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8-K - CURRENT REPORT - ALICO, INC.e61718_8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

Alico, Inc. Announces Fiscal Year 2014 Fourth Quarter and Annual

Financial Results 

 

Fort Myers, FL, December 2, 2014 — Alico, Inc. (“Alico”) (NASDAQ:ALCO), an American agribusiness and land management company, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended September 30, 2014.

 

Fiscal Year 2014 Fourth Quarter Results

 

Historically, our agriculture operations have been seasonal in nature with the second and third quarters producing a majority of our annual revenue and the first and fourth quarter producing less revenue.

 

For the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014, total operating revenue was $7.5 million as compared to $6.7 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2013, an increase of 11.9%. The increase in operating revenue was due to an increase in cattle sale revenue from an increase in price per pound of 30.3%.

 

Total operating expenses for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014 were $4.4 million as compared to $4.9 million for the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2013, a decrease of 10.2%. The decrease in operating expenses is primarily attributable to reduced third party activity for Alico Fruit, consistent with the previous two quarters.

 

Gross profit for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014 was $3.1 million compared to $1.8 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2013, an increase of $1.3 million or 72.2%, due primarily to cattle sale increases.

 

Corporate and general and administrative expenses for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014 totaled $3.8 million compared to $3.2 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2013, an increase of $0.6 million or 18.8%. This increase is primarily attributable to $0.4 million of costs incurred related to change in control and $0.4 million related to professional fees for business development.

 

Net income applicable to common stock for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014 was $3.6 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, compared to net income of $11.8 million, or $1.60 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013. The decrease in net income is primarily due to the non-recurring sale of a conservation easement on approximately 11,600 acres of land in Hendry County, Florida to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, through its administering agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, for $20.7 million in fiscal year 2013 resulting in a $20.3 million gain. The Company paid a fourth quarter cash dividend of $0.06 per share on its outstanding common stock on October 15, 2014 to shareholders of record on September 30, 2014. Additionally, the Board recently declared a fiscal 2015 first quarter dividend of $0.06 per share on its outstanding common stock to be paid to shareholders of record as of December 31, 2014, with payment expected on January 15, 2015.

 

Adjusted EBITDA (defined as net income excluding interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, change in control of the Company, business development and gain/loss on real estate) for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014 was $1.1 million as compared to $2.0 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2013, a decrease of $0.9 million. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income is provided at the end of this release.

 

 

 
 

 

Fiscal Year 2014 Annual Results

 

Total operating revenue was $88.7 million for the year ended September 30, 2014, compared to $101.7 million for fiscal year 2013, a decrease of $13.0 million or 12.8%. Income from operations for fiscal year 2014 was $7.9 million as compared to $11.9 million for fiscal year 2013, a decrease of 33.6%.

 

Citrus Grove revenue in fiscal year 2014 totaled $47.1 million compared to $43.7 million in fiscal year 2013, an increase of approximately 7.8% due to a higher market price per pound solid. Citrus Grove gross profit increased to $16.9 million in fiscal year 2014 compared to $12.2 million in fiscal year 2013, an increase of 38.5%, as a result of a higher market price per pound solid. Cost of sales represents the cost of maintaining our citrus groves for the preceding calendar year and generally does not vary in relation to production. Cost of sales increased to $20.2 million in fiscal year 2014 versus $19.8 million in fiscal year 2013. Harvesting and hauling represents the cost of bringing citrus products to market and varies based upon the number of boxes produced and is the primary component of the remainder of the segment’s operating expenses.

 

Alico Fruit had revenue of $12.4 million for fiscal year 2014 as compared to $28.4 million for fiscal year 2013, a decrease of approximately $16.0 million or 56.3%, due primarily to a management decision to reduce the number of external boxes handled.

 

Improved Farmland revenue, which includes the results of our Sugarcane operations, was $20.4 million for fiscal year 2014 as compared to $21.9 million for fiscal year 2013, a decrease of approximately $1.5 million or 6.8%. Sugarcane contributed $18.2 million for fiscal year 2014 compared to $20.9 million for fiscal year 2013 due to a 20% decrease in price per net standard ton. Gross profit decreased by $6.6 million over fiscal year 2013 due to the decrease in price per net standard ton and the $2.3 million charge taken in the third quarter of fiscal year 2014 when entering into the USSC triple net lease.

 

Corporate general and administrative expenses for the year ended September 30, 2014 totaled $12.2 million compared to $9.7 million for fiscal year 2013, an increase of $2.5 million or 25.8%. This increase is primarily attributable to $2.6 million of costs incurred primarily related to the change in control of the Company and a $1.8 million increase in professional fees related to business development.

 

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

 

The Company had working capital of approximately $96.4 million and $48.3 million at September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Cash provided by operating activities was $28.9 million for fiscal year 2014 as compared to $13.4 million during fiscal year 2013. Availability under the revolving line of credit was $60.0 million at September 30, 2014 and 2013. 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.

 

 
 

About Alico

 

Alico, Inc. (“Alico”) is an American agribusiness and land management company built for today’s world and known for its legacy of achievement and innovation in citrus, cattle and resource conservation. We own approximately 93,200 acres of land in seven Florida counties (Alachua, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, Lee and Polk). Our principal lines of business are citrus groves, cattle ranching and conservation, and other operations which include rock mining. Our mission is to create value for our customers, clients and shareholders by managing existing lands to their optimal current income and total returns, opportunistically acquiring new agricultural assets and producing high quality agricultural products while exercising responsible environmental stewardship. Learn more about Alico (NASDAQ: ALCO) at www.alicoinc.com or follow Alico on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on Alico’s current expectations about future events and can be identified by terms such as “plans,” “expect,” “may,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should be,” “will be,” “is likely to,” “believes,” and similar expressions referring to future periods.

 

Alico believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable but cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance or achievements. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, Alico cautions you against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. Factors which may cause future outcomes to differ materially from those foreseen in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: changes in laws, regulation and rules; weather conditions that affect production, transportation, storage, import and export of fresh product, increased pressure from disease, insects and other pests; disruption of water supplies or changes in water allocations; pricing and supply of raw materials and products; market responses to industry volume pressures; pricing and supply of energy; changes in interest rates; availability of financing for land development activities; political changes and economic crises; international conflict; acts of terrorism; labor disruptions; inability to pay debt obligations; inability to engage in certain transactions due to restrictive covenants in debt instruments; government restrictions on land use; market and pricing risks due to concentrated ownership of stock. Other risks and uncertainties include those that are described in Alico’s SEC filings, which are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Alico undertakes no obligation to subsequently update or revise the forward-looking statements made in this press release, except as required by law.

 

 

Investor Contact:

Mark Humphrey

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(239) 226-2000

mhumphrey@alicoinc.com

 

 
 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

Due to significant depreciable assets associated with the nature of our operations and, to a lesser extent, interest costs associated with our capital structure, management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is an important measure to evaluate our results of operations between periods on a more comparable basis. Such measurements are not prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and should not be construed as an alternative to reported results determined in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP information provided is unique to Alico and may not be consistent with methodologies used by other companies. Net income, which management considers being the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, is reconciled to Unaudited Adjusted EBITDA, as follows:

 

(in thousands)  Three Months Ended September 30,  Twelve Months Ended September 30,
   2014  2013  2014  2013
             
Net income  $3,566   $11,756   $8,050   $19,646 
Interest expense, net   203    289    969    1,257 
Income taxes   497    7,027    3,733    12,029 
Depreciation and amortization   1,245    2,545    7,880    9,675 
                     
EBITDA   5,511    21,617    20,632    42,607 
Change in control expenses   373    646    2,639    1,816 
Sugarcane loss on sale of inventory   -      -      2,309    -   
Gain on sale of real estate   (4,820)   (20,299)   (4,820)   (20,299)
                     
Adjusted EBITDA  $1,064   $1,964   $20,760   $24,124 

 

 
 

 

ALICO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
             
   Three Months Ended September 30,  Twelve Months Ended September 30,
   2014  2013  2014  2013
Operating revenues:                    
Citrus Groves  $46   $25   $47,069   $43,689 
Agricultural Supply Chain Management   52    700    12,376    28,412 
Improved Farmland   987    238    20,429    21,917 
Ranch and Conservation   6,217    5,490    8,172    6,755 
Other Operations   240    213    634    888 
Total operating revenue   7,542    6,666    88,680    101,661 
                     
Operating expenses:                    
Citrus Groves   250    45    30,213    31,533 
Agricultural Supply Chain Management   232    1,063    12,317    27,949 
Improved Farmland   369    158    21,356    16,202 
Ranch and Conservation   3,460    3,418    4,330    3,798 
Other Operations   95    173    374    505 
Total operating expenses   4,406    4,857    68,590    79,987 
                     
Gross profit   3,136    1,809    20,090    21,674 
Corporate general and administrative   3,824    3,214    12,234    9,739 
                     
Income (loss) from operations   (688)   (1,405)   7,856    11,935 
                     
Other (expense) income:                    
Interest and investment income, net   16    174    131    704 
Interest expense   (203)   (289)   (969)   (1,257)
Gain on sale of real estate   4,820    20,299    4,820    20,299 
Impairment of assets held for sale   —      —      —      —   
Other (loss) income, net   118    4    (55)   (6)
Total other (expense) income, net   4,751    20,188    3,927    19,740 
                     
Income before income taxes   4,063    18,783    11,783    31,675 
Income tax expense   497    7,027    3,733    12,029 
                     
Net income   3,566    11,756    8,050    19,646 
                     
Comprehensive income, net of tax effect   -      -      -      -   
                     
Comprehensive income  $3,566   $11,756   $8,050   $19,646 
                     
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:                    
Basic   7,361    7,304    7,336    7,313 
Diluted   7,361    7,379    7,354    7,357 
Earnings per common share:                    
Basic  $0.49   $1.61   $1.10   $2.69 
Diluted  $0.48   $1.60   $1.09   $2.67 
                     
Cash dividends declared per common share  $0.06   $0.20   $0.24   $0.36 


 
 

ALICO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
       
   September 30, 
   2014     2013 
       
ASSETS      
Current assets:      
Cash and cash equivalents  $                  30,779    $                  24,583
Investments 263   260
Accounts receivable, net 3,847   4,266
Inventories 19,929   29,403
Assets held for sale                      56,681   -   
Other current assets                            573                          1,283
Total current assets                    112,072                        59,795
       
Investment in Magnolia Fund                        1,435                          5,086
Investments, deposits and other non-current assets                        1,933                          1,991
Cash surrender value of life insurance                            695                              897
Property, buildings and equipment, net                      87,432                      131,071
Total assets  $               203,567    $               198,840
       
LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY      
Current liabilities:      
Accounts payable  $                    1,729    $                    1,729
Long-term debt, current portion                        2,000                          2,000
Accrued expenses                        1,618                          2,354
Income taxes payable                        4,572                          1,171
Dividend payable                            442                          1,461
Accrued ad valorem taxes                        1,850                          1,634
Other current liabilities                        3,485                          1,142
Total current liabilities                      15,696                        11,491
       
Long-term debt, net of current portion                      32,000                        34,000
Capital lease obligation, noncurrent                            839   -   
Deferred income taxes                        5,739                          6,584
Deferred retirement benefits, net of current portion                        3,856                          4,029
Total liabilities                      58,130                        56,104
       
Commitments and contingencies      
       
Stockholders’ equity:      
Preferred stock, no par value. Authorized 1,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding, none -      -   
Common stock, $1 par value; 15,000,000 shares authorized; 7,377,106 shares issued and 7,361,340 and 7,303,568 shares outstanding at September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013, respectively                        7,377                          7,377
Additional paid in capital                        3,742                          9,496
Treasury stock at cost, 15,766 and 73,538 shares held at September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013, respectively                          (650)                         (2,816)
Retained earnings                    134,968                      128,679
Total stockholders’ equity                    145,437                      142,736
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity  $               203,567    $               198,840
       

 
 

ALICO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
           
   Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 
   2014     2013     2012 
           
Cash flows from operating activities:          
Net income  $                    8,050    $                  19,646    $                  18,489
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:        
Depreciation and amortization                        7,880                          9,675                          8,429
Non-cash gains and losses                            202                              (35)                            (288)
Magnolia fund undistributed earnings                          (163)                            (658)                              (59)
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense, net                          (845)                          9,062                          6,005
Deferred retirement benefits                          (173)                              615                                89
Gain on sale of property and equipment, net                       (4,369)                      (20,894)                         (8,800)
Asset impairments -      -                             1,918
Stock based compensation                        1,257                              923                              458
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Accounts receivable                            419                         (1,195)                            (143)
Inventories                        9,474                         (2,113)                         (4,917)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses                        1,253                         (3,727)                          2,499
Income tax payable/receivable                        3,401                          2,014                            (144)
Other                        2,466                              113                                99
Net cash provided by operating activities                      28,852                        13,426                        23,635
           
Cash flows from investing activities:          
Purchases of property and equipment                    (14,508)                      (18,924)                      (15,921)
Acquisition of Citrus business                    (16,517)   -      -   
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash -                             2,500                         (2,500)
(Decrease) increase in real estate deposits -                            (2,500)                          2,500
Proceeds from disposals of property and equipment                      14,473                        24,381                        18,095
Return on investment in Magnolia                        3,814                          1,179                          4,735
Proceeds from sales of investments -      -                                 732
Collections of mortgages and notes receivable                              10                                35                                37
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities                    (12,728)                          6,671                          7,678
           
Cash flows from financing activities:          
Principal payments on notes payable                       (2,000)                         (3,900)                         (3,279)
Borrowings on revolving line of credit -                             5,661                      127,319
Repayments on revolving line of credit -                            (5,661)                    (141,298)
Treasury stock purchases                       (4,844)                         (2,894)                            (298)
Capital lease                          (303)   -      -   
Dividends paid                       (2,781)                         (2,048)                         (1,765)
Net cash used in financing activities                       (9,928)                         (8,842)                      (19,321)
           
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents                        6,196                        11,255                        11,992
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period                      24,583                        13,328                          1,336
           
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period  $                  30,779    $                  24,583    $                  13,328
           
Supplemental cash flow information:          
Cash paid for interest, net of amount capitalized  $                       954    $                    1,048    $                    1,685
Cash paid for income taxes  $                    1,177    $                       952    $                    5,142