URSTADT BIDDLE PROPERTIES INC - Quarter Report: 2007 April (Form 10-Q)
United
States
Securities
And Exchange Commission
Washington,
DC 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
□
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For
the
transition period from _____to_____
Commission
File Number 1-12803
Urstadt
Biddle Properties Inc.
(Exact
Name of Registrant in its Charter)
Maryland
|
04-2458042
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
|
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification Number)
|
321
Railroad Avenue, Greenwich, CT
|
06830
|
(Address
of principal executive offices)
|
(Zip
Code)
|
Registrant's
telephone number, including area code: (203)
863-8200
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 non-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 5, 2007, the number of shares of the Registrant's classes of Common
Stock
and Class A Common Stock was:
7,756,564
Common Shares, par value $.01 per share and 18,858,555 Class A Common Shares,
par value $.01 per share
1
Index
|
|
Urstadt
Biddle Properties Inc.
|
|
Part
I. Financial
Information
|
|
Item
1.
|
Financial
Statements (Unaudited)
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheets - April 30, 2007 (Unaudited) and October 31,
2006.
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Income (Unaudited)-Three and Six months ended April
30, 2007
and 2006.
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)- Six months ended April 30,
2007 and
2006.
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited)– Six months ended April 30,
2007.
|
|
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements.
|
|
Item
2.
|
Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations.
|
Item
3.
|
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
|
Item
4.
|
Controls
and Procedures
|
Part
II. Other
Information
|
|
Item
1.
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
Item
2.
|
Unregistered
Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
|
Item
4.
|
Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
|
Item
6.
|
Exhibits
|
Signatures
|
2
URSTADT
BIDDLE PROPERTIES
INC.
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE
SHEETS
(In
thousands, except share
data)
April
30,
|
October
31,
|
|||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
ASSETS
|
(Unaudited)
|
|||||||
Real
Estate Investments:
|
||||||||
Core
properties – at
cost
|
$ |
511,657
|
$ |
489,160
|
||||
Non-core
properties – at
cost
|
2,227
|
6,383
|
||||||
513,884
|
495,543
|
|||||||
Less: accumulated
depreciation
|
(80,352 | ) | (77,258 | ) | ||||
433,532
|
418,285
|
|||||||
Mortgage
notes
receivable
|
1,334
|
1,361
|
||||||
434,866
|
419,646
|
|||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
5,273
|
2,800
|
||||||
Restricted
cash
|
587
|
589
|
||||||
Marketable
securities
|
2,074
|
2,011
|
||||||
Tenant
receivables, net of allowances of $1,746 and $1,561,
respectively
|
16,357
|
17,176
|
||||||
Prepaid
expenses and other assets
|
5,278
|
4,484
|
||||||
Deferred
charges, net of accumulated amortization
|
4,345
|
4,644
|
||||||
Total
Assets
|
$ |
468,780
|
$ |
451,350
|
||||
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
||||||||
Liabilities:
|
||||||||
Secured
revolving credit
line
|
$ |
5,000
|
$ |
-
|
||||
Mortgage
notes
payable
|
101,520
|
104,341
|
||||||
Accounts
payable and accrued
expenses
|
800
|
1,785
|
||||||
Deferred
compensation –
officers
|
1,178
|
1,200
|
||||||
Other
liabilities
|
5,489
|
5,503
|
||||||
Total
Liabilities
|
113,987
|
112,829
|
||||||
Minority
interests
|
5,318
|
5,318
|
||||||
Redeemable
Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share;
|
||||||||
8.99%
Series B Senior
Cumulative Preferred Stock (liquidation preference of $100
per
|
||||||||
share);
150,000 shares issued
and outstanding
|
14,341
|
14,341
|
||||||
8.50%
Series C Senior
Cumulative Preferred Stock (liquidation preference of $100
per
|
||||||||
share);
400,000 shares issued
and outstanding
|
38,406
|
38,406
|
||||||
Total
Preferred
Stock
|
52,747
|
52,747
|
||||||
Commitments
and Contingencies
|
||||||||
Stockholders’
Equity:
|
||||||||
7.5%
Series D Senior
Cumulative Preferred Stock (liquidation preference of $25 per
share);
2,450,000
shares issued and
outstanding
|
61,250
|
61,250
|
||||||
Excess
stock, par value $.01
per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized;
|
||||||||
none
issued and
outstanding
|
-
|
-
|
||||||
Common
stock, par value $.01
per share; 30,000,000 shares authorized;
|
||||||||
7,756,564
and 7,635,441 shares
issued and outstanding
|
77
|
76
|
||||||
Class
A Common stock, par
value $.01 per share; 40,000,000 shares authorized;
|
||||||||
18,858,555
and 18,804,781
shares issued and outstanding
|
189
|
188
|
||||||
Additional
paid in
capital
|
263,438
|
262,024
|
||||||
Cumulative
distributions in
excess of net income
|
(27,607 | ) | (42,400 | ) | ||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive
income
|
681
|
618
|
||||||
Officer
note
receivable
|
(1,300 | ) | (1,300 | ) | ||||
Total
Stockholders’
Equity
|
296,728
|
280,456
|
||||||
Total
Liabilities and
Stockholders’ Equity
|
$ |
468,780
|
$ |
451,350
|
The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral
part
of these statements.
3
URSTADT
BIDDLE PROPERTIES
INC.
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(In
thousands, except per share data)
Six
Months Ended
|
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||||
April
30,
|
April
30,
|
|||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||||||||
Revenues
|
||||||||||||||||
Base
rents
|
$ |
28,690
|
$ |
27,373
|
$ |
14,213
|
$ |
13,621
|
||||||||
Recoveries
from
tenants
|
8,922
|
9,068
|
4,303
|
4,527
|
||||||||||||
Settlement
of lease guaranty
obligation
|
6,000
|
-
|
6,000
|
-
|
||||||||||||
Lease
termination
income
|
115
|
-
|
115
|
-
|
||||||||||||
Mortgage
interest and
other
|
643
|
332
|
532
|
140
|
||||||||||||
44,370
|
36,773
|
25,163
|
18,288
|
|||||||||||||
Expenses
|
||||||||||||||||
Property
operating
|
6,313
|
6,577
|
3,314
|
3,363
|
||||||||||||
Property
taxes
|
5,340
|
4,974
|
2,749
|
2,511
|
||||||||||||
Depreciation
and
amortization
|
6,631
|
6,416
|
3,365
|
3,275
|
||||||||||||
General
and
administrative
|
2,478
|
2,488
|
1,198
|
1,167
|
||||||||||||
Directors'
fees and
expenses
|
126
|
144
|
54
|
52
|
||||||||||||
20,888
|
20,599
|
10,680
|
10,368
|
|||||||||||||
Operating
Income
|
23,482
|
16,174
|
14,483
|
7,920
|
||||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
(3,961 | ) | (4,244 | ) | (2,006 | ) | (2,115 | ) | ||||||||
Interest,
dividends and other
investment income
|
231
|
487
|
196
|
211
|
||||||||||||
Income
before Minority
Interest and Discontinued Operations
|
19,752
|
12,417
|
12,673
|
6,016
|
||||||||||||
Minority
interest in
consolidated joint venture
|
(96 | ) | (94 | ) | (49 | ) | (47 | ) | ||||||||
Income
from Continuing Operations before Discontinued
Operations
|
19,656
|
12,323
|
12,624
|
5,969
|
||||||||||||
Discontinued
Operations:
|
||||||||||||||||
Income
from discontinued
operations
|
252
|
241
|
135
|
125
|
||||||||||||
Gain
on sale of
property
|
11,409
|
-
|
11,409
|
-
|
||||||||||||
Income
from Discontinued Operations
|
11,661
|
241
|
11,544
|
125
|
||||||||||||
Net
Income
|
31,317
|
12,564
|
24,168
|
6,094
|
||||||||||||
Preferred
stock
dividends
|
(4,671 | ) | (4,671 | ) | (2,335 | ) | (2,335 | ) | ||||||||
Net
Income Applicable to Common and Class A Common
Stockholders
|
$ |
26,646
|
$ |
7,893
|
$ |
21,833
|
$ |
3,759
|
||||||||
Basic
earnings per share:
|
||||||||||||||||
Per
Common Share:
|
||||||||||||||||
Income
from continuing
operations
|
$ |
0.55
|
$ |
0.29
|
$ |
0.38
|
$ |
0.14
|
||||||||
Income
from discontinued
operations
|
$ |
0.43
|
$ |
-
|
$ |
0.42
|
$ |
-
|
||||||||
Net
Income Applicable to
Common Stockholders
|
$ |
0.98
|
$ |
0.29
|
$ |
0.80
|
$ |
0.14
|
||||||||
Per
Class A Common Share:
|
||||||||||||||||
Income
from continuing
operations
|
$ |
0.61
|
$ |
0.32
|
$ |
0.42
|
$ |
0.15
|
||||||||
Income
from discontinued
operations
|
$ |
0.48
|
$ |
-
|
$ |
0.47
|
$ |
-
|
||||||||
Net
Income Applicable to Class
A Common Stockholders
|
$ |
1.09
|
$ |
0.32
|
$ |
0.89
|
$ |
0.15
|
||||||||
Diluted
earnings per share:
|
||||||||||||||||
Per
Common Share:
|
||||||||||||||||
Income
from continuing
operations
|
$ |
0.54
|
$ |
0.29
|
$ |
0.37
|
$ |
0.14
|
||||||||
Income
from discontinued
operations
|
$ |
0.41
|
$ |
-
|
$ |
0.41
|
$ |
-
|
||||||||
Net
Income Applicable to Common
Stockholders
|
$ |
0.95
|
$ |
0.29
|
$ |
0.78
|
$ |
0.14
|
||||||||
Per
Class A Common Share:
|
||||||||||||||||
Income
from continuing
operations
|
$ |
0.60
|
$ |
0.32
|
$ |
0.41
|
$ |
0.15
|
||||||||
Income
from discontinued
operations
|
$ |
0.46
|
$ |
-
|
$ |
0.45
|
$ |
-
|
||||||||
Net
Income Applicable to Class
A Common Stockholders
|
$ |
1.06
|
$ |
0.32
|
$ |
0.86
|
$ |
0.15
|
||||||||
Dividends
per share:
|
||||||||||||||||
Common
|
$ |
0.4150
|
$ |
0.405
|
$ |
0.2075
|
$ |
0.2025
|
||||||||
Class
A Common
|
$ |
0.4600
|
$ |
0.450
|
$ |
0.2300
|
$ |
0.2250
|
The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral
part
of these statements.
4
URSTADT BIDDLE PROPERTIES INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
(In
thousands)
Six
Months Ended
|
||||||||
April
30,
|
||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
Cash
Flows from Operating Activities:
|
||||||||
Net
income
|
$ |
31,317
|
$ |
12,564
|
||||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to net cash provided
|
||||||||
by
operating
activities:
|
||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
from continuing operations
|
6,631
|
6,416
|
||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
from discontinued operations
|
42
|
86
|
||||||
Straight-line
rent
adjustments
|
(559 | ) | (563 | ) | ||||
Gain
on sale of
property
|
(11,409 | ) |
-
|
|||||
Change
in value of deferred
compensation arrangement
|
(22 | ) |
11
|
|||||
Restricted
stock compensation expense
|
1,019
|
979
|
||||||
Minority
interest
|
96
|
94
|
||||||
Gain
on repayment of mortgage
note receivable
|
-
|
(102 | ) | |||||
Decrease
(increase) in tenant
receivables
|
1,337
|
(1,549 | ) | |||||
(Decrease) in
accounts
payable and accrued expenses
|
(988 | ) | (2,186 | ) | ||||
(Increase)
in other assets and
other liabilities, net
|
(733 | ) | (1,031 | ) | ||||
Decrease
(increase) in
restricted cash
|
2
|
(12 | ) | |||||
Net
Cash Flow Provided by
Operating Activities
|
26,733
|
14,707
|
||||||
Cash
Flows from Investing Activities:
|
||||||||
Acquisitions
of real estate
investments
|
(21,304 | ) | (16,810 | ) | ||||
Net
proceeds from sale of
property
|
13,200
|
-
|
||||||
Improvements
to properties and
deferred charges
|
(2,122 | ) | (1,507 | ) | ||||
Purchases
of marketable
securities
|
-
|
(100 | ) | |||||
Payments
received on mortgage
notes receivable
|
27
|
726
|
||||||
Distributions
to limited
partner of consolidated joint venture
|
(96 | ) | (94 | ) | ||||
Net
Cash Flow Used in Investing
Activities
|
(10,295 | ) | (17,785 | ) | ||||
Cash
Flows from Financing Activities:
|
||||||||
Proceeds
from revolving credit
line borrowings
|
5,000
|
-
|
||||||
Dividends
paid - Common and
Class A Common Stock
|
(11,853 | ) | (11,535 | ) | ||||
Dividends
paid - Preferred
Stock
|
(4,671 | ) | (4,671 | ) | ||||
Sales
of additional shares of
Common and Class A Common Stock
|
380
|
476
|
||||||
Principal
repayments of
mortgage notes payable
|
(2,821 | ) | (1,288 | ) | ||||
Net
Cash Flow Used by Financing
Activities
|
(13,965 | ) | (17,018 | ) | ||||
Net
Increase (decrease) In Cash and Cash
Equivalents
|
2,473
|
(20,096 | ) | |||||
Cash
and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period
|
2,800
|
26,494
|
||||||
Cash
and Cash Equivalents at End of Period
|
$ |
5,273
|
$ |
6,398
|
||||
Supplemental
Cash Flow Disclosures:
|
||||||||
Interest
Paid
|
$ |
3,937
|
$ |
4,244
|
The
accompanying notes to
consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these
statements.
5
URSTADT BIDDLE PROPERTIES INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(UNAUDITED)
(In thousands, except shares and per share data)
Cumulative
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7.5%
Series D
|
Additional
|
Distributions
In
|
Accumulated Other |
Officer
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred
Stock
|
Common
Stock
|
Class
A Common Stock
|
Paid
In
|
Excess
of
|
Comprehensive
|
Note
|
Stockholders’
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issued
|
Amount
|
Issued
|
Amount
|
Issued
|
Amount
|
Capital
|
Net
Income
|
Income
|
Receivable
|
Equity
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balances
– October 31, 2006
|
2,450,000
|
$ |
61,250
|
7,635,441
|
$ |
76
|
18,804,781
|
$ |
188
|
$ |
262,024
|
$ | (42,400 | ) | $ |
618
|
$ | (1,300 | ) | $ |
280,456
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive
Income:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
income applicable to Common
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
and
Class A common
stockholders
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
26,646
|
-
|
-
|
26,646
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Change
in unrealized gains in marketable securities
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
63
|
-
|
63
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
comprehensive income
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
26,709
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash
dividends paid :
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common
stock ($.4150 per
share)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(3,214 | ) |
-
|
-
|
(3,214 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class
A common stock ($.46 per
share)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(8,639 | ) |
-
|
-
|
(8,639 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of shares under dividend reinvestment plan
|
-
|
-
|
15,323
|
-
|
5,771
|
-
|
380
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
380
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Forfeiture
of restricted stock
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(24,250 | ) |
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares
issued under restricted stock plan
|
-
|
-
|
105,800
|
1
|
70,300
|
1
|
(2 | ) |
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock
options exercised
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1,953
|
-
|
17
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
17
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted
stock compensation
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1,019
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1,019
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balances
– April 30, 2007
|
2,450,000
|
$ |
61,250
|
7,756,564
|
$ |
77
|
18,858,555
|
$ |
189
|
$ |
263,438
|
$ | (27,607 | ) | $ |
681
|
$ | (1,300 | ) | $ |
296,728
|
The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral
part
of these statements.
6
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(1)
ORGANIZATION, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT
ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Business
Urstadt
Biddle Properties Inc. (“Company”), a real estate investment trust (REIT), is
engaged in the acquisition, ownership and management of commercial real estate,
primarily neighborhood and community shopping centers in the northeastern
part
of the United States. Non-core properties include a retail
building and industrial properties. The Company's major tenants
include supermarket chains and other retailers who sell basic
necessities. At April 30, 2007, the Company owned or had interests in
38 properties containing a total of 3.7 million square feet of leasable
area.
Principles
of Consolidation and Use of Estimates
The
accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the
Company, its wholly owned subsidiaries, and joint ventures in which the Company
meets certain criteria of a sole general partner in accordance with Emerging
Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue 04-5, “Determining Whether a General Partner,
or the General Partners as a Group, Controls a Limited Partnership or Similar
Entity When the Limited Partners Have Certain Rights.” The joint
ventures are consolidated into the consolidated financial statements of the
Company. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have
been eliminated in consolidation.
The
accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information
and
with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation
S-X. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included
in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles have been omitted. In the opinion of
management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered
necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Results of
operations for the six month period ended April 30, 2007, are not necessarily
indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending October
31,
2007. It is suggested that these financial statements be read in
conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the
Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31,
2006.
The
preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates
and
assumptions that affect the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities,
the
reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the periods
covered by the financial statements. The most significant assumptions
and estimates relate to the valuation of real estate, depreciable lives,
revenue
recognition and the collectibility of tenant and mortgage notes
receivables. Actual results could differ from these
estimates. The balance sheet at October 31, 2006 has been derived
from audited financial statements at that date.
Reclassifications
Certain
prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year
presentation.
Federal
Income Taxes
The
Company has elected to be treated as a real estate investment trust under
Sections 856-860 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code). Under those
sections, a REIT that, among other things, distributes at least 90% of real
estate trust taxable income and meets certain other qualifications prescribed
by
the Code will not be taxed on that portion of its taxable income that is
distributed. The Company believes it qualifies as a REIT and intends
to distribute all of its taxable income for fiscal 2007 in accordance with
the
provisions of the Code. Accordingly, no provision has been made for
Federal income taxes in the accompanying consolidated financial
statements.
In
July
2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in
Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for
Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”), regarding accounting for and disclosure of uncertain
tax positions. This interpretation prescribes a recognition threshold
and measurement in the financial statements of a tax position taken or expected
to be taken in a tax return. The interpretation also provides
guidance as to its application and related transition, and is effective for
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company does not
expect the adoption of FIN 48 to have a material effect on the Company’s
consolidated financial statements.
Concentration
of Credit Risk
Financial
instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit
risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, mortgage notes receivable
and tenant receivables. The Company places its cash and cash
equivalents in excess of insured amounts with high quality financial
institutions. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its
tenants and may require certain tenants to provide security deposits or letters
of credit. Though these security deposits and letters of credit are
insufficient to meet the terminal value of a tenant’s lease obligation, they are
a measure of good faith and a source of funds to offset the economic costs
associated with lost rent and the costs associated with retenanting the
space. There is no dependence upon any single tenant.
7
Marketable
Securities
Marketable
securities consist of short-term investments and marketable equity
securities. Short-term investments (consisting of investments with
original maturities of greater than three months when purchased) and marketable
equity securities are carried at fair value. The Company has
classified marketable securities as available for sale. Unrealized
gains and losses on available for sale securities are recorded as other
comprehensive income in Stockholders’ Equity. There were no
sales of marketable securities during the six month and three month periods
ended April 30, 2007 and 2006.
Comprehensive
Income
Comprehensive
income is comprised of net income and other comprehensive income (loss).
Other
comprehensive income (loss) includes items that are otherwise recorded directly
in stockholders’ equity, such as unrealized gains or losses on marketable
securities. At April 30, 2007, other comprehensive income consisted
of net unrealized gains on marketable securities of
$681,000. Unrealized gains included in other comprehensive income
will be reclassified into earnings as gains are realized.
Earnings
Per Share
The
Company calculates basic and diluted earnings per share in accordance with
SFAS
No. 128, “Earnings Per Share.” Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) excludes the
impact of dilutive shares and is computed by dividing net income applicable
to
Common and Class A Common stockholders by the weighted number of Common shares
and Class A Common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS
reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other
contracts to issue Common shares or Class A Common shares were exercised
or
converted into Common shares or Class A Common shares and then shared in
the
earnings of the Company. Since the cash dividends declared on the
Company’s Class A Common stock are higher than the dividends declared on the
Common Stock, basic and diluted EPS have been calculated using the “two-class”
method. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that
determines earnings per share for each class of common stock according to
the
weighted average of the dividends declared, outstanding shares per class
and
participation rights in undistributed earnings.
The
following table sets forth the reconciliation between basic and diluted EPS
(in
thousands):
Six
Months Ended
|
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||||
April
30,
|
April
30,
|
|||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||||||||
Numerator
|
||||||||||||||||
Net
income applicable to common stockholders – basic
|
$ |
6,664
|
$ |
1,945
|
$ |
5,481
|
$ |
927
|
||||||||
Effect
of dilutive securities:
|
||||||||||||||||
Operating
partnership
units
|
289
|
107
|
228
|
53
|
||||||||||||
Net
income applicable to common stockholders – diluted
|
$ |
6,953
|
$ |
2,052
|
$ |
5,709
|
$ |
980
|
||||||||
Denominator
|
||||||||||||||||
Denominator
for basic EPS weighted average common shares
|
6,801
|
6,650
|
6,841
|
6,657
|
||||||||||||
Effect
of dilutive securities:
|
||||||||||||||||
Restricted
stock and other awards
|
441
|
463
|
435
|
475
|
||||||||||||
Operating
partnership units
|
55
|
55
|
55
|
55
|
||||||||||||
Denominator
for diluted EPS – weighted average common equivalent
shares
|
7,297
|
7,168
|
7,331
|
7,187
|
||||||||||||
Numerator
|
||||||||||||||||
Net
income applicable to Class A common stockholders-basic
|
$ |
19,982
|
$ |
5,948
|
$ |
16,352
|
$ |
2,832
|
||||||||
Effect
of dilutive securities:
|
||||||||||||||||
Operating
partnership
units
|
(193 | ) | (14 | ) | (181 | ) | (6 | ) | ||||||||
Net
income applicable to Class A common stockholders – diluted
|
$ |
19,789
|
$ |
5,934
|
$ |
16,171
|
$ |
2,826
|
||||||||
Denominator
|
||||||||||||||||
Denominator
for basic EPS – weighted average Class A common shares
|
18,398
|
18,306
|
18,416
|
18,308
|
||||||||||||
Effect
of dilutive securities:
|
||||||||||||||||
Restricted
stock and other
awards
|
285
|
295
|
268
|
306
|
||||||||||||
Operating
partnership
units
|
55
|
55
|
55
|
55
|
||||||||||||
Denominator
for diluted EPS – weighted average Class A common equivalent
shares
|
18,738
|
18,656
|
18,739
|
18,669
|
Segment
Reporting
The
Company operates in one industry segment, ownership of commercial real estate
properties which are located principally in the northeastern United
States. The Company does not distinguish its property operations for
purposes of measuring performance. Accordingly, the Company believes
it has a single reportable segment for disclosure purposes.
8
Stock
Based Compensation
Effective
November 1, 2005, the Company accounts for its stock based compensation plans
under the fair value recognition provisions of FASB Statement No. 123R,
“Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123R”) using the
modified-prospective-transition method. Under that transition method,
compensation expense is recognized for all share-based payments granted
subsequent to November 1, 2005, based on the fair value of the stock awards
less
estimated forfeitures. The fair value of stock awards is equal to the fair
value
of the Company’s stock on the grant date.
(2) CORE
PROPERTIES
In
January 2007, the Company acquired a 10,100 square foot shopping center located
in Monroe, Connecticut for $3.825 million including closing
costs. The purchase was financed from available cash and borrowings
under the Company’s secured line of credit.
On
April
30, 2007, the Company acquired the Emerson Shopping Plaza, a 94,000 square
foot
shopping center located in Emerson New Jersey for a purchase price of
approximately $17.25 million, excluding closing costs. The purchase
price was funded from the net proceeds of the sale of one of the Company’s non
core properties (see Note 5) and available cash.
Upon
the
acquisition of real estate properties, the fair value of the real estate
purchased is allocated to the acquired tangible assets (consisting of land,
buildings and building improvements), and identified intangible assets and
liabilities (consisting of above-market and below-market leases and in-place
leases), in accordance with SFAS No. 141 “Business Combinations”. The
Company utilizes methods similar to those used by independent appraisers
in
estimating the fair value of acquired assets and liabilities. The
fair value of the tangible assets of an acquired property considers the value
of
the property “as-if-vacant”. The fair value reflects the depreciated
replacement cost of the asset. In allocating purchase price to
identified intangible assets and liabilities of an acquired property, the
value
of above-market and below-market leases are estimated based on the differences
between (i) contractual rentals and the estimated market rents over the
applicable lease term discounted back to the date of acquisition utilizing
a
discount rate adjusted for the credit risk associated with the respective
tenants and (ii) the estimated cost of acquiring such leases giving effect
to
the Company’s history of providing tenant improvements and paying leasing
commissions, offset by a vacancy period during which such space would be
leased. The aggregate value of in-place leases is measured by the
excess of (i) the purchase price paid for a property after adjusting existing
in-place leases to market rental rates over (ii) the estimated fair value
of the
property “as-if-vacant,” determined as set forth above.
During
the second quarter of fiscal 2007, the Company completed its evaluation of
the
leases at the Monroe, Connecticut property and, as a result of its evaluation,
determined that no allocation was required to adjust the net fair value assigned
to the leases acquired. The Company is currently in the process of
analyzing the fair value of in-place leases for the Emerson, New Jersey
property. Consequently, no value has yet been assigned to the
leases. Accordingly, the purchase price allocation is preliminary and
may be subject to change.
For
the
six months ended April 30, 2007 and 2006 the net amortization of above-market
and below-market leases was approximately $129,000 and $82,000 respectively,
which amounts are included in base rents in the accompanying consolidated
statements of income.
During
the quarter ended January 31, 2007, the Company entered into a lease with
a
wholesale club to lease approximately 107,000 square feet of space at The
Dock
Shopping Center, Stratford, CT, subject to certain conditions. In
connection with the new lease, the Company has agreed to provide up to $6.75
million toward the costs of redeveloping the space that previously had been
occupied by a tenant who, in a prior year, filed a petition in bankruptcy
and
vacated the space. The former tenant’s lease obligations were
guaranteed through 2016 by a corporate guarantor previously affiliated with
the
former tenant. In February 2007, the Company executed a settlement
agreement with the guarantor whereby the guarantor was released from its
obligations in exchange for a payment of $6 million. The payment and
release of guaranty were subject to certain conditions contained in the
agreement. The conditions were satisfied on April 15, 2007 and the
Company recorded the guaranty payment in the accompanying consolidated statement
of income in the three months ended April 30, 2007.
In
February 2007, the Company granted an easement to a utility company at one
of
its retail properties. In consideration for granting the easement,
the utility company made a one-time payment of $352,200 to the Company which
is
included in other income in the accompanying consolidated statement of income
for the three and six month periods ended April 30, 2007.
The
Company is the general partner in a consolidated limited partnership which
owns
a shopping center. The limited partnership has a defined termination
date of December 31, 2097. Upon liquidation of the partnership,
proceeds from the sale of partnership assets are to be distributed in accordance
with the respective partnership interests. If termination of the
partnership occurred on April 30, 2007 the amount payable to the limited
partners is estimated to be $3,300,000. The Company has retained an
affiliate of one of the limited partners to provide management and leasing
services to the property at an annual fee of $125,000 through June
2007. For the six months and three months ended April 30, 2007 and
2006 the affiliate received payments of $62,500 and $31,250, respectively
for
such services rendered.
The
limited partner interests are reflected in the accompanying consolidated
financial statements as Minority Interest.
(3)
MORTGAGE NOTES RECEIVABLE
In
January 2006, a mortgage note receivable in the principal amount of $707,000
was
fully paid by the borrower. Upon repayment of the note, the Company
recorded a gain on the repayment of $102,000, which amount is included in
other
income in the accompanying consolidated statement of income for the six months
ended April 30, 2006.
9
(4) MORTGAGE
NOTES PAYABLE AND BANK LINE OF CREDIT
At
April
30, 2007, the Company had a secured revolving credit facility with a commercial
bank (the “Secured Credit Facility”) which provides for borrowing of up to $30
million. The Secured Credit Facility expires in April 2008 and is
collateralized by first mortgage liens on two of the Company’s
properties. Interest on outstanding borrowings is at prime + ½% or
LIBOR + 1.5%. The Secured Credit Facility requires the Company to
maintain certain debt service coverage ratios during its term. The
Company pays an annual fee of 0.25% on the unused portion of the Secured
Credit
Facility. The Secured Credit Facility is available to fund
acquisitions, capital expenditures, mortgage repayments, working capital
and
other general corporate purposes. At April 30, 2007, the Company had
outstanding borrowings under the Secured Credit Facility totaling $5,000,000
at
a weighted average annual interest rate of 6.875%.
On
March
9, 2007, the Company entered into an agreement with a commercial mortgage
lender, to among other things, extend the term of a mortgage note that was
scheduled to mature in December 2007 and reset the interest rate for the
new
term. The mortgage note, which is secured by the Ridgeway Shopping
Center in Stamford, Connecticut, was extended for a ten year period expiring
in
December 2017 at a fixed rate of interest of 5.52% per annum. The
mortgage note had an outstanding balance of approximately $53 million at
April
30, 2007.
In
March
2007 the Company fully repaid a non recourse mortgage note payable in the
amount
of $1.6 million that was secured by a retail property in Somers, New
York. The loan was repaid from available cash.
(5) DISCONTINUED
OPERATIONS
In
April
2007, the Company sold its non-core retail property, Southern Plaza, in Tempe,
Arizona, for a sale price of approximately $13.2 million, resulting in a
gain on
sale of the property of approximately $11.4 million. The net proceeds
from the property sale were used to complete the purchase of the Emerson
Shopping Plaza (see Note 2).
The
Company has adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived
Assets” (SFAS No. 144). SFAS No. 144 requires, among other things,
that the results of operations of properties sold or that otherwise qualify
as
held for sale be classified as discontinued operations and presented separately
in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
The
operating results for Southern Plaza have been reclassified as discontinued
operations in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. The
following table summarizes revenues and expenses for the Company’s discontinued
operations (amounts in thousands):
Six
Months Ended
|
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||||
April
30
|
April
30
|
|||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||||||||
Revenues
|
$ |
320
|
$ |
374
|
$ |
142
|
$ |
196
|
||||||||
Property
operating expense
|
(26 | ) | (47 | ) | (7 | ) | (28 | ) | ||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
(42 | ) | (86 | ) |
-
|
(43 | ) | |||||||||
Income
from discontinued operations
|
$ |
252
|
$ |
241
|
$ |
135
|
$ |
125
|
(6)
REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK
The
8.99%
Series B Senior Cumulative Preferred Stock (“Series B Preferred Stock”) and
8.50% Series C Senior Cumulative Preferred Stock (“Series C Preferred Stock”)
have no stated maturity, are not subject to any sinking fund or mandatory
redemption and are not convertible into other securities or property of the
Company. Commencing January 2008 (Series B Preferred Stock) and May
2013 (Series C Preferred Stock), the Company, at its option, may redeem the
preferred stock issues, in whole or in part, at a redemption price of $100
per
share, plus all accrued dividends. Upon a change in control of the
Company (as defined), each holder of Series B Preferred Stock and Series
C
Preferred Stock has the right, at such holder’s option, to require the Company
to repurchase all or any part of such holder’s stock for cash at a repurchase
price of $100 per share, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends.
The
Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock contain covenants,
that
require the Company to maintain certain financial coverages relating to fixed
charge and capitalization ratios. Shares of both Preferred Stock
series are non-voting; however, under certain circumstances (relating to
non-payment of dividends or failure to comply with the financial covenants)
the
preferred stockholders will be entitled to elect two directors. The
Company was in compliance with such covenants at April 30, 2007.
As
the
holders of the Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock only
have a
contingent right to require the Company to repurchase all or part of such
holders shares upon a change of control of the Company (as defined), the
Series
B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock are classified as redeemable
equity instruments as a change in control is not certain to occur.
The
Company is authorized to issue up to 20,000,000 shares of Preferred
Stock. At April 30, 2007 and October 31, 2006 the Company had issued
and outstanding 150,000 shares of Series B Senior Cumulative Preferred Stock,
400,000 shares of Series C Senior Cumulative Preferred Stock and 2,450,000
shares of Series D Senior Cumulative Preferred Stock. (See Note
7).
10
(7)
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
On
April
12, 2007, the Company filed a shelf-registration statement on Form S-3 for
up to
$300 million of Common Stock, Class A Common Stock, preferred stock, depositary
shares and debt securities. Proceeds from any offerings under the
registration statement will be used to acquire income producing properties
and
to fund renovations on, or capital improvements, to the Company’s existing
properties.
Restricted
Stock Plan
The
Company has a restricted stock plan for key employees and directors of the
Company. The restricted stock plan (“Plan”), as amended, provides for
the grant of up to 2,000,000 shares of the Company’s common equity consisting of
350,000 Common shares, 350,000 Class A Common shares and 1,300,000 shares,
which
at the discretion of the Company’s compensation committee, may be awarded in any
combination of Class A Common shares or Common shares.
Prior
to
November 1, 2005, the Company accounted for the Plan under the recognition
and
measurement provisions of APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued
to Employees,” (“APB No.25”) and related Interpretations, as
permitted by FASB Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation.” Effective November 1, 2005, the Company adopted
the fair value recognition provisions of FASB Statement No.123(R),
“Share-Based Payment,” (“SFAS No.123R”) using the
modified-prospective-transition method. Under that transition method,
compensation expense for all share-based payments granted subsequent to November
1, 2005 is based on the grant-date fair value of the stock grants less estimated
forfeitures in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R). It
was the Company’s policy to expense the grant date fair value of nonvested
restricted stock awards over the explicit vesting periods. Upon
adoption of SFAS No. 123R, the Company changed its policy for recognizing
restricted stock compensation expense to the earlier of the explicit vesting
period or the date a participant first becomes eligible for
retirement. For nonvested restricted stock awards granted prior to
the adoption of SFAS No. 123R, the Company continues to recognize compensation
expense over the explicit vesting periods and accelerates any remaining
unrecognized compensation cost when a participant actually retires.
Had
compensation expense for nonvested restricted stock awards issued prior to
the
adoption of FAS 123R been determined based on the date a participant first
becomes eligible for retirement, restricted stock compensation would have
increased in the six months ended April 30, 2007 and 2006 by $213,000
and $276,000, respectively.
In
January 2007, the Company awarded 105,800 shares of Common Stock and 70,300
shares of Class A Common Stock to participants in the plan. The grant
date fair value of restricted stock grants awarded to participants on January
2,
2007 was approximately $3.2 million.
A
summary
of the status of the Company’s non vested Common and Class A Common shares as of
April 30, 2007, and changes during the six months ended April 30, 2007 are
presented below:
Common
Shares
|
Class
A Common Shares
|
|||||||||||||||
Non vested
Shares
|
Shares
|
Weighted-Average
Grant-Date Fair Value
|
Shares
|
Weighted-Average
Grant-Date Fair Value
|
||||||||||||
Non
vested at November 1, 2006
|
939,975
|
$ |
13.10
|
465,975
|
$ |
12.46
|
||||||||||
Granted
|
105,800
|
$ |
17.55
|
70,300
|
$ |
19.09
|
||||||||||
Vested
|
(148,375 | ) | $ |
8.56
|
(81,425 | ) | $ |
8.56
|
||||||||
Forfeited
|
-
|
-
|
(24,250 | ) |
16.29
|
|||||||||||
Non
vested at April 30, 2007
|
897,400
|
$ |
14.16
|
430,600
|
$ |
13.91
|
As
of
April 30, 2007, there was $11.9 million of unamortized restricted stock
compensation related to nonvested restricted stock grants awarded under the
Plan. The remaining unamortized expense is expected to be recognized
over a weighted average period of 8 years. For the six months ended
April 30, 2007 and 2006 amounts charged to compensation expense totaled
$1,019,000 and $979,000, respectively.
Stock
Option Plan
Prior
to
December 2006 the Company had a stock option plan whereby shares were reserved
for issuance to key employees and Directors of the Company. Stock
options were granted at fair market value on the date of the grant and vested
over a maximum period of four years from the date of grant. On
December 13, 2006, the Board of Directors of the Company terminated the stock
option plan. All outstanding unexercised stock options granted under
the plan will remain outstanding and exercisable in accordance with their
terms. At April 30, 2007, there were outstanding fully vested stock
options to purchase 5,932 shares of Common Stock and 5,906 shares of Class
A
Common Stock. There were no stock options granted in the six months
ended April 30, 2007 or during fiscal 2006.
11
Dividend
Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan
The
Company has a Dividend Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan, as amended,
which
permits shareholders to acquire additional shares of Common Stock and Class
A
Common Stock by automatically reinvesting dividends. During the six
months ended April 30, 2007, the Company issued 15,323 shares of Common Stock
and 5,771 shares of Class A Common Stock through the Plan. As of
April 30, 2007, there remained 194,384 shares of Common Stock and 488,259
shares
of Class A Common Stock available for issuance under the
Plan.
Stock
Repurchase Program
The
Board
of Directors of the Company has approved a stock repurchase program for the
repurchase of up to 500,000 shares of Common Stock and Class A common stock
in
the aggregate. Since the inception of the program, the Company had
repurchased 3,600 shares of Common Stock and 41,400 shares of Class A Common
Stock. There were no repurchases during the six months ended April 30, 2007
or fiscal 2006.
Preferred
Stock
The
Series D Senior Cumulative Preferred
Stock has no maturity and is not convertible into any other security of the
Company. The Series D Senior Cumulative Preferred Stock is
redeemable at the Company’s option on or after April 12, 2010 at a price of
$25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends.
(8) COMMITMENTS
AND CONTINGENCIES
In
the
normal course of business, from time to time, the Company is involved in
legal
actions relating to the ownership and operations of its
properties. In management’s opinion, the liabilities if any that may
ultimately result from such legal actions are not expected to have a material
adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations
or
liquidity of the Company.
At
April
30, 2007, the Company had commitments of approximately $370,000 for tenant
related obligations.
(9) SUBSEQUENT
EVENTS
On
June
7, 2007, the Board of Directors of the Company declared cash dividends of
$0.2075 for each share of Common Stock and $0.23 for each share of Class
A
Common Stock. The dividends are payable on July 20,
2007.
In
May
2007, the Company formed a limited liability company (“LLC”) to acquire by
contribution, a 20% interest in a general partnership which owns an office
and
retail property in Westchester County, New York at an agreed value of
$546,000. Simultaneously, the Company contributed one of its retail
properties in Westchester County, New York into the LLC. The Company
has, among other things, guaranteed a preferential return to the other member
of
the LLC of $36,000 per annum.
12
Item
2. Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
The
following discussion is based on our consolidated financial statements as
of
April 30, 2007 and for the six month and three month periods then
ended. This information should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements of the Company and the notes thereto included
elsewhere in this report.
Forward
Looking Statements
This
Item
2 includes certain statements that may be deemed to be “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
All
statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this Item
2
that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects,
believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including such matters
as future capital expenditures, dividends and acquisitions (including the
amount
and nature thereof), business strategies, expansion and growth of the Company’s
operations and other such matters are forward-looking statements. These
statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company
in
light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current
conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are
appropriate. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks
and
uncertainties, including general economic and business conditions, the business
opportunities that may be presented to and pursued by the Company, changes
in
laws or regulations and other factors, many of which are beyond the control
of
the Company. For a discussion of some of these factors, see the risk
factors set forth in “Item 1A Risk Factors” of the Company’s Form 10-K for the
year ended October 31, 2006. Any such statements are not guarantees
of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially
from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements.
Executive
Summary
The
Company, a REIT, is a fully integrated, self-administered real estate company,
engaged in the acquisition, ownership and management of commercial real estate,
primarily neighborhood and community shopping centers in the northeastern
part
of the United States. The Company’s major tenants include supermarket chains and
other retailers who sell basic necessities. At April 30, 2007, the Company
owned
or had controlling interests in 38 properties containing a total of 3.7 million
square feet of gross leasable area (“GLA”) of which approximately 97% was
leased.
The
Company derives substantially all of its revenues from rents and operating
expense reimbursements received pursuant to long-term leases and focuses
its
investment activities on community and neighborhood shopping centers, anchored
principally by regional supermarket chains. The Company believes,
because of the need of consumers to purchase food and other staple goods
and
services generally available at supermarket-anchored shopping centers, that
the
nature of its investments provide for relatively stable revenue flows even
during difficult economic times.
The
Company focuses on increasing cash flow, and consequently the value of its
properties, and seeks continued growth through strategic re-leasing, renovations
and expansion of its existing properties and selective acquisition of income
producing properties, primarily neighborhood and community shopping centers
in
the northeastern part of the United States.
Key
elements of the Company’s growth strategies and operating policies are
to:
§
|
Acquire
neighborhood and community shopping centers in the northeastern
part of
the United States with a concentration in Fairfield County, Connecticut,
and Westchester and Putnam Counties, New
York
|
§
|
Hold
core properties for long-term investment and enhance their value
through
regular maintenance, periodic renovation and capital
improvement
|
§
|
Selectively
dispose of non-core assets and re-deploy the proceeds into properties
located in the Company’s preferred
region
|
§
|
Increase
property values by aggressively marketing available GLA and renewing
existing leases
|
§
|
Renovate,
reconfigure or expand existing properties to meet the needs of
existing or
new tenants
|
§
|
Negotiate
and sign leases which provide for regular or fixed contractual
increases
to minimum rents
|
§
|
Control
property operating and administrative
costs
|
Critical
Accounting Policies
Critical
accounting policies are those that are both important to the presentation
of the
Company’s financial condition and results of operations and require management’s
most difficult, complex or subjective judgments. Set forth
below is a summary of the accounting policies that management believes are
critical to the preparation of the consolidated financial
statements. This summary should be read in conjunction with the more
complete discussion of the Company’s accounting policies included in Note 1 to
the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended October
31, 2006.
13
Revenue
Recognition
Revenues
from operating leases include revenues from core properties and non-core
properties. Rental income is generally recognized based on the terms
of leases entered into with tenants. In those instances in which the
Company funds tenant improvements and the improvements are deemed to be owned
by
the Company, revenue recognition will commence when the improvements are
substantially completed and possession or control of the space is turned
over to
the tenant. When the Company determines that the tenant allowances
are lease incentives, the Company commences revenue recognition when possession
or control of the space is turned over to the tenant for tenant work to
begin.
The
Company records base rents on a straight-line basis over the term of each
lease.
The excess of rents recognized over amounts contractually due pursuant to
the
underlying leases is included in tenant receivables on the accompanying balance
sheets. Most leases contain provisions that require tenants to reimburse
a
pro-rata share of real estate taxes and certain common area
expenses. Adjustments are also made throughout the year to
tenant receivables and the related cost recovery income based upon the Company’s
best estimate of the final amounts to be billed and collected.
Allowance
for Doubtful Accounts
The
allowance for doubtful accounts is established based on a quarterly analysis
of
the risk of loss on specific accounts. The analysis places particular emphasis
on past-due accounts and considers information such as the nature and age
of the
receivables, the payment history of the tenants or other debtors, the financial
condition of the tenants and any guarantors and management’s assessment of their
ability to meet their lease obligations, the basis for any disputes and the
status of related negotiations, among other things. Management’s estimates of
the required allowance is subject to revision as these factors change and
is
sensitive to the effects of economic and market conditions on tenants,
particularly those at retail centers. Estimates are used to establish
reimbursements from tenants for common area maintenance, real estate tax
and
insurance costs. The Company analyzes the balance of its estimated
accounts receivable for real estate taxes, common area maintenance and insurance
for each of its properties by comparing actual recoveries versus actual expenses
and any actual write-offs. Based on its analysis, the Company may
record an additional amount in its allowance for doubtful accounts related
to
these items. For the six month periods ended April 30, 2007 and 2006,
the Company increased its allowance for doubtful accounts by $225,000 and
$155,000, respectively. It is also the Company’s policy to maintain
an allowance of approximately 10% of the deferred straight-line rents receivable
balance for future tenant credit losses.
Real
Estate
Land,
buildings, property improvements, furniture/fixtures and tenant improvements
are
recorded at cost. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are
charged to operations as incurred. Renovations and/or replacements,
which improve or extend the life of the asset, are capitalized and depreciated
over their estimated useful lives.
The
amounts to be capitalized as a result of an acquisition and the periods over
which the assets are depreciated or amortized are determined based on estimates
as to fair value and the allocation of various costs to the individual
assets. The Company allocates the cost of an acquisition based upon
the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired. The Company also
estimates the fair value of intangibles related to its
acquisitions. The valuation of the fair value of intangibles involves
estimates related to market conditions, probability of lease renewals and
the
current market value of in-place leases. This market value is
determined by considering factors such as the tenant’s industry, location within
the property and competition in the specific region in which the property
operates. Differences in the amount attributed to the intangible
assets can be significant based upon the assumptions made in calculating
these
estimates.
The
Company is required to make subjective assessments as to the useful life
of its
properties for purposes of determining the amount of
depreciation. These assessments have a direct impact on the Company’s
net income.
Properties
are depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful
lives
of the assets. The estimated useful lives are as
follows:
Buildings
|
30-40
years
|
Property
Improvements
|
10-20
years
|
Furniture/Fixtures
|
3-10
years
|
Tenant
Improvements
|
Shorter
of lease term or their useful life
|
14
Asset
Impairment
On
a
periodic basis, management assesses whether there are any indicators that
the
value of the real estate properties and mortgage notes receivable may be
impaired. A property value is considered impaired when management’s
estimate of current and projected operating cash flows (undiscounted and
without
interest) of the property over its remaining useful life is less than the
net
carrying value of the property. Such cash flow projections consider
factors such as expected future operating income, trends and prospects, as
well
as the effects of demand, competition and other factors. To the
extent impairment has occurred, the loss is measured as the excess of the
net
carrying amount of the property over the fair value of the
asset. Changes in estimated future cash flows due to changes in the
Company’s plans or market and economic conditions could result in recognition of
impairment losses which could be substantial. Management does not
believe that the value of any of its rental properties or mortgage note
receivable is impaired at April 30, 2007.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
At
April
30, 2007, the Company had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $5.3
million
compared to $2.8 million at October 31, 2006. The Company's sources
of liquidity and capital resources include its cash and cash equivalents,
proceeds from bank borrowings and long-term mortgage debt, capital financings
and sales of real estate investments. Payments of expenses related to real
estate operations, debt service, management and professional fees, and dividend
requirements place demands on the Company's short-term liquidity.
Cash
Flows
The
Company expects to meet its short-term liquidity requirements primarily by
generating net cash from the operations of its properties. The
Company believes that its net cash provided by operations will be sufficient
to
fund its short-term liquidity requirements for fiscal 2006 and to meet its
dividend requirements necessary to maintain its REIT status. The
Company expects to continue paying regular dividends to its
stockholders. These dividends will be paid from operating cash flows
which are expected to increase principally from property acquisitions and
growth
in operating income in the existing portfolio. The Company derives
substantially all of its revenues from tenants under existing leases at its
properties. The Company’s operating cash flow therefore depends on the rents
that it is able to charge to its tenants, and the ability of
its
tenants to make rental payments. The Company believes that the nature of
the
properties in which it typically invests ― primarily grocery-anchored
neighborhood and community shopping centers ― provides a more stable revenue
flow in uncertain economic times, in that consumers still need to
purchase basic staples and convenience items. However, even in the geographic
areas in which the Company owns properties, general economic downturns may
adversely impact the ability of the Company’s tenants to make lease payments and
the Company’s ability to re-lease space as leases expire. In either of these
cases, the Company’s cash flow could be adversely affected.
Net
Cash Flows From:
Operating
Activities
Net
cash
flows provided by operating activities amounted to $26.7 million in the six
months ended April 30, 2007, compared to $14.7 million in the comparable
period
of fiscal 2006. The changes in operating cash flows reflect: a) an
increase in the net operating results of the Company’s properties owned during
both periods and recently acquired properties b) a $6 million payment received
in connection with a settlement of a lease guarantor’s obligation and c) net
changes in trade receivables and payables during the period.
Investing
Activities
Net
cash
flows used in investing activities were $10.3 million in the six months ended
April 30, 2007 compared to $17.8 million in the same period in fiscal
2006. In fiscal 2007, the Company purchased properties for $21.3
million compared to $16.8 million in 2006. The Company also
received cash proceeds of $13.2 million from the sale of one non-core
property. The Company spent $2.1 million on property improvements and
tenant costs in fiscal 2007 compared to $1.5 million last year.
Financing
Activities
Net
cash
flows used in financing activities amounted to $14.0 million in the first
half
of fiscal 2007 compared to $17.0 million in the same period of fiscal 2006.
In
fiscal 2007, the Company borrowed $5 million on its secured line of credit
to
complete an acquisition and for working capital. The Company also
made principal payments on mortgage payable totaling $2.8 million, including
the
repayment of a $1.6 million mortgage that matured in fiscal 2007 compared
to total payment of $1.3 million in fiscal 2006. Quarterly dividends
paid to shareholders totaled $16.5 million in fiscal 2007 compared to $16.2
million in fiscal 2006.
15
Capital
Resources
The
Company expects to fund its long-term liquidity requirements such as property
acquisitions, repayment of indebtedness and capital expenditures through
other
long-term indebtedness (including indebtedness assumed in acquisitions),
proceeds from sales of properties and/or the issuance of equity securities.
The
Company believes that these sources of capital will continue to be available
to
it in the future to fund its long-term capital needs; however, there are
certain
factors that may have a material adverse effect on its access to capital
sources. The Company’s ability to incur additional debt is dependent upon its
existing leverage, the value of its unencumbered assets and borrowing
limitations imposed by existing lenders. The Company’s ability to raise funds
through sales of equity securities is dependent on, among other things, general
market conditions for REITs, market perceptions about the Company and its
stock
price in the market. The Company’s ability to sell properties in the future to
raise cash will be dependent upon market conditions at the time of
sale.
Financings
and Debt
The
Company is exposed to interest rate risk primarily through its borrowing
activities. There is inherent rollover risk for borrowings as they mature
and
are renewed at current market rates. The extent of this risk is not quantifiable
or predictable because of the variability of future interest rates and the
Company’s future financing requirements.
Mortgage
notes payable of $101.5 million consist of fixed rate mortgage loan indebtedness
with a weighted average interest rate of 7.29% at April 30, 2007. The mortgage
loans are secured by seventeen properties with a net book value of $171.0
million and have fixed rates of interest ranging from 5.75% to
7.83%. The Company expects to refinance most of its mortgage loans,
at or prior to scheduled maturity, through replacement mortgage
loans. The ability to do so, however, is dependent upon
various factors, including the income level of the properties, interest rates
and credit conditions within the commercial real estate market. Accordingly,
there can be no assurance that such refinancings can be achieved. In
March 2007 the Company entered into an agreement with the mortgage lender
for
the Ridgeway Shopping Center to extend the mortgage note with an outstanding
principal balance of $53 million for an additional 10 year term commencing
November 1, 2007. The Company and the lender also agreed to re-set
the interest rate during the new term at a fixed rate of 5.52%.
The
Company has a secured revolving credit facility with a commercial bank which
provides for borrowings of up to $30 million. The facility expires in
fiscal 2008. The secured revolving credit facility is collateralized by first
mortgage liens on two properties having a net book value of $26.7 million
at
April 30, 2007. The revolving credit line is available to
finance the acquisition, management and/or development of commercial real
estate, refinance indebtedness and for working capital
purposes. During the first quarter of fiscal 2007, the Company
borrowed $5 million under the secured revolving credit line at an average
variable rate of interest of 6.875%. Proceeds were used to complete
the acquisition of a retail property acquired during the quarter and for
working
capital.
The
Company has various standing or renewable service contracts with vendors
related
to its property management. In addition, the Company also has certain other
utility contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business which may
extend beyond one year, which vary based on usage. These contracts
include terms that provide for cancellation with insignificant or no
cancellation penalties. Contract terms are generally one year or
less.
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
During
the quarter ended April 30, 2007 the Company did not have any off-balance
sheet
arrangements.
Capital
Expenditures
The
Company invests in its existing properties and regularly incurs capital
expenditures in the ordinary course of business to maintain its properties.
The
Company believes that such expenditures enhance the competitiveness of its
properties. During the six months ended April 30, 2007, the Company incurred
approximately $2.1 million for capital expenditures which consisted of
$1,152,000 for property improvements, $772,000 for tenant improvements and
$176,000 for leasing commissions. The amounts of these expenditures can vary
significantly depending on tenant negotiations, market conditions and rental
rates. The Company expects to incur approximately $13 million
(including up to $6.75 million towards the costs of redeveloping space a
The
Dock Shopping Center in Stratford, CT (see below)) for anticipated capital
improvements and leasing costs over the next twelve to twenty four months.
These
expenditures are expected to be funded from operating cash flows or bank
borrowings.
Acquisitions
and Leasing
The
Company seeks to acquire properties which are primarily shopping centers
located
in the northeastern part of the United States with a concentration in Fairfield
County, Connecticut and Westchester and Putnam Counties, New
York. During the first half of fiscal 2007, the Company acquired a
10,100 square foot shopping center property in Monroe, Connecticut at a purchase
price of $3.825 million and a 94,000 square foot shopping center property
in
Emerson, New Jersey for a purchase price of $17.25 million. The
acquired properties were financed from available cash, borrowings on the
Company’s secured credit line and the net proceeds from the sale of the
Company’s non core retail property (which were used to complete the purchase of
the Emerson, New Jersey property).
16
During
the quarter ended January 31, 2007, the Company entered into a lease with
a
wholesale club to rent approximately 107,000 sf of space at The Dock Shopping
Center, in Stratford, CT, subject to certain conditions. In
connection with the new lease, the Company has agreed to provide up to $6.75
million toward the costs of redeveloping the space that previously had been
occupied by a tenant who, in a prior year, filed a petition in bankruptcy
and
vacated the space. The former tenant’s lease obligations were
guaranteed through fiscal 2016 by a corporate guarantor previously affiliated
with the former tenant. In February 2007, the Company executed a
settlement agreement whereby the guarantor was released from its lease guaranty
obligation upon satisfaction of certain conditions and in exchange for a
payment
of $6 million. In April 2007, the conditions were satisfied and
payment was received. Accordingly, the Company recorded the
settlement of lease guaranty obligation amount of $6 million in the accompanying
consolidated statement of income in the second quarter of fiscal
2007.
Non-Core
Assets
In
a
prior year, the Company's Board of Directors expanded and refined the strategic
objectives of the Company to refocus its real estate portfolio into one of
self-managed retail properties located in the northeast and authorized the
sale
of the Company’s non-core properties in the normal course of business over a
period of several years. In April 2007, the Company sold its
remaining non-core retail property for a sale price of $13.2 million and
realized a gain on the sale of the property of $11.4 million in the second
quarter of fiscal 2007. At April 30, 2007 the non-core properties
consist of two distribution service facilities with a net book value of
$847,000. The Company intends to sell the remaining non-core
properties as opportunities become available. The Company’s ability
to generate cash from asset sales is dependent upon market conditions and
will
necessarily be limited if market conditions make such sales
unattractive.
Funds
from Operations
The
Company reports Funds from Operations (“FFO”) in addition to its net income
applicable to common stockholders and net cash provided by operating
activities. The Company considers Funds from Operations to be an
additional measure of an equity REIT’s operating
performance. Management has adopted the definition suggested by The
National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) and defines FFO
to mean net income (computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles (“GAAP”)) excluding gains (or losses) from sales of property, plus
real estate related depreciation and amortization and after adjustments for
unconsolidated joint ventures.
Management
considers FFO a meaningful, additional measure of operating performance because
it primarily excludes the assumption that the value of its real estate assets
diminishes predictably over time and industry analysts have accepted it as
a
performance measure. FFO is presented to assist investors in
analyzing the performance of the Company. It is helpful as it
excludes various items included in net income that are not indicative of
the
Company’s operating performance, such as gains (or losses) from sales of
property and deprecation and amortization. However, FFO:
§
|
does
not represent cash flows from operating activities in accordance
with GAAP
(which, unlike FFO, generally reflects all cash effects of transactions
and other events in the determination of net income);
and
|
§
|
should
not be considered an alternative to net income as an indication
of the
Company’s performance.
|
FFO,
as
defined by us, may not be comparable to similarly titled items reported by
other
real estate investment trusts due to possible differences in the application
of
the NAREIT definition used by such REITs. The table below provides a
reconciliation of net income applicable to Common and Class A Common
Stockholders in accordance with GAAP to FFO for the six months and three
months
ended April 30, 2007 and 2006 (amounts in thousands).
Six
Months Ended
|
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||||
April
30,
|
April
30,
|
|||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||||||||
Net
Income Applicable to Common and Class A Common
Stockholders
|
$ |
26,646
|
$ |
7,893
|
$ |
21,833
|
$ |
3,759
|
||||||||
Plus: Real
property depreciation
|
5,183
|
5,010
|
2,599
|
2,535
|
||||||||||||
Amortization
of tenant
improvements and allowances
|
1,148
|
1,149
|
587
|
637
|
||||||||||||
Amortization
of deferred
leasing costs
|
293
|
299
|
152
|
126
|
||||||||||||
Less: Gain
on sale of property
|
(11,409 | ) |
-
|
(11,409 | ) |
-
|
||||||||||
Funds
from Operations Applicable to Common and Class A Common
Stockholders
|
$ |
21,861
|
$ |
14,351
|
$ |
13,762
|
$ |
7,057
|
||||||||
Net
Cash Provided by (Used in):
|
||||||||||||||||
Operating
Activities
|
$ |
26,733
|
$ |
14,707
|
$ |
18,444
|
$ |
8,373
|
||||||||
Investing
Activities
|
$ | (10,295 | ) | $ | (17,785 | ) | $ | (5,224 | ) | $ | (17,774 | ) | ||||
Financing
Activities
|
$ | (13,965 | ) | $ | (17,018 | ) | $ | (10,256 | ) | $ | (8,469 | ) | ||||
17
FFO
amounted to $21.9 million in the first half of fiscal 2007 compared to $14.4
million in the first half of fiscal 2006. The change in FFO is
attributable, among other things, to: a) an increase in operating
income of the Company’s core properties from higher leased levels at the
properties compared to the prior period, b) a one-time payment of $352,200
received from a utility company in exchange for an easement right
and c) a settlement of a lease guaranty obligation of $6 million
received in the second quarter of fiscal 2007. See discussion which
follows.
Results
of Operations
The
following information summarizes the Company’s results of operations for the six
month and three month periods ended April 30, 2007 and 2006 (amounts in
thousand):
Six
Months Ended
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
April
30,
|
Change
Attributable to:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues
|
2007
|
2006
|
Increase
(decrease)
|
%
Change
|
Property
Acquisitions
|
Properties
Held
In
Both Periods
|
||||||||||||||||||
Base
rents
|
$ |
28,690
|
$ |
27,373
|
$ |
1,317
|
4.8 | % | $ |
521
|
$ |
796
|
||||||||||||
Recoveries
from tenants
|
8,922
|
9,068
|
(146 | ) | (1.6 | %) |
240
|
(386 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Mortgage
interest and other
|
643
|
332
|
311
|
93.7 | % |
n/a
|
n/a
|
|||||||||||||||||
Operating
Expenses
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Property
operating expenses
|
6,313
|
6,577
|
(264 | ) | (4.0 | %) |
153
|
(417 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Property
taxes
|
5,340
|
4,974
|
366
|
7.4 | % |
120
|
246
|
|||||||||||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
6,631
|
6,416
|
215
|
3.3 | % |
173
|
42
|
|||||||||||||||||
General
and administrative expenses
|
2,478
|
2,488
|
(10 | ) | (.4 | %) |
n/a
|
n/a
|
||||||||||||||||
Other
Income/Expenses
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
3,961
|
4,244
|
(283 | ) | (6.7 | %) |
-
|
(283 | ) |
Three
Months Ended
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
April
30,
|
Change
Attributable to:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues
|
2007
|
2006
|
Increase
(decrease)
|
%
Change
|
Property
Acquisitions
|
Properties
Held
In
Both Periods
|
||||||||||||||||||
Base
rents
|
$ |
14,213
|
$ |
13,621
|
$ |
592
|
4.3 | % | $ |
245
|
$ |
347
|
||||||||||||
Recoveries
from tenants
|
4,303
|
4,527
|
(224 | ) | (4.9 | %) |
40
|
(264 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Mortgage
interest and other
|
532
|
140
|
392
|
280.0 | % |
n/a
|
n/a
|
|||||||||||||||||
Operating
Expenses
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Property
operating expenses
|
3,314
|
3,363
|
(49 | ) | (1.5 | %) |
127
|
(176 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Property
taxes
|
2,749
|
2,511
|
238
|
9.5 | % |
44
|
194
|
|||||||||||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
3,365
|
3,275
|
90
|
2.7 | % |
71
|
19
|
|||||||||||||||||
General
and administrative expenses
|
1,198
|
1,167
|
31
|
2.7 | % |
n/a
|
n/a
|
|||||||||||||||||
Other
Income/Expenses
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
2,006
|
2,115
|
(109 | ) | (5.1 | %) |
-
|
(109 | ) |
Base
rents increased by 4.8% to $28.7 million for the first six months of fiscal
2007
as compared with $27.4 million in the comparable six month period of
2006. The increase in base rentals was attributable to:
Property
Acquisitions:
In
fiscal
2006, the Company acquired three retail properties totaling 50,000 square
feet
of gross leasable area “GLA” and in fiscal 2007, the Company acquired two
additional properties totaling 104,000 square feet of GLA. These
properties accounted for all of the revenue changes attributable to property
acquisitions during the six month and three month periods ended April 30,
2007.
Properties
Held in Both Periods:
Revenues
The
increase in base rents for properties held during the six month and three
month
periods ended April 30, 2007 reflect increases in the overall occupancy levels
at the Company’s core properties over the periods. In fiscal 2007,
the Company leased or renewed approximately 309,000 square feet (or
approximately 8% of total property leaseable area) at higher lease renewal
rates
compared to the expiring rates. At April 30, 2007 the Company’s core
properties were nearly 98% leased.
18
In
the
six months and three month periods ended April 30, 2007, recoveries from
tenants
from properties owned in both periods (which represent reimbursements from
tenants for operating expenses and property taxes) decreased $386,000 and
$264,000 compared to the same periods in fiscal 2006 partially due to lower
amounts of property operating expenses in fiscal 2007 and lower expense recovery
rates at certain properties caused by vacancies last year.
The
Company received a lease termination payment of $115,000 in the second quarter
of fiscal 2007 in satisfaction of a former tenant’s lease
obligations.
In
the
second quarter of fiscal 2007, the Company executed a settlement agreement
with
the corporate guarantor of a former tenant’s lease obligations whereby the
guarantor was released from its obligations to the Company in exchange for
a
payment of $6,000,000. The payment and release of guaranty were
subject to certain conditions contained in the agreement. The
conditions were satisfied on April 15, 2007 and accordingly, the Company
recorded the payment as income from a settlement of lease guaranty obligation
in
the three and six month periods ended April 30, 2007. The vacant
space (containing 107,000 square feet) has been re-leased to a national
tenant.
In
the
second quarter of fiscal 2007, the Company granted an easement to a utility
company at one of its retail properties. In consideration for
granting the easement, the utility company made a one-time payment of $352,200
to the Company which is included in other income in the three and six month
periods ended April 30, 2007.
Interest,
dividends and other investment income decreased by $256,000 for the six month
period that ended April 30, 2007. This decrease reflects the
reinvestment of the remaining cash proceeds from the 2005 Series D preferred
stock sale that were temporarily invested in short-term securities into the
purchase of properties during the year.
Expenses
Operating
expenses for properties held in both periods decreased $417,000 and $176,000
in
the six months and three months ended April 30, 2007, respectively, compared
to
the same periods a year ago from a decrease in snow removal costs due to
warmer
weather in the northeastern part of the United States in 2007 and other
operating expenses.
Property
taxes for properties held in both periods increased during the six month
and
three month periods ended April 30, 2007 compared to the same periods a year
ago
as a result of increased assessments and municipal tax rates on certain
properties.
Interest
expense decreased $283,000 and $109,000 in the six months and three months
ended
April 30, 2007, respectively compared to the same periods in fiscal 2006
as a
result of principal payments on outstanding mortgage notes, the repayment
of a
$1,579,000 mortgage note in March 2007 and a reduction in bank standby fees
arising from the termination of the Company’s $20 million unsecured revolving
bank credit line in June 2006.
Depreciation
and amortization expense from properties held in both periods were unchanged
during the six month and three month period ended April 30, 2007.
General
and administrative expenses were unchanged in the six month period ended
April
30, 2007 and increased by 2% during the three month period ended April 30,
2007
compared to the same periods in fiscal 2006, reflecting a general increase
in
employee compensation offset by lower professional and administrative expenses
during the periods.
Discontinued
Operations
During
the second quarter of fiscal 2007 the Company sold its non core retail property
in Tempe, Arizona. In accordance with FAS #144 “Accounting for the
Impairment or Disposal of Long-lived Assets” the results of operations of the
property that was sold has been reclassified as discontinued operations for
the
six month and three month periods ended April 30, 2007 and 2006. The
Company recorded a gain on the sale of the property of $11.4 million during
the
second quarter of fiscal 2007. Net proceeds from the sale were
utilized to complete the purchase of the Emerson, New Jersey
property.
Inflation
The
Company’s long-term leases contain provisions to mitigate the adverse impact of
inflation on its operating results. Such provisions include clauses entitling
the Company to receive (a) scheduled base rent increases and (b) percentage
rents based upon tenants’ gross sales, which generally increase as prices rise.
In addition, many of the Company’s non-anchor leases are for terms of less than
ten years, which permits the Company to seek increases in rents upon renewal
at
then current market rates if rents provided in the expiring leases are below
then existing market rates. Most of the Company’s leases require tenants to pay
a share of operating expenses, including common area maintenance, real estate
taxes, insurance and utilities, thereby reducing the Company’s exposure to
increases in costs and operating expenses resulting from inflation.
Environmental
Matters
Based
upon management’s ongoing review of its properties, management is not aware of
any environmental condition with respect to any of the Company’s properties that
would be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
There can be no assurance, however, that (a) the discovery of environmental
conditions, which were previously unknown, (b) changes in law, (c) the conduct
of tenants or (d) activities relating to properties in the vicinity of the
Company’s properties, will not expose the Company to material liability in the
future. Changes in laws increasing the potential liability for environmental
conditions existing on properties or increasing the restrictions on discharges
or other conditions may result in significant unanticipated expenditures
or may
otherwise adversely affect the operations of the Company’s tenants, which would
adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of
operations.
19
Item
3. Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Market
risk is the exposure to loss resulting from changes in interest rates, foreign
currency exchange rates, commodity prices and equity prices. The
primary market risk to which we are exposed is interest rate risk, which
is
sensitive to many factors, including governmental monetary and tax policies,
domestic and international economic and political considerations and other
factors that are beyond the Company’s control.
Interest
Rate Risk
The
Company is exposed to interest rate risk primarily through its borrowing
activities. There is inherent rollover risk for borrowings as they
mature and are renewed at current market rates. The extent of this
risk is not quantifiable or predictable because of the variability of future
interest rates and the Company’s future financing requirements.
At
April
30, 2007, the Company had $5 million in outstanding variable rate
debt. During the first six months of fiscal 2007, the weighted
average interest rate on borrowings was 6.875%. A 1% increase or
decrease in interest rates would increase (decrease) net income by
$50,000. The Company does not enter into derivative financial
instrument transactions for speculative or trading purposes. The
Company believes that its weighted average interest rate of approximately
7.3%
on its fixed rate debt is not materially different from current fair market
interest rates for debt instruments with similar risks and
maturities.
Item
4. Controls
and Procedures
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The
Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the
effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934)
as of
the end of the period covered by this report. Based on such
evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
have concluded that, as of the end of such period, the Company’s disclosure
controls and procedures are effective.
Changes
in Internal Controls
During
the quarter ended April 30, 2007, there were no changes in the Company’s
internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected,
or are
reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over
financial reporting.
20
Part
II –
Other Information
Item
1.
Legal Proceedings
The
Company is not involved in any litigation, nor to its knowledge is any
litigation threatened against the Company or its subsidiaries, that in
management’s opinion, would result in a material adverse effect on the Company’s
ownership, management or operation of its properties, or which is not covered
by
the Company’s liability insurance.
Item
2. Unregistered Sales
of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
In
October 2005, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a share repurchase
program (“Program”) of up to 500,000 shares, in the aggregate, of the Company’s
Common and Class A Common Stock. The Program does not have a specific
expiration date and may be discontinued at any time. There were no
purchases of either Common or Class A Common Stock under the Program during
any
month in the quarter ended April 30, 2007 and there is no assurance that
the
Company will repurchase the full amount of shares authorized. Any
combination of either Common Stock or Class A Common Stock not exceeding
455,000
shares, in the aggregate, may yet be purchased under the Program.
Item
4. Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
In
connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on March 8, 2007,
stockholders were asked to vote on the following matters:
1.
|
Election
of three Directors (Class I ) to serve for three
years:
|
Director
|
For
|
Withheld
|
Willing
L. Biddle
|
7,477,174
|
30,112
|
E.
Virgil Conway
|
7,470,531
|
36,755
|
Robert
J. Mueller
|
7,480,582
|
26,704
|
2.
|
Ratification
of the appointment of PKF, Certified Public Accountants, as independent
auditors for the fiscal year ending October
31,2007:
|
For
|
Against
|
Abstain
|
7,481,282
|
13,270
|
12,734
|
The
terms
of office of the following Class II and Class III directors continued after
the
meeting:
Class
II
Directors – terms expiring in 2008
Peter
Herrick
Charles
D. Urstadt
George
J.
Vojta
Class
III
Directors – terms expiring in 2009
Robert
R.
Douglass
George
H.C. Lawrence
Charles
J. Urstadt
21
Item
6. Exhibits
31.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of Urstadt Biddle Properties
Inc.
pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
31.2
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of Urstadt Biddle Properties
Inc.
pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
32
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
of
Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc. pursuant to Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of
2002.
S
I G N A T U R E S
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.
URSTADT
BIDDLE PROPERTIES INC.
|
|
(Registrant)
|
|
By:
/s/ Charles
J. Urstadt
|
|
Charles
J. Urstadt
|
|
Chairman
and
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer
|
|
By:
/s/ James
R. Moore
|
|
James
R. Moore
|
|
Executive
Vice President &
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
|
(Principal
Financial Officer
|
|
Dated:
June 8, 2007
|
and
Principal Accounting Officer)
|
22
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit
No.
31.1
|
Certification
of the Chief Executive Officer of Urstadt Biddle Properties
Inc. pursuant
to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
|
31.2
|
Certification
of the Chief Financial Officer of Urstadt Biddle Properties
Inc. pursuant
to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
|
32
|
Certification
of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
of Urstadt
Biddle Properties Inc. pursuant
to Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|