Quarterly report pursuant to sections 13 or 15(d)

Related Party Transaction

v2.3.0.11
Related Party Transaction
3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Related Party Transaction [Abstract]  
Related Party Transaction

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 on the Company's Board of Directors. Mr. Alexander's son, JD Alexander, serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlanticblue. 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, Mr. 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 for the three months ended December 31, 2010, 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 in accordance with this agreement during the three months ended December, 31 2010.

Former director Baxter Troutman filed a derivative shareholder suit against John R. 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. For three months ended December 31, 2011, reimbursements for litigation on behalf of John R. Alexander and JD Alexander were $42 thousand and $113 thousand, respectively. For the three months ended December 31, 2010, reimbursements made on behalf of John R. Alexander and JD Alexander were approximately $40 thousand and $29 thousand, respectively.

Bowen is currently marketing citrus fruit from Tri County Groves, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanticblue. During the three months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, Bowen marketed 56,474 and 32,726 boxes of fruit, for approximately $554 thousand and $265 thousand, respectively.

Ben Hill Griffin, Inc.

Citrus revenues of $120 thousand and $111 thousand were recognized for a portion of citrus crops sold under a marketing agreement with Ben Hill Griffin, Inc. ("Griffin") for the three months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Griffin and its subsidiaries are controlled by Ben Hill Griffin, III, the brother-in-law of John R. Alexander, Alico's Chairman and former Chief Executive Officer. Accounts receivable in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets include amounts due from Griffin of $120 thousand and $152 thousand at December 31, 2011 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.

Alico purchases fertilizer and other miscellaneous supplies, and services, and operating equipment from Griffin, on a competitive bid basis, for use in its cattle, sugarcane, sod and citrus operations. Such purchases totaled $308 thousand and $251 thousand for the three months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets include accounts payable to Griffin for fertilizer and other crop supplies totaling approximately $11 thousand and $41 thousand at December 31, 2011 and September 30, 2011, respectively.