Alico
to Close Plant World Operations
Company
to assess best commercial use of prime location
LaBelle,
FL, May 19, 2008 -- Alico, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALCO), a land management company,
announced today that the Company would be discontinuing its Plant World
Operations due to disappointing financial returns. Alico acquired
Plant World, which is located on prime LaBelle real estate abutting State Road
80, in September 2004. Plant World was primarily engaged in the
production of vegetable transplants for sale to commercial farmers.
Alico
Chairman and CEO John R. Alexander stated, “In light of the performance history,
we feel that this is the best move for Alico. The Plant World
location is well situated for future commercial growth and we will remain active
in pursuing the most profitable use for the property including sale, entitlement
or development. This decision is part of our ongoing effort to reduce
corporate overhead in the current economic environment. The Company
is providing severance payments and outplacement services to the employees
affected by this decision, in order to lessen the impact to them and their
families. We hope this will ease their transition to new
employment.”
The
subsidiary’ financial results for the past three fiscal years caused a review of
its status as a viable revenue source. In connection with
the closing, approximately 30 jobs will be eliminated. The move is
not expected to have a material effect on the operations, cash flows or
financial position of the Company.
About
Alico, Inc.
Alico,
Inc., a land management company operating in Central and Southwest Florida, owns
approximately 135,500 acres of land located in Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee and
Polk counties. Alico is involved in various agricultural operations and real
estate activities. Alico's mission is to grow its asset values through its
agricultural and real estate activities to produce superior long-term returns
for its shareholders.
For
Further Information Contact:
John R.
Alexander
La Belle,
Florida
(863)
675-2966
Statements
in this press release that are not statements of historical or current fact
constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unknown factors that
could cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from
the historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. These statements include the speculation concerning
the future use of the Plant World property and the effect on corporate overhead.
The forward-looking statements contained herein are also subject generally to
other risks and uncertainties that are described from time to time in the
Company's reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.