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Fair Value Measurements
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12 Months Ended |
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Sep. 30, 2011
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| Fair Value Measurements [Abstract] | |
| Fair Value Measurements | Note 3. Fair Value Measurements The Company follows the provisions of ASC 820 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure Topic for its financial and non-financial assets and liabilities. ASC 820, among other things, defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure for each major asset and liability category measured at fair value on either a recurring or nonrecurring basis. The majority of the carrying amounts of the Company's assets and liabilities including cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses at September 30, 2011 and 2010, approximate fair value because of the immediate or short term maturity of these items. Our certificates of deposit are valued by discounting the related cash flows based on current yields of similar instruments with comparable durations considering the credit-worthiness of the issuer. Certificates of deposit are valued using Level 1 inputs. In the event that stated interest rates are below market, Alico discounts mortgage notes receivable to reflect their estimated fair value. The carrying amounts reported for long-term debt approximates fair value as the Company's borrowings with commercial lenders are at interest rates that vary with market conditions and fixed rates that approximate market rates for comparable loans. ASC 820 clarifies that fair value is an exit price representing the amount that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, ASC 820 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows: Level 1- Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets; Level 2- Inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and Level 3- Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, such as internally-developed valuation models which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions. There were no gains or losses included in earnings attributable to changes in non-realized gains or losses relating to assets held at 2011 and 2010. In fiscal year 2009, we recorded unrealized holding gains of $2 thousand as other comprehensive income in consolidated statement of stockholders equity and comprehensive income. Alico uses third party service providers to evaluate its investments. For investment valuations, current market interest rates, quality estimates by rating agencies and valuation estimates by active market participants were used to determine values. Deferred retirement benefits were valued based on actuarial data, contracted payment schedules and an estimated discount rate of 4.5% and 4.8% at September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company evaluated its properties for impairment using Level 3 inputs during the year ended September 30, 2010, which resulted in an impairment charge of $980 thousand to a Polk County property; the remaining carrying value of the property was $2.0 million. See Note 7. Property, Buildings and Equipment. |