Whitestone REIT - Quarter Report: 2008 June (Form 10-Q)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
x
|
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO
SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
|
For
the quarterly period ended June 30, 2008
OR
o
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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 000-50256
WHITESTONE
REIT
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Maryland
|
76-0594970
|
(State or other jurisdiction
of
|
(IRS
Employer
|
incorporation or
organization)
|
Identification
No.)
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2600
South Gessner, Suite 500
Houston,
Texas 77063
(Address
of principal executive offices)
(713)
827-9595
(Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code)
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 o
|
Non-accelerated filer (Do not
check if a smaller reporting company) x
|
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
The
number of the registrant’s Common Shares of Beneficial Interest outstanding at
August 14, 2008, was 9,707,307.
Page
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PART I--FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
|
|||
Item 1.
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Financial
Statements
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2
|
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Condensed Consolidated Balance
Sheets as of June 30, 2008 (Unaudited)
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|||
and December 31,
2007
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2
|
||
Condensed Consolidated Statements
of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
|
|||
(Unaudited) for the Three and Six
Months Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007
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3
|
||
Condensed Consolidated Statements
of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the Six Months Ended
|
|||
June 30, 2008 and
2007
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5
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||
Notes to Condensed Consolidated
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
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6
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||
Item 2.
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Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
|
||
Operations
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21
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||
Item 3.
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Quantitative and Qualitative
Disclosures About Market Risk
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31
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Item 4T.
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Controls and
Procedures
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31
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PART II--OTHER
INFORMATION
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|||
Item 1.
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Legal
Proceedings
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32
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|
Item 1A.
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Risk
Factors
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32
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|
Item 2.
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Unregistered Sales of Equity
Securities and Use of Proceeds
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33
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Item 3.
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Defaults Upon Senior
Securities
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33
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Item 4.
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Submission of Matters to a Vote of
Security Holders
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33
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Item 5.
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Other
Information
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33
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Item 6.
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Exhibits
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34
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PART
I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item
1. Financial Statements
WHITESTONE REIT AND
SUBSIDIARIES
|
||||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE
SHEETS
|
||||||||
June 30,
|
December
31,
|
|||||||
(in thousands, except share
data)
|
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
(unaudited)
|
(revised)
|
|||||||
ASSETS
|
||||||||
Real estate assets, at
cost
|
||||||||
Property
|
$ | 169,754 | $ | 163,923 | ||||
Accumulated
depreciation
|
(27,549 | ) | (25,855 | ) | ||||
Net operating real estate
assets
|
142,205 | 138,068 | ||||||
Properties under
development
|
9,110 | 8,392 | ||||||
Properties - discontinued
operations
|
- | 7,932 | ||||||
Total real estate
assets
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151,315 | 154,392 | ||||||
Cash and cash
equivalents
|
8,055 | 10,811 | ||||||
Accrued rent and accounts
receivable, net
|
4,844 | 5,386 | ||||||
Unamortized lease commissions and
loan costs
|
3,356 | 2,839 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other
assets
|
1,439 | 1,367 | ||||||
Other assets - discontinued
operations
|
- | 349 | ||||||
Total
assets
|
$ | 169,009 | $ | 175,144 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS'
EQUITY
|
||||||||
Liabilities
|
||||||||
Notes
payable
|
$ | 88,488 | $ | 83,461 | ||||
Accounts payable and accrued
expenses
|
5,674 | 6,560 | ||||||
Tenants' security
deposits
|
1,582 | 1,598 | ||||||
Dividends and distributions
payable
|
2,167 | 2,371 | ||||||
Other liabilities - discontinued
operations
|
- | 272 | ||||||
Total
liabilities
|
97,911 | 94,262 | ||||||
Commitments and
contingencies
|
||||||||
Minority interests of unit holders
in Operating Partnership;
|
||||||||
4,739,886 and 5,808,337 units at
June 30, 2008
|
||||||||
and December 31, 2007,
respectively
|
22,358 | 28,039 | ||||||
Shareholders'
equity
|
||||||||
Preferred shares, $0.001 par value
per share; 50,000,000
|
||||||||
shares authorized; none issued and
outstanding
|
||||||||
at June 30, 2008 and December 31,
2007
|
- | - | ||||||
Common shares, $0.001 par value
per share; 400,000,000
|
||||||||
shares authorized; 9,707,307 and
10,001,269 issued and
|
||||||||
outstanding at June 30, 2008 and
December 31, 2007, respectively
|
10 | 10 | ||||||
Additional paid-in
capital
|
72,273 | 72,273 | ||||||
Accumulated
deficit
|
(20,732 | ) | (19,210 | ) | ||||
Treasury shares, at
cost
|
(2,479 | ) | - | |||||
Accumulated other comprehensive
loss
|
(332 | ) | (230 | ) | ||||
Total shareholders'
equity
|
48,740 | 52,843 | ||||||
Total liabilities and
shareholders' equity
|
$ | 169,009 | $ | 175,144 |
See notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
2
WHITESTONE REIT AND
SUBSIDIARIES
|
||||||||||||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS
OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(LOSS)
|
||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||||||||||
Three Months ended June
30,
|
Six Months ended June
30,
|
|||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except per share
amounts)
|
2008
|
2007
|
2008
|
2007
|
||||||||||||
(revised)
|
(revised)
|
|||||||||||||||
Property
Revenues
|
||||||||||||||||
Rental
revenues
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$ | 6,236 | $ | 5,863 | $ | 12,463 | $ | 11,676 | ||||||||
Tenants' reimbursements and other
property revenues
|
1,514 | 1,320 | 3,043 | 2,630 | ||||||||||||
Total property
revenues
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7,750 | 7,183 | 15,506 | 14,306 | ||||||||||||
Property
expenses
|
||||||||||||||||
Property operation and
maintenance
|
2,188 | 1,959 | 4,311 | 3,958 | ||||||||||||
Real estate
taxes
|
925 | 900 | 1,933 | 1,716 | ||||||||||||
Total property
expenses
|
3,113 | 2,859 | 6,244 | 5,674 | ||||||||||||
Other expenses
(income)
|
||||||||||||||||
General and
administrative
|
2,170 | 1,450 | 4,133 | 3,484 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and
amortization
|
1,791 | 1,543 | 3,347 | 3,077 | ||||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
1,425 | 1,357 | 2,827 | 2,632 | ||||||||||||
Interest
income
|
(39 | ) | (155 | ) | (124 | ) | (292 | ) | ||||||||
Total other
expenses
|
5,347 | 4,195 | 10,183 | 8,901 | ||||||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing
operations before loss on
|
||||||||||||||||
disposal of assets, minority
interest, change in fair
|
||||||||||||||||
value of derivative instrument and
income taxes
|
(710 | ) | 129 | (921 | ) | (269 | ) | |||||||||
Provision for income
taxes
|
(53 | ) | (106 | ) | (110 | ) | (106 | ) | ||||||||
Loss on sale or disposal of
assets
|
(68 | ) | - | (100 | ) | - | ||||||||||
Change in fair value of derivative
instrument
|
- | 36 | - | 15 | ||||||||||||
Loss (income) allocated to
minority interests
|
302 | (22 | ) | 411 | 135 | |||||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing
operations
|
(529 | ) | 37 | (720 | ) | (225 | ) | |||||||||
Income (loss) from discontinued
operations
|
(378 | ) | 155 | (188 | ) | 352 | ||||||||||
Gain on sale of properties from
discontinued operations
|
3,619 | - | 3,619 | - | ||||||||||||
Income allocated to minority
interests
|
(1,180 | ) | (59 | ) | (1,248 | ) | (132 | ) | ||||||||
Net income
(loss)
|
$ | 1,532 | $ | 133 | $ | 1,463 | $ | (5 | ) |
See notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
3
WHITESTONE REIT AND
SUBSIDIARIES
|
||||||||||||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS
OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(LOSS)
|
||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||||||||||
Three Months ended June
30,
|
Six Months ended June
30,
|
|||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except per share
amounts)
|
2008
|
2007
|
2008
|
2007
|
||||||||||||
(revised)
|
(revised)
|
|||||||||||||||
Earnings per share - basic and
diluted
|
||||||||||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing
operations
|
$ | (0.05 | ) | $ | 0.00 | $ | (0.07 | ) | $ | (0.02 | ) | |||||
Income from discontinued
operations
|
0.20 | 0.01 | 0.22 | 0.02 | ||||||||||||
Net income
|
$ | 0.15 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.15 | $ | (0.00 | ) | |||||||
Distributions declared per common
share
|
$ | 0.15 | $ | 0.15 | $ | 0.30 | $ | 0.30 | ||||||||
Weighted average number of common
shares outstanding
|
9,903 | 10,001 | 9,952 | 9,997 | ||||||||||||
Condensed Consolidated Statements
of
|
||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive Income
(Loss)
|
||||||||||||||||
Net income
(loss)
|
$ | 1,532 | $ | 133 | $ | 1,463 | $ | (5 | ) | |||||||
Other comprehensive income
(loss)
|
||||||||||||||||
Unrealized income (loss) on cash
flow hedging activities
|
268 | - | (102 | ) | - | |||||||||||
Comprehensive income
(loss)
|
$ | 1,800 | $ | 133 | $ | 1,361 | $ | (5 | ) |
See notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
4
WHITESTONE REIT AND
SUBSIDIARIES
|
||||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS
OF CASH FLOWS
|
||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||
Six Months ended June
30,
|
||||||||
(in
thousands)
|
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
(revised)
|
||||||||
Cash flows from operating
activities:
|
||||||||
Net loss from continuing
operations
|
$ | (720 | ) | $ | (225 | ) | ||
Net income from discontinued
operations
|
2,183 | 220 | ||||||
1,463 | (5 | ) | ||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net
income (loss) to
|
||||||||
net cash provided by (used in)
operating activities:
|
||||||||
Depreciation and
amortization
|
3,347 | 3,077 | ||||||
Minority interests in Operating
Partnership
|
(411 | ) | (135 | ) | ||||
Loss on sale or disposal of
assets
|
100 | - | ||||||
Bad debt
expense
|
222 | 318 | ||||||
Change in fair value of derivative
instrument
|
- | (15 | ) | |||||
Changes in operating assets and
liabilities:
|
||||||||
Escrows and acquisition
deposits
|
291 | 90 | ||||||
Accrued rent and accounts
receivable
|
320 | (875 | ) | |||||
Unamortized lease commissions and
loan costs
|
(522 | ) | (529 | ) | ||||
Prepaid expenses and other
assets
|
(107 | ) | (174 | ) | ||||
Accounts payable and accrued
expenses
|
(1,303 | ) | (2,300 | ) | ||||
Due to
affiliates
|
- | (103 | ) | |||||
Tenants' security
deposits
|
(17 | ) | 65 | |||||
Net cash provided by (used in)
operating activities
|
$ | 1,200 | $ | (806 | ) | |||
Net cash provided by (used in)
operating activities of discontinued operations
|
$ | 8 | $ | 385 | ||||
Cash flows from investing
activities:
|
||||||||
Additions to real
estate
|
(3,100 | ) | (677 | ) | ||||
Repayment of note
receivable
|
- | 15 | ||||||
Net cash used in investing
activities
|
$ | (3,100 | ) | $ | (662 | ) | ||
Net cash used in investing
activities of discontinued operations
|
$ | (8 | ) | $ | (29 | ) | ||
Cash flows from financing
activities:
|
||||||||
Dividends
paid
|
(3,062 | ) | (2,965 | ) | ||||
Distributions paid to OP unit
holders
|
(1,817 | ) | (1,777 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from issuance of common
shares
|
- | 261 | ||||||
Proceeds from notes
payable
|
11,404 | 14,469 | ||||||
Repayments of notes
payable
|
(6,377 | ) | (5,313 | ) | ||||
Payments of loan origination
costs
|
(1,004 | ) | (147 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by (used in)
financing activities
|
$ | (856 | ) | $ | 4,528 | |||
Net increase (decrease) in cash
and cash equivalents
|
(2,756 | ) | 3,416 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents at
beginning of period
|
10,811 | 8,298 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end
of period
|
$ | 8,055 | $ | 11,714 | ||||
Supplemental disclosure of cash
flow information
|
||||||||
Cash paid for
interest
|
$ | 2,819 | $ | 2,693 | ||||
Cash paid for income
taxes
|
$ | 224 | $ | - | ||||
Non cash investing and financing
activities
|
||||||||
Disposal of fully depreciated real
estate
|
$ | 586 | $ | 961 | ||||
Financed insurance
premiums
|
$ | 464 | $ | 458 | ||||
Disposal of real estate in
settlement of lawsuit
|
$ | 7,844 | $ | - |
See notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
5
WHITESTONE
REIT AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
June
30, 2008
1. Interim
Financial Statements
The
condensed consolidated financial statements included in this report are
unaudited; however, amounts presented in the balance sheet as of December 31,
2007 are derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of
Whitestone REIT (“Whitestone”, “us”, “we”, and “our”), at that
date. The unaudited financial statements at June 30, 2008 have been
prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for
interim financial information on a basis consistent with the annual audited
consolidated financial statements and with the instructions to Form
10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and
notes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete
financial statements.
The
condensed consolidated financial statements presented herein reflect all
adjustments which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair
presentation of the financial position of Whitestone REIT, and our subsidiaries
as of June 30, 2008 and results of operations for the three and six month
periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, and cash flows for the six month period
ended June 30, 2008 and 2007. All of these adjustments are of a
normal recurring nature. The results of operations for the interim
period are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for a full
year. The statements should be read in conjunction with the audited
consolidated financial statements and notes which are included in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
Business. Whitestone
was formed as a real estate investment trust, pursuant to the Texas Real Estate
Investment Trust Act on August 20, 1998. In July 2004, Whitestone
changed its state of organization from Texas to Maryland pursuant to a merger of
Whitestone directly with and into a Maryland real estate investment trust formed
for the sole purpose of the reorganization and the conversion of each
outstanding common share of beneficial interest of the Texas entity into 1.42857
common shares of beneficial interest of the Maryland
entity. Whitestone serves as the general partner of Whitestone REIT
Operating Partnership, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”), which was formed on
December 31, 1998 as a Delaware limited partnership. Whitestone
currently conducts substantially all of its operations and activities through
the Operating Partnership. As the general partner of the Operating
Partnership, Whitestone has the exclusive power to manage and conduct the
business of the Operating Partnership, subject to certain customary
exceptions. As of June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, we owned and
operated 35 and 37 retail, warehouse and office properties in and around
Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Phoenix, respectively.
2. Summary
of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of
Consolidation. We are the sole general partner of the
Operating Partnership and possess full legal control and authority over the
operations of the Operating Partnership. As of June 30, 2008 and
December 31, 2007, we owned a majority of the partnership interests in the
Operating Partnership. Consequently, the accompanying condensed
consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Operating
Partnership. All significant inter-company balances have been
eliminated. Minority interest in the accompanying condensed
consolidated financial statements represents the share of equity and earnings of
the Operating Partnership allocable to holders of partnership interests other
than us. Net income or loss is allocated to minority interests based
on the weighted-average percentage ownership of the Operating Partnership during
the year. Issuance of additional common shares of beneficial interest
in Whitestone (“common shares”) and units of limited partnership interest in the
Operating Partnership that are convertible into common shares on a one for one
basis (“OP Units”) changes the ownership interests of both the minority
interests and Whitestone.
Basis of
Accounting. Our financial records are maintained on the
accrual basis of accounting whereby revenues are recognized when earned and
expenses are recorded when incurred.
6
WHITESTONE
REIT AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
June
30, 2008
Use of
Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in
conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of
assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at
the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and
expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates that we
use include the estimated useful lives for depreciable and amortizable assets
and costs, the estimated allowance for doubtful accounts, and the estimated fair
value of interest rate swaps. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.
Reclassifications. We
have reclassified certain prior fiscal year amounts in the accompanying
condensed consolidated financial statements in order to be consistent with the
current fiscal year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on net
loss or shareholders’ equity.
Revenue
Recognition. All leases on our properties are classified as
operating leases, and the related rental income is recognized on a straight-line
basis over the terms of the related leases. Differences between
rental income earned and amounts due per the respective lease agreements are
capitalized or charged, as applicable, to accrued rent
receivable. Percentage rents are recognized as rental income when the
thresholds upon which they are based have been met. Recoveries from
tenants for taxes, insurance, and other operating expenses are recognized as
revenues in the period the corresponding costs are incurred. We have
established an allowance for doubtful accounts against the portion of tenant
accounts receivable which is estimated to be uncollectible.
Cash and Cash
Equivalents. We
consider all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with an original maturity
of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash
equivalents at June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 consist of demand deposits at
commercial banks and money market funds.
Development
Properties. Land, buildings and improvements are recorded at
cost. Expenditures related to the development of real estate are carried at cost
which includes capitalized carrying charges, acquisition costs and development
costs. Carrying charges, primarily interest, real estate taxes and loan
acquisition costs, and direct and indirect development costs related to
buildings under construction, are capitalized as part of construction in
progress. The capitalization of such costs ceases when the property, or any
completed portion, becomes available for occupancy. The Company capitalizes
acquisition costs once the acquisition of the property becomes probable. Prior
to that time, we expense these costs as acquisition expense. During the three
and six months ended June 30, 2008, interest in the amount of $0.2 million and
$0.3 million, respectively, was capitalized on properties under
development. No such amounts were capitalized in the three and six
months ended June 30, 2007.
Acquired Properties and Acquired
Lease Intangibles. We account for real estate acquisitions
pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 141, “Business Combinations.”
Accordingly, we allocate the purchase price of the acquired properties to land,
building and improvements, identifiable intangible assets and to the acquired
liabilities based on their respective fair values. Identifiable intangibles
include amounts allocated to acquired out-of-market leases, the value of
in-place leases and customer relationship value, if any. We determine fair value
based on estimated cash flow projections that utilize appropriate discount and
capitalization rates and available market information. Estimates of future cash
flows are based on a number of factors including the historical operating
results, known trends and specific market and economic conditions that may
affect the property. Factors considered by management in our analysis of
determining the as-if-vacant property value include an estimate of carrying
costs during the expected lease-up periods considering market conditions, and
costs to execute similar leases. In estimating carrying costs, management
includes real estate taxes, insurance and estimates of lost rentals at market
rates during the expected lease-up periods, tenant demand and other economic
conditions. Management also estimates costs to execute similar leases including
leasing commissions, tenant improvements, legal and other related expenses.
Intangibles related to out-of-market leases and in-place lease value are
recorded as acquired lease intangibles and are amortized as an adjustment to
rental revenue or amortization expense, as appropriate, over the remaining terms
of the underlying leases. Premiums or discounts on acquired out-of-market debt
are amortized to interest expense over the remaining term of such
debt.
7
WHITESTONE
REIT AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
June
30, 2008
Depreciation. Depreciation
is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of 5
to 39 years for the buildings and improvements. Tenant improvements
are depreciated using the straight-line method over the life of the improvement
or remaining term of the lease, whichever is shorter.
Impairment. We
review our properties for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets, including accrued
rental income, may not be recoverable through operations. We
determine whether an impairment in value has occurred by comparing the estimated
future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges), including the
estimated residual value of the property, with the carrying cost of the
property. If impairment is indicated, a loss will be recorded for the
amount by which the carrying value of the property exceeds its fair
value. No impairment in value has been recorded for either of
the three or six month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007.
Accrued Rent and Accounts
Receivable. Included in accrued rent and accounts receivable
are base rents, tenant reimbursements and receivables attributable to recording
rents on a straight-line basis. An allowance for the uncollectible portion of
accrued rents and accounts receivable is determined based upon customer
credit-worthiness (including expected recovery of our claim with respect to any
tenants in bankruptcy), historical bad debt levels, and current economic
trends. As of June
30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, we had an allowance for uncollectible accounts
of $1.0 million and $0.9 million, respectively. During the six months ended June
30, 2008 and 2007, we recorded bad debt expense in the amount of $0.2 million
and $0.4 million, respectively. During the three months ended June
30, 2008 and 2007, we recorded bad debt expense in the amount of $0.02 million
and $0.2 million, respectively. These amounts relate to tenant
receivables that we specifically identified as potentially uncollectible based
on our assessment of the tenant’s credit-worthiness. Bad debt
expenses and any related recoveries are included in property operation and
maintenance expense in the consolidated statements of operations.
Unamortized Lease Commissions and
Loan Costs. Leasing commissions are amortized using the
straight-line method over the terms of the related lease
agreements. Loan costs are amortized on the straight-line method over
the terms of the loans, which approximates the interest method. Costs
allocated to in-place leases whose terms differ from market terms related to
acquired properties are amortized over the remaining life of the respective
leases.
Prepaids and Other
Assets. Prepaids and other assets include escrows established
pursuant to certain mortgage financing arrangements for real estate taxes and
insurance.
Income
Taxes. Federal - We are qualified as a real estate investment
trust (“REIT”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the “Code”)
and are therefore not subject to Federal income taxes provided we meet all
conditions specified by the Code for retaining our REIT status. We
believe we have continuously met these conditions since reaching 100
shareholders in 1999.
Income
Taxes. State - In May 2006, the State of Texas adopted House
Bill 3, which modified the state’s franchise tax structure, replacing the
previous tax based on capital or earned surplus with one based on margin (often
referred to as the “Texas Margin Tax”) effective with franchise tax reports
filed on or after January 1, 2008. The Texas Margin Tax is computed by applying
the applicable tax rate (1% for us) to the profit margin, which, generally, will
be determined for us as total revenue less a 30% standard
deduction. Although House Bill 3 states that the Texas Margin Tax is
not an income tax, SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,”
(“SFAS No. 109”) applies to the Texas Margin Tax. We have
recorded a margin tax provision of $0.05 million and $0.11 million for the Texas
Margin Tax for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008,
respectively. Additionally, we recorded income tax expense of $0.11
million for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2007,
respectively.
8
WHITESTONE
REIT AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
June
30, 2008
Derivative
Instruments. We have initiated a program designed to manage
exposure to interest rate fluctuations by entering into financial derivative
instruments. The primary objective of this program is to comply with
debt covenants on a credit facility. We entered into an interest rate
swap agreement with respect to amounts borrowed under certain of our credit
facilities, which effectively exchanges existing obligations to pay interest
based on floating rates for obligations to pay interest based on fixed LIBOR
rates.
We have
adopted SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities,” (“SFAS No. 133”) as subsequently amended by SFAS No. 138,
“Accounting for Certain
Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging Activities,” and SFAS No. 149,
“Amendment of Statement 133 on
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” which require for items
appropriately classified as cash flow hedges that changes in the market value of
the instrument and in the market value of the hedged item be recorded as other
comprehensive income or loss with the exception of the portion of the hedged
items that are considered ineffective. The derivative instruments are
reported at fair value as other assets or other liabilities as
applicable. As of June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, we have a $70
million dollar interest rate swap which has been designated as a cash flow
hedge. The fair value of this interest rate swap is approximately
($0.5) million and ($0.4) million, at June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007,
respectively, and is included in accounts payable and accrued expenses in the
consolidated balance sheets. Additionally, for a previous interest
rate swap which was not designated as a cash flow hedge, approximately $0.04
million and $0.02 million is included in the consolidated statement of
operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007,
respectively.
Fair Value of Financial
Instruments. Our
financial instruments consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents, accounts
receivable, derivative instruments, accounts payable and notes
payable. The carrying value of cash, cash equivalents, accounts
receivable and accounts payable are representative of their respective fair
values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The
fair value of our debt obligations is representative of its carrying value based
upon current rates offered for similar types of borrowing
arrangements. The fair value of interest rate swaps (used for hedging
purposes) is the estimated amount that the financial institution would receive
or pay to terminate the swap agreements at the reporting date, taking into
account current interest rates and the current credit worthiness of the swap
counterparties.
Comprehensive Income (Loss). We
follow SFAS No. 130, “Reporting Comprehensive
Income,” which establishes standards for reporting and display of
comprehensive income and its components.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements.
In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”)
issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair
Value Measurements.” (“SFAS No. 157”). SFAS No. 157 defines
fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance
with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and expands disclosures
about fair value measurements. The statement does not require new fair value
measurements, but is applied to the extent other accounting pronouncements
require or permit fair value measurements. The statement emphasizes fair value
as a market-based measurement which should be determined based on assumptions
market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability. In
February 2008, the FASB issued FSP 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement
157,” (“FSP 157-2”) which deferred the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for
all nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities except for those that are
recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring
basis to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008.
9
WHITESTONE
REIT AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
June
30, 2008
In February 2007, the
FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The
Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—Including an
amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (“SFAS No. 159”). SFAS
No. 159 permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and
certain other items at fair value. The objective is to improve financial
reporting by providing entities with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in
reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently
without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. SFAS No.
159 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning
after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal
years. We adopted SFAS 159 effective January 1, 2008 and elected not
to measure any of our current eligible financial assets or liabilities at fair
value. We do have the option to elect to measure eligible financial
assets or liabilities acquired in the future at fair value.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), “Business Combinations,”
(“SFAS No. 141(R)”) which replaces SFAS
No. 141, “Business
Combinations,” which, among other things, establishes principles and
requirements for how an acquiring 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.
SFAS No. 141(R) applies prospectively to business combinations for which
the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting
period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. We are currently
evaluating what impact, if any, our adoption of SFAS No. 141(R) will have on our
financial statements.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in
Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of ARB No. 51”
(“SFAS No. 160”). SFAS No. 160
amends ARB 51 to establish accounting and reporting standards for the
noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a
subsidiary. It also amends certain of ARB 51’s consolidation procedures for
consistency with the requirements of SFAS No. 141(R). SFAS No. 160 is
effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years,
beginning on or after December 15, 2008. We are currently evaluating what
impact, if any, our adoption of SFAS No. 160 will have on our
financial statements.
In March
2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities—an amendment of FASB Statement No.
133” (“SFAS No. 161”). SFAS No. 161 changes the disclosure
requirements for derivative instruments and hedging activities. Entities are
required to provide enhanced disclosures about (a) how and why an entity uses
derivative instruments, (b) how derivative instruments and related hedged items
are accounted for under SFAS No. 133 and its related interpretations, and (c)
how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial
position, financial performance, and cash flows. SFAS No. 161 is
effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after
November 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We
are currently evaluating what impact, if any, our adoption of SFAS No. 161 will
have on our financial statements.
In June 2008, the FASB issued
FASB Staff
Position No. 03-6-1, “Determining Whether
Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions are Participating
Securities” (“FSP No.
03-6-1”). FSP
No. 03-6-1 affects entities which accrue
non-returnable cash dividends on share-based payment awards during the awards’
service period. The FASB concluded unvested share-based payment awards which are
entitled to cash dividends, whether paid or unpaid, are participating securities
any time the common shareholders receive dividends. Because the awards are
considered participating securities, the issuing entity is required to apply the
two-class method of computing basic and diluted earnings per share. FSP
No. 03-6-1 is effective for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2008, and early adoption is not permitted. We
are currently evaluating what impact, if any, our adoption of FSP No. 03-6-1 will have on our financial
statements.
3. Derivatives
and Hedging
On
September 28, 2007, we entered into an interest rate swap transaction which we
have designated as a cash flow hedge. The effective date of the swap
transaction is October 1, 2007, has a total notional amount of $70 million, and
fixes the swap rate at 4.77% plus the LIBOR margin (see note 7 of the condensed
consolidated financial statements) through October 1, 2008. The purpose of this
swap is to mitigate the risk of future fluctuations in interest rates on our
variable rate debt. We have determined that this swap is highly
effective in offsetting future variable interest cash flows on variable rate
debt.
10
WHITESTONE
REIT AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
June
30, 2008
As of
June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the balance in accumulated other
comprehensive loss relating to derivatives was $0.3 million and $0.2 million,
respectively. The balance in accumulated other comprehensive loss is
expected to be fully amortized to interest expense by October 1,
2008.
The
Company elected to implement SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”
with the one-year deferral permitted by FASB Staff Position No. FAS
157-2, “Effective Date of FASB
Statement No. 157” (“FSP No. 157-2”). FSP No. 157-2, which was
issued February 2008, defers the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for one year for
certain nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities measured at fair value,
except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial
statements on a recurring basis.
SFAS No.
157 establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value
measurements. The valuation hierarchy categorizes assets and
liabilities measured at fair value into one of three different levels depending
on the observability of the inputs employed in the measurement. The
three levels are defined as follows:
|
·
|
Level
1 – Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets at the
measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or
liabilities.
|
|
·
|
Level
2 – Other inputs that are observable directly or indirectly such as quoted
prices in markets that are not active, or inputs which are observable,
either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the
asset or liability.
|
|
·
|
Level
3 – Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data and
which the Company makes its own assumptions about how market participants
would price the assets and
liabilities.
|
All of
our derivative instruments which fall under the fair value requirements fall
under the level 2 criteria. Interest rate swaps are valued by a
third-party consultant using modeling techniques that include market inputs such
as interest rate yield curves.
4. Real
Estate
At June
30, 2008, we owned 35 commercial properties in the Houston, Dallas, San Antonio,
and Phoenix areas comprising approximately 2,991,000 square feet of total area,
of which approximately 33,400 is under development at June 30,
2008.
11
WHITESTONE
REIT AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
June
30, 2008
5. Accrued
Rent and Accounts Receivable, net
Accrued
rent and accounts receivable, net, consists of amounts accrued, billed and due
from tenants, amounts due from insurance claims, allowance for doubtful accounts
and other receivables as follows (in thousands):
June 30,
|
December
31,
|
|||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Tenant
receivables
|
$ | 1,959 | $ | 2,186 | ||||
Accrued
rent
|
3,552 | 3,196 | ||||||
Allowance for doubtful
accounts
|
(996 | ) | (865 | ) | ||||
Insurance claim
receivables
|
321 | 550 | ||||||
Other
receivables
|
8 | 319 | ||||||
Totals
|
$ | 4,844 | $ | 5,386 |
6. Unamortized
Leasing Commissions and Loan Costs
Costs
which have been deferred consist of the following (in thousands):
June 30,
|
December
31,
|
|||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Leasing
commissions
|
$ | 4,808 | $ | 4,512 | ||||
Deferred financing
costs
|
3,100 | 2,096 | ||||||
7,908 | 6,608 | |||||||
Less: accumulated
amortization
|
(4,552 | ) | (3,769 | ) | ||||
Totals
|
$ | 3,356 | $ | 2,839 |
7. Debt
Mortgages
and other notes payable consist of the following (in thousands):
June 30,
|
December
31,
|
|||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Mortgages and other notes
payable
|
$ | 16,593 | $ | 9,936 | ||||
Revolving loan secured by
properties
|
71,895 | 73,525 | ||||||
Totals
|
$ | 88,488 | $ | 83,461 |
12
WHITESTONE
REIT AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
June
30, 2008
As of
June 30, 2008, we had three active loans which are described below:
Revolving Credit
Facility. We have a $75 million revolving credit facility with
a consortium of banks. The credit facility is secured by a pledge of
the partnership interests in Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership III LP (“WROP
III”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership that was formed to
hold title to the properties comprising the borrowing base pool for the
facility. At June 30, 2008, WROP III owns 33 properties.
As of
June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the balance outstanding under the credit
facility was $71.9 million and $73.5 million, respectively, and the availability
to draw was $3.1 million and $1.5 million, respectively.
Interest
only is payable monthly with the total amount of principal due at maturity on
October 1, 2008. The outstanding balance may be prepaid at any time
in part or in whole, provided that the credit facility is not in
default.
The
Company is currently in the process of refinancing this revolving credit
facility and expects to replace the current facility at maturity
with:
|
·
|
Non-recourse
loans on specific properties or groups of properties,
and
|
|
·
|
A
smaller revolving credit facility secured by unencumbered
properties.
|
Mortgage Loan on Windsor Park
Centre. On
March 1, 2007, we obtained a $10.0 million loan to pay off the loan obtained
upon the acquisition of the Windsor Park property and to provide funds for
future acquisitions. The mortgage loan is secured by the Windsor Park
property which is owned by Whitestone REIT Operating Company IV LLC (“WROC IV”),
a wholly owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership that was formed to hold
title to the Windsor Park property. On March 1, 2007, we conveyed
ownership of the Windsor Park property from the Operating Partnership to WROC IV
in order to secure the $10.0 million mortgage loan.
The note
is payable in equal monthly installments of principal and interest of $60,212,
with interest at the rate of 6.04% per annum. The balance of the note
is payable in full on March 1, 2014. The loan balance is
approximately $9.8 million at June 30, 2008.
Term Loan on Pima
Norte. On January 25, 2008 we entered into a $6.4 million term
loan agreement with KeyBank, the lead bank of the consortium of banks in the
revolving credit facility. The term loan is secured by a pledge of
the partnership interests in WROP III, and Whitestone Pima Norte LLC (“WPN”), a
wholly owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership that was formed to hold
title to our Pima Norte property that was purchased in October
2007. At June 30, 2008, WROP III owns 33 properties and WPN owns one
property.
Outstanding
amounts under the term loan accrue interest computed at the LIBOR Rate on the
basis of a 360 day year, plus 2%. Interest only is payable monthly
under the loan with the total amount of principal due at maturity in July
2009. The covenants of this agreement mirror those in our $75 million
revolving credit agreement as discussed in our Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2007.
We expect
to obtain long term financing on this property upon lease
stabilization.
13
WHITESTONE
REIT AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
June
30, 2008
Annual
maturities of notes payable as of June 30, 2008, including the revolving loan,
are due during the following years (in thousands):
Year
|
||||
2008
|
$ | 72,242 | ||
2009
|
6,400 | |||
2014
|
9,846 | |||
Total
|
$ | 88,488 |
8. Earnings
Per Share
Basic
earnings per share is computed using net income (loss) available to common
shareholders and the weighted average number of common shares
outstanding. Diluted earnings per share reflects common shares
issuable from the assumed conversion of OP Units. Only those items
that have a dilutive impact on basic earnings per share are included in the
diluted earnings per share. Accordingly, excluded from the earnings
per share calculation for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 are
5,096,036 and 5,452,187 OP Units, respectively, as their inclusion would be
anti-dilutive. Excluded from both the three and six months ended June
30, 2007 are 5,808,337 OP Units, as their inclusion would be
anti-dilutive.
9. Income
Taxes
Federal
income taxes are not provided because we intend to and believe we qualify as a
REIT under the provisions of the Code. Our shareholders include their
proportionate taxable income in their individual tax returns. As a
REIT, we must distribute at least 90% of its ordinary taxable income to our
shareholders and meet certain income sources and investment restriction
requirements. In addition, REITs are subject to a number of
organizational and operational requirements. If we fail to qualify as
a REIT in any taxable year, we will be subject to federal income tax (including
any applicable alternative minimum tax) on our taxable income at regular
corporate tax rates.
Taxable
income differs from net income for financial reporting purposes principally due
to differences in the timing of recognition of interest, real estate taxes,
depreciation and rental revenue.
In May
2006, the State of Texas adopted the Texas Margin Tax effective with franchise
tax reports filed on or after January 1, 2008. The Texas Margin Tax is computed
by applying the applicable tax rate (1% for us) to the profit margin, which,
generally, will be determined for us as total revenue less a 30% standard
deduction. Although House Bill 3 states that the Texas Margin Tax is
not an income tax, SFAS No. 109, applies to the Texas Margin Tax. We
have recorded a margin tax provision of $0.05 million and $0.11 million for the
Texas Margin Tax for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008,
respectively. Additionally, we recorded income tax expense of $0.11
million for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2007.
14
WHITESTONE
REIT AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
June
30, 2008
10. Related-Party
Transactions
On May
30, 2008, Whitestone settled its ongoing litigation with Allen R. Hartman and
Hartman Management L.P. (“Hartman”). Whitestone and Hartman entered
into a settlement agreement and mutual release bringing resolution to two law
suits between the parties. Both suits, one of which was pending in
Federal Court in Houston and the other suit pending in Harris County District
Court, were filed in the fall of 2006.
The
settlement agreement provided for, among other things:
· The
transfer of two properties known as: (1) Garden Oaks at 3800 North Shepard,
Houston, Texas, and (2) Northeast Square at 18 Uvalde Road, Houston, Texas, from
Whitestone to Hartman. The properties had a net book value of
approximately $7.8 million as May 30, 2008.
· The
transfer of 293,961.54 common shares of Whitestone and 1,068,451.271 units
Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership, L.P. from Hartman to
Whitestone.
· A
five-year standstill agreement between Whitestone and Hartman, wherein, among
other things, neither party will acquire or invest in the voting securities of
the other party; enter into a merger or combination with the other party;
propose a plan of liquidation, dissolution, or recapitalization of the other
party; nor participate in any solicitation or proxies of voting securities of
the other party.
The
mutual release provided for, among other things:
· The
dismissal, with prejudice, of Hartman by Whitestone, and Whitestone by
Hartman.
· The
release of Hartman, Hartman Income REIT, Whitestone, Whitestone REIT Operating
Partnership, L.P., James C. Mastandrea, John J. Dee, Paragon and its Trustees,
and the law firm of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC including John A. Good who is a
partner with that law firm.
· The
retraction of the Preliminary Proxy Statement of Hartman filed on November 29,
2006, the Definitive Additional Materials filed by Hartman on December 1, 2006,
and the Non-Management Revised Preliminary Proxy Soliciting Materials filed by
Hartman on February 1, 2007.
As a
result of the above settlement, we recorded a gain of approximately $3.6 million
on this transaction, in the three and six months ended June 30,
2008. Also as a result of the settlement, our ownership interest in
the Operating Partnership increased from 62.4% to 66.4% as of June 30,
2008.
15
WHITESTONE
REIT AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
June
30, 2008
11. Shareholders
Equity
Dividends and distributions.
The following tables summarize the cash dividends/distributions paid to
holders of common shares and holders of OP Units for the four quarters of 2007
and the two quarters of 2008.
Whitestone
Shareholders
|
||||||
Dividend
|
Quarter
Dividend
|
Total
Amount
|
||||
per Common
Share
|
Paid
|
Paid (in
thousands)
|
||||
0.1500
|
Qtr ended
03/31/07
|
$
1,500
|
||||
0.1500
|
Qtr ended
06/30/07
|
1,500
|
||||
0.1500
|
Qtr ended
09/30/07
|
1,500
|
||||
0.1500
|
Qtr ended
12/31/07
|
1,500
|
||||
0.1500
|
Qtr ended
03/31/08
|
1,500
|
||||
0.1500
|
Qtr ended
06/30/08
|
1,529
|
||||
OP Unit Holders Including Minority
Unit Holders
|
||||||
Distribution
|
Quarter
Distribution
|
Total
Amount
|
||||
per OP Unit
|
Paid
|
Paid (in
thousands)
|
||||
0.1500
|
Qtr ended
03/31/07
|
$
2,317
|
||||
0.1500
|
Qtr ended
06/30/07
|
2,317
|
||||
0.1500
|
Qtr ended
09/30/07
|
2,317
|
||||
0.1500
|
Qtr ended
12/31/07
|
2,317
|
||||
0.1500
|
Qtr ended
03/31/08
|
2,317
|
||||
0.1500
|
Qtr ended
06/30/08
|
2,423
|
16
WHITESTONE
REIT AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
June
30, 2008
12. Commitments
and Contingencies
We are
subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary
course of business. These matters are generally covered by
insurance. While the resolution of these matters cannot be predicted
with certainty, management believes the final outcome of such matters will not
have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial
statements.
As
discussed in note 10 of the condensed consolidated financial statements, on May
30, 2008, Whitestone and Hartman entered into a settlement agreement and mutual
release bringing resolution to two law suits between the
parties. Both suits, one of which was pending in Federal Court in
Houston and the other suit pending in Harris County District Court, were filed
in the fall of 2006.
The
settlement agreement provided for, among other things:
· The
transfer of two properties known as (1) Garden Oaks at 3800 North Shepard,
Houston, Texas, and (2) Northeast Square at 18 Uvalde Road, Houston, Texas from
Whitestone to Hartman. The properties had a net book value of
approximately $7.8 million as May 30, 2008.
· The
transfer of 293,961.54 common shares of Whitestone and 1,068,451.271 units
Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership, L.P. from Hartman to
Whitestone.
· A
five-year standstill agreement between Whitestone and Hartman, wherein, among
other things, neither party will acquire or invest in the voting securities of
the other party; enter into a merger or combination with the other party;
propose a plan of liquidation, dissolution, or recapitalization of the other
party; nor participate in any solicitation or proxies of voting securities of
the other party.
The
mutual release provided for, among other things:
· The
dismissal, with prejudice, of Hartman by Whitestone, and Whitestone by
Hartman.
· The
release of Hartman, Hartman Income REIT, Whitestone, Whitestone REIT Operating
Partnership, L.P., James C. Mastandrea, John J. Dee, Paragon and its Trustees,
and the law firm of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC including John A. Good who is a
partner with that law firm.
· The
retraction of the Preliminary Proxy Statement of Hartman filed on November 29,
2006, the Definitive Additional Materials filed by Hartman on December 1, 2006,
and the Non-Management Revised Preliminary Proxy Soliciting Materials filed by
Hartman on February 1, 2007.
13. Property
Dispositions
Discontinued operations. For
the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, income from discontinued
operations included the results of operations for two retail properties,
containing approximately 0.1 million leasable square feet, which were sold as
part of the settlement of our litigation with Mr. Hartman and Hartman
Management, L.P., in May 2008. As a result of this classification we have
identified the financial results for the three and six months ended June 30,
2007 as revised.
17
WHITESTONE
REIT AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
June
30, 2008
The
following is a summary of income (loss) from discontinued operations for the
three and six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007:
Three Months ended June
30,
|
Six Months ended June
30,
|
|||||||||||||||
(in
thousands)
|
2008
|
2007
|
2008
|
2007
|
||||||||||||
Property
revenues
|
$ | 192 | $ | 385 | $ | 559 | $ | 808 | ||||||||
Property
expenses
|
198 | 155 | 307 | 304 | ||||||||||||
Net operating income
(loss)
|
(6 | ) | 230 | 252 | 504 | |||||||||||
General and
administrative
|
221 | 221 | ||||||||||||||
Depreciation and
amortization
|
151 | 75 | 219 | 152 | ||||||||||||
Income (loss) from discontinued
operations
|
$ | (378 | ) | $ | 155 | $ | (188 | ) | $ | 352 |
During
the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, we recognized a gain of $3.6
million from the sale of the two retail properties discussed
above. In exchange for the two retail properties, we received 0.3
million common shares of Whitestone REIT and 1.1 million units in the Operating
Partnership from Allen R. Hartman. In conjunction with the provisions of SFAS
141, the reacquisition of the minority interests has been accounted for as a
step-acquisition. As such, all amounts attributable to the reacquisition have
been allocated to real estate assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance
Sheet.
14. Segment
Information
Our
management historically has not differentiated results of operations by property
type nor location and therefore does not present segment
information.
15. Subsequent
Events
On August
5, 2008, Whitestone REIT , operating through its subsidiary, Whitestone
Corporate Park West, LLC (the “Borrower”), executed a Promissory Note (the
“Loan”) for $11,200,000 payable to MidFirst Bank (the “Lender”) with an
applicable interest rate of 6.52% per annum and a maturity date of September 15,
2015. A payment of $70,939 is due October 1, 2008 and on the first
day of each calendar month through August 1, 2015.
The Loan
is a non-recourse loan secured by the Borrower’s Corporate Park West property,
which is located in Houston, Texas, and a limited guarantee by the Company. In
conjunction with the Loan, a Security Agreement and Assignment of Leases and
Rents and Fixture Filing (the “Security Instrument”) was executed by the
Borrower which contains customary terms and conditions; including
representations, warranties and covenants by the Borrower, that includes,
without limitation, warranty of title, insurance requirements and maintenance,
use and management of property.
The Loan
contains events of default that include, among other things, non-payment and
default under the Security Instrument. Upon occurrence of an event of
default, the Lender is entitled to accelerate all obligations of the
Borrower. Lender will also be entitled to receive the entire unpaid
principal balance at a default rate.
The Loan
proceeds will be used to pay down a portion of the outstanding amounts on the
Company’s revolving credit facility. The Loan is part of an effort to
refinance the revolving credit facility with:
· Non-recourse
loans on specific properties or groups of properties, and
· A
smaller revolving credit facility secured by unencumbered
properties.
18
WHITESTONE
REIT AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
June
30, 2008
On July 29, 2008, our shareholders approved the Company’s 2008 Long-Term Equity
Incentive Ownership Plan (the “Plan”). Under the Plan, awards may be
made in common shares of the Company or units in the Operating Partnership,
which may be converted into common shares. The Plan authorizes awards in respect
of an aggregate of 2,063,885 common shares. The maximum aggregate number of
common shares that may be issued under the Plan will be increased upon each
issuance of common shares by the Company (including issuances pursuant to the
Plan) so that at any time the maximum number of shares that may be issued under
the Plan shall equal 12.5% of the aggregate number of common shares of the
Company and units of the Operating Partnership issued and outstanding (other
than treasury shares and/or units issued to or held by the Company). Current
and prospective officers, employees and trustees of, and consultants to, the
Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates are eligible to be granted awards
under the Plan.
The primary purpose of the Plan is to have employees think and act as owners
while promoting the interests of Whitestone and its shareholders by, among other
things:
|
·
|
attracting
and retaining key officers, employees and trustees of, and consultants to,
Whitestone and its subsidiaries and
affiliates;
|
|
·
|
motivating
those individuals by means of performance-related incentives to achieve
long-range performance goals;
|
|
·
|
enabling
such individuals to participate in the long-term growth and financial
success of Whitestone;
|
|
·
|
encouraging
equity ownership of Whitestone by such individuals;
and
|
|
·
|
linking
their compensation to the long-term interests of Whitestone and its
shareholders.
|
19
Unless
the context otherwise requires, all references in this report to “Whitestone,”
“we,” “us” or “our” are to Whitestone REIT and our subsidiaries.
Forward-Looking
Statements
This
quarterly report contains forward-looking statements, including discussion and
analysis of our financial condition, anticipated capital expenditures required
to complete projects, amounts of anticipated cash distributions to our
shareholders in the future and other matters. These forward-looking
statements are not historical facts but are the intent, belief or current
expectations of our management based on its knowledge and understanding of our
business and industry. Forward-looking statements are typically
identified by the use of terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “potential,”
“predicts,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,”
“estimates” or the negative of such terms and variations of these words and
similar expressions. These statements are not guarantees of future
performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of
which are beyond our control, are difficult to predict and could cause actual
results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the
forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking
statements that were true at the time made may ultimately prove to be incorrect
or false. You are cautioned to not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements, which reflect our management’s view only as of the
date of this Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to update or
revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence
of unanticipated events or changes to future operating
results. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from any forward-looking statements made in this Form 10-Q include:
|
·
|
changes
in general economic conditions;
|
|
·
|
changes
in real estate conditions;
|
|
·
|
construction
costs that may exceed estimates;
|
|
·
|
construction
delays;
|
|
·
|
increases
in interest rates;
|
|
·
|
availability
of credit;
|
|
·
|
litigation
risks;
|
|
·
|
lease-up
risks;
|
|
·
|
inability
to obtain new tenants upon the expiration of existing leases;
and
|
|
·
|
the
potential need to fund tenant improvements or other capital expenditures
out of operating cash flow.
|
The
forward-looking statements should be read in light of these factors and the
factors identified in the “Risk Factors” sections of our Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, as previously filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
20
Item
2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations
You should read the following
discussion of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction
with our financial statements and the notes thereto included in this
report. For more detailed information regarding the basis of
presentation for the following information, you should read the notes to the
condensed consolidated financial statements included in this
report.
Executive
Overview
We are a
real estate investment trust (“REIT”) engaged in owning and operating
income-producing real properties. Our investments include retail,
office and warehouse properties located in the Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and
Phoenix metropolitan areas. Whitestone serves as the general partner
of Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership” or
“WROP” or “OP”), which was formed on December 31, 1998 as a Delaware
limited partnership. Whitestone currently conducts substantially all
of its operations and activities through the Operating
Partnership. As the general partner of the Operating Partnership,
Whitestone has the exclusive power to manage and conduct the business of the
Operating Partnership, subject to certain customary exceptions. Our
properties consist of:
|
·
|
Seventeen
retail properties containing approximately 1.2 million square feet of
leasable space and having a total carrying amount (net of accumulated
depreciation) of $61.4 million.
|
|
·
|
Six
office properties containing approximately 0.6 million square feet of
leasable space and having a total carrying amount (net of accumulated
depreciation) of $36.8 million.
|
|
·
|
Eleven
office/warehouse properties containing approximately 1.2 million square
feet of leasable space and having a total carrying amount (net of
accumulated depreciation) of $44.0
million.
|
|
·
|
One
office property under development having a total carrying amount of $9.1
million, which will contain approximately 0.03 million square feet of
leasable space upon completion.
|
Our
primary source of income and cash is rents associated with commercial
leases. Our business objective is to increase shareholder value by
employing a value-added investment strategy. This strategy is focused
on owning and renovating commercial real estate assets in markets with positive
demographic trends, achieving diversification by property type and location, and
acquiring properties within our targeted returns.
As of
June 30, 2008, we had 660 total tenants. We have a diversified tenant
base with our largest tenant comprising only 1.8% and 1.8% of our total revenues
for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively. Lease
terms for our properties range from less than one year for smaller tenants to
over 15 years for larger tenants. Our leases generally include
minimum monthly lease payments and tenant reimbursements for payment of taxes,
insurance and maintenance.
We are a
self-managed REIT, employing 49 full-time employees as of June 30,
2008. As a self-managed REIT, we bear our own expenses of operations,
including the salaries, benefits and other compensation of our employees, office
expenses, legal, accounting and investor relations expenses and other
overhead.
We
believe that one of the key measures of our performance is property
occupancy. Occupancy for the total portfolio was 85% at June
30, 2008, compared to 82% at June 30, 2007. We completed 110 new and
renewal leases during the six months ended June 30, 2008 totaling 0.4 million
square feet and $13.5 million in total lease value.
21
In the
fourth quarter of 2006, our Board approved our five year business
plan. The key elements of the plan are as follows:
|
·
|
Maximize
value in current properties through operational focus and
redevelopment
|
|
·
|
Grow
through strategic acquisitions of commercial properties in high potential
markets, including properties outside of
Texas
|
|
·
|
Dispose
of non-core properties and reinvest the capital in redevelopment of
existing properties or acquisition of core properties in high potential
markets
|
|
·
|
Pare
down from three current product lines (retail, office and warehouse) and
focus on one or possibly two product
lines
|
|
·
|
Raise
capital using a combination of the private and public equity and debt
markets, as well as joint ventures
|
|
·
|
Bring
liquidity to our stock by listing on a national stock
exchange
|
A summary
of our progress on the execution of this five year plan is described in the
following sections on redevelopment, acquisitions and dispositions.
Redevelopment
We began
redevelopment in late 2007 to add 5,000 square feet of office space and upgrade
the Westchase Plaza Retail and Office Center located in Houston,
Texas. The total redevelopment of this center is projected to cost
approximately $1.7 million and is expected to be complete by September
2008.
Acquisitions
In
October 2007, we acquired a 33,400 square foot commercial property in Carefree,
Arizona, which is adjacent to North Scottsdale, for approximately $8.3
million. The property, Pima Norte, is a newly constructed one and two
story class “A” executive medical office building. The property is
currently under development and is expected to be leasable by third quarter
2008. We expect to invest approximately $2.0 million to complete the
construction.
Dispositions
(discontinued operations)
On May
30, 2008, as part of our settlement with Hartman Management L.P. and Allen
R. Hartman (“Hartman”), we exchanged
two retail properties, Garden Oaks, a 95,046 square foot retail property located
in Houston, Texas and Northeast Square, a 40,525 square foot retail property
located in Houston, Texas for $11.4 million. The $11.4 million
purchase price was by paid by Hartman in the form of 293,961.54 shares of
Whitestone common shares and 1,068,451.271 units of ownership interest in
Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership, L.P.
A gain of
$3.6 million was generated from this exchange and is reflected in our condensed
consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30,
2008. As a result of the settlement, our ownership interest in the
Operating Partnership increased from 62.4% to 66.4% as of June 30, 2008. The
operating results from these two properties and the gain from the sale are
reflected as discontinued operations in our condensed consolidated financial
statements. In conjunction with the provisions of SFAS 141, the reacquisition of
the minority interests has been accounted for as a step-acquisition. As such,
all amounts attributable to the reacquisition have been allocated to real estate
assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.
22
Critical
Accounting Policies
In
preparing the condensed consolidated financial statements, we have made
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date
of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses
during the reported periods. Actual results may differ from these
estimates. A summary of our critical accounting policies is included
in our Form 10-K, in Management’s Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. There have
been no significant changes to these policies during the first six months of
2008. For disclosure regarding recent accounting pronouncements and
the anticipated impact they will have on our operations, please refer to note 2
of the condensed consolidated financial statements.
Results
of Operations
Comparison
of the Three Month Periods Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007
The following tables provide a general
comparison of our results of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2008
and 2007:
June 30,
2008
|
June 30,
2007
|
||||
Number of properties owned and
operated
|
35
|
36
|
|||
Aggregate gross leasable area (sq.
ft.) (1)
|
2,957,492
|
3,093,063
|
|||
Ending occupancy
rate
|
85%
|
82%
|
|||
(in thousands, except per share
data)
|
|||||
Total property
revenues
|
$ 7,750
|
$ |
7,183
|
||
Total property
expenses
|
3,113
|
2,859
|
|||
Other expense,
net
|
5,166
|
4,287
|
|||
Income (loss) from continuing
operations
|
(529)
|
37
|
|||
Income from discontinued
operations
|
2,061
|
96
|
|||
Net income
|
$ 1,532
|
$ |
133
|
||
Funds from operations (2)
|
$ 426
|
$ |
1,770
|
||
Dividends paid on common shares
and OP Units
|
2,303
|
2,371
|
|||
Per common share and OP
unit
|
$ 0.15
|
$ |
0.15
|
||
Dividends paid as a % of
FFO
|
541%
|
134%
|
|||
(1) At June 30, 2008, we own
commercial real estate with total square footage of 2,990,892, of which
33,400 is under construction and therefore not included in gross leasable
area though it is included in the number of
propeties.
|
|||||
(2) For a reconciliation of Funds
from operations to Net income, see "Funds From Operations"
below.
|
|||||
Property revenues. Substantially all of our revenue is derived
from rents received for the use of our properties. We had rental income and
tenant reimbursements of approximately $7.8 million for the three months ended
June 30, 2008, as compared to $7.2 million for the three months ended June 30,
2007, an increase of $0.6 million or 8%. The increase is primarily
attributable to (1) an increase in our occupancy rate to 85% as of June 30, 2008
as compared to 82% as of June 30, 2007 and (2) an increase in our annualized
rent per occupied square foot to $12.01 for the three months ended June 30, 2008
as compared to $11.28 for the three months ended June 30, 2007.
23
Property expenses. Our
total property expenses were $3.1 million for the three months ended June 30,
2008, as compared to $2.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, an
increase of $0.2 million, or 7%. The primary components of operating
expense are detailed in the table below (in thousands):
Three Months Ended June
30,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Real estate
taxes
|
$ | 925 | $ | 900 | ||||
Utilities
|
662 | 644 | ||||||
Contract
services
|
536 | 463 | ||||||
Repairs and
maintenance
|
659 | 541 | ||||||
Labor and
other
|
331 | 311 | ||||||
Total property
expenses
|
$ | 3,113 | $ | 2,859 |
The
increases in contract services and repairs and maintenance are due to additional
services contracted in 2008 for landscaping, property security, parking lots and
janitorial.
Other expense,
net. Our other expenses were $5.2 million for the three months
ended June 30, 2008, as compared to $4.3 million for the three months ended June
30, 2007, an increase of $0.9 million or 21%. The primary components
of other expense, net are detailed in the table below (in
thousands):
Three Months Ended June
30,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
General and
administrative
|
$ | 2,170 | $ | 1,450 | ||||
Depreciation and
amortization
|
1,791 | 1,543 | ||||||
Interest
expense
|
1,425 | 1,357 | ||||||
Interest
income
|
(39 | ) | (155 | ) | ||||
5,347 | 4,195 | |||||||
Provision for income
taxes
|
53 | 106 | ||||||
Loss on sale or disposal of
assets
|
68 | - | ||||||
Change in fair value of derivative
instrument
|
- | (36 | ) | |||||
Income (loss) allocated to
minority interests
|
(302 | ) | 22 | |||||
Total other expenses,
net
|
$ | 5,166 | $ | 4,287 |
General and administrative.
The increase of $0.7 million in general and administrative expense is
primarily due to legal costs related to the litigation with Mr. Hartman and
Hartman Management, L.P. We incurred approximately $1.0 million in
litigation expenses in the quarter ended June 30, 2008, as compared to $0.3
million in the quarter ended June 30, 2007.
Depreciation and
amortization. The increase of $0.2 million is due
to the amortization of loan fees as a result of the extension of the revolving
credit facility in March 2008. The additional fees paid for the
extension of the credit facility will be fully amortized by October 1,
2008.
Interest
income. The decrease in interest income is a result of the
decrease in the cash balance of approximately $2.8 million and a decrease in
interest rates.
Provision for income
taxes. In the first quarter of 2007, no amounts were recorded
for amounts due under the Texas Margin Tax. As such, six months of
taxes were recorded in the three months ended June 30, 2007.
24
Income (loss) allocated to minority
interests. The increased loss allocated to minority interests
is a result of decreased net income before minority interest primarily as a
result of the increased legal costs discussed above in General and
administrative.
Income from discontinued
operations. The increase in income from discontinued
operations is primarily a result of the gain of $3.6 million from the exchange
of two retail properties in May 2008, offset by $1.3 million of the gain
allocated to minority interests.
Net income. The
increase in net income is primarily a result of the items discussed
above.
Results
of Operations
Comparison
of the Six Month Periods Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007
The
following tables provide a general comparison of our results of operations for
the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007:
June 30,
2008
|
June 30,
2007
|
||||
Number of properties owned and
operated
|
35
|
36
|
|||
Aggregate gross leasable area (sq.
ft.) (1)
|
2,957,492
|
3,093,063
|
|||
Ending occupancy
rate
|
85%
|
82%
|
|||
(in thousands, except per share
data)
|
|||||
Total property
revenues
|
$
15,506
|
$ |
14,306
|
||
Total property
expenses
|
6,244
|
5,674
|
|||
Other expense,
net
|
9,982
|
8,857
|
|||
Loss from continuing
operations
|
(720)
|
(225)
|
|||
Income from discontinued
operations
|
2,183
|
220
|
|||
Net income
(loss)
|
$ 1,463
|
$ |
(5)
|
||
Funds from operations (2)
|
$ 1,799
|
$ |
3,101
|
||
Dividends paid on common shares
and OP Units
|
4,675
|
4,743
|
|||
Per common share and OP
unit
|
$ 0.30
|
$ |
0.30
|
||
Dividends paid as a % of
FFO
|
260%
|
153%
|
|||
(1) At June 30, 2008, we own
commercial real estate with total square footage of 2,990,892, of which
33,400 is under construction and therefore not included in gross leasable
area though it is included in the number of
properties.
|
|||||
(2) For a reconciliation of Funds
from operations to Net income, see "Funds From Operations"
below.
|
Property revenues.
Substantially all of our revenue is derived from rents received for the
use of our properties.
We had rental income and tenant reimbursements of approximately $15.6
million for the six months ended June 30, 2008, as compared to $14.3 million for
the six months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $1.3 million or
9%. The increase is primarily attributable to: (1) an increase in our
occupancy rate to 85% as of June 30, 2008 as compared to 82% as of June 30,
2007, and (2) an increase in our annualized rent per occupied square foot to
$11.83 for the six months ended June 30, 2008 as compared to $11.15 for the six
months ended June 30, 2007.
25
Property
expenses.
Our total property expenses were $6.2 million for
the six months ended June 30, 2008, as compared to $5.7 million for the six
months ended June 30, 2007, an increase of $0.5 million, or 9%. The
primary components of operating expense are detailed in the table below (in
thousands):
Six
Months Ended June 30,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Real
estate taxes
|
$ | 1,933 | $ | 1,716 | ||||
Utilities
|
1,357 | 1,137 | ||||||
Contract
services
|
1,061 | 933 | ||||||
Repairs
and maintenance
|
972 | 1,098 | ||||||
Labor
and other
|
921 | 790 | ||||||
Total
property expenses
|
$ | 6,244 | $ | 5,674 |
The
increase in real estate taxes is primarily the result of increases in the value
of our properties by the governmental appraisal districts that determine the
property tax amounts.
The
increase in utilities is primarily the result of increased air conditioning
costs in our office buildings due to higher temperatures in 2008 than
2007.
Other expense,
net. Our other expenses were $10.0 million for the six months
ended June 30, 2008, as compared to $8.9 million for the six months ended June
30, 2007, an increase of $1.1 million or 12%. The primary components
of other expense, net are detailed in the table below (in
thousands):
Six Months Ended June
30,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
General and
administrative
|
$ | 4,133 | $ | 3,484 | ||||
Depreciation and
amortization
|
3,347 | 3,077 | ||||||
Interest
expense
|
2,827 | 2,632 | ||||||
Interest
income
|
(124 | ) | (292 | ) | ||||
10,183 | 8,901 | |||||||
Provision for income
taxes
|
110 | 106 | ||||||
Loss on sale or disposal of
assets
|
100 | - | ||||||
Change in fair value of derivative
instrument
|
- | (15 | ) | |||||
Loss allocated to minority
interests
|
(411 | ) | (135 | ) | ||||
Total other expenses,
net
|
$ | 9,982 | $ | 8,857 |
General and administrative.
The increase of $0.6 million in general and administrative expense is
primarily due to increases of (1) $0.3 million – legal costs related to the
litigation with Mr. Hartman and Hartman Management, L.P., and (2) $0.3 million –
labor expense.
Depreciation and amortization.
The increase of $0.3 million in depreciation and amortization is due to
the amortization of loan fees as a result of the extension of the revolving
credit facility in March 2008. The additional fees paid for the extension of the
credit facility will be fully amortized by October 1, 2008.
Interest
income. The decrease in interest income is a result of the
decrease in the cash balance of approximately $2.8 million and a decrease in
interest rates.
26
Loss allocated to minority
interests. The increased loss allocated to minority interests
is a result of decreased net income before minority interest primarily as a
result of the increased legal costs discussed above in General and
administrative.
Income from discontinued
operations. The increase in income from discontinued
operations is primarily a result of the gain of $3.6 million from the exchange
of two retail properties in May 2008, offset by $1.3 million of the gain
allocated to minority interests.
Net income. The
increase in net income is primarily a result of the items discussed
above.
Funds
From Operations
The
National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) defines funds
from operations (“FFO”) as net income (loss) available to common shareholders
computed in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles
(“GAAP”), excluding gains or losses from sales of operating real estate assets
and extraordinary items, plus depreciation and amortization of operating
properties, including our share of unconsolidated real estate joint ventures and
partnerships. We calculate FFO in a manner consistent with the NAREIT
definition.
Management
uses FFO as a supplemental measure to conduct and evaluate our business because
there are certain limitations associated with using GAAP net income by itself as
the primary measure of our operating performance. Historical cost
accounting for real estate assets in accordance with GAAP implicitly assumes
that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over
time. Since real estate values instead have historically risen or
fallen with market conditions, management believes that the presentation of
operating results for real estate companies that use historical cost accounting
is insufficient by itself. There can be no assurance that FFO
presented by us is comparable to similarly titled measures of other
REITs.
FFO
should not be considered as an alternative to net income or other measurements
under GAAP as an indicator of our operating performance or to cash flows from
operating, investing or financing activities as a measure of
liquidity. FFO does not reflect working capital changes, cash
expenditures for capital improvements or principal payments on
indebtedness.
Below is
the calculation of FFO and the reconciliation to net income, which we believe is
the most comparable GAAP financial measure (in thousands):
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP
Financial Measures
|
||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended June
30,
|
Six Months Ended June
30,
|
|||||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||||||||
Net income
(loss)
|
$ | 1,532 | $ | 133 | $ | 1,463 | $ | (5 | ) | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization of
real estate assets (1)
|
1,566 | 1,556 | 3,017 | 3,109 | ||||||||||||
Gain on sale of assets
(1)
|
(3,551 | ) | - | (3,519 | ) | - | ||||||||||
Income (loss) allocated to
minority interests(1)
|
879 | 81 | 838 | (3 | ) | |||||||||||
FFO
|
$ | 426 | $ | 1,770 | $ | 1,799 | $ | 3,101 | ||||||||
(1) Including amounts for
discontinued operations
|
27
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Overview
Our
primary liquidity demands are distributions to the holders of our common shares
and holders of units of limited partnership interest in the Operating
Partnership (“OP Units”), capital improvements and repairs and maintenance for
our properties, acquisition of additional properties, tenant improvements and
debt repayments.
Primary
sources of capital for funding our acquisitions and redevelopment programs are
our $75 million revolving credit facility, cash generated from sales of
properties that no longer meet investment criteria, cash flow generated from
operating activities and bank debt.
Our
capital structure also includes non-recourse secured debt that we assumed or
originated on certain properties. We hedge the future cash flows of
certain debt transactions principally through interest rate swaps with major
financial institutions.
During
the six months ended June 30, 2008, our cash provided by operating activities
was $1.2 million and our total distributions were $4.9 million. The
primary uses of cash from operating activities in the six months ended June 30,
2008 were the payment of annual property taxes of approximately $4.0 million on
January 31, 2008 and the payment of legal fees related to the litigation with
Mr. Hartman and Hartman Management L.P. As a result, we had
distributions in excess of cash flow from operations of approximately $3.7
million. Our primary funding for paying dividends in excess of cash flow was
cash on hand and borrowing from our credit facility.
During
the six months ended June 30, 2008, we incurred approximately $1.5 million in
legal costs as a result of the litigation with Mr. Hartman and Hartman
Management, L.P. This litigation was settled in full in May 2008. For
a full discussion of the litigation and settlement with Mr. Hartman and Hartman
Management, see Part II, Item
1. Legal Proceedings.
We
anticipate that cash flows from operating activities and our borrowing capacity
will provide adequate capital for our working capital requirements, anticipated
capital expenditures, litigation costs and scheduled debt payments during the
next 12 months. We also believe that cash flows from operating
activities and our borrowing capacity will allow us to make all distributions
required for us to continue to qualify to be taxed as a REIT.
Cash
and Cash Equivalents
We had
cash and cash equivalents of $8.1 million at June 30, 2008, as compared to $10.8
million on December 31, 2007. The decrease of $2.8 million was
primarily the result of the following:
Sources of
Cash
|
·
|
Net
proceeds of $5.0 million from our credit facility and term loan on our
Pima Norte property.
|
|
·
|
Cash
provided from operations of $1.2
million.
|
Uses of
Cash
|
·
|
Payment
of dividends and distributions to common shareholders and OP Unit holders
of $4.9 million.
|
|
·
|
Payment
of loan origination costs of $1.0
million.
|
|
·
|
Additions
to real estate of $3.1 million.
|
28
We place
all cash in short-term, highly liquid investments that we believe provide
appropriate safety of principal.
Debt
As of
June 30, 2008 we had three active loans:
Revolving
Credit Facility
We have a
$75 million revolving credit facility with a consortium of banks. The
credit facility is secured by a pledge of the partnership interests in
Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership III L.P. (“WROP III”), a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Operating Partnership that was formed to hold title to the
properties comprising the borrowing base pool for the credit
facility. At June 30, 2008, WROP III owned 33
properties.
As of
June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the balance outstanding under the credit
facility was $71.9 million and $73.5 million, respectively, and the availability
to draw was $3.1 million and $1.5 million, respectively.
The
Company is currently in the process of refinancing this revolving credit
facility and expects to replace the current facility at maturity
with:
|
·
|
Non-recourse
loans on specific properties or groups of properties,
and
|
|
·
|
A
smaller revolving credit facility secured by unencumbered
properties.
|
Mortgage
Loan on Windsor Park Centre
On March
1, 2007, we obtained a $10.0 million loan to pay off the loan obtained upon the
acquisition of the Windsor Park property and to provide funds for future
acquisitions. The mortgage loan is secured by the Windsor Park
property, which is owned by Whitestone REIT Operating Company IV LLC (“WROC
IV”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership that was formed to
hold title to the Windsor Park property. On March 1, 2007, we
conveyed ownership of the Windsor Park property from the Operating Partnership
to WROC IV in order to secure the $10.0 million mortgage loan.
The note
is payable in equal monthly installments of principal and interest of $60,212,
with interest at the rate of 6.04% per annum. The balance of the note
is payable in full on March 1, 2014. The loan balance is
approximately $9.8 million at June 30, 2008.
Term
Loan on Pima Norte
On
January 25, 2008, we entered into a $6.4 million term loan agreement with
KeyBank, the lead bank of the consortium of banks in the revolving credit
facility. The term loan is secured by a pledge of the partnership
interests in WROP III, and Whitestone Pima Norte LLC (“WPN”), a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Operating Partnership that was formed to hold title to our
Pima Norte property that was purchased in October 2007. At June 30,
2008, WROP III owns 33 properties and WPN owns one property.
Outstanding
amounts under the term loan accrue interest computed at the LIBOR Rate on the
basis of a 360 day year, plus 2%. Interest only is payable monthly
under the loan with the total amount of principal due at maturity in July
2009. The covenants of this agreement mirror those in our $75 million
revolving credit agreement as discussed in our 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2007.
We expect
to obtain long term financing on this property upon lease
stabilization.
29
Mortgage
Loan on Corporate Park West (Subsequent to June 30, 2008)
On August
5, 2008, Whitestone REIT , operating through its subsidiary, Whitestone
Corporate Park West, LLC (the “Borrower”), executed a Promissory Note (the
“Loan”) for $11,200,000 payable to MidFirst Bank (the “Lender”) with an
applicable interest rate of 6.52% per annum and a maturity date of September 15,
2015. A payment of $70,939 is due October 1, 2008 and on the first
day of each calendar month through August 1, 2015.
The Loan
is a non-recourse loan secured by the Borrower’s Corporate Park West property,
which is located in Houston, Texas, and a limited guarantee by the Company. In
conjunction with the Loan, a Security Agreement and Assignment of Leases and
Rents and Fixture Filing (the “Security Instrument”) was executed by the
Borrower which contains customary terms and conditions; including
representations, warranties and covenants by the Borrower, that includes,
without limitation, warranty of title, insurance requirements and maintenance,
use and management of property.
The Loan
contains events of default that include, among other things, non-payment and
default under the Security Instrument. Upon occurrence of an event of
default, the Lender is entitled to accelerate all obligations of the
Borrower. Lender will also be entitled to receive the entire unpaid
principal balance at a default rate.
The Loan
proceeds will be used to pay down a portion of the outstanding amounts on the
Company’s revolving credit facility. The Loan is part of an effort to
refinance the revolving credit facility with:
· Non-recourse
loans on specific properties or groups of properties, and
· A
smaller revolving credit facility secured by unencumbered
properties.
For
further discussion regarding specific terms of our debt, see note 7 of the
condensed consolidated financial statements.
Capital
Expenditures
We
continually evaluate our propertys’ performance and value. We may
determine it is best to invest capital in properties we believe have potential
for increasing value. We also may have unexpected capital
expenditures or improvements for our existing assets. Additionally,
we intend to invest in similar properties outside of Texas in cities with
exceptional demographics to diversify market risk, and we may incur significant
capital expenditures or make improvements in connection with any properties we
may acquire.
Distributions
The
following distributions for common shares of beneficial interests in Whitestone
and units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership were paid
or declared payable during the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 (in
thousands):
2008
|
Per Share
|
2007
|
Per Share
|
|||||||||||||||
Period
|
Status
|
Amount
|
/OP Unit
|
Amount
|
/OP Unit
|
|||||||||||||
January
-March
|
Paid
|
$ | 2,371 | $ | 0.15 | $ | 2,371 | $ | 0.15 | |||||||||
April -
June
|
Paid
|
$ | 2,303 | $ | 0.15 | $ | 2,371 | $ | 0.15 | |||||||||
July -
September
|
Payable
|
$ | 2,167 | $ | 0.15 | $ | 2,371 | $ | 0.15 |
30
Taxes
We
elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the “Code”), beginning with our taxable year ended December 31,
1999. As a REIT, we generally are not subject to federal income tax
on income that we distribute to our shareholders. If we fail to
qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, we will be subject to federal income tax
on our taxable income at regular corporate rates. We believe that we
are organized and operate in such a manner as to qualify to be taxed as a REIT,
and we intend to operate so as to remain qualified as a REIT for federal income
tax purposes.
Inflation
We
anticipate that our leases will continue to be triple-net leases or otherwise
provide that tenants pay for increases in operating expenses and will contain
provisions that we believe will mitigate the effect of inflation. In
addition, many of our leases are for terms of less than five years, which allows
us to adjust rental rates to reflect inflation and other changing market
conditions when the leases expire. Consequently, increases due to
inflation, as well as ad valorem tax rate increases, generally do not have a
significant adverse effect upon our operating results.
Environmental
Matters
Our
properties are subject to environmental laws and regulations adopted by various
governmental authorities in the jurisdictions in which our operations are
conducted. From our inception, we have incurred no significant
environmental costs, accrued liabilities or expenditures to mitigate or
eliminate future environmental contamination.
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
We have
no significant off-balance sheet arrangements as of June 30, 2008 and December
31, 2007.
Item
3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market
Risk
Market
risk is the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and
prices. The principal market risk to which we are exposed is the risk
related to interest rate fluctuations. Based upon the nature of our
operations, we are not subject to foreign exchange or commodity
risk. We will be exposed to changes in interest rates as a result of
our credit facilities that have floating interest rates. As of June
30, 2008, we had $8.3 million of indebtedness outstanding under facilities with
floating interest rates. The impact of a 1% increase in interest
rates on our debt would result in an increase in interest expense and a decrease
in income before minority interests of approximately $0.08 million
annually.
Item
4T. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We
maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that
information required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) is
recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified
in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and
communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding
required disclosure. Management necessarily applied its judgment in assessing
the costs and benefits of such controls and procedures which, by their nature,
can provide only reasonable assurance regarding management’s control
objectives.
31
Our
management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal
control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act
Rule 13a-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our
management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer,
we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over
financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control—Integrated
Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the
Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation under the framework in Internal Control—Integrated
Framework, our management concluded that our internal control over
financial reporting was effective as of June 30, 2008.
Changes in Internal Control Over
Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal
control over financial reporting during the second quarter of 2008 that have
materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal
control over financial reporting.
PART
II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item
1. Legal Proceedings
We are
subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary
course of business. These matters are generally covered by
insurance. While the resolution of these matters cannot be predicted
with certainty, management believes the final outcome of such matters will not
have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial
statements.
On May
30, 2008, Whitestone and Hartman entered into a settlement agreement and mutual
release bringing resolution to two law suits between the
parties. Both suits, one of which was pending in Federal Court in
Houston and the other suit pending in Harris County District Court, were filed
in the fall of 2006.
The
settlement agreement provided for, among other things:
· The
transfer of two properties known as: (1) Garden Oaks at 3800 North Shepard,
Houston, Texas, and (2) Northeast Square at 18 Uvalde Road, Houston, Texas, from
Whitestone to Hartman. The properties had a net book value of
approximately $7.8 million as May 30, 2008.
· The
transfer of 293,961.54 common shares of Whitestone and 1,068,451.271 units
Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership, L.P. from Hartman to
Whitestone.
· A
five-year standstill agreement between Whitestone and Hartman, wherein, among
other things, neither party will acquire or invest in the voting securities of
the other party; enter into a merger or combination with the other party;
propose a plan of liquidation, dissolution, or recapitalization of the other
party; nor participate in any solicitation or proxies of voting securities of
the other party.
The
mutual release provided for, among other things:
· The
dismissal, with prejudice, of Hartman by Whitestone, and Whitestone by
Hartman.
· The
release of Hartman, Hartman Income REIT, Whitestone, Whitestone REIT Operating
Partnership, L.P., James C. Mastandrea, John J. Dee, Paragon and its Trustees,
and the law firm of Bass Berry & Sims PLC including John A. Good who is a
partner with that law firm.
· The
retraction of the Preliminary Proxy Statement of Hartman filed on November 29,
2006, the Definitive Additional Materials filed by Hartman on December 1, 2006,
and the Non-Management Revised Preliminary Proxy Soliciting Materials filed by
Hartman on February 1, 2007.
Item
1A. Risk Factors
As of
June 30, 2008, there have been no material changes to the risk factors set forth
in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
32
Item
2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
None.
Item
3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item
4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
At our
Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on July 29, 2008, our shareholders voted for
the following three matters:
1. The
re-election of Donald F. Keating as a trustee, to serve until the 2011 annual
meeting of shareholders. The votes cast with respect to Mr. Keating
were as follows:
Votes For
|
Votes
Withheld
|
|
5,403,497
|
1,068,126
|
The other
trustees whose terms of office continued after the meeting are listed
below:
Trustee
|
End of
Term
|
|
Jack L.
Mahaffey
|
2009
|
|
James C.
Mastandrea
|
2009
|
|
Chris A.
Minton
|
2010
|
2. A
proposal to approve the Company’s 2008 Long-Term Equity Incentive Ownership Plan
(the “Plan”). The votes cast with respect to the Plan were as
follows:
Votes For
|
Votes
Against
|
Votes
Abstain
|
Broker
Non-Vote
|
|||
4,500,434
|
1,731,419
|
239,769
|
-
|
|||
3. A
proposal to approve the Company’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the
“Declaration of Trust”) , to accommodate the Company’s current structure as an
internally-advised and managed REIT and to prepare for an offering of additional
common shares of beneficial interest in the Company and the listing of those
shares in the future. The votes cast with respect to the Declaration
of Trust were as follows:
Votes For
|
Votes
Against
|
Votes
Abstain
|
Broker
Non-Vote
|
|||
5,270,079
|
912,564
|
288,979
|
-
|
|||
Item
5. Other Information
None.
33
Item
6. Exhibits
Exhibit
No. Description
|
3.1
|
Articles
of Amendment and Restatement of Declaration of Trust of Whitestone REIT
(previously filed as and incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the
Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, Commission File No. 000-50256,
filed on July 31, 2008)
|
|
3.2
|
Articles
Supplementary (previously filed as and incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3(i).1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, Commission
File No. 000-50256, filed on December 6,
2006)
|
|
3.3
|
Bylaws
(previously filed as and incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the
Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11, Commission File No.
333-111674, filed on December 31,
2003)
|
|
3.4
|
First
Amendment to Bylaws (previously filed as and incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3(ii).1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, Commission
File No. 000-50256, filed on December 6,
2006)
|
|
3.5
|
Second
Amendment to Bylaws (previously filed as and incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3(i).1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, Commission
File No. 000-50256, filed on March 3,
2008)
|
|
3.6
|
Third
Amendment to Bylaws (previously filed as and incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3(i).1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, Commission
File No. 000-50256, filed on April 14,
2008)
|
|
3.7
|
Restatement
of Third Amendment to Bylaws (previously filed as and incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3(i).1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form
8-K, Commission File No. 000-50256, filed on April 17,
2008)
|
|
4.1
|
Specimen
certificate for common shares of beneficial interest, par value $.001
(previously filed as and incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the
Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11, Commission File No.
333-111674, filed on December 31,
2003)
|
|
10.1
|
Settlement
Agreement (previously filed as and incorporated by reference to Exhibit
99.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, Commission File No.
000-50256, filed on June 4, 2008)
|
|
10.2
|
Mutual
Release (previously filed as and incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3
to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, Commission File No.
000-50256, filed on June 4, 2008)
|
34
|
10.3+
|
Whitestone
REIT 2008 Long-Term Equity Incentive Ownership Plan (previously filed as
and incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current
Report on Form 8-K, Commission File No. 000-50256, filed on July 31,
2008)
|
|
10.4
|
Promissory
Note between Whitestone Corporate Park West, LLC, and MidFirst Bank dated
August 5, 2008 (previously filed as and incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, Commission
File No. 000-50256, filed on August 8,
2008)
|
|
31.1*
|
Certification
of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
|
31.2*
|
Certification
of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
|
32.1*
|
Certificate
of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002
|
|
32.2*
|
Certificate
of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002
|
________________________
* Filed
herewith.
+ Denotes
management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
35
SIGNATURE
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.
Whitestone REIT | |
Date:
August 14, 2008
|
/s/
James C. Mastandrea
|
James
C. Mastandrea
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer
|
|
(Principal
Executive Officer)
|
Date:
August 14, 2008
|
/s/
David K. Holeman
|
David
K. Holeman
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
|
(Principal
Financial and Principal Accounting
Officer)
|
36