734 Agriculture And Arlon Group To Buy Majority Stake In Alico For $137.8 Mln

(RTTNews) - Alico Inc. (ALCO) announced Friday that 734 Agriculture LLC, a private investment company owned and controlled by Remy Trafelet and George Brokaw, in partnership with Arlon Group, a global food and agriculture investment firm founded by Continental Grain Company, have reached definitive agreements under which an affiliate of 734 Agriculture will acquire about 50.5 percent of Alico's outstanding voting stock from Atlantic Blue Group, a family owned holding company. The all-cash transaction values the majority stake in Alico at $37 per share, for a total purchase price of $137.8 million.

The transaction is scheduled to close during the fourth calendar quarter of 2013, subject to limited customary closing conditions.

Based in Fort Myers, Florida, Alico is an agribusiness and land management company. Its principal lines of business are citrus groves, improved farmland including sugar cane, cattle ranching and resource conservation. The company is one of the largest private landowners in Florida, owning about 130,800 acres in five counties. It is a leading citrus grower in Florida with about 11,000 producing acres.

Following closing of the transaction, Clay Wilson, a third generation citrus grower associated with the citrus industry for more than 28 years, is expected to replace JD Alexander as Chief Executive Officer of Alico. Wilson currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of 734 Citrus Holdings, LLC and Silver Nip Citrus, companies also owned and controlled by 734 Agriculture.

The Alico board of directors is expected to comprise eight members after close of the transaction - including Wilson, Trafelet, Brokaw and Ben Fishman, Managing Principal of Arlon Group.

In addition, Henry Slack, former CEO of Minorco, former Executive Director of Anglo American Plc, and former Chairman of Terra Industries, is expected to assume the role of Chairman of the Board of Alico after closing.

Ramon Rodriguez, current Chairman of the Board of Alico, is expected to remain a member of the board.

734 Agriculture and Arlon intend that at least a majority of the board of directors will continue to be independent based on Nasdaq listing criteria.