URSTADT BIDDLE PROPERTIES INC - Quarter Report: 2008 January (Form 10-Q)
United
States
Securities
And Exchange Commission
Washington,
DC 20549
Form
10-Q
[Missing
Graphic Reference] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION
13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For the
quarterly period ended January 31, 2008
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, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting
company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,”
“accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act (Check one):
Large
accelerated filer o
|
Accelerated
filer x
|
Non-accelerated
filer o
|
Smaller
reporting company 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
March 1, 2008, the number of shares of the Registrant's classes of Common Stock
and Class A Common Stock was: 7,954,908
Common Shares, par value $.01 per share and 18,560,746 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 – January 31, 2008 (Unaudited) and October 31,
2007.
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Income (Unaudited) – Three months ended January 31, 2008 and
2007.
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) – Three months ended January 31, 2008
and 2007.
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) – Three months ended
January 31, 2008.
|
|
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
6.
|
Exhibits
|
Signatures
|
2
URSTADT
BIDDLE PROPERTIES INC.
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
(In
thousands, except share data)
January
31,
|
October
31,
|
|||||||
ASSETS
|
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||
Real
Estate Investments:
|
||||||||
Core properties – at
cost
|
$ | 529,424 | $ | 521,476 | ||||
Non-core properties – at
cost
|
1,383 | 1,383 | ||||||
530,807 | 522,859 | |||||||
Less: Accumulated
depreciation
|
(88,887 | ) | (85,555 | ) | ||||
441,920 | 437,304 | |||||||
Mortgage note
receivable
|
1,290 | 1,305 | ||||||
443,210 | 438,609 | |||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
4,063 | 4,218 | ||||||
Restricted
cash
|
759 | 589 | ||||||
Marketable
securities
|
1,637 | 1,740 | ||||||
Tenant
receivables
|
16,888 | 16,588 | ||||||
Prepaid
expenses and other assets
|
8,575 | 5,445 | ||||||
Deferred
charges, net of accumulated amortization
|
4,473 | 4,581 | ||||||
Total Assets
|
$ | 479,605 | $ | 471,770 | ||||
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
||||||||
Liabilities:
|
||||||||
Secured revolving credit
line
|
$ | 23,200 | $ | 12,200 | ||||
Mortgage notes
payable
|
95,797 | 96,282 | ||||||
Accounts payable and accrued
expenses
|
3,625 | 3,970 | ||||||
Deferred compensation –
officers
|
1,062 | 1,191 | ||||||
Other
liabilities
|
7,503 | 7,438 | ||||||
Total
Liabilities
|
131,187 | 121,081 | ||||||
Minority
interests
|
3,739 | 3,739 | ||||||
Redeemable
Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share;
|
||||||||
8.99% Series B Senior
Cumulative Preferred Stock, (liquidation preference of $100 pershare);
150,000 shares issued and outstanding
|
14,341 | 14,341 | ||||||
8.50% Series C Senior
Cumulative Preferred Stock, (liquidation preference of $100 pershare);
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;
|
||||||||
7,954,908 and 7,773,618 shares
issued and outstanding
|
79 | 77 | ||||||
Class A Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share; 40,000,000 shares authorized;
|
||||||||
18,722,446 and 18,836,778
shares issued and outstanding
|
187 | 188 | ||||||
Additional paid in
capital
|
262,844 | 264,585 | ||||||
Cumulative distributions in
excess of net income
|
(32,763 | ) | (31,077 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive
income
|
335 | 480 | ||||||
Officer note
receivable
|
- | (1,300 | ) | |||||
Total Stockholders’
Equity
|
291,932 | 294,203 | ||||||
Total Liabilities and
Stockholders’ Equity
|
$ | 479,605 | $ | 471,770 |
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)
Three
Months Ended
January 31,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Revenues
|
||||||||
Base rents
|
$ | 14,742 | $ | 14,486 | ||||
Recoveries from
tenants
|
4,465 | 4,610 | ||||||
Lease termination
income
|
58 | - | ||||||
Mortgage interest and
other
|
166 | 36 | ||||||
Total Revenues
|
19,431 | 19,132 | ||||||
Operating
Expenses
|
||||||||
Property
operating
|
3,063 | 2,999 | ||||||
Property taxes
|
2,825 | 2,591 | ||||||
Depreciation and
amortization
|
3,493 | 3,265 | ||||||
General and
administrative
|
1,484 | 1,280 | ||||||
Directors' fees and
expenses
|
75 | 72 | ||||||
Total Operating
Expenses
|
10,940 | 10,207 | ||||||
Operating
Income
|
8,491 | 8,925 | ||||||
Non-Operating
Income (Expense):
|
||||||||
Interest expense
|
(1,749 | ) | (1,955 | ) | ||||
Interest, dividends and other
investment income
|
95 | 110 | ||||||
Minority
interests
|
(9 | ) | (47 | ) | ||||
Income
from Continuing Operations before Discontinued Operations
|
6,828 | 7,033 | ||||||
Income
from Discontinued Operations
|
- | 116 | ||||||
Net
Income
|
6,828 | 7,149 | ||||||
Preferred stock
dividends
|
(2,336 | ) | (2,336 | ) | ||||
Net
Income Applicable to Common and Class A Common
Stockholders
|
$ | 4,492 | $ | 4,813 | ||||
Basic
Earnings Per Share:
|
||||||||
Per
Common Share:
|
||||||||
Income from continuing
operations
|
$ | .16 | $ | .18 | ||||
Income from discontinued
operations
|
$ | - | $ | - | ||||
Net Income Applicable to Common
Stockholders
|
$ | .16 | $ | .18 | ||||
Per
Class A Common Share:
|
||||||||
Income from continuing
operations
|
$ | .18 | $ | .20 | ||||
Income from discontinued
operations
|
$ | - | $ | - | ||||
Net Income Applicable to Class A
Common Stockholders
|
$ | .18 | $ | .20 | ||||
Diluted
Earnings Per Share:
|
||||||||
Per
Common Share:
|
||||||||
Income from continuing
operations
|
$ | .16 | $ | .17 | ||||
Income from discontinued
operations
|
$ | - | $ | - | ||||
Net Income Applicable to Common
Stockholders
|
$ | .16 | $ | .17 | ||||
Per
Class A Common Share:
|
||||||||
Income from continuing
operations
|
$ | .18 | $ | .19 | ||||
Income from discontinued
operations
|
$ | - | $ | - | ||||
Net Income Applicable to Class A
Common Stockholders
|
$ | .18 | $ | .19 | ||||
Dividends
Per Share:
|
||||||||
Common
|
$ | .2150 | $ | .2075 | ||||
Class A Common
|
$ | .2375 | $ | .2300 |
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)
Three Months Ended
|
||||||||
January 31,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Cash
Flows from Operating Activities:
|
||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 6,828 | $ | 7,149 | ||||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to net cash provided
|
||||||||
by operating
activities:
|
||||||||
Depreciation and
amortization
|
3,493 | 3,265 | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization
from discontinued operations
|
- | 43 | ||||||
Straight-line rent
adjustment
|
(29 | ) | (352 | ) | ||||
Restricted stock compensation
expense
|
521 | 520 | ||||||
Deferred compensation
arrangement
|
(128 | ) | 7 | |||||
Minority
interests
|
9 | 47 | ||||||
Changes in operating assets and
liabilities:
|
||||||||
Restricted cash
|
(170 | ) | 3 | |||||
Tenant
receivables
|
(271 | ) | (640 | ) | ||||
Accounts payable and accrued
expenses
|
(343 | ) | 172 | |||||
Other assets and other
liabilities, net
|
(3,302 | ) | (1,925 | ) | ||||
Net Cash Flow Provided by
Operating Activities
|
6,608 | 8,289 | ||||||
Cash
Flows from Investing Activities:
|
||||||||
Acquisition of real estate
investments
|
(5,929 | ) | (3,825 | ) | ||||
Deposits on acquisition of real
estate investments
|
(228 | ) | - | |||||
Improvements to properties and
deferred charges
|
(1,652 | ) | (1,199 | ) | ||||
Distributions to limited partner
of joint venture
|
(9 | ) | (47 | ) | ||||
Payments received on mortgage
notes receivable
|
15 | - | ||||||
Net Cash Flow (Used in)
Investing Activities
|
(7,803 | ) | (5,071 | ) | ||||
Cash
Flows from Financing Activities:
|
||||||||
Proceeds from secured revolving
credit line borrowings
|
11,000 | 5,000 | ||||||
Dividends paid -- Common and
Class A Common Stock
|
(6,178 | ) | (5,947 | ) | ||||
Dividends paid -- Preferred
Stock
|
(2,336 | ) | (2,336 | ) | ||||
Principal repayments on mortgage
notes payable
|
(485 | ) | (623 | ) | ||||
Sales of additional shares of
Common and Class A Common Stock
|
214 | 197 | ||||||
Repurchase of shares of Class A
Common Stock
|
(2,475 | ) | - | |||||
Repayment of officer note
receivable
|
1,300 | - | ||||||
Net Cash Flow Provided by (Used
in) Financing Activities
|
1,040 | (3,709 | ) | |||||
Net
Decrease In Cash and Cash Equivalents
|
(155 | ) | (491 | ) | ||||
Cash
and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period
|
4,218 | 2,800 | ||||||
Cash
and Cash Equivalents at End of Period
|
$ | 4,063 | $ | 2,309 | ||||
Supplemental
Cash Flow Disclosures:
|
||||||||
Interest Paid
|
$ | 1,677 | $ | 1,935 |
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, 2007
|
2,450,000 | $ | 61,250 | 7,773,618 | $ | 77 | 18,836,778 | $ | 188 | $ | 264,585 | $ | (31,077 | ) | $ | 480 | $ | (1,300 | ) | $ | 294,203 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive
Income:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
income applicable to Common
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
and Class A common
stockholders
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4,492 | - | - | 4,492 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Change
in unrealized gains in marketable securities
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | (145 | ) | - | (145 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
comprehensive income
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $ | 4,347 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash
dividends paid :
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock ($.2150 per
share)
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | (1,708 | ) | - | - | (1,708 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A common stock ($.2375 per
share)
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | (4,470 | ) | - | - | (4,470 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of shares under dividend reinvestment plan
|
- | - | 10,390 | - | 3,968 | - | 214 | - | - | - | 214 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares
issued under restricted stock plan
|
- | - | 170,900 | 2 | 59,900 | 1 | (3 | ) | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted
stock compensation
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | 521 | - | - | - | 521 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Repurchases
of Class A common stock
|
- | - | - | - | (171,700 | ) | (2 | ) | (2,473 | ) | - | - | - | (2,475 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Forfeiture
of restricted stock
|
- | - | - | - | (6,500 | ) | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Repayment
of officer’s note receivable
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1,300 | 1,300 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balances
– January 31, 2008
|
2,450,000 | $ | 61,250 | 7,954,908 | $ | 79 | 18,722,446 | $ | 187 | $ | 262,844 | $ | (32,763 | ) | $ | 335 | $ | - | $ | 291,932 |
The
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of
these statements.
6
The
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of
these statements.
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 two
distribution service facilities. The Company's major tenants include
supermarket chains and other retailers who sell basic necessities. At
January 31, 2008, the Company owned or had interests in 40 properties containing
a total of 3.7 million square feet of Gross Leasable Area (“GLA”).
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 Company
has determined that such joint ventures should be 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 three month period ended January 31, 2008, are not
necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending
October 31, 2008. 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,
2007.
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, 2007 has been derived
from audited financial statements at that date.
Reclassifications
Certain
prior period amounts have been reclassified (including the presentation of
discontinued operations) 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 2008 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 June
2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in
Income Taxes – an interpretation of SFAS No. 109” (“FIN No. 48”), that defines a
recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement
recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a
tax return. FIN No. 48 also provides guidance on derecognition,
classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods,
disclosure, and transition. FIN No. 48 is effective for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company adopted FIN No. 48 as
of November 1, 2007. Based on its evaluation, the Company determined
that it has no uncertain tax positions and no unrecognized tax benefits as of
the adoption date or as of January 31, 2008. As such, the
adoption of FIN 48 did not have any effect on the Company’s financial condition
or results of operations. The Company records interest and penalties
relating to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, as interest
expense. As of January 31, 2008, the tax years 2004 through and
including 2007 remain open to examination by the Internal Revenue
Service. There are currently no federal tax examinations in
progress.
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 three month periods ended January 31,
2008 and 2007.
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 January 31, 2008, other comprehensive income consisted
of net unrealized gains on marketable securities of approximately
$335,000. 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):
Three
Months Ended
|
||||||||
January 31,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Numerator
|
||||||||
Net
income applicable to common stockholders – basic
|
$ | 1,146 | $ | 1,197 | ||||
Effect
of dilutive securities:
|
||||||||
Stock awards and operating
partnership units
|
24 | 67 | ||||||
Net
income applicable to common stockholders – diluted
|
$ | 1,170 | $ | 1,264 | ||||
Denominator
|
||||||||
Denominator
for basic EPS weighted average common shares
|
6,972 | 6,725 | ||||||
Effect
of dilutive securities:
|
||||||||
Restricted
stock and other awards
|
255 | 536 | ||||||
Operating
partnership units
|
- | 55 | ||||||
Denominator
for diluted EPS – weighted average common equivalent
shares
|
7,227 | 7,316 | ||||||
Numerator
|
||||||||
Net
income applicable to Class A common stockholders-basic
|
$ | 3,346 | $ | 3,616 | ||||
Effect
of dilutive securities:
|
||||||||
Stock awards and operating
partnership units
|
(24 | ) | (20 | ) | ||||
Net
income applicable to Class A common stockholders – diluted
|
$ | 3,322 | $ | 3,596 | ||||
Denominator
|
||||||||
Denominator
for basic EPS – weighted average Class A common shares
|
18,431 | 18,319 | ||||||
Effect
of dilutive securities:
|
||||||||
Restricted stock and other
awards
|
154 | 345 | ||||||
Operating partnership
units
|
- | 55 | ||||||
Denominator
for diluted EPS – weighted average Class A common equivalent
shares
|
18,585 | 18,719 |
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
Prior to
fiscal 2005, the Company accounted for its stock-based compensation plans under
the Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to
Employees” (“APB No. 25”), and related Interpretations. Effective
November 1, 2005, the Company adopted 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.
Recently
Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in
Consolidated Financial Statements,” which, among other things, provides guidance
and establishes amended accounting and reporting standards for a parent
company’s noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary. The Company is
currently evaluating the impact of adopting the statement, which is effective
for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R, “Business Combinations,” (“SFAS
No. 141R”) which replaces SFAS No. 141 Business Combinations. SFAS
No. 141R, among other things, establishes principles and requirements for how an
acquirer entity recognizes and measures in its financial statements the
identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed (including intangibles)
and any noncontrolling interests in the acquired entity. The Company
is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the statement, which is effective
for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008.
(2) CORE
PROPERTIES
In
December 2007, the Company acquired a 20,000 square retail property located in
Waldwick, New Jersey for $6.3 million including closing costs. The
property is net-leased to a single tenant under a long term lease
arrangement.
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.
The
Company is currently in the process of analyzing the fair value of in-place
lease for the Waldwick, New Jersey property. Consequently, no value
has yet been assigned to the lease. Accordingly, the purchase price
allocation is preliminary and may be subject to change.
For the
three months ended January 31, 2008 and 2007 the net amortization of
above-market and below-market leases was approximately $54,000 and $62,000
respectively, which amounts are included in base rents in the accompanying
consolidated statements of income.
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 January 31, 2008 the amount payable to the limited
partners is estimated to be $3,500,000. The limited partner interests
are reflected in the accompanying consolidated financial statements as Minority
Interests.
(3) MORTGAGE
NOTES PAYABLE AND BANK LINE OF CREDIT
At
January 31, 2008, the Company had a secured revolving credit facility with a
commercial bank (the “Secured Credit Facility”) which provides for borrowings 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 plus ½% or
LIBOR plus 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 January 31, 2008, the Company
had outstanding borrowings under the Secured Credit Facility totaling
$23,200,000 at a weighted average annual interest rate of 6.27%. In
February 2008 outstanding borrowings of $23,200,000 were repaid from a new
Unsecured Credit Line Facility (See Note 8).
9
(4) DISCONTINUED
OPERATIONS
In fiscal
2007, the Company sold a non-core retail property. In accordance with
the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144
“Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long Lived Assets” (SFAS No. 144)
the operating results of the property for the three month period ended January
31, 2007 have been reclassified as discontinued operations in the accompanying
2007 consolidated statement of income. The following table summarizes
revenues and expenses for the Company’s discontinued operations (amounts in
thousands):
Three
Months Ended
|
||||
January 31, 2007
|
||||
Revenues
|
$ | 178 | ||
Property
operating expense
|
(19 | ) | ||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
(43 | ) | ||
Income
from discontinued operations
|
$ | 116 | ||
(5)
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 January 31, 2008.
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 January 31, 2008 and October 31, 2007 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
6).
(6)
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Restricted
Stock Plan
The
Company has a restricted stock plan for key employees and directors of the
Company. The restricted stock plan (“Plan”) 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. On March 6,
2008, the stockholders of the Company approved an amendment of the Plan to
provide for grants of up to 2,350,000 shares of the Company’s common equity (See
Note 8).
Prior to
November 1, 2005, the grant date fair value of nonvested restricted stock awards
was expensed over the explicit stock award vesting periods. Such
awards provided for continued vesting after retirement. Upon adoption
of SFAS No. 123R, the Company changed its policy for recognizing compensation
expense for restricted stock awards 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
decreased in the three months ended January 31, 2008 and 2007 by
approximately $106,000 in each period.
In
January 2008, the Company awarded 170,900 shares of Common Stock and 59,900
shares of Class A Common Stock to participants in the plan. The grant
date fair value of restricted stock grants awarded to participants in 2008 was
approximately $3.4 million.
10
A summary
of the status of the Company’s non vested Common and Class A Common shares as of
January 31, 2008, and changes during the three months ended January 31, 2008 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, 2007
|
897,400 | $ | 14.16 | 423,350 | $ | 13.90 | ||||||||||
Granted
|
170,900 | $ | 14.77 | 59,900 | $ | 15.20 | ||||||||||
Vested
|
(105,750 | ) | $ | 11.70 | (75,250 | ) | $ | 10.69 | ||||||||
Forfeited
|
- | - | (6,500 | ) | $ | 16.02 | ||||||||||
Non
vested at January 31, 2008
|
962,550 | $ | 14.54 | 401,500 | $ | 14.66 |
As of
January 31, 2008, there was $13.5 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 6.35 years. For the three months
ended January 31, 2008 and 2007 amounts charged to compensation expense totaled
$521,000 and $520,000, respectively.
Stock
Option Plan
Prior to
fiscal 2007, the Company had a stock option plan for key employees and directors
of the Company. In fiscal 2007, the plan was
terminated. In connection with the exercise of stock options by an
officer of the Company in a prior year, the officer executed a full recourse
promissory note equal to the purchase price of the shares. The note receivable
in the amount of $1,300,000 matures in 2012. In December 2007, the note
receivable was repaid in full.
Share
Repurchase Program
In
October 2005, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a share
repurchase program ("Program") for the repurchase of up to 500,000 shares of
Common Stock and Class A common stock in the aggregate. At January
31, 2008, the Company had repurchased 3,600 shares of Common Stock and 234,300
shares of Class A Common Stock, (including 171,700 shares of Class A Common
Stock that were repurchased at an average price of $14.38 during the three month
period ended January 31, 2008). On March
6, 2008, the Board of Directors amended the Program to allow the Company to
repurchase up to 1,000,000 shares of Common and Class A Common stock in the
aggregate. (See Note 8)
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.
(7) 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
January 31, 2008, the Company had commitments of approximately $3,115,000 for
tenant related obligations.
(8) SUBSEQUENT
EVENTS
On March
6, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Company declared cash dividends of $.2150
for each share of Common Stock and $.2375 for each share of Class A Common
Stock. The dividends are payable on April 18, 2008.
On March
6, 2008, the stockholders of the Company approved an amendment to the Company’s
restricted stock plan (the “Plan”) to provide for the grant of up to 2,350,000
shares of the Company’s common equity consisting of 350,000 Common shares,
350,000 Class A Common shares and 1,650,000 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.
On March
6, 2008, the Board of Directors amended the Company’s share repurchase program
to allow the Company to repurchase up to 1,000,000 shares of Common and Class A
Common stock in the aggregate, including shares already repurchased under the
program.
In
February 2008, the Company acquired two retail properties, containing
approximately 5,500 square feet of GLA in Westchester County, New York for a
cash purchase price of $2.3 million. The acquisitions were funded
from available cash and borrowings from the Company’s secured credit
line.
In
February 2008, the Company entered into a new $50 Million Unsecured Revolving
Credit Agreement (“The Facility”) with The Bank of New York Mellon and Wells
Fargo Bank N.A.. The agreement, gives the Company the option under
certain conditions, to increase the Facility’s borrowing capacity up to $100
million. The maturity date of the Facility is February 11, 2011 with
two one year extensions at the Company’s option. Borrowings under the
Facility can be used for, among other things, acquisitions, working capital,
capital expenditures, repayment of other indebtedness and the issuance of
letters of credit (up to $10 million). Borrowings will bear interest
at the Company’s option of LIBOR plus 0.85% or The Bank of New York Mellon’s
prime lending rate plus 0.50%. The Company will pay an annual fee on
the unused commitment amount of up to 0.175% based on outstanding borrowings
during the year. The Facility contains certain representations, financial
and other covenants typical for this type of facility. The Company’s
ability to borrow under the Facility is subject to its compliance with the
covenants and other restrictions on an ongoing basis. The principal
financial covenants limit the Company’s level of secured and unsecured
indebtedness and additionally require the Company to maintain certain debt
coverage ratios.
In
February 2008 outstanding borrowings on the Secured Credit Facility of $23.2
million were satisfied by transfer to the Unsecured Revolving Credit
Facility. Interest on outstanding borrowings is currently accruing at
approximately 4.0% per annum.
In
February 2008, the Company repurchased 161,700 shares of Class A common stock at
an average price of $14.68 per share.
11
Item
2. Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
The
following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated
financial statements of the Company and the notes thereto included elsewhere in
this report.
Forward
Looking Statements
This Item
2 contains certain forward-looking statements that within the meaning of Section
27A of the Securities Act, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. All
statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this Item 7
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, 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, 2007. 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. Other real estate assets include office and industrial
properties. The Company’s major tenants include supermarket chains and other
retailers who sell basic necessities. At January 31, 2008, the Company owned or
had interests in 40 properties containing a total of 3.7 million square
feet of GLA of which approximately 96% 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. Primarily as a result of recent
property acquisitions, the Company’s financial data shows increases in total
revenues and expenses from period to period.
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,
Westchester and Putnam Counties, New York and Bergen County, New
Jersey
|
§
|
Hold
core properties for long-term investment and enhance their value through
regular maintenance, periodic renovation and capital
improvement
|
§
|
Selectively
dispose of non-core and underperforming properties and re-deploy the
proceeds into properties located in the northeast
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, 2007 included
in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for year ended October 31,
2007.
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.
12
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 properties. 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 three months periods ended January
31, 2008 the Company increased its allowance for doubtful accounts by
$47,000. 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
|
Asset
Impairment
On a
periodic basis, management assesses whether there are any indicators that the
value of the real estate properties 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 is impaired at January 31, 2008.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
At
January 31, 2008, the Company had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $4.1
million compared to $4.2 million at October 31, 2007. 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.
13
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 the balance of fiscal 2008 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 due to property acquisitions and growth in
operating income in the existing portfolio and from other sources. The Company
derives substantially all of its revenues from base rents 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 $6.6 million in the three
months ended January 31, 2008, compared to $8.3 million in the comparable period
of fiscal 2007. The changes in operating cash flows were primarily the result of
the prepayment of real estate taxes in the first quarter of fiscal
2008.
Investing
Activities
Net cash
flows used in investing activities were $7.8 million in the three months ended
January 31, 2008 compared to $5.1 million in the comparable period of fiscal
2007. The net cash flows during both periods were principally due to
the acquisition of properties consistent with the Company’s strategic plan to
acquire properties in the northeast. The Company acquired one
property in the first quarter of fiscal 2008 and two properties in fiscal
2007. The Company incurred $1.7 million and $1.2 million for
improvements to properties and deferred charges for the three months ended
January 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The Company also placed
deposits on two properties totaling $228,000 in the three months ended January
31, 2008. The Company invests in its properties and regularly pays
for capital expenditures for property improvements, tenants costs and leasing
commissions.
Financing
Activities
The
Company generated cash from financing activities in the first three months of
fiscal 2008 and 2007 by borrowing $11.0 million and $5.0 million, respectively
on its secured line of credit. The Company also received payment of a
$1.3 million note receivable from an officer in connection with stock options
exercised in a prior year. Net cash used in both periods to pay
dividends to stockholders amounted to $8.5 million in the first three months of
fiscal 2008 as compared with $8.3 million in the comparable period of
2007. Cash used in the first three months of fiscal 2008 to
repurchase Class A Common stock amounted to $2.5 million. Net cash
used in both periods to make required principal payments on mortgages was
$485,000 in the first three months of fiscal 2008 as compared with $623,000 in
the same period of fiscal 2007.
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.
14
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 $95.8 million consist of fixed rate mortgage loan indebtedness
with a weighted average interest rate of 6.1% at January 31, 2008. The mortgage
loans are secured by 14 properties with a net book value of $169 million and
have fixed rates of interest ranging from 5.52% to 7.78%. The Company
made principal payments of $485,000 in the three months ended January 31, 2008
compared to $623,000 in the comparable period of fiscal 2007. The
Company may refinance 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.
At
January 31, 2008, the Company had a secured revolving credit facility with a
commercial bank (the “Secured Credit Facility”) which provides for borrowings 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 plus 1/2% or LIBOR
plus 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. During the three months ended
January 31, 2008, the Company borrowed $11.0 million and had outstanding
variable rate borrowings of $23.2 million at January 31, 2008 at an average
annual interest rate of 6.27%.
In
February 2008, the Company entered into a new $50 Million Unsecured Revolving
Credit Agreement (“The Facility”) with The Bank of New York Mellon and Wells
Fargo Bank N.A.. The agreement, gives the Company the option under
certain conditions, to increase the Facility’s borrowing capacity up to $100
million. The maturity date of the Facility is February 11, 2011 with
two one year extensions at the Company’s option. Borrowings under the
Facility can be used for, among other things, acquisitions, working capital,
capital expenditures, repayment of other indebtedness and the issuance of
letters of credit (up to $10 million). Borrowings will bear interest
at the Company’s option of LIBOR plus 0.85% or The Bank of New York Mellon’s
prime lending rate plus 0.50%. The Company will pay an annual fee on
the unused commitment amount of up to 0.175% based on outstanding borrowings
during the year. The Facility contains certain representations, financial
and other covenants typical for this type of facility. The Company’s
ability to borrow under the Facility is subject to its compliance with the
covenants and other restrictions on an ongoing basis. The principal
financial covenants limit the Company’s level of secured and unsecured
indebtedness and additionally require the Company to maintain certain debt
coverage ratios.
In
February 2008 outstanding borrowings on the Secured Credit Facility of $23.2
million were satisfied by transfer to the Unsecured Revolving Credit
Facility. Interest on outstanding borrowings is currently accruing at
approximately 4.0% per annum.
Contractual
Obligations
The
Company’s contractual payment obligations as of January 31, 2008 were as follows
(amounts in thousands):
Payments
Due by Period
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
Thereafter
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Mortgage
notes payable
|
$ | 95,797 | $ | 12,579 | $ | 18,542 | $ | 6,290 | $ | 5,084 | $ | 4,800 | $ | 48,502 | ||||||||||||||
Tenant
obligations*
|
3,115 | 3,115 | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total
Contractual Obligations
|
$ | 98,912 | $ | 15,694 | $ | 18,542 | $ | 6,290 | $ | 5,084 | $ | 4,800 | $ | 48,502 |
*Committed
tenant-related obligations based on executed leases as of January 31,
2008.
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 three month periods ended January 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company did not
have any material off-balance sheet arrangements.
15
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. In the three months ended January 31, 2008, the Company paid
approximately $1.7 million for property improvements, tenant improvement and
leasing commission costs. The amounts of these expenditures can vary
significantly depending on tenant negotiations, market conditions and rental
rates. The Company expects to incur approximately $3.1 million for
anticipated capital improvements and leasing costs in fiscal 2008. These
expenditures are expected to be funded from operating cash flows or bank
borrowings.
Acquisitions
and Significant Property Transactions
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, Westchester and Putnam Counties, New York and Bergen
County, New Jersey.
In
December 2007, the Company acquired a 20,000 square retail property located in
Waldwick, New Jersey for $6.3 million including closing costs. The
purchase was financed from available cash and borrowings under the Company’s
secured line of credit. The Company is currently in the process of
analyzing the fair value of in-place leases for the Waldwick, 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.
In
February 2008, the Company acquired two retail properties, containing
approximately 5,500 square feet of GLA in Westchester County, New York for a
cash purchase price of $2.3 million. The acquisitions were funded
from available cash and borrowings from the Company’s secured credit
line.
Non-Core
Properties
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. The non-core properties consist of two
distribution service facilities (both of which are located outside of the
northeast region of the United States).
The
Company intends to sell its 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 be limited if market
conditions make such sales unattractive. At January 31, 2008, the two
remaining non-core properties have a net book value of approximately
$700,000.
Funds
from Operations
The
Company considers Funds from Operations (“FFO”) to be an additional measure of
an equity REIT’s operating performance. The Company reports FFO in
addition to its net income applicable to common stockholders and net cash
provided by operating activities. 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.
16
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 each of the three months in the
periods ended January 31, 2008 and 2007 (amounts in thousands).
Three Months Ended January
31,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Net
Income Applicable to Common and Class A Common
Stockholders
|
$ | 4,492 | $ | 4,813 | ||||
Plus: Real
property depreciation
|
2,677 | 2,583 | ||||||
Amortization of tenant
improvements and allowances
|
655 | 518 | ||||||
Amortization of deferred
leasing costs
|
142 | 141 | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization
on discontinued operations
|
- | 43 | ||||||
Funds
from Operations Applicable to Common and Class A Common
Stockholders
|
$ | 7,966 | $ | 8,098 | ||||
Net
Cash Provided by (Used in):
|
||||||||
Operating
Activities
|
$ | 6,608 | $ | 8,289 | ||||
Investing
Activities
|
$ | (7,803 | ) | $ | (5,071 | ) | ||
Financing
Activities
|
$ | 1,040 | $ | (3,709 | ) |
FFO
amounted to $8.0 million in the first quarter of 2008 compared to $8.1 million
in the first quarter of fiscal 2007. The change in FFO is
attributable, among other things, to: a) a slight decrease in same property
operating income as a result of lower real estate tax recoveries at some of the
Company’s core properties, b) an increase in general and administrative expenses
offset by; c) an increase in other income and d) a decrease in interest expense
principally from the mortgage refinancing of one of the Company’s properties at
a lower interest rate.
17
Results of
Operations
The
following information summarizes the Company’s results of operations for the
three months ended January 31, 2008 and 2007 (amounts in
thousands):
Three
Months Ended
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
January
31,
|
Change Attributable to:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues
|
2008
|
2007
|
Increase
(Decrease)
|
%
Change
|
Property
Acquisitions
|
Properties
Held In Both Periods
|
||||||||||||||||||
Base
rents
|
$ | 14,742 | $ | 14,486 | $ | 256 | 1.8 | $ | 389 | $ | (133 | ) | ||||||||||||
Recoveries
from tenants
|
4,465 | 4,610 | (145 | ) | (3.1 | ) | 94 | (239 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Mortgage
interest and other
|
166 | 36 | 130 | 361.1 | - | 130 | ||||||||||||||||||
Operating
Expenses
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Property
operating
|
3,063 | 2,999 | 64 | 2.1 | 108 | (44 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Property
taxes
|
2,825 | 2,591 | 234 | 9.0 | 80 | 154 | ||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
3,493 | 3,265 | 228 | 7.0 | 128 | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||
General
and administrative
|
1,484 | 1,280 | 204 | 15.9 | n/a | n/a | ||||||||||||||||||
Non-Operating
Income/Expense
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
1,749 | 1,955 | (206 | ) | (10.5 | ) | n/a | n/a | ||||||||||||||||
Interest,
dividends, and other investment income
|
95 | 110 | (15 | ) | (13.6 | ) | n/a | n/a |
Revenues
Base
rents increased by 1.8% to $14.7 million for the first three months of fiscal
2008 as compared with $14.5 million in the comparable period of
2007. The increase in base rentals was attributable to:
Property
Acquisitions:
In fiscal
2008 the Company acquired one property totaling 20,000 square feet of GLA (two
retail properties totaling 104,000 square feet in fiscal 2007). These
three properties accounted for all of the revenue and expense changes
attributable to property acquisitions during the three month period ended
January 31, 2008.
Properties Held in Both
Periods:
The
decrease in base rents for properties held during the three month periods ended
January 31, 2008 compared to the same period in fiscal 2007, reflects an
increase in vacancies occurring in the second and third quarters of fiscal 2007
at several of the Company’s core properties offset by an increase in rental
rates for in place leases over the period. For the first three months
of fiscal 2008, the Company leased or renewed approximately 23,000 square feet
(or approximately 0.6% of total property leasable area). At January
31, 2008 the Company’s core properties were approximately 95.8%
leased. Overall core property occupancy increased to 94.2% at January
31, 2008 from 93.2% at January 31, 2007.
In the
three month period ended January 31, 2008, recoveries from tenants for
properties owned in both periods (which represents reimbursements from tenants
for operating expenses and property taxes) decreased by a net $239,000 compared
to the same period in fiscal 2007. This net decrease was a result of:
a) lower real estate tax expense recovery rates at certain properties caused by
tenant vacancies in fiscal 2007 that reduced this component of expense
recoveries by $354,000 in 2008 and b) an increase in operating expense
recoveries in properties held in both periods of $127,000 in the first quarter
of the fiscal 2008.
Interest,
dividends and other investment income decreased by $15,000 in the three month
period ended January 31, 2008 compared to the same period in
2007. This decrease is a result of the use of available cash in 2008
that was used for property acquisitions as well as the repurchase of Class A
Common Stock under the Company’s Stock Repurchase Plan.
Expenses
Operating
expenses for properties held in both periods decreased $44,000 in the three
months ended January 31, 2008, compared to the same period a year ago primarily
as a result of increased snow removal and security costs.
18
Property
taxes for properties held in both periods increased 5.9% during the three month
period ended January 31, 2008 compared to the same period a year ago as a result
of increased assessments and municipal tax rates on certain
properties.
Interest
expense decreased $206,000 in the three months ended January 31, 2008 compared
to the same period in fiscal 2007 as a result of scheduled principal payments on
mortgage notes, $266,000 in reduced interest expense as a result of the
refinancing of the mortgage at the Company’s Ridgeway property in the fourth
quarter of fiscal 2007 and the repayments of mortgage notes of $1,579,000 and
$4,975,000 during 2007.
Depreciation
and amortization expense from properties held in both periods increased $100,000
during the three month period ended January 31, 2008 compared to the same period
a year ago as a result of a full quarter of depreciation for the $8.1 million in
property improvements in fiscal 2007.
General
and administrative expenses increased by 15.9% for three month period ended
January 31, 2008 compared to the same period in fiscal 2007, primarily due to an
increase in employee bonus compensation during the first three month period of
fiscal 2008 when compared to the same period in fiscal 2007 and an increase in
employment placement costs in the amount of $42,000 in the first three months of
fiscal 2008 compared with the fees paid in the same period in fiscal
2007.
Discontinued
Operations
During
the second quarter of fiscal 2007 the Company sold its non core retail property
in Tempe, Arizona. In accordance with SFAS No. 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 three month period ended January 31, 2007.
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.
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.
As of
January 31, 2008, the Company had $23.2 million in outstanding variable rate
debt. The Company does not enter into any derivative financial
instrument transactions for speculative or trading purposes. The
Company believes that its weighted average interest rate of 6.11% on its fixed
rate debt is not materially different from current fair market interest rates
for debt instruments with similar risks and maturities.
19
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 13 a-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 January 31, 2008, 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.
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. On March
6, 2008, the Board of Directors approved an increase in the Program of up to an
additional 500,000 shares in the aggregate, of the Company’s Common and Class A
Common stock.
The
following table sets forth the Class A common shares repurchased by the Company
during the three months ended January 31, 2008:
Period
|
Total
Number
of
Shares
Purchased
|
Average
Price
Per
Share
Purchased
|
Total
Number
of
Shares Re-
purchased
as
Part
of Publicly
Announced
Plan
or
Program
|
Maximum
Number
of
Common
and Class
A Common Shares
That
May
be
Purchased
Under
the Plan
or Program
|
January
3 – January 16, 2008
|
171,700
|
$14.38
|
171,700
|
262,100
(1)
|
There is
no assurance that the Company will repurchase the full amount of shares
authorized. Any combination of Common or Class A Common shares may be
repurchased under the program.
(1)
Represents an aggregate number of Common and Class A Common stock that could be
purchased under the Program at January 31, 2008 prior to an increase in the
Program.
Item
6. Exhibits
Exhibits
10.1
Unsecured Credit Agreement, dated as of February 11, 2008, by and among the
Company, the Lenders party thereto, and The Bank of New York as Administrative
Agent
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.
20
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 and Chief Financial Officer
|
|
(Principal
Financial Officer and
|
|
Dated: March
7, 2008
|
Principal
Accounting Officer)
|
21
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit
No.
10.1
|
Unsecured
Credit Agreement, dated as of February 11, 2008, by and among the Company,
the Lenders party thereto, and The Bank of New York as Administrative
Agent
|
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
|