Related Party Transactions |
12 Months Ended |
|---|---|
Sep. 30, 2016 | |
| Related Party Transactions [Abstract] | |
| Related Party Transactions |
Related Party Transactions
Change in Control Transaction
On November 19, 2013, 734 Agriculture and its affiliates, including 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, represents approximately 51% of the Company’s outstanding voting securities. On November 15, 2013, 734 Investors amended and restated its LLC operating agreement (the “LLC 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 stockholders'.
Appointment of Directors
With the Closing of the Share Purchase, the previously announced election of the following individuals to the Board of Directors became effective: Mr. George R. Brokaw, Member of 734 Agriculture; Remy W. Trafelet, Manager of 734 Agriculture; W. Andrew Krusen, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Dominion Financial Group; Benjamin D. Fishman, Managing Principal of Arlon Group; Henry R. Slack, former Chairman of the Board of Terra Industries, Inc. and Senior Partner of Quarterwatch, LLC; Clayton G. Wilson, former CEO of 734 Citrus Holdings, LLC d/b/a Silver Nip Citrus and Chairman of the Board of Latt Maxcy Corporation; and R. Greg Eisner, Head of Strategy of Dubin & Company, LLC.
734 Investors and 734 Agriculture
On November 19, 2013, 734 Agriculture and its affiliates, including 734 Investors, acquired all of the approximately 51% of Alico’s common stock then owned by Atlanticblue. 734 Investors now beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, approximately 59% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock and possesses 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 stockholders. 734 Agriculture is the sole managing member of 734 Investors. By virtue of their ownership percentage, 734 Investors and 734 Agriculture are able to elect all of the Directors and, consequently, control Alico. Messrs. Brokaw and Trafelet are the two controlling persons of 734 Agriculture.
Silver Nip Citrus 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 approximately $8,446,000. The Company acquired assets at with a book value of approximately $65,739,000, and total net assets of approximately $17,015,000. The shares issued were recorded at the carrying amount of the net assets transferred. The closing price of the Company's common stock on February 27, 2015 was $45.67.
In September 2015, the former holders of membership interests in Silver Nip Citrus (the "Members") received an additional 115,782 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement. The additional consideration was based on the value of the proceeds received by the Company from the sale of citrus fruit harvested on Silver Nip Citrus’s citrus groves following the conclusion of the 2014-2015 citrus harvest season. The Members will receive additional Company shares of common stock based on any additional proceeds received by the Company subsequent to September 2015 related to the 2014-2015 harvest season.
As of September 30, 2016, the former holders of membership interests (the "Members") in Silver Nip Citrus earned and were issued an additional 148,705 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement. The additional purchase consideration was based on the value of the proceeds received by the Company from the sale of citrus fruit harvested on Silver Nip Citrus’s citrus groves for 2014-2015 citrus harvest season. The Members are not expected to receive any additional Company common shares related to the 2014-2015 harvest season.
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 the Company incurred approximately $85,000 and $309,000 in professional and legal costs in connection with the Merger. These costs are included in general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
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 included 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 paid Mr. Alexander for such services and covenants $2,000,000 in twenty-four monthly installments. The Company expensed approximately $167,000, $1,000,000 and $833,000 under the Consulting and Non-Competition Agreement for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2016, 2015 and 2014.
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 included 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 are now managed by Clay Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of Alico. The Company expensed approximately $200,000 and $625,000 under the Consulting and Non-Competition Agreement for fiscal years ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
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 to the following benefits: (a) $100,000 in cash in a lump sum and (b) a consulting fee of $350,000 payable monthly during the period commencing on his resignation date and ending on the first anniversary of his resignation date. The Company expensed approximately $238,000 and $268,000 under the Separation and Consulting Agreement for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. On June 1, 2015 the Company appointed John E. Kiernan to serve as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Effective September 1, 2015, Mr. Humphrey was appointed to serve as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, and continued to receive monthly payments under The Consulting Agreement through the first anniversary of his resignation date.
Shared Services Agreement
The Company has 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 $465,000. The agreement will expire in June 2017. The Company expensed approximately $479,000 and $379,000 under the Shared Services Agreement for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
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