelerated filer £ Smaller reporting company £
       
  (Do not check if a 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 R No

 

There were 7,349,410 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, outstanding as of May 1, 2012.

 

 
 
 
 
         
Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION        
   
Item 1. Financial Statements        
   
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the three and six months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011     3  
   
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2012 (unaudited) and September 30, 2011     4  
   
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the six months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011     5  
   
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)     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     26  
   
Item 4. Controls and Procedures   26  
   
Part II. OTHER INFORMATION        
   
Item 1. Legal Proceedings     26  
   
Item 1A. Risk Factors     26  
   
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds     27  
   
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities     27  
   
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures     27  
   
Item 5. Other Information     27  
   
Item 6. Exhibits     28  
   
Signatures     29  
         
Exhibit Index     30  
               

 

2
 

 

Part I. Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

ALICO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

(dollars in thousands, except for per share data)

 

   Three months ended March 31,  Six months ended March 31,
   2012  2011  2012  2011
Operating revenues:                    
Agricultural operations  $53,438   $35,690   $78,820   $51,593 
Non-agricultural operations   694    800    1,388    1,452 
Real estate operations                
                     
Total operating revenue   54,132    36,490    80,208    53,045 
                     
Operating expenses:                    
Agricultural operations   39,463    27,977    59,604    41,564 
Non-agricultural operations   279    321    546    646 
Real estate operations   117    124    242    274 
                     
Total operating expenses   39,859    28,422    60,392    42,484 
                     
Gross profit   14,273    8,068    19,816    10,561 
Corporate general and administrative   1,842    1,597    3,861    3,608 
                     
Income from operations   12,431    6,471    15,955    6,953 
Other (expense) income:                    
Interest and investment income, net   (66)   (1,572)   42    (1,714)
Interest expense   (467)   (566)   (936)   (1,070)
Other   31    43    32    57 
                     
Total other expense, net   (502)   (2,095)   (862)   (2,727)
                     
Income before income taxes   11,929    4,376    15,093    4,226 
Income tax expense   4,515    1,664    5,746    1,607 
                     
Net income  $7,414   $2,712   $9,347   $2,619 
                     
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding                    
Basic   7,355    7,364    7,354    7,367 
Diluted   7,355    7,364    7,354    7,367 
Earnings  per common share amounts:                    
Basic  $1.01   $0.37   $1.27   $0.36 
Diluted  $1.01   $0.37   $1.27   $0.36 
Cash dividends declared per common share  $0.04   $0.00   $0.08   $0.00 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

3
 

ALICO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(dollars in thousands, except for share data)

 

   March 31,
2012
  September 30, 2011
ASSETS  (unaudited)   
Current assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $768   $1,336 
Investments   254    989 
Accounts receivable, net   13,514    2,928 
Federal income tax receivable       699 
Inventories   17,818    22,373 
Assets held for sale   640     
Other current assets   278    856 
Total current assets   33,272    29,181 
           
Mortgages and notes receivable, net of current portion   52    75 
Investment in Magnolia Fund   8,952    10,283 
Investments, deposits and other non-current assets   2,143    2,220 
Deferred tax asset, net of current portion   8,672    8,672 
Cash surrender value of life insurance   819    824 
Property, buildings and equipment, net   131,567    128,780 
Total assets  $185,477   $180,035 
           
LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
Current liabilities:          
Accounts payable  $7,055   $2,946 
Long-term debt, current portion   3,271    3,279 
Income taxes payable   2,132     
Accrued expenses   1,584    1,719 
Dividend payable   295    882 
Accrued ad valorem taxes   597    1,938 
Other current liabilities   1,009    1,063 
Total current liabilities   15,943    11,827 
           
Long-term debt, net of current portion   46,429    53,879 
Deferred retirement benefits, net of current portion   3,730    3,667 
Total liabilities   66,102    69,373 
           
Commitments and contingencies          
           
Stockholders’ equity:          
Common stock, $1 par value; 15,000,000 shares authorized; 7,377,106 and 7,377,106 shares issued and 7,344,232 and 7,342,513 shares outstanding at March 31, 2012 and September 30, 2011, respectively   7,377    7,377 
Additional paid in capital   9,097    9,212 
Treasury stock at cost, 32,874 and 34,593 shares held at March 31, 2012 and September 30, 2011, respectively   (793)   (862)
Retained earnings   103,694    94,935 
           
Total stockholders’ equity   119,375    110,662 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity  $185,477   $180,035 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

4
 

 

ALICO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

   Six months ended
March 31
   2012  2011
Net cash flows provided by operating activities  $13,600   $8,938 
           
Cash flows from investing activities:          
Purchases of property and equipment   (7,901)   (7,165)
Proceeds from disposals of property and equipment   550    482 
Return on investment in Magnolia   1,341    950 
Proceeds from sales of investments   735    473 
Collections of mortgages and notes receivable   28    33 
Net cash used in investing activities   (5,247)   (5,227)
           
Cash flows from financing activities:          
Principal payments on notes payable   (1,641)   (641)
Borrowings on revolving line of credit   25,179    5,000 
Repayments on revolving line of credit   (30,996)   (11,250)
Treasury stock purchases   (288)   (1,025)
Dividends paid   (1,175)   (737)
Net cash used in financing activities   (8,921)   (8,653)
           
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents   (568)   (4,942)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   1,336    10,926 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period  $768   $5,984 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:          
Cash paid for interest, net of amount capitalized  $921   $958 
Cash paid for income taxes  $2,915   $ 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

5
 

 

 

ALICO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

(Dollars in thousands except for share and per share data)

Note 1. Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

Description of Business

 

Alico, Inc. (“Alico”) and its wholly owned subsidiaries, ( collectively, the “Company”) is a land management company operating in Central and Southwest Florida. Alico owns approximately 139,600 acres of land located in Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee and Polk counties, Florida. Alico is involved in citrus, sugarcane, cattle and other agricultural operations and real estate activities.

 

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying (a) condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2011, which has been derived from audited financial statements, and (b) unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements (the “Financial Statements”) of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The Financial Statements include all adjustments, consisting of normal and recurring adjustments, which in the opinion of management were necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The results of the interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results for any other interim periods or the entire fiscal year.

The Financial Statements have been presented according to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Certain information, footnotes and disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted in accordance with those rules and regulations. The Company believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information not misleading. The Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2011.

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The Financial Statements include the accounts of Alico, and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Alico Land Development, Inc. (“ALDI”), Alico-Agri, Ltd.(“Alico-Agri”), Alico Plant World, LLC and Bowen Brothers Fruit, LLC (“Bowen”). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates based upon future events. The Company periodically evaluates the estimates. The estimates are based on current and expected economic conditions, historical experience and various other specific assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable.

 

Seasonality

 

The Company is primarily engaged in agriculture, which is of a seasonal nature and subject to the influence of natural phenomena and price fluctuations. The results of the reported period herein are not necessarily indicative of the results for any other interim periods or the entire fiscal year.

6
 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2011-12 Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassification of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, to defer the effective date for those aspects of ASU 2011-05 relating to the presentation of reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income. ASU 2011-12 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2011.

The adoption of ASU 2011-12 will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows as it only affects financial statement presentation and is a deferral of ASU 2011-05.

The Company does not believe that any other recently issued but not effective accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Note 2. Inventories

A summary of the Company’s inventories is presented below:

 

   March 31,
2012
  September 30,
2011
Unharvested fruit crop on the trees  $12,338   $14,050 
Unharvested sugarcane   3,088    7,320 
Beef cattle   2,206    791 
Other   186    212 
Total Inventories  $17,818   $22,373 

Note 3. Investment in Magnolia

In May 2010, Alico invested $12.2 million to obtain a 39% limited partner equity interest in Magnolia TC 2, LLC (“Magnolia”), a Florida limited liability company whose primary business activity is acquiring tax certificates issued by various counties in the State of Florida on properties which have property tax delinquencies. In Florida, such certificates are sold at general auction based on a bid interest rate. If the property owner does not redeem such certificate within two years, which requires the payment of delinquent taxes plus the bid interest, a tax deed can be obtained by the winning bidder who can then force an auctioned sale of the property. Tax certificates hold a first priority lien position.

Revenue is recognized by Magnolia when the interest obligation under the tax certificates it holds becomes a fixed amount. In order to redeem a tax certificate in Florida, a minimum of 5% of the face amount of the certificate (delinquent taxes) must be paid to the certificate holder regardless of the amount of time the certificate has been outstanding. Magnolia has recognized the minimum 5% earnings on its tax certificate portfolio. Expenses of the fund include an acquisition fee of 1%, interest expense, a monthly management fee and other administrative costs.

The investment in Magnolia is accounted for in accordance with the equity method of accounting, whereby the Company records its 39% interest in the reported income or loss of the fund each quarter. Based on the March 31, 2012, unaudited internal financial statements of Magnolia, Alico recorded a net investment loss of $87 thousand and net investment income of $10 thousand for the three and six months ended March 31, 2012, as compared with net investment income of $95 thousand and net investment loss of $74 thousand for the three and six months and ended March 31, 2011. Magnolia made certain distributions during the six months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 to the Company of approximately $1.3 million and $950 thousand, respectively.

7
 

Note 4. Property, Buildings and Equipment, Net

Property, buildings and equipment consist of the following at March 31, 2012 and September 30, 2011.

 

   March 31,  September 30,
   2012  2011
Breeding herd  $10,613   $10,799 
Buildings   10,956    10,925 
Citrus trees   36,294    35,939 
Sugarcane   12,375    10,462 
Equipment and other facilities   41,798    40,708 
Total depreciable properties   112,036    108,833 
           
Less accumulated depreciation and depletion   66,968    65,104 
           
Net depreciable properties   45,068    43,729 
           
Land and land improvements   86,499    85,051 
           
Net property, buildings and equipment  $131,567   $128,780 

 

Assets held for sale totaled $640 thousand as of March 31, 2012. On April 23, 2012, we announced the sale of the two parcels of land included in assets held for sale. See Note 12. Subsequent Events for further discussion.

Note 5. Income taxes

Alico’s effective tax rate was 38.1% and 38.0% for the six months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

The Company applies a “more likely than not” threshold to the recognition and non-recognition of tax positions. A change in judgment related to prior years’ tax positions is recognized in the quarter of such change. The Company had no reserve for uncertain tax positions as of March 31, 2012 and September 30, 2011. The Company recognizes interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense and in the income tax payable accounts.

In the fiscal years ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) issued five Revenue Agent Reports (“RARs”) pursuant to its examinations of Alico, Agri-Insurance Company, Ltd. (“Agri-Insurance,” a former subsidiary of Alico liquidated in September 2010) and Alico-Agri for the tax years 2005 through 2007. These RARs principally challenge (i) Agri-Insurance’s ability to elect to be treated as a disregarded entity for US income tax purposes during the years under examination; and (ii) Alico-Agri’s ability to recognize income from two real estate sales under the installment method by asserting that Alico-Agri was a dealer in real estate during the years under examination. Based on the positions taken in the RARs, the IRS claimed additional taxes and penalties due of $31.1 million consisting of $14.5 million in taxes and $16.6 million in penalties. The RARs did not quantify the interest on the taxes.

We contested the positions taken in the RARs and pursued resolution through the IRS Appeals process. On November 22, 2011, we reached an agreement in principle to settle the issues. The settlement provides that Agri-Insurance was eligible to elect to be treated as a disregarded entity for US income tax purposes. No determination was made as to whether Alico-Agri was a dealer in real estate; however, for the two sales transactions at issue, we agreed to treat one-third of the taxable gain as ordinary income, taxable in the year of sale, with the remaining two-thirds treated as capital gain eligible for installment sale treatment. Federal and state taxes, including interest, due as a result of the settlement are estimated at $1.4 million, of which we paid approximately $0.7 million on December 11, 2011. The settlement does not preclude Alico from using the installment sale method with respect to future transactions. See Note 12. Subsequent Events for further discussion.

8
 

The purchasers of the installment sale properties ultimately defaulted on the deferred payment obligations, and Alico-Agri recovered one of the properties through foreclosure and the other by deed in lieu of foreclosure.

Note 6. Long-Term Debt

 

Outstanding debt under the Company’s various loan agreements is presented in the table below:

 

   

Revolving

line of

credit

    Term note    

Mortgage

note

payable

    All other     Total
March 31, 2012                                      
Principal balance outstanding   $ 8,162     $ 39,000     $ 2,533     $ 5     $ 49,700
Remaining available credit   $ 51,838     $ —      $     $     $ 51,838
Effective interest rate     2.49 %     2.74 %     6.68 %     Various        
Scheduled maturity date     Oct 2020       Oct 2020       Mar 2014       Various        
Collateral     Real estate       Real estate       Real estate       Various        
September 30, 2011                                      
Principal balance outstanding   $ 13,979     $ 40,000     $ 3,167     $ 12     $ 57,158
Remaining available credit   $ 46,021     $ —      $ —      $ —      $ 46,021
Effective interest rate     2.72 %     2.72 %     6.68 %     Various        
Scheduled maturity date     Oct 2020       Oct 2020       Mar 2014       Various        
Collateral     Real estate       Real estate       Real estate       Various        

Alico has a revolving line of credit (“RLOC”) and a term note with Rabo AgriFinance, Inc. (“Rabo”) for $100 million and a mortgage of approximately $2.5 million with Farm Credit of Florida (formerly known as Farm Credit of Southwest Florida) (“Farm Credit”). The RLOC is collateralized by 44,277 acres of farmland, and the term note is collateralized by 12,280 acres of property containing approximately 8,600 acres of producing citrus groves. The mortgage is collateralized by 7,680 acres of real estate in Hendry County used for farm leases, sugarcane and citrus production.

 

The RLOC provides a ten year $60.0 million revolving line of credit which bears interest at a floating rate indexed to one month LIBOR, subject to adjustment, on the outstanding balance payable quarterly beginning October 1, 2010. Thereafter, quarterly interest will be payable on the first day of January, April, July and October until the RLOC matures on October 1, 2020 and the remaining principal balance and accrued interest shall be due and payable.

The interest rate on the RLOC was initially established at one month LIBOR plus 250 basis points. The interest rate spread over LIBOR is subject to adjustment each year pursuant to a pricing grid based on our debt service coverage ratio for the immediately preceding fiscal year. The spreads may range from 225 to 275 basis points over one month LIBOR. The rate was adjusted to LIBOR plus 225 basis points on January 1, 2012. On October 1, 2015, the lender may adjust the interest rate spread to any percentage. Rabo must provide a 30 day notice of the new spreads, and the Company has the right to prepay the outstanding balance.

 

The Company also transferred its operating bank accounts to Rabobank, an affiliate of Rabo, and entered into a cash management agreement with Rabo designed to minimize the outstanding balance on the revolving line of credit. The Rabobank bank accounts are swept daily into a concentration account. A balance of $250 thousand must be maintained in the concentration account on a daily basis. Any balances in excess of $250 thousand are automatically applied to pay down the RLOC. If the balance in the concentration account falls below $250 thousand, draws are made on the RLOC to maintain this balance.

 

The term note requires quarterly payments of interest at a floating rate of one month LIBOR plus 250 basis points beginning October 1, 2010. Quarterly principal payments of $500 thousand, plus accrued interest, began on October 1, 2011 and continue through October 1, 2020, when the remaining principal balance and accrued interest will be due and payable.

 

The mortgage note requires monthly principal payments of $106 thousand plus accrued interest until maturity.

 

9
 

At March 31, 2012 and September 30, 2011, Alico was in compliance with all of its covenants under the various loan agreements.

Maturities of the Company’s debt were as follows at March 31, 2012:

 

Due within 1 year   $ 3,271  
Due between 1 and 2 years     3,267  
Due between 2 and 3 years     2,000  
Due between 3 and 4 years     2,000  
Due between 4 and 5 years     2,000  
Due beyond five years     37,162  
Total   $ 49,700  

 

Interest costs expensed and capitalized to property, buildings and equipment were as follows:

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

March 31,

 

Six months ended

March 31,

   2012  2011  2012  2011
Interest expense  $467   $566   $936   $1,070 
Interest capitalized   9    13    38    65 
Total interest cost  $476   $579   $974   $1,135 

 

Note 7. Disclosures about reportable segments

Alico has six reportable segments: Bowen, Citrus Groves, Sugarcane, Cattle, Real Estate and Land Leasing and Rentals. All of the Company’s operations are located in Florida. Intersegment sales and transfers are accounted for as if the sales or transfers were to third parties at current market prices.

Agricultural Segments:

Bowen operations include supply chain management services for both Alico’s citrus crop and other growers in the State of Florida. Bowen’s operations also include the purchase and resale of citrus fruit.
Citrus Groves operations consist of cultivating citrus trees in order to produce citrus fruit for delivery to the fresh and processed citrus markets in the State of Florida.
Sugarcane operations consist of cultivating sugarcane for sale to a sugar processor.
Cattle operations primarily include production of beef cattle for sale and raising replacement heifers.

Goods and services produced by these segments are sold to wholesalers and processors in the United States who prepare the products for consumption.

Non-agricultural Segments

The Real Estate segment, operated on behalf of Alico by ALDI, is engaged in the planning and strategic positioning of all the Company’s land, which includes seeking entitlement of the land assets in order to obtain, enhance or preserve rights to develop the property in the future and negotiating and/or renegotiating sales contracts.
The Land Leasing and Rental segment leases land to others on a tenant-at-will basis for grazing, farming, oil and mineral exploration, recreational and other uses.

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the Summary of Significant Accounting Policies herein and in the Annual Report on Form 10-K. Total revenues represent sales to unaffiliated customers, as reported in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited). All intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

10
 

The Company’s reportable segments are strategic business units that offer different products and services. They are managed separately and decisions about allocations of resources are determined by management based on these strategic business units. The Company evaluates each segment’s performance based on direct margins from operations before general and administrative costs, interest expense and income taxes, not including nonrecurring gains and losses.

 

The following table summarizes the performance of the Company’s segments and the related depreciation expense for the three and six month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, and the related assets as of March 31, 2012 and September 30, 2011:

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

March 31,

 

Six months ended

March 31,

   2012  2011  2012  2011
Revenues (from external customers except as noted)            
Bowen  $20,288   $12,169   $30,794   $18,913 
Intersegment sales through Bowen   5,080    4,037    6,913    5,147 
Citrus Groves   25,094    19,404    33,502    24,636 
Sugarcane   7,572    3,748    13,659    7,461 
Cattle   378    292    600    449 
Real Estate                
Land Leasing and Rentals   660    685    1,320    1,291 
Revenue from segments   59,072    40,335    86,788    57,897 
Other operations   140    192    333    295 
Less: intersegment revenues eliminated   (5,080)   (4,037)   (6,913)   (5,147)
Total operating revenue  $54,132   $36,490   $80,208   $53,045 
                     
Operating expenses                    
Bowen  $19,532   $11,767   $29,727   $18,330 
Intersegment expenses through Bowen   5,080    4,037    6,913    5,147 
Citrus Groves   13,851    12,416    19,008    15,971 
Sugarcane   5,912    3,534    10,551    6,838 
Cattle   168    163    318    262 
Real Estate   117    124    242    274 
Land Leasing and Rentals   262    301    516    616 
Segment operating expenses   44,922    32,342    67,275    47,438 
Other operations   17    117    30    193 
Less: intersegment expenses eliminated   (5,080)   (4,037)   (6,913)   (5,147)
Total operating expenses  $39,859   $28,422   $60,392   $42,484 
                     
Gross profit (loss):                    
Bowen  $756   $402   $1,067   $583 
Citrus Groves   11,243    6,988    14,494    8,665 
Sugarcane   1,660    214    3,108    623 
Cattle   210    129    282    187 
Real Estate   (117)   (124)   (242)   (274)
Land Leasing and Rentals   398    384    804    675 
Gross profit from segments   14,150    7,993    19,513    10,459 
Other   123    75    303    102 
Gross Profit  $14,273   $8,068   $19,816   $10,561 

 

11
 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

March 31,

 

Six months ended

March 31,

   2012  2011  2012  2011
Depreciation, depletion and amortization:                    
Bowen  $57   $79   $101   $129 
Citrus Groves   522    483    1,043    975 
Sugarcane   1,109    785    1,920    1,274 
Cattle   304    261    536    523 
Land Leasing and Rentals   110    45    217    90 
Total segment depreciation and amortization   2,102    1,653    3,817    2,991 
Other depreciation, depletion and amortization   109    194    290    482 
Total depreciation, depletion and amortization  $2,211   $1,847   $4,107   $3,473 

 

 

   

March 31,

2012

   

September 30,

2011

 
Total assets:                
Bowen   $ 4,721     $ 2,888  
Citrus Groves     48,085       45,554  
Sugarcane     55,358       53,213  
Cattle     13,520       6,241  
Real Estate     13,244       12,932  
Land Leasing and Rentals     5,307       5,524  
Segment assets     140,235       126,352  
Other corporate assets     45,242       53,683  
                 
Total assets   $ 185,477     $ 180,035  

Note 8. Stockholders’ Equity

Effective November 1, 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 350,000 shares of the Company’s common stock through November 1, 2013 for the purpose of funding restricted stock grants under its 2008 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2008 Plan”), which was approved by shareholders on February 20, 2009. In accordance with the 2008 Plan, the Company may purchase an additional 260,728 shares.

The following table provides information relating to purchases of the Company’s common shares on the open market in accordance with the 2008 Plan for the six months ended March 31, 2012:

 

             
  Shares      Cost   
Balance September 30, 2011 34,593     $   862  
Purchases                   12,026       288  
Issuances (13,745 )     (357 )
Balance March 31, 2012 32,874     $ 793  

Stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations in general and administrative expense was $125 thousand and $246 thousand for the three and six months ended March 31, 2012 and $113 thousand and $224 thousand for the three and six months ended March 31, 2011.

12
 

Note 9. – Contingencies

Shareholder Derivative Actions

On October 29, 2008, Alico was served with a shareholder derivative action complaint filed by Baxter Troutman against John R. Alexander, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and JD Alexander, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, (the “Alexanders”) which names Alico as a nominal defendant. Mr. Troutman is the nephew and cousin of the two defendants, respectively, and is a shareholder in Atlantic Blue Group, Inc. (formerly Atlantic Blue Trust, Inc.) (“Atlanticblue”), a 51% shareholder of Alico. From February 26, 2004 until January 18, 2008, Mr. Troutman was a director of Alico. The complaint alleges that the Alexanders committed breaches of fiduciary duty in connection with a proposed merger of Atlanticblue into Alico which was proposed in 2004 and withdrawn by Atlanticblue in 2005. The suit also alleges, among other things, that the merger proposal was wrongly requested by the Alexanders, and improperly included a proposed special dividend and that the Alexanders sought to circumvent the Board’s nominating process and these actions were contrary to the position of Alico’s independent directors at the time causing a waste of Alico’s funds and the resignations of the independent directors in 2005. As a result, the complaint is seeking damages to be paid to Alico by the Alexanders in excess of $1.0 million. The complaint concedes that Mr. Troutman had not previously made demand upon Alico to take action for the alleged wrongdoing as required by Florida law alleging that he believed such a demand would be futile. A copy of the Complaint may be obtained from the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Polk County, Florida.

On June 3, 2009, a Special Committee of Independent Directors from Alico’s Board of Directors, the (“Committee”) was created to investigate the shareholder derivative action filed by Mr. Troutman. The Committee completed its investigation with the assistance of independent legal counsel and determined that it would not be in the Company’s best interest to pursue such litigation. Alico filed a motion to dismiss the litigation based upon the findings of the Special Committee; a hearing on this motion was held on December 7, 2010. The Court issued an order denying the motion to dismiss the shareholder derivative suit on May 24, 2011.

The Alexanders filed a motion to dismiss the shareholder derivative action complaint filed by Baxter Troutman and on November 21, 2011, the Circuit Court in Polk County, Florida issued an order dismissing the shareholder derivative action for failing to state a cause of action. The complaint was dismissed without prejudice and allowed the complaint to be amended up to December 16, 2011. On December 16, 2011, Baxter Troutman filed an amendment to his complaint with the Court. A copy of the complaint and the order of denial amendment and other pleadings in the case are available from the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Polk County, Florida by reference to the matter of Baxter G. Troutman, Plaintiff vs. John R. Alexander, John D. Alexander, Defendants and Alico, Inc., Nominal Defendant, Case No. 08-CA-10178 Circuit Court, 10th Judicial Circuit, Polk County, Florida.

On April 1, 2012, a settlement agreement was reached between Baxter Troutman and John R. Alexander and John D. Alexander. See Note. 12. Subsequent Events for the terms of the Settlement Agreement and the notice of hearing on May 4, 2012 to approve the Settlement Agreement.

The Company is also involved from time to time in routine legal matters incidental to its business. When appropriate, the Company establishes estimated accruals for litigation matters which meet the requirements of ASC 450— Contingencies. Based upon available information, the Company believes that the resolution of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position or results of operations.

 

Note 10. Related Party Transaction

 

Atlantic Blue Group, Inc.

Atlanticblue owns approximately 51% of Alico’s common stock. By virtue of its ownership percentage, Atlanticblue is able to elect all of the directors and, consequently, control Alico. Directors which also serve on Atlanticblue’s board are referred to as “affiliated directors”. Atlanticblue issued a letter dated December 3, 2009, reaffirming its commitment to maintain a majority of independent directors (which may include affiliated directors) on Alico’s board. A director is considered independent if the Board makes an affirmative determination that (i) the director has no relationship which would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities as a director and (ii) the director has no prohibited relationships with the registered company or its Executive Officers during the preceding thirty-six months from the determination.

John R. Alexander, a major shareholder in Atlanticblue, serves as Chairman of the Company’s Board of

13
 

Directors. Mr. Alexander’s son, JD Alexander, resigned March 31, 2012, as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlanticblue but continues to serve as the Chairman of the Atlanticblue Board of Directors. In February 2010, JD Alexander was appointed Alico’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and he serves on Alico’s Board of Directors. Robert E. Lee Caswell, John R. Alexander’s son-in-law, serves on the Alico Board of Directors, as does Robert J. Viguet, Jr., who is also a Director of Atlanticblue.

Effective July 1, 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an unaccountable expense allowance of $5 thousand per month to Scenic Highlands Enterprises LLC. The Company’s former Chief Executive Officer and current Chairman of the Board, John R. Alexander, is the owner and Chief Executive Officer of Scenic Highlands Enterprises, LLC. Per the Board’s Action by Written Consent, payments are to be used for office space, an administrative assistant’s salary and utilities. The agreement ended June 30, 2011. Alico paid Scenic Highlands Enterprises, LLC $15 thousand and $30 thousand for the three and six months ended March 31, 2011, in accordance with this agreement.

Effective July 1, 2008, the Board approved a transition, consulting, severance and non-compete agreement with John R. Alexander providing for total payments of $600 thousand over a three year period. The payments ended June 30, 2011. Mr. Alexander was paid approximately $38 thousand and $75 thousand in accordance with this agreement during the three and six months ended March 31, 2011.

Former director Baxter Troutman filed a derivative shareholder suit against John R. Alexander and JD Alexander. The Company is reimbursing Messrs. Alexander for legal fees to defend themselves against the suit in accordance with the Board’s indemnification agreement. All reimbursements are approved by the Special Committee of the Board comprised of four independent directors. Reimbursements for litigation were $71 thousand and $79 thousand on behalf of John R. Alexander and $69 thousand and $182 thousand on behalf of JD Alexander for the three and six months ended March 31, 2012, respectively. Reimbursements for litigation were $40 thousand and $68 thousand on behalf of John R. Alexander and $29 thousand and $48 thousand on behalf of JD Alexander for the three and six months ended March 31, 2011, respectively.

During the three and six months ended March 31, 2012, Bowen marketed no boxes and 1,344 boxes of fruit for Alexander Properties at no value and $19 thousand, respectively. During the three and six months ended March 31, 2011, Bowen marketed no boxes and 1,454 boxes of fruit from Alexander Properties at no value and $17 thousand, respectively. Alexander Properties is a company owned by John R. Alexander and JD Alexander.

Bowen is currently marketing citrus fruit from Tri County Groves, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanticblue. During the three and six months ended March 31, 2012, Bowen marketed 133,943 and 190,417 boxes of fruit, for approximately $1,073 thousand and $1,627 thousand, respectively. During the three and six months ended March 31, 2011, Bowen marketed 32,726 and 147,740 boxes of fruit, for approximately $273 thousand and $1,340 thousand, respectively.

 

Ben Hill Griffin, Inc.

 

Citrus revenues of $254 thousand and $374 thousand were recognized for a portion of citrus crops sold under a marketing agreement with Ben Hill Griffin, Inc. (“Griffin”) for the three and six months ended March 31, 2012, respectively. For the three and six months ended March 31, 2011, citrus revenues from sales to Griffin under the marketing agreement were $171 thousand and $892 thousand, respectively. Griffin and its subsidiaries are controlled by Ben Hill Griffin, III, the brother-in-law of John R. Alexander, Alico’s Chairman. Accounts receivable in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets include amounts due from Griffin of $351 thousand and $152 thousand at March 31, 2012 and September 30, 2011, respectively. These amounts represent estimated revenues to be received periodically under pooling agreements as the sale of pooled products is completed. Harvesting, marketing and processing costs for fruit sold through Griffin totaled $52 thousand for both the three and six months ended March 31, 2012 and $60 thousand and $228 thousand for the three and six months ended March 31, 2011.

 

Alico purchases fertilizer and other miscellaneous supplies, services and operating equipment from Griffin, on a competitive bid basis, for use in its cattle, sugarcane, sod and citrus operations. Such purchases totaled $509 thousand and $817 thousand for the three and six months ended March 31, 2012 and $536 thousand and $778 thousand for the three and six months ended March 31, 2011, respectively. The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets include accounts payable to Griffin for fertilizer and other crop supplies totaling

14
 

approximately $11 thousand and $41 thousand at March 31, 2012 and September 30, 2011, respectively. See Note 12. Subsequent Events for discussion regarding the sale of two parcels of land during April 2012 to Ben Hill Griffin III and Griffin.

Note 11. Fair Value Measurements

The Company follows the provisions of ASC 820 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure Topic for its financial and non-financial assets and liabilities. ASC 820, among other things, defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure for each major asset and liability category measured at fair value on either a recurring or nonrecurring basis. The majority of the carrying amounts of the Company’s assets and liabilities including cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses at March 31, 2012, and September 30, 2011, approximate fair value because of the immediate or short term maturity of these items. The Company’s certificates of deposit are carried at face value and accrue interest at market rates. Certificates of deposit are valued using Level 1 inputs. In the event that stated interest rates are below market, Alico discounts mortgage notes receivable to reflect their estimated fair value. The carrying amounts reported for long-term debt approximates fair value as the Company’s borrowings with commercial lenders are at interest rates that vary with market conditions and fixed rates that approximate market rates for comparable loans.

ASC 820 clarifies that fair value is an exit price representing the amount that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, ASC 820 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

Level 1- Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets;

Level 2- Inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and

Level 3- Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, such as internally-developed valuation models which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

 

There were no gains or losses included in earnings attributable to changes in non-realized gains or losses relating to assets held at March 31, 2012 and 2011.

Note 12. Subsequent Events

Shareholder Derivative Action

On April 1, 2012, the parties to the shareholder derivative action, originally filed by Baxter Troutman against John R. Alexander, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and JD Alexander, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, and which Alico Inc., was a nominal defendant, entered into a settlement agreement.

The settlement agreement (the “Agreement”) contained the following provisions:

 

·Troutman shall file a notice of voluntary dismissal of the civil action against the Alexanders with prejudice. There were no inducements, promises or representations.

 

·Troutman and the Alexanders mutually release and discharge each other from all claims, rights, actions, obligations, liability or responsibility arising out of the commencement and prosecution of the civil action, except for any claims Alico may have against Troutman to be subrogated to the rights of the Alexanders to seek recovery of attorney fees and costs incurred in their defense.

 

On May 4, 2012, the Circuit Court of the 10th Judicial Circuit in Polk County, FL (the “Court”) approved the Agreement. The Company, by determination of the Special Litigation Committee of its Board of Directors, filed a motion seeking recovery of attorney fees and costs incurred in its defense. The Court will retain jurisdiction and will hear the motion filed by the Company.

 

15
 

Land Transactions

 

On April 23, 2012, the Company announced a contract for sale involving two parcels of land totaling approximately 4,020 acres in Polk County, FL. The sales prices of the two properties total approximately $10.1 million and will result in pre-tax gains totaling approximately $9.2 million expected to be recorded in the third quarter of fiscal 2012. The purchasers of the parcels of land are Ben Hill Griffin, III, the brother-in-law of John R. Alexander, Alico’s Chairman of the Board and Ben Hill Griffin, Inc. The transactions were between related parties; as such, they were referred to and approved by the Audit Committee, which is comprised entirely of independent directors. Both parcels were considered to be surplus to our agricultural operations.

 

The first parcel is located in Frostproof, FL totaling approximately 3,635 acres. The purchase price is approximately $9.1 million or $2,500 per acre. Alico recorded a deposit for the parcel of $200,000. The sales contract was entered into on April 13, 2012, with Ben Hill Griffin III and will close no later than June 12, 2012, with the deed and possession delivered on said date.

 

The second parcel of land is also located in Frostproof, FL totaling approximately 385 acres. The purchase price is approximately $1.0 million or $2,750 per acre. Alico recorded a deposit for the parcel of $50,000. The sales contract was entered into on April 16, 2012 with Griffin and will close no later than June 12, 2012, with deed and possession delivered on said date.

 

IRS Settlement

 

On April 30, 2012, the Company executed documents prepared by the IRS to settle the income tax examinations of Alico, Agri-Insurance and Alico-Agri for the tax years 2005 through 2007. The IRS’ execution of these documents is pending. Federal income tax due as a result of the settlement is $613 thousand. We made a payment of $665 thousand on December 11, 2011 prior to the settlement, and as a result, we overpaid by approximately $52 thousand. Federal interest due is subject to final IRS computation but is estimated to be approximately $400 thousand. State taxes, interest and penalties due are estimated to be approximately $400 thousand. See Note 5. Income Taxes for further discussion.

 

16
 

ITEM 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Forward-Looking Statements

We make forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report, particularly in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis, pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Any statements in this Quarterly Report that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that express our intentions, beliefs, expectations, strategies, predictions or any other statements relating to our future activities or other future events or conditions. These statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our business based, in part, on assumptions made by our management. These assumptions are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including those risks factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2011 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

Overview

We are a land management company operating in Central and Southwest Florida. Our primary asset is approximately 139,600 acres of land located in Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee and Polk Counties. We are engaged in a variety of agribusiness pursuits in addition to land leasing, rock and sand mining and real estate operating in Central and Southwest Florida.

We have six reportable segments: Bowen Brothers Fruit, LLC (“Bowen”), Citrus Groves, Sugarcane, Cattle, Real Estate and Land Leasing and Rentals.

Bowen operations include supply chain management for both Alico’s citrus crop and other growers in the State of Florida. Bowen’s operations also include the purchase and resale of citrus fruit.
Citrus Groves operations consist of cultivating citrus trees in order to produce citrus fruit for delivery to the fresh and processed citrus markets in the State of Florida.
Sugarcane operations consist of cultivating sugarcane for sale to a sugar processor.
Cattle operations primarily include production of beef cattle for sale and raising replacement heifers.
The Real Estate segment, operated on behalf of Alico by ALDI, is engaged in the planning and strategic positioning of all our land, which includes seeking entitlement of our land assets in order to obtain, enhance and preserve rights to develop the property in the future and negotiating and/or renegotiating sales contracts.
The Land Leasing and Rentals segment leases land to others on a tenant-at-will basis for grazing, farming, oil and mineral exploration, recreational and other uses.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. We base these estimates on historical experience, available current market information and on various other assumptions that management believes are reasonable under the circumstances. Additionally, we evaluate the results of these estimates on an on-going basis. Management’s estimates form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

There have been no significant changes during this reporting period to the policies and disclosures set forth in Part II, Item 7 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011.

 

17
 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

 

See Item 1. Financial Statements, Note 1. Description of Business and Basis of Presentation in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) included in this report for recently issued accounting standards, including the expected dates of adoption and estimated effects on our consolidated financial statements.

Results of Operations

Consolidated Results

The following table sets forth a comparison of results of operations for the three and six months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011:

 

(dollars in thousands) Three months ended March 31,   Six months ended March 31,
  2012   2011   Difference   %
Change
  2012   2011   Difference   % Change
Operating revenue $   54,132   $    36,490   $     17,642   48.3%   $    80,208   $    53,045   $   27,163   51.2%
Operating expense 39,859   28,422   11,437   40.2%   60,392   42,484   17,908   42.2%
Gross profit 14,273   8,068   6,205   76.9%   19,816   10,561   9,255   87.6%
General and administrative expenses 1,842   1,597   245   15.3%   3,861   3,608   253   7.0%
Income from operations 12,431   6,471   5,960   92.1%   15,955   6,953   9,002   129.5%
Interest and investment (loss) income, net (66)   (1,572)   1,506   95.8%   42   (1,714)   1,756   102.5%
Interest expense (467)   (566)   99   17.5%   (936)   (1,070)   134   12.5%
Other income, net 31   43   (12)   (27.9)%   32   57   (25)   (43.9)%
Income tax expense 4,515   1,664   2,851   171.3%   5,746   1,607   4,139   257.6%
Effective income tax rate 37.8%   38.0%   (0.2)   (0.5)%   38.1%   38.0%   0.1   0.3%
Net income $    7,414   $    2,712   $    4,702   173.4%   $    9,347   $    2,619   $    6,728   256.9%

 

Operating Revenue

 

The increase in operating revenue of $17.6 million and $27.2 million for the three and six months ended March 31, 2012, respectively, as compared to three and six months ended March 31, 2011, is primarily due to an increase in fruit sales by Bowen, increases in citrus and sugarcane production, an earlier start to our harvest season for Valencias and, to a lesser extent, increases in harvest and haul revenues at Bowen and favorable market pricing of citrus and sugarcane. See Segment Results below for further discussion of our revenues from agricultural and non-agricultural operations.

 

Gross Profit

 

Gross profit increased by 76.9% and 87.6% for the three and six months ended March 31, 2012, respectively, as compared to gross profits for the three and six months ended March 31, 2011, and was primarily attributable to an increase in production of our agricultural products, an earlier start to our harvest season of Valencias and, to a lesser extent, favorable market pricing. See Segment Results below for further discussion of our revenues and expenses from agricultural and non-agricultural operations.

 

18
 

General and administrative expenses

 

General and administrative expenses increased by 15.3% and 7.0% for the three and six months ended March 31, 2012, respectively, as compared to the three and six months ended March 31, 2011. The increase was primarily attributable to increases in professional fees. General and administrative expenses include $175 thousand and $280 thousand in legal fees incurred as a result of the IRS audit and appeals process, respectively, and $186 thousand and $386 thousand in legal fees incurred in defense of the shareholder derivative action complaint for the three and six months ended March 31, 2012, respectively. For the three and six months ended March 31, 2011, $69 thousand and $146 thousand in legal fees were incurred as a result of the IRS audit and appeals process, respectively and $75 thousand and $433 thousand in legal fees were incurred in the defense of the shareholder derivative action complaint, respectively.

 

Interest and investment income, net

Interest and investment income results primarily from interest bearing bank accounts and our investment in Magnolia. Interest and investment loss decreased by $1.5 million or 95.8% for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, as compared with the same period in 2011 and $1.8 million or 102.5% for the six months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to the six months ended March 31, 2011. During the quarter ended March 31, 2011, we fully reserved our patronage interest in Farm Credit totaling $1.7 million and the expense was recorded in interest and investment income.

 

In May 2010, we invested $12.2 million to obtain a 39% limited partner equity interest in Magnolia. Alico is accounting for the investment in Magnolia in accordance with the equity method of accounting in which we record our 39% interest in the reported income or loss of Magnolia each quarter. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, we recorded an investment loss of $87 thousand as compared to investment income of $95 thousand during the quarter ended March 31, 2011. We recorded investment income of $10 thousand for the six months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to an investment loss of $74 thousand for the comparable period in 2011. See Item 1. Financial Statements, Note 3. Investment in Magnolia in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense decreased by $99 thousand or 17.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2011. For the six months ended March 31, 2012, interest expense decreased by $134 thousand or 12.5% as compared to the six months ended March 31, 2011. The decrease in interest expense is primarily due to the reduction of our outstanding debt and, to a lesser extent, a decrease in the average interest rates for the comparable periods. The weighted average interest rate for the three and six months ended March 31, 2012, was 2.90% and 2.93%, respectively, as compared to 2.98% for each of the three and six months ended March 31, 2011, respectively. See Item 1. Financial Statements, Note 6. Long-Term Debt in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

 

Provision for income taxes

 

Income tax expense was approximately $4.5 million and $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Alico’s effective tax rate was 37.8% and 38% for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Income tax expense was $5.7 million and $1.6 million with an effective tax rate of 38.1% and 38.0% for the six months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

In the fiscal years ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the IRS issued five RARs pursuant to its examinations of Alico, Agri-Insurance Ltd. (a former subsidiary of Alico liquidated in September 2010) and Alico-Agri for the tax years 2005 through 2007. These RARs principally challenge (i) Agri-Insurance’s ability to elect to be treated as a disregarded entity for US income tax purposes during the years under examination; and (ii) Alico-Agri’s ability to recognize income from two real estate sales under the installment method by asserting that Alico-Agri was a dealer in real estate during the years under examination. Based on the positions taken in the RARs, the IRS claimed additional taxes and penalties due of $31.1 million consisting of $14.5 million in taxes and $16.6 million in penalties. The RARs did not quantify the interest on the taxes.

 

19
 

We contested the positions taken in the RARs and pursued resolution through the IRS Appeals process. On November 22, 2011, we reached an agreement in principle with the IRS to settle all issues. The settlement provides that Agri-Insurance was eligible to elect to be treated as a disregarded entity for U.S. income tax purposes. No determination was made as to whether Alico-Agri was a dealer in real estate; however, for the two sales transactions at issue, we agreed to treat one-third of the taxable gain as ordinary income, taxable in the year of sale, with the remaining two-thirds treated as capital gain eligible for installment sale treatment. Federal and state taxes, including interest, due as a result of the settlement are estimated at approximately $1.4 million, of which approximately $0.7 million was paid to the US Treasury on December 16, 2011. The settlement does not preclude us from using the installment sale method with respect to future transactions. See Note 12. Subsequent Events for further discussion.

 

Segment Results

Operating Revenue

 

(dollars in thousands)   Three months ended March 31, Six months ended March 31,
  2012 2011 Difference %
Change
2012 2011 Difference

%
Change

Revenues  
Agriculture:  
Bowen Brothers Fruit   $  20,288 $  12,169 $        8,119 66.7% $  30,794 $  18,913 $      11,881 62.8%
Citrus Groves   25,094 19,404 5,690 29.3% 33,502 24,636 8,866 36.0%
Sugarcane   7,572 3,748 3,824 102.0% 13,659 7,461 6,198 83.1%
Cattle   378 292 86 29.5% 600 449 151 33.6%
Sod and native plants   106 71 35 49.3% 265 134 131 97.8%
Agriculture operations revenue   53,438 35,684 17,754 49.8% 78,820 51,593 27,227 52.8%
Real estate operations   N/M N/M
Land leasing and rentals   660 685 (25) (3.6)% 1,320 1,291 29 2.2%
Mining royalties   34 121 (87) (71.9)% 68 161 (93) (57.8)%
Total operating revenue   $  54,132      $  36,490      $      17,642      48.3%%      $  80,208      $  53,045      $      27,163      51.2%

 

N/M – Not meaningful

 

Agricultural operating revenues increased by $17.8 million or 49.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2012, as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2011, which was primarily due to increases in citrus sales by Bowen, increases in production of our agricultural products, an earlier start to our Valencia harvest season and, to a lesser extent, increases in harvest and haul revenues and favorable market pricing of citrus and sugarcane.

 

Agricultural operating revenues increased by $27.2 million or 52.8% for the six months ended March 31, 2012, as compared with the six months ended March 31, 2011, which was primarily attributable to increases in citrus sales by Bowen, increases in production of our agricultural products, an earlier start to our Valencia harvest season and, to a lesser extent, increases in harvest and haul revenue and favorable market pricing of citrus and sugarcane.

 

Total operating revenue increased by $17.6 million or 48.3% quarter-over-quarter and by $27.2 million or 51.2% for the six months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to the six months ended March 31, 2011.

 

20
 

Gross Profit

 

(dollars in thousands)   Three months ended March 31, Six months ended March 31,
  2012   2011   Difference   %
Change
  2012   2011   Difference   %
Change
Gross Profit:  
Agriculture:  
Bowen Brothers Fruit   $       756   $       402   $           354   88.1%   $    1,067   $       583   $           484   83.0%
Citrus groves   11,243   6,988   4,255   60.9%   14,494   8,665   5,829   67.3%
Sugarcane   1,660   214   1,446   675.7%   3,108   623   2,485   398.9%
Cattle   210   129   81   62.8%   282   187   95   50.8%
Sod and native plants   106   38   68   178.9%   265   81   184   227.2%
Gross profit from agricultural operations   13,975   7,771   6,204   79.8%   19,216   10,139   9,077   89.5%
Real estate activities   (117)   (124)   7   5.6%   (242)   (274)   32   11.7%
Land leasing and rentals   398   390   8   2.1%   804   675   129   19.1%
Mining royalties   17   31   (14)   (45.2)%   38   21   17   81.0%
Gross Profit   $  14,273      $    8,068      $        6,205      76.9%      $  19,816      $  10,561      $        9,255      87.6%

  

We measure gross profit from operations before the allocation of corporate overhead or interest charges to the respective segments. Gross profit is determined by production levels, the prices received for each of our products less harvesting, marketing and delivery costs and the direct costs of production.

Gross profit from agricultural operations for the three and six months ended March 31, 2012 increased by $6.2 million and $9.1 million or 79.8% and 89.5%, as compared with the three and six months ended March 31, 2011, respectively. Gross profit from total operations increased by $6.2 million or 76.9% quarter-over-quarter. For the six months ended March 31, 2012, total operating gross profit increased by $9.3 million or 87.6% compared to the six months ended March 31, 2011. The increase in gross profit from operations is primarily due an increase in production of our agricultural products, an earlier start to our Valencia harvest season and, to a lesser extent, favorable market prices received for our agricultural products.

 

Agricultural Operations

 

Agricultural operations provided approximately 98.7% and 97.8% of total operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and 98.3% and 97.3% for the six months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Agriculture revenues increased by 49.8% or $17.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2011, due to an increase in production of citrus and sugarcane, an earlier start to our Valencia harvest season and favorable market prices for citrus, sugarcane and cattle. Agricultural revenues increased by $27.2 million or 52.8% for the six months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to same period of 2011, attributable to increase in production of citrus and sugarcane, an earlier start to our Valencia harvest season, and favorable market prices for citrus, sugarcane and cattle.

 

Bowen

 

Bowen’s operations produced revenues of $20.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to $12.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, due to increased fruit sales and purchases and increased value-added services which include pick, load, harvest and haul of the citrus fruit. For the three months ended March 31, 2012 fruit sales and purchase revenue was $17.9 million as compared to $10.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, an increase of $7.3 million or 68.9%. The number of boxes from fruit sales and purchases during the three months ended March 31, 2012, was 1.4 million as compared to 1.2 million boxes for the three months ended March 31, 2011, an increase of 16.7% quarter-over-quarter. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, value-added services revenue was $2.4 million as compared to $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, an increase of $0.8 million or 50%. The number of boxes to which value added services applied were 1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to 0.9 million boxes for the three months ended March 31, 2011, an increase of 0.6 million boxes or 66.7%. Gross profit was $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 an increase of $0.4 million or 88.1% due to an increase in the number of boxes sold and the favorable market pricing of citrus fruit.

 

21
 

For the six months ended March 31, 2012, Bowen’s operations produced revenues of $30.8 million as compared to $18.9 million for the six months ended March 31, 2011. For the six months ended March 31, 2012 fruit sales and purchases revenue was $26.6 million as compared to $16.2 million for the six months ended March 31, 2011, an increase of $10.4 million or 64.2%. The number of boxes of citrus fruit sold during the six months ended March 31, 2012, was 2.3 million as compared to 1.9 million boxes for the three months ended March 31, 2011, an increase of 21.1%. For the six months ended March 31, 2012, value-added services revenue was $4.2 million as compared to $2.7 million for the six months ended March 31, 2011, an increase of $1.5 million or 55.6%. The number of boxes to which value added services applied were 2.3 million for the six months ended March 31, 2012 and 1.3 million boxes for the three months ended March 31, 2011, and increase of 1.0 million boxes or 76.9%. Gross profit was $1.1 million for the six months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to $0.6 million for the six months ended March 31, 2011, an increase of 83.3% as a result of an increase in the number of boxes purchased and favorable market pricing of citrus fruit.

 

Citrus Groves

 

Three months ended March 31, 2012

 

Revenues increased in the Citrus Groves segment by 29.3% or $5.7 million quarter-over-quarter. Gross profits increased by 60.9% or $4.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2011. The total number of boxes harvested during the three months ended March 31, 2012 was 2.2 million as compared to 1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, an increase of 15.8% quarter-over-quarter.

 

Early and Mid-Season Varieties

 

Early and mid-season varieties contributed $1.2 million to the increase in revenues quarter-over quarter. This increase resulted from a 6.3% increase in production and a 6.1 % increase in price.

 

Valencias

 

Valencias contributed $4.5 million to the increase in revenues quarter-over quarter. This increase was a result of an earlier start to our Valencia harvest season. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, 0.6 million boxes were harvested as compared to 0.2 million boxes for three months ended March 31, 2011, an increase of 0.4 million boxes or 200% quarter-over-quarter. In addition, our Valencia production is expected to increase by approximately 18% for the 2011-2012 harvest season.

 

The number of boxes harvested during the three months ended March 31, 2012 was approximately 26.5% of our total projected Valencia harvest for the 2011-2012 season as compared to 11.0% harvested during the three months ended March 31, 2011 for the 2010-2011 season.

 

Six months ended March 31, 2012

 

Revenues increased in the Citrus Groves segment by 36.0% or $8.9 million for the six months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to the six months ended March 31, 2011. Gross profits increased by 67.3% or $5.8 million for the six months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to the same period ended March 31, 2011. The total number of boxes harvested during the six months ended March 31, 2012 was 3.0 million as compared to 2.4 million for the six months ended March 31, 2011, an increase of 25% period-over-period.

 

Early and Mid-Season Varieties

 

The increase in revenues of $4.4 million for the six months ended March 31 2012, as compared to the same period ended March 31, 2011, was the result of an increase of approximately 15.0% in production of our early and mid-season varieties and, to a lesser extent, a 5.9% increase in citrus prices as a result of market supply conditions. Total boxes produced increased 0.2 million or 10.3% for the six months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to the six months ended March 31, 2011.

 

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Valencias

 

Valencias contributed $4.5 million to the increase in revenues for the six months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to the six months ended March 31, 2011. This increase was a result of an earlier start to our Valencia harvest season. During the six months ended March 31, 2012, 0.6 million boxes were harvested as compared to 0.2 million boxes for six months ended March 31, 2011, an increase of 0.4 million boxes or 200%. In addition, our Valencia production is expected to increase by approximately 18% for the 2011-2012 harvest season.

 

Sugarcane

 

Sugarcane revenues increased by $3.8 million or 102.0% quarter-over-quarter. The gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was $1.7 million as compared to $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, an increase of $1.5 million or 675.7% quarter-over-quarter. The increase in revenue and gross profit was attributable to the increase in production from the approximately 4,000 additional acres planted during fiscal year 2011 and favorable market prices received for sugarcane. For fiscal year 2012, we have 9,634 sugarcane producing acres as compared to 6,432 producing acres for fiscal year 2011, a net increase of 3,202 acres or 49.8%. Standard tons of sugarcane harvested were approximately 181 thousand and 101 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, an increase of 79.2%. Sugarcane prices increased by 13.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2011.

 

Sugarcane revenues increased by $6.2 million or 83.1% for the six months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to the six months ended March 31, 2011. The gross profit for the six months ended March 31, 2012 was $3.1 million as compared to $0.6 million for the six months ended March 31, 2011, an increase of $2.5 million or 416.7% period-over-period. The increase in revenue and gross profit was a result of the increase in production from the approximately 4,000 additional acres planted during fiscal year 2011 and favorable market prices received for sugarcane. Standard tons of sugarcane harvested were approximately 329 thousand and 205 thousand for the six months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, an increase of 124 thousand standard tons or 60.5% for the comparable periods. Sugarcane prices increased by 13.2% for the six months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to the six months ended March 31, 2011.

 

To maintain optimal production, sugarcane grown on sandy soil such as Alico’s must be replanted every three years. Sugarcane plantings tend to produce less tonnage per acre with each successive crop. During fiscal year 2010 we began a replanting initiative due to improved market conditions, removal of uncertainties concerning the future of the sugar processing facility and a more favorable pricing arrangement with the sugarcane processor. As a result of this replanting initiative, we have realized an increase in crop yields during fiscal year 2011 and 2012. We believe that our sugarcane production in fiscal year 2013 will continue to increase as a result of the approximately 5,200 additional acres planted in fiscal year 2012, increasing our net producing acres to approximately 13,600.

 

Cattle

 

Revenues from Cattle operations were $378 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to $292 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2011. Gross profit from our cattle operations increased by 62.8% quarter-over quarter. Market pricing for cattle has increased quarter-over-quarter, and we anticipate benefitting from that increase for the remainder of fiscal year 2012. The total pounds of beef sold were 495 thousand and 398 thousand, an increase of 97 thousand or 24.3%, and the average price received per pound sold was $0.80 and $0.73, an increase of $0.07 per pound or 9.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

Revenues from Cattle operations were $600 thousand for the six months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to $449 thousand for the six months ended March 31, 2011, an increase of $151 thousand or 33.6%. Gross profit from our cattle operations increased by 50.8% for the six months ended March 31, 2012, over the six months ended March 31, 2011. Market prices for cattle increased during the six months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to the same period of fiscal 2011, and we anticipate benefitting from these increases for the remainder of fiscal year 2012.

23
 

The total pounds of beef sold were 752 thousand and 691 thousand, an increase of 61 thousand pounds or 8.8% and the average price received per pound sold was $0.79 and $0.64, an increase of $0.15 or 23.4% for the six months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

Other

 

Other agricultural operations include sod production and the sale of native plants to local landscaping companies. The sales of sod and native plants are not significant to our financial position, results of operations and cash flows; however, during the six months ended March 31, 2012, the sale of native plants and trees increased by $0.1 million or 152.4% as compared to the same period in 2011.

 

Non-Agricultural Operations

 

Land leasing and rentals

 

We lease land to others on a tenant-at-will basis for grazing, farming, oil exploration and recreational uses. Revenues from land leasing and rentals were $660 thousand and $685 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, a decrease of 3.6% quarter-over-quarter due to a decrease in oil royalties. Gross profits increased by 2.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to the same period in 2011. Revenues from land leasing and rentals were $1,320 thousand and $1,291 thousand for the six months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to same period in fiscal 2011. Gross profit increased by $0.1 million or 19.1 % for the six months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to the six months ended March 31, 2011. The increases in revenue and gross profit for the six months ended March 31, 2012 were due to new farming leases entered into during the first quarter of fiscal 2012.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

                 
(dollars in thousands)  

March 31,

2012

   

September 30,

2011

 
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 768     $ 1,336  
Investments   $ 254     $ 989  
Total current assets   $ 33,272     $ 29,181  
Total current liabilities   $ 15,943     $ 11,827  
Working capital   $ 17,329     $ 17,354  
Total assets   $ 185,477     $ 180,035  
Notes payable   $ 49,700     $ 57,158  
Current ratio     2.09:1       2.47:1  

We believe that our current cash position, revolving credit facility and cash we expect to generate from operating activities will provide us with sufficient liquidity to satisfy our working capital requirements and capital expenditures for the foreseeable future. We have a $60.0 million revolving line of credit (“RLOC”). Of the $60.0 million credit facility, approximately $51.8 million was available for our general use at March 31, 2012. See Note 6. Long-Term Debt in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited). On April 23, 2012, we announced a contract for the cash sale of two parcels of land which is expected to generate approximately $10.1 million cash pre-tax, further improving our liquidity. See Note 12. Subsequent Events in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements Unaudited.

As of March 31, 2012, we had cash and cash equivalents of $0.8 million as compared to $1.3 million as of September 30, 2011, a decrease of $0.5 million. We use a cash management program with Rabobank designed to minimize the outstanding balance on our RLOC. Our various Rabobank accounts are swept daily into a concentration account. A balance of $250 thousand must be maintained in the concentration account on a daily basis. Any balances in excess of $250 thousand are automatically applied to pay down the line of credit. If the balance in the concentration account falls below $250 thousand, draws are made on the RLOC to maintain this balance. The cash management program minimizes cash balances and outstanding debt on the RLOC. Our credit facility includes a 10 year $40.0 million term note bearing interest at one month LIBOR plus 250 basis points,

24
 

payable quarterly. Quarterly principal payments of $0.5 million are due from October 2011 through July 2020 with a balloon payment equal to the remaining unpaid principal and interest due in October 2020. We also have a $60.0 million RLOC with a 10 year term. The interest rate on the RLOC was initially established at monthly LIBOR plus 250 basis points. The interest rate spread over LIBOR is subject to an annual adjustment pursuant to a pricing grid based on our debt service coverage ratio for the immediately preceding fiscal year. The spreads may range from 225 to 275 basis points over monthly LIBOR. Our interest rate was adjusted to LIBOR plus 225 basis points effective January 1, 2012, due to the favorable debt service coverage ratio in fiscal year 2011. On October 1, 2015, Rabobank may adjust the interest rate spread to any percentage. Rabobank must provide a 30 day notice of the new spreads, and we have the right to prepay the outstanding balance without penalty.

 

Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities

 

Cash provided by operating activities was $13.6 million for the six months ended March 31, 2012, which compared favorably to cash provided by operating activities of $8.9 million for the six months ended March 31, 2011. The favorable change in cash provided by operating activities was affected by net income of $9.3 million for the six months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to net income of $2.6 million for the six months ended March 31, 2011. The favorable change in cash provided by operations was partially offset by changes in our working capital accounts, most notably the increase in accounts receivables due to the majority of sales occurring in our second and third fiscal quarters. Due to the seasonal nature of our business, working capital requirements are typically greater in the first and fourth quarter of our fiscal year coinciding with our planting cycles. Cash flows from operating activities typically improve in our second and third fiscal quarters as we harvest our crops.

 

Cash Used In Investing Activities

 

Cash used in investing activities was $5.2 million for each of the six months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. The use of cash in investing activities is primarily due to capital expenditures. Capital expenditures during the first six months of fiscal 2012 were $7.9 million which included $4.5 million for the expansion of our sugarcane operations of which $2.9 million was attributable to planting an additional 5,200 acres to be harvested in fiscal 2013, $0.5 million for sugarcane equipment purchases and $1.1 million for land improvements, $0.7 million for cattle and $2.7 million for certain other capital expenditures. During the six months ended March 31, 2011, our capital expenditures were $7.2 million, which included an investment of $2.6 million for the development of an additional 4,000 acres of sugarcane plantings being harvested in fiscal year 2012, the purchase of our corporate headquarters of $2.4 million and $2.2 million for certain other capital expenditures. The use of cash in investing activities was partially offset by the return on investment in Magnolia of $1.3 million and $0.7 million for the six months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and from the liquidation of our certificates of deposits. During the six months ended March 31, 2011, the return on investment in Magnolia was $1.0 million and proceeds from the sales of investments were $0.5 million.

 

Cash Provided by Financing Activities

Cash used in financing activities was $8.9 million and $8.7 million for the six months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Cash was used in financing activities for the payment of dividends of $1.2 million for the six months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to $0.7 million for the six months ended March 31, 2011.

Our net repayments on outstanding debt were approximately $7.5 million for the six months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to $6.9 million for the six months ended March 31, 2011.

We purchased 12,026 shares of our common stock for treasury in the open market at an average price of $23.95 during the three months ended March 31, 2012; we did not purchase any treasury shares during the first quarter of fiscal 2012. We purchased 32,268 and 39,802 shares on the open market at an average price of $26.20 and $25.76 during the three and six months ended March 31, 2011, respectively. At March 31, 2012, 260,728 shares were available for acquisition in accordance with the 2008 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

Purchase Commitments

Alico, through its wholly owned subsidiary Bowen, enters into contracts for the purchase of citrus fruit during the normal course of its business. The remaining obligations under these purchase agreements totaled approximately $14.5 million at March 31, 2012 for delivery in fiscal years 2012 and 2013, for which these obligations are covered by sales agreements totaling $14.6 million.

25
 

Contractual Obligations and Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

There have been no material changes during this reporting period to the disclosures set forth in Part II, Item 7 in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011.

ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

There have been no material changes during this reporting period in the disclosures set forth in Part II, Item 7A in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011.

 

ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures

 

  (a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, an evaluation, as required by Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (“Exchange Act”), was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that all information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in such reports is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

  (b) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rule 13a-15(f) or Rule 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. Legal Proceedings.

See Part I, Item I, Financial Statements, Note 5. Income Taxes (IRS issues), Note 9. Contingencies and Note 12. Subsequent Events in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

ITEM 1A. Risk Factors.

There have been no material changes in the risk factors set forth in Part 1, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011.

26
 

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

There were no sales of unregistered equity securities during the period.

The Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to 350,000 shares of our common stock from shareholders from time to time in accordance with our 2008 Equity Incentive Plan. Stock repurchases will be made on a quarterly basis until November 1, 2013, through open market transactions, at times and in such amounts as the Company’s broker determines, subject to the provisions of SEC Rule 10b-18.

 

Period

   

(a)

Total

Number of

Shares

Purchased

   

(b)

Average

Price Paid

Per Share

   

(c)

Total

Number of

Shares

Purchased

As Part of

Publicly

Announced

Plans or

Programs

       

(d)

Maximum

Number (or

Approximate

Dollar Value of

Shares that May

Yet Be Purchased

Under the Plans

Or Programs

Month ended January 31, 2012       $           272,754
Month ended February 29, 2012       $           272,754
Month ended March 31, 2012     12,026   $ $23.95           260,728

 

ITEM 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

 

None.

 

ITEM 4. Mine Safety Disclosure.

 

None.

 

ITEM 5. Other Information.

 

None

27
 

 

ITEM 6. Exhibits

 

 Exhibit No.   Description of Exhibit  
10.1 * Alico, Inc. 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan Filed herewith
       
10.2 * Restricted Stock Award Agreement dated April 19, 2012 between Alico, Inc. and JD Alexander Filed herewith
       
10.3 * Amended and Restated Stock Award Agreement dated September 29, 2011 between Alico, Inc. and W. Mark Humphrey Filed herewith
       
10.4 * Amended and Restated Stock Award Agreement dated September 29, 2011 between Alico, Inc. and Ken Smith Ph.D. Filed herewith
       
10.5 * Amended and Restated Stock Award Agreement dated September 29, 2011 between Alico, Inc. and Donald R. Schrotenboer Filed herewith
       
10.6 * Amended and Restated Stock Award Agreement dated September 29, 2011 between Alico, Inc. and Steve Lewis Filed herewith
       
31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Filed herewith
     
31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Filed herewith
     
32.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. Furnished herewith
     
32.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. Furnished herewith
     
101.INS ** XBRL Instance Document Filed herewith
       
101.SCH ** XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document Filed herewith
       
101.CAL ** XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document Filed herewith
       
101.DEF ** XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document Filed herewith
       
101.LAB ** XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document Filed herewith
       
101.PRE ** XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document Filed herewith

 

* Denotes a management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement.
   
** In accordance with Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, these XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) documents are furnished and not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and otherwise are not subject to liability under these sections.
28
 

 

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.

 

        ALICO, INC.
        (Registrant)
     
         
     
Date: May  10, 2012     By:

/s/ JD Alexander

         JD Alexander
        Chief Executive Officer and President
     
         
     
Date: May  10, 2012     By:

/s/ W. Mark Humphrey

         W. Mark Humphrey
        Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President
     
         
     
Date: May  10, 2012     By:

/s/ Jerald R. Koesters

         Jerald R. Koesters
        Chief Accounting Officer and Controller

 

29
 

Index to Exhibits

 

 Exhibit No.   Description of Exhibit  
10.1 * Alico, Inc. 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan Filed herewith
       
10.2 * Restricted Stock Award Agreement dated April 19, 2012 between Alico, Inc. and JD Alexander Filed herewith
       
10.3 * Amended and Restated Stock Award Agreement dated September 29, 2011 between Alico, Inc. and W. Mark Humphrey Filed herewith
       
10.4 * Amended and Restated Stock Award Agreement dated September 29, 2011 between Alico, Inc. and Ken Smith Ph.D. Filed herewith
       
10.5 * Amended and Restated Stock Award Agreement dated September 29, 2011 between Alico, Inc. and Donald R. Schrotenboer Filed herewith
       
10.6 * Amended and Restated Stock Award Agreement dated September 29, 2011 between Alico, Inc. and Steve Lewis Filed herewith
       
31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Filed herewith
     
31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Filed herewith
     
32.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. Furnished herewith
     
32.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. Furnished herewith
     
101.INS ** XBRL Instance Document Filed herewith
       
101.SCH ** XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document Filed herewith
       
101.CAL ** XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document Filed herewith
       
101.DEF ** XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document Filed herewith
       
101.LAB ** XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document Filed herewith
       
101.PRE ** XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document Filed herewith

 

* Denotes a management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement.
   
** In accordance with Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, these XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) documents are furnished and not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and otherwise are not subject to liability under these sections.

 

 

30