Alico - 10-Q quarterly report FY

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 863-675-2966

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.

þ Yes     o No

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

o Yes     þ No

There were 7,357,106 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, outstanding at February 2, 2009.

 

 

Index

Alico, Inc.
Form 10-Q
For the quarter ended December 31, 2008

Part I. Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

(continued)

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

See accompanying notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements (“Financial Statements”) include the accounts of Alico, Inc. (“Alico”) and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Alico Land Development Company, Agri-Insurance Company, Ltd. (“Agri”), Alico-Agri, Ltd., Alico Plant World, LLC and Bowen Brothers Fruit, LLC (“Bowen”) (collectively referred to as the “Company”) after elimination of all significant intercompany balances and transactions.

The following Financial Statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations. The Company believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information not misleading.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a basis consistent with the accounting principles and policies reflected in the Company’s annual report for the year ended September 30, 2008. In the opinion of Management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation of its consolidated financial position at December 31, 2008 and September 30, 2008 and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the three month periods ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.

The Company is involved in agriculture, which is of a seasonal nature and subject to the influence of natural phenomena and wide price fluctuations. The results of operations for the stated periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year. Certain items from 2007 have been reclassified to conform to the 2008 presentation.

The Company has classified 100% of its investments in marketable securities as available for sale and, as such, the securities are carried at estimated fair value. Unrealized gains and losses determined to be temporary are recorded as other comprehensive income, net of related deferred taxes, until realized. Unrealized losses determined to be other than temporary are recognized in the period the determination is made. Marketable Securities classified as non current are included under the caption “Investments, deposits and other” together with deposits and other non current investments.

The cost and estimated fair value of marketable securities available for sale at December 31, 2008 and September 30, 2008 were as follows:

The aggregate fair value of investments in debt instruments (net of mutual funds of $1,031) as of December 31, 2008 by contractual maturity date consisted of the following:

Debt instruments and funds. The unrealized losses on municipal bonds and mutual funds were primarily due to changes in interest rates. At December 31, 2008 the Company held loss positions in nine debt instruments. Because the decline in market values of these securities is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality and because the Company has the ability and intent to hold these investments until a recovery of fair value, which may be maturity, the Company does not believe any of the unrealized losses represent other than temporary impairment based on the evaluation of available evidence as of December 31, 2008.

The following table shows the gross unrealized losses and fair value of the Company’s investments with unrealized losses that are not deemed to be other than temporarily impaired, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position:

Alico implemented SFAS 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (SFAS 157) on October 1, 2008. SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for its measurement, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The adoption of SFAS did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, cash flows, or results of operations.

In 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Staff Position FAS 157-2 (FSP 157-2), which provided a one year deferral for the implementation of SFAS 157 for non-financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value that are recorded or disclosed on a non-recurring basis. Alico has elected to apply the FSP 157-2 deferral to the applicable non financial assets and liabilities, consisting of certain parcels of real estate, until October 1, 2009.

SFAS 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e.; exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. SFAS 157 requires disclosures that categorize assets and liabilities measured at fair value into one of three different levels depending on the assumptions (i.e.; inputs) used in the valuation. Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input significant to the fair value measurement. The SFAS 157 fair value hierarchy is defined as follows:

Level 1 — Valuations are based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 — Valuations are based on quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, or quoted prices in markets that are not active for which significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3 — Valuations are based on prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement. Inputs reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability at the measurement date.

The following table represents the fair values of Alico’s financial assets and liabilities at December 31, 2008:

The following is a reconciliation of beginning and ending balances for securities using significant unobservable inputs (level 3) for the quarter ended December 31, 2008:

Alico utilized a third party to evaluate its auction rate securities. Because the decline in market values are expected to be temporary, Alico included the unrealized losses as a component of other comprehensive income for the quarter ended December 31, 2008.

The balances of the Company’s mortgages and notes receivable were as follows:

The mortgage note receivable on bulk land sales relates to a parcel in Lee County, Florida referred to as the “East parcel” which was sold to the Ginn Companies. In July 2005, Alico’s subsidiary, Alico-Agri entered into a sales contract for the East property, consisting of approximately 4,538 acres for $62.9 million. At the time of the sale, Alico-Agri received a down payment of $6.2 million and a mortgage note of $56.6 million in exchange for the East property.

Alico-Agri records real estate sales following the provisions in Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 66, “Accounting for Sales of Real Estate,” Under these guidelines, gains from commercial or bulk land sales are not recognized until payments received for property to be developed within two years after the sale represent a 20% continuing interest in the property or for property to be developed after two years, a 25% continuing interest in the property according to the installment sales method. The continuing interest thresholds for gain recognition have not been met for the East contract and Alico-Agri is recognizing gains proportionate to principal receipts through deferred gain accounts which serve to discount the mortgage note receivables under the installment method.

In October 2008, Alico-Agri received a a principal payment of $1.8 million on the East contract in November of 2008. Alico-Agri recognized a profit of $1.5 million as non-operating revenue under the installment method related to the receipt. The remaining future principal payments of the East contract were extended as follows:

Additionally during the quarter ended December 31, 2008, the Company recognized $1.2 million of operating revenue upon the expiration of an option contract that had previously been deferred.

Interest will continue to accrue on the unpaid balance of the note and be paid in quarterly installments. The note will bear interest at HSH LIBOR plus 150 basis points from September 29, 2008 to September 28, 2009, HSH LIBOR plus 200 basis points from September 29, 2009 to September 28, 2010 and HSH LIBOR plus 250 basis points thereafter until the note is paid in full.

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

The Company records its inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Due to changing market conditions, the Company reduced its cattle inventory by $346 thousand and $256 thousand for the three months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively with corresponding charges to cost of sales during the respective periods.

The slowdown in the housing market has significantly reduced the demand for cultivated sod. As a result, the Company ceased caretaking activities on approximately 230 acres of its sod fields. This decision resulted in a write down of the sod inventory of $461 thousand for the three months ended December 31, 2008. An additional charge of $77 thousand was incurred during the three months ended December 31, 2008 to remove the capitalized sod planting costs.

The Company, through its Bowen subsidiary, enters into sales and purchase agreements for citrus. At December 31, 2008, the average remaining purchase price obligations under these contracts exceeded the contracted sales price delivery prices. As a result, the Company took an impairment charge of $878 thousand to cost of sales at December 31, 2008, and accrued a current liability for the impairment.

5. Income taxes: 

The (benefit from) provision for income taxes for the three months ended December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 is summarized as follows (unaudited):

The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) is currently auditing Alico’s amended tax returns for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 and the short period return filed for the transition month ended September 30, 2007. Alico has extended the statute of limitations on the originally filed 2005 tax return to June 30, 2010 pursuant to a request by IRS Exams.

The following table reflects outstanding debt under the Company’s various loan agreements:

Alico, Inc. has a Term Note, a Mortgage and a Revolving Line of Credit with Farm Credit of Southwest Florida. All three agreements are cross collateralized by 7,680 acres of real estate in Hendry County used for farm leases, sugarcane and citrus production. The Term Note and Revolving Line of Credit are additionally collateralized by 33,700 acres of real estate in Hendry County used for farm leases and cattle ranching.

The Term Note calls for equal payments of principal and interest of $1.7 million per quarter over a ten year term until maturity. The Mortgage note calls for monthly principal payments of $106 thousand plus accrued interest until maturity.

The Term Note and Revolving Line of Credit contain numerous restrictive covenants including those requiring Alico to maintain a net worth of $110 million, a debt ratio of not greater than 60%, a minimum current ratio of 2:1 and a fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.5:1, and sets limitations on the extension of loans or additional borrowings by Alico or any subsidiary. The covenants also restrict Alico’s activities regarding investments, liens, borrowing and leasing.

The Revolving Line of Credit provides $125.0 million which may be used for general corporate purposes including: (i) the normal operating needs of Alico and its operating divisions, (ii) the purchase of capital assets and (iii) the payment of dividends. The Revolving Line of Credit also allows for an annual extension at the lender’s option.

The Company’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, John R. Alexander, is a member of the Board of Directors of the Company’s primary lender, Farm Credit of Southwest Florida. Mr. Alexander abstains from voting on matters that directly affect the Company.

Maturities of the Company’s debt at December 31, 2008 were as follows:

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

As an agricultural credit cooperative, Farm Credit of Southwest Florida is owned by the member-borrowers who purchase stock and earn participation certificates in the cooperative. Allocations of patronage are made to members on an annual basis according to the proportionate amount of interest paid by the member. Allocations are made in cash and non-cash participation certificates. The Company reduced its interest expense by $31 thousand and $25 thousand during the three months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively for patronage allocations.

Effective June 30, 2008, the Company ceased operating its Alico Plant World facility. Alico Plant World generated revenues of $0.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2007, and a profit of $19 thousand (net of taxes of $12 thousand) or $0.003 per share, for the three months ended December 31, 2007. Total assets of $0.3 million and $1.7 million related to discontinued operations were included in the balance sheets at December 31, 2008 and September 30, 2008, respectively. The Company is currently leasing the Alico Plant World facilities to a commercial greenhouse operator and has also sold a portion of the equipment used to operate the greenhouse. The results of Alico Plant World’s operations have been reported as discontinued operations.

Alico has six reportable segments: Bowen, Citrus Groves, Sugarcane, Cattle, Real Estate and Leasing. Alico’s operations are located in Florida. Alico accounts for intersegment sales and transfers as if the sales or transfers were to third parties, that is, at current market prices. Descriptions of the various activities of the segments are described fully in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K.

Although the Vegetable and Sod segments do not meet the quantitative thresholds to be considered as reportable segments, information about these segments may be useful and has been included in the schedules below. For a description of the business activities of the Vegetable and Sod segments please refer to Item 1 of the Company’s most recent report on Form 10-K.

The following tables summarize the performance of the Company’s segments for the unaudited three month periods ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related assets and depreciation at December 31, 2008 (unaudited) and September 30, 2008:

9. Stock Compensation Plans:

The Board of Directors of the Company may grant options, stock appreciation rights, and/or restricted stock to certain directors and employees. No stock options or stock appreciation rights were granted or exercised during the three months ended December 31, 2008 or 2007.

The Company measures the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award. The cost is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award (usually the vesting period). If an equity award is modified after the grant date, incremental compensation cost will be recognized in an amount equal to the excess of the fair value of the modified award over the fair value of the original award immediately before the modification.

In fiscal year 2006, the Company began granting restricted shares to certain key employees as long term incentives. The restricted shares vest in accordance with the terms and description outlined in the tables following. The payment of each installment is subject to continued employment with the Company. At December 31, 2008 and September 30, 2008 there were 27,707 and 8,000 restricted shares, respectively, vested in accordance with these grants.

The following table summarizes the Company’s restricted share awards granted to date including compensation expense related to such grants for the three month periods ending December 31, 2008 and 2007:

The shares granted in April 2006 were recognized as forfeited in September 2008. Four thousand of the shares granted in October 2006 related to past service and were immediately vested and an additional 4,000 shares vested September 30, 2007. The remaining shares under the October 2006 grant vested June 30, 2008.

A grant of 25,562 restricted shares was made to four senior executives in January 2008 with a fair value of $40.67 per share, in order to replace previous retirement benefits offered. 7,707 of the shares granted in January 2008 related to previously vested retirement benefits and vested immediately. The remaining 17,855 shares granted in January 2008 vest 20% annually in January of each year until fully vested. The shares granted in September 2008 vest 20% annually beginning in September 2010 until fully vested. The fair value of the unvested restricted stock awards at December 31, 2008 was $1.0 million and will be recognized over a weighted average period of five years.

Because Alico reported a loss during the quarter ended December 31, 2008, the unvested restricted stock grants and outstanding stock options were anti-dilutive and therefore, not included in the calculation of diluted per share calculations.

10. Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income:

Other comprehensive income, arising from market fluctuations in the Company’s securities portfolio, was as follows (unaudited):

The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to 131,000 shares of the Company’s common stock through August 31, 2010, for the purpose of funding restricted stock grants under an Incentive Equity Plan in order to provide restricted stock to eligible Directors and Senior Managers and align their interests with those of the Company’s shareholders.

The stock repurchases began in November 2005 and will be made on a quarterly basis until August 31, 2010 through open market transactions, at times and in such amounts as the Company’s broker determines subject to the safe harbor provisions of Rule 10b-18.

The following table provides information relating to purchases of the Company’s common shares by the Company on the open market pursuant to the aforementioned plans during the quarter ended December 31, 2008:

In accordance with the approved plan, the Company may purchase an additional 43,529 shares.

The carrying amounts in the consolidated balance sheets for accounts receivable, mortgages and notes receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value because of the immediate or short term maturity of these items. Where stated interest rates are below market, Alico has discounted mortgage notes receivable to reflect their estimated fair market value. Alico carries its marketable securities available for sale at fair value. The carrying amounts reported for Alico’s long-term debt approximates fair value because they are transactions with commercial lenders at interest rates that vary with market conditions and fixed rates that approximate market.

During the second quarter of the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008, the Company discovered an error in its accrual of Cooperative retains related to prior periods totaling $854,000. The error did not have an impact on the previously reported cash flows from operating, financing or investing activities, and was considered immaterial to the Company’s previously reported results of operations for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2007 and August 31, 2006. However, since the impact of this error would have been material to the results of operations for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008, the Company applied the guidance of Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements (“SAB 108”). This guidance requires that the prior period financial statements be corrected, even though the revision was immaterial to the prior period financial statements.

Based on SAB 108, the prior period income statement amounts have been corrected to include the following adjustments (in thousands):

The cumulative effect of the adjustment on the Company’s balance sheet was included in the audited balances as of September 30, 2008.

On January 6, 2009, the Company utilized a portion of its cash to pay down its Revolving Line of Credit by $50 million.

During the last week of January and the first week of February 2009, a cold front swept through Florida causing temperatures to drop into the mid 20’s causing damage to Alico’s citrus, sugarcane and vegetable crops. An estimate of the full extent of the damage has not been completed, but preliminary assessments indicate substantial damage to the Company’s mature vegetable crops, with minor damages to citrus and sugarcane. The full financial impact of this event could be positive or negative and will depend on a multitude of factors including market pricing for the remainder of the season, future growing conditions, how crops recover and future plantings by other area farmers and growers.

Cautionary Statement

Some of the statements in this document include statements about future expectations. Statements that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” for the purpose of the safe harbor provided by Section 21E of the Exchange Act and Section 27A of the Securities Act. These forward-looking statements, which include references to one or more potential transactions, expectation of results and strategic alternatives under consideration are predictive in nature or depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, are subject to known, as well as unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from Company expectations. There can be no assurance that any future transactions will occur or be structured in the manner suggested or that any such transaction will be completed. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise.

Management believes that Alico will be able to meet its working capital requirements for the foreseeable future with internally generated funds. In addition, Alico has credit commitments under a revolving line of credit that provides for revolving credit of up to $125.0 million. Of the $125.0 million credit commitment, $29.9 million was available for Alico’s general use at December 31, 2008 (see Note 6 to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements).

Cash flows from operations were ($6.0 million) and $3.3 million for the fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Collections of accounts receivable were slower during the first quarter of fiscal year 2009 compared with the prior year. This trend is regarded as a timing difference and is expected to reverse during subsequent quarters as sales proceeds are collected.

Overall, gross profits during fiscal year 2009 are expected to be lower than those of fiscal year 2008 due to an expected decrease in returns from agricultural operations. Market prices Alico receives for citrus products, typically Alico’s largest source of gross profit, are expected to decline due to increased Florida citrus production and carryover inventories at citrus processing plants.

During the last week of January and the first week of February 2009, a cold front swept through Florida causing temperatures to drop into the mid 20’s causing damage to Alico’s citrus, sugarcane and vegetable crops. An estimate of the full extent of the damage has not been completed, but preliminary assessments indicate substantial damage to the Company’s mature vegetable crops, with minor damages to citrus and sugarcane. The full financial impact of this event could be positive or negative and will depend on a multitude of factors including market pricing for the remainder of the season, future growing conditions, how crops recover and future plantings by other area farmers and growers.

Alico experienced increases in the cost of fertilizer, herbicides, insecticides and fuel during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008. A large portion of these costs related to the production of fiscal year 2009 crops and were inventoried. These costs will be charged to fiscal year 2009 operating expenses as crops are harvested. While several input costs, including fuel, have recently declined from higher levels, significant reductions will not be realized through gross profit until the fiscal year 2010 crops are harvested, assuming the lower costs continue.

In December 2008, Alico offered an option to former and retired employees who were covered under a non-qualified defined benefit deferred compensation plan to terminate future benefits under the plan in exchange for cash equal to the net present value of future vested benefits. Participants with future discounted vested benefits of $1.4 million elected to receive cash pursuant to the option. As such, $1.4 million of retirement benefits were classified as a current liability at December 31, 2008. The benefits were paid in January 2009 from Alico’s available cash reserve.

In November 2008, Alico’s subsidiary, Alico-Agri, Ltd., received a payment of $2.5 million, consisting of principal, interest and fees, in connection with the restructure of a real estate contract (“East”) with Ginn- LA Naples, Ltd, LLLP (“Ginn”). Under the terms of the restructured agreement, Alico is scheduled to receive an additional principal payment related to this contract of $1.0 million on September 28, 2009.

Recent market conditions have depressed Florida real estate markets causing the predictability of real estate sales including timing and market values to be problematic. Alico continues to market parcels of its real estate holdings which are deemed by Management and the Board of Directors to be excess to the immediate needs of Alico’s core operations. The sale of any of these parcels could be material to the future operations and cash flows of Alico.

Cash outlays for land, equipment, buildings, and other improvements totaled $2.3 million and $2.1 million during the quarters ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Alico anticipates its capital needs, primarily for the care of young citrus trees, real estate entitlement work, sugarcane plantings, and raising cattle for breeding purposes, at between $7.0 million and $9.0 million for fiscal year 2009.

On September 3, 2008 Alico converted $50.0 million of the outstanding balance on its $175.0 million Revolving Line of Credit with Farm Credit of Southwest Florida to a 10 year term loan bearing a fixed interest rate of 6.79% with equal payments of principal and interest of $1.7 million per quarter until maturity. The Board’s decision to fix the interest rate on a portion of its borrowings was part of its risk management program. The new term loan is cross collateralized with Alico’s Revolving line of Credit and contains identical covenants. Alico is currently in compliance with all the covenants under its loan agreements and expects to remain so for the foreseeable future.

Alico’s balance sheet has carried large amounts of cash and investments over the past several years in order to comply with liquidity provisions mandated by the Bermuda Monetary Authority for Alico’s wholly owned insurance subsidiary, Agri-Insurance Co., Ltd. Alico is currently working to fully dissolve Agri. Proceeds received from Agri, including proceeds from the sales of marketable securities, in the form of pre-liquidation distributions enabled Alico to pay $50 million on its Revolving Line of Credit in January 2009.

Alico’s Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to 131,000 shares of Alico’s common stock through August 31, 2010, for the purpose of funding restricted stock grants under its Incentive Equity Plans in order to provide restricted stock to eligible Directors and Senior Managers to align their interests with those of Alico’s shareholders.

All purchases will be made subject to restrictions of Rule 10b-18 relating to volume, price and timing so as to minimize the impact of the purchases upon the market for Alico’s shares. The stock repurchases will be made on a quarterly basis until August 31, 2010 through open market transactions. The timing and actual number of shares repurchased will depend on a variety of factors including price, corporate and regulatory requirements and other market conditions. Alico will use internally generated funds and available working capital to make the purchases. In accordance with the approved plans, at December 31, 2008 an additional 43,529 shares were available for acquisition. Alico purchased 15,733 shares in the open market at an average price of $38.37 during the quarter ended December 31, 2008 and 12,000 shares at an average price of $43.98 per share during the quarter ended December 31, 2007.

Alico paid quarterly dividends of $0.275 per share on October 15, 2007, January 15, 2008, May 16, 2008, August 15, 2008 and November 15, 2008. At its meeting on October 31, 2008, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.275 per share payable to stockholders of record as of January 30, 2009 with payment expected on or around February 15, 2009. The Board will continue to assess financial condition, compliance with debt covenants, and earnings of Alico in determining its dividend policy.

Unaudited results for the quarters ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 were as follows (in thousands):

Alico’s agricultural and real estate operations generally combine to produce the majority of operating revenue, gross profit and income from operations. The decrease in income from continuing operations for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared with the quarter ended December 31, 2007 was primarily due to reduced profit from real estate activities.

Beginning in the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006, Alico intensified its efforts toward the planning and strategic positioning of all Company owned land through its Alico Land Development subsidiary. These actions included the hiring of a real estate professional, and seeking entitlement of Alico’s land assets in order to preserve rights should Alico choose to develop property in the future. Proceeds from the contracts negotiated or substantially renegotiated subsequent to August 31, 2006 are classified as operating items, while proceeds from sales that originated prior to that time and are not deemed to be substantially modified according to U.S. GAAP, are classified as non-operating.

Real estate sales are recorded under the accrual method of accounting. Gains from commercial or bulk land sales are not recognized until payments received for property to be developed within two years after the sale equal 20%, or property to be developed after two years equal 25% of the contract sales price according to the installment sales method.

Alico’s real estate revenues during the quarters ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 have primarily resulted from three contracts with the Ginn Companies for real estate in Lee County Florida referred to as “East”, “West” and “Crockett”. In October 2008, the East contract was renegotiated while Ginn chose not to exercise its option on the West property, and to relinquish any claim it might have had on the Crockett property.

In connection with the restructure, Alico’s Alico-Agri subsidiary received a principal payment of $1.8 million on the East contract in November of 2008. Alico-Agri recognized a profit of $1.5 million as non-operating revenue under the installment method related to the receipt. Additionally, the Company recognized $1.2 million of operating revenue in October 2008 upon the expiration of the West contract option that had previously been deferred.

During the quarter ended December 31, 2007, Alico-Agri recognized a profit of $0.8 million under the installment method on the East contract and $3.9 million profit related to extension payments received pursuant to the West and Crockett contracts.

Recent market conditions have depressed Florida real estate markets causing the predictability of real estate sales including timing and market values to be problematic. Alico continues to market parcels of its real estate holdings which are deemed by Management and the Board of Directors to be excess to the immediate needs of Alico’s core operations. The sale of any of these parcels could be material to the future operations and cash flows of Alico.

Interest and investment income is generated principally from mortgages held on real estate sold on the installment basis, investments in corporate and municipal bonds, mutual funds, and U.S. Treasury securities.

Alico is currently working to dissolve its Agri-Insurance subsidiary. In connection with this activity, a substantial portion of marketable securities were converted to cash, resulting in lower interest earnings for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 when compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2007.

Additionally, market interest rates for municipal bonds, which comprise a substantial portion of the marketable securities portfolio, have declined over the same time period. During January 2009, Alico reduced its outstanding debt by $50 million. This action is expected to result in lower interest earnings and expense to the Company during the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009.

Alico currently holds several auction rate securities having a total face value of $5.5 million. These securities are highly rated and continue to pay interest, but are not currently liquid. Due to the current state of the markets for these securities, Alico recognized an impairment of $0.3 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2008 and charged the allowance to other comprehensive income. The impaired securities were classified as non-current investments at December 31, 2008 and September 30, 2008.

Interest expense was lower for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared with the quarter ended December 31, 2007, primarily due to decreased average interest rates. A sizable portion of Alico’s debt is indexed to the LIBOR. The LIBOR rate has decreased over the past twelve months due to financial market conditions. During January 2009, Alico reduced its outstanding debt by $50 million. This action is expected to result in lower interest expense to the Company during the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009.

Alico’s effective tax rate was 41.4% and 34.9% for the quarters ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The December 2008 rate differed from the expected combined Federal and State blended rate of 38% due to a decline in the cash surrender value of life insurance contracts which was recognized as a loss for book purposes, but is not deductible for tax purposes. The December 2007 rate differed from the expected combined Federal and State blended rate of 38% due to interest earnings on tax exempt securities.

Operating revenues declined by 10.4% during the quarter ended December 31, 2008 when compared with the quarter ended December 31, 2007, primarily due to reduced revenues from real estate activities.

Alico measures gross profit from its operations before any allocation of corporate overhead or interest charges. Gross profit is dependent upon the prices received for each of the Company’s products, less harvesting, marketing and delivery costs and the direct costs of producing the products.

The decline in gross profit during the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared with the quarter ended December 31, 2007 was primarily due to reduced profit from real estate activities.

Agricultural operations generate a large portion of Alico’s revenues. Agricultural operations are subject to a wide variety of risks including weather and disease. As a producer of agricultural products, Alico’s ability to control the prices it receives from its products is limited, and prices for agricultural products can be volatile. Operating results are largely dictated by market conditions. Based on initial estimates and market conditions, the Company expects overall revenue and gross profits from its agricultural operations to be lower during the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009 when compared to the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008.

Bowen’s operations generated revenues of $7.0 million and $7.8 million for the quarters ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Gross profits were $0.2 million, and $0.1 million during the quarters ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Citrus prices declined 12% during the quarter ended December 31, 2008 when compared with the quarter ended December 31, 2007, which caused a corresponding decline in Bowen’s revenue.

At December 31, 2008, the average remaining purchase price obligations under forward purchase contracts exceeded the contracted sales price delivery prices. As a result, the Company took an impairment charge of $878 thousand to cost of sales at December 31, 2008, and established a current liability for the impairment.

The Citrus Groves division recorded gross revenues of $5.9 million and $4.7 million and gross profits of $0.9 million and $0.8 million, for the quarters ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The increase in revenue and gross profits for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared with December 31, 2007 was due to an increase in the number of citrus boxes harvested, and is timing related. This timing difference is expected to reverse during the course of fiscal year 2009 as the total boxes harvested is expected to be slightly less in fiscal year 2009 than in 2008.

Alico has contracts with several citrus processors with pricing mechanisms based on a minimum price along with a price increase if market conditions exceed the minimum. Based on current market conditions and outlooks, Alico expects to receive the minimum contracted price for its citrus for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, which is expected to cause a decline in gross citrus prices and operating revenue, and a corresponding decline in gross profit.

Alico’s sugarcane operations consist of cultivating sugarcane for sale to a sugar processor. Sugarcane revenues were $3.2 million and $3.2 million during the quarters ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Sugarcane generated losses of $129 thousand and $30 thousand during the quarters ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Cattle revenues were $241 thousand and $486 thousand and losses from cattle operations were $0.3 million and $0.4 million for the quarters ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. During the quarters ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, Alico wrote down its cattle inventories by $0.3 million and $0.3 million, respectively, to their net realizable value. Declines in the futures price for live cattle prompted the Company to recognize the losses.

The cattle industry has typically operated on a ten year cycle as cow-calf producers expand inventories in response to profits and reduce herd sizes in response to losses. Alico’s cattle strategy has been reducing herd sizes during the expansion phase of the cycle and building herd size through opportunistic acquisitions during the contraction phase. Several atypical factors have combined to alter the cattle cycle in the past few years including the utilization of former pastures for corn production due to increased ethanol demand, and drought conditions in the Southeastern United States. Due to these changes, Alico is continuing to reevaluate its cattle strategy to determine the most profitable course of action in the current environment.

Revenues from the sale of vegetables were $1.7 million and $1.7 million for the quarters ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Gross profits from the vegetable division were $0.1 million and $0.3 million over the same periods. Increased production costs have caused profit margins to decline.

Sod revenues were $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the quarters ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Losses from the sod division were $0.1 million and $0.1 million over the same periods.

Alico rents land to others on a tenant-at-will basis, for grazing, farming, oil exploration and recreational uses. Revenues from land rentals were $0.8 million and $0.5 million for the quarters ended December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively, generating gross profits of $0.6 million and $0.5 million, respectively. Alico plans to continue to increase its leasing activities as opportunity allows.

Dan L. Gunter resigned as Chief Executive Officer effective November 17, 2008. The Board of Directors appointed Steven M. Smith as the Principal Executive Officer on November 17, 2008. Mr. Smith had formerly served as Alico’s Senior Vice-President of Agriculture Operations since November 2006, and as the Company’s Citrus Division Vice President from 1996 to 2006. The terms of these changes are more fully described in the Company’s filing on Form 8-K of November 21, 2008.

Alico through its wholly owned subsidiary Bowen, enters into purchase contracts for the purchase of citrus fruit during the normal course of its business. The obligations under these purchase agreements totaled $9.0 million at December 31, 2008. At December 31, 2008, the average remaining purchase price obligations under these contracts exceeded the contracted sales price delivery prices. As a result, the Company took an impairment charge of $878 thousand to cost of sales at December 31, 2008, and established a current liability for the impairment. All of these contracts will be fulfilled by the end of the fiscal year 2010.

During the second quarter of fiscal year 2007, the Company formed a new company, Alico-J&J, LLC and entered into a joint venture with J&J Produce to produce vegetables on land owned by Alico, Inc. Under the terms of the joint venture, Alico served as a guarantor for five-year equipment leases to the joint venture. Effective June 30, 2008, the Company discontinued its participation in Alico-J&J, LLC. J&J Farms has continued to utilize the equipment and make the monthly lease payments. Alico’s maximum total remaining unpaid obligations under these leases, should J&J Farms default on its obligations, was $0.5 million at December 31, 2008.

There were no material changes from the Contractual Obligations schedule included in the Company’s filing on Form 10-K outside of those occurring during the ordinary course of the Company’s business during the interim period.

There have been no substantial changes in the Company’s policies regarding critical accounting issues or estimates since the Company’s last annual report on form 10-K.

Reference is made to the discussion under Part II, Item 7A “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” in the company’s 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008. There are no material changes since the Company’s disclosure of this item on its last annual report on Form 10-K.

The Company’s management, including the Principal Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, have evaluated the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures as required by Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(b) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Principal Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures are effective. There were no changes in the internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2008 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 1. Legal Proceedings.

On October 29, 2008 Alico was served with a shareholder derivative action complaint filed by Baxter Troutman against J. D. Alexander and John R. Alexander which names Alico as a nominal defendant. Mr. Troutman is the cousin and nephew of the two defendants, respectively, and is a shareholder in Atlanticblue, Inc., a (51%) shareholder of Alico. From February 26, 2004 until January 18, 2008 Mr. Troutman was a director of Alico. The complaint alleges that J.D. Alexander and John R. Alexander 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 defendants J. D. Alexander and John R. Alexander and improperly included a proposed special dividend; and that the Alexanders’ sought to circumvent the Board’s nominating process to ensure that they constituted a substantial part of Alico’s senior management team 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 $1,000,000. The complaint concedes that Mr. Troutman has 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.

There are no additional items to report during this interim period.

ITEM 1A. Risk Factors.

There were no significant changes regarding risk factors from those disclosed in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 2. Unregistered sales of Equity Securities.

There are no items to report during this interim period.

ITEM 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

There are no items to report during this interim period.

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

There are no items to report during this interim period.

ITEM 5. Other Information.

There are no items to report during this interim period.

ITEM 6. Exhibits.

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)

February 9, 2009
Steven M. Smith
President & Principal Executive Officer
(Signature)

February 9, 2009
Patrick W. Murphy
Chief Financial Officer
(Signature)

February 9, 2009
Jerald R. Koesters
Controller
(Signature)