ALICO
EXECUTES COMPLETE FINAL SETTLEMENT WITH IRS
Previous
settlement estimate adjustment will result in additional income
La Belle,
FL., July 1, 2008 -- Alico, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALCO), a land management company,
announced that it had completed and executed a final settlement agreement with
the IRS related to tax years 2000 – 2004 and had executed a similar agreement
for its Agri-Insurance, Ltd subsidiary for the tax years 2000 -
2003.
John R.
Alexander, Alico Chairman, stated, “After many years, we are delighted to
finally conclude all outstanding issues with the IRS. This
settlement will allow the Company to better focus on our strategic objectives
going forward.”
The final
liability related to the settlement, including penalties and interest, totaled
$64.5 million, which was $1.7 million below the previously estimated and
disclosed settlement of $66.2. The difference will result in a refund
to the Company and a reduction in income tax expense for fiscal year
2008. Additionally, the Company will recognize an additional deferred
tax asset of approximately $3.5 million, which will also reduce the income tax
expense for fiscal year 2008, bringing the total income tax expense reduction to
approximately $5.2 million. These adjustments will be reflected in
the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008.
The
reductions to the previous tax liability estimate resulted from the allowance of
expenses by IRS Appeals that were previously not allowed by IRS
Exams. The additional deferred tax asset was the result of taxable
basis allocations by IRS Appeals in excess of previous Company
estimates. As a result of the settlement, the Company is filing
amended tax returns for tax years 2005 through 2007. These amendments
will likely result in further changes to the Company’s tax expense for fiscal
year 2008. The impact of the changes has not yet been quantified but
is not expected to be significant.
The
Company will also be filing amended state income tax returns with the State of
Florida for the affected years, which is expected to result in the payment of
approximately $10.5 million of state income taxes and related interest, the
majority of which was previously expensed in the quarter ended May 31, 2007 and
has been reflected as a liability in the Company’s financial statements since
that time.
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:
Dan L.
Gunter
LaBelle,
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. The forward looking statements include
references to the expected impact of tax return amendments and estimated amounts
of taxes. 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.
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.