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EX-21 - UNITED CAPITAL CORP /DE/ex21to10k01196_12312010.htm
EX-31.2 - UNITED CAPITAL CORP /DE/ex312to10k01196_12312010.htm
EX-32.1 - UNITED CAPITAL CORP /DE/ex321to10k01196_12312010.htm
EX-32.2 - UNITED CAPITAL CORP /DE/ex322to10k01196_12312010.htm
EX-22.1 - UNITED CAPITAL CORP /DE/ex231to10k01196_12312010.htm
EX-31.1 - UNITED CAPITAL CORP /DE/ex311to10k01196_12312010.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549

FORM 10-K

Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010

COMMISION FILE NUMBER:  1-10104

UNITED CAPITAL CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
04-2294493
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
   
9 Park Place, Great Neck, NY
(Address of principal executive offices)
11021
(Zip Code)
 
 
516-466-6464
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class
 
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock (Par Value $.10 Per Share)
 
NYSE Amex
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  o  Yes     x  No

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act.  o  Yes     x  No
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.   x  Yes     o  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 Regulations 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).   o  Yes     o  No

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer   o
Accelerated filer   o
Non-accelerated filer   o
Smaller reporting company   x
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  o  Yes     x  No
 
The aggregate market value of the shares of the voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2010 was approximately $44,284,000.

The number of shares of the registrant’s $.10 par value common stock outstanding as of March 25, 2011 was 8,955,347.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The information required by Part III of Form 10-K will be incorporated by reference to certain portions of a definitive proxy statement
which is expected to be filed by the registrant pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after the close of its fiscal year.
 
 
 

 
 
PART I

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this annual report on Form 10-K and other statements made by United Capital Corp. (“we,” “our” or the “Company”) or its representatives that are not strictly historical facts are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that should be considered as subject to the many risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company’s operations and business environment.  The forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results, performance and/or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements, expressed or implied, by the forward-looking statements.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, and that in light of the significant uncertainties inherent in forward-looking statements the inclusion of such statements should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any other person that the objectives or plans of the Company will be achieved.  The Company also assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements or to advise of changes in the assumptions and factors on which they are based.

ITEM 1.                    BUSINESS

General

United Capital Corp., incorporated in 1980 in the State of Delaware, currently has three industry segments:

1.       Real Estate Investment and Management.
2.       Hotel Operations.
3.       Engineered Products.

The Company also invests excess available cash in marketable securities and other financial instruments.

Description of Business

Real Estate Investment and Management

The Company is engaged in the business of investing in and managing real estate properties and the making of high-yield, short-term loans secured by desirable properties.  Most real estate properties owned by the Company are leased under net leases whereby the tenants are responsible for all expenses relating to the leased premises, including taxes, utilities, insurance, and maintenance.  The Company owns properties that it manages which are leased primarily as department stores, shopping centers, restaurants, and office buildings around the country.  The Company also owns child-care centers located in New York City, several of which are operated by the City of New York.  In addition, the Company owns properties available for sale and lease with the assistance of a consultant or realtor working in the locale of the premises.

The majority of properties are leased to single tenants.  As of December 31, 2010, 98.7% of the total square footage of the Company’s real estate properties was leased.

Hotel Operations

The Company’s hotel operations segment consists of four full and limited-service hotels located in the United States which are managed by the Company.

The hotel industry is seasonal in nature.  However, the periods during which the Company’s properties experience higher or lower levels of demand vary from property to property and depend principally upon location.  Three of the Company’s hotels are located in the vicinity of an airport which, during extreme weather conditions, may be favorably impacted from transient guests.  Although lodging demand improved during 2010, the properties continue to experience fluctuations in occupancy based on economic conditions.
 
 
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Engineered Products

The Company’s engineered products are manufactured through Metal Textiles Corporation (“Metal Textiles”) and AFP Transformers Corporation (“AFP Transformers”), wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company.  The knitted wire products and components manufactured by Metal Textiles must function in adverse environments and meet rigid performance requirements.  The principal areas in which these products have application are as high temperature gaskets, seals, components for use in airbags, shock and vibration isolators, noise reduction elements, EMI electronic shielding, and air, liquid and solid filtering devices serving the automotive, aerospace and general industrial markets.

Metal Textiles presently supplies many automobile manufacturers with exhaust seals and components for use in airbag inflators.  Our manufacturing facilities are ISO/TS 16949 certified, an essential qualification for supplying the automotive industry.

The Company also designs and manufactures transformers marketed under the AFP Transformers and EPOXYCAST™ brand names for a wide variety of applications including variable frequency motor drive systems, manufacturing machine tools, utility company substations, semiconductor fabrication equipment, and industrial furnaces.  These products also include custom magnetics for transit vehicle traction systems, as well as components in solar and wind energy, nuclear power, electric vehicle batteries and power quality and conditioning systems.  The Company’s EPOXYCAST™ transformers provide a unique capability that offers epoxy molded resin to protect the transformer’s coils from environmental conditions that could cause corrosion or rust to unprotected copper coil windings.  The Company’s transformer product line is sold domestically and internationally.

Sales by the engineered products segment to Autoliv and General Motors, its largest customers, accounted for 13.9% and 10.4% of the segment’s sales for the year ended December 31, 2010, respectively.  For the year ended December 31, 2009, sales by the engineered product segment to General Motors accounted for 10.8% of the segment’s sales.  No other customer exceeded 10% of the segment’s sales during the last two years.

Approximately 16.6% and 17.8%, respectively, of 2010 and 2009 total sales generated from the engineered products segment were to foreign customers.  Substantially all assets held by the Company’s engineered products segment are located within the United States or its leased warehouse in Tijuana, Mexico.

Summary Financial Information

The following table sets forth the revenues, operating income and identifiable assets of each business segment of the Company (table in thousands).

Years ended December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
Net revenues and sales:
           
Real estate investment and management
  $ 20,914     $ 19,491  
Hotel operations
  $ 27,839     $ 17,253  
Engineered products
  $ 31,931     $ 23,031  
                 
Operating income (loss):
               
Real estate investment and management
  $ 12,227     $ 11,812  
Hotel operations
  $ 2,066     $ (677 )
Engineered products
  $ 1,796     $ (653 )
                 
Identifiable assets
               
Real estate investment and management and corporate assets
  $ 227,031     $ 223,308  
Hotel operations
  $ 55,767     $ 49,558  
Engineered products
  $ 13,330     $ 10,392  

Distribution

The Company’s manufactured products are distributed by a direct sales force and through distributors to industrial consumers and original equipment manufacturers.
 
 
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Product Methods and Sources of Raw Materials

The Company’s products are manufactured at facilities owned by the Company and a leased facility in Tijuana, Mexico.  Raw materials used in the Company’s engineered products segment, which consist primarily of stainless steel wire, steel-related products, and copper, are typically purchased from multiple suppliers throughout the world.  The price and availability of raw materials can be volatile due to numerous factors beyond the Company’s control, including general domestic and international economic conditions, labor costs, supply and demand, competition, import duties and tariffs, and currency exchange rates.  Although these factors could significantly affect the availability and cost of the Company’s raw materials, they are generally purchased at levels that the Company believes will satisfy the anticipated needs of the Company’s customers based upon contractual commitments, historical buying practices and market conditions.  To date, the Company has limited its exposure related to the effects that have arisen from these factors by various methods including finding alternate sources or by having suppliers and/or customers absorb any additional related costs.  Although management does not expect such matters to adversely affect the Company’s financial position in the future, it is uncertain what effect, if any, such factors could have on the cost and availability of such materials.  An interruption in the supply, or a significant increase in the cost, of the Company’s raw materials could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s revenues, results of operations or cash flows.  The Company has not had and does not expect to have any problems fulfilling its raw material requirements during 2011.

Patents and Trademarks

The Company owns several patents, patent licenses and trademarks.  While the Company considers that in the aggregate its patents, patent licenses and trademarks used in the engineered products operations are significant to this segment, it does not believe that any of them are of such importance that the loss of one or more of them would materially affect its consolidated financial condition or results of operations.  The Company is not currently involved in any litigation regarding infringement upon its intellectual property or of the Company’s infringement upon the intellectual property of others.

Working Capital Practices

The Company believes its practices regarding inventories, receivables or other items of working capital to be typical for the industries in which it operates.  There are no special practices or conditions affecting working capital items that are significant to an understanding of the Company’s businesses.  Its inventory levels, payment terms, and return policies are in accordance with general practices associated with the industries in which it operates and standard business procedures.

The cash needs of the Company have been satisfied from funds generated by current operations.  It is expected that future operational cash needs will also be satisfied from existing cash balances, marketable securities, ongoing operations or borrowings.  The primary source of capital to fund additional real estate acquisitions and to make additional high-yield mortgage loans may come from existing funds, the sale, financing and refinancing of the Company’s properties and from third party mortgages and purchase money notes obtained in connection with specific acquisitions.  For additional information on working capital, see Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources,” which is incorporated by reference herein.

Employees

At March 25, 2011, the Company employed approximately 470 persons, approximately 70 of which are covered by a collective bargaining agreement that expired in February 2011.  An extension of the current agreement has been approved though mid-April 2011 while the Company seeks to negotiate a new agreement.  The Company believes that its relationship with its employees is good.

Competition

The Company has established close relationships with a large number of major national and regional real estate brokers and maintains a broad network of industry contacts.  There are numerous regional and local commercial developers, real estate companies, financial institutions and other investors who compete with the Company for the acquisition of properties and tenants.
 
 
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The Company’s hotels compete with national, regional, and local hotels in each of their geographic markets.  Competition is based on a number of factors, most notably convenience of location, brand affiliation, price, range of services and guest amenities offered, quality of customer service and the overall condition of the property.

The Company competes with at least 25 other companies in the sale of engineered products.  The Company emphasizes product performance and service in connection with the sale of these products.  The principal competition faced by the Company results from the sales price of the products sold by its competitors.

Backlog

The dollar value of unfilled orders of the Company’s engineered products segment was approximately $2.5 million at both December 31, 2010 and 2009.  Although the total backlog did not change, fluctuations within the components did occur principally due to the growth in demand for the Company’s transformer product line, partially offset by the timing difference in the placement of customer orders for the Company’s automotive and engineered products.  It is anticipated that substantially all of the 2010 backlog will be filled in 2011.  Substantially all of the 2009 backlog was filled in 2010.  The order backlog referred to above does not include any order backlog with respect to sales of knitted wire mesh components for exhaust emission control devices, exhaust seals or airbag components because of the manner in which customer orders are received.

Environmental Regulations

Federal, state, and local requirements regulating the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment have had and will continue to have a significant impact upon the operations of the Company.  It is the policy of the Company to manage, operate, and maintain its facilities in compliance, in all material respects, with applicable standards for the prevention, control, and abatement of environmental pollution to prevent damage to the quality of air, land, and resources.

The Company has undertaken the completion of environmental studies and/or remedial action at the Company’s two New Jersey facilities and has recorded a liability for the estimated investigation, remediation and administrative costs associated therewith.

The process of remediation has begun at one facility pursuant to a plan filed with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (“NJDEP”).  Management’s assessment, based on estimates from environmental contractors, is that under the most probable scenario, the remediation of this site is anticipated to require initial expenditures of $860,000, including the cost of capital equipment, and $86,000 in annual operating and maintenance costs over a 15 year period.

Environmental studies at the second facility indicate that remediation may be necessary.  Based upon the facts presently available, management’s assessment, based on estimates from environmental contractors, is that, under the most probable remediation scenario, the estimated cost to remediate this site is anticipated to require $2.3 million in initial costs, including capital equipment expenditures, and $258,000 in annual operating and maintenance costs over a 10 year period.  These estimated costs of future expenses for remediation obligations are not discounted to their present value.  The Company may revise such estimates in the future due to the uncertainty regarding the nature, timing, and extent of any remediation efforts that may be required at this site, should an appropriate regulatory agency deem such efforts to be necessary.

The foregoing estimates may also be revised by the Company as new or additional information in these matters becomes available or should the NJDEP or other regulatory agencies require additional or alternative remediation efforts in the future.  Although such events are not expected to change these estimates, adverse decisions or events, particularly as to the merits of the Company’s factual and legal basis, could cause the Company to change its estimate of liability with respect to such matters in the future.  The Company had approximately $8.5 million and $8.8 million recorded in accounts payable and accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, to cover such matters.

Available Information

The Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) may be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549.  Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.  In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.  The SEC’s Internet address is http://www.sec.gov.  The Company’s SEC filing number is 1-10104.
 
 
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A copy of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, if any, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, may be obtained as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company electronically files such material with, or furnishes it to, the SEC without charge from the Company’s website at http://www.unitedcapitalcorp.net or by writing to Anthony J. Miceli, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company, at its executive offices, United Capital Building, 9 Park Place, Great Neck, NY 11021.  The Company’s website also contains a copy of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which was filed as Exhibit 14 to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006.


ITEM 1A.                    RISK FACTORS

The following are some of the risks that could cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by such statements:

Changes in economic conditions, the global economy and credit markets could negatively affect our businesses, results of operations and financial condition.
Although recent economic trends appear to have stabilized, current U.S. and global economic conditions have affected and, most likely, will continue to affect our results of operations and financial position. Slower economic activity, increased unemployment, the continued crisis in the financial and credit markets, increased energy costs, concerns about inflation, decreased business and consumer confidence, reduced corporate profits and capital spending, adverse business conditions and liquidity concerns have had and will continue to have a negative affect on the Company’s business segments.  If the economic and market conditions remain uncertain or weaken further, the Company may experience material adverse impacts to its businesses, financial condition and results of operations.

Our performance is subject to risks associated with the real estate industry.
Although the Company’s leases are generally long-term and may be below market, real property investments are subject to varying degrees of risk and are relatively illiquid.  Among the factors that may impact our real estate property values or the revenues derived from our portfolio are changes in the national, regional, and local economic climate, the attractiveness of our properties to tenants, competition from other available property owners and changes in market rental rates.  Our performance also depends on the financial condition of our tenants and our ability to collect rent from tenants and to pay for adequate maintenance, insurance and other operating costs, including real estate taxes, which could increase over time.  Also, the expenses of owning and operating a property are not necessarily reduced when circumstances such as market factors and competition cause a reduction in income from the property.

The Company reviews the carrying value of its properties when circumstances, such as adverse market conditions, indicate potential impairment may exist.  If the evaluation indicates an inability to recover the carrying value of a real estate investment, an impairment loss is recorded.  Impairment charges could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Our results could be negatively affected by delinquencies in our mortgage or high-yield loan receivables.
On a limited basis we provide high-yield, short-term mortgage loans that we believe are collateralized by desirable properties at substantial value-to-loan ratios.  Although we believe that the collateral for these loans is sufficient to recover its carrying value, changes in the real estate market in the locale in which the property is located or delinquencies by the borrower could negatively affect our carrying value for these loans and, ultimately, our results of operations and cash flows.

Off-balance sheet obligations could deplete our liquidity and capital resources.
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that we believe are reasonably likely to have a material current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.  We believe that with each arrangement the value of the underlying property and its operating cash flows are sufficient to satisfy its obligations. The debt of the joint venture in which we currently have an ownership interest is a non-recourse obligation and is collateralized by the entity’s real property.  In addition, we are not obligated for the debts of the joint venture.  However, we could decide to satisfy the debts of the joint venture to protect our investment.  In such event, our capital resources and financial condition would be reduced and, in certain instances, the carrying value of our investment and our results of operations would be negatively impacted.
 
 
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Our cash and cash equivalents could be adversely affected if the financial institutions in which we hold our cash and cash equivalents fail.
Our cash and cash equivalents are highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase.  We maintain the cash and cash equivalents with reputable major financial institutions.  Deposits with these banks exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance limits.  These balances could be impacted if one or more of the financial institutions with which we deposit fails or is subject to other adverse conditions in the financial or credit markets.  To date, we have experienced no loss or lack of access to our invested cash or cash equivalents, however, we can provide no assurance that access to our invested cash and cash equivalents will not be impacted by adverse conditions in the financial and credit markets.

Our investments in marketable securities are subject to risks which may cause losses and affect the liquidity of these investments.
We invest funds in excess of those needed for working capital, purchasing real estate and arranging financing for real estate acquisitions in corporate equity securities, corporate notes, certificates of deposit, government securities and other financial instruments.  Significant declines in the value of these investments due to the operating performance of the companies we invest in or general economic or market conditions may result in the recognition of realized or impairment losses which could be material.

Operating results of our hotel operations are subject to conditions common in the lodging industry.
The performance of the lodging industry has traditionally been closely linked with the performance of the general economy.  It is also sensitive to business and personal discretionary spending levels.  Declines in corporate budgets and consumer demand due to adverse general economic conditions, risks affecting or reducing travel patterns, higher energy costs, lower consumer confidence or adverse political conditions can lower the revenues and profitability of our hotel properties.  The recent global economic downturn led to a significant decline in demand for products and services provided by the lodging industry, lower occupancy levels and significantly reduced room rates.  Though we have seen general improvement in the economy, we cannot assure that these conditions will continue to improve or that the recovery is sustainable.  Worsening of the U.S. economy, if experienced, could have an adverse impact on the operating results of our hotels.

In addition, changes in certain factors could adversely impact hotel room demand and pricing and result in reduced occupancy or could otherwise adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.  These factors include:
 
·
local conditions such as an oversupply of, or a reduction in demand for, hotel rooms;
 
·
the attractiveness of our hotels to consumers and competition from other hotels;
 
·
the quality, philosophy and performance of the managers of our hotels;
 
·
increases in operating costs due to inflation and other factors such as increases in the price of energy, healthcare or insurance;
 
·
changes in travel patterns, extreme weather conditions and cancellation of or changes in events scheduled to occur in our markets;
 
·
seasonality, inherent in the hotel industry, may cause our results to fluctuate significantly between quarters; and
 
·
other unpredictable external factors, such as acts of god, war, terrorist attacks, epidemics, airline strikes, transportation and fuel price increases and severe weather, may reduce business and leisure travel.

As certain of our hotels operate under franchise agreements, termination of these agreements or circumstances that negatively affect the franchisor or the hotel brand could cause us to lose business at our hotels.
Certain of our hotels operate under franchise agreements with international franchisors.  In general, under these arrangements, the franchisor provides marketing services and room reservations and certain other operating assistance, but requires us to pay significant fees to it and to maintain the hotel in a required condition.  If we fail to maintain these required standards, then the franchisor may terminate its agreement with us.  Moreover, from time to time, we may receive notices from franchisors regarding our alleged non-compliance with the franchise agreements or brand standards, and we may disagree with these claims that we are not in compliance.  Any disputes arising under these agreements could also lead to a termination of a franchise agreement.  In addition, as our franchise or management agreements expire, we may not be able to renew them on favorable terms or at all.  If we were to lose a franchise or hotel brand for a particular hotel, it could harm the operation, financing, leverage opportunity or value of that hotel due to the loss of the franchise or hotel brand name, marketing support and centralized reservation system.  Moreover, negative publicity affecting a franchisor or hotel brand in general could reduce the revenue we receive from the hotels subject to that particular franchise or brand.
 
 
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Our engineered products segment relies on significant customers and has a concentration of customers in the automotive industry.
The Company sells its engineered products to many customers throughout the world.  Historically, a small number of customers accounted for significant portions of these sales.  For the year ended December 31, 2010, sales by the engineered products segment to Autoliv and General Motors, its largest customers, accounted for 13.9% and 10.4% of the segment’s sales, respectively.  Since our engineered products segment accounted for 39.6% of our consolidated revenues in 2010, the loss of Autoliv or General Motors as a customer, or a significant decline in sales to either of them, would adversely affect our revenues, cash flows and results of operations.

In addition, the deterioration in the global economy in 2008 and 2009 negatively impacted business activity in general, and specifically the engineered product markets in which the Company operates.  These conditions had a dramatic impact on global automotive production and, in turn, negatively impacted sales of our automotive product line.  During 2009, the automotive industry experienced its lowest domestic selling rate in decades.  While modest signs of recovery were evident during 2010, the automotive industry is still recovering from the effects of the unprecedented declines in consumer demand and this recovery could be adversely affected by rising fuel and energy costs.  Weakness or deteriorating conditions in the global economy that results in another reduction or continued depressed levels of automotive production, sales by our largest customers, customer bankruptcies, or increased demands on the Company for pricing decreases, have had, and will continue to have, a significant adverse affect on the Company’s financial results and cash flows.

Our engineered products segment could be adversely affected by technological and regulatory changes.
Changes in legislative, regulatory or industry requirements or competitive technologies may render certain of our products obsolete. Our ability to anticipate changes in technology and regulatory standards, including those related to climate changes, and to develop and introduce new and enhanced products successfully on a timely basis will be a significant factor in our ability to grow and to remain competitive.  There can be no assurance that we will be able to achieve the technological advances that may be necessary for the Company to remain competitive or that certain of our products will not become obsolete.  We are also subject to the risks generally associated with new product introductions and applications, including lack of market acceptance, delays in product development and failure of products to operate properly.

Our markets are highly competitive.
The markets for our engineered products are highly competitive.  We compete with a number of other manufacturers that produce and sell similar products.  We cannot assure that we will be able to successfully compete or that our competitors will not develop new technologies and products that are more commercially effective than our own.  Some of our competitors have financial, technical, marketing, sales and distribution resources greater than ours.  In addition, the global economy continues to be in a period of weak economic growth.  While increases in demand for our engineered products during 2010 are encouraging, it is uncertain whether such recoveries are sustainable or to what extent the Company will benefit from increased demand.  Declines in sales of our engineered products segment could negatively impact our financial results and cash flows.

An interruption in the supply, or a significant increase in the cost, of our raw materials could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, results of operations and cash flows.
The principal raw materials used in the Company’s engineered products business are stainless steel wire, steel-related products and copper, which are typically purchased from multiple suppliers throughout the world.  The price and availability of raw materials can be volatile due to numerous factors beyond our control, including general domestic and international economic conditions, labor costs, supply and demand, competition, import duties and tariffs and currency exchange rates.  These factors could significantly affect the availability and cost of our raw materials which are generally purchased at levels that we believe will satisfy the anticipated needs of our customers based upon contractual commitments, historical buying practices and market conditions.  We may be unable to recover raw material cost increases due to contractual or competitive conditions.  Conversely, reductions in raw material prices could result in lower sales prices for our products and lower margins as we utilize existing inventories.  Therefore, changing raw material costs could significantly impact our revenues, gross margins, operating and net income.  If, in the future, we are unable to obtain sufficient amounts of stainless steel wire or other critical raw materials on a timely basis and at competitive prices, we may be unable to fulfill our customers’ requirements, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
 
 
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Protection of our intellectual property is limited; we are subject to the risk of third party claims of infringement.
Our engineered products business relies in large part upon our proprietary scientific and engineering “know-how” and production techniques.  Historically, patents have not been an important part of the protection of our intellectual property rights.  We rely upon the laws regarding unfair competition, restrictions in licensing agreements and confidentiality agreements to protect our intellectual property.  We limit access to and distribution of our proprietary information.

Our ability to compete successfully and achieve future revenue growth will depend, in part, on our ability to protect our proprietary technology and operate without infringing upon the rights of others.  We are not currently involved in any litigation regarding the infringement upon our intellectual property or regarding our infringement upon the intellectual property of others.

Our operations are subject to environmental regulation and environmental problems which are possible and can be costly.
Our engineered products segment is subject to a variety of federal, state and local governmental regulations relating to the storage, discharge, handling, emission, generation, manufacture and disposal of toxic or other hazardous substances used to manufacture our products.  We believe that we are currently in compliance in all material respects with such regulations and that we have obtained all necessary environmental permits to conduct our business.  Nevertheless, the failure to comply with current or future regulations could result in the imposition of fines, suspension of production, alteration of our manufacturing processes or cessation of operations.

Federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment require a current or previous owner or operator of real estate to investigate and clean up hazardous or toxic substances at such property.

We have undertaken the completion of environmental studies and/or remedial action at our two New Jersey facilities and have recorded a liability for the estimated investigation, remediation and administrative costs associated therewith (See “Environmental Regulations” in Item 1 of Part I and Note 18, “Commitments and Contingencies” of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

The Company may revise such estimates in the future due to the uncertainty regarding the nature, timing and extent of any remediation efforts that may be required at these sites, should an appropriate regulatory agency deem such efforts to be necessary.  The estimates may also be revised as new or additional information in these matters becomes available or should the NJDEP or other regulatory agencies require additional or alternative remediation efforts in the future.  Although we do not expect such events to significantly change our estimates, adverse decisions or events, particularly as to the merits of our factual and legal basis, could cause us to change our estimate of liability with respect to such matters in the future.  Accordingly, we are unable to predict whether our estimate of future remediation costs will materially increase in the future.

We may be adversely affected by regulations related to climate change.
Government regulatory bodies in the United States are contemplating introducing regulatory changes in response to the potential impacts of climate change including control of greenhouse gas emissions and limiting carbon emissions.  These laws and regulations may impact each of the Company’s business segments in different ways.  Each of our segments could be impacted directly through potential higher costs for energy and from additional capital needed to modify our buildings and hotels with energy efficient lighting and heating.  In addition, our engineered products segment could also incur higher costs for its raw materials.   Furthermore, as automotive manufacturers continue to look for ways to lessen environmental impacts and reduce oil dependence, our engineered products segment could obtain business opportunities related to the manufacturing of automotive parts that assist in the reduction of carbon and other emissions.  On the other hand, as automotive manufacturers move towards the production of hybrid and electric vehicles to comply with the potential new regulations, certain of our engineered products could become obsolete.  Because it is uncertain what laws and regulations will be enacted, we cannot predict the potential impact of such laws on our future consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Current and future litigation could have an adverse effect on the Company.
The Company is subject to various litigation, legal, regulatory and tax matters, some of which could be considered frivolous, that arise in the ordinary course of business activities.  These lawsuits and other legal proceedings can involve substantial costs, including the costs associated with investigation, litigation and possible settlement, judgment, penalty or fine.  Although insurance is maintained to mitigate these costs, there can be no assurance that costs associated with lawsuits or other legal proceedings will be covered by insurance or will not exceed the limits of insurance policies.  The Company’s results of operations could be adversely affected if a judgment, penalty or fine is not fully covered by insurance.
 
 
9

 

Our stock price may be volatile.
The market price of our common stock has fluctuated substantially in the past and may be volatile in the future.  In addition, our common stock has from time to time been thinly traded, meaning that the number of persons interested in purchasing our common stock at or near asking prices at any given time may be relatively small or non-existent.  Also, the stock market in general has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that often have been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies.  These market fluctuations may cause our stock price to fall regardless of our performance.

Mr. A.F. Petrocelli can control the outcome of all matters requiring stockholder approval.
As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, Mr. A.F. Petrocelli, the Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, beneficially owns, in the aggregate, approximately 70.0% of the Company’s outstanding common stock (exclusive of options).  Such amount includes shares held by his wife but does not include shares held by the adult children or grandchildren of Mr. Petrocelli.  Accordingly, Mr. Petrocelli is able to exercise considerable influence over the outcome of all matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors and the approval of significant corporate transactions, such as mergers or other business combinations.

Our Company is a controlled company pursuant to NYSE Amex rules and, therefore, is not required to comply with certain governance requirements.
The Company has elected to be a controlled company pursuant to NYSE Amex rules.  The Company is eligible to make this election because A.F. Petrocelli, the Company’s Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer beneficially owns more than 50% of the Company’s outstanding stock.  As a result of being a controlled company, the Company is not required to comply with the following corporate governance requirements of the NYSE Amex:  (i) majority of independent directors, (ii) fully independent nominating committee and (iii) fully independent compensation committee.  While the Company currently has a fully independent compensation committee, it does not have a majority of independent directors or a fully independent nominating committee.  As a result, the quality of Board oversight may be reduced as compared with companies which have a fully independent nominating committee and a majority of independent directors and the Company has a greater risk of conflicts of interest without these safeguards.  In addition, the lack of an independent nominating committee increases the possibility that the Company will not have independent directors serving on the Board of Directors.


ITEM 1B.                    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None


ITEM 2.                    PROPERTIES

Real Property Held for Rental or Sale

As of March 25, 2011, the Company owned 150 properties throughout the United States.  The properties are primarily leased under long-term net leases.
 
 
10

 

The Company’s classification and gross carrying value of its properties at December 31, 2010 are as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)
 
Gross
Carrying
Value
   
Percentage
 
Number of
Properties
 
Aggregate Value of Encumbrances
   
Number of
Properties
Encumbered
Shopping centers and retail outlets
  $ 62,375       36.1 %     18     $ 1,265       1  
Commercial properties                                                   
    52,986       30.7       83       10,291       3  
Hotel properties                                                   
    48,110       27.8       4       26,330       3  
Child care centers                                                   
    5,888       3.4       9              
Other                                                   
    3,514       2.0       36              
    $ 172,873       100.0 %     150     $ 37,886       7  

The following summarizes the Company’s properties by geographic area at December 31, 2010:

(Dollars in thousands)
 
Gross
Carrying
Value
   
Number
of
Properties
Northeast                                                                                                            
  $ 84,821       95  
Southeast                                                                                                            
    36,539       17  
Midwest                                                                                                            
    33,734       24  
Southwest                                                                                                            
    5,435       4  
Pacific Coast                                                                                                            
    9,146       3  
Pacific Northwest                                                                                                            
    861       4  
Rocky Mountain                                                                                                            
    2,337       3  
    $ 172,873       150  

Shopping Centers and Retail Outlets

Shopping centers and retail outlets include 11 department stores and miscellaneous other properties, primarily leased under net leases.  The tenants are responsible for taxes, maintenance, and all other expenses of the properties.  The leases for certain shopping centers and retail outlets provide for additional rents based on sales volume and renewal options at higher rents.  The department stores include seven properties leased to Kmart Corporation (“Kmart”) and two Macy’s stores, with a total of approximately 657,000 and 364,000 square feet, respectively.  The Kmart stores are primarily located in the Midwest region of the United States.  The Macy’s stores are located in the Pacific Coast and Southwest regions of the United States.  The Company has one shopping center and retail outlet subject to an encumbrance of approximately $1,265,000 at December 31, 2010.  In addition, one of the Company’s properties is held through a long-term ground lease with a gross carrying value of approximately $514,000.

Commercial Properties

Commercial properties consist of properties leased as 49 restaurants, 7 Midas Muffler Shops, two convenience stores, seven office buildings and miscellaneous other properties.  These properties are primarily leased under net leases, which in certain cases have renewal options at higher rents.  Certain of these leases also provide for additional rents based on sales volume.  The restaurants, located throughout the United States, include properties leased as Boston Market, Dunkin’ Donuts, Hardee’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonald’s, Papa Gino’s, Pizza Hut, and Wendy’s.  The Company has three commercial properties subject to encumbrances of approximately $10,291,000 at December 31, 2010.  In addition, three of the Company’s properties are held through long-term ground leases with a gross carrying value of approximately $1,760,000.

Child Care Centers

The Company has two schools and seven day-care centers located in New York City, six of which are leased to the City of New York.  The City of New York is responsible for real estate taxes and certain maintenance costs on the properties they lease, while the Company maintains insurance and certain other maintenance obligations.  All such leases provide for the reimbursement of operating costs above base year levels, and certain leases include rental increases and renewal options.
 
 
11

 

Hotel Properties

The Company’s hotel properties are comprised of almost 900 rooms, over 42,000 square feet of meeting space, and a convention center with approximately 160,000 square feet of exhibit and meeting space available from its four full and limited-service hotels located in Connecticut, Florida, Georgia and New York State.  The full-service hotels operate under DoubleTree by Hilton and Radisson franchise agreements, while the limited-service hotel operates as an independent.  Each property is managed by the Company with on-site managers responsible for all day-to-day operations.  Three of these hotels are subject to encumbrances in the aggregate of approximately $26,330,000 at December 31, 2010.

Manufacturing Facilities

The Company’s engineered products are manufactured at 970 New Durham Road, Edison, New Jersey, in a one-story building having approximately 55,000 square feet of floor space, and also in a second facility at 206 Talmadge Road, Edison, New Jersey, which has approximately 55,000 square feet of floor space.  These facilities are owned by a subsidiary of the Company.  The engineered products segment also leases a manufacturing facility in Tijuana, Mexico, with approximately 69,000 square feet of floor space.


ITEM 3.                    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

In May 2008, an insurance company for one of the Company’s subsidiaries, purchased as part of a bankruptcy reorganization, filed suit in Supreme Court of the State of New York against such entity’s other insurance companies seeking, among other things, contribution for insurance settlements from carriers, some of which now claim to be exhausted.  The complaint also names the Company’s subsidiary and several underlying claimants with whom such settlements were reached.  The action challenges the exhaustion of the underlying policies and seeks contribution as well as a declaration of the rights, duties and liabilities of the parties under the insurance policies.  In June 2008, the Company removed the action to the U.S. Court for the Southern District of New York.  Plaintiffs and certain defendants contested the removal.  In October 2008, a stipulation was reached to remand certain issues to State Court while staying the remaining issues in Federal Court.  Plaintiffs have also agreed to dismiss the underlying claimants.  In February 2009, the Company succeeded on a motion for summary judgment against one of the primary insurance companies who claimed exhaustion. The insurance company was ordered to defend the underlying actions and reimburse certain costs to the other carriers.  This decision was appealed by the carrier in April 2009.  In July 2009, the Company asked the lower court for leave to amend its complaint to correct a procedural deficiency.  The lower court granted such leave, but withdrew its earlier summary judgment motion, pending a rehearing of the matter, rendering the appeal moot.  The lower court, however, stayed the defense obligations, pending a decision based on a new hearing held in September 2009.  In March 2010, another of the insurance companies filed a motion for summary judgment relating to coverage allocations which was decided in July, 2010.  Similar motions were filed by other carriers.  One such matter was heard in September 2010 with the court granting plaintiffs motion, in part, and also granting the Company’s counter motion.  All remaining motions are pending and not currently scheduled.  Certain matters were remanded to federal court and heard in September 2010.  A decision is pending.  The Company intends to continue to vigorously defend all actions in this matter.  The Company is subject to various other litigation, legal and regulatory matters that arise in the ordinary course of business activities.  When management believes it is probable that a liability has been incurred and such amounts are reasonably estimable, the Company provides for amounts that include judgments and penalties that may be assessed.  These liabilities are usually included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities or other long-term liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, depending on the anticipated payment date.  Based on the facts presently available, the Company does not believe that the disposition of matters that are pending or asserted will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.  However, new or additional facts or an adverse judgment by a court, arbitrator or a settlement could adversely impact the Company’s results of operations or financial condition in any given period.

ITEM 4.                    RESERVED
 
 
12

 


PART II

ITEM 5.                    MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The Company’s Common Stock, $.10 par value (the “Common Stock”), is traded on NYSE Amex under the symbol AFP.  The table below shows the high and low sales prices as reported in the composite transactions for the NYSE Amex for the quarterly periods indicated.

 
2010
2009
 
High
Low
High
Low
First Quarter                                                                                           
$26.15
$21.85
$21.89
$13.95
Second Quarter                                                                                           
$27.41
$20.33
$23.45
$16.30
Third Quarter                                                                                           
$26.43
$20.50
$25.00
$17.70
Fourth Quarter                                                                                           
$33.05
$24.50
$24.17
$17.55

As of March 25, 2011, there were approximately 155 record holders of the Company’s Common Stock.  The closing sales price for the Company’s Common Stock on such date was $28.82.  The Company has not declared a dividend during the past two years.  While the Company does not currently expect to pay additional dividends, the Board of Directors could reevaluate this position in the future.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The following table details the Company’s repurchases of common stock during the three months ended December 31, 2010:
 
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
(Table in thousands, except per share data)

Period
Total Number of Shares Purchased
Average Price Paid per Share
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
October 1, 2010 — October 31, 2010
41
$23.34
41
193

As previously announced, the Board of Directors have approved repurchase plans for the Company’s Common Stock, which may be made from time to time in the open market at prevailing market prices or in privately negotiated transactions.  At December 31, 2010 approximately 193,000 shares remain available to be purchased under such plans.  These authorizations are ongoing and have no expiration date.


Equity Compensation Plan Information

The Company maintained two stock option plans.  Both plans provided for the granting of incentive or non-qualified stock options.  The Company has no outstanding warrants or rights or plans which provide for the grant or issuance of warrants or rights.  The following table gives information about stock option awards under these plans as of December 31, 2010.  See Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion on these plans.
 
 
13

 

Plan Category
 
Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(a)
   
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(b)
   
Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation
plans (excluding securities
reflected in column (a))
(c)
 
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
    2,260,000     $ 15.26        
Equity compensation plans not approved  by security holders
                 
Total
    2,260,000     $ 15.26        


ITEM 6.                    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Not applicable, as the Company is a smaller reporting company.


ITEM 7.                    MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the description of the Company’s business and properties contained in Items 1 and 2 of Part I and the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto, included elsewhere in this report.

Results of Operations:  2010 and 2009

Total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2010 were $80.7 million, an increase of $20.9 million or 35%, compared to $59.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, primarily a result of the acquisition of a hotel in August 2009 and a 39% increase in net sales of the engineered products segment.  Operating income benefited from the increased revenues, growing $5.4 million or 81% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2010, compared to the same 2009 period.  Net income increased $7.0 million or 124% for 2010 to $12.7 million, compared to $5.7 million for 2009.  On a per share basis, net income was $1.41 per basic share for the current year, compared to $.63 per basic share for the prior year.

Although the Company experienced increases in operating income and net income of 81% and 124%, respectively, over the prior year, concerns continue to exist over the general economic conditions globally and in the U.S.  As our businesses are affected by the availability of credit, consumer spending, business investment and overall capital market conditions, management remains cautiously optimistic that results will continue to improve as the economy recovers.

Real Estate Operations

The Company’s real estate operations consist of the real estate investment and management and hotel operations segments.  The operating results for these segments are as follows:

   
Year ended December 31, 2010
   
Year ended December 31, 2009
 
(In thousands)
 
Real Estate
   
Hotel Operations
   
Total
   
Real Estate
   
Hotel Operations
   
Total
 
Revenues
  $ 20,914     $ 27,839     $ 48,753     $ 19,491     $ 17,253     $ 36,744  
Mortgage interest expense
    357       1,690       2,047       195       1,922       2,117  
Depreciation expense
    2,481       2,793       5,274       2,287       1,893       4,180  
Other operating expenses
    5,849       21,290       27,139       5,197       14,115       19,312  
Operating income (loss)
  $ 12,227     $ 2,066     $ 14,293     $ 11,812     $ (677 )   $ 11,135  
 
 
14

 
 
Real Estate Investment and Management

Revenues from the real estate investment and management segment increased $1.4 million or 7.3% to $20.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to revenues of $19.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, primarily as the result of additional revenues ($1.1 million) from property acquisitions.  In general, rental revenues from the Company’s real estate portfolio do not fluctuate significantly due to the long-term nature of the Company’s leases.  However, future rental revenues could be affected by lease renewals, terminations and the purchase or sale of additional properties.

Mortgage interest expense on real property held for rental increased $162,000 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to 2009.  The increase is primarily the result of additional interest from a mortgage associated with a property acquired in the fourth quarter of 2009 and from a mortgage obtained in December 2010 on a property located in Jericho, New York.  The increase is partially offset by reduced mortgage interest from mortgages that matured during the current and prior year and from continuing mortgage amortization.  The mortgage obtained in 2010 ($6.0 million) bears interest at 5.1% per annum, is payable monthly and matures in January 2016.  As a result of this additional obligation, mortgage interest expense from the Company’s real estate investment and management segment should increase in 2011.

Depreciation expense associated with real properties held for rental increased $194,000 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to 2009, primarily as a result of the additional expense ($239,000) associated with additions to real estate assets during the current and prior year.  As a result of property additions in 2010, depreciation expense is expected to rise in 2011.

Other operating expenses associated with the management of real properties increased $652,000 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to such expenses incurred in 2009, primarily related to increases in real estate taxes ($312,000) and property maintenance costs ($143,000).  The increase in real estate taxes is primarily related to additional taxes on new properties and changes in lease terms, while the increase in property maintenance costs is the result of the timing of certain repairs and renovations.  Operating expenses could fluctuate in the future from those previously incurred due to the extent of property age, location and vacancies.

Hotel Operations

Hotel revenues increased $10.6 million or 61% to $27.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, primarily resulting from additional revenues ($9.6 million) of the Miami, Florida hotel (the “Miami Hotel”) acquired in August 2009.  In addition, the Company’s hotel located in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, experienced increased revenues ($1.0 million), primarily as a result of additional food and beverage sales resulting from its new restaurant concept which began in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Mortgage interest expense related to the Company’s hotel properties decreased $232,000 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared with 2009, primarily as a result of a reduction associated with refinancing the mortgage on the Company’s Atlanta, Georgia hotel in March, 2010.  The Company reduced the outstanding balance by $1.0 million and reduced the interest rate from 6.57% to 4.5% per annum.  The refinancing did not change the maturity date which remains January 2018.  As a result, without additional refinancings or borrowings, mortgage interest expense from the Company’s hotel operations will continue to decline with scheduled principal reductions.

Depreciation expense associated with the Company’s hotel operations increased $900,000 for the year ended December 31, 2010, versus that of 2009, primarily due to the additional depreciation ($811,000) on the Miami Hotel.  As a result of the renovations and improvements currently occurring at this property, depreciation expense for 2011 should be higher than that reported in 2010.

Other operating expenses related to the management of the Company’s hotels increased $7.2 million to $21.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $14.1 million in 2009, which is primarily attributable to additional operating expenses ($6.6 million) from the Miami Hotel.  Fluctuations in operating expenses at the Company’s other hotels were generally in line with the corresponding variances in revenues at the respective property.

During 2010, each of our hotels experienced increased demand from business, leisure and group travelers demonstrating signs of improvement in the economy.  The 2011 results are largely dependent on economic growth, reduced unemployment and increased business and leisure travel spending.  Although the Company expects to see higher demand in 2011, their can be no assurance as to higher demand, and accordingly, management will remain focused on continued cost management.
 
 
15

 

Engineered Products

The operating results of the Company’s engineered products segment are as follows (table in thousands):

Years ended December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
Net sales
  $ 31,931     $ 23,031  
Cost of sales
    23,927       17,641  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    6,208       6,043  
Operating income (loss)
  $ 1,796     $ (653 )

Net sales of the engineered products segment increased $8.9 million or 38.6% to $31.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $23.0 million in 2009, primarily resulting from increased demand for the Company’s automotive product line, as well as its engineered and transformer products.  The increase in the automotive product line is primarily attributable to increased demand for the Company’s airbag products, while the increase in the engineered and transformer products are primarily related to improvements in the general economy.  Sales of this segment are directly influenced by general economic conditions, worldwide automotive demand and industrial capital spending.  To the extent that economic conditions continue to recover, management remains cautiously optimistic that net sales of its engineered products segment will also improve.

Cost of sales as a percentage of net sales decreased 1.7% for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to 2009.   This decline is primarily attributable to the significant increase in net sales, noted above, which led to higher absorption of incurred manufacturing costs.  In addition, offsetting this decline are higher raw material costs for certain products as a result of higher worldwide demand.

Selling, general and administrative expenses of the engineered products segment increased $165,000 or 2.7% for the year ended December 31, 2010.  This increase is primarily the result of increases in sales commissions and other incentives ($210,000), resulting from the increase in net sales noted above.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses not associated with the manufacturing operations increased $250,000 for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to such expenses incurred in 2009.  This increase is primarily attributable to increases in professional fees ($290,000), depreciation expense ($98,000) and payroll and payroll related costs ($97,000), partially offset by a decrease in net periodic pension costs ($172,000).

Total Other Income

Total other income increased $1.1 million to $4.7 million in 2010, from $3.6 million in 2009.  This is the result of realized gains on the Company’s marketable securities portfolio of $1.4 million in 2010 versus losses of ($104,000) in 2009.

Income Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rate from continuing operations was 27.5% in 2010 versus 40.6% in 2009.  The reduction in the effective rate reflects the reversal of certain tax positions in 2010 due to the lapse of the applicable statute of limitations.  In addition, the amount of property gains in a given year, which are reported net of tax at statuary rates, as discontinued operations, also alters the effective tax rate from continuing operations reported by the Company.

Discontinued Operations

During 2010, the Company divested itself of two commercial properties and one of its shopping centers and retail outlets which had a net book value of $67,000.  The aggregate proceeds from these transactions were $989,000 resulting in a gain of $553,000, on a net of tax basis.
 
 
16

 

During 2009, the Company divested itself of one commercial property and one of its shopping centers and retail outlets which had a net book value of $3,948,000.  The aggregate proceeds from these transactions were $3.3 million resulting in a loss of ($414,000), on a net of tax basis.

The operating income from properties sold and accounted for as discontinued operations in 2010 and 2009 were $80,000 and $44,000, on a net of tax basis, respectively.  Prior year amounts have been reclassified to reflect results of operations of real properties disposed of during 2010 and 2009 as discontinued operations.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net cash provided by operating activities was $14.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $16.8 million for 2009.  The decrease in operating cash flows is primarily attributable to changes in working capital, including a decrease in income taxes payable ($6.2 million), which includes refunds received in 2009 ($4.2 million), increases in inventory ($2.5 million) and notes and accounts receivable, net ($2.0 million), partially offset by an increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities ($3.3 million).  An increase in operating income before depreciation ($6.5 million) in the current year partially offset the net decline resulting from changes in working capital.

Net cash used in investing activities was $47.2 million in 2010 versus $32.1 million in 2009.  This change primarily results from additional cash used in the current year for the net investment in a non-performing mortgage note ($37.4 million), the purchase of an other investment ($5.0 million) and the acquisition of property, plant and equipment ($3.3 million).  A reduction in proceeds from the sale of real estate assets ($2.3 million) also contributed to the decline.  Offsetting these amounts were a $17.1 million business acquisition, net of cash acquired, in 2009 and additional cash provided by the purchase or sale of available-for-sale securities ($6.9 million) in the current year.

In 2010, the Company used $9.0 million to fund its financing activities, while in 2009 the Company’s financing activities generated $1.6 million in cash.  This change results from an increase in the purchase and retirement of common stock ($22.5 million) during the current year, offset by proceeds received from the financing of one of the Company’s real estate properties ($6.0 million) and additional proceeds from the exercise of stock options ($2.1 million) and the related tax benefit ($3.0 million).

The Company anticipates investing approximately $2.5 million in additional renovations and improvements to the Miami Hotel during the first half of 2011.

In 2010, the Company purchased a non-performing mortgage note (the “Note”) which has been in default since January 2008 and is included in notes receivable in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.  The Note, which bears interest at the default rate of 9.8%, has approximately $60.0 million in total outstanding obligations at December 31, 2010 and is secured by a 254-room hotel located in Long Branch, New Jersey, was subject to a pending foreclosure action obtained by the seller of the Note in 2009.  The foreclosure sale was scheduled for February 2011, at which time the borrower filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.  The Company intends to vigorously pursue all of its legal remedies.  If title to the property is obtained, the net investment will be reclassified to real property held for rental.

Previous purchases of the Company’s Common Stock have reduced the Company’s additional paid-in capital to zero and have also reduced retained earnings by amounts in excess of par value.  Any future purchases in excess of par value will also reduce retained earnings.  Repurchases of the Company’s Common Stock may be made from time to time in the open market at prevailing market prices and may be made in privately negotiated transactions, subject to available resources.  Future proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock in excess of par value will be credited to retained earnings until such time that previously recorded reductions have been recovered.

At December 31, 2010, the Company’s cash and marketable securities were $111.6 million and working capital was $106.3 million, compared to cash and marketable securities of $149.6 million and working capital of $147.4 million at December 31, 2009.  Management believes that opportunities to acquire additional properties at favorable prices may be available in the future and the Company’s available working capital provides a considerable advantage to fund such acquisitions and grow its portfolio, if and when attractive long-term opportunities become available.  The tightened credit markets however, could limit the Company’s ability to leverage future acquisitions.

The equity method of accounting is used for investments of 50% or less in which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control.  These investments are recorded initially at cost and subsequently adjusted for equity in earnings and cash contributions and distributions.  For those investments where the financial information is not available timely, the equity adjustments are recorded on a one-quarter lag.  The debt of a joint venture in which the Company currently has an ownership interest is a non-recourse obligation and is collateralized by the entity’s real property.  The Company believes that the value of the underlying property and its operating cash flows are sufficient to satisfy its obligations.  The Company is not obligated for the debts of the joint venture, but could decide to satisfy them in order to protect its investment.  In such event, the Company’s capital resources and financial condition would be reduced and, in certain instances, the carrying value of the Company’s investment and its results of operations would be negatively impacted.
 
 
17

 

The cash needs of the Company have been satisfied from funds generated by current operations.  It is expected that future operational cash needs will also be satisfied from existing cash balances, marketable securities, ongoing operations or borrowings.  The primary source of capital to fund additional real estate acquisitions and to make additional high-yield mortgage loans may come from existing funds, the sale, financing and refinancing of the Company’s properties and from third party mortgages and purchase money notes obtained in connection with specific acquisitions.

In addition to the acquisition of properties for consideration consisting of cash and mortgage financing proceeds, the Company may acquire real properties in exchange for the issuance of the Company’s equity securities.  The Company may also finance acquisitions of other companies in the future with borrowings from institutional lenders and/or the public or private offerings of debt or equity securities.  The Company currently has no agreements, commitments or understandings with respect to the acquisition of other companies or the acquisition of real properties in exchange for equity or debt securities.

Funds of the Company in excess of those needed for working capital, purchasing real estate and arranging financing for real estate acquisitions are invested by the Company in corporate equity securities, corporate notes, certificates of deposit, government securities and other financial instruments.  Although these excess funds are invested in investment grade securities, they are subject to significant fluctuations in fair value due to the volatility of the stock market and changes in general economic conditions.  Changes in U.S. interest rates affect the interest earned on the Company’s cash and cash equivalent balances and other interest bearing investments.  Given the level of cash and other interest bearing investments held by the Company, changes in U.S. interest rates could impact the Company’s earnings.

In strategies designed to hedge overall market risk, the Company may sell common stock short or participate in put and/or call options.  These instruments do not qualify for hedge accounting and therefore changes in such derivatives’ fair value are recognized in earnings.  The Company held no such derivatives at December 31, 2010 or 2009.  The Company recognized $139,000 in realized gains on derivative instruments in 2009.

The Company sells its engineered products to many customers throughout the world.  Historically, a small number of customers have accounted for significant portions of these sales.  For the year ended December 31, 2010, sales by the engineered products segment to Autoliv and General Motors, its largest customers, accounted for 13.9% and 10.4% of the segment’s sales, respectively.  As our engineered products segment accounted for 39.6% of our consolidated revenues in 2010, the loss of Autoliv or General Motors as a customer, or a significant decline in sales to them, would adversely affect the Company’s revenues, cash flows and results of operations.  The deterioration in the global economy in 2008 and 2009 has negatively impacted business activity in general, and specifically the engineered product markets in which the Company operates.  These conditions had a dramatic impact on global automotive production and, in turn, negatively impacted sales of our automotive product line.  During 2009, the automotive industry experienced its lowest domestic selling rate in decades.  While modest signs of recovery were evident during 2010, the automotive industry is still recovering from the effects of the unprecedented declines in consumer demand.  Management remains cautiously optimistic that results will improve to the extent the economy continues to recover.

The Company manufactures its products in the United States and Mexico and sells its products in those markets as well as Europe, South America and Asia.  As a result, the Company’s operating results could be affected by factors such as changes in foreign currency exchange rates or weak economic conditions in the foreign markets in which the Company distributes its products.  Most of the Company’s sales are denominated in U.S. dollars.  For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, 8.4% and 11.0% of the net sales of the Company’s engineered products segment were denominated in Euros, respectively.  As such, a portion of the Company’s receivables are exposed to fluctuations with the U.S. dollar.  However, the Company does not believe this risk to be material to its overall financial position as the Company’s historical results have not been significantly impacted by foreign exchange gains or losses.  Accordingly, the Company has not entered into forward exchange contracts to hedge this exposure.  If such exposure were to increase in the future, the Company may reexamine this practice to minimize the associated risks.
 
 
18

 

Although recent economic trends appear to have stabilized, current U.S. and global economic conditions have affected and, most likely, will continue to affect our results of operations and financial position.  Slower economic activity, increased unemployment, the continued crisis in the financial and credit markets, increased energy costs, concerns about inflation, decreased business and consumer confidence, reduced corporate profits and capital spending, adverse business conditions and liquidity concerns have had a negative affect on the Company’s business segments and are expected to continue to impact the Company in 2011.  While the depth and duration of the current negative economic environment and its impact on the Company are uncertain, management believes the Company’s strong balance sheet together with the significant cash flow generated from its core real estate portfolio, should allow the Company to weather this downturn.

The plan assets of the Company’s defined benefit pension plan are valued at fair value using quoted market prices.  Investments, in general, are subject to various risks, including credit, interest and overall market volatility.  In 2009, the pension plan was frozen, ceasing the accrual of further benefits.  The plan is currently in a funded status, however market fluctuations will continue to effect the need for, and amount of, future contributions.

The Company has undertaken the completion of environmental studies and/or remedial action at the Company’s two New Jersey facilities and has recorded a liability for the estimated investigation, remediation and administrative costs associated therewith.  See “Environmental Regulations” in Item 1 of Part I and Note 18, “Commitments and Contingencies” of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion on this matter.

The Company is subject to various other litigation, legal, regulatory and tax matters that arise in the ordinary course of business activities.  When management believes it is probable that liabilities have been incurred and such amounts are reasonably estimable, the Company provides for amounts that include judgments and penalties that may be assessed.  These liabilities are usually included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities or other long-term liabilities in the Consolidated Financial Statements, depending on the anticipated payment date.  Based on the facts presently available, the Company does not believe that the disposition of matters that are pending or asserted will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.  However, new or additional facts or an adverse judgment by a court, arbitrator or a settlement could adversely impact the Company’s results of operations in any given period.

Related Party Transactions

The Company has a 50% interest in an unconsolidated limited liability corporation, whose principal assets are two distribution centers leased to Kmart.  Also participating in this transaction were Mrs. Petrocelli (the wife of Mr. Petrocelli, the Company’s Board Chairman), Mr. Lorber and Mr. Penner, Directors of the Company, as well as Ms. Madaleine Berley (the wife of Mr. Penner), who together have approximately an 8% interest in this transaction.  Income on leveraged leases are recognized by a method which produces a constant rate of return on the outstanding investment in the lease, net of the related deferred tax liability in the years in which the investment is positive.  Accordingly, although the Company received $777,000 in cash distributions from this investment, it did not record any income during the year ended December 31, 2010.  Cash distributions from this investment to each of Mrs. Petrocelli, Mr. Penner, Ms. Berley, and Mr. Lorber were approximately $36,000, $26,000, $26,000, and $26,000, respectively, in both 2010 and 2009.

During 2009, the Company purchased a $5.0 million participation in a note secured by a warehouse located in New York of which Mrs. Petrocelli holds a 20% interest.  The participation, which matures in July 2012, bears interest at 18% per annum payable monthly.  During 2009, the participants also received a commitment fee of 1% in connection with the note.  During November 2010, the Company sold a 2.5% interest in its remaining share of the note to the Company’s pension plan for $100,000.

Hallman & Lorber Associates, Inc. (“H&L”) provided pension plan services to the Company during its last fiscal year.  The amount paid by the Company to H&L in 2010 was $20,000.  The Company anticipates it will continue such relationship in this fiscal year.  During 2010, Mr. Lorber, a Director of the Company and Chairman of the Company’s Compensation and Stock Option and Audit Committees, became a stockholder of H&L.  Mr. Lorber is not an officer or director of H&L, nor does he have any management responsibility or involvement with H&L.  Previously Mr. Lorber was a consultant to H&L.
 
 
19

 

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to use judgment in making estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities.  The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.  Certain of these policies require the application of subjective or complex judgments often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain.  These estimates and assumptions are based on historical experience, changes in the business environment and other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances.  Different estimates that could have been applied in the current period or changes in the accounting estimates that are reasonably likely can result in a material impact on our financial condition and operating results in the current and future periods.  While management believes that the estimates and assumptions used were the most appropriate, actual results could differ significantly from those estimates under different assumptions and conditions.

The accounting policies we believe to be most critical to understanding our financial results and condition, and that require complex and subjective management judgments, are discussed below and should be read in conjunction with the Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Long-Lived Assets

The Company is required to make subjective assessments as to whether there are impairments in the value of its long-lived assets and other investments.  On a periodic basis, management assesses whether there are any indicators that the value of its long-lived assets may be impaired.  An asset’s value is considered impaired only if management’s estimate of current and projected operating cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) of the asset over its remaining useful life is less than the net carrying value of the asset.  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 carrying amount of the asset would be written down to an amount to reflect the fair value of the asset.  The Company’s net income is directly affected by management’s estimate of impairments.

Pension Plan

Pension plans can be a significant cost of doing business, but represent obligations that will ultimately be settled far in the future and therefore are subject to estimates.  Pension accounting is intended to reflect the recognition of future benefit costs over the employee’s approximate service period based on the terms of the plan and the investment and funding decisions made by the Company.  The Company is required to make assumptions regarding such variables as the expected long-term rate of return on assets and the discount rate applied to determine service cost and interest cost to arrive at pension income or expense for the year.  These assumptions are used in actuarial calculations to estimate pension costs as well as pension assets or liabilities included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.  While the Company believes that the assumptions used are appropriate, significant differences in actual experience or significant changes in assumptions would affect the Company’s pension costs and obligations.

The Company has assumed the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets to be 8% in each of the last two years.  Based on the Company’s existing and forecasted asset allocation and related long-term investment performance results, the Company believes that its assumption of future returns of 8% is reasonable.  The assumed long-term rate of return on assets is applied to a calculated value of plan assets, which recognizes changes in the fair value of plan assets in a systematic manner.  This produces the expected return on plan assets that is included in net periodic pension cost.  The difference between this expected return and the actual return on plan assets is deferred.  The net deferral of past asset gains (losses) affects the calculated value of plan assets and, ultimately, future net periodic pension cost.  A 100 basis point change in the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets would have changed fiscal 2010 net periodic pension income by $97,000.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a full description of recent accounting pronouncements including the respective dates of adoption and effects on results of operations and financial condition.
 
 
20

 
 
ITEM 7A.                    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Not applicable, as the Company is a smaller reporting company.


ITEM 8.                    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

The financial statements and supplementary information filed as part of this Item 8 are listed under Item 15, “Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules” and are contained in this Form 10-K, beginning on page 25.


ITEM 9.                    CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None


ITEM 9A(T).            CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f).  Under the supervision and with the participation of Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, an evaluation was performed of the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. The evaluation was based on the framework in “Internal Control—Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”).  Management’s assessment included an evaluation of the design of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and testing of the operational effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting.  There are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of any internal control, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of controls. Accordingly, even effective internal controls over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. Further, because of changes in conditions, the effectiveness of internal control may vary over time.  Based on the evaluation under the framework in “Internal Control—Integrated Framework,” the Company’s management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective at the reasonable assurance level as of December 31, 2010.

This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting, pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this annual report.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The Company has made no changes in its internal controls over financial reporting, or in other factors that could affect these controls during the three months ended December 31, 2010 that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
21

 
 
ITEM 9B.                 OTHER INFORMATION

The salary of A.F. Petrocelli, the Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, is set forth in his employment agreement, as amended from time to time by the Company’s Compensation and Stock Option Committee (the “Committee”).  The employment agreement was filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.  Per Mr. Petrocelli’s employment agreement, the Committee determines the amount of salary and bonus paid to him annually.  The Committee, in consultation with Mr. Petrocelli, determines the salaries and bonuses of Michael T. Lamoretti and Michael J. Weinbaum, who are both Vice Presidents of the Company’s real estate operations, and Anthony J. Miceli, the Company’s Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.  Messrs. Lamoretti, Weinbaum and Miceli do not have written employment agreements with the Company.  In December 2010, the Committee approved bonuses for Messrs. Petrocelli, Lamoretti, Weinbaum and Miceli payable in 2011.  Such bonuses were substantially consistent with the bonuses paid in prior years.


PART III

ITEM 10.                  DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

This information will be contained in the Proxy Statement of the Company for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders under the caption “Election of Directors” and is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 11.                  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

This information will be contained in the Proxy Statement of the Company for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders under the caption “Executive Compensation” and is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 12.                  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

This information will be contained in the Proxy Statement of the Company for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders under the caption “Security Ownership” and is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 13.                  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

This information will be contained in the Proxy Statement of the Company for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders under the caption “Certain Relationships, Related Transactions and Director Independence” and is incorporated herein by reference.  Also see “Related Party Transactions” in Item 7 and Note 12, “Transactions with Related Parties,” of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, contained elsewhere in this report.


ITEM 14.                  PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

This information will be contained in the Proxy Statement of the Company for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders under the caption “Independent Auditors” and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
22

 


PART IV

ITEM 15.                  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a)
(1)
Consolidated Financial Statements.  The following Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company are included in this Form 10-K on the pages indicated:
       
   
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
Page
       
   
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – Holtz Rubenstein Reminick LLP
25
   
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2010 and 2009
26
   
Consolidated Statements of Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2010 and 2009
27
   
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income
 
   
for the Years Ended December 31, 2010 and 2009
28
   
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2010 and 2009
29
   
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
30-47
       
 
(2)
Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules.
 
       
   
Schedules not included, as the Company is a smaller reporting company.
 
(b) Exhibits

 
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.1 filed with the Company’s report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1993).

 
3.2
Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.2 filed with the Company’s report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003).

 
3.3
By-laws of the Company (incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.2 filed with the Company’s report on Form 8-K dated April 14, 2005).

 
10.1
Incentive and Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan of the Company, as amended (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.1 filed with the Company’s report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000).

 
10.2
Additional amendment to Incentive and Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan of the Company (incorporated by reference to exhibit 4.2 filed with the Company’s report on Form S-8 dated August 23, 2002).

 
10.3
1988 Joint Incentive and Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.2 filed with the Company’s report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998).

 
10.4
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated as of November 17, 2003 by and between the Company and A. F. Petrocelli (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.4 filed with the Company’s report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003).

 
10.5
Form of Indemnity Agreement dated as of May 7, 1991, by and between the Company and A.F. Petrocelli, Arnold S. Penner and Howard M. Lorber (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.5 filed with the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009).

 
10.6
Supplemental Retirement and Death Benefit Program, as amended and restated (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.6 filed with the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009).
 
 
23

 
 
 
14
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (incorporated by reference to exhibit 14 filed with the Company’s report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006).

 
21
Subsidiaries of the Company.

 
*23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – Holtz Rubenstein Reminick LLP.

 
*31.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e).

 
*31.2
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e).

 
*32.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 
*32.2
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

* Filed herewith
 
 
24

 
 
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 
UNITED CAPITAL CORP.
   
   
Dated: March 30, 2011
By:
/s/ A. F. Petrocelli
   
A. F. Petrocelli
   
Chairman, President and
   
Chief Executive Officer


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Company in the capacities and on the date indicated.

Dated: March 30, 2011
By:
/s/ A. F. Petrocelli
   
A. F. Petrocelli
   
Chairman, President and
   
Chief Executive Officer
   
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
Dated: March 30, 2011
By:
/s/ Michael T. Lamoretti
   
Michael T. Lamoretti
   
Vice President – Real Estate Operations
   
and Director
 
Dated: March 30, 2011
By:
/s/ Howard M. Lorber
   
Howard M. Lorber
   
Director
 
Dated: March 30, 2011
By:
/s/ Robert M. Mann
   
Robert M. Mann
   
Director
 
Dated: March 30, 2011
By:
/s/ Anthony J. Miceli
   
Anthony J. Miceli
   
Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and
   
Director  (Principal Financial Officer
   
and Principal Accounting Officer)
 
Dated: March 30, 2011
By:
/s/ Arnold S. Penner
   
Arnold S. Penner
   
Director
 
Dated: March 30, 2011
By:
s/ Michael J. Weinbaum
   
Michael J. Weinbaum
   
Vice President – Real Estate Operations
   
and Director


 
25

 
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 




To the Board of Directors
and Stockholders of
United Capital Corp.


We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of United Capital Corp. and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for the years then ended.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting.  Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.  Accordingly, we express no such opinion.  An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of United Capital Corp. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 and the consolidated results of its operations and its consolidated cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

As described in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has reclassified the 2009 consolidated financial statements to reflect certain discontinued operations.



/s/ Holtz Rubenstein Reminick LLP                                                                
Holtz Rubenstein Reminick LLP

Melville, New York
March 24, 2011
 
 
26

 
United Capital Corp. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance sheets
(In thousands, except per share data)


As of December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
 
Assets
           
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 82,397     $ 124,354  
Marketable securities
    29,182       25,227  
Notes and accounts receivable, net
    8,724       7,225  
Inventories
    5,812       4,450  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    1,842       2,066  
Total current assets
    127,957       163,322  
Property, plant and equipment, net
    10,202       8,088  
Real property held for rental, net
    100,608       92,828  
Other investments
    8,887       4,664  
Notes receivable, net of current portion
    42,362       9,687  
Other assets
    6,112       4,597  
Noncurrent assets of discontinued operations
          72  
Total assets
  $ 296,128     $ 283,258  
                 
 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
               
Current liabilities:
               
Current maturities of long-term debt
  $ 1,226     $ 1,080  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    13,238       10,134  
Income taxes payable
    4,345       4,658  
Deferred income taxes
    2,848       96  
Total current liabilities
    21,657       15,968  
                 
Long-term debt
    36,660       32,915  
Other long-term liabilities
    12,967       14,817  
Deferred income taxes
    9,855       9,575  
Total liabilities
    81,139       73,275  
Commitments and contingencies
               
Stockholders’ equity:
               
Common stock, $.10 par value, authorized 17,500 shares; issued
and outstanding 8,955 and 9,081 shares, respectively
    896       908  
Retained earnings
    206,843       207,029  
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax
    7,250       2,046  
Total stockholders’ equity
    214,989       209,983  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 296,128     $ 283,258  

 
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
 
 
27

 
 
United Capital Corp. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
(In thousands, except per share data)


For the years ended December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
 
Revenues:
           
Revenues from real estate operations
  $ 48,753     $ 36,744  
Net sales
    31,931       23,031  
Total revenues
    80,684       59,775  
Costs and expenses:
               
Cost of sales
    23,927       17,641  
Real estate operations:
               
Mortgage interest expense
    2,047       2,117  
Depreciation expense
    5,274       4,180  
Other operating expenses
    27,139       19,312  
General and administrative expenses
    7,054       6,754  
Selling expenses
    3,267       3,152  
Total costs and expenses
    68,708       53,156  
Operating income
    11,976       6,619  
Other income (expense):
               
Interest and dividend income
    3,452       3,620  
Other income and (expense), net
    1,280       (48 )
Total other income
    4,732       3,572  
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
    16,708       10,191  
Provision for income taxes
    4,599       4,134  
Income from continuing operations
    12,109       6,057  
Discontinued operations:
               
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax provision of $54 and $29, respectively
    80       44  
Net gain (loss) on disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax provision (benefit) of $369 and ($276), respectively
    553       (414 )
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
    633       (370 )
Net income
  $ 12,742     $ 5,687  
Basic earnings per share:
               
Income from continuing operations
  $ 1.34     $ .67  
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
    .07       (.04 )
Net income per share
  $ 1.41     $ .63  
Diluted earnings per share:
               
Income from continuing operations
  $ 1.25     $ .62  
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
    .06       (.04 )
Net income per share assuming dilution
  $ 1.31     $ .58  
 


The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
 
 
28

 
 
 
United Capital Corp. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
and Comprehensive Income
(In thousands)


                     
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
   
Total
       
   
Common Stock Issued
   
Retained
   
Income (Loss),
   
Stockholders’
   
Comprehensive
 
Years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009
 
Shares
   
Amount
   
Earnings
   
Net of Tax
   
Equity
   
Income
 
                                     
Balance – January 1, 2009
    8,483     $ 848     $ 197,056     $ (7,937 )   $ 189,967        
Purchase and retirement of common shares
    (162 )     (16 )     (3,079 )           (3,095 )      
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options
    760       76       5,268             5,344        
Tax benefit from employee stock options
                2,097             2,097        
Net income
                5,687             5,687     $ 5,687  
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
                                               
Change in net unrealized gain on available for sale securities, net of tax effect of $3,967
                      7,369       7,369       7,369  
Reclassification adjustment for net loss realized in net income, net of tax effect of $36
                      68       68       68  
Pension plan adjustments, net of tax effect of $1,371
                      2,546       2,546       2,546  
Comprehensive income
                                          $ 15,670  
Balance – December 31, 2009
    9,081       908       207,029       2,046       209,983          
                                                 
Purchase and retirement of common shares
    (1,051 )     (105 )     (25,459 )           (25,564 )        
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options
    925       93       7,394             7,487          
Tax benefit from employee stock options
                5,137             5,137          
Net income
                12,742             12,742     $ 12,742  
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
                                               
Change in net unrealized gain on available for sale securities, net of tax effect of $3,105
                      5,765       5,765       5,765  
Reclassification adjustment for net gains realized in net income, net of tax effect of $487
                      (904 )     (904 )     (904 )
Pension plan adjustments, net of tax effect of $185
                      343       343       343  
Comprehensive income
                                          $ 17,946  
Balance – December 31, 2010
    8,955     $ 896     $ 206,843     $ 7,250     $ 214,989          
                                                 

 
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
 
 
29

 
 
United Capital Corp. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)

For the years ended December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net income
  $ 12,742     $ 5,687  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    5,799       4,610  
(Gain) loss on disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax
    (553 )     414  
Net (gain) loss on sale of available-for-sale securities
    (1,391 )     104  
Realized gains on derivative instruments
          (139 )
Other, net
    208       (1,084 )
Changes in assets and liabilities:
               
Notes and accounts receivable, net
    (916 )     1,094  
Inventories
    (1,362 )     1,174  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    224       193  
Other assets
    (989 )     (387 )
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    3,104       (164 )
Income taxes payable
    (682 )     5,468  
Other long-term liabilities
    (1,850 )     (411 )
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations
    14,334       16,559  
Operating activities of discontinued operations
    5       202  
Net cash provided by operating activities
    14,339       16,761  
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Purchase of available-for-sale securities
    (1,947 )     (4,088 )
Proceeds/maturities from sale of available-for-sale securities
    5,533       730  
Proceeds from sale of real estate assets
    989       3,258  
Proceeds from sale of derivative instruments
          134  
Purchase of other investments
    (5,000 )      
Purchase of notes receivable, net
          (9,428 )
Net investment in non-performing mortgage note
    (37,405 )      
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment
    (4,365 )     (1,080 )
Acquisition of/additions to real estate assets
    (5,877 )     (5,411 )
Business acquisition, net of cash acquired
          (17,081 )
Distributions from other investments
    777       776  
Other
    48       44  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (47,247 )     (32,146 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Proceeds from mortgage obligations
    6,000        
Principal payments on mortgage obligations
    (2,109 )     (2,749 )
Purchase and retirement of common stock
    (25,564 )     (3,095 )
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options
    7,487       5,344  
Tax benefit from exercise of employee stock options
    5,137       2,097  
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    (9,049 )     1,597  
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
    (41,957 )     (13,788 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
    124,354       138,142  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
  $ 82,397     $ 124,354  
                 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
               
Cash paid during the year for:
               
Interest
  $ 2,003     $ 2,049  
Taxes
  $ 1,450     $ 1,321  
                 
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
               
Mortgage obligation assumed in connection with acquisition of real property held   for rental (see Note 8)
  $     $ 3,881  

 
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
 
 
30

 
 
United Capital Corp. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2010 and 2009
(In thousands, except per share data)

1.Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Business

United Capital Corp. (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries are engaged in the investment and management of real estate, including the operation of full and limited-service hotels, and in the manufacture and sale of engineered products.  The Company also invests excess available cash in marketable securities and other financial instruments.

Principles of Consolidation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.  The equity method of accounting is used for investments of 50% or less in which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control.  These investments are recorded initially at cost and subsequently adjusted for equity in earnings and cash contributions and distributions.  For those investments where the financial information is not available timely, the equity adjustments are recorded on a one-quarter lag.

Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable – Real Estate Investment and Management

The Company leases substantially all of its properties to tenants under net leases which are accounted for as operating leases.  Under this type of lease, the tenant is obligated to pay all operating costs of the property including real estate taxes, insurance, and repairs and maintenance.  Revenue is recognized as earned and deemed collectible.  The effect of stepped-rent increases on significant leases are recorded, net of allowances, on a straight-line basis.  Gains on sales of real estate assets and equity investments are recorded when the gain recognition criteria under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America have been met.

The Company does not generally have leases that include significant rent concessions or provisions that require the lessee to fund capital improvements or to pay the lessor any revenues based upon indexes or rates that are not explicitly stated in the lease.

Reimbursements of certain costs received from tenants are recognized as tenant reimbursement revenues.

Certain lease agreements provide for additional rent based on a percentage of tenants’ sales.  These percentage rents are recorded once the required sales levels are achieved.

Income on leveraged leases is recognized by a method that produces a constant rate of return on the outstanding investment in the lease, net of the related deferred tax liability, in the years in which the net investment is positive.

Accounts receivable are recorded at the outstanding amounts, net of allowances for doubtful accounts.  The Company makes estimates of the uncollectibility of its accounts receivable related to base rents, tenant escalations, expense reimbursements, and other revenues.  The Company analyzes accounts receivable, historical bad debt levels, customer credit worthiness, and current economic trends when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts.  In addition, tenants in bankruptcy are analyzed and estimates are made in connection with the expected recovery of pre-petition and post-petition claims.

Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable – Hotel Operations

Revenues from the Company’s hotel operations are generally recognized when earned.  Hotel revenues primarily represent room rental and food and beverage sales and are recognized at the time of the hotel stay or sale of restaurant services.

Accounts receivable are recorded at the outstanding amounts, net of allowances for doubtful accounts.  The Company determines the allowance for doubtful accounts based on an assessment of the collectibility of specific customer accounts which include the length of time the receivables are past due, the financial health of the customer, and historical experience.
 
 
31

 

Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable – Engineered Products

In general, sales are recorded when products are shipped, title has passed, and collection is reasonably assured.  Management believes that adequate controls are in place to ensure compliance with contractual product specifications, a substantial history of such performance has been established, and historical returns and allowances have not been significant.  If actual sales returns and allowances exceed historical amounts, the Company’s sales would be adversely affected.

Accounts receivable are recorded at the outstanding amounts, net of allowances for doubtful accounts.  Estimates are used in determining the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts based on historical collections experience, current economic trends, and a percentage of its accounts receivable by aging category.  In determining these percentages, the Company looks at historical write-offs of its receivables.  The Company also looks at the credit quality of its customer base as well as changes in its credit policies.  The Company continuously monitors collections and payments from its customers.  While credit losses have historically been within expectations and the provisions established, the Company cannot guarantee that it will continue to experience the same credit loss rates that it has in the past.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents of $128 and $137 at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, consisted of certificates of deposit.  The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity, at the purchase date, of three months or less to be cash equivalents.  The Company maintains balances with various financial institutions which, at times, exceed federally insured limits.

Marketable Securities

The Company determines the appropriate classification of securities at the time of purchase and reassesses the appropriateness of such classification at each reporting date.  At December 31, 2010 and 2009, all marketable securities held by the Company have been classified as available-for-sale and, as a result, are stated at fair value, based on quoted market prices.  Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are recorded as a separate component of stockholders’ equity.  Realized gains and losses on the sale of securities, as determined on a first-in, first-out basis, are included in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

The Company reviews its investments on a regular basis to evaluate whether or not each security has experienced an other-than-temporary decline in fair value.  If it is believed that an other-than-temporary decline exists, the Company will write down the investment to market value and record the related write-down in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Notes and Accounts Receivable, Net

Notes and accounts receivable, net consist of the following:

December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
Manufacturing receivables
  $ 5,988     $ 4,829  
Rental receivables
    1,106       1,190  
Hotel receivables
    1,196       628  
Other receivables
    844       271  
Current portion of notes receivable
    51       798  
     Total
    9,185       7,716  
Less:  Allowance for doubtful accounts
    461       491  
    $ 8,724     $ 7,225  

Notes receivable are recorded at cost and typically collateralized by real estate properties.  Notes receivable are considered to be past-due or delinquent when a contractually required principal or interest payment is not remitted in accordance with the provisions of the underlying agreement.  The Company evaluates the realizability of each note’s carrying value based on an assessment of the underlying collateral to determine whether there is any impairment.  A note is considered to be impaired when, based upon current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to recover the value of its investment in the note.  When a note is considered to be impaired, the amount of loss is calculated by comparing the recorded investment to the value of the underlying collateral.  If the underlying collateral is real estate, the same valuation techniques are utilized to value such collateral.  As such, no provision for probable losses on specific notes was established as of December 31, 2010 or 2009.
 
 
32

 
 
 
Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market and include material, labor, and manufacturing overhead.  The first-in, first-out (FIFO) method is used to determine the cost of inventories.  Inventories consist of the following:

December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
Raw materials
  $ 2,595     $ 1,817  
Work in process
    552       529  
Finished goods
    2,665       2,104  
    $ 5,812     $ 4,450  

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization are provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets as follows:

Real property held for rental:
 
 
Buildings
19 to 39 years
 
Building renovations and improvements
  5 to 39 years
 
Equipment and fixtures
  5 to 15 years
Property, plant and equipment:
 
 
Buildings and improvements
  5 to 39 years
 
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
  3 to 15 years
Intangible assets with definite lives:
 
 
Patents and trademarks
  5 to 20 years
 
Real Estate

Land, buildings and improvements, and equipment and fixtures are recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation.  Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred.  Significant renovations and replacements, which improve the life of the asset, are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives.

Assets held for sale are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell and depreciation is discontinued.  Property sales or dispositions are recorded when title transfers.  Upon disposition, the related costs and accumulated depreciation are removed from the respective accounts.  Any gain or loss on sale or disposition is recognized in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation.  Major improvements are capitalized and maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred.

Long-Lived Assets

On a periodic basis, management assesses whether there are any indicators that the value of its long-lived assets may be impaired.  An asset’s value is considered impaired only if management’s estimate of current and projected operating cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) of the asset over its remaining useful life is less than the net carrying value of the asset.  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 carrying amount of the asset would be written down to an amount to reflect the fair value of the asset.
 
 
33

 

Pension Plan

Pension plans can be a significant cost of doing business, but represent obligations that will ultimately be settled far in the future and, therefore, are subject to estimates.  Pension accounting is intended to reflect the recognition of future benefit costs over the employee’s approximate service period based on the terms of the plan and the investment and funding decisions made by the Company.  The Company is required to make assumptions regarding such variables as the expected long-term rate of return on assets and the discount rate applied to determine service cost and interest cost to arrive at net periodic pension income or expense for the year.  These assumptions are used in actuarial calculations to estimate net periodic pension costs as well as pension assets or liabilities included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.  While the Company believes that the assumptions used are appropriate, significant differences in actual experience or significant changes in assumptions would affect the Company’s pension costs and obligations.

Research and Development

The Company expenses research, development and product engineering costs as incurred.  Approximately $33 and $18 of such costs were incurred by the Company in 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and handling costs billed to a customer are included in net sales and the related costs are included in cost of sales or selling expenses.  For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, shipping and handling costs included in selling expenses were $262 and $286, respectively.

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding.  Diluted earnings per share gives effect to all potentially dilutive shares that were outstanding during the period, unless the effect would be antidilutive.  Dilutive shares used in the computation of diluted earnings per share result from the assumed exercise of stock options, using the treasury stock method.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company recognizes all derivative financial instruments, such as put and/or call options, in the Consolidated Financial Statements at fair value regardless of the purpose or intent for holding the instrument.  Changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments are either recognized periodically in income or in stockholders’ equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income depending on whether the derivative financial instrument qualifies for hedge accounting and, if so, whether it qualifies as a fair value or cash flow hedge.  Generally, changes in the fair value of derivatives accounted for as fair value hedges are recorded in income along with the portions of the changes in the fair values of the hedged items that relate to the hedged risks.  Changes in the fair value of derivatives accounted for as cash flow hedges, to the extent they are effective as hedges, are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax.  Changes in the fair value of derivatives not qualifying as hedges are reported in income.

In strategies designed to hedge overall market risks and manage its interest rate exposure, the Company may sell common stock short, participate in put and/or call options or enter into interest rate swap agreements.

Management maintains a diversified portfolio of cash equivalents and investments in a variety of securities, primarily U.S. investments in both common and preferred equity issues, as well as corporate bonds, and participates on a limited basis in transactions involving derivative financial instruments, including short stock sales and put and/or call options.  The Company recognized $139 in realized gains on derivative instruments for the year ended December 31, 2009, which were included in other income and (expense), net in the Consolidated Statements of Income.  The Company held no such derivatives at December 31, 2010 or 2009.
 
 
34

 

Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to present them on a basis consistent with the current year.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to use judgment in making estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities.  Certain of the estimates and assumptions required to be made relate to matters that are inherently uncertain as they pertain to future events.  While management believes that the estimates and assumptions used were the most appropriate, actual results could differ significantly from those estimates under different assumptions and conditions.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued authoritative guidance adding requirements for disclosures about transfers into and out of Levels 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy and additional disclosures about the activity within Level 3.  The Company adopted the provisions of the guidance, which only requires additional disclosures, as of January 1, 2010 and, therefore, it did not have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

In July 2010, the FASB issued authoritative guidance on disclosures about the credit quality of financing receivables and the allowance for credit losses which requires a greater level of information disclosed about the credit quality of loans and allowance for loan losses, as well as additional information related to credit quality indicators and past due information.  This authoritative guidance is effective for the fourth quarter of 2010.  As the guidance only amends existing disclosure requirements, it did not have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

In December 2010, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to clarify that pro forma disclosures should be presented as if a business combination occurred at the beginning of the prior annual period for purposes of preparing both the current reporting period and the prior reporting period pro forma financial information.  These disclosures should be accompanied by a narrative description about the nature and amount of material nonrecurring pro forma adjustments.  This guidance is effective for business combinations consummated in periods beginning after December 15, 2010, and should be applied prospectively as of the date of adoption.  The Company has adopted the authoritative guidance on January 1, 2011 which did not have a material impact to its financial condition or results of operations.

A variety of proposed accounting standards are currently under study by standard setting organizations and various regulatory agencies on such topics as consolidation, financial statement presentation, revenue recognition, leases, financial instruments, hedging, contingencies and fair value.  Some of the proposed changes are potentially significant and could have a material impact on the Company’s reporting.    The Company has not yet evaluated the potential impact of these proposals but will make such an evaluation as the standards are finalized.

2.Business Acquisition

In 2009, the Company purchased a non-performing mortgage note encumbering a hotel located in Miami, Florida (the “Miami Hotel”).  The Company commenced operations of the hotel in August 2009 upon taking title to the property.  The purchase price, which approximates fair value and includes certain assumed liabilities, was allocated as follows:

Real property
  $ 13,684  
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
    3,000  
Current assets
    763  
Current liabilities assumed
    (366 )
Cash paid for business acquisition, net of cash acquired
  $ 17,081  
 
Included in the Consolidated Statement of Income for the year ended December 31, 2009, are revenues of $3,443 and an operating loss of ($611) from the operations of the Miami Hotel from the date of the acquisition.
 
 
35

 

The following represents the unaudited condensed pro forma financial results of the Company as if the acquisition of the Miami Hotel had occurred as of the beginning of the annual period presented.  Unaudited condensed pro forma results are based upon accounting estimates and judgments that the Company believes are reasonable.  The unaudited condensed pro forma results also include adjustments to depreciation on acquired real property and furniture, fixtures and equipment, adjustments to interest expense and the related tax effects.  The condensed pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of the actual results of operations of the Company had the acquisition occurred at the beginning of the year presented, nor does it purport to represent the results of operations for future periods.

For the year ended December 31,
 
2009
 
Total revenues
  $ 66,790  
Net income
  $ 4,723  

3.Real Estate

The following is a summary of real property held for rental, including hotels:

December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
Land
  $ 16,607     $ 16,316  
Buildings
    132,426       126,907  
Building renovations and improvements
    19,766       14,301  
Equipment and fixtures
    4,074       4,043  
      172,873       161,567  
Less:  Accumulated depreciation
    72,265       68,739  
    $ 100,608     $ 92,828  

The Company is the lessor of real estate under operating leases which expire in various years through 2078.  As of December 31, 2010, total minimum future rentals to be received under noncancelable leases for each of the next five years and thereafter are as follows:

Years ending December 31,
 
2011
   
2012
   
2013
   
2014
   
2015
   
There-
after
   
Total
 
Minimum future rentals
  $ 19,883     $ 17,109     $ 14,415     $ 13,155     $ 11,686     $ 54,736     $ 130,984  

Minimum future rentals do not include amounts for renewals, tenant reimbursement or additional rentals that may be received under certain leases which provide for such rentals based upon a percentage of lessees’ sales.  Percentage rents included in net income from real properties held for rental for 2010 and 2009 were approximately $262 and $156, respectively.

Property Acquisitions

In 2009, the Company purchased a non-performing mortgage note for $5,428, encumbering a property located in Jericho, New York, which was subject to a foreclosure action.  During 2010, the Company reclassified the investment to real property held for rental as the Company then received title to the property.

During 2009, the Company purchased a commercial property located in New Jersey for approximately $5,500, including the assumption of an underlying mortgage of $3,881 (see Note 8).  The total cost of acquisition, less the assumption of the mortgage is reflected in acquisition of /additions to real estate assets in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Property Sales

During 2010, the Company divested itself of two commercial properties and one of its shopping centers and retail outlets which had a net book value of $67 from its real estate investment and management segment.  The aggregate proceeds from these transactions were $989 resulting in a gain of $553, on a net of tax basis.
 
 
36

 

During 2009, the Company divested itself of one commercial property and one of its shopping centers and retail outlets which had a net book value of $3,948 from its real estate investment and management segment.  The aggregate proceeds from these transactions were $3,258 resulting in a net loss of ($414), on a net of tax basis.

The results of operations of properties sold have been reclassified to discontinued operations, on a net of tax basis, for each of the years presented.  In addition, the assets and liabilities associated with those properties sold in 2010 have been reclassified to discontinued operations in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2009.  These amounts primarily consist of real property, net of accumulated depreciation.

Summarized financial information for properties sold and accounted for as discontinued operations is as follows:

For the years ended December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
Revenues from real estate operations
  $ 176     $ 488  
Depreciation expense
    5       202  
Other operating expenses
    37       213  
Income from operations
  $ 134     $ 73  

Properties Held for Sale

As of December 31, 2010, there were no properties considered by the Company to be held for sale.

4.Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment, including furniture, fixtures and equipment related to the Company’s hotel operations segment, consists of the following:

December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
Land
  $ 28     $ 28  
Buildings and improvements
    1,581       1,428  
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
    27,353       23,225  
      28,962       24,681  
Less: Accumulated depreciation
    18,760       16,593  
    $ 10,202     $ 8,088  

5.       Marketable Securities

The cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and fair market value of available-for-sale securities are as follows:
   
Cost
   
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair
Market
Value
 
December 31, 2010:
                       
Equity securities
  $ 18,438     $ 11,124     $ (578 )   $ 28,984  
Bonds
    117       82       (1 )     198  
    $ 18,555     $ 11,206     $ (579 )   $ 29,182  
December 31, 2009:
                               
Equity securities
  $ 21,860     $ 4,239     $ (1,128 )   $ 24,971  
Bonds
    220       41       (5 )     256  
    $ 22,080     $ 4,280     $ (1,133 )   $ 25,227  
 
 
37

 
 
The following table shows the fair value and unrealized losses, aggregated by investment type and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position:

   
Less Than 12 Months
   
12 Months or More
   
Total
 
   
Fair
Value
   
Unrealized Losses
   
Fair
Value
   
Unrealized Losses
   
Fair
Value
   
Unrealized Losses
 
December 31, 2010:
                                   
Equity Securities
  $     $     $ 1,956     $ (578 )   $ 1,956     $ (578 )
Bonds
                7       (1 )     7       (1 )
    $     $     $ 1,963     $ (579 )   $ 1,963     $ (579 )
December 31, 2009:
                                               
Equity securities
  $ 3,174     $ (801 )   $ 2,241     $ (327 )   $ 5,415     $ (1,128 )
Bonds
    6       (2 )     47       (3 )     53       (5 )
    $ 3,180     $ (803 )   $ 2,288     $ (330 )   $ 5,468     $ (1,133 )

The Company continuously reviews its investment portfolio to identify and evaluate investments that have indications of possible impairment.  The Company does not believe that its investments in marketable securities with unrealized losses at December 31, 2010 are other-then-temporary due to market volatility of the security’s fair value, analysts’ expectations, and the Company’s ability to hold the securities for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recoveries in market value.

Proceeds/maturities from the sale of available-for-sale securities, as well as the gains and losses recognized in earnings on available for-sale-securities, included in the determination of net income are as follows:

For the years ended December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
Proceeds/maturities
  $ 5,533     $ 730  
Gains recognized in earnings
  $ 1,391     $  
Losses recognized in earnings
  $     $ (104 )

6.Long-Term Investments

Investment in Limited Partnership

During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company purchased a 10% interest in PNBK Holdings LLC (“Holdings”) for $5,000.  Holdings in turn acquired approximately 88% of the outstanding stock of Patriot National Bancorp, Inc., a commercial bank with 19 branch locations throughout southern Connecticut, Westchester County, New York and New York City.  In accordance with the authoritative guidance, the equity method of accounting is used to account for this investment which is included in other investments in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2010.  This investment was initially recorded at cost and will be subsequently adjusted, on a one-quarter lag, for equity in earnings and cash contributions and distributions.

Investment in Joint Venture

The Company has a 50% interest in a limited partnership whose principal assets are two distribution centers leased to Kmart Corporation (“Kmart”), which are accounted for as leveraged leases and included in other investments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (see Note 12).

The following represents the components of the net investment in the leveraged leases:

December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
Rents receivable
  $ 45,323     $ 49,352  
Residual values
    10,000       10,000  
Nonrecourse debt service
    (35,588 )     (38,840 )
Unearned income
    (15,848 )     (15,848 )
      3,887       4,664  
Less: Deferred taxes arising from leveraged leases
    4,682       5,108  
    $ (795 )   $ (444 )
 
 
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Income on leveraged leases is recognized by a method which produces a constant rate of return on the outstanding investment in the lease, net of the related deferred tax liability in the years in which the investment is positive.  Accordingly, although the Company received $777 and $776 in cash distributions from this investment, it did not recognize any income during the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Net Investment in Non-Performing Mortgage Note

In 2010, the Company purchased a non-performing mortgage note (the “Note”) which has been in default since January 2008 and is included in notes receivable in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.  The Note, which bears interest at the default rate of 9.8%, has approximately $60,000 in total outstanding obligations at December 31, 2010 and is secured by a 254-room hotel located in Long Branch, New Jersey, was subject to a pending foreclosure action obtained by the seller of the Note in 2009.  The foreclosure sale was scheduled for February 2011, at which time the borrower filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.  The Company intends to vigorously pursue all of its legal remedies.  If title to the property is obtained, the net investment will be reclassified to real property held for rental.

7.Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities consist of the following:

December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
Accounts payable
  $ 6,983     $ 4,384  
Accrued wages and benefits
    2,443       1,983  
Tenant security deposits
    1,300       1,031  
Other accrued expenses
    2,512       2,736  
    $ 13,238     $ 10,134  

8.Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consists of the following:

December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
Mortgages on real property
  $ 37,886     $ 33,995  
Less:  Current maturities
    1,226       1,080  
    $ 36,660     $ 32,915  

Mortgages bear interest at rates ranging from 4.5% to 7.5% per annum and are collateralized by the related real property which had a net carrying value at December 31, 2010 of $36,176, exclusive of hotel furniture, fixtures and equipment.  Such amounts are scheduled to mature at various dates from July 2013 through January 2018.

During 2010, the Company refinanced the mortgage on its Atlanta, Georgia hotel, paid down the outstanding principal balance by $1,000 and reduced the interest rate from 6.57% to 4.5% per annum.  The refinancing did not change the maturity date which remains January 2018.

Also during 2010, the Company obtained a mortgage on a property located in Jericho, New York in the amount of $6,000, which bears interest at 5.1% per annum, is payable monthly based on a 25-year amortization, and matures in January 2016.

In connection with the purchase of a commercial property during 2009 (see Note 3), the Company assumed a mortgage in the amount of $3,881 which bears interest at 5.7% per annum, is payable monthly based on a 30-year amortization and matures in November 2016.
 
 
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The approximate aggregate maturities of the Company’s mortgage obligations at December 31, 2010 are as follows:

Years ending December 31,
 
2011
   
2012
   
2013
   
2014
   
2015
   
There-
After
   
Total
 
Aggregate maturities
  $ 1,226     $ 1,321     $ 1,851     $ 1,482     $ 7,695     $ 24,311     $ 37,886  

9.Fair Value Measurements

The authoritative guidance 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 at the measurement date.  The guidance also establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value.  The guidance requires that assets and liabilities carried at fair value be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

Level 1:  Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2:  Observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.
Level 3:  Unobservable inputs reflecting the reporting entity’s own assumptions.

The guidance establishes a hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of quoted market prices and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.  An asset or liability’s classification is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The following table sets forth the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis, by classification within the fair value hierarchy:

   
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
 
   
Total
Fair Value
   
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
   
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
   
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
 
December 31, 2010:
                       
Equity Securities
  $ 28,984     $ 27,056     $ 1,928     $  
Bonds
    198       98       100        
    $ 29,182     $ 27,154     $ 2,028     $  
                                 
December 31, 2009:
                               
Equity securities
  $ 24,971     $ 22,782     $ 2,189     $  
Bonds
    256       251       5        
    $ 25,227     $ 23,033     $ 2,194     $  

The carrying amounts of financial instruments such as cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities approximate their fair value due to the short maturity of such items. The estimated fair values of our other financial assets and liabilities not measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:

   
2010
   
2009
 
   
Carrying
   
Fair
   
Carrying
   
Fair
 
December 31,
 
Amount
   
Value
   
Amount
   
Value
 
Notes receivable
  $ 4,909     $ 5,578     $ 5,057     $ 6,024  
Long-term debt, including current portion
  $ 37,886     $ 33,574     $ 33,995     $ 30,847  

The fair value of notes receivable is estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, with interest rates comparable to loans with similar terms and borrowers of similar credit quality.  The fair value of long-term debt is estimated based on interest rates available for debt with terms and due dates similar to the Company’s existing debt arrangements.
 
 
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10.Stockholders’ Equity

Previous purchases of the Company’s common stock have reduced the Company’s additional paid-in capital to zero and have also reduced retained earnings by amounts in excess of par value.  Any future purchases in excess of par value will also reduce retained earnings.

Repurchases of the Company’s common stock may be made from time to time in the open market at prevailing market prices and may be made in privately negotiated transactions, subject to available resources.  Future proceeds from the issuance of common stock in excess of par value will be credited to retained earnings until such time that previously recorded reductions have been recovered.  During the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company purchased and retired 1,051 and 162 shares of common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $25,564 and $3,095, respectively.

Stock Options

The Company had two stock option plans, the Incentive and Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (the “Incentive Plan”) and the 1988 Joint Incentive and Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (the “Joint Plan”), under which qualified and nonqualified options could be granted to key employees to purchase the Company’s common stock at the fair market value on the date of grant.  Under both plans, the options typically became exercisable in three equal installments, beginning one year from the date of grant.  Stock options generally expire ten years from the date of grant.  Each plan has expired and accordingly, there are no options available for grant under these plans.  The number of authorized shares reserved for issuance is 2,226 under the Incentive Plan and 34 under the Joint Plan.

At December 31, 2010, there were options to purchase 2,226 and 34 shares outstanding under the Incentive Plan and Joint Plan, respectively.  At December 31, 2009, there were options to purchase 2,807 and 378 shares outstanding under the Incentive Plan and Joint Plan, respectively.

Outstanding stock options as of December 31, 2010, and changes during the year then ended, are summarized below:

   
Shares
   
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
 
Weighted-Average
Remaining Contractual Life
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
 
Outstanding at January 1, 2010
    3,185     $ 13.18          
Exercised
    (925 )   $ 8.10          
Outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2010
    2,260     $ 15.26  
1.5 years
  $ 38,971  

The aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2010 represents the difference between the Company’s closing stock price at the end of the year ($32.50) and the exercise price of each option, multiplied by the number of “in-the-money” options.  This amount changes based upon the fair market value of the Company’s common stock.  The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 was $15,115 and $6,170, respectively, based on the market price on the date of exercise.
 
 
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11.Earnings Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations:

For the years ended December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
Numerator:
           
Income from continuing operations
  $ 12,109     $ 6,057  
Denominator:
               
Basic - weighted-average shares outstanding
    9,018       8,990  
Dilutive effect of employee stock options
    691       801  
Diluted - weighted-average shares outstanding
    9,709       9,791  
Basic earnings per share - continuing operations
  $ 1.34     $ .67  
Diluted earnings per share - continuing operations
  $ 1.25     $ .62  

Potentially dilutive securities, related to outstanding options to purchase 740 shares of the Company’s common stock for the year-ended December 31, 2009, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

12.Transactions with Related Parties

The Company has a 50% interest in an unconsolidated limited liability corporation, whose principal assets are two distribution centers leased to Kmart.  Also participating in this transaction were Mrs. Petrocelli (the wife of Mr. Petrocelli, the Company’s Board Chairman), Mr. Lorber and Mr. Penner, Directors of the Company, as well as Ms. Madaleine Berley (the wife of Mr. Penner), who together have approximately an 8% interest in this transaction (see Note 6).  Cash distributions from this investment to each of Mrs. Petrocelli, Mr. Penner, Ms. Berley, and Mr. Lorber were approximately $36,000, $26,000, $26,000, and $26,000, respectively, in both 2010 and 2009.

During 2009, the Company purchased a $5.0 million participation in a note (the “Participation”) secured by a warehouse located in New York of which Mrs. Petrocelli holds a 20% interest.  The Participation, which matures in July 2012, bears interest at 18% per annum payable monthly.  During 2009, the participants also received a commitment fee of 1% in connection with the note.  During November 2010, the Company sold a 2.5% interest in its remaining share of the Participation to the Company’s pension plan for $100 (see Note 15).

Hallman & Lorber Associates, Inc. (“H&L”) provided pension plan services to the Company during its last fiscal year.  The amount paid by the Company to H&L in 2010 was $20.  The Company anticipates it will continue such relationship in this fiscal year.  During 2010, Mr. Lorber, a Director of the Company and Chairman of the Company’s Compensation and Stock Option and Audit Committees, became a stockholder of H&L.  Mr. Lorber is not an officer or director of H&L, nor does he have any management responsibility or involvement with H&L.  Previously Mr. Lorber was a consultant to H&L.

13.Income Taxes

In accordance with the authoritative guidance, deferred income taxes are determined on the liability method.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the tax basis of an asset or liability and its reported amount in the Consolidated Financial Statements using enacted tax rates.  Future tax benefits attributable to these differences are recognized to the extent that realization of such benefits are more likely than not.
 
 
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The components of the net deferred tax liability are as follows:

December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
Realization allowances related to accounts receivable and inventories
  $ 308     $ 304  
Net unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities
    (3,683 )     (1,065 )
Basis differences relating to real property
    (6,154 )     (6,036 )
Accrued expenses, deductible when paid
    3,832       4,095  
Deferred profit
    (332 )     (391 )
Basis differences relating to business acquisitions
    (223 )     (223 )
Leveraged lease
    (4,682 )     (5,108 )
Property, plant and equipment
    (917 )     (796 )
Pensions
    (793 )     (374 )
Stock-based compensation
    265       267  
Other, net
    (324 )     (344 )
Net deferred tax liability
    (12,703 )     (9,671 )
Less:  Current portion
    (2,848 )     (96 )
Noncurrent portion
  $ (9,855 )   $ (9,575 )

The income tax provision (benefit) from continuing operations reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Income is as follows:

For the years ended December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
Current:
           
Federal
  $ 67     $ 1,561  
State
    (1,487 )     413  
Deferred
    6,019       2,160  
    $ 4,599     $ 4,134  

A reconciliation of the tax provision (benefit) from continuing operations computed at statutory rates to the amounts shown in the Consolidated Statements of Income is as follows:

For the years ended December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
Computed federal income tax provision at statutory rates
  $ 5,681     $ 3,465  
State tax, net of federal tax effect
    (761 )     326  
Other, net
    (321 )     343  
    $ 4,599     $ 4,134  

As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company had a total of $3,386 and $4,692 of gross unrecognized tax benefits, respectively.  A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

   
2010
   
2009
 
Balance, beginning of year
  $ 4,692     $ 4,685  
Additions based on tax positions related to prior years
          312  
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year
    619       540  
Lapse of statute of limitations
    (1,925 )     (845 )
Balance, end of year
  $ 3,386     $ 4,692  

Substantially the entire amount, if recognized, would favorably effect the Company’s effective tax rate in future periods.  As of December 31, 2010, the Company does not anticipate that total unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change during the next twelve months.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax positions as a component of income tax expense.  As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company had approximately $1,581 and $2,519 of accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions, respectively.  During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company reversed $938 of interest and penalties previously accrued, while during the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company recognized $48 of interest and penalties within income tax expense.
 
 
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The Company is subject to U.S. federal income tax, as well as income tax in multiple states.  The Company was under audit by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service for the year ended December 31, 2008.  Such review was successfully completed during the first quarter of 2011.  For all major taxing jurisdictions, the tax years 2007 through 2009 remain open to examination.

14.       Other Income and Expense, Net

The components of other income and expense, net in the Consolidated Statements of Income are as follows:

For the years ended December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
Net gain (loss) on the sale of available-for-sale securities
  $ 1,391     $ (104 )
Realized gains on derivative instruments
          139  
Other, net
    (111 )     (83 )
    $ 1,280     $ (48 )

15.       Pension Plan

The Company has a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan that covers substantially all full-time employees of the engineered products and real estate investment and management segments.  The plan, which provides defined benefits based on years of service and compensation level, was frozen in 2009 ceasing the accrual of further benefits.

Changes in benefit obligation, plan assets and funded status of the plan are as follows:

For the years ended December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
Change in benefit obligation:
           
Benefit obligation, beginning of year
  $ 8,951     $ 9,833  
Service cost
    64       228  
Interest cost
    689       758  
Actuarial loss (gain)
    253       (99 )
Curtailment gain
          (1,062 )
Benefits paid
    (693 )     (707 )
Benefit obligation, end of year
    9,264       8,951  
Change in plan assets:
               
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year
    10,019       6,985  
Actual return on plan assets
    1,554       3,591  
Contributions
    650       150  
Benefits paid
    (693 )     (707 )
Fair value of plan assets, end of year
    11,530       10,019  
Funded status
  $ 2,266     $ 1,068  

The funded status at December 31, 2010 and 2009 is included in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  At December 31, 2010 and 2009, the accumulated benefit obligation was $9,264 and $8,951, respectively.

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income, before income taxes, consist of the following:

December 31,
 
2010
 
Unrecognized net actuarial loss
  $ (252 )
Unrecognized net gain
    780  
    $ 528  
 
 
44

 
 
Net periodic pension income (expense) consists of the following:

For the years ended December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
Service cost
  $ (64 )   $ (228 )
Interest cost
    (689 )     (758 )
Expected return on plan assets
    774       531  
Plan curtailment
          549  
Amortization of net loss
          (245 )
Net periodic pension income (expense)
  $ 21     $ (151 )

In determining the projected benefit obligation and net periodic pension income (expense), the weighted-average assumed discount rate and expected long-term rate of return on plan assets was 8% in all periods presented.  As the plan was frozen in 2009, the rate of expected increases in the future compensation, which was 3.5% for 2009, is no longer applicable.  A 100 basis point change in the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets would have changed fiscal 2010 pension income by $97.

The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is determined by considering historical rates of return, the current return trends, the mix of investments that comprise plan assets and forecasts of future long-term investment returns.

The allocations of plan assets by category are as follows:

December 31,
 
2010
 
2009
Equity securities
    55.1 %     49.1 %
Debt securities
    41.6       48.7  
Notes receivable
    0.9        
Cash and other investments
    2.4       2.2  
      100.0 %     100.0 %

The Company’s pension plan assets are managed by the plan’s trustees.  The Company’s investment strategy with respect to pension assets is to maximize return while protecting principal.  The plan’s trustees have the flexibility to adjust the asset allocations and move funds to the asset class that offers the most opportunity for investment returns.  The following table presents the fair value of plan assets by classification within the fair value hierarchy (as defined in Note 9) as of December 31, 2010 and 2009:

   
Fair Value Measurements
 
   
Total
Fair Value
   
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
   
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
   
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
 
December 31,2010:
                       
Equity securities
  $ 6,351     $ 6,350     $ 1     $  
Debt securities
    4,795       4,795              
Notes receivable
    100                   100  
Cash and other investments
    284       284              
    $ 11,530     $ 11,429     $ 1     $ 100  
December 31,2009:
                               
Equity securities
  $ 4,924     $ 4,917       7     $  
Debt securities
    4,877       4,877              
Cash and other investments
    218       218              
    $ 10,019     $ 10,012     $ 7     $  

During November 2010, the Company sold a 2.5% interest in its remaining share of the Participation to the Company’s pension plan for $100 which is accounted for under the cost method of accounting which approximates fair market value and is classified as a Level 3 investment (see Note 12).
 
 
45

 

During 2010, the Company contributed $650 to the pension plan and made an additional contribution of approximately $550 during the first quarter of 2011.

Benefit payments are expected to be paid from the plan for the periods indicated as follows:

Years ending December 31,
 
2011
   
2012
   
2013
   
2014
   
2015
      2016-2020  
Expected benefit payments
  $ 1,002     $ 979     $ 948     $ 945     $ 904     $ 4,133  

16.Business Segments

The Company operates through three business segments:  real estate investment and management, hotel operations and engineered products.  The real estate investment and management segment is engaged in the business of investing in and managing real estate properties which are located throughout the United States.  The hotel operations segment currently owns and operates four hotels located in the United States.  Engineered products are manufactured through wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company and primarily consist of knitted wire products and components and transformer products sold worldwide.

Operating results of the Company’s business segments are as follows:

For the years ended December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
Net revenues and sales:
           
Real estate investment and management
  $ 20,914     $ 19,491  
Hotel operations
    27,839       17,253  
Engineered products
    31,931       23,031  
    $ 80,684     $ 59,775  
                 
Operating income (loss):
               
Real estate investment and management
  $ 12,227     $ 11,812  
Hotel operations
    2,066       (677 )
Engineered products
    1,796       (653 )
General corporate expenses
    (4,113 )     (3,863 )
      11,976       6,619  
Other income, net
    4,732       3,572  
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
  $ 16,708     $ 10,191  
                 
Depreciation and amortization expense:
               
Real estate investment and management
  $ 2,481     $ 2,287  
Hotel operations
    2,793       1,893  
Engineered products
    238       240  
General corporate expenses
    287       190  
    $ 5,799     $ 4,610  
                 
Mortgage interest expense:
               
Real estate investment and management
  $ 357     $ 195  
Hotel operations
    1,690       1,922  
    $ 2,047     $ 2,117  

Sales by the Company’s engineered products segment to automobile original equipment manufacturers and their first tier suppliers accounted for approximately 18.1% and 16.7% of 2010 and 2009 consolidated revenues, respectively.  For the year ended December 31, 2010, sales by the engineered products segment to Autoliv and General Motors, its largest customers, accounted for 13.9% and 10.4% of the segment’s sales, respectively.  For the year ended December 31, 2009, sales by the engineered products segment to General Motors accounted for 10.8% of the segment’s sales.  No other customers exceeded 10% of the segment’s sales during the last two years.
 
 
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Approximately 16.6% and 17.8%, respectively, of 2010 and 2009 total sales generated from the engineered products segment were to foreign customers.  Substantially all assets held by the Company’s engineered products segment are located within the United States or its leased warehouse in Tijuana, Mexico.

Selected information on the Company’s business segments is as follows:

December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
Identifiable assets:
           
Real estate investment and management and corporate assets
  $ 227,031     $ 223,308  
Hotel operations
    55,767       49,558  
Engineered products
    13,330       10,392  
    $ 296,128     $ 283,258  
Additions to long-lived assets:
               
Real estate investment and management and corporate assets
  $ 2,040     $ 2,848  
Hotel operations
    7,588       20,258  
Engineered products
    614       69  
    $ 10,242     $ 23,175  

Long-lived asset additions of the real estate investment and management segment in 2010 are net of a reclassification adjustment of $5,428 which represents the carrying value of a non-performing mortgage note purchased by the company in 2009.  The Company received title to the underlying property in the current year.  In addition, the 2009 additions are net of a $3,881 mortgage assumed in connection with the acquisition of a commercial property in that year (see Note 3).

17. Lease Obligations

At December 31, 2010, the Company had obligations under various noncancelable operating leases which expire on various dates through 2040.  These leases include certain facilities and equipment of the engineered products segment, as well as land leases of the real estate investment and management segment.  Certain leases contain renewal options and/or increased rental amounts.  The future minimum rental commitments under operating leases are as follows:

Years ending December 31,
 
2011
   
2012
   
2013
   
2014
   
2015
   
There-
after
   
Total
 
Minimum rental commitments
  $ 570     $ 451     $ 421     $ 389     $ 241     $ 2,486     $ 4,558  

Rental expense under operating leases was $597 and $620 for 2010 and 2009, respectively.

18.Commitments and Contingencies

The Company has undertaken the completion of environmental studies and/or remedial action at its two New Jersey facilities and has recorded a liability for the estimated investigation, remediation and administrative costs associated therewith.

The process of remediation has begun at one facility pursuant to a plan filed with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (“NJDEP”).  Management’s assessment, based on estimates from environmental contractors, is that under the most probable scenario, the remediation of this site is anticipated to require initial expenditures of $860, including the cost of capital equipment, and $86 in annual operating and maintenance costs over a 15 year period.

Environmental studies at the second facility indicate that remediation may be necessary.  Based upon the facts presently available, management’s assessment, based on estimates from environmental contractors, is that under the most probable remediation scenario, the estimated cost to remediate this site is anticipated to require $2,300 in initial costs, including capital equipment expenditures, and $258 in annual operating and maintenance costs over a 10 year period.  These estimated costs of future expenses for environmental remediation obligations are not discounted to their present value.  The Company may revise such estimates in the future due to the uncertainty regarding the nature, timing, and extent of any remediation efforts that may be required at this site, should an appropriate regulatory agency deem such efforts to be necessary.
 
 
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The foregoing estimates may also be revised by the Company as new or additional information in these matters becomes available or should the NJDEP or other regulatory agencies require additional or alternative remediation efforts in the future.  Although such events are not expected to change these estimates, adverse decisions or events, particularly as to the merits of the Company’s factual and legal basis, could cause the Company to change its estimate of liability with respect to such matters in the future.  The Company has approximately $8,500 and $8,800 recorded in accounts payable and accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, to cover such matters.

The Company has an employment agreement with its Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (the “Officer”) which provides for a base salary of $800 per annum plus a discretionary bonus as determined by the Compensation and Stock Option Committee of the Board of Directors.  In the event of termination or a change in control, as defined in the employment agreement, the Company is required to pay the Officer a lump sum severance payment equal to three years salary and purchase outstanding options.  The employment agreement contains non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality provisions which apply for one-year after cessation of employment and also provides for successive one-year terms unless either the Company or the Officer gives the other written notice that the employment agreement is terminated and also provides a death benefit which the Company secures through an insurance policy.

The Company is subject to various other litigation, legal, regulatory, and tax matters that arise in the ordinary course of business activities.  When management believes it is probable that liabilities have been incurred and such amounts are reasonably estimable, the Company provides for amounts that include judgments and penalties that may be assessed.  These liabilities are usually included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities or other long-term liabilities in the Consolidated Financial Statements, depending on the anticipated payment date.  Based on the facts presently available, the Company does not believe that the disposition of matters that are pending or asserted will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.  However, new or additional facts or an adverse judgment by a court, arbitrator or a settlement could adversely impact the Company’s results of operations or financial position in any given period.
 
 
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