AMERICAN REALTY INVESTORS INC - Quarter Report: 2018 September (Form 10-Q)

For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company paid interest expense of $45.7 million and $39.7 million, respectively.

Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $96.4 million and $100.9 million, respectively. The following is a reconciliation of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash to the total presented in the consolidated statement of cash flows:

Amounts included in restricted cash represent funds required to be set aside to meet contractual obligations with certain financial institutions for the payment of reserve replacement and tax and insurance escrow. In addition, restricted cash includes funds with the Bond’s Trustee for payment of interest.

NOTE 5. NOTES AND INTEREST RECEIVABLE

A portion of our assets are invested in mortgage notes receivable, principally secured by real estate. We may originate mortgage loans in conjunction with providing purchase money financing of property sales. Notes receivable are generally collateralized by real estate or interests in real estate and guarantees, unless noted otherwise, are so secured. Management intends to service and hold for investment the mortgage notes in our portfolio. A majority of the notes receivable provide for principal to be paid at maturity.

Below is a summary of our notes receivable as of September 30, 2018 (dollars in thousands):

(1) Related party notes.

(2) An allowance was taken for estimated losses at full value of note.

We invest in mortgage loans, secured by mortgages that are subordinate to one or more prior liens either on the fee or a leasehold interest in real estate. Recourse on such loans ordinarily includes the real estate on which the loan is made, other collateral and guarantees.

At September 30, 2018, we had mortgage loans and accrued interest receivable from related parties, net of allowances, totaling $102.0 million. We recognized interest income of $7.6 million related to these notes receivables for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

The Company has various notes receivable from Unified Housing Foundation, Inc. (“UHF”) and Foundation for Better Housing, Inc. (“FBH”). UHF and FBH are determined to be related parties due to our reliance upon the performance of the collateral secured under the notes receivable. Payments are due from surplus cash flow of operations of the properties. A sale or refinance of any of the properties underlying these notes will be used to repay outstanding interest and principal for the remaining notes for the specific borrower. These notes are cross-collateralized for the specific borrower, but to the extent cash is received from a specific UHF or FBH property, it is applied first against any outstanding interest for the related-property note. The allowance on the UHF notes was a purchase allowance that was netted against the notes when acquired.

NOTE 6. INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED INVESTEES

Investments in unconsolidated investees in which we have a 20% to 50% interest or otherwise exercise significant influence are carried at cost and adjusted for the Company’s proportionate share of their undistributed earnings or losses under the equity method of accounting.

Investments in unconsolidated investees consist of the following:  

Gruppa Florentina, LLC is the sole shareholder of Milano Restaurants International Corporation, (“Milano”) which operates 33 pizza parlors under the trade name “Me-N-Ed’s Pizza Parlors” and four pizza parlors operating under the trade name “Blast 825 Pizza”, located primarily in Central and Northern California. Milano has a 100% ownership interest in Siena Corp, which operates two grills under the trade names “Me-N-Ed’s Victory Grill” and “Me-N-Ed’s Coney Island Grill”. Milano has a 100% ownership interest in Piazza del Pane, Inc., which operates two restaurants located in Central California. Milano also has 23 franchised locations, including two operating, under the trade name Angelo & Vito’s Pizzerias.

The following is a summary of the financial position and results of operations from our investees (dollars in thousands):

NOTE 7. NOTES PAYABLE

Below is a summary of our notes and interest payable as of September 30, 2018 (dollars in thousands):

The segment labeled as “Other” consists of unsecured or stock-secured notes payable.

There are various land mortgages, secured by the property, that are in the process of a modification or extension to the original note due to expiration of the loan. We are in constant contact with these lenders, working together in order to modify the terms of these loans and we anticipate a timely resolution that is similar to the existing agreement or subsequent modification.

In conjunction with the development of various apartment projects and other developments, we drew down $66.6 million in construction loans during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

The properties that we have sold to a related party and have deferred the recognition of the sale are treated as “subject to sales contract” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These properties were sold to a related party in order to help facilitate an appropriate debt or organizational restructure and may or may not be transferred back to the seller upon resolution. These properties have mortgages that are secured by the property and many have corporate guarantees. According to the loan documents, the maker is currently in default on these mortgages primarily due to lack of payment and is actively involved in discussions with every lender in order to settle or cure the default situation. We have reviewed each asset and taken impairment to the extent we feel the value of the property was less than our current basis.

NOTE 8. BONDS PAYABLE

In August 2016 Southern Properties Capital LTD (“Southern”), a British Virgin Islands corporation was incorporated for the purpose of raising funds by issuing Bonds to be traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (“TASE”).  TCI transferred certain residential and commercial properties located in the United States to Southern, its wholly owned subsidiary. 

On February 13, 2017, Southern filed a final prospectus with the TASE for an offering and sale of nonconvertible Series A Bonds to be issued by Southern. The bonds are obligations of Southern.  During the year ended December 31, 2017 on three separate occasions Southern issued nonconvertible Series A Bonds with a total value of approximately NIS400 million New Israeli Shekels (“NIS”) or approximately $115 million dollars.  The Series A Bonds have a stated interest rate of 7.3%.  At March 31, 2018 the effective interest rate is 9.17%. The bonds require semi-annual equal installments on January 31 and July 31 of each year from 2019 to 2023 (inclusive). The interest will be repaid on January 31 and July 31 of each of the years 2018 to 2023 (inclusive), with the first payment commencing on July 31, 2017.

On January 25, 2018, interest payment of approximately NIS 14.6 million (or approximately $4.3 million) was paid to the Series A bond holders.

On February 15, 2018, Southern issued Series B bonds in the amount of NIS 137.7 million par value (approximately $39.2 million as of February 15, 2018). The Series B bonds are registered on the TASE. The bonds are reported in NIS and bear annual interest rate of 6.8%. Interest shall be repaid January 31 and July 31 of each of the years 2019 to 2023 (inclusive), first payment commencing on July 31, 2018. The principal shall be repaid in ten equal installments on January 31 and July 31 of each of the years from 2021 to 2025 (inclusive). The total bond issuance cost of $1.4 million was incurred. The effective interest rate is 7.99%.

On July 19, 2018, Southern closed a private placement of its Series B bonds in the amount of NIS 72.3 million (or approximately $19.8 million). The bonds are reported in NIS, are registered on the TASE, bear an annual interest rate of 6.8% and have an effective interest rate of 9.60%. Interest will be paid on January 31 and July 31 of each of the years 2019 and 2013 (inclusive). The principal will be repaid in ten equal installment on January 31 and July 31 of each of the years from 2021 to 2012 (inclusive). The Company incurred bonds issuance costs of approximately $1.9 million.

On July 26, 2018, interest payment of approximately NIS 18.9 million (or approximately $5.2 million) was paid to Series A and B bond holders.

The outstanding balance of these Bonds at September 30, 2018 is as follows:

The aggregate maturity of the bonds are as follows:

The funds were used primarily for the acquisition and development of additional real estate operations in the United States. The funds were raised and will be repaid in NIS, however the funds raised have been converted to US dollars. The Company records unrealized gains or losses each quarter based upon the relative exchange values of the US dollar and the NIS; however, no gain or loss will be realized until a conversion from US dollars to NIS actually occurs in the future. The recorded unrealized gain or loss is reflected as a separate line item to highlight the fact that it is a non-cash transaction until such time as actual payment of principal and interest on the bonds is made. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company recorded a gain on foreign currency transaction of approximately $6.4 million.

NOTE 9. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The following table reflects the reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of accounts receivable from and (accounts payable) to related parties as of September 30, 2018 (dollars in thousands):

During the ordinary course of business, we have related party transactions that include, but are not limited to, rental income, interest income, interest expense, general and administrative costs, commissions, management fees, and property expenses. In addition, we have assets and liabilities that include related party amounts. The related party amounts included in assets and liabilities, and the related party revenues and expenses received and paid are shown on the face of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

NOTE 10. DEFERRED INCOME

On July 17, 2009, the Company acquired from Syntek West, Inc., (“SWI”), 2,518,934 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share of IOR at an aggregate price of $17,884,431 (approximately $7.10 per share), the full amount of which was paid by the Company through an assumption of an aggregate amount of indebtedness of $17,884,431 on the outstanding balance owed by SWI to IOR. The 2,518,934 shares of IOR Common Stock acquired by the Company constituted approximately 60.4% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock of IOR. The Company has owned for several years an aggregate of 1,037,184 shares of Common Stock of IOR (approximately 25% of the issued and outstanding). After giving effect to the transaction on July 17, 2009, the Company owns an aggregate of 3,556,118 shares of IOR Common Stock which constitutes approximately 85.3% of the shares of Common Stock of IOR outstanding (which is a total of 4,168,214 shares). Shares of IOR are traded on the American Stock Exchange.

With the Company’s acquisition of the additional shares on July 17, 2009, which increased the aggregate ownership to in excess of 80%, beginning in July 2009, IOR’s results of operations are now consolidated with those of the Company for tax and financial reporting purposes. At the time of the acquisition, the historical accounting value of IOR’s assets was $112 million and liabilities were $43 million. In that the shares of IOR acquired by TCI were from a related party, the values recorded by TCI are IOR’s historical accounting values at the date of transfer. The Company’s fair valuation of IOR assets and liabilities at the acquisition date approximated IOR’s book value. The net difference between the purchase price and historical accounting basis of the assets and liabilities acquired was $35 million and has been reflected by TCI as deferred income. At the time of the transaction it was determined that the deferred income would be recognized upon the sale of the land that IOR held on its books to an independent third party as of the date of sale.

On August 22, 2018, IOR sold approximately 80% of the remaining land held on the date of the acquisition of the additional shares. During the quarter ending September 30, 2018 the Company recognized the proportionate share of the remaining deferred income, approximately $18 million, as a result of the IOR sale of assets.

NOTE 11. OPERATING SEGMENTS

Our segments are based on our method of internal reporting which classifies our operations by property type. Our property types are grouped into commercial properties, apartments, land and other operating segments. Significant differences among the accounting policies of the operating segments as compared to the Consolidated Financial Statements principally involve the calculation and allocation of administrative and other expenses. Management evaluates the performance of each of the operating segments and allocates resources to them based on their net operating income and cash flow.

Items of income that are not reflected in the segments are interest, other income, gain on debt extinguishment, gain on condemnation award, equity in partnerships and gains on sale of real estate. Expenses that are not reflected in the segments are provision for losses, advisory, net income and incentive fees, general and administrative, non-controlling interests and net loss from discontinued operations before gains on sale of real estate.

The segment labeled as “Other” consists of revenue and operating expenses related to the notes receivable and corporate debt.

Presented below is our reportable segments’ operating income for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, including segment assets and expenditures (dollars in thousands):

The table below presents the reconciliation of segment information to the corresponding amounts in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (dollars in thousands):

Presented below is our reportable segments’ operating income for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, including segment assets and expenditures (dollars in thousands):

The table below presents the reconciliation of segment information to the corresponding amounts in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (dollars in thousands):

The following table reconciles segment information to the corresponding amounts in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (dollars in thousands):

NOTE 12. TAXES

ARL had a taxable loss for federal income tax purposes for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. However, due to activities arising from our subsidiary IOR during the nine months ended September 30, 2018, a federal income expense of $792,000 was incurred. This expense consists of $1.9 million current income tax expense and ($1.1) million of deferred tax income related to the change in the valuation allowance of the deferred tax asset.

NOTE 13. COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES, AND LIQUIDITY  

Liquidity.     Management believes that ARL will generate excess cash flow from property operations in 2018; such excess, however, will not be sufficient to discharge all of ARL’s obligations as they became due. Management intends to sell land and income-producing real estate, refinance real estate and obtain additional borrowings primarily secured by real estate to meet its liquidity requirements.

Partnership Buyouts.    ARL is the limited partner in various partnerships related to the construction of residential properties. As permitted in the respective partnership agreements, ARL intends to purchase the interests of the general and any other limited partners in these partnerships subsequent to the completion of these projects. The amounts paid to buy out the non-affiliated partners are limited to development fees earned by the non-affiliated partners and are outlined in the respective partnership agreements.

Litigation.     The ownership of property and provision of services to the public as tenants entails an inherent risk of liability. Although the Company and its subsidiaries are involved in various items of litigation incidental to and in the ordinary course of its business, in the opinion of management, the outcome of such litigation will not have a material adverse impact upon the Company’s financial condition, results of operation or liquidity, unless otherwise noted below.

Guarantees. The Company is the primary guarantor on a $39.1 million mezzanine loan between UHF and a lender. In addition, ARI and an officer of the Company are limited recourse guarantors of the loan. As of September 30, 2018 UHF was in compliance with the covenants to the loan agreement.

ART and ART Midwest, Inc.

While the Company and all entities in which the Company has a direct or indirect equity interest are not parties to or obligated in any way for the outcome, a formerly owned entity (American Realty Trust, Inc.) and its former subsidiary (ART Midwest, Inc.) have been engaged since 1999 in litigation with Mr. David Clapper and entities related to Mr. Clapper (collectively, the “Clapper Parties”). The matter originally involved a transaction in 1998 in which ART Midwest, Inc. was to acquire eight residential apartment complexes from the Clapper Parties. Through the years, a number of rulings, both for and against American Realty Trust, Inc. “ART” and ART Midwest, Inc., were issued. In October 2011, a ruling was issued under which the Clapper Parties received a judgment for approximately $74 million, including $26 million in actual damages and $48 million interest. The ruling was against ART and ART Midwest, Inc., but no other entity. During February 2014, the Court of Appeals affirmed a portion of the judgment in favor of the Clapper Parties, but also ruled that a double counting of a significant portion of the damages had occurred and remanded the case back to the trial court to recalculate the damage award, as well as pre- and post-judgment interest thereon. Subsequently, the trial court recalculated the damage award, reducing it to approximately $59 million, inclusive of actual damages and then current interest. ART was also a significant owner of a partnership interest in the partnership that was awarded the initial damages in this matter.

The Clapper Parties subsequently filed a new lawsuit against ARI, its subsidiary EQK Holdings, Inc. “EQK”, and ART. The Clapper Parties seek damages from ARL for payment by ART to ARL of ART’s stock in EQK in exchange for a release of the Antecedent Debt owed by ART to ARI. In February 2018 the court determined that this legal matter should not have been filed in federal court and therefore granted motions to dismiss on jurisdictional grounds. In June 2018, the court overruled its own grant of motions to dismiss and reinstated the case. We continue to vigorously defend the case and management believes it has defenses to the claims.

In 2005, ART filed suit against a major national law firm over the initial transaction. That action was initially abated while the principal case with the Clapper Parties was pending, but the abatement was recently lifted.  The trial court subsequently dismissed the case on procedural grounds, but ART has filed a notice of appeal. The appeal was heard in February 2018 and we are awaiting a ruling by the appeals court. In January 2012, the Company sold all of the issued and outstanding stock of ART to an unrelated party for a promissory note in the amount of $10 million. At December 31, 2012, the Company fully reserved and valued such note at zero.

Dynex Capital, Inc.

On July 20, 2015, the 68^th Judicial District Court in Dallas County, Texas issued its Final Judgment in Cause No. DC-03-00675, styled Basic Capital Management, Inc., American Realty Trust, Inc., Transcontinental Realty Investors, Inc., Continental Poydras Corp., Continental Common, Inc. and Continental Baronne, Inc. v. Dynex Commercial, Inc. The case, which was litigated for more than a decade, had its origin with Dynex Commercial making loans to Continental Poydras Corp., Continental Common, Inc. and Continental Baronne, Inc. (subsidiaries of Continental Mortgage & Equity Trust (“CMET”), an entity which merged into TCI in 1999 after the original suit was filed). Under the original loan commitment, $160 million in loans were to be made to the entities. The loans were conditioned on the execution of a commitment between Dynex Commercial and Basic Capital Management, Inc. (“Basic”).

An original trial in 2004, which also included Dynex Capital, Inc. as a defendant, resulted in a jury awarding damages in favor of Basic for “lost opportunity,” as well as damages in favor of ART and in favor of TCI and its subsidiaries for “increased costs” and “lost opportunity.” The original Trial Court judge ignored the jury’s findings, however, and entered a “Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict” (“JNOV”) in favor of the Dynex entities (the judge held the Plaintiffs were not entitled to any damages from the Dynex entities). After numerous appeals by all parties, Dynex Capital, Inc. was ultimately dismissed from the case and the remaining claims against Dynex Commercial were remanded to the Trial Court for a new judgment consistent with the jury’s findings. The Court entered the new Final Judgment against Dynex Commercial, Inc. on July 20, 2015. 

The Final Judgment entered against Dynex Commercial, Inc. on July 20, 2015 awarded Basic was $0.256 million in damages, plus pre-judgment interest of $0.192 million for a total amount of $0.448 million. The Judgment awarded ART was $14.2 million in damages, plus pre-judgment interest of $10.6 million for a total amount of $24.8 million. The Judgment awarded TCI was $11.1 million, plus pre-judgment interest of $8.4 million for a total amount of $19.5 million. The Judgment also awarded Basic, ART, and TCI post-judgment interest at the rate of 5% per annum from April 25, 2014 until the date their respective damages were paid. Lastly, the Judgement awarded Basic, ART, and TCI was $1.6 million collectively in attorneys’ fees from Dynex Commercial, Inc. 

TCI is working with counsel to identify assets and collect on the Final Judgment against Dynex Commercial, Inc., as well as explore possible additional claims, if any, against Dynex Capital, Inc. 

NOTE 14. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Earnings Per Share (“EPS”) have been computed pursuant to the provisions of ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share”. The computation of basic EPS is calculated by dividing net income available to common shareholders from continuing operations, adjusted for preferred dividends, by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Shares issued during the period shall be weighted for the portion of the period that they were outstanding.

As of September 30, 2018, we have 1,800,614 shares of Series A 10.0% cumulative convertible preferred stock, which are outstanding. These shares may be converted into common stock at 90% of the average daily closing price of the common stock for the prior 20 trading days. These are considered in the computation of diluted earnings per share if the effect of applying the if-converted method is dilutive. Of the outstanding 1,800,614 shares of Series A 10.0% cumulative convertible preferred stock, 900,000 shares are held by ARL. Dividends are not paid on the shares owned by ARL subsidiaries.

Prior to January 12, 2018, RAI owned 1,100,000 shares of the outstanding Series A 10.0% convertible preferred stock and had accrued dividends unpaid of $10.5 million. On January 12, 2018, RAI converted 200,000 shares, including $1.8 million in accumulated dividends unpaid for these shares, into the requisite number of shares of common stock. This conversion resulted in the issuance of 482,716 new shares of ARL common stock. As of September 30, 2018 RAI owns 900,000 shares of the outstanding Series A 10.0% convertible preferred stock and has accrued dividends unpaid of $9.2 million.

NOTE 15. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The date to which events occurring after September 30, 2018, the date of the most recent balance sheet, have been evaluated for possible adjustment to the Consolidated Financial Statements or disclosure is November 13, 2018, which is the date on which the Consolidated Financial Statements were available to be issued.

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this report.

This Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, principally, but not only, under the captions “Business”, “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”. We caution investors that any forward-looking statements in this report, or which management may make orally or in writing from time to time, are based on management’s beliefs and on assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. When used, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, “might”, “plan”, “estimate”, “project”, “should”, “will”, “result” and similar expressions which do not relate solely to historical matters are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions and are not guarantees of future performance, which may be affected by known and unknown risks, trends, uncertainties and factors that are beyond our control. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated, or projected. We caution you that, while forward-looking statements reflect our good faith beliefs when we make them, they are not guarantees of future performance and are impacted by actual events when they occur after we make such statements. We expressly disclaim any responsibility to update our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Accordingly, investors should use caution in relying on past forward-looking statements, which are based on results and trends at the time they are made, to anticipate future results or trends.

Some of the risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements include, among others, the following:

The risks included here are not exhaustive. Some of the risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements, include among others, the factors listed and described at Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, which investors should review. There have been no changes from the risk factors previously described in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.

Other sections of this report may also include suggested factors that could adversely affect our business and financial performance. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time-to-time and it is not possible for management to predict all such matters; nor can we assess the impact of all such matters on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as prediction of actual results. Investors should also refer to our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for future periods and to other materials we may furnish to the public from time-to-time through Forms 8-K or otherwise as we file them with the SEC.

Overview

We are an externally advised and managed real estate investment company that owns a diverse portfolio of income-producing properties and land held for development. Our portfolio of income-producing properties includes residential apartment communities, office buildings and other commercial properties. Our investment strategy includes acquiring existing income-producin g properties, as well as developing new properties on land already owned or acquired for a specific development project. We acquire land primarily in urban in-fill locations or high-growth suburban markets. We are an active buyer and seller of real estate. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we sold 112.2 acres of land for a total sales price of $7.2 million, a golf course comprising approximately 96 acres for $2.3 million and sold six income-producing properties for an aggregate purchase price of $8.5 million, out of which, $2.1 million was received in cash and $6.4 million in note receivables. In addition, during the quarter just ended, we purchased an 80 unit residential apartment community in Baton Rouge, LA for a total purchase price of $12 million, paid through a seller’s financing note of $1.9 million, issuance of a note payable of $8.6 million, and by exercising an option to purchase of $1.5 million paid in the previous year.

As of September 30, 2018, we owned 8,494 units in forty-eight residential apartment communities, and seven commercial properties comprising approximately 1.7 million rentable square feet. In addition, we own approximately 3,218 acres of land held for development. The Company currently owns income-producing properties and land in ten states.

We finance our acquisitions primarily through operating cash flow, proceeds from the sale of land and income-producing properties and debt financing primarily in the form of property-specific first-lien mortgage loans from commercial banks and institutional lenders. We finance our development projects principally with variable interest rate construction loans that are converted to long-term, fixed rate amortizing mortgages when the development project is completed and occupancy has been stabilized. We will, from time to time, also enter into partnerships with various investors to acquire income-producing properties or land and to sell interests in certain of our wholly owned properties. When we sell assets, we may carry a portion of the sales price generally in the form of a short-term, interest bearing seller-financed note receivable. We generate operating revenues primarily by leasing apartment units to residents and leasing office, retail and industrial space to commercial tenants. We have no employees.

We have historically engaged in and may continue to engage in certain business transactions with related parties, including, but not limited to, asset acquisition and dispositions. Transactions involving related parties cannot be presumed to be carried out on an arm’s length basis due to the absence of free market forces that naturally exist in business dealings between two or more unrelated entities. Related party transactions may not always be favorable to our business and may include terms, conditions and agreements that are not necessarily beneficial to or in our best interest.

Pillar Income Asset Management, Inc. (“Pillar”) is the Company’s external Advisor and Cash Manager. Although the Board of Directors is directly responsible for managing the affairs of ARL, and for setting the policies which guide it, the day-to-day operations of ARL are performed by Pillar, as the contractual Advisor, under the supervision of the Board. Pillar’s duties include, but are not limited to, locating, evaluating and recommending real estate and real estate-related investment opportunities and arranging debt and equity financing for the Company with third party lenders and investors. Additionally, Pillar serves as a consultant to the Board with regard to their decisions in connection with ARL’s business plan and investment policy. Pillar also serves as an Advisor and Cash Manager to TCI and IOR.

Regis Realty Prime, LLC (“Regis”) manages our commercial properties and provides brokerage services. ARL engages third-party companies to lease and manage its apartment properties. 

Critical Accounting Policies

We present our Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) is the single source of authoritative accounting principles recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP.

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include our accounts, our subsidiaries, generally all of which are wholly-owned, and all entities in which we have a controlling interest. Arrangements that are not controlled through voting or similar rights are accounted for as a Variable Interest Entity (“VIE”), in accordance with the provisions and guidance of ASC Topic 810 “Consolidation”, whereby we have determined that we are a primary beneficiary of the VIE and meet certain criteria of a sole general partner or managing member as identified in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue 04-5, Investor’s Accounting for an Investment in a Limited Partnership when the Investor is the Sole General Partner and the Limited Partners have Certain Rights (“EITF 04-5”). VIEs are generally entities that lack sufficient equity to finance their activities without additional financial support from other parties or whose equity holders as a group lack adequate decision making ability, the obligation to absorb expected losses or residual returns of the entity, or have voting rights that are not proportional to their economic interests. The primary beneficiary generally is the entity that provides financial support and bears a majority of the financial risks, authorizes certain capital transactions, or makes operating decisions that materially affect the entity’s financial results. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

In determining whether we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE, we consider qualitative and quantitative factors, including, but not limited to: the amount and characteristics of our investment; the obligation or likelihood for us or other investors to provide financial support; our and the other investors’ ability to control or significantly influence key decisions for the VIE; and the similarity with and significance to the business activities of us and the other investors. Significant judgments related to these determinations include estimates about the current future fair values and performance of real estate held by these VIEs and general market conditions.

For entities in which we have less than a controlling financial interest or entities where we are not deemed to be the primary beneficiary, the entities are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Accordingly, our share of the net earnings or losses of these entities are included in consolidated net income. Our investment in Gruppa Florentina, LLC is accounted for under the equity method.

Real Estate

Upon acquisitions of real estate, we assess the fair value of acquired tangible and intangible assets, including land, buildings, tenant improvements, “above-market” and “below-market” leases, origination costs, acquired in-place leases, other identified intangible assets and assumed liabilities in accordance with ASC Topic 805 “Business Combinations”, and allocate the purchase price to the acquired assets and assumed liabilities, including land at appraised value and buildings at replacement cost.

We assess and consider fair value based on estimated cash flow projections that utilize appropriate discount and/or capitalization rates, as well as available market information. Estimates of future cash flows are based on a number of factors including, the historical operating results, known and anticipated trends, and market and economic conditions. The fair value of the tangible assets of an acquired property considers the value of the property as if it were vacant. We also consider an allocation of purchase price of other acquired intangibles, including acquired in-place leases that may have a customer relationship intangible value, including (but not limited to) the nature and extent of the existing relationship with the tenants, the tenants’ credit quality and expectations of lease renewals. Based on our acquisitions to date, our allocation to customer relationship intangible assets has been immaterial.

A variety of costs are incurred in the acquisition, development and leasing of properties. After determination is made to capitalize a cost, it is allocated to the specific component of a project that is benefited. Determination of when a development project is substantially complete and capitalization must cease involves a degree of judgment. Our capitalization policy on development properties is guided by ASC Topic 835-20 “Interest – Capitalization of Interest” and ASC Topic 970 “Real Estate - General”. The costs of land and buildings under development include specifically identifiable costs. The capitalized costs include pre-construction costs essential to the development of the property, development costs, construction costs, interest costs, real estate taxes, salaries and related costs and other costs incurred during the period of development. We cease capitalization when a building is considered substantially complete and ready for its intended use, but no later than one year from the cessation of major construction activity.

Depreciation and Impairment

Real estate is stated at depreciated cost. The cost of buildings and improvements includes the purchase price of property, legal fees and other acquisition costs. Costs directly related to the development of properties are capitalized. Capitalized development costs include interest, property taxes, insurance, and other project costs incurred during the period of development.

Management reviews its long-lived assets used in operations for impairment when there is an event or change in circumstances that indicates impairment in value. An impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount of its assets is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value. If such impairment is present, an impairment loss is recognized based on the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over its fair value. The evaluation of anticipated cash flows is highly subjective and is based in part on assumptions regarding future occupancy, rental rates and capital requirements that could differ materially from actual results in future periods.

Investments in Unconsolidated Real Estate Ventures

Except for ownership interests in variable interest entities, we account for our investments in unconsolidated real estate ventures under the equity method of accounting because we exercise significant influence over, but do not control, these entities. These investments are recorded initially at cost, as investments in unconsolidated real estate ventures, and subsequently adjusted for equity in earnings and cash contributions and distributions. Any difference between the carrying amount of these investments on our balance sheet and the underlying equity in net assets is amortized as an adjustment to equity in earnings of unconsolidated real estate ventures over the life of the related asset. Under the equity method of accounting, our net equity is reflected within the Consolidated Balance Sheets, and our share of net income or loss from the joint ventures is included within the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The joint venture agreements may designate different percentage allocations among investors for profits and losses; however, our recognition of joint venture income or loss generally follows the joint venture’s distribution priorities, which may change upon the achievement of certain investment return thresholds. For ownership interests in variable interest entities, we consolidate those in which we are the primary beneficiary.

Recognition of Rental Income

Rental income for commercial property leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the respective lease terms. On our Consolidated Balance Sheets, we include as a receivable the excess of rental income recognized over rental payments actually received pursuant to the terms of the individual commercial lease agreements.

Reimbursements of operating costs, as allowed under most of our commercial tenant leases, consist of amounts due from tenants for common area maintenance, real estate taxes and other recoverable costs, and are recognized as revenue in the period in which the recoverable expenses are incurred. We record these reimbursements on a “gross” basis, since we generally are the primary obligor with respect to purchasing goods and services from third-party suppliers, have discretion in selecting the supplier and have the credit risk with respect to paying the supplier.

Rental income for residential property leases is recorded when due from residents and is recognized monthly as earned, which is not materially different than on a straight-line basis as lease terms are generally for periods of one year or less. An allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded for all past due rents and operating expense reimbursements considered to be uncollectible.

Revenue Recognition on the Sale of Real Estate

Sales and the associated gains or losses of real estate are recognized in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 360-20, “Property, Plant and Equipment – Real Estate Sale”. The specific timing of a sale is measured against various criteria in ASC 360-20 related to the terms of the transaction and any continuing involvement in the form of management or financial assistance associated with the properties. If the sales criteria for the full accrual method are not met, we defer some or all of the gain recognition and account for the continued operations of the property by applying the finance, leasing, deposit, installment or cost recovery methods, as appropriate, until the sales criteria are met.

Non-Performing Notes Receivable

We consider a note receivable to be non-performing when the maturity date has passed without principal repayment and the borrower is not making interest payments in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

Interest Recognition on Notes Receivable

We record interest income as earned in accordance with the terms of the related loan agreements.

Allowance for Estimated Losses

We assess the collectability of notes receivable on a periodic basis, of which the assessment consists primarily of an evaluation of cash flow projections of the borrower to determine whether estimated cash flows are sufficient to repay principal and interest in accordance with the contractual terms of the note. We recognize impairments on notes receivable when it is probable that principal and interest will not be received in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan. The amount of the impairment to be recognized generally is based on the fair value of the partnership’s real estate that represents the primary source of loan repayment. See Note 3 “Notes and Interest Receivable” for details on our notes receivable.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

We apply the guidance in ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”, to the valuation of real estate assets. These provisions define fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in a transaction between market participants at the measurement date, establish a hierarchy that prioritizes the information used in developing fair value estimates and require disclosure of fair value measurements by level within the fair value hierarchy. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable data (Level 3 measurements), such as the reporting entity’s own data.

The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date and includes three levels defined as follows:

A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Related Parties

We apply ASC Topic 805, “Business Combinations”, to evaluate business relationships. Related parties are persons or entities who have one or more of the following characteristics, which include entities for which investments in their equity securities would be required, trust for the benefit of persons including principal owners of the entities and members of their immediate families, management personnel of the entity and members of their immediate families and other parties with which the entity may deal if one party controls or can significantly influence the decision making of the other to an extent that one of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests, or affiliates of the entity.