FIRST REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST OF NEW JERSEY - Quarter Report: 2007 April (Form 10-Q)
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
x
|
QUARTERLY
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF
1934
|
For
the Quarterly Period Ended April 30, 2007
or
o
|
TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF
1934
|
For
the transition period from __________________ to
____________________
|
|
Commission
File No. 2-27018
FIRST
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST OF NEW JERSEY
|
||
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
|
||
New
Jersey
|
|
22-1697095
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
|
|
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification No.)
|
|
|
|
505
Main Street, Hackensack, New Jersey
|
|
07601
|
(Address
of principal executive offices)
|
|
(Zip
Code)
|
201-488-6400
(Registrant's
telephone number, including area code)
(Former
name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last
report)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to
be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements
for
the past 90 days. Yes x No o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated
filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check
one):
Large
Accelerated Filer o
|
Accelerated
Filer x
|
Non-Accelerated
Filer o
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes o No
x
As
of
June 11, 2007, the number of shares of beneficial interest outstanding was
6,755,652.
FIRST
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST OF NEW JERSEY
INDEX
Page
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3
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4
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5
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6
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8
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17
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17
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17
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18
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19
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Part
I: Financial Information
Item
1: Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements
FIRST
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST OF NEW JERSEY AND
SUBSIDIARIES
|
||||||||
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
|
||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||
April
30,
|
October
31,
|
|||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
(In
Thousands of Dollars)
|
||||||||
ASSETS
|
||||||||
Real
estate, at cost, net of accumulated depreciation
|
$ |
204,220
|
$ |
204,313
|
||||
Construction
in progress
|
3,245
|
2,995
|
||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
13,978
|
9,616
|
||||||
Tenants'
security accounts
|
2,212
|
2,161
|
||||||
Sundry
receivables
|
3,681
|
3,320
|
||||||
Secured
loans receivable
|
3,109
|
3,109
|
||||||
Prepaid
expenses and other assets
|
2,641
|
4,201
|
||||||
Acquired
over market leases and in-place lease costs
|
1,249
|
1,395
|
||||||
Deferred
charges, net
|
3,543
|
3,589
|
||||||
Interest
rate swap contract
|
58
|
87
|
||||||
Totals
|
$ |
237,936
|
$ |
234,786
|
||||
LIABILITIES
AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
||||||||
Liabilities:
|
||||||||
Mortgages
payable
|
$ |
190,516
|
$ |
180,679
|
||||
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
|
3,238
|
6,097
|
||||||
Dividends
payable
|
2,027
|
3,375
|
||||||
Tenants'
security deposits
|
2,914
|
2,823
|
||||||
Acquired
below market value leases and deferred revenue
|
3,420
|
3,945
|
||||||
Total
liabilities
|
202,115
|
196,919
|
||||||
Minority
interest
|
12,916
|
12,895
|
||||||
Commitments
and contingencies
|
||||||||
Shareholders'
equity:
|
||||||||
Shares
of beneficial interest without par value:
|
||||||||
8,000,000
shares authorized;
|
||||||||
6,755,652
and 6,750,652 shares issued and outstanding
|
23,187
|
23,150
|
||||||
(Distributions
in excess of earnings) Undistributed earnings
|
(340 | ) |
1,735
|
|||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income
|
58
|
87
|
||||||
Total
shareholders' equity
|
22,905
|
24,972
|
||||||
Totals
|
$ |
237,936
|
$ |
234,786
|
||||
See
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
|
FIRST
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST OF NEW JERSEY AND
SUBSIDIARIES
|
||||||||||||||||
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF INCOME, COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
|
||||||||||||||||
AND
UNDISTRIBUTED EARNINGS
|
||||||||||||||||
SIX
AND THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2007 AND 2006
|
||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||||||||||
Six
Months Ended
|
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||||
April
30,
|
April
30,
|
|||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||||||||
(In
Thousands of Dollars, Except Per Share Amounts)
|
||||||||||||||||
Revenue:
|
Restated
|
Restated
|
||||||||||||||
Rental
income
|
$ |
17,705
|
$ |
16,242
|
$ |
8,881
|
$ |
8,108
|
||||||||
Reimbursements
|
2,373
|
2,421
|
1,089
|
1,079
|
||||||||||||
Sundry
income
|
184
|
106
|
78
|
48
|
||||||||||||
Totals
|
20,262
|
18,769
|
10,048
|
9,235
|
||||||||||||
Expenses:
|
||||||||||||||||
Operating
expenses
|
5,599
|
4,990
|
2,661
|
2,423
|
||||||||||||
Management
fees
|
880
|
829
|
440
|
413
|
||||||||||||
Real
estate taxes
|
2,880
|
2,719
|
1,440
|
1,350
|
||||||||||||
Depreciation
|
2,655
|
2,267
|
1,349
|
1,137
|
||||||||||||
Totals
|
12,014
|
10,805
|
5,890
|
5,323
|
||||||||||||
Operating
income
|
8,248
|
7,964
|
4,158
|
3,912
|
||||||||||||
Investment
income
|
225
|
113
|
138
|
65
|
||||||||||||
Interest
expense including amortization
|
||||||||||||||||
of
deferred financing costs
|
(6,088 | ) | (5,507 | ) | (3,045 | ) | (2,772 | ) | ||||||||
Minority
interest
|
(258 | ) | (157 | ) | (120 | ) | (80 | ) | ||||||||
Distribution
to certain minority interests
|
(150 | ) | (90 | ) |
-
|
(90 | ) | |||||||||
Net
income
|
$ |
1,977
|
$ |
2,323
|
$ |
1,131
|
$ |
1,035
|
||||||||
Earnings
per share:
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
$ |
0.29
|
$ |
0.36
|
$ |
0.17
|
$ |
0.16
|
||||||||
Diluted
|
0.29
|
0.34
|
0.16
|
0.15
|
||||||||||||
Weighted
average shares outstanding:
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
6,751
|
6,522
|
6,751
|
6,542
|
||||||||||||
Diluted
|
6,916
|
6,753
|
6,915
|
6,889
|
||||||||||||
COMPREHENSIVE
INCOME
|
||||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
$ |
1,977
|
$ |
2,323
|
$ |
1,131
|
$ |
1,035
|
||||||||
Other
comprehensive income (loss):
|
||||||||||||||||
Unrealized
gain (loss) on interest
|
||||||||||||||||
rate
swap contract
|
(29 | ) |
28
|
(22 | ) |
23
|
||||||||||
Comprehensive
income
|
$ |
1,948
|
$ |
2,351
|
$ |
1,109
|
$ |
1,058
|
||||||||
(DISTRIBUTIONS
IN EXCESS OF EARNINGS) UNDISTRIBUTED EARNINGS
|
||||||||||||||||
Balance,
beginning of period
|
$ |
1,735
|
$ |
4,890
|
$ |
556
|
$ |
4,515
|
||||||||
Net
income
|
1,977
|
2,323
|
1,131
|
1,035
|
||||||||||||
Less
dividends declared
|
(4,052 | ) | (3,299 | ) | (2,027 | ) | (1,636 | ) | ||||||||
Balance,
end of period
|
$ | (340 | ) | $ |
3,914
|
$ | (340 | ) | $ |
3,914
|
||||||
Dividends
declared per share
|
$ |
0.60
|
$ |
0.50
|
$ |
0.30
|
$ |
0.25
|
||||||||
See
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
|
FIRST
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST OF NEW JERSEY AND
SUBSIDIARIES
|
||||||||
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
||||||||
SIX
MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2007 AND 2006
|
||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||
Six
Months Ended
|
||||||||
April
30,
|
||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
(In
Thousands of Dollars)
|
||||||||
Restated
|
||||||||
Operating
activities:
|
||||||||
Net
income
|
$ |
1,977
|
$ |
2,323
|
||||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
|
||||||||
operating
activities:
|
||||||||
Depreciation
|
2,655
|
2,267
|
||||||
Amortization
|
360
|
217
|
||||||
Net
amortization of acquired leases
|
(151 | ) | (202 | ) | ||||
Deferred
revenue
|
(298 | ) | (177 | ) | ||||
Minority
interest
|
408
|
247
|
||||||
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||
Tenants'
security accounts
|
(51 | ) | (96 | ) | ||||
Sundry
receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets
|
914
|
(131 | ) | |||||
Accounts
payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
|
(448 | ) | (581 | ) | ||||
Tenants'
security deposits
|
91
|
111
|
||||||
Net
cash provided by operating activities
|
5,457
|
3,978
|
||||||
Investing
activities:
|
||||||||
Capital
improvements - existing properties
|
(1,464 | ) | (1,171 | ) | ||||
Construction
and pre development costs
|
(3,718 | ) | (7,704 | ) | ||||
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
(5,182 | ) | (8,875 | ) | ||||
Financing
activities:
|
||||||||
Repayment
of mortgages
|
(18,494 | ) | (976 | ) | ||||
Proceeds
from mortgages
|
28,331
|
9,550
|
||||||
Proceeds
from exercise of stock options
|
37
|
469
|
||||||
Dividends
paid
|
(5,400 | ) | (4,579 | ) | ||||
Distribution
to minority interest
|
(387 | ) | (360 | ) | ||||
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
4,087
|
4,104
|
||||||
Net
increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
4,362
|
(793 | ) | |||||
Cash
and cash equivalents, beginning of period
|
9,616
|
5,672
|
||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents, end of period
|
$ |
13,978
|
$ |
4,879
|
||||
Supplemental
disclosure of cash flow data:
|
||||||||
Interest
paid, including capitalized construction period interest
|
||||||||
of
$155 in fiscal 2006.
|
$ |
5,956
|
$ |
5,533
|
||||
Income
taxes paid
|
$ |
18
|
$ |
10
|
||||
Supplemental
schedule of non cash financing activities:
|
||||||||
Accrued capital expenditures, construction costs and pre-development
costs
|
$ |
34
|
$ |
-
|
||||
Dividends
declared but not paid
|
$ |
2,027
|
$ |
1,636
|
||||
See
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
|
NOTES
TO
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Note
1 -
Basis of presentation:
The
accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared
without audit, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted
in
the United States of America for interim financial statements and pursuant
to
the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly,
certain information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for complete financial
statements have been omitted. It is the opinion of management that all
adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included,
and
that all such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.
The
consolidated results of operations for the six and three months ended April
30,
2007 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full
year. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read
in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes
included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2006
of First Real Estate Investment Trust of New Jersey (“FREIT”).
Reclassification:
Certain
amounts in the 2006 financial statements have been reclassified to conform
to
the current presentation.
Restatement:
FREIT
has
restated its prior year’s financial statements in order to properly reflect the
Westwood Hills minority members’ share of the Westwood Hills capital deficit.
This deficit resulted from distributions to the minority members, including
proceeds received on refinancing the mortgage on the residential building owned
by Westwood Hills. Although there is no economic effect or cost to FREIT, under
GAAP FREIT cannot record a negative minority interest in consolidated financial
statements if the minority members have no obligation to restore their negative
capital accounts. Accordingly, FREIT’s 2006 quarterly financial statements, as
reported herein, have been restated by reducing undistributed earnings and
increasing minority interest as of October 31, 2005 by $2,458,000. In addition,
net income for the current six and three month periods ended April 30, 2007,
has
been decreased by $40,000, from amounts previously reported. (See Note 2 in
FREIT’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2006 for
additional information.)
Note
2 -
Earnings per share:
FREIT
has
presented "basic" and "diluted" earnings per share in the accompanying condensed
consolidated statements of income in accordance with the provisions of Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 128, “Earnings per Share” ("SFAS
128"). Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the
weighted average number of shares outstanding during each period. The
calculation of diluted earnings per share is similar to that of basic earnings
per share, except that the denominator is increased to include the number of
additional shares that would have been outstanding if all potentially dilutive
shares, such as those issuable upon the exercise of stock options and warrants,
were issued during the period.
In
computing diluted earnings per share for each of the six and three month periods
ended April 30, 2007 and 2006, the assumed exercise of all of FREIT’s
outstanding stock options, adjusted for application of the treasury stock
method, would have increased the weighted average number of shares outstanding
as shown in the table below.
Six
Months Ended
|
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||||
April
30,
|
April
30,
|
|||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||||||||
Basic
weighted average shares outstanding
|
6,750,873
|
6,521,985
|
6,751,101
|
6,542,402
|
||||||||||||
Shares
arising from assumed exercise of stock options
|
165,091
|
231,151
|
164,016
|
346,726
|
||||||||||||
Dilutive
weighted average shares outstanding
|
6,915,964
|
6,753,136
|
6,915,117
|
6,889,128
|
||||||||||||
Basic
and
diluted earnings per share, based on the weighted average number of shares
outstanding during each period, are comprised of ordinary income.
Note
3 -
Equity incentive plan:
On
September 10, 1998, the Board of Trustees approved FREIT’s Equity Incentive Plan
(the "Plan") which was ratified by FREIT's shareholders on April 7, 1999,
whereby up to 920,000 of FREIT's shares of beneficial interest may be granted
to
key personnel in the form of stock options, restricted share awards and other
share-based awards.
Upon
ratification of the Plan on April 7, 1999, FREIT issued 754,000 stock options
(adjusted for stock splits), which it had previously granted to key personnel
on
September 10, 1998. The fair value of the options on the date of grant was
$7.50
per share. At April 30, 2007, options for 237,500 shares remain outstanding
and
are exercisable through September 2008.
On
April
4, 2007, FREIT shareholders approved amendments to FREIT’s Equity Incentive Plan
as follows: (a) reserving an additional 300,000 shares for issuance under the
Plan; and (b) extending the term of the Plan until September 10,
2018.
Note
4 -
Segment information:
SFAS
No.
131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information”,
established standards for reporting financial information about operating
segments in interim and annual financial reports and provides for a "management
approach" in identifying the reportable segments.
FREIT
has
determined that it has two reportable segments: commercial properties and
residential properties. These reportable segments offer different types of
space, have different types of tenants, and are managed separately because
each
requires different operating strategies and management expertise. The commercial
segment contains nine (9) separate properties and the residential segment
contains ten (10) properties. The accounting policies of the segments are the
same as those described in Note 1 in FREIT’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended October 31, 2006.
The
chief
operating and decision-making group of FREIT's commercial segment, residential
segment and corporate/other is comprised of FREIT’s Board of
Trustees.
FREIT
assesses and measures segment operating results based on net operating income
("NOI"). NOI, a standard used by real estate professionals, is based on
operating revenue and expenses directly associated with the operations of the
real estate properties, but excludes deferred rents (straight lining), lease
amortization, depreciation, and financing costs. NOI is not a measure of
operating results or cash flows from operating activities as measured by
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and
is
not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs and should
not
be considered an alternative to cash flows as a measure of
liquidity.
Real
estate rental revenue, operating expenses, NOI and recurring capital
improvements for the reportable segments are summarized below and reconciled
to
consolidated net income for the six and three month periods ended April 30,
2007
and 2006. Asset information is not reported since FREIT does not use this
measure to assess performance.
Six
Months Ended
|
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||||
April
30,
|
April
30,
|
|||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006*
|
2007
|
2006*
|
|||||||||||||
(In
Thousands of Dollars)
|
||||||||||||||||
Real
estate rental revenue:
|
||||||||||||||||
Commercial
|
$ |
10,735
|
$ |
10,500
|
$ |
5,272
|
$ |
5,125
|
||||||||
Residential
|
9,262
|
7,896
|
4,642
|
3,962
|
||||||||||||
Totals
|
19,997
|
18,396
|
9,914
|
9,087
|
||||||||||||
Real
estate operating expenses:
|
||||||||||||||||
Commercial
|
4,303
|
4,096
|
2,138
|
2,021
|
||||||||||||
Residential
|
4,253
|
3,916
|
1,990
|
1,884
|
||||||||||||
Totals
|
8,556
|
8,012
|
4,128
|
3,905
|
||||||||||||
Net
operating income:
|
||||||||||||||||
Commercial
|
6,432
|
6,404
|
3,134
|
3,104
|
||||||||||||
Residential
|
5,009
|
3,980
|
2,652
|
2,078
|
||||||||||||
Totals
|
$ |
11,441
|
$ |
10,384
|
$ |
5,786
|
$ |
5,182
|
||||||||
Recurring
capital improvements-residential
|
$ |
239
|
$ |
458
|
$ |
65
|
$ |
119
|
||||||||
Reconciliation
to consolidated net income:
|
||||||||||||||||
Segment
NOI
|
$ |
11,441
|
$ |
10,384
|
$ |
5,786
|
$ |
5,182
|
||||||||
Deferred
rents - straight lining
|
114
|
171
|
59
|
85
|
||||||||||||
Amortization
of acquired leases
|
151
|
202
|
75
|
63
|
||||||||||||
Net
investment income
|
225
|
113
|
138
|
65
|
||||||||||||
Minority
interest in earnings of subsidiaries
|
(258 | ) | (157 | ) | (120 | ) | (80 | ) | ||||||||
Distribution
to certain minority interests
|
(150 | ) | (90 | ) |
-
|
(90 | ) | |||||||||
General
and administrative expenses
|
(803 | ) | (526 | ) | (413 | ) | (281 | ) | ||||||||
Depreciation
|
(2,655 | ) | (2,267 | ) | (1,349 | ) | (1,137 | ) | ||||||||
Financing
costs
|
(6,088 | ) | (5,507 | ) | (3,045 | ) | (2,772 | ) | ||||||||
Net
income
|
$ |
1,977
|
$ |
2,323
|
$ |
1,131
|
$ |
1,035
|
||||||||
*
Restated
|
Item
2: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations
Cautionary
Statement Identifying Important Factors That Could Cause FREIT’s Actual
Results to Differ
From
Those Projected in Forward Looking Statements.
|
Readers
of this discussion are advised that the discussion should be read
in
conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
of FREIT (including related notes thereto) appearing elsewhere in
this
Form 10-Q, and the consolidated financial statements included in
FREIT’s
most recently filed Form 10-K. Certain statements in this discussion
may
constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements
reflect FREIT’s current expectations regarding future results of
operations, economic performance, financial condition and achievements
of
FREIT, and do not relate strictly to historical or current facts.
FREIT
has tried, wherever possible, to identify these forward-looking statements
by using words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,”
“intend, “ “plan,” “ estimate,” or words of similar
meaning.
|
Although
FREIT believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking
statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are
subject to risks and uncertainties, which may cause the actual results
to
differ materially from those projected. Such factors include,
but are not limited to the following: general economic and business
conditions, which will, among other things, affect demand for rental
space, the availability of prospective tenants, lease rents and the
availability of financing; adverse changes in FREIT’s real estate markets,
including, among other things, competition with other real estate
owners,
risks of real estate development and acquisitions; governmental actions
and initiatives; and environmental/safety
requirements.
|
OVERVIEW
FREIT
is
an equity real estate investment trust ("REIT") that owns a portfolio of
residential apartment and commercial properties. Our revenues consist primarily
of fixed rental income from our residential and commercial properties and
additional rent in the form of expense reimbursements derived from our income
producing commercial properties. Our properties are primarily located
in northern New Jersey and Maryland. We acquire existing properties for
investment. We also acquire properties, which we feel have redevelopment
potential, and make changes and capital improvements to these properties. We
develop and construct properties on our vacant land. Our policy is to acquire
and develop real property for long-term investment.
Almost
all of FREIT’s income and cash flow is derived from the net rental income
(revenues after expenses) from our properties. FREIT’s business and financial
results are affected by the following fundamental factors:
|
·
|
the
national and regional economic
climate;
|
|
·
|
occupancy
rates at the properties;
|
|
·
|
tenant
turn-over rates;
|
|
·
|
rental
rates;
|
|
·
|
operating
expenses;
|
|
·
|
tenant
improvement and leasing costs;
|
|
·
|
cost
of and availability of capital;
|
|
·
|
new
acquisitions and development projects;
and
|
|
·
|
governmental
regulations.
|
A
negative quality change in the above factors could potentially cause a
detrimental effect in FREIT’s revenue, earnings and cash flow.
SIGNIFICANT
ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
Pursuant
to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") disclosure guidance for
"Critical Accounting Policies," the SEC defines Critical Accounting Policies
as
those that require the application of management's most difficult, subjective,
or complex judgments, often because of the need to make estimates about the
effect of matters that are inherently uncertain and may change in subsequent
periods.
Our
discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations
are
based upon our consolidated financial statements, the preparation of which
takes
into account estimates based on judgments and assumptions that affect certain
amounts and disclosures. Accordingly, actual results could differ from these
estimates. The accounting policies and estimates used, which are outlined in
Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report
on
Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2006, have been applied consistently
as
at April 30, 2007 and October 31, 2006, and for the six and three month periods
ended April 30, 2007 and 2006. We believe that the following accounting policies
or estimates require the application of Management's most difficult, subjective,
or complex judgments:
Revenue
Recognition: Base rents, additional rents based on tenants' sales volume and
reimbursement of the tenants' share of certain operating expenses are generally
recognized when due from tenants. The straight-line basis is used to recognize
base rents under leases if they provide for varying rents over the lease terms.
Straight-line rents represent unbilled rents receivable to the extent
straight-line rents exceed current rents billed in accordance with lease
agreements. Before FREIT can recognize revenue, it is required to assess, among
other things, its collectibility. If we incorrectly determine the collectibility
of revenue, our net income and assets could be overstated.
Valuation
of Long-Lived Assets: We periodically assess the carrying value of long-lived
assets whenever we determine that events or changes in circumstances indicate
that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. When FREIT determines that
the carrying value of long-lived assets may be impaired, the measurement of
any
impairment is based on a projected discounted cash flow method determined by
FREIT's management. While we believe that our discounted cash flow methods
are
reasonable, different assumptions regarding such cash flows may significantly
affect the measurement of impairment.
All
references to per share amounts are on a diluted basis unless otherwise
indicated.
Results
of Operations:
Real
Estate revenue for the six months ended April 30, 2007 (“Current Six Months”)
increased 8.0% to $20,262,000 compared to $18,769,000 for the six months
ended
April 30, 2006 (“Prior Six Months”). Real Estate revenue for the
three months ended April 30, 2007 (“Current Quarter”) increased 8.8% to
$10,048,000 compared to $9,235,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2006
(“Prior Year’s Quarter”). The increase in real estate revenues was
principally attributable to FREIT’s residential operations, primarily at The
Boulders in Rockaway Township, NJ (“The Boulders”), which accounted for 5.7% and
6.2% of the increase for the six and three month periods, respectively. (See
discussion below.)
Net
income for the Current Six Months was $1,977,000 ($0.29 diluted) compared
to
$2,323,000 ($0.34 diluted) for the Prior Six Months. Net income for the Current
Quarter was $1,131,000 ($0.16 diluted) compared to $1,035,000 ($0.15 diluted)
for the Prior Year’s Quarter. Refer to the schedule below for a detailed
analysis of the major changes that impacted revenue and net income for the
six
and three months ended April 30, 2007 and 2006:
NET
INCOME COMPONENTS
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Six
Months Ended
|
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
April
30,
|
April
30,
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006*
|
Change
|
2007
|
2006*
|
Change
|
|||||||||||||||||||
(thousands
of dollars)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial
Properties
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Same
Properties
(1)
|
$ |
6,504
|
$ |
6,397
|
$ |
107
|
$ |
3,186
|
$ |
3,073
|
$ |
113
|
||||||||||||
Damascus
Center - undergoing renovation
|
193
|
380
|
(187 | ) |
82
|
179
|
(97 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Total
Commercial Properties
|
6,697
|
6,777
|
(80 | ) |
3,268
|
3,252
|
16
|
|||||||||||||||||
Residential
Properties
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Same
Properties
(1)
|
4,409
|
3,988
|
421
|
2,338
|
2,085
|
253
|
||||||||||||||||||
Boulders
at Rockaway
|
600
|
(8 | ) |
608
|
314
|
(7 | ) |
321
|
||||||||||||||||
Total
Residential Properties
|
5,009
|
3,980
|
1,029
|
2,652
|
2,078
|
574
|
||||||||||||||||||
Total
income from real estate operations
|
11,706
|
10,757
|
949
|
5,920
|
5,330
|
590
|
||||||||||||||||||
Financing
costs:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed
rate mortgages
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Same
Properties
(1)
|
(4,535 | ) | (4,689 | ) |
154
|
(2,220 | ) | (2,337 | ) |
117
|
||||||||||||||
Boulders
at Rockaway
|
(540 | ) | (6 | ) | (534 | ) | (284 | ) | (6 | ) | (278 | ) | ||||||||||||
Floating
Rate - Rotunda
|
(817 | ) | (702 | ) | (115 | ) | (398 | ) | (358 | ) | (40 | ) | ||||||||||||
Corporate
interest - Line / Floating
|
(196 | ) | (110 | ) | (86 | ) | (143 | ) | (71 | ) | (72 | ) | ||||||||||||
Total
financing costs
|
(6,088 | ) | (5,507 | ) | (581 | ) | (3,045 | ) | (2,772 | ) | (273 | ) | ||||||||||||
Investment
income
|
225
|
113
|
112
|
138
|
65
|
73
|
||||||||||||||||||
Corporate
expenses
|
(461 | ) | (405 | ) | (56 | ) | (301 | ) | (219 | ) | (82 | ) | ||||||||||||
Accounting
|
(342 | ) | (121 | ) | (221 | ) | (112 | ) | (62 | ) | (50 | ) | ||||||||||||
Minority
interest in earnings of subsidiaries
|
(258 | ) | (157 | ) | (101 | ) | (120 | ) | (80 | ) | (40 | ) | ||||||||||||
Distribution
to Westwood Hills minority interests
|
(150 | ) | (90 | ) | (60 | ) |
-
|
(90 | ) |
90
|
||||||||||||||
Depreciation:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Same
Properties
(1)
|
(2,386 | ) | (2,267 | ) | (119 | ) | (1,203 | ) | (1,137 | ) | (66 | ) | ||||||||||||
Boulders
at Rockaway
|
(269 | ) | (269 | ) | (146 | ) | (146 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Total
depreciation
|
(2,655 | ) | (2,267 | ) | (388 | ) | (1,349 | ) | (1,137 | ) | (212 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net
Income
|
$ |
1,977
|
$ |
2,323
|
$ | (346 | ) | $ |
1,131
|
$ |
1,035
|
$ |
96
|
|||||||||||
(1)
Properties operated since the beginning of fiscal 2006.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
*
Restated
|
The
consolidated results of operations for the Current Six Months and Current
Quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for
the
full year.
SEGMENT
INFORMATION
The
following tables set forth comparative NOI data for FREIT’s real estate segments
and reconciles the NOI to consolidated net income for the Current Six Months
and
Current Quarter, as compared to the Prior Six Months and Prior Year’s
Quarter:
Six
Months Ended April 30:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial
|
Residential
|
Combined
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Six
Months Ended
|
Six
Months Ended
|
Six
Months Ended
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
April
30,
|
Increase
(Decrease)
|
April
30,
|
Increase
(Decrease)
|
April
30,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
$
|
%
|
2007
|
2006
|
$
|
%
|
2007
|
2006*
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in
thousands)
|
(in
thousands)
|
(in
thousands)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rental
income
|
$ |
8,262
|
$ |
8,058
|
$ |
204
|
2.5 | % | $ |
9,178
|
$ |
7,811
|
$ |
1,367
|
17.5 | % | $ |
17,440
|
$ |
15,869
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Reimbursements
|
2,373
|
2,421
|
(48 | ) | -2.0 | % |
-
|
2,373
|
2,421
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other
|
100
|
21
|
79
|
376.2 | % |
84
|
85
|
(1 | ) | -1.2 | % |
184
|
106
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
Revenue
|
10,735
|
10,500
|
235
|
2.2 | % |
9,262
|
7,896
|
1,366
|
17.3 | % |
19,997
|
18,396
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating
expenses
|
4,303
|
4,096
|
207
|
5.1 | % |
4,253
|
3,916
|
337
|
8.6 | % |
8,556
|
8,012
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
operating income
|
$ |
6,432
|
$ |
6,404
|
$ |
28
|
0.4 | % | $ |
5,009
|
$ |
3,980
|
$ |
1,029
|
25.9 | % |
11,441
|
10,384
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Average
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Occupancy
%
|
89.7 | % | 90.6 | % | -0.9 | % | 94.3 | % | 95.0 | % | -0.7 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reconciliation
to consolidated net income:
|
||||||||||
Deferred
rents - straight lining
|
114
|
171
|
||||||||
Amortization
of acquired leases
|
151
|
202
|
||||||||
Net
investment income
|
225
|
113
|
||||||||
General
and administrative expenses
|
(803 | ) | (526 | ) | ||||||
Depreciation
|
(2,655 | ) | (2,267 | ) | ||||||
Financing
costs
|
(6,088 | ) | (5,507 | ) | ||||||
Distributions
to certain minority interests
|
(150 | ) | (90 | ) | ||||||
Minority
interest
|
(258 | ) | (157 | ) | ||||||
* Restated |
Net
income
|
$ |
1,977
|
$ |
2,323
|
Three
Months Ended April 30:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial
|
Residential
|
Combined
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three
Months Ended
|
Three
Months Ended
|
Three
Months Ended
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
April
30,
|
Increase
(Decrease)
|
April
30,
|
Increase
(Decrease)
|
April
30,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
$
|
%
|
2007
|
2006
|
$
|
%
|
2007
|
2006*
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in
thousands)
|
(in
thousands)
|
(in
thousands)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rental
income
|
$ |
4,126
|
$ |
4,039
|
$ |
87
|
2.2 | % | $ |
4,621
|
$ |
3,921
|
$ |
700
|
17.9 | % | $ |
8,747
|
$ |
7,960
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Reimbursements
|
1,089
|
1,079
|
10
|
0.9 | % |
-
|
1,089
|
1,079
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other
|
57
|
7
|
50
|
714.3 | % |
21
|
41
|
(20 | ) | -48.8 | % |
78
|
48
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
Revenue
|
5,272
|
5,125
|
147
|
2.9 | % |
4,642
|
3,962
|
680
|
17.2 | % |
9,914
|
9,087
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating
expenses
|
2,138
|
2,021
|
117
|
5.8 | % |
1,990
|
1,884
|
106
|
5.6 | % |
4,128
|
3,905
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
operating income
|
$ |
3,134
|
$ |
3,104
|
$ |
30
|
1.0 | % | $ |
2,652
|
$ |
2,078
|
$ |
574
|
27.6 | % |
5,786
|
5,182
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Average
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Occupancy
%
|
89.9 | % | 90.3 | % | -0.4 | % | 94.7 | % | 95.1 | % | -0.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reconciliation
to consolidated net income:
|
||||||||||
Deferred
rents - straight lining
|
59
|
85
|
||||||||
Amortization
of acquired leases
|
75
|
63
|
||||||||
Net
investment income
|
138
|
65
|
||||||||
General
and administrative expenses
|
(413 | ) | (281 | ) | ||||||
Depreciation
|
(1,349 | ) | (1,137 | ) | ||||||
Financing
costs
|
(3,045 | ) | (2,772 | ) | ||||||
Distributions
to certain minority interests
|
-
|
(90 | ) | |||||||
Minority
interest
|
(120 | ) | (80 | ) | ||||||
Net
income
|
$ |
1,131
|
$ |
1,035
|
||||||
*
Restated
|
NOI
is
based on operating revenue and expenses directly associated with the operations
of the real estate properties, but excludes deferred rents (straight lining),
lease amortization, depreciation, and financing costs. FREIT assesses and
measures segment operating results based on NOI. NOI is not a measure of
operating results or cash flow as measured by generally accepted accounting
principles, and is not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash
needs and should not be considered an alternative to cash flows as a measure
of
liquidity.
COMMERCIAL
SEGMENT
FREIT’s
commercial properties consist of nine (9) properties totaling approximately
1,100,000 sq. ft. of retail space and 138,000 sq. ft. of office
space. Seven (7) are multi-tenanted retail or office centers, and one
is a single tenanted store. In addition, FREIT has leased land and receives
rental income from a tenant who has built and operates a bank branch on land
FREIT owns in Rockaway, NJ.
As
indicated in the above Segment information table, revenue from FREIT’s
commercial segment for the Current Six Months and Current Quarter increased
by
2.2% and 2.9%, respectively, over the comparable prior year’s periods. NOI for
the Current Six Months and Current Quarter increased by 0.4% and 1.0%, over
the
comparable prior year’s periods. Revenues and NOI for the Current Six Months and
Current Quarter were adversely affected by the anticipated planned renovation
at
our Damascus Shopping Center property located in Damascus, MD (the “Damascus
Center”), which caused a temporary decline in occupancy levels. Average
occupancy rates for FREIT’s commercial segment for the Current Six Months was at
93.8%, exclusive of the Damascus Center, compared to 93.0% for the prior year’s
period. As a result of this renovation, temporary declines in both revenue
and
NOI were experienced at the Damascus Center of $183,000 and $187,000,
respectively for the Current Six Month period and $86,000 and $97,000,
respectively for the Current Quarter. (See discussion below).
Development
Activities:
The
Rotunda, Baltimore, MD: Acquired in July 2005, the property is on 11.5 acres
of
land and is currently configured into about 138,000 sq. ft. of office space
and
78,000 sq. ft. of retail space on the lower level of the main building. We
are
planning a modernization and expansion of the retail space, as well as the
development of residential apartment units as allowed by the current zoning.
Final development plans, however, are subject to approval by local governmental
authorities.
Damascus
Center, Damascus, MD: FREIT is planning a redevelopment of the Damascus Center.
Building plans for Phase I have been completed and have been approved by
governmental agencies. It is anticipated that Phase I construction will begin
in
2007. Because of this redevelopment, current leases for certain tenants are
being allowed to expire and are not being renewed. This has caused occupancy
to
decline, on a temporary basis, during the construction phase.
RESIDENTIAL
SEGMENT
With
the
completion of the 129-unit apartment community at The Boulders, FREIT now
operates ten (10) multi-family apartment communities totaling 1,115 apartment
units. As indicated in the table above, revenue from our residential segment
for
the Current Six Months increased 17.3% to $9,262,000 and NOI for the same period
is also up 25.9% to $5,009,000. For the Current Quarter, revenue increased
17.2%
to $4,642,000 and NOI is also up 27.6% to $2,652,000. Fiscal 2007 will be the
first full year of operation for The Boulders. (See discussion below.) The
contribution made by The Boulders to the Current Six Months and Current
Quarter’s revenue and NOI, as compared to the Prior Year’s revenue and NOI is
reflected in the following chart:
Six
Months Ended April 30,
|
||||||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||||||||||||
Residential
|
The
|
Same
|
Same
|
|||||||||||||||
$(000)
|
Properties
|
Boulders
|
Properties
|
Properties
|
||||||||||||||
Revenues
|
$ |
9,262
|
$ |
1,068
|
$ |
8,194
|
$ |
7,896
|
||||||||||
Expenses
|
4,253
|
468
|
3,785
|
3,916
|
||||||||||||||
NOI
|
$ |
5,009
|
$ |
600
|
$ |
4,409
|
$ |
3,980
|
||||||||||
Three
Months Ended April 30,
|
||||||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||||||||||||
Residential
|
The
|
Same
|
Same
|
|||||||||||||||
$(000)
|
Properties
|
Boulders
|
Properties
|
Properties
|
||||||||||||||
Revenues
|
$ |
4,642
|
$ |
572
|
$ |
4,070
|
$ |
3,962
|
||||||||||
Expenses
|
1,990
|
258
|
1,732
|
1,884
|
||||||||||||||
NOI
|
$ |
2,652
|
$ |
314
|
$ |
2,338
|
$ |
2,078
|
||||||||||
Revenues
from FREIT’s residential properties continue to increase. Average occupancy
rates for the Current Six Months and Current Quarter, exclusive of The Boulders
property, which was not completed until late fiscal 2006, increased to 95.8%
and
95.5%, respectively, compared to 95% and 95.1% for the prior year’s periods. The
occupancy level at The Boulders was in excess of 96% at the end of April 2007,
and averaged 82% during the Current Six Month period.
Our
residential revenue is principally composed of monthly apartment rental income.
Total rental income is a factor of occupancy and monthly apartment rents.
Monthly average residential rents at the end of the Current Six Months and
the
Prior Six Month period were $1,452 and $1,377, respectively. A 1% decline in
annual average occupancy, or a 1% decline in average rents from current levels,
results in an annual revenue decline of approximately $194,000 and $185,000,
respectively.
Capital
expenditures: Since all of our apartment communities, with the exception of
The
Boulders, were constructed more than 25 years ago, we tend to spend more in
any
given year on maintenance and capital improvements than may be spent on newer
properties. A major renovation program has been started at The Pierre Towers
apartment complex (“The Pierre”). We intend to modernize, where required, all
apartments and modernize some of the buildings’ mechanical services. This
renovation is expected to cost approximately $2 - 4 million and take, at least,
several years to complete. These costs will be financed from operating cash
flow
and cash reserves. Through April 30, 2007, we expended $2.5 million in capital
improvements at The Pierre, including approximately $675,000 during the first
six months of the year.
The
Boulders, Rockaway Township, NJ
Construction
started on this 129-unit garden apartment community in July 2005 and was
completed during August 2006. Development costs have been financed from
construction financing and from funds available from our cash and cash
equivalents. Certificates of Occupancy for all of the buildings have been
received, and tenants started taking occupancy during June 2006. As of May
18,
2007 occupancy was in excess of 96%. The Boulders is expected to add to future
earnings, cash flow and shareholder value.
FINANCING
COSTS
Six
Months Ended
|
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||||
April
30,
|
April
30,
|
|||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||||||||
($
in thousands)
|
||||||||||||||||
1st
Mortgages
|
||||||||||||||||
Existing
|
$ |
4,072
|
$ |
4,336
|
$ |
1,527
|
$ |
2,164
|
||||||||
New
(1) - Boulders
|
370
|
672
|
278
|
343
|
||||||||||||
Construction
Loan (1) - Boulders
|
161
|
155
|
-
|
134
|
||||||||||||
2nd
Mortgages
|
||||||||||||||||
Existing
|
1,168
|
272
|
1,035
|
136
|
||||||||||||
Other
|
185
|
98
|
138
|
65
|
||||||||||||
5,956
|
5,533
|
2,978
|
2,842
|
|||||||||||||
Amortization
of Mortgage Costs
|
132
|
129
|
67
|
64
|
||||||||||||
Total
Financing Costs
|
6,088
|
5,662
|
3,045
|
2,906
|
||||||||||||
Less
amount capitalized
|
(155 | ) |
-
|
(134 | ) | |||||||||||
Financing
costs expensed
|
$ |
6,088
|
$ |
5,507
|
$ |
3,045
|
$ |
2,772
|
||||||||
(1)
Mortgages not in place at beginning of fiscal 2006.
|
Financing
costs before capitalized amounts for the Current Six Months and Current Quarter
increased 7.5% and 4.8%, over the prior year’s reporting periods.
Increased
financing levels at The Boulders (construction and permanent loans) resulted
in
increased financing costs of $531,000 for the Current Six Months. Our
acquisition loan for The Rotunda property of $22.5 million bears a floating
interest rate. Higher interest rates over the course of the last year raised
the
level of interest expense for the Rotunda by $115,000, to $788,000 for the
Current Six Month period.
CERTAIN
MINORITY DISTRIBUTIONS
Westwood
Hills, LLC (“WH”), our 40% owned subsidiary, has a capital deficit. This deficit
resulted primarily from distributions to WH’s members, of proceeds from mortgage
financings, which were in excess of the carrying basis of WH’s assets. The
higher mortgage amounts provided by lenders reflected the increased value of
WH’s property.
During
the Prior Year’s Quarter, WH made a $150,000 distribution to its members. FREIT
received $60,000 and the members owning 60% (“Minority”) received $90,000. Since
WH has a capital deficit and its members are under no obligation to restore
their negative capital accounts, under GAAP FREIT is required to charge its
income statement for $90,000, the amount of the distribution received by the
Minority. During the first quarter of fiscal 2007, WH made a $250,000
distribution to its members, of which the Minority received $150,000. FREIT
reflected this distribution as a charge to its income statement for $150,000.
These charges had no economic effect or cost to FREIT. No such distributions
were made during the Current Quarter.
NET
INVESTMENT INCOME
Net
investment income for the Current Six Months and Current Quarter increased
99%
and 112% to $225,000 and $138,000, respectively, over the comparable prior
year’s periods. Net investment income is principally derived from interest
earned from cash on deposit in institutional money market funds and interest
earned from secured loans receivable (loans made to Hekemian employees for
their
equity investment in Grande Rotunda, LLC, a limited liability company, in which
FREIT owns a 60% equity interest and Damascus Center, LLC, a limited liability
company, in which FREIT owns a 70% equity interest). The increase in net
investment income for the current year was primarily attributable to interest
income relative to secured loans made in connection with the sale of an equity
interest in the Damascus Center, effective October 31, 2006.
GENERAL
AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES (“G & A”)
During
the Current Six Months and Current Quarter, G & A was $803,000 and $413,000,
respectively, as compared to $526,000 and $281,000 for the prior year’s periods.
The increases for the Current Six Month and Current Quarter periods were
primarily attributable to increases in auditing fees of $220,000 and $50,000,
respectively.
DEPRECIATION
Depreciation
expense for the Current Six Months and Current Quarter was $2,655,000 and
$1,349,000, respectively, an increase of $388,000 and $212,000 over the prior
year’s comparable periods. The increase was primarily attributable to
depreciation related to The Boulders property, completed in August
2006.
LIQUIDITY
AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Our
financial condition remains strong. Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities
was $5.5 million for the Current Six Months compared to $4.0 million for the
Prior Six Months. We expect that cash provided by operating activities will
be
adequate to cover mandatory debt service payments, recurring capital
improvements and dividends necessary to retain qualification as a REIT (90%
of
taxable income).
Credit
Line:
FREIT
has
an $18 million line of credit provided by the Provident Bank. The line of credit
is for three years but can be cancelled by the bank, at its will, at each
anniversary date. Draws against the credit line can be used for general
corporate purposes, for property acquisitions, construction activities, and
letters of credit. Draws against the credit line are secured by mortgages on
FREIT’s Franklin Crossing Shopping Center, Franklin Lakes, NJ, retail space in
Glen Rock, NJ, Lakewood Apartments, Lakewood, NJ, Palisades Manor Apartments,
Palisades Park, NJ, and Grandview Apartments, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ.
.Interest rates on draws will be set at the time of each draw
for 30, 60, or 90-day periods, based on our choice of the prime rate or at
175
basis points over the 30, 60, or 90-day LIBOR rates at the time of the
draws.
In
connection with its construction activities in Rockaway, NJ, FREIT had drawn
down $1.5 million and further utilized the credit line for the issuance of
a $2
million Letter of Credit (“LoC”). The $1.5 million was repaid during our
1st Quarter and the $2 million LoC was retired on May 16,
2007. During the Current Quarter, FREIT utilized $15.8 million of its
credit line to repay currently maturing mortgage debt secured by Westridge
Square. The $15.8 million utilized under the credit line was subsequently
repaid on April 25, 2007 using proceeds from the refinancing of the Westridge
Square debt. (See discussion below under “Refinancing of debt obligation” for
additional information.) $18 million is currently available under the line
of credit.
As
described in the segment analysis above, construction of The Boulders in
Rockaway Township, NJ has been completed. Construction costs were funded from
draws against a construction loan. Upon completion of construction, the
construction loan of approximately $14 million was converted to a permanent
loan
with additional funding to bring the permanent loan balance up to $20.7 million.
We also are planning a redevelopment of the Damascus Center, in Damascus, MD,
and an expansion and redevelopment of The Rotunda in Baltimore,
MD. The total capital required for these projects is estimated at $19
million, and $145 million, respectively. We expect to finance these costs,
in
part, from construction and mortgage financing and, in part, from available
cash. We expect these redevelopment projects to add to revenues,
income, cash flow, and shareholder value.
At
April
30, 2007, FREIT’s aggregate outstanding mortgage debt was $190.5 million and
bears a weighted average interest rate of 5.8%, and an average life of
approximately 6.6 years. These fixed rate mortgages are subject to amortization
schedules that are longer than the term of the mortgages. As such, balloon
payments (unpaid principal amounts at mortgage due date) for all mortgage debt
will be required as follows:
Fiscal
Year
|
2008
|
2010
|
2013
|
2014
|
2016
|
2017
|
2019
|
2022
|
($
in millions)
|
||||||||
Mortgage
"Balloon" Payments
|
$28.4
|
$12.3
|
$8.0
|
$26.1
|
$24.7
|
$22.0
|
$28.3
|
$14.4
|
The
following table shows the estimated fair value and carrying value of our
long-term debt at April 30, 2007 and October 31, 2006:
April
30,
|
October
31,
|
|
(In
Millions)
|
2007
|
2006
|
Fair
Value
|
$193.8
|
$184.4
|
Carrying
Value
|
$190.5
|
$180.7
|
Fair
values are estimated based on market interest rates at April 30, 2007 and
October 31, 2006 and on discounted cash flow analysis. Changes in assumptions
or
estimation methods may significantly affect these fair value
estimates.
FREIT
expects to re-finance the individual mortgages with new mortgages when their
terms expire. To this extent we have exposure to interest rate risk on our
fixed
rate debt obligations. If interest rates, at the time any individual mortgage
note is due, are higher than the current fixed interest rate, higher debt
service may be required, and/or re-financing proceeds may be less than the
amount of mortgage debt being retired. For example, at April 30, 2007 a 1%
interest rate increase would reduce the fair value of our debt by $10.0 million,
and a 1% decrease would increase the fair value by $10.9 million.
Refinancing
of debt obligation: On April 2, 2007, FREIT repaid the outstanding principal
balance with respect to its $19.2 million 8.31% mortgage note due on July 1,
2007, which was secured by it’s Westridge Square commercial property. The
outstanding principal balance of $15.8 million was repaid using funds available
on hand and borrowings from FREIT’s credit line. The decision to retire the debt
early was made in order to take advantage of favorable interest rates relative
to FREIT’s credit line. No prepayment penalty was incurred as a result of the
early retirement of this debt. On April 25, 2007, FREIT refinanced
the above mentioned mortgage debt with the placement of a $22 million 5.55%
mortgage note due in May 2017, also secured by FREIT’s Westridge Square
commercial property. This new mortgage note will be “interest only” through the
maturity date. It is FREIT’s intent to use the additional proceeds to fund
existing capital projects.
FREIT
also has interest rate exposure on its floating rate loans. Currently, FREIT’s
only floating rate loan outstanding, is its $22.5 million acquisition loan
for
The Rotunda. A 1% rate fluctuation would impact earnings by
$226,000.
We
believe that the values of our properties will be adequate to command
re-financing proceeds equal to or higher than the mortgage debt to be
re-financed. We continually review our debt levels to determine if additional
debt can prudently be utilized for property acquisition additions to our real
estate portfolio that will increase income and cash flow to
shareholders.
Interest
rate swap contract: To reduce interest rate volatility, FREIT uses “pay fixed,
receive floating” interest rate swaps to convert floating interest rates to
fixed interest rates over the terms of certain loans. We enter into these swap
contracts with a counterparty that is usually a high-quality commercial
bank.
In
essence, we agree to pay our counterparty a fixed rate of interest on a dollar
amount of notional principal (which corresponds to our mortgage debt) over
a
term equal to the term of the mortgage note. Our counterparty, in return, agrees
to pay us a short-term rate of interest, generally LIBOR, on that same notional
amount over the same term as our mortgage note.
SFAS
No.
133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” requires us
to mark-to-market fixed pay interest rate swaps. As the floating interest rate
varies from time-to-time over the term of the contract, the value of the
contract will change upward or downward. If the floating rate is higher than
the
fixed rate, the value of the contract goes up and there is a gain and an asset.
If the floating rate is less than the fixed rate, there is a loss and a
liability. These gains or losses will not affect our income statement. Changes
in the fair value of these swap contracts will be reported in other
comprehensive income and appear in the equity section of our balance sheet.
This
gain or loss represents the economic consequence of liquidating our fixed rate
swap contracts and replacing them with like-duration funding at current market
rates, something we would likely never do.
FREIT
had
a variable interest rate mortgage securing its Patchogue, NY property. To reduce
interest rate fluctuations, FREIT entered into an interest rate swap contract.
This rate swap contract effectively converted variable interest rate payments
to
fixed interest rate payments. The contract was initially based on a notional
amount of approximately $6,769,000 ($6,034,000 at April 30, 2007). FREIT has
the
following derivative-related risks with its swap contract: 1) early termination
risk, and 2) counterparty credit risk.
Early
Termination Risk: If FREIT wants to terminate its swap contract before maturity,
it has to be bought out or terminated at market value; i.e., the difference
in
the present value of the anticipated net cash flows from each of the swap’s
parties. If current variable interest rates are below FREIT’s fixed interest
rate payments, this could be costly. Conversely, if interest rates rise above
FREIT’s fixed interest payments and FREIT elected early termination, FREIT would
realize a gain on termination. At April 30, 2007, FREIT’s swap contract was in
the money. If FREIT had terminated its contract at that date it would have
realized a gain of about $58,000. This amount has been included as an asset
in
FREIT’s balance sheet as at April 30, 2007, and the change (gain or loss)
between reporting periods included in comprehensive income.
Counterparty
Credit Risk: Each party to a swap contract bears the risk that its counterparty
will default on its obligation to make a periodic payment. FREIT reduces this
risk by entering swap contracts only with major financial institutions that
are
experienced market makers in the derivatives market.
FUNDS
FROM OPERATIONS (“FFO”):
Many
consider FFO as the standard measurement of a REIT’s performance. We compute FFO
as follows:
Funds
From Operations ("FFO")
|
|||||||||||||||||
Six
Months Ended
|
Three
Months Ended
|
||||||||||||||||
April
30,
|
April
30,
|
||||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006*
|
2007
|
2006*
|
||||||||||||||
($
in thousands)
|
|||||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
$ |
1,977
|
$ |
2,323
|
$ |
1,131
|
$ |
1,035
|
|||||||||
Depreciation
|
2,655
|
2,267
|
1,349
|
1,137
|
|||||||||||||
Amortization
of deferred mortgage costs
|
132
|
129
|
67
|
64
|
|||||||||||||
Deferred
rents (Straight lining)
|
(114 | ) | (171 | ) | (59 | ) | (85 | ) | |||||||||
Amortization
of acquired leases
|
(151 | ) | (202 | ) | (75 | ) | (63 | ) | |||||||||
Capital
Improvements - Apartments
|
(239 | ) | (458 | ) | (65 | ) | (119 | ) | |||||||||
Minority
interests:
|
|||||||||||||||||
Equity
in earnings of affiliates
|
408
|
247
|
120
|
170
|
|||||||||||||
Distributions
to minority interests
|
(387 | ) | (360 | ) | (87 | ) | (360 | ) | |||||||||
FFO
|
$ |
4,281
|
$ |
3,775
|
$ |
2,381
|
$ |
1,779
|
|||||||||
Per
Share - Basic
|
$ |
0.63
|
$ |
0.58
|
$ |
0.35
|
$ |
0.27
|
|||||||||
Per
Share - Diluted
|
$ |
0.62
|
$ |
0.56
|
$ |
0.34
|
$ |
0.26
|
|||||||||
Weighted
Average Shares
Outstanding:
|
|||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
6,751
|
6,522
|
6,751
|
6,542
|
|||||||||||||
Diluted
|
6,916
|
6,753
|
6,915
|
6,889
|
|||||||||||||
* Restated
|
FFO
does
not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and
therefore should not be considered a substitute for net income as a measure
of
results of operations or for cash flow from operations as a measure of
liquidity. Additionally, the application and calculation of FFO by certain
other
REITs may vary materially from that of FREIT’s, and therefore FREIT’s FFO and
the FFO of other REITs
may
not be directly comparable.
INFLATION
Inflation
can impact the financial performance of FREIT in various ways. Our commercial
tenant leases normally provide that the tenants bear all or a portion of most
operating expenses, which can reduce the impact of inflationary increases on
FREIT. Apartment leases are normally for a one-year term, which may allow us
to
seek increased rents as leases renew or when new tenants are
obtained.
See
“Liquidity and Capital Resources” above.
Item
4:
Controls and Procedures
At
the
end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation of the
effectiveness of the design and operation of FREIT’s disclosure controls and
procedures. This evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with
participation of FREIT’s management, including FREIT’s Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, who concluded that FREIT’s
disclosure controls and procedures are effective. There has been no change
in
FREIT’s internal control over financial reporting during the first six months of
fiscal 2007 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, FREIT’s internal control over financial reporting.
Disclosure
controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed
to
ensure that information required to be disclosed in FREIT’s reports filed or
submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and
reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.
Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and
procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in
FREIT’s reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to
management, including FREIT’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required
disclosure.
Part
II: Other Information
Item
4: Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security
Holders
The
following matters were submitted to a vote of security holders at FREIT’s Annual
Meeting of Shareholders held on April 4, 2007:
A. Shareholders
re-elected both Mr. Ronald J. Artinian and Mr. Alan L. Aufzien to serve as
Trustees for a three (3) year term. The balloting for the elections was as
follows:
Ronald
J. Artinian
|
Alan
L. Aufzien
|
|
Votes
For
|
6,056,720
|
6,056,520
|
Votes
Withheld
|
91,100
|
91,300
|
The
other
members of the Board of Trustees are as follows:
Name
|
Term
Expires
|
Robert
S. Hekemian
|
April
2008
|
Donald
W. Barney
|
April
2009
|
Herbert
C. Klein, Esq.
|
April
2009
|
B.
Shareholders approved amendments to FREIT’s Equity Incentive Plan as follows:
(a) reserving an additional 300,000 shares for issuance under the Plan; and
(b)
extending the term of the Plan until September 10, 2018. The balloting results
for these amendments were as follows:
Additional
Shares
|
Extending
Plan Term
|
|
Votes
For
|
4,485,523
|
4,484,923
|
Votes
Against
|
345,395
|
341,795
|
Abstain
|
186,928
|
191,128
|
Broker
Non-Vote
|
1,129,974
|
1,129,974
|
Item
6:
Exhibits
Reference
is made to the Exhibit index below.
Exhibit
Index
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized.
FIRST
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT
|
||
TRUST OF NEW JERSEY
|
||
(Registrant)
|
||
Date:
June 11, 2007
|
||
/s/
Robert S. Hekemian
|
||
(Signature)
|
||
Robert
S. Hekemian
|
||
Chairman
of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
|
||
(Principal
Executive Officer)
|
||
/s/
Donald W. Barney
|
||
(Signature)
|
||
Donald
W. Barney
|
||
President,
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
|
||
(Principal
Financial/Accounting Officer)
|
||
Page
19