Note 10. Long-Term Debt

Outstanding debt under the Company's various loan agreements is presented in the table below:

 

(dollars in thousands)		Revolving line of Credit				Term note				Mortgage note payable				All other				Total
September 30, 2012
Principal balance outstanding		$	-			$	38,000			$	1,900			$	-			$	39,900
Remaining available credit		$	60,000				-				-				-			$	60,000
Effective interest rate			2.48	%			2.73	%			6.68	%			Various
Scheduled maturity date			Oct. 2020				Oct. 2020				March 2014				Various
Collateral			Real Estate				Real Estate				Real Estate				Various
September 30, 2011
Principal balance outstanding		$	13,979			$	40,000			$	3,167			$	12			$	57,158
Remaining available credit		$	46,021				-				-				-			$	46,021
Effective interest rate			2.72	%			2.72	%			6.68	%			Various
Scheduled maturity date			Oct. 2020				Oct. 2020				March 2014				Various
Collateral			Real Estate				Real Estate				Real Estate				Various

 

The Company has a revolving line of credit ("RLOC") and term loan with Rabo AgriFinance, Inc. ("Rabo") totaling $98,000,000 and a mortgage of approximately $1,900,000 with Farm Credit. The revolving line of credit and term note are collateralized by 43,991 acres of farmland and 12,280 acres of additional property containing approximately 8,600 acres of producing citrus groves. The mortgage is collateralized by 7,680 acres of real estate in Hendry County used for farm leases, sugarcane and citrus production.

 

The term loan requires quarterly payments of interest at a floating rate of one month LIBOR plus 250 basis points beginning October 1, 2010. Quarterly principal payments of $500,000 began on October 1, 2011 and continue through October 1, 2020 when the remaining principal balance and accrued interest will be due and payable.

 

The Rabo credit facility includes a ten year $60,000,000 RLOC bearing interest at a floating rate on the outstanding balance payable quarterly beginning October 1, 2010. Thereafter, quarterly interest is payable on the first day of January, April, July and October until the revolving line of credit matures on October 1, 2020 and the remaining principal balance and accrued interest shall be due and payable. Proceeds from the revolving line of credit may be used for general corporate purposes including: (i) the normal operating needs of Alico and its operating divisions, (ii) the purchase of capital assets; and (iii) the payment of dividends.

 

The interest rate on the revolving line of credit was initially established at one month LIBOR plus 250 basis points. Beginning on February 1, 2011, and on each subsequent January 1 through 2020, the interest rate spread over LIBOR is adjusted pursuant to a pricing grid based on our debt service coverage ratio for the immediately preceding fiscal year. The spreads may range from 225 to 275 basis points over one month LIBOR. The rate was not adjusted during fiscal year 2011 and remained at LIBOR plus 250 basis points through December 31, 2011, but was adjusted to LIBOR plus 225 basis points on January 1, 2012. On October 1, 2015, Rabo may adjust the interest rate spread to any percentage. Rabo must provide a 30 day notice of the new spreads; at that time the Company has the right to prepay the outstanding balance.

 

Loan origination fees incurred as a result of entry into the Rabo credit facility loan agreement, including appraisal fees, document stamps, legal fees and lender fees of approximately $1,202,000 were capitalized in fiscal year 2010 and are being amortized over the term of the loan agreement.

 

At September 30, 2012, and 2011, the Company was in compliance with the debt covenants and terms of the Rabo loan agreement. The Rabo credit facility contains the following significant covenants: (i) minimum current ratio of 1.50:1, (ii) debt ratio no greater than 60%, (iii) tangible net worth of at least $80 million, and (iv) minimum debt coverage of 1.15:1.

 

The Company uses a cash management program with Rabobank designed to minimize the outstanding balance on the RLOC. Our various Rabobank accounts are swept daily into a concentration account. Prior to August 2, 2012, the Company maintained a target balance of $250,000 in the concentration account on a daily basis. Any balances in excess of the target balance were automatically applied to pay down the RLOC. In the event that the concentrated balances fell below the target, a draw on the line would be automatically initiated, to maintain the target balance.

 

There has been no outstanding balance on the RLOC since August 2, 2012, and, as a result, the Company has modified the arrangement with Rabobank regarding the functioning of the program. The Company increased the maximum concentrated balance from $250,000 to $20,000,000 to effectively suspend the principal payments to the RLOC. Borrowings on the RLOC are not initiated unless the concentrated balance falls below $250,000.

 

The target balances may be amended from time to time based on circumstances and subject to Rabobank approval.

 

The Farm Credit mortgage note requires monthly principal payments of $106,000 plus accrued interest until maturity. The Company paid off the outstanding balance on the Farm Credit mortgage note on October 10, 2012. See Note 18. Subsequent Events.

 

Maturities of the Company's debt were as follows at September 30, 2012:

 

(dollars in thousand )
Due within 1 year		$	3,267
Due between 1 and 2 years			2,633
Due between 2 and 3 years			2,000
Due between 3 and 4 years			2,000
Due between 4 and 5 years			2,000
Due beyond five years			28,000
Total		$	39,900

 

Interest costs expensed and capitalized to property, buildings and equipment were as follows:

 

(dollars in thousand )		Year ended September 30
		2012				2011				2010
Interest expense (a)		$	1,616			$	2,020			$	6,879
Interest capitalized			100				127				98
Total interest cost		$	1,716			$	2,147			$	6,977

 

(a)

Interest expense for the year ended September 30, 2010 includes a prepayment penalty of $3,094,000 and $305,000 of loan fees.