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8-K - THIRD QUARTER EARNINGS 8K 2015 - URSTADT BIDDLE PROPERTIES INCform8k3q2015.htm
EXHIBIT 99.1

 
For Immediate Release


Contact:                         Willing L. Biddle, CEO or
John T. Hayes, CFO
Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc.
(203) 863-8200


Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc. Reports Operating Results for the Third Quarter and First Nine Months of Fiscal 2015

Greenwich, Connecticut, September 4, 2015 -- Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc. (NYSE: UBA and UBP), a real estate investment trust, today reported its operating results for the three and nine month periods ended July 31, 2015.

Diluted Funds from Operations (FFO) for the quarter ended July 31, 2015 was $10,749,000 or $0.32 per Class A Common share and $0.28 per Common share when compared to $8,973,000 or $0.29 per Class A Common share and $0.26 per Common share in last year's third quarter.   For the first nine months of fiscal 2015, diluted FFO amounted to $28,378,000 or $0.83 per Class A Common share and $0.74 per Common share when compared to $24,982,000 or $0.81 per Class A Common share and $0.72 per Common share in the corresponding period of fiscal 2014.  The FFO amounts above include significant non-recurring items in fiscal 2015 and 2014.  In an effort to assist investors in analyzing changes to FFO, we have included a second FFO reconciliation table at the end of this report which explains the effect of these non-recurring items on the company's Diluted FFO.  After removing these non-recurring items from both the three and nine-month periods of fiscal 2015 and 2014, our adjusted Diluted FFO for the three month period ended July 31, 2015 was $10,823,000 or $0.32 per diluted Class A Common share and $0.28 per diluted Common share compared with $9,036,000 or $0.29 per diluted Class A Common share and $0.26 per diluted Common share in last year's third quarter.  Our adjusted (recurring) FFO for the nine month period ended July 31, 2015 was $30,666,000 or $0.90 per diluted Class A Common share and $0.80 per diluted Common share compared with $25,458,000 or $0.82 per diluted Class A Common share and $0.73 per diluted Common share in last year's first nine months.

Net income from continuing operations applicable to Class A Common and Common stockholders for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 was $4,870,000 or $0.14 per diluted Class A Common share and $0.13 per diluted Common share compared to $3,890,000 or $0.12 per diluted Class A Common share and $0.11 per diluted Common share in last year's third quarter.  Net income from continuing operations applicable to Class A Common and Common stockholders for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 was $10,664,000 or $0.31 per diluted Class A Common share and $0.28 per diluted Common share compared to $9,783,000 or $0.31 per diluted Class A Common share and $0.28 per diluted Common share in the first nine months of fiscal 2014.

The per share amounts for both FFO and net income for the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014 include one-time property acquisition costs of $2.0 million and $476,000, respectively.  The acquisition costs of $2.0 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2015 were incurred primarily from the company's purchase of four retail properties in New Jersey in December 2014 for $124.6 million (exclusive of the acquisition related expenses).  In addition, the per share amounts for both FFO and net income include the dilutive effect of the issuance of 3 million shares of a new Series G preferred stock and 2.875 million Class A Common shares in follow-on public offerings.  The Series G preferred stock was issued in October and early November 2014 and the Class A Common shares were issued in early November 2014.  The preferred stock offering raised $72.6 million of which $61.5 million was used to redeem the company's Series D preferred stock on November 21, 2014.  The balance of the Series G preferred stock proceeds, along with $59.8 million of proceeds raised in the Class A Common share offering, were used to fund a portion of the $124.6 million purchase price of the four New Jersey retail properties.  As a result of issuing the Series G preferred stock a month before the Series D could be redeemed, the company incurred $268,000 in preferred stock dividends that will not be recurring.

At July 31, 2015, the company's consolidated core properties were 96.3% leased (versus 94.8% at the end of fiscal 2014) and 95.3% occupied.  The above percentages exclude the company's unconsolidated joint ventures and the company's White Plains property.  In November, 2014, the company obtained a zoning change from the City of White Plains to convert this property to a higher and better use and the company is in contract to sell the property.  The company is maintaining vacancies to conform to certain closing conditions of the sale.  At July 31, 2015, the company had equity interests in seven unconsolidated joint ventures (745,000 square feet), which were approximately 98.3% leased (97.7% at October 31, 2014).

Commenting on the quarter's operating results, Willing L. Biddle, President and CEO of UBP, said "We are pleased with the company's results this quarter.  On the leasing front, the percentage of our core and joint venture portfolio that is leased continued to strengthen to 96.6% and we have a strong pipeline of deals in process on a good portion of our remaining vacancies.  Our improving leasing results continue to have a direct positive effect on our earnings and FFO.  On the acquisitions front, our team was able to acquire two grocery anchored properties in our target market this quarter.  The first property, a 7,000 square foot single tenant grocery store located in Fort Lee, NJ, was acquired for $4 million and is leased to the Korean supermarket chain HMART.  The second property, a 26,000 square foot shopping center located in Harrison, New York, was acquired for $10 million and is anchored by an A&P grocery store - one of nine A&P leases in the company's portfolio.  While A&P filed for bankruptcy protection this quarter, five of its leases with the company, including the Harrison location, are among a large number of leases included in a stalking horse bid to acquire certain leases from A&P made by the established supermarket chains Albertsons, Stop & Shop and Key Foods.  We believe that the remaining four A&P leases, which are not included in the stalking horse bid, present an opportunity as their current rents are at or below market.  Should these leases not be assumed and assigned in the bankruptcy proceedings, the company is confident that those locations will be readily leasable to other supermarkets or alternative users.  On the dispositions front, we completed the sale of our Townline Square shopping center in Meriden, CT shortly after quarter end.  The sale of Townline Square achieves the objective we set approximately two years ago to divest the company of certain properties that were located outside of the New York Metro area.  Over the past two years, we have sold our warehouse properties in Dallas and St. Louis, our shopping center in Springfield, MA and now our shopping center in Meriden CT.  The proceeds have been used to buy shopping centers in Pompton Lakes, Wykoff, Kinnelon, Midland Park, and Ft. Lee, NJ, Greenwich, CT, Harrison, NY and to reduce debt.  We now have a portfolio almost exclusively located in the suburbs around New York City with an occupancy rate of almost 97% and a leverage level that continues to be among the lowest in the REIT industry.  The reallocation of assets in our portfolio has caused the weighted average household income within a three mile ring of our core and joint venture retail properties to improve from approximately $112,000 to its current position of $117,000, which is among the highest of all retail REITs."

At their regular quarterly meeting, the Directors of Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc. declared quarterly dividends on the company's Class A Common Stock (UBA) and Common Stock (UBP).  The dividends were declared in the amount of $0.255 for each share of Class A Common Stock and $0.225 for each share of Common Stock.  The dividends were declared at the same rate as the previous quarter and are the 183rd consecutive quarterly dividends declared since the company began operating in 1969.
Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc. is a self-administered equity real estate investment trust which owns or has equity interests in 74 properties containing approximately 4.9 million square feet of space.  Listed on the New York Stock Exchange since 1970, it provides investors with a means of participating in ownership of income-producing properties. It has paid 182 consecutive quarters of uninterrupted dividends to its shareholders since its inception and has raised total dividends to its shareholders for the last 21 consecutive years.
Certain statements contained herein may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Such factors include, among other things, risks associated with the timing of and costs associated with property improvements, financing commitments and general competitive factors.

(Table Follows)

Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc. (NYSE: UBA and UBP)
Nine Months and Three Months Ended July 31, 2015 and 2014 (Unaudited)
 (in thousands, except per share data)

   
Nine Months Ended
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
July 31,
   
July 31,
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
                 
Revenues
               
Base rents
 
$
63,228
   
$
55,708
   
$
21,042
   
$
18,714
 
Recoveries from tenants
   
22,676
     
18,778
     
7,028
     
5,645
 
Lease termination income
   
147
     
183
     
103
     
131
 
Other income
   
1,324
     
1,433
     
646
     
465
 
Total Revenues
   
87,375
     
76,102
     
28,819
     
24,955
 
                                 
Expenses
                               
Property operating
   
16,423
     
14,713
     
4,384
     
3,837
 
Property taxes
   
13,667
     
12,772
     
4,631
     
4,205
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
16,834
     
14,196
     
5,541
     
4,761
 
General and administrative
   
6,493
     
6,074
     
2,214
     
1,987
 
Provision for tenant credit losses
   
738
     
594
     
212
     
235
 
Acquisition costs
   
2,020
     
476
     
74
     
63
 
Directors' fees and expenses
   
261
     
243
     
70
     
71
 
Total Operating Expenses
   
56,436
     
49,068
     
17,126
     
15,159
 
                                 
Operating Income
   
30,939
     
27,034
     
11,693
     
9,796
 
                                 
Non-Operating Income (Expense):
                               
Interest expense
   
(10,111
)
   
(7,611
)
   
(3,417
)
   
(2,602
)
Equity in net income from unconsolidated joint ventures
   
1,414
     
1,096
     
467
     
291
 
Interest, dividends and other investment income
   
185
     
78
     
42
     
9
 
Income From Continuing Operations Before Discontinued Operations
   
22,427
     
20,597
     
8,785
     
7,494
 
Discontinued operations:
                               
Income from discontinued operations
   
-
     
141
     
-
     
-
 
Gain on sale of properties
   
-
     
12,525
     
-
     
(87
)
Income from discontinued operations
   
-
     
12,666
     
-
     
(87
)
                                 
Net Income
   
22,427
     
33,263
     
8,785
     
7,407
 
                                 
Noncontrolling interests:
                               
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
   
(728
)
   
(455
)
   
(344
)
   
(151
)
Net income attributable to Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc.
   
21,699
     
32,808
     
8,441
     
7,256
 
Preferred stock dividends
   
(11,035
)
   
(10,359
)
   
(3,571
)
   
(3,453
)
                                 
Net Income Applicable to Common and Class A Common Stockholders
 
$
10,664
   
$
22,449
   
$
4,870
   
$
3,803
 
                                 
Diluted Earnings Per Share:
                               
Per Common Share:
                               
    Income from continuing operations
 
$
0.28
   
$
0.28
   
$
0.13
   
$
0.11
 
    Income from discontinued operations
 
$
-
   
$
0.37
   
$
-
   
$
-
 
    Net Income Applicable to Common Stockholders
 
$
0.28
   
$
0.65
   
$
0.13
   
$
0.11
 
                                 
Per Class A Common Share:
                               
    Income from continuing operations
 
$
0.31
   
$
0.31
   
$
0.14
   
$
0.12
 
    Income from discontinued operations
 
$
-
   
$
0.41
   
$
-
   
$
-
 
    Net Income Applicable to Class A Common Stockholders
 
$
.031
   
$
0.72
   
$
0.14
   
$
0.12
 
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (Diluted):
                               
Common
   
8,702
     
8,497
     
8,752
     
8,606
 
Class A Common
   
26,343
     
23,412
     
26,380
     
23,452
 

Results of Operations

The following information summarizes the Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc. (the "Company's") results of operations for the nine month and three month periods ended July 31, 2015 and 2014 (amounts in thousands):



   
Nine Months Ended
         
   
July 31,
       
Change Attributable to:
 
Revenues
 
2015
   
2014
   
Increase (decrease)
   
%
Change
   
Property Acquisitions/Sales
   
Properties Held
In Both Periods (Note 1)
 
Base rents
 
$
63,228
   
$
55,708
   
$
7,520
     
13.5
%
 
$
6,995
   
$
525
 
Recoveries from tenants
   
22,676
     
18,778
     
3,898
     
20.8
%
   
2,157
     
1,741
 
Other income
   
1,324
     
1,433
     
(109
)
   
-7.6
%
   
28
     
(137
)
                                                 
Operating Expenses
                                               
Property operating expenses
   
16,423
     
14,713
     
1,710
     
11.6
%
   
1,022
     
688
 
Property taxes
   
13,667
     
12,772
     
895
     
7.0
%
   
983
     
(88
)
Depreciation and amortization
   
16,834
     
14,196
     
2,638
     
18.6
%
   
2,492
     
146
 
General and administrative expenses
   
6,493
     
6,074
     
419
     
6.9
%
   
n/
a
   
n/
a
                                                 
Other Income/Expenses
                                               
Interest expense
   
10,111
     
7,611
     
2,500
     
32.8
%
   
2,616
     
(116
)
Interest, dividends and other investment income
   
185
     
78
     
107
     
137.2
%
   
n/
a
   
n/
a

Note 1 – Properties held in both periods include only properties owned for the entire periods of 2015 and 2014.  All other properties are included in the property acquisition/sales column.  There are no properties excluded from the analysis.

   
Three Months Ended
         
   
July 31,
       
Change Attributable to:
 
Revenues
 
2015
   
2014
   
Increase (decrease)
   
%
Change
   
Property Acquisitions/Sales
   
Properties Held
In Both Periods (Note 2)
 
Base rents
 
$
21,042
   
$
18,714
   
$
2,328
     
12.4
%
 
$
2,527
   
(199
)
Recoveries from tenants
   
7,028
     
5,645
     
1,383
     
24.5
%
   
605
     
778
 
Other income
   
646
     
465
     
181
     
38.9
%
   
(14
)
   
195
 
                                                 
Operating Expenses
                                               
Property operating expenses
   
4,384
     
3,837
     
547
     
14.3
%
   
353
     
194
 
Property taxes
   
4,631
     
4,205
     
426
     
10.1
%
   
340
     
86
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
5,541
     
4,761
     
780
     
16.4
%
   
981
     
(201
)
General and administrative expenses
   
2,214
     
1,987
     
227
     
11.4
%
   
n/
a
   
n/
a
                                                 
Other Income/Expenses
                                               
Interest expense
   
3,417
     
2,602
     
815
     
31.3
%
   
901
     
(86
)
Interest, dividends and other investment income
   
42
     
9
     
33
     
367
%
   
n/
a
   
n/
a

Note 2 – Properties held in both periods include only properties owned for the three month periods of 2014 and 2015.  All other properties are included in the property acquisition/sales column.  There are no properties excluded from the analysis.

Revenues:
Base rents increased by 13.5% to $63.2 million for the nine month period ended July 31, 2015 as compared with $55.7 million in the comparable period of 2014.  Base rents increased by 12.4% to $21.0 million for the three month period ended July 31, 2015 as compared with $18.7 million in the comparable period of 2014. The change in base rentals and the changes in other income statement line items were attributable to:

Property Acquisitions/Sales:

In fiscal 2014 and the first nine months of fiscal 2015, the Company purchased equity interests in twelve properties totaling approximately 706,000 square feet of GLA and sold two properties totaling 280,000 square feet of GLA, whose operating results are included in continuing operations.   These properties accounted for all of the revenue and expense changes attributable to property acquisitions and sales during the three and nine month periods ended July 31, 2015.  The Company also sold two properties in fiscal 2014 that are included in discontinued operations.  The revenue and expense changes for these two properties are not included in the above variance analysis.

Properties Held in Both Periods:

Revenues
Base rents increased during the nine month period ended July 31, 2015 by $525,000 when compared with the corresponding prior period primarily as the result of an increase in base rents billed at two properties for which the Company completed re-development and re-tenanting after the first nine months of fiscal 2014.  This increase was offset by the loss of rent caused by the departure of two large tenants in the Company's Westchester Pavilion property after January 31, 2015.  The Company is in the process of re-developing, or potentially selling this property and is allowing the property to become vacant in order to accomplish either of these scenarios.  Base rents decreased during the three month period ended July 31, 2015 by $199,000 when compared with the corresponding prior period primarily as the result of two leases expiring at the Company's Westchester Pavilion property as discussed above.

In the first nine months of fiscal 2015, the Company leased or renewed 379,000 square feet (or approximately 8.95% of total consolidated core property leasable area).  At July 31, 2015, the Company's consolidated core properties were approximately 96.3% leased (excluding the Westchester Pavilion), an increase of 1.45% from the end of fiscal 2014. Overall core property occupancy increased to 95.3% at July 31, 2015, up from 94.15% at the end of fiscal 2014.

In the nine month and three month periods ended July 31, 2015, recoveries from tenants for properties owned in both periods (which represents reimbursements from tenants for operating expenses and property taxes) increased by a net $1.7 million and $778,000, respectively. This increase was a result of an increase in the percentage of the portfolio that is leased, which allows the Company to bill and collect a higher percentage of operating costs from its tenants.  This net increase was offset slightly by an increase in operating expenses at our properties held in the nine month and three month periods ended July 31, 2015.  This operating expense increase was predominantly the result of an increase in snow removal costs and parking lot repairs.

Expenses
Property operating expenses for properties held in both periods increased in the nine month and three month periods ended July 31, 2015 when compared with the corresponding prior periods by $688,000 and $194,000, respectively, as a result of an increase in expenses relating to snow removal costs and parking lot repairs.

Real estate taxes for properties held in both periods were relatively unchanged in the nine month and three month periods ended July 31, 2015 when compared with the corresponding prior periods as a result of normal property tax assessment increases at a majority of the properties held in both periods offset by a reduction in tax expense at the Company's Westchester Pavilion property caused by a property tax assessment reduction.

Depreciation and amortization for properties held in both the nine month and three month periods ended July 31, 2015 were relatively unchanged when compared with the corresponding prior periods.

General and administrative expense increased in the nine month and three month periods ended July 31, 2015 when compared with the corresponding prior periods by $419,000 and $227,000, respectively, as a result of increased compensation expense for additional staffing at the Company over the last quarter of fiscal 2014 and the first three quarters of fiscal 2015.

Interest expense for properties owned in the nine month and three month periods ended July 31, 2015 were relatively unchanged when compared with the corresponding prior periods.


Non-GAAP Financial Measure
Funds from Operations ("FFO")

The Company considers FFO to be a meaningful additional measure of operating performance primarily because it excludes the assumption that the value of its real estate assets diminishes predictably over time and industry analysts have accepted it as a performance measure.  FFO is presented to assist investors in analyzing the performance of the Company.  The Company reports FFO in addition to net income applicable to common shareholders and net cash provided by operating activities.  FFO is helpful as it excludes various items included in net income that are not indicative of the Company's operating performance, such as gains (or losses) from sales of property and depreciation and amortization.  The Company has adopted the definition suggested by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ("NAREIT").  The Company defines FFO as net income computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), excluding gains (or losses) from sales of property plus real estate related depreciation and amortization, and after adjustments for unconsolidated joint ventures.  FFO does not represent cash flows from operating activities in accordance with GAAP and is not indicative of cash available to fund cash needs.  FFO should not be considered as an alternative to net income as an indicator of the Company's operating performance or as an alternative to cash flow as a measure of liquidity.  Since all companies do not calculate FFO in a similar fashion, the Company's calculation of FFO presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures as reported by other companies.

(Table Follows)


Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc. (NYSE: UBA and UBP)
Funds from Operations
Nine Months and Three Months Ended July 31, 2015 and 2014
 (in thousands, except per share data)



   
Nine Months Ended
July31,
   
Three Months Ended
July 31,
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
Net Income Applicable to Common and Class A Common Stockholders
 
$
10,664
   
$
22,449
   
$
4,870
   
$
3,803
 
                                 
Real property depreciation
   
14,097
     
11,411
     
4,730
     
3,714
 
Amortization of tenant improvements and allowances
   
2,350
     
2,330
     
680
     
880
 
Amortization of deferred leasing costs
   
332
     
402
     
111
     
150
 
Depreciation and amortization on unconsolidated joint ventures
   
1,058
     
915
     
356
     
339
 
(Gain)/loss on sale of property
   
(123
)
   
(12,525
)
   
2
     
87
 
Funds from Operations Applicable to Common and Class A Common Stockholders
 
$
28,378
   
$
24,982
   
$
10,749
   
$
8,973
 
                                 
Funds from Operations (Diluted) Per Share:
                               
Common
 
$
.74
   
$
.72
   
$
.28
   
$
.26
 
Class A Common
 
$
.83
   
$
.81
   
$
.32
   
$
.29
 


The following table reconciles the company's net income available to Common and Class A Common Stockholders to Funds From Operations after removing excess preferred stock dividends and acquisition costs for the nine months and three months ended July 31, 2015.

Reconciliation of Net Income Available to Common and Class A Common Stockholders To Recurring Funds From Operations:
 
Nine Months Ended
July 31,
   
Three Months Ended
July 31,
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
Net Income Applicable to Common and Class A Common Stockholders
 
$
10,664
   
$
22,449
   
$
4,870
   
$
3,803
 
Add: Acquisition costs
   
2,020
     
476
     
74
     
63
 
Add: Excess preferred stock dividends (Note 1)
   
268
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Net Income Applicable to Common and Class A Common Stockholders
   
12,952
     
22,925
     
4,944
     
3,866
 
                                 
Real property depreciation
   
14,097
     
11,411
     
4,730
     
3,714
 
Amortization of tenant improvements and allowances
   
2,350
     
2,330
     
680
     
880
 
Amortization of deferred leasing costs
   
332
     
402
     
111
     
150
 
Depreciation and amortization on unconsolidated joint ventures
   
1,058
     
915
     
356
     
339
 
(Gain)/loss on sale of asset
   
(123
)
   
(12,525
)
   
2
     
87
 
Funds from Operations Applicable to Common and Class A Common Stockholders
 
$
30,666
   
$
25,458
   
$
10,823
   
$
9,036
 
                                 
Funds from Operations (Diluted) Per Share:
                               
Common
 
$
.80
   
$
.73
   
$
.28
   
$
.26
 
Class A Common
 
$
.90
   
$
.82
   
$
.32
   
$
.29
 

Note 1 – The Company sold preferred stock in October and November of 2014 for the principal purpose of redeeming its Series D preferred stock.  The Company redeemed the Series D on November 21, 2014.  The Company incurred excess preferred stock dividends of $268,000 in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 as a result of having the new series of preferred stock outstanding prior to being able to redeem the series D preferred stock.


Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc. (NYSE: UBA and UBP)
Third Quarter July 31, 2015
 (in thousands)


Balance Sheet Highlights
       
(in thousands)
       
   
July 31,
   
October 31,
 
   
2015
   
2014
 
   
(Unaudited)
     
Assets
       
  Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
$
6,576
   
$
73,029
 
                 
  Real Estate investments before accumulated depreciation
 
$
979,003
   
$
830,304
 
                 
  Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures
 
$
39,241
   
$
39,213
 
                 
  Total Assets
 
$
892,628
   
$
819,005
 
                 
Liabilities
               
  Revolving credit lines
 
$
37,250
   
$
15,550
 
                 
  Unsecured term loan
 
$
25,000
   
$
25,000
 
                 
  Mortgage notes payable and other loans
 
$
261,986
   
$
205,147
 
                 
  Total Liabilities
 
$
348,493
   
$
325,098
 
                 
  Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
 
$
15,602
   
$
18,864
 
                 
Total Stockholders' Equity
 
$
528,533
   
$
475,043