Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Related Party Transactions

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Related Party Transactions
9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2015
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related Party Transactions

Note 12. Related Party Transactions

 

Change in Control Transaction

 

On November 19, 2013, 734 Agriculture, LLC (“734 Agriculture”) and its affiliates, including 734 Investors, LLC (“734 Investors”), completed the previously announced purchase from Alico Holding, LLC, a company wholly owned by Atlantic Blue Group, Inc. (“Atlanticblue”), of 3,725,457 shares of our common stock (the “Share Purchase”).

 

The common stock acquired by 734 Agriculture and its affiliates, including 734 Investors, represented approximately 51% of the Company's outstanding voting securities. On November 15, 2013, 734 Investors amended and restated its LLC operating agreement to admit new members and to designate 734 Agriculture as the managing member, with authority to administer the affairs of 734 Investors, including the voting and disposition of shares of common stock, subject to certain restrictions set forth therein. As a result, upon the consummation of the Share Purchase, 734 Agriculture and its affiliates, including 734 Investors, acquired the voting power to control the election of the Company's Directors and any other matter requiring the affirmative vote or consent of the Company's shareholders. Messrs. Remy W. Trafelet and George R. Brokaw are the two controlling persons of 734 Agriculture.

 

Appointment of Mr. Wilson as the Company's Chief Executive Officer

 

Upon the Closing of the Share Purchase, Mr. JD Alexander ceased to be the Company's CEO pursuant to his previously disclosed resignation. On November 22, 2013, the Board appointed Mr. Wilson to serve as the CEO, effective immediately.

 

Silver Nip Merger Agreement

 

Effective February 28, 2015, the Company completed the merger (“Merger”) with 734 Citrus Holdings, LLC (“Silver Nip Citrus”) pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with 734 Sub, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”), Silver Nip Citrus and, solely with respect to certain sections thereof, the equity holders of Silver Nip Citrus. The ownership of Silver Nip Citrus was held by 734 Agriculture, 74.89%, Mr. Clay Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, 5% and an entity controlled by Mr. Clay Wilson owned, 20.11%.

  

734 Agriculture has control over both Silver Nip Citrus and the Company and therefore the Merger was treated as a common control acquisition.

 

At closing of the Merger, Merger Sub merged with and into Silver Nip Citrus, with Silver Nip Citrus and its affiliates surviving the Merger as wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at closing, the Company issued 923,257 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $1.00 per share, to the holders of membership interests in Silver Nip Citrus. Silver Nip Citrus' outstanding net indebtedness at the closing of the Merger was approximately $40,278,000 and other liabilities totaled $6,952,000. The Company acquired assets at with a book value of $65,739,000 and total net assets of $18,470,000. The shares issued were recorded at the carrying amount of the net assets transferred.

 

According to the terms of the Merger Agreement, the holders of the membership interests in Silver Nip Citrus will receive additional Company shares based on the value of the proceeds received by the Company from the sale of citrus fruit harvested on Silver Nip Citrus' real property during the 2014-2015 citrus season. Additional consideration due based on sales through May 31, 2015 is approximately 115,783 shares. The computation of additional consideration for the June 2015 harvest proceeds (the final proceeds of the harvest season) is pending receipt of final pricing information from processors, (see “Note 1” to the accompanying Condensed Combined Consolidated Financial Statements).

JD Alexander

 

On November 6, 2013, JD Alexander tendered his resignation as Chief Executive Officer and as an employee of the Company, subject to and effective immediately after the Closing of the Share Purchase transaction on November 19, 2013. Mr. Alexander's resignation includes a waiver of any rights to any payments under his Change-in-Control Agreement with the Company. On November 6, 2013, the Company and Mr. Alexander also entered into a Consulting and Non-Competition Agreement under which (i) Mr. Alexander will provide consulting services to the Company during the two-year period after the Closing, (ii) Mr. Alexander agreed to be bound by certain non-competition covenants relating to the Company's citrus operations and non-solicitation and non-interference covenants for a period of two years after the Closing, and (iii) the Company will pay Mr. Alexander for such services and covenants $2,000,000 in twenty-four monthly installments. Mr. Alexander also agreed, in a separate side letter with the Company, not to sell or transfer the shares that were awarded pursuant to his Restricted Stock Award Agreement (other than to a family trust) for a period of two years after the Closing. Mr. Alexander also executed a general release in favor of the Company.

 

Ken Smith

 

On March 20, 2015, Ken Smith tendered his resignation as Chief Operating Officer and as an employee of the Company. Mr. Smith's resignation includes a waiver of any rights to any payments under his Change-in-Control Agreement with the Company. On March 20, 2015, the Company and Mr. Smith also entered into a Consulting and Non-Competition Agreement under which (i) Mr. Smith will provide consulting services to the Company during the three-year period after the resignation date, (ii) Mr. Smith agreed to be bound by certain non-competition covenants relating to the Company's citrus operations and non-solicitation and non-interference covenants for a period of two years after the resignation date, and (iii) the Company will pay Mr. Smith up to $1,225,000 for such services and covenants. The Company's business operations previously managed by Mr. Smith will now be managed by Clay Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of Alico. The Company does not expect to appoint an interim or ongoing Chief Operating Officer

 

W. Mark Humphrey

 

On June 1, 2015, W. Mark Humphrey tendered his resignation as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and as an employee of the Company. On June 1, 2015, the Company and Mr. Humphrey entered into a Separation and Consulting Agreement under which (i) Mr. Humphrey will provide consulting services to the Company for a one-year period after his resignation, and (ii) Mr. Humphrey will be entitled, subject to his execution, delivery, and non-revocation of a general release of claims in favor of the Company, to the following benefits: (a) $100,000 in cash in a lump sum, (b) a consulting fee of $350,000 during the period commencing on his resignation date and ending on the first anniversary of his resignation date, subject to his continuing to provide services to the Company. On June 1, 2015, the Company appointed John E. Kiernan to serve as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

 

Shared Services Agreement

 

The Company has approved, but not yet executed, a shared services agreement with Trafelet Brokaw & Co., LLC (“TBCO”) whereby the Company will reimburse TBCO for use of office space and various administrative and support services. The annual cost of the office and services is approximately $400,000. The agreement will expire in June 2016.