United States

Securities And Exchange Commission

Washington, DC 20549

Form 10-Q

☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended January 31, 2018

OR

□ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _____to_____

Commission File Number 1-12803

(Exact Name of Registrant in its Charter)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (203) 863-8200

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒    No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes ☒    No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes ☐    No ☒

As of March 6, 2018 (latest date practicable), the number of shares of the Registrant's classes of Common Stock and Class A Common Stock outstanding was: 9,818,598 Common Shares, par value $.01 per share, and 29,812,217 Class A Common Shares, par value $.01 per share.

 

 

URSTADT BIDDLE PROPERTIES INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share data)

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

URSTADT BIDDLE PROPERTIES INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands, except per share data)

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

URSTADT BIDDLE PROPERTIES INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands)

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

URSTADT BIDDLE PROPERTIES INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands)

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

URSTADT BIDDLE PROPERTIES INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(1) ORGANIZATION, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Business

Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc. ("Company"), a Maryland Corporation, is a real estate investment trust (REIT), engaged in the acquisition, ownership and management of commercial real estate, primarily neighborhood and community shopping centers in the northeastern part of the United States with a concentration in the metropolitan New York tri-state area outside of the City of New York.  The Company's major tenants include supermarket chains and other retailers who sell basic necessities.  At January 31, 2018, the Company owned or had equity interests in 82 properties containing a total of 5.1 million square feet of Gross Leasable Area ("GLA").

Principles of Consolidation and Use of Estimates

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its wholly owned subsidiaries, and joint ventures in which the Company meets certain criteria in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 810, "Consolidation". The Company has determined that such joint ventures should be consolidated into the consolidated financial statements of the Company. In accordance with ASC Topic 970-323 "Real Estate-General-Equity Method and Joint Ventures," joint ventures that the Company does not control but otherwise exercises significant influence over, are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. See Note 5 for further discussion of the unconsolidated joint ventures. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been omitted. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.  Results of operations for the three months ended January 31, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending October 31, 2018. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017.

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the periods covered by the financial statements. The most significant assumptions and estimates relate to the valuation of real estate, depreciable lives, revenue recognition, fair value estimates, and the collectability of tenant receivables and other assets and liabilities.  Actual results could differ from these estimates.  The balance sheet at October 31, 2017 has been derived from audited financial statements at that date.

Federal Income Taxes

The Company has elected to be treated as a REIT under Sections 856-860 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code). Under those sections, a REIT that, among other things, distributes at least 90% of real estate trust taxable income and meets certain other qualifications prescribed by the Code will not be taxed on that portion of its taxable income that is distributed.  The Company believes it qualifies as a REIT and intends to distribute all of its taxable income for fiscal 2018 in accordance with the provisions of the Code. Accordingly, no provision has been made for Federal income taxes in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

The Company follows the provisions of ASC Topic 740, "Income Taxes" that, among other things, defines a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. ASC Topic 740 also provides guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition.  Based on its evaluation, the Company determined that it has no uncertain tax positions and no unrecognized tax benefits as of January 31, 2018. As of January 31, 2018, the fiscal tax years 2014 through and including 2017 remain open to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. There are currently no federal tax examinations in progress.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and tenant receivables. The Company places its cash and cash equivalents with high quality financial institutions and the balances at times could exceed federally insured limits. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its tenants and may require certain tenants to provide security deposits or letters of credit. Though these security deposits and letters of credit are insufficient to meet the terminal value of a tenant's lease obligation, they are a measure of good faith and a source of funds to offset the economic costs associated with lost rent and the costs associated with re-tenanting the space. The Company has no dependency upon any single tenant.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company occasionally utilizes derivative financial instruments, such as interest rate swaps, to manage its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. The Company has established policies and procedures for risk assessment, and the approval, reporting and monitoring of derivative financial instruments. Derivative financial instruments must be effective in reducing the Company's interest rate risk exposure in order to qualify for hedge accounting. When the terms of an underlying transaction are modified, or when the underlying hedged item ceases to exist, all changes in the fair value of the instrument are marked-to-market with changes in value included in net income for each period until the derivative instrument matures or is settled. Any derivative instrument used for risk management that does not meet the hedging criteria is marked-to-market with the changes in value included in net income. The Company has not entered into, and does not plan to enter into, derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. Additionally, the Company has a policy of entering into derivative contracts only with major financial institutions.

As of January 31, 2018, the Company believes it has no significant risk associated with non-performance of the financial institutions that are the counterparties to its derivative contracts.  At January 31, 2018, the Company had approximately $89.1 million in secured mortgage financings subject to interest rate swaps. Such interest rate swaps converted the LIBOR-based variable rates on the mortgage financings to an average fixed annual rate of 3.62% per annum. As of January 31, 2018 and October 31, 2017, the Company had a deferred liability of $70,000 and $574,000, respectively (included in accounts payable and accrued expense on the consolidated balance sheets) and a deferred asset of $5.2 million and $3.3 million, respectively (included in prepaid expenses and other assets on the consolidated balance sheets) relating to the fair value of the Company's interest rate swaps applicable to secured mortgages.

Charges and/or credits relating to the changes in fair values of such interest rate swaps are made to other comprehensive  income/(loss) as the swaps are deemed effective and are classified as a cash flow hedge.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income is comprised of net income applicable to Common and Class A Common stockholders and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) includes items that are otherwise recorded directly in stockholders' equity, such as unrealized gains and losses on interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges. At January 31, 2018, accumulated other comprehensive income consisted of net unrealized gains on interest rate swap agreements of $5.2 million.  At October 31, 2017, accumulated other comprehensive income consisted of net unrealized gains on interest rate swap agreements of approximately $2.7 million. Unrealized gains and losses included in other comprehensive income/(loss) will be reclassified into earnings as gains and losses are realized.

Asset Impairment

On a periodic basis, management assesses whether there are any indicators that the value of its real estate investments may be impaired. A property value is considered impaired when management's estimate of current and projected operating cash flows (undiscounted and without interest) of the property over its remaining useful life is less than the net carrying value of the property. Such cash flow projections consider factors such as expected future operating income, trends and prospects, as well as the effects of demand, competition and other factors. To the extent impairment has occurred, the loss is measured as the excess of the net carrying amount of the property over the fair value of the asset. Changes in estimated future cash flows due to changes in the Company's plans or market and economic conditions could result in recognition of impairment losses which could be substantial.  Management does not believe that the value of any of its real estate investments is impaired at January 31, 2018.

 

Acquisitions of Real Estate Investments, Capitalization Policy and Depreciation

The Company evaluates each acquisition of real estate or in-substance real estate (including equity interests in entities that predominantly hold real estate assets) to determine if the integrated set of assets and activities acquired meet the definition of a business and need to be accounted as a business combination. If either of the following criteria is met, the integrated set of assets and activities acquired would not qualify as a business:

• Substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in either a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets; or

• The integrated set of assets and activities is lacking, at a minimum, an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create outputs (i.e. revenue generated before and after the transaction).

An acquired process is considered substantive if:

• The process includes an organized workforce (or includes an acquired contract that provides access to an organized workforce), that is skilled, knowledgeable, and experienced in performing the process;

• The process cannot be replaced without significant cost, effort, or delay; or

• The process is considered unique or scarce.

Generally, the Company expects that acquisitions of real estate or in-substance real estate will not meet the revised definition of a business because substantially all of the fair value is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets (i.e. land, buildings, and related intangible assets) or because the acquisition does not include a substantive process in the form of an acquired workforce or an acquired contract that cannot be replaced without significant cost, effort or delay.

Acquisitions of real estate and in-substance real estate which do not meet the definition of a business are accounted for as asset acquisitions. The accounting model for asset acquisitions is similar to the accounting model for business combinations except that the acquisition consideration (including acquisition costs) is allocated to the individual assets acquired and liabilities assumed on a relative fair value basis. As a result, asset acquisitions do not result in the recognition of goodwill or a bargain purchase gain. The relative fair values used to allocate the cost of an asset acquisition are determined using the same methodologies and assumptions as the Company utilizes to determine fair value in a business combination.

The value of tangible assets acquired is based upon our estimation of value on an "as if vacant" basis. The value of acquired in-place leases includes the estimated costs during the hypothetical lease-up period and other costs that would have been incurred in the execution of similar leases under the market conditions at the acquisition date of the acquired in-place lease. We assess the fair value of tangible and intangible assets based on numerous factors, including 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 market/economic conditions that may affect the property.

The values of acquired above and below-market leases, which are included in prepaid expenses and other assets and other liabilities, respectively, are amortized over the terms of the related leases and recognized as either an increase (for below-market leases) or a decrease (for above-market leases) to rental revenue. The values of acquired in-place leases are classified in other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and amortized over the remaining terms of the related leases.

Land, buildings, property improvements, furniture/fixtures and tenant improvements are recorded at cost. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred. Renovations and/or replacements, which improve or extend the life of the asset, are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives.

The Company is required to make subjective assessments as to the useful life of its properties for purposes of determining the amount of depreciation. These assessments have a direct impact on the Company's net income.

Properties are depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated useful lives are as follows:

 

 

Property Held for Sale

The Company reports properties that are either disposed of or are classified as held for sale in continuing operations in the consolidated statement of income if the removal, or anticipated removal, of the asset(s) from the reporting entity does not represent a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on an entity's operations and financial results when disposed of.   The Company did not classify any properties as held for sale as of January 31, 2018 and October 31, 2017.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues from operating leases include revenues from properties. Rental income is generally recognized based on the terms of leases entered into with tenants. In those instances in which the Company funds tenant improvements and the improvements are deemed to be owned by the Company, revenue recognition will commence when the improvements are substantially completed and possession or control of the space is turned over to the tenant. When the Company determines that the tenant allowances are lease incentives, the Company commences revenue recognition when possession or control of the space is turned over to the tenant for tenant work to begin. Minimum rental income from leases with scheduled rent increases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.  At January 31, 2018 and October 31, 2017, $17,586,000 and $17,349,000, respectively, has been recognized as straight-line rents receivable (representing the current cumulative rents recognized prior to when billed and collectible as provided by the terms of the leases), all of which is included in tenant receivables in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Percentage rent is recognized when a specific tenant's sales breakpoint is achieved. Property operating expense recoveries from tenants of common area maintenance, real estate taxes and other recoverable costs are recognized in the period the related expenses are incurred. Lease incentives are amortized as a reduction of rental revenue over the respective tenant lease terms. Lease termination amounts are recognized in operating revenues when there is a signed termination agreement, all of the conditions of the agreement have been met, the tenant is no longer occupying the property and the termination consideration is probable of collection. Lease termination amounts are paid by tenants who want to terminate their lease obligations before the end of the contractual term of the lease by agreement with the Company. There is no way of predicting or forecasting the timing or amounts of future lease termination fees. Interest income is recognized as it is earned. Gains or losses on disposition of properties are recorded when the criteria for recognizing such gains or losses under U.S. GAAP have been met.

The Company provides an allowance for doubtful accounts against the portion of tenant receivables that is estimated to be uncollectible.  Such allowances are reviewed periodically.  At January 31, 2018 and October 31, 2017, tenant receivables in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets are shown net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $4,516,000 and $4,543,000, respectively.  Included in the aforementioned allowance for doubtful accounts is an amount for future tenant credit losses of approximately 10% of the deferred straight-line rents receivable which is estimated to be uncollectible.

Earnings Per Share

The Company calculates basic and diluted earnings per share in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 260, "Earnings Per Share." Basic earnings per share ("EPS") excludes the impact of dilutive shares and is computed by dividing net income applicable to Common and Class A Common stockholders by the weighted average number of Common shares and Class A Common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue Common shares or Class A Common shares were exercised or converted into Common shares or Class A Common shares and then shared in the earnings of the Company. Since the cash dividends declared on the Company's Class A Common stock are higher than the dividends declared on the Common Stock, basic and diluted EPS have been calculated using the "two-class" method. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each class of common stock according to the weighted average of the dividends declared, outstanding shares per class and participation rights in undistributed earnings.

The following table sets forth the reconciliation between basic and diluted EPS (in thousands):

 

 

 

Segment Reporting

The Company's primary business is the ownership, management, and redevelopment of retail properties. The Company reviews operating and financial information for each property on an individual basis and therefore, each property represents an individual operating segment. The Company evaluates financial performance using property operating income, which consists of base rental income and tenant reimbursement income, less rental expenses and real estate taxes. Only one of the Company's properties, located in Stamford, CT ("Ridgeway"), is considered significant as its revenue is in excess of 10% of the Company's consolidated total revenues and accordingly is a reportable segment. The Company has aggregated the remainder of its properties as they share similar long-term economic characteristics and have other similarities including the fact that they are operated using consistent business strategies, are typically located in the same major metropolitan area, and have similar tenant mixes.

Ridgeway is located in Stamford, Connecticut and was developed in the 1950's and redeveloped in the mid 1990's. The property contains approximately 374,000 square feet of GLA.  It is the dominant grocery-anchored center and the largest non-mall shopping center located in the City of Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Segment information about Ridgeway as required by ASC Topic 280 is included below:

Note 1 - Ridgeway did not have any significant expenditures for additions to long lived assets in the three months ended January 31, 2018 or the year ended October 31, 2017.

Note 2 - No other tenant accounts for more than 10% of Ridgeway's annual base rents in any of the periods presented. Percentages are calculated as a ratio of the tenants' base rent divided by total base rent of Ridgeway.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation plans under the provisions of ASC Topic 718, "Stock Compensation", which requires that compensation expense be recognized, based on the fair value of the stock awards less estimated forfeitures. The fair value of stock awards is equal to the fair value of the Company's stock on the grant date.  The Company recognizes compensation expense for its stock awards by amortizing the fair value of stock awards over the requisite service periods of such awards.

Reclassifications

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period's presentation.

 

 

New Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") ASU 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)" ("ASU 2014-09"). The objective of ASU 2014-09 is to establish a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and will supersede most of the existing revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The core principle is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In applying ASU 2014-09, companies will perform a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. ASU 2014-09 applies to all contracts with customers except those that are within the scope of other topics in the FASB's ASC. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual reporting periods (including interim periods within that reporting period) beginning after December 15, 2016 and shall be applied using either a full retrospective or modified retrospective approach. Early application is not permitted. In August 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-14, which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for all public companies for all annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 with early adoption permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 31, 2016, including interim periods within the reporting period.  In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08 as an amendment to ASU 2014-09, the amendment clarifies how to identify the unit of accounting for the principal versus agent evaluation, how to apply the control principle to certain types of arrangements, such as service transaction, and reframed the indicators in the guidance to focus on evidence that an entity is acting as a principal rather than as an agent. The Company is currently assessing the potential impact that the adoption of ASU 2014-09 and ASU 2016-08 will have on its consolidated financial statements.  While we are still completing the assessment of the impact of ASU 2014-09 and ASU 2016-08 on our consolidated financial statements, we believe the majority of our revenue falls outside of the scope of this guidance.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, "Leases." ASU 2016-02 significantly changes the accounting for leases by requiring lessees to recognize assets and liabilities for leases greater than 12 months on their balance sheet. The lessor model stays substantially the same; however, there were modifications to conform lessor accounting with the lessee model, eliminate real estate specific guidance, further define certain lease and non-lease components, and change the definition of initial direct costs of leases requiring significantly more leasing related costs to be expensed upfront. ASU 2016-02 is effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2020, and we are currently assessing the impact this standard will have on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

The Company has evaluated all other new ASU's issued by FASB, and has concluded that these updates do not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements as of January 31, 2018.

 

(2) REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS

The Company is currently under contract to purchase, for $13.1 million, a 26,900 square foot shopping center located in its primary marketplace.  The Company will fund the acquisition with available cash, the issuance of unsecured notes payable to the seller, and borrowings on its unsecured revolving credit facility (see note 3).

In October 2017, the Company purchased a promissory note secured by a mortgage on 470 Main Street in Ridgefield, CT ("470 Main"), which comprises part of the Yankee Ridge retail and office mixed-use property.  The note was purchased from the existing lender.  In January 2018, the Company completed foreclosure of the note and became the owner of 470 Main.  Total consideration paid for the note, including costs, totaled $3.1 million.  470 Main is a 24,200 square foot building with ground and first floor retail and second floor office space.  The Company funded the note purchase with available cash.

The Company accounted for the purchase of the 470 Main as an asset acquisition and allocated the total consideration transferred for the acquisition, including transaction costs, to the individual assets and liabilities acquired on a relative fair value basis.

The financial information set forth below summarizes the Company's purchase price allocation for the property acquired during the three months ended January 31, 2018 (in thousands).

 

(3) MORTGAGE NOTES PAYABLE, BANK LINES OF CREDIT AND OTHER LOANS

The Company has a $100 million unsecured revolving credit facility (the "Facility") with a syndicate of three banks led by The Bank of New York Mellon, as administrative agent. The syndicate also includes Wells Fargo Bank N.A. and Bank of Montreal (co-syndication agent).  The Facility gives the Company the option, under certain conditions, to increase the Facility's borrowing capacity up to $150 million (subject to lender approval). The maturity date of the Facility is August 23, 2020 with a one-year extension at the Company's option. Borrowings under the Facility can be used for general corporate purposes and the issuance of letters of credit (up to $10 million). Borrowings will bear interest at the Company's option of Eurodollar rate plus 1.35% to 1.95% or The Bank of New York Mellon's prime lending rate plus 0.35% to 0.95%, based on consolidated indebtedness. The Company pays a quarterly fee on the unused commitment amount of 0.15% to 0.25% per annum based on outstanding borrowings during the year. The Facility contains certain representations, financial and other covenants typical for this type of facility. The Company's ability to borrow under the Facility is subject to its compliance with the covenants and other restrictions on an ongoing basis. The principal financial covenants limit the Company's level of secured and unsecured indebtedness and additionally require the Company to maintain certain debt coverage ratios. The Company was in compliance with such covenants at January 31, 2018.

During the three months ended January 31, 2018, the Company borrowed $6 million on the Facility to fund capital improvements. During the three months ended January 31, 2018, the Company repaid $4 million on the Facility with available cash.

 

(4) CONSOLIDATED JOINT VENTURES AND REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS.

The Company has an investment in five joint ventures, UB Ironbound, LP ("Ironbound"), UB Orangeburg, LLC ("Orangeburg"), McLean Plaza Associates, LLC ("McLean") and UB Dumont I, LLC ("Dumont"), each of which owns a commercial retail property, and UB High Ridge, LLC ("UB High Ridge"), which owns three commercial real estate properties.  The Company has evaluated its investment in these five joint ventures and has concluded that these joint ventures are fully controlled by the Company and that the presumption of control is not offset by any rights of any of the limited partners or non-controlling members in these ventures and that the joint ventures should be consolidated into the consolidated financial statements of the Company in accordance with ASC Topic 810 "Consolidation".  The Company's investment in these consolidated joint ventures is more fully described below:

The Company, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, is the general partner and owns 84% of one consolidated limited partnership, Ironbound, which owns a grocery anchored shopping center.

The Ironbound limited partnership has a defined termination date of December 31, 2097. The partners in Ironbound are entitled to receive an annual cash preference payable from available cash of the partnership. Any unpaid preferences accumulate and are paid from future cash, if any. The balance of available cash, if any, is distributed in accordance with the respective partner's interests. Upon liquidation of Ironbound, proceeds from the sale of partnership assets are to be distributed in accordance with the respective partnership interests. The limited partners are not obligated to make any additional capital contributions to the partnership.

The Company, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, is the managing member and owns a 43.2% interest in Orangeburg, which owns a drug store anchored shopping center. The other member (non-managing) of Orangeburg is the prior owner of the contributed property who, in exchange for contributing the net assets of the property, received units of Orangeburg equal to the value of the contributed property less the value of the assigned first mortgage payable. The Orangeburg operating agreement provides for the non-managing member to receive an annual cash distribution equal to the regular quarterly cash distribution declared by the Company for one share of the Company's Class A Common stock, which amount is attributable to each unit of Orangeburg ownership. The annual cash distribution is paid from available cash, as defined, of Orangeburg. The balance of available cash, if any, is fully distributable to the Company. Upon liquidation, proceeds from the sale of Orangeburg assets are to be distributed in accordance with the operating agreement. The non-managing member is not obligated to make any additional capital contributions to the partnership. Orangeburg has a defined termination date of December 31, 2097.  Since purchasing this property, the Company has made additional investments in the amount of $6.4 million in Orangeburg, and as a result, as of January 31, 2018 the Company's ownership percentage has increased to 43.2% from approximately 2.92% at inception.

The Company, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, is the managing member and owns a 53% interest in McLean, which owns a grocery anchored shopping center. The McLean operating agreement provides for the non-managing members to receive a fixed annual cash distribution equal to 5.05% of their invested capital.  The annual cash distribution is paid from available cash, as defined, of McLean. The balance of available cash, if any, is fully distributable to the Company. Upon liquidation, proceeds from the sale of McLean assets are to be distributed in accordance with the operating agreement. The non-managing members are not obligated to make any additional capital contributions to the entity.

The Company is the managing member and owns an 8.8% interest in UB High Ridge, LLC.  The Company's initial investment was $5.5 million.  UB High Ridge owns three commercial real estate properties, High Ridge Shopping Center, a grocery anchored shopping center, ("High Ridge") and two single tenant commercial retail properties, one leased to JP Morgan Chase ("Chase Property") and one leased to CVS ("CVS Property").  Two properties are located in Stamford, CT and one property is located in Greenwich, CT.  High Ridge is a shopping center anchored by a Trader Joe's grocery store.  The properties were contributed to the new entities by the former owners who received units of ownership of UB High Ridge equal to the value of properties contributed less liabilities assumed.  The UB High Ridge operating agreement provides for the non-managing members to receive an annual cash distribution, currently equal to 5.46% of their invested capital.

The Company is the managing member and owns a 31.4% interest in UB Dumont I, LLC.  The Company's initial investment was $3.9 million.  Dumont owns a retail and residential real estate property, which retail portion is anchored by a Stop and Shop grocery store.  The property is located in Dumont, NJ.  The property was contributed to the new entity by the former owners who received units of ownership of Dumont equal to the value of contributed property less liabilities assumed.   The Dumont operating agreement provides for the non-managing members to receive an annual cash distribution, currently equal to 5.05% of their invested capital.

The Company accounts for noncontrolling interests in accordance with ASC Topic 810, "Consolidation." Because the limited partners or noncontrolling members in Ironbound, Orangeburg, McLean, UB High Ridge and Dumont have the right to require the Company to redeem all or a part of their limited partnership or limited liability company units for cash, or at the option of the Company shares of its Class A Common stock, at prices as defined in the governing agreements, the Company reports the noncontrolling interests in the consolidated joint ventures in the mezzanine section, outside of permanent equity, of the consolidated balance sheets at redemption value which approximates fair value. The value of the Orangeburg, McLean, and a portion of the UB High Ridge and Dumont redemptions are based solely on the price of the Company's Class A Common stock on the date of redemption.   For the three months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company increased/(decreased) the carrying value of the noncontrolling interests by $(1.4) million and $681,000, respectively, with the corresponding adjustment recorded in stockholders' equity.

The following table sets forth the details of the Company's redeemable non-controlling interests at January 31, 2018 and October 31, 2017 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

(5) INVESTMENTS IN AND ADVANCES TO UNCONSOLIDATED JOINT VENTURES

At January 31, 2018 and October 31, 2017 investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures consisted of the following (with the Company's ownership percentage in parentheses) (amounts in thousands):

The Company, through two wholly owned subsidiaries, owns a 50% undivided tenancy-in-common interest in the 76,000 square foot Chestnut Ridge Shopping Center located in Montvale, New Jersey ("Chestnut"), which is anchored by a Fresh Market grocery store, and the 24,000 square foot Plaza 59 Shopping Center located in Spring Valley, New York ("Plaza 59"), which is anchored by a local grocer.

The Company, through two wholly owned subsidiaries, owns a 50% undivided tenancy-in-common interest in the Gateway Plaza Shopping Center ("Gateway") and Applebee's at Riverhead ("Applebee's").  Both properties are located in Riverhead, New York. Gateway, a 198,500 square foot shopping center, is anchored by a 168,000 square foot Walmart, which also has 27,000 square feet of in-line space that is partially leased and a newly constructed 3,500 square foot outparcel that is leased.  Applebee's has a 5,400 square foot free standing Applebee's restaurant with a 7,200 square foot pad site that is leased.

Gateway is subject to a $12.7 million non-recourse first mortgage payable.  The mortgage matures on March 1, 2024 and requires payments of principal and interest at a fixed rate of interest of 4.2% per annum.

The Company, through a wholly owned subsidiary, owns an 11.64% equity interest in Midway Shopping Center L.P. ("Midway"), which owns a 247,000 square foot shopping center in Westchester County, New York. Although the Company only has an approximate 12% equity interest in Midway, it controls 25% of the voting power of Midway and as such, has determined that it exercises significant influence over the financial and operating decisions of Midway and accounts for its investment in Midway under the equity method of accounting.

The Company has allocated the $7.4 million excess of the carrying amount of its investment in and advances to Midway over the Company's share of Midway's net book value to real property and is amortizing the difference over the property's estimated useful life of 39 years.

Midway is subject to a non-recourse first mortgage in the amount of $28.3 million.  The loan requires payments of principal and interest at the rate of 4.80% per annum and will mature in 2027.

The Company, through a wholly owned subsidiary, owns a 66.67% (noncontrolling) undivided tenancy-in-common interest in the 189,000 square foot Putnam Plaza Shopping Center ("Putnam Plaza") located in Carmel, New York, which is anchored by a Tops grocery store.

Putnam Plaza is subject to a first mortgage payable in the amount of $18.9 million.  The mortgage requires monthly payments of principal and interest at a fixed rate of 4.17% and will mature in 2024.

The Company's other investment in an unconsolidated joint venture is a 20% interest in a retail and office building in Westchester County, New York.

The Company accounts for the above investments under the equity method of accounting since it exercises significant influence, but does not control the joint ventures.  The other venturers in the joint ventures have substantial participation rights in the financial decisions and operation of the ventures or properties, which preclude the Company from consolidating the investments. The Company has evaluated its investment in the joint ventures and has concluded that the joint ventures are not VIE's. Under the equity method of accounting the initial investment is recorded at cost as an investment in unconsolidated joint venture, and subsequently adjusted for equity in net income (loss) and cash contributions and distributions from the venture. Any difference between the carrying amount of the investment on the Company's balance sheet and the underlying equity in net assets of the venture is evaluated for impairment at each reporting period.

 

 

(6)  STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Authorized Stock

The Company's Charter authorizes 200,000,000 shares of stock.  The total number of shares of authorized stock consists of 100,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, 30,000,000 shares of Common Stock, 50,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, and 20,000,000 shares of Excess Stock.

Restricted Stock Plan

The Company has a Restricted Stock Plan that provides a form of equity compensation for employees of the Company.  The Plan, which is administered by the Company's compensation committee, authorizes grants of up to an aggregate of 4,500,000 shares of the Company's common equity consisting of 350,000 Common shares, 350,000 Class A Common shares and 3,800,000 shares, which at the discretion of the compensation committee, may be awarded in any combination of Class A Common shares or Common shares.

During the three months ended January 31, 2018, the Company awarded 152,700 shares of Common Stock and 102,800 shares of Class A Common Stock to participants in the Plan.  The grant date fair value of restricted stock grants awarded to participants in 2018 was approximately $5.0 million.

A summary of the status of the Company's non-vested Common and Class A Common shares as of January 31, 2018, and changes during the three months ended January 31, 2018 is presented below:

As of January 31, 2018, there was $17.5 million of unamortized restricted stock compensation related to non-vested restricted stock grants awarded under the Plan.  The remaining unamortized expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 5.1 years.  For the three month periods ended January 31, 2018 and 2017 amounts charged to compensation expense totaled $975,000 and $944,000, respectively.

Share Repurchase Program

The Board of Directors of the Company has approved a share repurchase program ("Current Program") for the repurchase of up to 2,000,000 shares, in the aggregate, of Common stock, Class A Common stock and Series G Cumulative Preferred Stock in open market transactions.

The Company has repurchased 188,753 shares of Class A Common Stock under the Current Program.  From the inception of all repurchase programs the Company has repurchased 4,600 shares of Common Stock and 913,331 shares of Class A Common Stock.  For the three months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company did not repurchase any shares of stock under the Current Program.

Preferred Stock

The 6.75% Series G Senior Cumulative Preferred Stock ("Series G Preferred Stock") is non-voting, has no stated maturity and is redeemable for cash at $25.00 per share at the Company's option on or after October 28, 2019. The holders of our Series G Preferred Stock have general preference rights with respect to liquidation and quarterly distributions. Except under certain conditions, holders of the Series G Preferred Stock will not be entitled to vote on most matters. In the event of a cumulative arrearage equal to six quarterly dividends, holders of Series G Preferred Stock, together with all of the Company's other Series of preferred stock (voting as a single class without regard to series) will have the right to elect two additional members to serve on the Company's Board of Directors until the arrearage has been cured. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, as defined in the Company's Articles of Incorporation, the holders of the Series G Preferred Stock will have the right to convert all or part of the shares of Series G Preferred Stock held by such holders on the applicable conversion date into a number of the Company's shares of Class A common stock. Underwriting commissions and costs incurred in connection with the sale of the Series G Preferred Stock are reflected as a reduction of additional paid in capital.

The 6.25% Series H Senior Cumulative Preferred Stock ("Series H Preferred Stock") is non-voting, has no stated maturity and is redeemable for cash at 25.00 per share at the Company's option on or after September 18, 2022. The holders of our Series H Preferred Stock have general preference rights with respect to liquidation and quarterly distributions. Except under certain conditions, holders of the Series H Preferred Stock will not be entitled to vote on most matters. In the event of a cumulative arrearage equal to six quarterly dividends, holders of Series H Preferred Stock, together with all of the Company's other Series of preferred stock (voting as a single class without regard to series) will have the right to elect two additional members to serve on the Company's Board of Directors until the arrearage has been cured. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, as defined in the Company's Articles of Incorporation, the holders of the Series H Preferred Stock will have the right to convert all or part of the shares of Series H Preferred Stock held by such holders on the applicable conversion date into a number of the Company's shares of Class A common stock. Underwriting commissions and costs incurred in connection with the sale of the Series H Preferred Stock are reflected as a reduction of additional paid in capital.

 

(7) FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

ASC Topic 820, "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures" defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset, or paid to transfer a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants.

ASC Topic 820's valuation techniques are based on observable or unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company's market assumptions. These two types of inputs have created the following fair value hierarchy:

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Level 1- Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets

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Level 2- Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which significant value drivers are observable

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Level 3- Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which significant value drivers are unobservable

The Company calculates the fair value of the redeemable noncontrolling interests based on either quoted market prices on national exchanges for those interests based on the Company's Class A Common stock (level 1), contractual redemption prices per share as stated in governing agreements (level 2) or unobservable inputs considering the assumptions that market participants would make in pricing the obligations (level 3). The level 3 inputs used include an estimate of the fair value of the cash flow generated by the limited partnership or limited liability company in which the investor owns the joint venture units capitalized at prevailing market rates for properties with similar characteristics or located in similar areas.

The fair values of interest rate swaps are determined using widely accepted valuation techniques, including discounted cash flow analysis, on the expected cash flows of each derivative. The analysis reflects the contractual terms of the swaps, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs, including interest rate curves ("significant other observable inputs"). The fair value calculation also includes an amount for risk of non-performance using "significant unobservable inputs" such as estimates of current credit spreads to evaluate the likelihood of default. The Company has concluded, as of October 31, 2017 and January 31, 2018, that the fair value associated with the "significant unobservable inputs" relating to the Company's risk of non-performance was insignificant to the overall fair value of the interest rate swap agreements and, as a result, the Company has determined that the relevant inputs for purposes of calculating the fair value of the interest rate swap agreements, in their entirety, were based upon "significant other observable inputs".

The Company measures its redeemable noncontrolling interests and interest rate swap derivatives at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair value of these financial assets and liabilities was determined using the following inputs (amount in thousands):

Fair market value measurements based upon Level 3 inputs changed (in thousands) from $3,846 at October 31, 2016 to $3,864 at October 31, 2017 as a result of a $18 increase in the redemption value of the Company's noncontrolling interest in Ironbound in accordance with the application of ASC Topic 810.  Fair market value measurements based upon Level 3 inputs changed from $3,864 at October 31, 2017 to $3,765 at January 31, 2018 as a result of a $99 decrease in the redemption value of the Company's noncontrolling interest in Ironbound in accordance with the application of ASC Topic 810.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, mortgage note receivable, tenant receivables, prepaid expenses, other assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses are reasonable estimates of their fair values because of the short-term nature of these instruments. The carrying value of the Facility is deemed to be at fair value since the outstanding debt is directly tied to monthly LIBOR contracts. Mortgage notes payable that were assumed in property acquisitions were recorded at their fair value at the time they were assumed.

The estimated fair value of mortgage notes payable and other loans was approximately $288 million at January 31, 2018 and $296 million at October 31, 2017, respectively. The estimated fair value of mortgage notes payable is based on discounting the future cash flows at a year-end risk adjusted borrowing rate currently available to the Company for issuance of debt with similar terms and remaining maturities. These fair value measurements fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Although management is not aware of any factors that would significantly affect the estimated fair value amounts from October 31, 2017, such amounts have not been comprehensively revalued for purposes of these financial statements since that date and current estimates of fair value may differ significantly from the amounts presented herein.

(8) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

In the normal course of business, from time to time, the Company is involved in legal actions relating to the ownership and operations of its properties.  In management's opinion, the liabilities, if any, that may ultimately result from such legal actions are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity of the Company.  At January 31, 2018, the Company had commitments of approximately $4.6 million for capital improvements to its properties and tenant-related obligations.

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of the Company and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this report.

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc. (the "Company"), including this Item 2, contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act.  Such statements can generally be identified by such words as "anticipate", "believe", "can", "continue", "could", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "plan", "seek", "should", "will" or variations of such words or other similar expressions and the negatives of such words.  All statements included in this report that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future, including such matters as future capital expenditures, dividends and acquisitions (including the amount and nature thereof), business strategies, expansion and growth of our operations and other such matters, are forward-looking statements.  These statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate.  Such statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy and some of which might not even be anticipated.  Future events and actual results, performance or achievements, financial and otherwise, may differ materially from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.  Risks, uncertainties and other factors that might cause such differences, some of which could be material, include, but are not limited to:

•	economic and other market conditions, including local real estate and market conditions, that could impact us, our properties or the financial stability of our tenants;

•	financing risks, such as the inability to obtain debt or equity financing on favorable terms, as well as the level and volatility of interest rates;

•	any difficulties in renewing leases, filling vacancies or negotiating improved lease terms;

•	the inability of the Company's properties to generate revenue increases to offset expense increases;

•	environmental risk and regulatory requirements;

•	risks of real estate acquisitions and dispositions (including the failure of transactions to close);

•	risks of operating properties through joint ventures that we do not fully control;

•	risks related to our status as a real estate investment trust, including the application of complex federal income tax regulations that are subject to change;

•	as well as other risks identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017 under Item 1A. Risk Factors and in the other reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

Executive Summary

Overview

We are a fully integrated, self-administered real estate company that has elected to be a REIT for federal income tax purposes, engaged in the acquisition, ownership and management of commercial real estate, primarily neighborhood and community shopping centers, with a concentration in the metropolitan New York tri-state area outside of the City of New York. Other real estate assets include office properties, single tenant retail or restaurant properties and office/retail mixed use properties.  Our major tenants include supermarket chains and other retailers who sell basic necessities.

At January 31, 2018, we owned or had equity interests in 82 properties, which include equity interests we own in seven consolidated joint ventures and seven unconsolidated joint ventures, containing a total of 5.1 million square feet of Gross Leasable Area ("GLA").    Of the properties owned by wholly-owned subsidiaries or joint venture entities that we consolidate, approximately 92.5% was leased (92.7% at October 31, 2017).  Of the properties owned by unconsolidated joint ventures, approximately 97.7% was leased, unchanged from October 31, 2017.

We have paid quarterly dividends to our shareholders continuously since our founding in 1969 and have increased the level of dividend payments to our shareholders for 24 consecutive years.

We derive substantially all of our revenues from rents and operating expense reimbursements received pursuant to long-term leases and focus our investment activities on community and neighborhood shopping centers, anchored principally by regional supermarket or pharmacy chains.  We believe that because consumers need to purchase food and other types of staple goods and services generally available at supermarket or pharmacy anchored shopping centers, the nature of our investments provides for relatively stable revenue flows even during difficult economic times.

We have a conservative capital structure and we have one $9.9 million mortgage maturing in July 2018, which is in the process of being refinanced with the existing lender.  Thereafter, we do not have any additional secured debt maturing until May 2019.

We focus on increasing cash flow, and consequently the value of our properties, and seek continued growth through strategic re-leasing, renovations and expansions of our existing properties and selective acquisitions of income-producing properties.  Key elements of our growth strategies and operating policies are to:

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acquire quality neighborhood and community shopping centers in the northeastern part of the United States with a concentration on properties in the metropolitan New York tri-state area outside of the City of New York, and unlock further value in these properties with selective enhancements to both the property and tenant mix, as well as improvements to management and leasing fundamentals.  Our hope is to grow our assets through acquisitions by 5% to 10% per year on a dollar value basis subject to the availability of acquisitions that meet our investment parameters;

•	selectively dispose of underperforming properties and re-deploy the proceeds into potentially higher performing properties that meet our acquisition criteria;

•	invest in our properties for the long-term through regular maintenance, periodic renovations and capital improvements, enhancing their attractiveness to tenants and customers, as well as increasing their value;

•	leverage opportunities to increase GLA at existing properties, through development of pad sites and reconfiguring of existing square footage, to meet the needs of existing or new tenants;

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proactively manage our leasing strategy by aggressively marketing available GLA, renewing existing leases with strong tenants, and replacing weak ones when necessary, with an eye towards securing leases that include regular or fixed contractual increases to minimum rents, replacing below-market-rent leases with increased market rents when possible and further improving the quality of our tenant mix at our shopping centers;

•	maintain strong working relationships with our tenants, particularly our anchor tenants;

•	maintain a conservative capital structure with low leverage levels; and

•	control property operating and administrative costs.

Our hope is to grow our assets through acquisitions by 5% to 10% per year on a dollar value basis, subject to the availability of acquisitions that meet our investment parameters, although we cannot guarantee that investment properties meeting our investment specifications will be available to us.

Highlights of Fiscal 2018; Recent Developments

Set forth below are highlights of our recent property acquisitions, potential acquisitions under contract, other investments, property dispositions and financings:

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The Company is currently under contract to purchase, for $13.1 million, a 26,900 square foot shopping center located in its primary marketplace.  The Company will fund the acquisition with available cash, the issuance of unsecured notes payable to the seller, and borrowings on its unsecured revolving credit facility.

•

In October 2017, the Company purchased a promissory note secured by a mortgage on 470 Main Street in Ridgefield, CT ("470 Main"), which comprises part of the Yankee Ridge retail and office mixed-use property.  The note was purchased from the existing lender.  In January 2018, the Company completed foreclosure of the note and became the owner of 470 Main.  Total consideration paid for the note, including costs, totaled $3.1 million.  470 Main is a 24,200 square foot building with ground and first floor retail and second floor office space.  The Company funded the note purchase with available cash.

Known Trends; Outlook

We believe that shopping center REITs face opportunities and challenges that are both common to and unique from other REITs and real estate companies.     As a shopping center REIT, we are focused on certain challenges that are unique to the retail industry.  In particular, we recognize the challenges presented by e-commerce to brick-and-mortar retail establishments, including our tenants. However, we believe that because consumers prefer to purchase food and other staple goods and services available at supermarkets in person, the nature of our properties makes them less vulnerable to the encroachment of e-commerce than other properties whose tenants may more directly compete with the internet.   Moreover, we believe the nature of our properties makes them less susceptible to economic downturns than other retail properties whose anchor tenants are not supermarkets or other staple goods providers.  We note, however, that many prospective in-line tenants are seeking smaller spaces than in the past, as a result, in part, of internet encroachment on their brick-and-mortar business.   When feasible, we actively work to place tenants that are less susceptible to internet encroachment, such as restaurants, fitness centers, healthcare and personal services.  We continue to be sensitive to these considerations when we establish the tenant mix at our shopping centers, and believe that our strategy of focusing on supermarket anchors is a strong one.

In the metropolitan tri-state area outside of New York City, demographics (income, density, etc.) remain strong and opportunities for new development, as well as acquisitions, are competitive, with high barriers to entry.  We believe that this will remain the case for the foreseeable future, and have focused our growth strategy accordingly.

As a REIT, we are susceptible to changes in interest rates, the lending environment, the availability of capital markets and the general economy.  For example, some experts are predicting an increased interest rate environment, which could negatively impact the attractiveness of REIT stock to investors and our borrowing activities.  It is also possible, however, that higher interest rates could signal a stronger economy, resulting in greater spending by consumers.  The impact of such changes are difficult to predict.

The U.S. Congress has passed sweeping tax reform legislation that made significant changes to corporate and individual tax rates and the calculation of taxes, as well as international tax rules for U.S. domestic corporations.  As a REIT, we are generally not required to pay federal taxes otherwise applicable to regular corporations if we comply with the various tax regulations governing REITs.  Stockholders, however, are generally required to pay taxes on REIT dividends.  Tax reform legislation would affect the way in which dividends paid on our stock are taxed by the holder of that stock and could impact our stock price or how stockholders and potential investors view an investment in REITs.   In addition, while certain elements of tax reform legislation would not impact us directly as a REIT, they could impact the geographic markets in which we operate, the tenants that populate our shopping centers and the customers who frequent our properties in ways, both positive and negative, that are difficult to anticipate.

 

Leasing

Rollovers

For the three months ended January 31, 2018, we signed leases for a total of 108,000 square feet of retail space in our consolidated portfolio.  New leases for vacant spaces were signed for 23,000 square feet at an average rental decrease of 0.6% on a cash basis.  Renewals for 85,000 square feet of space previously occupied were signed at an average rental increase of 3.8% on a cash basis.

Tenant improvements and leasing commissions averaged $31.62 per square foot for new leases and $3.85 per square foot for renewals for the three months ended January 31, 2018. The average term for new leases was 6.4 years and the average term for renewal leases was 4 years.

The rental increases/decreases associated with new and renewal leases generally include all leases signed in arms-length transactions reflecting market leverage between landlords and tenants during the period. The comparison between average rent for expiring leases and new leases is determined by including minimum rent paid on the expiring lease and minimum rent to be paid on the new lease in the first year. In some instances, management exercises judgment as to how to most effectively reflect the comparability of spaces reported in this calculation. The change in rental income on comparable space leases is impacted by numerous factors including current market rates, location, individual tenant creditworthiness, use of space, market conditions when the expiring lease was signed, the age of the expiring lease, capital investment made in the space and the specific lease structure. Tenant improvements include the total dollars committed for the improvement (fit-out) of a space as it relates to a specific lease but may also include base building costs (i.e. expansion, escalators or new entrances) that are required to make the space leasable.  Incentives (if applicable) include amounts paid to tenants as an inducement to sign a lease that do not represent building improvements.

The leases signed in 2018 generally become effective over the following one to two years. There is risk that some new tenants will not ultimately take possession of their space and that tenants for both new and renewal leases may not pay all of their contractual rent due to operating, financing or other matters.

In 2018, we believe our leasing volume will be in-line with our historical averages with overall positive increases in rental income for renewal leases and flat to slightly positive increases for new leases. However, changes in rental income associated with individual signed leases on comparable spaces may be positive or negative, and we can provide no assurance that the rents on new leases will continue to increase at the above described levels, if at all.

Significant Events with Impacts on Leasing

In July 2015, one of our largest tenants, A&P, filed a voluntary petition under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (the "Bankruptcy Code").  Subsequently, A&P determined that it would be liquidating the company. Prior to A&P filing for bankruptcy, A&P leased and occupied nine spaces totaling 365,000 square feet in our portfolio.  The bankruptcy process relating to our nine spaces is complete with eight of the nine A&P leases having been assumed by new operators in the bankruptcy process or re-leased by the Company to new operators.  The remaining lease, located in our Pompton Lakes shopping center, totaling 63,000 square feet was rejected by A&P in bankruptcy and we are in the process of marketing that space for re-lease.  In July 2017, one other 36,000 square foot space formerly occupied by A&P that we had released to a local grocery operator became vacant as that operator failed to perform under their lease and was evicted.  We are currently finalizing a lease with a new grocery operator for this location.  In February 2018, Tops Markets, LLC filed a voluntary petition under chapter 11 of title 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.  Tops Markets is a tenant at a property owned by an unconsolidated joint venture in which we have a 66.67% ownership interest.  The space is 61,000 square feet and the lease runs through 2026.  As of the date of this report, Tops Markets is still performing under its lease.

Impact of Inflation on Leasing

Our long-term leases contain provisions to mitigate the adverse impact of inflation on our operating results. Such provisions include clauses entitling us to receive (a) scheduled base rent increases and (b) percentage rents based upon tenants' gross sales, which generally increase as prices rise. In addition, many of our non-anchor leases are for terms of less than ten years, which permits us to seek increases in rents upon renewal at then current market rates if rents provided in the expiring leases are below then existing market rates. Most of our leases require tenants to pay a share of operating expenses, including common area maintenance, real estate taxes, insurance and utilities, thereby reducing our exposure to increases in costs and operating expenses resulting from inflation.

Critical Accounting Policies

Critical accounting policies are those that are both important to the presentation of the Company's financial condition and results of operations and require management's most difficult, complex or subjective judgments.  For a further discussion about the Company's critical accounting policies, please see Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements of the Company included in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview

At January 31, 2018, we had cash and cash equivalents of $4.5 million, compared to $8.7 million at October 31, 2017.  Our sources of liquidity and capital resources include operating cash flow from real estate operations, proceeds from bank borrowings and long-term mortgage debt, capital financings and sales of real estate investments.  Substantially all of our revenues are derived from rents paid under existing leases, which means that our operating cash flow depends on the ability of our tenants to make rental payments.  For the three months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017, net cash flows from operating activities amounted to $12.6 million and $11.5 million, respectively.

Our short-term liquidity requirements consist primarily of normal recurring operating expenses and capital expenditures, debt service, management and professional fees, cash distributions to certain limited partners and non-managing members of our consolidated joint ventures, dividends paid to our preferred stockholders and regular dividends paid to our Common and Class A Common stockholders, which we expect to continue.  Cash dividends paid on Common and Class A Common stock for the three months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017 totaled $10.4 million and $10.1 million, respectively.  Historically, we have met short-term liquidity requirements, which is defined as a rolling twelve month period, primarily by generating net cash from the operation of our properties.   We believe that our net cash provided by operations will continue to be sufficient to fund our short-term liquidity requirements, including payment of dividends necessary to maintain our federal income tax REIT status.

Our long-term liquidity requirements consist primarily of obligations under our long-term debt, dividends paid to our preferred stockholders, capital expenditures and capital required for acquisitions.  In addition, the limited partners and non-managing members of our five consolidated joint venture entities, Ironbound, McLean, Orangeburg, UB High Ridge and UB Dumont, have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of their limited partner or non-managing member interests at prices and on terms as set forth in the governing agreements.  See Note 4 to the financial statements included in Item 1 of this Report on Form 10-Q.  Historically, we have financed the foregoing requirements through operating cash flow, borrowings under our Facility debt refinancings, new debt, equity offerings and other capital market transactions, and/or the disposition of under-performing assets, with a focus on keeping our leverage low.  We expect to continue doing so in the future.  We cannot assure you, however, that these sources will always be available to us when needed, or on the terms we desire.

We are currently in contract to purchase a shopping center in our primary marketplace for $13.1 million.  We plan on funding the purchase with a combination of available cash, borrowings on our Facility and the issuance of unsecured notes to the seller of the property.

Capital Expenditures

We invest in our existing properties and regularly make capital expenditures in the ordinary course of business to maintain our properties. We believe that such expenditures enhance the competitiveness of our properties. For the three months ended January 31, 2018, we paid approximately $2.4 million for property improvements, tenant improvements and leasing commission costs (approximately $1.7 million representing property improvements and approximately $737,000 related to new tenant space improvements, leasing costs and capital improvements as a result of new tenant spaces).  The amount of these expenditures can vary significantly depending on tenant negotiations, market conditions and rental rates.  We expect to incur approximately $4.6 million predominantly for anticipated capital improvements and leasing costs related to new tenant leases and property improvements during fiscal 2018.  These expenditures are expected to be funded from operating cash flows, bank borrowings or other financing sources.

Financing Strategy, Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility and other Financing Transactions

Our strategy is to maintain a conservative capital structure with low leverage levels by commercial real estate standards.  Mortgage notes payable and other loans of $295.5 million consist entirely of fixed-rate mortgage loan indebtedness with a weighted average interest rate of 4.2% at January 31, 2018.  These mortgages are secured by 26 properties with a net book value of $565 million and have fixed rates of interest ranging from 3.5% to 6.6%.   We may refinance our mortgage loans, at or prior to scheduled maturity, through replacement mortgage loans.  The ability to do so, however, is dependent upon various factors, including the income level of the properties, interest rates and credit conditions within the commercial real estate market. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that such re-financings can be achieved.

At January 31, 2018, we had $6 million of variable-rate debt consisting of draws on our Facility (see below) that was not fixed through an interest rate swap or otherwise. See "Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk" included in this Report on Form 10-Q for additional information on our interest rate risk.

We currently maintain a ratio of total debt to total assets below 31% and a fixed charge coverage ratio of over 3.42 to 1 (excluding preferred stock dividends), which we believe will allow us to obtain additional secured mortgage loans or other types of borrowings, if necessary.  We own 49 properties in our consolidated portfolio that are not encumbered by secured mortgage debt.  At January 31, 2018, we had borrowing capacity of $93 million on our Facility.  Our Facility includes financial covenants that limit, among other things, our ability to incur unsecured and secured indebtedness.  See Note 3 in our consolidated financial statements included in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional information on these and other restrictions.

We have a $100 million unsecured revolving credit facility with a syndicate of three banks, BNY Mellon, BMO and Wells Fargo N.A. with the ability under certain conditions to additionally increase the capacity to $150 million, subject to lender approval.  The maturity date of the Facility is August 23, 2020 with a one-year extension at our option.  Borrowings under the Facility can be used for general corporate purposes and the issuance of up to $10 million of letters of credit.  Borrowings will bear interest at our option of Eurodollar rate plus 1.35% to 1.95% or The Bank of New York Mellon's prime lending rate plus 0.35% to 0.95%, based on consolidated indebtedness, as defined.  We pay a quarterly commitment fee on the unused commitment amount of 0.15% to 0.25% per annum, based on outstanding borrowings during the year.  As of January 31, 2018, $93 million was available to be drawn on the Facility.  Our ability to borrow under the Facility is subject to its compliance with the covenants and other restrictions on an ongoing basis.  The principal financial covenants limit our level of secured and unsecured indebtedness and additionally require us to maintain certain debt coverage ratios.  We were in compliance with such covenants at January 31, 2018.

During the three months ended January 31, 2018, we borrowed $6 million on our Facility to fund capital improvements to our properties. For the three months ended January 31, 2018 we repaid $4 million of borrowings on our Facility, with available cash.

Net Cash Flows from:

Operating Activities

Net cash flows provided by operating activities amounted to $12.6 million for the three months ended January 31, 2018 compared to $11.5 million in the comparable period of fiscal 2017. The increase in operating cash flows when compared with the corresponding prior period was due primarily to the Company generating additional operating income in the three months ended January 31, 2018 from properties acquired after the first quarter of fiscal 2017 and properties acquired in the first three months of fiscal 2018.

Investing Activities

Net cash flows used in investing activities amounted to $3.5 million for the three months ended January 31, 2018 compared to net cash flows used in investing activities of $13.6 million in the comparable period of fiscal 2017. The decrease in net cash flows used in investing activities in fiscal 2018 when compared to the corresponding prior period was the result of the Company expending less on the acquisition of real estate investments in the first three months of fiscal 2018 when compared with the corresponding period of fiscal 2017.

We regularly make capital investments in our properties for property improvements, tenant improvements costs and leasing commissions.

Financing Activities

Net cash flows used in financing activities amounted to $13.3 million in the first three months of fiscal 2018 compared with $181,000 in the comparable period of fiscal 2017. The net increase in cash flows used in financing activities in the first three months of fiscal 2018 versus the same period of fiscal 2017 was predominantly the result of the Company borrowing $15 million on its Facility in the first three months of fiscal 2017 and only borrowing a net $2 million in the first three months of fiscal 2018.  In addition, we increased the annualized dividend on the outstanding Common and Class A Common stock by $0.02 per share in December 2017.  This increase was partially offset by the Company incurring $507,000 less in preferred stock dividends in the first three months of fiscal 2018 when compared with the corresponding prior period.  In October 2017, the Company redeemed it Series F preferred stock and replaced it with a new Series H preferred stock, which had a lower coupon rate than the redeemed Series F preferred stock.

Results of Operations

The following information summarizes our results of operations for the three months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017 (amounts in thousands):

Note 1 – Properties held in both periods includes only properties owned for the entire periods of 2018 and 2017.  All other properties are included in the property acquisition/sales column.  There are no properties excluded from the analysis.

Revenues

Base rents increased by 11.7% to $23.6 million in the three month period ended January 31, 2018, as compared with $21.1 million in the comparable period of 2017.  The increase in base rents and the changes in other income statement line items were attributable to:

In fiscal 2017, the Company purchased four properties totaling 114,700 square feet of GLA, invested in two joint ventures that own four properties totaling 173,600 square feet, whose operations we consolidate, and sold two properties totaling 203,800 square feet.  In the first three months of fiscal 2018, the Company purchased one property totaling 24,200 square feet.  These properties accounted for all of the revenue and expense changes attributable to property acquisitions and sales in the three months ended January 31, 2018 when compared with fiscal 2017.

Revenues

The increase in base rents for properties held in both periods was predominantly caused by new leasing activity at three properties held in both periods that created a positive variance in base rent of $300,000 in the three months ended January 31, 2018 when compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2017.  In addition, the increase in base rents for properties held in both periods was caused by the vacating of a tenant at one of our properties in the first quarter of fiscal 2017 prior to the original expiration of their lease, requiring the Company to write off $116,000 in straight-line rent receivable relating to that tenant in the first quarter of fiscal 2017, which creates a positive variance in base rent for the three months ended January 31, 2018 when compared with the first quarter of fiscal 2017.  These combined increases were partially offset by a $154,000 negative base rent variance as a result of our 36,000 square foot grocery space at our Valley Ridge property being occupied in the first quarter of fiscal 2017 but not in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 (see "Significant Events with Impact on Leasing" earlier in this Item 2).

In fiscal 2018, the Company leased or renewed approximately 108,000 square feet (or approximately 2.5% of total consolidated property leasable area).  At January 31, 2018, the Company's consolidated properties were 92.5% leased (92.7% leased at October 31, 2017).

For the three months ended January 31, 2018, recoveries from tenants for properties owned in both periods (which represents reimbursements from tenants for operating expenses and property taxes) increased by $529,000. This increase was a result of an increase in both property operating expenses and property tax expense in the consolidated portfolio for properties owned for the entire periods of fiscal 2018 and 2017.

Expenses

Property operating expenses increased by $883,000 in the three month period ended January 31, 2018 when compared with the corresponding prior period as a result of an increase in snow removal expenses.

Real estate taxes increased by $140,000 in the three month period ended January 31, 2018 when compared with the corresponding prior period as a result of an increase in tax assessments.

Interest expense decreased by $81,000 in the three month period ended January 31, 2018 when compared with the corresponding prior period as a result of the Company refinancing its largest secured mortgage in July 2017, reducing the interest rate from 5.52% to 3.398%, and the Company having $17 million less drawn on its Facility.

Depreciation and amortization expense decreased by $367,000 in the three month period ended January 31, 2018 when compared with the corresponding prior period as a result of increased depreciation expense for tenant improvements in the first three months of fiscal 2017 related to tenant improvements for two tenants that vacated the shopping center prior to the original expiration of their leases.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expense was relatively unchanged in the three months ended January 31, 2018 when compared to the corresponding prior period.

 

 

Funds from Operations

We consider Funds from Operations ("FFO") to be an additional measure of our operating performance.  We report FFO in addition to net income applicable to common stockholders and net cash provided by operating activities.  Management has adopted the definition suggested by The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ("NAREIT") and defines FFO to mean net income (computed in accordance with GAAP) excluding gains or losses from sales of property, plus real estate-related depreciation and amortization and after adjustments for unconsolidated joint ventures.

Management considers FFO a meaningful, additional measure of operating performance because it primarily excludes the assumption that the value of the Company's real estate assets diminishes predictably over time and industry analysts have accepted it as a performance measure.  FFO is presented to assist investors in analyzing the performance of the Company.  It is helpful as it excludes various items included in net income that are not indicative of our operating performance, such as gains (or losses) from sales of property and depreciation and amortization.  However, FFO:

•	does not represent cash flows from operating activities in accordance with GAAP (which, unlike FFO, generally reflects all cash effects of transactions and other events in the determination of net income); and

•	should not be considered an alternative to net income as an indication of our performance.

FFO as defined by us may not be comparable to similarly titled items reported by other real estate investment trusts due to possible differences in the application of the NAREIT definition used by such REITs.  The table below provides a reconciliation of net income applicable to Common and Class A Common Stockholders in accordance with GAAP to FFO for the three  month periods ended January 31, 2018 and 2017 (amounts in thousands):

FFO amounted to $12.3 million in the first three months of fiscal 2018 compared to $10.4 million in the comparable period of fiscal 2017.  The net increase in FFO is attributable, among other things, to: (i) the additional net income generated from properties acquired in fiscal 2017 and the first three months of fiscal 2018; (ii) a decrease in preferred stock dividends of $507,000 as a result of the Company redeeming its Series F preferred stock in October 2017 and replacing it with its Series H preferred stock.  The Series H preferred stock has a lower interest rate and the outstanding principal of the Series H preferred stock is $14.4 million less than the redeemed Series F preferred stock.  This increase was partially offset by (iii) a $132,000 increased charge for bad debt expense in this year's first quarter when compared with last year's first quarter and (iv) $90,000 decrease in interest income generated as a result of the one mortgage receivable the Company had outstanding being repaid in October 2017.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have seven off-balance sheet investments in real property through unconsolidated joint ventures:

•	a 66.67% equity interest in the Putnam Plaza Shopping Center,

•	an 11.642% equity interest in the Midway Shopping Center L.P.,

•	a 50% equity interest in the Chestnut Ridge Shopping Center and Plaza 59 Shopping Centers,

•	a 50% equity interest in the Gateway Plaza shopping center and the Riverhead Applebee's Plaza, and

•	a 20% interest in a suburban office building with ground level retail.

These unconsolidated joint ventures are accounted for under the equity method of accounting, as we have the ability to exercise significant influence over, but not control of, the operating and financial decisions of these investments.  Our off-balance sheet arrangements are more fully discussed in Note 5, "Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Joint Ventures" in our financial statements in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  Although we have not guaranteed the debt of these joint ventures, we have agreed to customary environmental indemnifications and nonrecourse carve-outs (e.g. guarantees against fraud, misrepresentation and bankruptcy) on certain loans of the joint ventures.  The below table details information about the outstanding non-recourse mortgage financings on our unconsolidated joint ventures (amounts in thousands):

Environmental Matters

Based upon management's ongoing review of its properties, management is not aware of any environmental condition with respect to any of the Company's properties that would be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. There can be no assurance, however, that (a) the discovery of environmental conditions that were previously unknown, (b) changes in law, (c) the conduct of tenants or (d) activities relating to properties in the vicinity of the Company's properties, will not expose the Company to material liability in the future. Changes in laws increasing the potential liability for environmental conditions existing on properties or increasing the restrictions on discharges or other conditions may result in significant unanticipated expenditures or may otherwise adversely affect the operations of the Company's tenants, which could adversely affect the Company's financial condition and results of operations.

 

 

We are exposed to interest rate risk primarily through our borrowing activities, which include fixed-rate mortgage debt and, in limited circumstances, variable rate debt.  As of January 31, 2018, we had total mortgage debt and other notes payable of $295.5 million, of which 100% was fixed-rate, inclusive of variable rate mortgages that have been swapped to fixed interest rates using interest rate swap derivatives contracts.

For our fixed-rate debt, there is inherent rollover risk for borrowings as they mature and are renewed at current market rates.  The extent of this risk is not quantifiable or predictable because of the variability of future interest rates and the Company's future financing requirements.

To reduce our exposure to interest rate risk on variable-rate debt, we use interest rate swap agreements, for example, to convert some of our variable-rate debt to fixed-rate debt.  As of January 31, 2018, we had seven open derivative financial instruments.  These interest rate swaps are cross collateralized with mortgages on properties in Rye, NY, Ossining, NY, Yonkers, NY, Orangeburg, NY, Stamford, CT and Greenwich CT.  The Rye swaps expire in October 2019, the Ossining swap expires in October 2024, the Yonkers swap expires in November 2024, the Orangeburg swap expires in October 2024, the Stamford swap expires in July 2027, and the Greenwich swaps expire in October 2026, all concurrent with the maturity of the respective mortgages.  All of the aforementioned derivatives contracts are adjusted to fair market value at each reporting period.  The Company has concluded that all of the aforementioned derivatives contracts are effective cash flow hedges as defined in ASC Topic 815.  We are required to evaluate the effectiveness at inception and at each reporting date.  As a result of the aforementioned derivatives contracts being effective cash flow hedges all changes in fair market value are recorded directly to stockholders equity in accumulated comprehensive income and have no effect on the earnings of the Company.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based on such evaluation, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

Changes in Internal Controls

During the quarter ended January 31, 2018, there were no changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

The Company is not involved in any litigation that in management's opinion would result in a material adverse effect on the Company's ownership, management or operation of its properties.

Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The Board of Directors of the Company has approved a share repurchase program ("Program") for the repurchase of up to 2,000,000 shares, in the aggregate, of Common stock, Class A Common stock and Series G Cumulative Preferred stock in open market transactions.  For the three month period ended January 31, 2018, the Company did not repurchase any shares of stock under the Program.  During the three months ended January 31, 2018 3,250 restricted Class A Common shares were forfeited by former employees.  From time to time, we could be deemed to have repurchased shares as a result of shares withheld for tax purposes upon a stock compensation related vesting event.

 

 

Item 6.  Exhibits

S I G N A T U R E S

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.