EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 36840
Filing Year: 2021
Filename: 36840_10-K_2021_0001174947-21-000060.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A RISK FACTORS
Almost all of FREIT’s income and cash flow are derived from the net rental income (revenues after expenses) from our properties. FREIT’s business and financial results are affected by the following fundamental factors:
•
public health crises, epidemics and pandemics;
•
the national and regional economic climate;
•
occupancy rates at the properties;
•
tenant turnover rates;
•
rental rates;
•
operating expenses;
•
tenant improvement and leasing costs;
•
cost of and availability of capital;
•
failure of banking institutions;
•
failure of insurance carriers;
•
new acquisitions and development projects; and
•
changes in governmental regulations, real estate tax rates and similar matters.
A negative or adverse quality change in the above factors could potentially cause a detrimental effect on FREIT’s revenue, earnings and cash flow. If rental revenues decline, we would expect to have less cash available to pay our indebtedness and distribute to our shareholders.
Adverse impact resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic: FREIT is subject to risks related to the effects of public health crises, epidemics and pandemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Such events could inhibit global, national and local economic activity; constrain our access to capital and other sources of funding, which could adversely affect the availability and terms of future borrowings or refinancings; adversely affect our residential tenants’ financial condition due to a sustained loss of income, which could affect their ability to pay rent; adversely affect our commercial tenants’ financial condition by limiting foot traffic and staffing at their businesses, which could affect their ability to pay rent and willingness to make new leasing commitments; reduce our cash flow, which could impact our ability to pay dividends or to service our debt; temporarily or permanently reduce the demand for retail or office space; reduce the value of our real estate assets, which may result in material non-cash impairment charges in future periods; and have other direct and indirect effects that are difficult to predict. Such risks depend upon the nature and severity of the public health concern, as well as the extent and duration of government-mandated orders and personal decisions to limit travel, economic activity and personal interaction, none of which can be predicted with confidence. In particular, we cannot predict the duration of stay-at-home and other government orders instituted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which vary by jurisdiction, or the short and long term economic effects caused by the pandemic, each of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Adverse Changes in General Economic Climate: FREIT derives the majority of its revenues from renting apartments to individuals or families, and from retailers renting space at its shopping centers. Over the past several years, there have been many factors aiding in economic growth in the United States such as: (a) improvement in the housing market; (b) falling energy prices helping keep inflation low; (c) increased consumer confidence to push spending modestly higher; (d) improvements in private sector employment; and (e) improved credit availability. However, there have been many factors impacting long-term economic growth, including, without limitation: (i) continued political gridlock in the federal government; (ii) regulatory uncertainties; (iii) continued infrastructure deterioration; (iv) increasing concerns regarding terrorism; (v) rising healthcare costs; (vi) the impact of trade policies; and (vii) increasing jobless claims as evidence of weakness in the economy.
FREIT receives a substantial portion of its operating income as rent under long-term leases with commercial tenants. At any time, any of our commercial tenants could experience a downturn in its business that might weaken its financial condition. These tenants might defer or fail to make rental payments when due, delay lease commencement, voluntarily vacate the premises or declare bankruptcy, which could result in the termination of the tenant’s lease, and could result in material losses to us and harm to our results of operations. Also, it might take time to terminate leases of underperforming or nonperforming tenants and FREIT might incur costs to remove such tenants. Also, if tenants are unable to comply with the terms of their leases, FREIT might modify lease terms in ways that are less favorable to FREIT.
Tenants unable to pay rent: Financially distressed tenants may be unable to pay rents and expense recovery charges, where applicable, and may default on their leases. Enforcing FREIT’s rights as landlord could result in substantial costs and may not result in a full recovery of unpaid rent. If a tenant files for bankruptcy, the tenant’s lease may be terminated. In each such instance FREIT’s income and cash flow would be negatively impacted. The Company is closely monitoring changes in the collectability assessment of its tenant receivables as a result of certain tenants suffering adverse financial consequences related to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, rental revenue deemed uncollectible of approximately $1.4 million (with a consolidated impact to FREIT of approximately $0.9 million) was classified as a reduction
in rental revenue based on our assessment of the probability of collecting substantially all of the remaining rents for certain tenants.
On April 26, 2020, CB Theatre Experience, LLC filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code as disclosed in its bankruptcy filings. The theatre operated by CB Theatre Experience, LLC (known as “Cobb Theatre”) at the Rotunda retail property in Baltimore, Maryland, under a lease with Grande Rotunda, has been closed since April 2020 due to the mandated shutdown related to the COVID-19 pandemic. On July 14, 2020, Cobb Theater rejected its lease at this property as of June 30, 2020. As a result of the rejection of this lease, uncollected rents in the amount of approximately $0.3 million and a straight-line rent receivable of approximately $0.4 million were reversed against revenue, and unamortized leasing commissions in the amount of approximately $0.2 million were written off and fully expensed in Fiscal 2020 resulting in a net impact of approximately $0.9 million (with a consolidated impact to FREIT of approximately $0.5 million) to net income for the year ended October 31, 2020. Until this space is re-leased, FREIT’s operating results will be adversely impacted from loss of base rent and additional rent of approximately $1.1 million (with a consolidated impact to FREIT of approximately $0.7 million) on an annualized basis. Additionally, there were unamortized tenant improvements related to the buildout of the movie theatre space in the amount of approximately $7.3 million (with a consolidated impact to FREIT of approximately $4.4 million) which were deemed to be impaired, written off and charged to operating expenses in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2020. The Company is currently exploring all possible options for the re-leasing of this space. See “Renewal of Leases and Reletting of Space” under Item 1 and “Results of Operations - Segment Information - Commercial Segment” under Item 7 for additional details.
Costs of re-renting space: If tenants fail to renew leases, fail to exercise renewal options, or terminate their leases early, the lost rents due to vacancy and the costs of re-renting the space could prove costly to FREIT. In addition to cleaning and renovating the vacated space, we may be required to grant concessions to a new tenant, and may incur leasing brokerage commissions. The lease terms to a new tenant may be less favorable than the prior tenant’s lease terms, and will negatively impact FREIT’s income and cash flow and adversely affect FREIT’s ability to pay mortgage debt and interest or make distributions to its shareholders.
Inflation may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations: Increased inflation could have a pronounced negative impact on FREIT’s operating and administrative expenses, as these costs may increase at a higher rate than FREIT’s rents. While increases in most operating expenses at FREIT’s commercial properties can be passed on to retail tenants, increases in expenses at its residential properties cannot be passed on to residential tenants. Unreimbursed increased operating expenses may reduce cash flow available for payment of mortgage debt and interest and for distributions to shareholders.
Development and construction risks: As part of its investment strategy, FREIT seeks to acquire property for development and construction, as well as to develop and build on land already in its portfolio. Development and construction activities are challenged with the following risks, which may adversely affect FREIT’s cash flow:
•
financing may not be available in the amounts FREIT seeks, or may not be on favorable terms;
•
long-term financing may not be available upon completion of the construction;
•
failure to complete construction on schedule or within budget may increase debt service costs and construction costs; and
•
abandoned project costs could result in an impairment loss.
Debt financing could adversely affect income and cash flow: FREIT relies on debt financing to fund its growth through acquisitions and development activities. To the extent third party debt financing is not available or not available on acceptable terms, acquisitions and development activities will be curtailed.
As of October 31, 2020, FREIT had approximately $141.9 million of non-recourse mortgage debt, including deferred interest, subject to fixed interest rates, and approximately $165.3 million of variable interest rate debt of which $118.5 million related to the outstanding loan balance on the Grande Rotunda, LLC loan with Aareal Capital. These mortgages are being repaid over periods (amortization schedules) that are longer than the terms of the mortgages. Accordingly, when the mortgages become due (at various times), significant balloon payments (the unpaid principal amounts) will be required. FREIT expects to refinance the individual mortgages with new mortgages or exercise extension options when their terms expire. To this extent, FREIT has exposure to capital availability and interest rate risk. If interest rates, at the time any individual mortgage note is due, are higher than the current fixed interest rate, higher debt service may be required and/or refinancing proceeds may be less than the amount of the mortgage debt being retired. To the extent FREIT is unable to refinance its indebtedness on acceptable terms, FREIT might need to dispose of one or more of its properties upon disadvantageous terms.
FREIT’s revolving $13 million credit line (of which $13 million was available as of October 31, 2020), and several of its loan agreements are required to meet or maintain certain financial covenants that could restrict FREIT’s acquisition activities and result in a default on these loans if FREIT fails to satisfy these covenants. (See Note 5 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements.)
Failure of banking and financing institutions: Banking and financing institutions such as insurance companies provide FREIT with credit lines and construction financing. The credit lines available to FREIT may be used for a variety of business
purposes, including general corporate purposes, acquisitions, construction, and letters of credit. Construction financing enables FREIT to develop new properties, or renovate or expand existing properties. A failure of the banking institution making credit lines available may render the line unavailable and adversely affect FREIT’s liquidity, and negatively impact FREIT’s operations in a number of ways. A failure of a financial institution unable to fund its construction financing obligations to FREIT may cause the construction to halt or be delayed. Substitute financing may be significantly more expensive, and construction delays may subject FREIT to delivery penalties.
Failure of insurance carriers: FREIT’s properties are insured against unforeseen liability claims, property damages, and other hazards. The insurance companies FREIT uses have good ratings at the time the policies are put into effect. Substantially all of FREIT’s insurance coverage is provided by one carrier. Financial failure of FREIT’s carriers may result in their inability to pay current and future claims. This inability to pay claims may have an adverse impact on FREIT’s financial condition. In addition, a failure of a FREIT insurance carrier may cause FREIT’s insurance renewal or replacement policy costs to increase.
Real estate is a competitive business: FREIT is subject to normal competition with other investors to acquire real property and to profitably manage such property. Numerous other REITs, banks, insurance companies and pension funds, as well as corporate and individual developers and owners of real estate, compete with FREIT in seeking properties for acquisition and for tenants. Many of these competitors have significantly greater financial resources than FREIT. In addition, retailers at FREIT's commercial properties face increasing competition from discount shopping centers, outlet malls, sales through catalogue offerings, discount shopping clubs, marketing and shopping through cable and computer sources, particularly over the internet, and telemarketing. In many markets, the trade areas of FREIT's commercial properties overlap with the trade areas of other shopping centers. Renovations and expansions at those competing shopping centers and malls could negatively affect FREIT's commercial properties by encouraging shoppers to make their purchases at such new, expanded or renovated shopping centers and malls. Increased competition through these various sources could adversely affect the viability of FREIT's tenants, and any new commercial real estate competition developed in the future could potentially have an adverse effect on the revenues of and earnings from FREIT's commercial properties.
FREIT also faces competition with respect to its residential properties based on a variety of factors, including perception by residential tenants of the safety, convenience and attractiveness of an apartment building or complex; the proximity and the number of competing apartment complexes; the proximity of commercial shopping centers; the availability of recreational and other amenities and the willingness and ability of the owner to provide capable management and adequate maintenance. Certain of these factors, such as the availability of amenities in the area surrounding a residential property, are not within FREIT’s control.
Illiquidity of real estate investment: Real estate investments are relatively difficult to buy and sell quickly. Accordingly, the ability of FREIT to diversify its portfolio in response to changing economic, market or other conditions is limited. Also, FREIT’s interests in its partially owned subsidiaries are subject to transfer constraints imposed under the operating agreements that govern FREIT’s investment in these partially owned subsidiaries.
Environmental problems may be costly: Both federal and state governments are concerned with the impact of real estate construction and development programs upon the environment. Environmental legislation affects the cost of selling real estate, the cost to develop real estate, and the risks associated with purchasing real estate.
Under various federal, state and local environmental laws, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations, an owner of real property may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous or toxic substances at, on, in or under such property, as well as certain other potential costs relating to hazardous or toxic substances (including government fines and penalties and damages for injuries to persons and adjacent property). Such laws often impose such liability without regard to whether the owners knew of, or were responsible for, the presence or disposal of such substances. Such liability may be imposed on the owner in connection with the activities of any operator of, or tenant at the property. The cost of any required remediation, removal, fines or personal injury or property damages and the property owner's liability for same could exceed the value of the property and/or the aggregate assets of the owner. In addition, the presence of such substances, or the failure to properly dispose of or remediate such substances, may adversely affect the owner's ability to sell or rent such property or to borrow using such property as collateral. If FREIT incurred any such liability, it could reduce FREIT's revenues and ability to make distributions to its shareholders. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019, FREIT conducted environmental audits for all of its properties. The environmental reports secured by FREIT have not revealed any environmental conditions on its properties which require any further remediation pursuant to any applicable federal or state law or regulations.
A property can also be negatively impacted by either physical contamination or by virtue of an adverse effect upon value attributable to the migration of hazardous or toxic substances, or other contaminants that have or may have emanated from other properties.
Qualification as a REIT: Since its inception in 1961, FREIT has elected to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, and will continue to operate so as to qualify as a REIT. In order to qualify as a REIT, we must satisfy a number of highly technical and complex provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Governmental legislation, new regulations, and administrative interpretations may significantly change the tax laws with respect to the requirements for qualification as a
REIT, or the federal income tax consequences of qualifying as a REIT. Although FREIT intends to continue to operate in a manner to allow it to qualify as a REIT, future economic, market, legal, tax or other considerations may cause it to revoke the REIT election or fail to qualify as a REIT. Such a revocation would subject FREIT’s income to federal income tax at regular corporate rates, and failure to qualify as a REIT would also eliminate the requirement that FREIT pay dividends to its shareholders.
Change of investment and operating policies: FREIT’s investment and operating policies, including indebtedness and dividends, are exclusively determined by the Board, and not subject to shareholder approval.
ITEM 1BUNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2PROPERTIES
Portfolio of Investments: The following tables set forth certain information relating to each of FREIT's real estate investments in addition to the specific mortgages encumbering the properties.
Residential Apartment Properties as of October 31, 2020:
Property & Location
Year Acquired
No. of Units
Average Annual Occupancy Rate for the Year Ended 10/31/20
Average Monthly Rent per Unit @ 10/31/20*
Average Monthly Rent per Unit @ 10/31/19*
Mortgage Balance ($000)
Depreciated Cost of Land, Buildings & Equipment ($000)
Berdan Court (1)
Wayne, NJ
95.7%
$1,909
$1,873
$28,815 (6)
$1,530
Regency Club
Middletown, NY
96.8%
$1,754
$1,706
$15,255
$18,260
Steuben Arms
River Edge, NJ
95.8%
$1,698
$1,629
$9,789
$706
Westwood Hills (2)
Westwood Hills, NJ
93.9%
$2,016
$1,936
$25,000 (7)
$8,537
Boulders (3)
Rockaway, NJ
94.1%
$2,157
$2,146
$15,050
$14,895
Icon (4)
Baltimore, Maryland
91.5%
$2,295
$2,145
$65,186 (8)
$84,294
Station Place (5)
Red Bank, NJ
96.7%
$2,848
$2,975
$12,181
$18,766
* Average monthly rent per unit excludes the impact of rent concessions and abatements. The average monthly rent per unit at October 31, 2019 has been adjusted for comparability purposes to conform to the presentation at October 31, 2020.
(1) Berdan Court is 100% owned by Berdan Court, LLC, which is 100% owned by FREIT.
(2) FREIT owns a 40% equity interest in Westwood Hills.
(3) Construction completed in August 2006 on land acquired in 1963 / 1964.
(4) FREIT owns a 60% equity interest in Grande Rotunda, LLC. A major redevelopment and expansion project was substantially completed in the third quarter of Fiscal 2016, in which a 379-unit residential complex was constructed upon property acquired in 2005.
(5) Station Place is 100% owned by Station Place on Monmouth, LLC, which is 100% owned by FREIT.
(6) On August 26, 2019, Berdan Court, LLC (“Berdan Court”), refinanced its $17 million loan (which matured on September 1, 2019) with the lender in the amount of $28,815,000. This loan has a term of ten years and bears a fixed interest rate equal to 3.54%. Interest-only payments are required each month for the first five years of the term and thereafter, principal payments plus accrued interest will be required each month through maturity. (See Note 5 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements.)
(7) On September 30, 2020, Westwood Hills, LLC (“Westwood Hills”), refinanced its $19.2 million loan (which would have matured on November 1, 2020) with a new loan held by ConnectOne Bank in the amount of $25,000,000, with additional funding available in the amount of $250,000 for legal fees potentially incurred by the lender related to the lis pendens on this property. (See Note 14 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for additional details in regards to the lis pendens.) This loan is interest-only based on a floating rate at 400 basis points over the one-month LIBOR rate with a floor of 4.15% and has a maturity date of October 1, 2022 with the option of Westwood Hills to extend by two (2) additional six (6)-month periods from the maturity date, subject to certain provisions of the loan agreement. (See Note 5 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements.)
(8) On February 7, 2018, Grande Rotunda, LLC ("Grande Rotunda"), refinanced its $115.3 million construction loan held by Wells Fargo with a new loan held by Aareal Capital Corporation in the amount of approximately $118.5 million with additional funding available through February 6, 2021 for retail tenant improvements and leasing costs in the amount of $3,380,000. This loan bears a floating interest rate at 285 basis points over the one-month LIBOR rate and has a maturity date of February 6, 2021 with two one-year renewal options to extend the maturity of this loan, subject to certain requirements as provided for in the loan agreement. As part of this transaction, Grande Rotunda had purchased an interest rate cap on LIBOR for the full amount that can be drawn on this loan of $121.9 million, capping the one-month LIBOR rate at 3% for the first two years of this loan which matured on March 5, 2020. On February 28, 2020, Grande Rotunda purchased an interest rate cap on LIBOR, with an effective date of March 5, 2020, for the full amount that can be drawn on this loan of $121.9 million, capping the one-month LIBOR rate at 3% for one year. On November 5, 2020, Grande Rotunda elected to exercise the first extension option on this loan to extend the initial maturity date from February 6, 2021 until February 6, 2022. In order to extend the maturity due date Grande Rotunda must satisfy the following conditions: (a) pay to lender an extension fee of 0.2% of the extended loan balance; (b) certify that node fault or events of default exist; (c) extend the interest rate cap to expire on February 6, 2022; and (d) allow lender to obtain an updated appraisal of the property. The principal balance of the amount of the loan to be extended must not exceed a loan-to-value of 62.5%. To the extent the loan-to-value exceeds the 62.5% limit, the loan must be brought into balance via a loan reduction or by other means satisfactory to the Lender. Management expects the loan to be extended, however, until such time as a definitive agreement providing for a modification and extension of the loan is entered into, there can be no assurance the loan will be modified and extended. At October 31, 2020, the total amount outstanding on this loan was approximately $118.5 million. Approximately 55% of this outstanding loan balance was allocated to the residential segment based on the appraisal. (See Note 5 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements.)
Commercial Properties as of October 31, 2020:**
Property & Location
Year Acquired
Leasable Space-Approximate Sq. Ft.
Average Annual Occupancy Rate for the Year Ended 10/31/20
Average Annualized Rent per Sq. Ft. @ 10/31/20*
Average Annualized Rent per Sq. Ft. @ 10/31/19 *
Mortgage Balance ($000)
Depreciated Cost of Land, Buildings & Equipment ($000)
Glen Rock, NJ
4,672
100.0%
$18.64
$24.30
None (1)
$64
Franklin Crossing
Franklin Lakes, NJ
1966 (2)
87,661
90.7%
$21.20
$21.87
None (1)
$6,518
Westwood Plaza
Westwood, NJ
174,275
86.3%
$11.31
$13.28
$18,695
$7,078
Westridge Square (3)
Frederick, MD
252,733
90.9%
$13.01
$13.01
$21,775 (7)
$12,528
Preakness Center (4)
Wayne, NJ
322,142
58.7%
$15.26
$18.51
$23,336
$24,076
Damascus Center (5)
Damascus, MD
143,815
89.2%
$20.61
$22.57
$18,824
$25,438
The Rotunda (6)
Baltimore, MD
294,500
80.9%
$25.36
$28.41
$53,334 (8)
$55,912
Rockaway, NJ
1964/1963
1 Acre
Land lease
100.0%
N/A
N/A
None
$114
* Average annualized rent per sq. ft. includes the impact of straight-line rent escalations and the amortization of rent concessions and abatements.
** See Note 16 to FREIT's consolidated financial statements for additional details in regards to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rents from commercial tenants.
(1) Security for draws against FREIT's Credit Line. (See Note 5 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for additional details.)
(2) The original 33,000 sq. ft. shopping center was replaced with a new 87,661 sq. ft. center that opened in October 1997.
(3) FREIT owns a 100% interest in WestFREIT Corp, that owns the center.
(4) FREIT owns a 40% equity interest in Wayne PSC, LLC, that owns the center.
(5) FREIT owns a 70% equity interest in Damascus Centre, LLC, that owns the center. A major renovation and expansion project was completed in November 2011.
(6) FREIT owns a 60% equity interest in Grande Rotunda, LLC, that owns the center. A major redevelopment and expansion project was substantially completed in the third quarter of Fiscal 2016, which included modernization of the office building containing 137,000 sq. ft. of office space and approximately 83,000 sq. ft. of retail space on the lower level of the building and an additional 75,000 square feet of new retail space.
(7) On April 3, 2019, WestFREIT, Corp. (owned 100% by FREIT) exercised its option to extend its loan held by M&T Bank, with an outstanding balance of approximately $22.5 million, for twelve months. The extension of this loan required monthly principal payments of $47,250 plus interest based on a floating interest rate equal to 240 basis points over the one-month LIBOR and had a maturity date of May 1, 2020 which was extended to November 1, 2020. This loan has been further extended with a new maturity date of January 31, 2021 under the same terms and conditions of the existing agreement while the lender is in discussions with the Company regarding a further modification and extension of this loan. (See Note 5 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements.)
(8) On February 7, 2018, Grande Rotunda, LLC (“Grande Rotunda”), refinanced its $115.3 million construction loan held by Wells Fargo with a new loan held by Aareal Capital Corporation in the amount of approximately $118.5 million with additional funding available through February 6, 2021 for retail tenant improvements and leasing costs in the amount of $3,380,000. This loan bears a floating interest rate at 285 basis points over the one-month LIBOR rate and has a maturity date of February 6, 2021 with two one-year renewal options to extend the maturity of this loan, subject to certain requirements as provided for in the loan agreement. As part of this transaction, Grande Rotunda had purchased an interest rate cap on LIBOR for the full amount that can be drawn on this loan of $121.9 million, capping the one-month LIBOR rate at 3% for the first two years of this loan which matured on March 5, 2020. On February 28, 2020, Grande Rotunda purchased an interest rate cap on LIBOR, with an effective date of March 5, 2020, for the full amount that can be drawn on this loan of $121.9 million, capping the one-month LIBOR rate at 3% for one year. On November 5, 2020, Grande Rotunda elected to exercise the first extension option on this loan to extend the initial maturity date from February 6, 2021 until February 6, 2022. In order to extend the maturity due date Grande Rotunda must satisfy the following conditions: (a) pay to lender an extension fee of 0.2% of the extended loan balance; (b) certify that no default or events of default exist; (c) extend the interest rate cap to expire on February 6, 2022; and (d) allow lender to obtain an updated appraisal of the property. The principal balance of the amount of the loan to be extended must not exceed a loan-to-value of 62.5%. To the extent the loan-to-value exceeds the 62.5% limit, the loan must be brought in to balance via a loan reduction or by other means satisfactory to the Lender. Management expects the loan to be extended, however, until such time as a definitive agreement providing for a modification and extension of the loan is entered into, there can be no assurance the loan will be modified and extended. At October 31, 2020, the total amount outstanding on this loan was approximately $118.5 million. Approximately 45% of this outstanding loan balance was allocated to the residential segment based on the appraisal. (See Note 5 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements.)
Supplemental Segment Information:
Commercial lease expirations at October 31, 2020 assuming none of the tenants exercise renewal options:
Annual Rent of Expiring Leases
Year Ending
October 31,
Number of Expiring Leases
Expiring Leases
Sq. Ft.
Percent of Commercial
Sq. Ft.
Total
Per Sq. Ft.
Month to month
15,252
1.5%
$
383,015
$
25.11
112,439
11.3%
$
2,511,308
$
22.33
249,503
25.1%
$
2,621,261
$
10.51
74,123
7.4%
$
2,214,235
$
29.87
91,065
9.1%
$
2,034,396
$
22.34
42,680
4.3%
$
1,086,415
$
25.45
92,668
9.3%
$
1,600,069
$
17.27
69,295
7.0%
$
1,581,028
$
22.82
45,301
4.6%
$
1,237,094
$
27.31
95,101
9.6%
$
1,704,325
$
17.92
59,224
5.9%
$
864,060
$
14.59
17,550
1.8%
$
403,650
$
23.00
26,846
2.7%
$
534,876
$
19.92
4,365
0.4%
$
135,315
$
31.00
Vacant Land as of October 31, 2020:
Vacant Land
Permitted Use Per
Acreage Per
Location (1)
Acquired
Current Use
Local Zoning Laws
Parcel
Franklin Lakes, NJ
None
Residential
4.27
Wayne, NJ
None
Commercial
2.1
Rockaway, NJ
None
Residential
1.0
(1)
All of the above land is unencumbered, except as noted elsewhere.
FREIT believes that it has a diversified portfolio of residential and commercial properties. FREIT does not derive 10% or greater of its revenue from any single lease agreement.
In Fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, FREIT had one (1) property that contributed over 15% of FREIT’s total consolidated revenue: within both the residential and commercial segment, the Rotunda property in Baltimore, Maryland, accounted for 31.3% for Fiscal 2020, 29.3% for Fiscal 2019 and 26.8% for Fiscal 2018 of total consolidated revenue.
Although FREIT’s general investment policy is to hold properties as long-term investments, FREIT could selectively sell certain properties if it determines that any such sale is in FREIT’s and its shareholders’ best interests. See “Business- Disposition” under Item 1 above. With respect to FREIT’s future acquisition and development activities, FREIT will evaluate various real estate opportunities, which FREIT believes would increase FREIT’s revenues and earnings, as well as complement and increase the overall value of FREIT’s existing investment portfolio.
Except for the TD Bank branch located in Rockaway, New Jersey, all of FREIT’s and its subsidiaries’ commercial properties have multiple tenants.
FREIT and its subsidiaries’ commercial properties have seventeen (17) anchor/major tenants, which account for approximately 62.9% of the space leased. The balance of the space is leased to one hundred sixty (160) satellite and office tenants. The following table lists the anchor/major tenants at each center and the number of satellite tenants:
Commercial Property
No. of
Shopping Center (SC)
Net Leasable
Additional/Satellite
Office Building (O)
Space
Anchor/Major Tenants
Tenants
Westridge Square
(SC)
252,733
Burlington Stores, Inc. (5)
Frederick, MD
H-Mart
Gold's Gym
Franklin Crossing
(SC)
87,661
Stop & Shop
Franklin, Lakes, NJ
Westwood Plaza
(SC)
174,275
Kmart Corp
Westwood, NJ
TJMaxx
Preakness Center (1)
(SC)
322,142
Stop & Shop
Wayne, NJ
CVS
Annie Sez
T-Bowl (4)
Wayne Movietown (4)
Damascus Center (2)
(SC)
143,815
Safeway Stores
Damascus, MD
The Rotunda (3)
(O)
137,307
iHeartMedia+Entertainment, Inc. (f/k/a Clear Channel Broadcasting Inc.)
Baltimore, MD
The Association of Universities For Research in Astronomy, Inc.
(SC)
157,193
Walgreen Corporation
Mom's Organic Market
Brick Bodies
Glen Rock, NJ
(SC)
4,672
-
(1) FREIT has a 40% interest in this property.
(2) FREIT has a 70% interest in this property.
(3) FREIT has a 60% interest in this property.
(4) Tenants were shutdown in Fiscal 2020 due to the COVID-19 impact and have either resumed operations at a low capacity or not yet re-opened. See Note 16 to FREIT's consolidated financial statements and “Renewal of leases and Reletting of Space” for additional details.
(5) Burlington Stores, Inc. has not exercised its option to renew its lease which is set to expire on November 30, 2021. FREIT’s operating results will be adversely impacted from loss of base rent and additional rent of approximately $1 million on an annualized basis. The Company is currently in discussions with another tenant for this space. See “Renewal of leases and Reletting of Space” for additional details.
With respect to most of FREIT’s commercial properties, lease terms range from five (5) years to twenty-five (25) years with options, which if exercised would extend the terms of such leases. The lease agreements generally provide for reimbursement of real estate taxes, maintenance, insurance and certain other operating expenses of the properties. During the last three (3) completed fiscal years, occupancy at FREIT’s commercial properties averaged 80.6%, which represents the actual “physical” occupancy rate (based upon possession and use of leased space). The lower average occupancy level is attributed to general retail struggles as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on retail business in Fiscal 2020, making it difficult to attract and retain tenants due to the financial hardship driven by the mandated shutdowns and continued restrictions imposed upon them.
Leases for FREIT’s apartment buildings and complexes are usually one to two years in duration. Even though the residential units are leased on a short-term basis, FREIT has averaged, during the last three (3) completed fiscal years, a 94.6% occupancy rate with respect to FREIT’s available apartment units, excluding occupancy at the Pierre Towers property which was converted to a TIC and deconsolidated from FREIT’s operating results as of February 28, 2020.
FREIT does not believe that any seasonal factors materially affect FREIT’s business operations and the leasing of its commercial and apartment properties.
FREIT believes that its properties are covered by adequate fire and property insurance provided by reputable companies and with commercially reasonable deductibles and limits.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
On January 14, 2020, FREIT and certain of its affiliates (collectively, the “Sellers”), entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (as subsequently amended, the “Purchase and Sale Agreement”) with Sinatra Properties LLC (the “Purchaser”), which as subsequently amended, provided for the sale by the Sellers to the Purchaser of 100% of the Sellers’ ownership interests in six real properties held by the Sellers in exchange for the purchase price described therein, subject to the terms and conditions of the Purchase and Sale Agreement. On April 30, 2020, the Sellers delivered written notice to the Purchaser of the Sellers’ termination of the Purchase and Sale Agreement in accordance with its terms due to the occurrence of a “Purchaser Default” thereunder, based on the Purchaser’s failure to perform its obligations under the Purchase and Sale Agreement and close the transactions contemplated therein.
Upon the execution of the Purchase and Sale Agreement, the Purchaser delivered into escrow a deposit in the amount of $15 million (the “Deposit”), in the form of an unconditional, irrevocable letter of credit in such amount (the “Letter of Credit”). The Purchase and Sale Agreement provides that the Sellers’ exclusive remedy, in the event of a “Purchaser Default” and the termination of the Purchase and Sale Agreement, is the forfeiture of the Deposit to the Sellers as liquidated damages. Accordingly, contemporaneously with the Sellers’ delivery of the termination notice to the Purchaser, the Sellers delivered written notice to the escrow agent requesting that the escrow agent release the Letter of Credit from escrow and deliver same to the Sellers.
On May 6, 2020, the Purchaser filed a complaint (the “Complaint”) against the Sellers in the Superior Court of New Jersey, in which, among other things, the Purchaser alleges breach of contract and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing against the Sellers in connection with the Sellers’ termination of the Purchase and Sale Agreement. The Purchaser seeks (a) a judgment of specific performance compelling the Sellers to convey the properties under the Purchase and Sale Agreement to the Purchaser; (b) declaratory judgment from the court that (i) the Purchase and Sale Agreement is not terminated, (ii) the Purchaser is not in default under the Purchase and Sale Agreement, and (iii) the Sellers are in default under the Purchase and Sale Agreement, subject to a right to cure; (c) an order for injunctive relief compelling the Sellers to perform the Purchase and Sale Agreement; (d) in the event that the court does not order specific performance, a judgment directing that the Purchaser’s $15 million deposit under the Purchase and Sale Agreement be returned to the Purchaser, and compensatory, consequential and incidental damages in an amount to be determined at trial; and (e) attorneys’ fees and costs.
The Purchaser has filed lis pendens with respect to each of the six properties that were subject to the Purchase and Sale Agreement. The lis pendens provides notice to the public of the Complaint. Pending the resolution of this litigation, the filing of the lis pendens will adversely affect the future sale or financing of those properties.
On June 17, 2020, the Sellers filed their answer, separate defenses, and counterclaims (the “Answer”) in response to the Complaint, in which, among other things, the Sellers (a) deny the Purchaser’s claim that the Sellers’ termination of the Purchase and Sale Agreement was wrongful, and assert that there was no contractual basis in the Purchase and Sale Agreement to relieve the Purchaser from its obligation to perform thereunder, or to defer or postpone the Purchaser’s obligation to perform, (b) assert certain defenses to the allegations set forth in the Complaint without admitting any liability, and (c) request relief from the Court in the form of (i) judgment in the Sellers’ favor dismissing all of the Purchaser’s claims against them with prejudice and denying all of the Purchaser’s requests for relief, (ii) reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, and (iii) such other and further relief as the Court deems just.
In addition, the Answer asserts counterclaims by the Sellers against the Purchaser for breach of contract due to the Purchaser’s failure to close the Purchase and Sale Agreement in accordance with its terms, and the Sellers seek a declaratory judgment from the Court that the Sellers properly terminated the Purchase and Sale Agreement in accordance with its terms due to the Purchaser’s default and an order from the Court that the Purchaser authorize the escrow agent to release the $15 million deposit under the Purchase and Sale Agreement to the Sellers.
In connection with these counterclaims, the Answer seeks the following relief from the Court: (a) liquidated damages in the amount of $15 million, as provided in the Purchase and Sale Agreement; (b) in the alternative to the liquidated damages provided for in the Purchase and Sale Agreement, money damages in an amount to be determined at trial; (c) interest, attorneys’ fees and costs associated with the defense of the Purchaser’s claims and the prosecution of the Sellers’ counterclaims against the Purchaser, as provided for in the Purchase and Sale Agreement; (d) judgment declaring that the Sellers properly terminated the Purchase and Sale Agreement due to the Purchaser’s default thereunder; (e) judgment declaring that the Purchaser must authorize the escrow agent to release the $15 million deposit to the Sellers; and (f) such other relief as the Court deems just and equitable. (See Note 14 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for further details.)
Except as disclosed in the preceding paragraphs, there are no other material pending legal proceedings to which FREIT is a party, or of which any of its properties is the subject. There is, however, ordinary and routine litigation involving FREIT's business including various tenancy and related matters. Except for the environmental conditions involving remediation disclosed in “Item 1(c) Narrative Description of Business - Impact of Governmental Laws and Regulations on Registrant’s Business; Environmental Matters,” there are no legal proceedings concerning environmental issues with respect to any property owned by FREIT.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
ITEM 4 MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5MARKET FOR FREIT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED SECURITY HOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Shares of Beneficial Interest
Beneficial interests in FREIT are represented by shares without par value (the “Shares”). The Shares represent FREIT’s only authorized issued and outstanding class of equity. As of January 29, 2021, there were approximately 500 holders of record of the Shares.
The Shares are traded in the over-the-counter market through use of the OTC Bulletin Board Service (the “OTC Bulletin Board”) provided by FINRA, Inc. FREIT does not believe that an active United States public trading market exists for the Shares since historically only small volumes of the Shares are traded on a sporadic basis. The following table sets forth, at the end of the periods indicated, the Bid and Asked quotations for the Shares on the OTC Bulletin Board.
Bid
Asked
Fiscal Year Ended October 31, 2020
First Quarter
$
24.50
$
25.45
Second Quarter
$
17.76
$
18.00
Third Quarter
$
14.50
$
15.00
Fourth Quarter
$
13.21
$
14.49
Bid
Asked
Fiscal Year Ended October 31, 2019
First Quarter
$
15.80
$
16.50
Second Quarter
$
16.75
$
17.50
Third Quarter
$
17.25
$
18.40
Fourth Quarter
$
17.25
$
18.20
The bid quotations set forth above for the Shares reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, markdown or commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions. The source of the bid and asked quotations is Bloomberg.
Dividends
The holders of Shares are entitled to receive distributions as may be declared by the Board. Dividends may be declared from time to time by the Board and may be paid in cash, property, or Shares. The Board’s present policy is to distribute annually at least ninety percent (90%) of FREIT’s REIT taxable income as dividends to the holders of Shares in order to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. Distributions are made on a quarterly basis. For Fiscal 2020, FREIT did not pay/declare a dividend. For Fiscal 2019, FREIT paid/declared an annual dividend of $0.60 per share. In Fiscal 2018 and Fiscal 2017, FREIT paid/declared an annual dividend of $0.15 per share for each fiscal year. For Fiscal 2016, FREIT paid/declared an annual dividend of $1.20 per share.
See Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Distributions to Shareholders.”
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
See Item 12, “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.”
ITEM 6SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The selected consolidated financial data for FREIT for each of the five (5) fiscal years in the period ended October 31, 2020 are derived from financial statements herein or previously filed financial statements. This data should be read in conjunction with Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of this Annual Report and with FREIT’s consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this Annual Report.
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
As At October 31,
(In Thousands)
Total assets
$
355,215
$
390,618
$
392,073
$
372,957
$
367,971
Mortgages payable, gross
$
307,240
$
352,790
$
350,504
$
323,435
$
329,719
Common equity
$
34,902
$
15,715
$
21,488
$
17,838
$
2,834
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic
6,992
6,940
6,883
6,833
6,783
Diluted
6,994
6,940
6,883
6,833
6,784
INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
Years Ended October 31,
(In Thousands of Dollars, Except Per Share Amounts)
Revenue from real estate operations
$
52,727
$
60,277
$
57,997
$
51,634
$
46,254
Expenses:
Real estate operating expenses
22,922
26,062
24,883
26,233
21,797
Special Committee third party advisory, legal and other expenses
4,606
1,416
-
-
-
Lease termination fee
-
-
-
-
General and administrative expenses
3,821
2,633
2,305
2,129
2,034
Depreciation
10,341
11,339
11,515
10,669
7,852
Tenant improvement write-off due to COVID-19
7,277
-
-
-
-
Total expenses
48,967
41,450
38,703
39,651
31,683
Operating income
3,760
18,827
19,294
11,983
14,571
Investment income
Unrealized (loss) gain on interest rate cap contract
-
(160
)
-
-
Gain on sale of property
-
-
15,395
Loan prepayment costs relating to property sale
-
-
-
(1,139
)
-
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary
27,680
-
-
-
-
Loss on investment in tenancy-in-common
(202
)
-
-
-
-
Interest expense including amortization
of deferred financing costs
(14,122
)
(18,070
)
(18,667
)
(15,762
)
(11,936
)
Net income
17,320
1,793
10,683
3,099
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries
3,233
(6
)
2,433
(94
)
Net income attributable to common equity
$
20,553
$
1,787
$
1,483
$
13,116
$
3,005
Earnings per share - basic and diluted
$
2.94
$
0.26
$
0.21
$
1.92
$
0.44
Cash dividends declared per common share
$
-
$
0.60
$
0.15
$
0.15
$
1.20
ITEM 7MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Cautionary Statement Identifying Important Factors That Could Cause FREIT’s Actual Results to Differ From Those Projected in Forward Looking Statements.
Readers of this discussion are advised that the discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of FREIT (including related notes thereto) appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-K. Certain statements in this discussion may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements reflect FREIT’s current expectations and are based on estimates, projections, beliefs, data, methods and assumptions of management of FREIT at the time of such statements regarding future results of operations, economic performance, financial condition and achievements of FREIT, and do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These forward-looking statements are identified through the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” or words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions.
Although FREIT believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which may cause the actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such factors include, but are not limited to the following: general economic and business conditions, including the purchase of retail products over the Internet, which will, among other things, affect demand for rental space, the availability of prospective tenants, lease rents, the financial condition of tenants and the default rate on leases, operating and administrative expenses and the availability of financing; adverse changes in FREIT’s real estate markets, including, among other things, competition with other real estate owners, competition confronted by tenants at FREIT’s commercial properties, governmental actions and initiatives; environmental/safety requirements; risks of real estate development and acquisitions; and on-going negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our properties and tenants, and generally on our real estate assets and the real estate markets in which we operate, and the global, U.S. and local economies (see Special Note below). The risks with respect to the development of real estate include: increased construction costs, inability to obtain construction financing, or unfavorable terms of financing that may be available, unforeseen construction delays and the failure to complete construction within budget.
Special Note Regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic:
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19 (“COVID-19”), a pandemic. The full extent of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the full extent of its effects on the global, U.S., and local economies, and on FREIT and our business, operating results, financial condition, properties, and tenants, cannot yet be known. Any future developments in this regard will be highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with any certainty, including the scope and duration of the pandemic, actions taken by governmental authorities and other third parties in response to the pandemic and the effects thereof, and the other factors discussed above and throughout this report. The uncertain future development of the COVID-19 pandemic could materially and adversely further affect FREIT and our business, operating results, financial condition, liquidity, and our properties and tenants.
OVERVIEW
FREIT is an equity real estate investment trust ("REIT") that is self-administered and externally managed. FREIT owns a portfolio of residential apartment and commercial properties. FREIT’s revenues consist primarily of rental income and other related revenues from its residential and commercial properties and additional rent in the form of expense reimbursements derived from operating commercial properties. FREIT’s properties are primarily located in northern New Jersey, Maryland and New York.
COVID-19 Pandemic: The international spread of COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. The extent to which this pandemic could continue to affect our financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations is difficult to predict and depends on evolving factors, including: duration, scope, government actions, and other social responses. Many states in the U.S., including New Jersey, New York and Maryland, where our properties are located, implemented stay-at-home and shutdown orders for all "non-essential" business and activity in an aggressive effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. While some of these orders had been fully or partially lifted from earlier this year, the U.S. is experiencing a second wave of this pandemic. Many of our commercial tenants have not been able to open or resume operations at full capacity due to continued restrictions imposed upon them. As the impact of the pandemic has been evolving, it continues to cause uncertainty and volatility in the financial markets. Many U.S. industries and businesses have been negatively affected and millions of people have filed for unemployment resulting in the U.S. unemployment rate rising to 14.7% in April 2020, which was the highest recorded rate since the Great Depression. Since April 2020, the U.S unemployment rate has declined to 6.9% as of October 2020, as many businesses continue to reopen and rehire employees following many of the COVID-19 mandated shutdown orders. However, the jobless rate remains well above the pre-pandemic levels of about 3.5%. The COVID-19 pandemic and the actions taken by individuals, businesses and government authorities to reduce its spread have caused substantial lost business revenue, changes in consumer behavior and large reductions in liquidity and fair value of many assets. These and other adverse conditions that may unfold in the future are expected to continue until such time as government shutdown orders are fully lifted, and business operations and
commercial activity can fully resume. The lifting of all government shutdown orders cannot be predicted with any certainty. Further, even after such orders are fully lifted, the resumption of business operations and commercial activity will depend on several factors, including prevailing sentiments among workers and consumers regarding the safety of resuming public activity, and cannot be predicted with any certainty.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and preventive measures taken to mitigate the spread, our residential properties continue to generate cash flow. With the exception of the Icon at the Rotunda property, the annual average occupancy rates were approximately 93.9% or higher for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020. The tenants at these properties, for the most part, continue to pay their rent. The occupancy rate at the Icon has declined to an average occupancy rate of 91.5% for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 as compared to 95.1% for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019. This decline in occupancy rate is primarily attributed to tenants attending Johns Hopkins University, which is in close proximity to the Icon. Approximately 30% of our tenants at this property attend Johns Hopkins University. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Johns Hopkins University only offered online classes for the fall semester which resulted in a loss of these tenants at our property.
At our commercial properties, with the exception of grocery stores and other "essential" businesses, many of our retail tenants have been and continue to be adversely affected by the mandated shutdowns or continued imposed restrictions. The overall average cash realization for the commercial properties, based on monthly billings as compared to monthly cash collections from April through October 2020, was approximately 74%. The Company is closely monitoring changes in the collectability assessment of its tenant receivables as a result of certain tenants suffering adverse financial consequences related to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, rental revenue deemed uncollectible of approximately $1.4 million (with a consolidated impact to FREIT of approximately $0.9 million) was classified as a reduction in rental revenue based on our assessment of the probability of collecting substantially all of the remaining rents for certain tenants. Additionally, FREIT incurred an increase in expense for the reserve of uncollectible rents of approximately $0.3 million (with a consolidated impact to FREIT of approximately $0.2 million) for the year ended October 31, 2020. As of October 31, 2020, FREIT has applied approximately $387,000 of security deposits from its commercial tenants to outstanding receivables due. On a case by case basis, FREIT has offered some commercial tenants deferrals of rent and rent abatements over a specified time period totaling approximately $206,000 and $238,000, respectively, (with a consolidated impact to FREIT of approximately $192,000 and $156,000, respectively) through fiscal year ended October 31, 2020. FREIT currently remains in active discussions and negotiations with these impacted retail tenants. Additionally, Cobb Theatre, an anchor tenant movie theatre at the Rotunda retail property filed for bankruptcy and rejected its lease at the Rotunda property as of June 30, 2020. As a result of the rejection of this lease, uncollected rents in the amount of approximately $0.3 million and a straight-line rent receivable of approximately $0.4 million were reversed against revenue, and unamortized leasing commissions in the amount of approximately $0.2 million were written off and fully expensed in Fiscal 2020 resulting in a net impact of approximately $0.9 million (with a consolidated impact to FREIT of approximately $0.5 million) to net income for the year ended October 31, 2020. Tenant improvements related to the Cobb Theatre with a net book value of approximately $7.3 million (with a consolidated impact to FREIT of approximately $4.4 million) as of October 31, 2020 were deemed to be impaired, written off and charged to operations in the consolidated statement of income for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020. Until this space is re-leased, FREIT’s operating results will be adversely impacted from loss of base rent and additional rent of approximately $1.1 million (with a consolidated impact to FREIT of approximately $0.7 million) on an annualized basis. (see Note 16 for additional details).
As a result of the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic at our commercial properties, we were granted debt payment relief from certain of our lenders on the retail properties in the form of deferral of principal and/or interest payments for a three-month period, resulting in total deferred payments of approximately $1,013,000, which will become due at the maturity of the loans. As of October 31, 2020, approximately $162,000 of this amount has been repaid, there will be no further deferrals of principal and/or interest payments on these loans and the balance due has been included in mortgages payable on the consolidated balance sheet as of October 31, 2020. (See Note 5 for additional details).
During Fiscal 2020, we have experienced a positive cash flow from operations, excluding corporate expenses such as Special Committee third party advisory, legal and other expenses paid of approximately $5.1 million and deferred compensation in the amount of $5 million paid to two retired trustees. This could change based on the duration of the pandemic, which is uncertain. We believe that our cash balance as of October 31, 2020 of approximately $36.9 million coupled with a $13 million available line of credit (available through October 31, 2023, see Note 5) will provide us with sufficient liquidity for at least the next twelve months from the filing of this Form 10-K. In an effort to further preserve cash flow, the Board of Trustees reduced all fees, salaries and retainers payable to our executive officers and members of the Board of Trustees by up to 30% from May 1, 2020 through the end of Fiscal 2020. Additionally, in an effort to keep costs lower while the Company has experienced a loss of revenues at the commercial properties and to adjust to the difficulty in hiring contractors due to these imposed COVID-19 restrictions and mandates, the Company has deferred non-essential maintenance projects across all properties during Fiscal 2020. This has resulted in a cost savings of approximately $1.1 million (with a consolidated impact to FREIT of approximately $0.8 million) across the entire FREIT portfolio as compared to Fiscal 2019.
The extent of the effects of COVID-19 on our business, results of operations, cash flows, value of our real estate assets and growth prospects is highly uncertain and will ultimately depend on future developments, none of which can be predicted with any certainty. (See “Item 1A. Risk Factors” for additional details.) However, we believe the actions we have taken and
continue to take will help minimize interruptions to our operations and will put us in the best position to participate in the economic recovery as the recovery occurs. FREIT will continue to actively monitor the effects of the pandemic, including governmental directives in the jurisdictions in which we operate and the recommendations of public health authorities, and will, as needed, take further measures to adapt our business in the best interests of our shareholders and personnel.
Residential Properties: While our residential properties continue to generate positive cash flow, the impact COVID-19 may have on these properties over the next year is uncertain and will depend on the duration of the pandemic and the recovery of the economy.
Commercial Properties: There continues to be uncertainty in the retail environment that could have an adverse impact on FREIT’s retail tenants, which could have an adverse impact on FREIT. As restrictions continue to evolve, the impact COVID-19 may have on the operating and financial performance of our commercial properties over the next year is currently uncertain and will depend on certain developments, including, among others, the impact of COVID-19 on our tenants and the magnitude and duration of the pandemic, including its impact on store closing and social distancing rules which may impact a tenant’s ability to generate sales at sufficient levels to cover operating costs, including rent.
Burlington Coat Factory, which does business as a retail tenant at the Westridge Square Shopping Center located in Frederick, Maryland, has not exercised its option to renew its lease which is set to expire on November 30, 2021 (in Fiscal 2022). FREIT’s operating results will be adversely impacted by the loss of base rent and additional rent of approximately $1 million on an annualized basis from this tenant. The Company is currently engaged in discussions with another tenant for this space; however, there can be no assurances that a new lease will be entered into with this prospective tenant.
Special Committee: On March 28, 2019, FREIT announced that its Board had established a Special Committee to explore strategic alternatives focusing on maximizing shareholder value. The Special Committee was comprised solely of independent Trustees and was charged with exploring potential strategic transactions involving FREIT, including, without limitation, a potential sale of FREIT, a business combination involving FREIT or other alternatives for maximizing shareholder value, and determining whether a potential strategic transaction was in the best interests of FREIT and its shareholders. The members of the Special Committee were Ronald J. Artinian, Richard J. Aslanian, David F. McBride and Justin F. Meng, who served as the Chairman of the Special Committee. The Special Committee approved a transaction to sell six (6) apartment properties which was not completed. (See Note 14 of FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for further details). On May 7, 2020, the Board approved the elimination of the Special Committee as a committee of the Board.
Termination of Purchase and Sale Agreement: On January 14, 2020, FREIT and certain of its affiliates (collectively, the “Sellers”), entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (as subsequently amended, the “Purchase and Sale Agreement”) with Sinatra Properties LLC (the “Purchaser”), which as subsequently amended, provided for the sale by the Sellers to the Purchaser of 100% of the Sellers’ ownership interests in six real properties held by the Sellers in exchange for the purchase price described therein, subject to the terms and conditions of the Purchase and Sale Agreement. On April 30, 2020, the Sellers delivered written notice to the Purchaser of the Sellers’ termination of the Purchase and Sale Agreement in accordance with its terms due to the occurrence of a “Purchaser Default” thereunder, based on the Purchaser’s failure to perform its obligations under the Purchase and Sale Agreement and close the transactions contemplated therein.
Upon the execution of the Purchase and Sale Agreement, the Purchaser delivered into escrow a deposit in the amount of $15 million (the “Deposit”), in the form of an unconditional, irrevocable letter of credit in such amount (the “Letter of Credit”). The Purchase and Sale Agreement provides that the Sellers’ exclusive remedy, in the event of a “Purchaser Default” and the termination of the Purchase and Sale Agreement, is the forfeiture of the Deposit to the Sellers as liquidated damages. Accordingly, contemporaneously with the Sellers’ delivery of the termination notice to the Purchaser, the Sellers delivered written notice to the escrow agent requesting that the escrow agent release the Letter of Credit from escrow and deliver same to the Sellers.
On May 6, 2020, the Purchaser filed a complaint (the “Complaint”) against the Sellers in the Superior Court of New Jersey, in which, among other things, the Purchaser alleges breach of contract and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing against the Sellers in connection with the Sellers’ termination of the Purchase and Sale Agreement. The Purchaser seeks (a) a judgment of specific performance compelling the Sellers to convey the properties under the Purchase and Sale Agreement to the Purchaser; (b) declaratory judgment from the court that (i) the Purchase and Sale Agreement is not terminated, (ii) the Purchaser is not in default under the Purchase and Sale Agreement, and (iii) the Sellers are in default under the Purchase and Sale Agreement, subject to a right to cure; (c) an order for injunctive relief compelling the Sellers to perform the Purchase and Sale Agreement; (d) in the event that the court does not order specific performance, a judgment directing that the Purchaser’s $15 million deposit under the Purchase and Sale Agreement be returned to the Purchaser, and compensatory, consequential and incidental damages in an amount to be determined at trial; and (e) attorneys’ fees and costs.
On June 17, 2020, the Sellers filed their answer, separate defenses, and counterclaims (the “Answer”) in response to the Complaint, in which, among other things, the Sellers (a) deny the Purchaser’s claim that the Sellers’ termination of the Purchase and Sale Agreement was wrongful, and assert that there was no contractual basis in the Purchase and Sale Agreement to relieve the Purchaser from its obligation to perform thereunder, or to defer or postpone the Purchaser’s obligation to perform, (b) assert certain defenses to the allegations set forth in the Complaint without admitting any liability,
and (c) request relief from the Court in the form of (i) judgment in the Sellers’ favor dismissing all of the Purchaser’s claims against them with prejudice and denying all of the Purchaser’s requests for relief, (ii) reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, and (iii) such other and further relief as the Court deems just.
In addition, the Answer asserts counterclaims by the Sellers against the Purchaser for breach of contract due to the Purchaser’s failure to close the Purchase and Sale Agreement in accordance with its terms, and the Sellers seek a declaratory judgment from the Court that the Sellers properly terminated the Purchase and Sale Agreement in accordance with its terms due to the Purchaser’s default and an order from the Court that the Purchaser authorize the escrow agent to release the $15 million deposit under the Purchase and Sale Agreement to the Sellers.
In connection with these counterclaims, the Answer seeks the following relief from the Court: (a) liquidated damages in the amount of $15 million, as provided in the Purchase and Sale Agreement; (b) in the alternative to the liquidated damages provided for in the Purchase and Sale Agreement, money damages in an amount to be determined at trial; (c) interest, attorneys’ fees and costs associated with the defense of the Purchaser’s claims and the prosecution of the Sellers’ counterclaims against the Purchaser, as provided for in the Purchase and Sale Agreement; (d) judgment declaring that the Sellers properly terminated the Purchase and Sale Agreement due to the Purchaser’s default thereunder; (e) judgment declaring that the Purchaser must authorize the escrow agent to release the $15 million deposit to the Sellers; and (f) such other relief as the Court deems just and equitable.
As of the year ended October 31, 2020, the $15 million deposit has not been included in income in the accompanying consolidated statement of income. (See Note 14 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for further details.)
Termination of Plan of Liquidation: On January 14, 2020, the Trust’s Board of Trustees adopted a Plan of Voluntary Liquidation with respect to the Trust (the “Plan of Liquidation”), which provided for the voluntary dissolution, termination and liquidation of the Trust by the sale, conveyance, transfer or delivery of all of the Trust’s remaining assets in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan of Liquidation and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Treasury regulations thereunder. The Plan of Liquidation provided that it would become effective upon (i) approval by a majority of the votes cast by Trust’s shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at a duly called meeting of the Trust’s shareholders at which a quorum is present and (ii) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase and Sale Agreement.
While the Plan of Liquidation received shareholder approval, the Plan of Liquidation did not become effective as the Trust terminated the Purchase and Sale Agreement by written notice delivered to the Purchaser on April 30, 2020, and the transactions contemplated thereby were not consummated. Accordingly the Trust did not proceed with the sale, conveyance, transfer or delivery of all of the Trust’s remaining assets as contemplated by the Plan of Liquidation that was adopted by the Board on January 14, 2020. (See Note 15 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for further details.)
Amendment to Management Agreement: On January 14, 2020, in connection with entering into the Purchase and Sale Agreement, FREIT and Hekemian entered into a First Amendment to Management Agreement (the “First Amendment”), which amends the Management Agreement dated as of November 1, 2001 between FREIT and Hekemian. The First Amendment would become effective if, and only if, the Plan of Liquidation became effective. Since the Plan of Liquidation will not become effective due to the termination of the Purchase and Sale Agreement, the First Amendment will not become effective. (See Note 8 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for further details.)
Debt Financing Availability: Financing has been available to FREIT and its affiliates. The lis pendens filed in connection with the legal proceeding between FREIT and certain of its affiliates and Sinatra Properties, LLC may adversely affect FREIT’s ability to refinance certain of its residential properties.
On February 7, 2018, Grande Rotunda, LLC (“Grande Rotunda”) refinanced its $115.3 million construction loan held by Wells Fargo with a new loan held by Aareal Capital Corporation in the amount of approximately $118.5 million with additional funding available through February 6, 2021 for retail tenant improvements and leasing costs in the amount of $3,380,000. This refinancing paid off the loan previously held by Wells Fargo, funded loan closing costs and paid the amount due to Hekemian Development Resources for a development fee of $900,000 plus accrued interest of approximately $45,000 (See Note 8 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for further details on this fee). This loan is secured by the Rotunda property, bears a floating interest rate at 285 basis points over the one-month LIBOR rate and has a maturity date of February 6, 2021 with two one-year renewal options to extend the maturity of this loan, subject to certain requirements as provided for in the loan agreement. As part of this transaction, Grande Rotunda purchased an interest rate cap on LIBOR for the full amount that can be drawn on this loan of $121.9 million, capping the one-month LIBOR rate at 3% for the first two years of this loan which matured on March 5, 2020. On February 28, 2020, Grande Rotunda purchased an interest rate cap on LIBOR, with an effective date of March 5, 2020, for the full amount that can be drawn on this loan of $121.9 million, capping the one-month LIBOR rate at 3% for one year. As of October 31, 2020, approximately $118.5 million of this loan facility was drawn down and the interest rate was approximately 2.99%. On November 5, 2020, Grande Rotunda elected to exercise the first extension option on this loan to extend the initial maturity date from February 6, 2021 until February 6, 2022. In order to extend the maturity due date Grande Rotunda must satisfy the following conditions: (a) pay to lender an extension fee of 0.2% of the extended loan balance; (b) certify that no default or events of default exist; (c) extend the interest rate cap to expire on
February 6, 2022; and (d) allow lender to obtain an updated appraisal of the property. The principal balance of the amount of the loan to be extended must not exceed a loan-to-value of 62.5%. To the extent the loan-to-value exceeds the 62.5% limit, the loan must be brought in to balance via a loan reduction or by other means satisfactory to the Lender. Management expects the loan to be extended, however, until such time as a definitive agreement providing for a modification and extension of the loan is entered into, there can be no assurance the loan will be modified and extended. (See Notes 5 and 6 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for further details).
On September 30, 2020, Westwood Hills, LLC (“Westwood Hills”), a consolidated subsidiary, refinanced its $19.2 million loan (which would have matured on November 1, 2020) with a new loan held by ConnectOne Bank in the amount of $25,000,000, with additional funding available in the amount of $250,000 for legal fees potentially incurred by the lender related to the lis pendens on this property. (See Note 14 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for additional details.) This loan, secured by an apartment building in Westwood, New Jersey, is interest-only based on a floating rate at 400 basis points over the one-month LIBOR rate with a floor of 4.15% and has a maturity date of October 1, 2022 with the option of Westwood Hills to extend for two (2) additional six (6)-month periods from the maturity date, subject to certain provisions of the loan agreement. This refinancing resulted in: (i) a change in the annual interest rate from a fixed rate of 4.62% to a variable rate with a floor of 4.15% and (ii) net refinancing proceeds of approximately $5.6 million that were distributed to the partners in Westwood Hills with FREIT receiving approximately $2.2 million based on its 40% membership interest in Westwood Hills. As of October 31, 2020, approximately $25,000,000 of this loan was drawn and outstanding. (See Note 5 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for additional details.)
On August 26, 2019, Berdan Court, LLC (“Berdan Court”), (owned 100% by FREIT), refinanced its $17 million loan (which matured on September 1, 2019) with the lender in the amount of $28,815,000. This loan, secured by an apartment building located in Wayne, New Jersey, has a term of ten years and bears a fixed interest rate equal to 3.54%. Interest-only payments are required each month for the first five years of the term and thereafter, principal payments plus accrued interest will be required each month through maturity. This refinancing resulted in: (i) a reduction in the annual interest rate from a fixed rate of 6.09% to a fixed rate of 3.54% and (ii) net refinancing proceeds of approximately $11.6 million which can be used for capital expenditures and general corporate purposes. (See Note 5 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for additional details.)
On April 3, 2019, WestFREIT, Corp. (owned 100% by FREIT) exercised its option to extend its loan held by M&T Bank, with a then outstanding balance of approximately $22.5 million, for twelve months. Effective beginning on June 1, 2019, the extension of this loan, secured by the Westridge Square shopping center, required monthly principal payments of $47,250 plus interest based on a floating interest rate equal to 240 basis points over the one-month LIBOR and had a maturity date of May 1, 2020 which was extended to November 1, 2020. This loan has been further extended with a new maturity date of January 31, 2021 under the same terms and conditions of the existing agreement while the lender is in discussions with the Company regarding a further modification and extension of this loan. Management expects the loan to be extended, however, until such time as a definitive agreement providing for a modification and extension of the loan is entered into, there can be no assurance the loan will be modified and extended. (See Note 5 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for additional details.)
FREIT’s revolving line of credit provided by the Provident Bank was renewed for a three-year term ending on October 31, 2023. Draws against the credit line can be used for working capital needs and standby letters of credit. Draws against the credit line are secured by mortgages on FREIT’s Franklin Crossing Shopping Center in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey and retail space in Glen Rock, New Jersey. The total line of credit is $13 million and the interest rate on the amount outstanding is based on a floating interest rate of prime minus 25 basis points with a floor of 3.75%. As of October 31, 2020, there was no amount outstanding and $13 million was available under the line of credit. (See Note 5 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for additional details.)
In accordance with the loan agreement for each of the loans described above, FREIT may be required to meet or maintain certain financial covenants throughout the term of the loan.
Operating Cash Flow: FREIT expects that cash provided by operating activities will be adequate to cover mandatory debt service payments (including payments of interest, but excluding balloon payments), real estate taxes, recurring capital improvements at its properties and other needs to maintain its status as a REIT for at least a period of one year from the date of filing of this Form 10K report.
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
Pursuant to the SEC disclosure guidance for "Critical Accounting Policies," the SEC defines Critical Accounting Policies as those that require the application of management's most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments, often because of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain and may change in subsequent periods.
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, the preparation of which takes into account estimates based on judgments and assumptions that affect certain amounts and disclosures. Accordingly, actual results could differ from these estimates. The accounting policies and estimates used, which are outlined in Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements which is presented elsewhere in this Form 10-K, have been applied consistently as of October 31, 2020 and 2019, and for the years ended October 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018. We believe that the following accounting policies or estimates require the application of management's most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments:
Revenue Recognition: Base rents, additional rents based on tenants' sales volume and reimbursement of the tenants' share of certain operating expenses are generally recognized when due from tenants. The straight-line basis is used to recognize base rents under leases if they provide for varying rents over the lease terms. Straight-line rents represent unbilled rents receivable to the extent straight-line rents exceed current rents billed in accordance with lease agreements. Before FREIT can recognize revenue, it is required to assess, among other things, its collectability.
Valuation of Long-Lived Assets: FREIT assesses the carrying value of long-lived assets periodically, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of certain assets may not be recoverable. When FREIT determines that the carrying value of long-lived assets may be impaired, the measurement of any impairment is based on a projected discounted cash flow method determined by FREIT's management. While we believe that our discounted cash flow methods are reasonable, different assumptions regarding such cash flows may significantly affect the measurement of impairment.
Real Estate Development Costs: It is FREIT’s policy to capitalize pre-development costs, which generally include legal and professional fees and other directly related third-party costs. Real estate taxes and interest costs incurred during the development and construction phases are also capitalized. FREIT ceases capitalization of these costs when the project or portion thereof becomes operational, or when construction has been postponed. In the event of postponement, capitalization of these costs will recommence once construction on the project resumes.
See Note 1 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for recently issued accounting standards.
Results of Operations:
Fiscal Years Ended October 31, 2020 and 2019
Summary revenues and net income for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2020 (“Fiscal 2020”) and October 31, 2019 (“Fiscal 2019”) are as follows:
Years Ended October 31,
Change
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Real estate revenues:
Commercial properties
$
24,089
$
27,122
$
(3,033
)
Residential properties
28,638
33,155
(4,517
)
Total real estate revenues
52,727
60,277
(7,550
)
Operating expenses:
Real estate operating expenses
22,922
26,062
(3,140
)
Special Committee third party advisory, legal and other expenses
4,606
1,416
3,190
General and administrative
3,821
2,633
1,188
Depreciation
10,341
11,339
(998
)
Tenant improvement write-off due to COVID-19
7,277
-
7,277
Total operating expenses
48,967
41,450
7,517
Operating income
3,760
18,827
(15,067
)
Investment income
(156
)
Unrealized (loss) gain on interest rate cap contract
-
(160
)
Gain on sale of property
-
(836
)
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary
27,680
-
27,680
Loss on investment in tenancy-in-common
(202
)
-
(202
)
Financing costs
(14,122
)
(18,070
)
3,948
Net income
17,320
1,793
15,527
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling
interests in subsidiaries
3,233
(6
)
3,239
Net income attributable to common equity
$
20,553
$
1,787
$
18,766
Earnings per share - basic and diluted:
$
2.94
$
0.26
$
2.68
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic
6,992
6,940
Diluted
6,994
6,940
Real estate revenue for Fiscal 2020 decreased 12.5% to $52,727,000 compared to $60,277,000 for Fiscal 2019. The decline in revenue was primarily attributable to the following: (a) a decline in revenue of approximately $5 million resulting from the deconsolidation of the operating results of the Pierre Towers property from FREIT’s operating results due to the conversion to a TIC as of February 28, 2020; (b) a reduction in total revenue in the amount of approximately $1.1 million, which includes the write-off of straight-line rent in the amount of approximately $0.4 million, as compared to Fiscal 2019 due to the rejection of the lease for the Cobb Theatre at the Rotunda retail property as of June 30, 2020 resulting from the Cobb Theatre bankruptcy filing; (c) a reduction in total revenue in the amount of approximately $1.4 million as compared to Fiscal 2019 due to rental revenue being deemed uncollectible and classified as a reduction in rental revenue primarily attributed to commercial tenants suffering adverse financial consequences as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; (d) a decline in total revenue of approximately $0.4 million driven by a decline in the annual average occupancy rate for the commercial properties from 81.5% in Fiscal 2019 to 79.7% in Fiscal 2020; (e) a decrease in revenue of approximately $0.2 million attributed to commercial rent abatements resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic; offset by (f) an increase in the residential segment of approximately $0.5 million driven by insurance reimbursements received in Fiscal 2020 related to a fire at each of the Pierre Towers and Icon properties and an increase in base rent at most of these properties.
Net income attributable to common equity (“net income-common equity”) for Fiscal 2020 was $20,553,000 ($2.94 per share basic and diluted), compared to $1,787,000 ($0.26 per share basic and diluted) for Fiscal 2019 primarily as a result of the non-cash gain on the deconsolidation of a subsidiary (See Note 17 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for additional details).
The schedule below provides a non-GAAP detailed analysis of the major changes that impacted revenue and net income-common equity for Fiscal 2020 and Fiscal 2019:
NON-GAAP NET INCOME COMPONENTS
Years Ended October 31,
Change
(thousands of dollars)
Income from real estate operations:
Commercial properties
$
12,755
$
15,427
$
(2,672
)
Residential properties
17,050
18,788
(1,738
)
Total income from real estate operations
29,805
34,215
(4,410
)
Financing costs:
Fixed rate mortgages
(7,401
)
(8,953
)
1,552
Floating rate mortgages
(5,303
)
(7,384
)
2,081
Other - Corporate interest
(329
)
(594
)
Mortgage cost amortization
(1,089
)
(1,139
)
Total financing costs
(14,122
)
(18,070
)
3,948
Investment income
(156
)
Unrealized loss on interest rate cap contract
-
(160
)
General & administrative expenses:
Accounting fees
(558
)
(654
)
Legal and professional fees
(1,074
)
(135
)
(939
)
Trustees and consultant fees
(1,205
)
(1,164
)
(41
)
Stock option expense
(46
)
(124
)
Corporate expenses
(938
)
(556
)
(382
)
Total general & administrative expenses
(3,821
)
(2,633
)
(1,188
)
Special Committee third party advisory, legal and other expenses
(4,606
)
(1,416
)
(3,190
)
Depreciation
(10,341
)
(11,339
)
Loss on investment in tenancy-in-common
(202
)
-
(202
)
Adjusted net (loss) income
(3,083
)
(4,040
)
Tenant improvement write-off due to COVID-19
(7,277
)
-
(7,277
)
Gain on sale of property
-
(836
)
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary
27,680
-
27,680
Net income
17,320
1,793
15,527
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling
interests in subsidiaries
3,233
(6
)
3,239
Net income attributable to common equity
$
20,553
$
1,787
$
18,766
Adjusted net loss for Fiscal 2020 was $3,083,000 (($0.44) per share basic and diluted) compared to net income of $957,000 ($0.14 per share basic and diluted) for Fiscal 2019. Adjusted net loss/income is a non-GAAP measure, which management believes is a useful and meaningful gauge to investors of our operating performance, since it excludes the impact of unusual and infrequent items specifically: a gain on deconsolidation of the Pierre Towers property in Fiscal 2020; a tenant improvement write-off due to COVID-19 in Fiscal 2020; and a gain related to the sale of the property in Patchogue, New York in Fiscal 2019.
The adjusted net loss for Fiscal 2020 was primarily driven by the following: (a) an increase in Special Committee third party advisory, legal and other expenses incurred of approximately $3.2 million; (b) a reduction in total revenue, excluding the impact of the conversion of the Pierre property to a TIC, in the amount of approximately $2.8 million (with a consolidated impact to FREIT of approximately $1.5 million) as explained above; (c) an increase in General & Administrative (“G&A”) expenses of approximately $1.2 million primarily driven by an increase in legal costs of approximately $1 million attributed to the legal proceedings between FREIT and certain of its affiliates and Sinatra Properties, LLC and an increase of approximately $0.3 million in lender and legal fees related to the conversion of the Pierre Towers partnership to a TIC in Fiscal 2020; (d) an increase in expense for the reserve of uncollectible rents of approximately $0.4 million (with a consolidated impact to FREIT of approximately $0.3 million) primarily resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic impact on certain commercial non-essential tenants due to mandated shutdowns and imposed restrictions; (e) an increase in leasing costs due to the Cobb Theatres’ rejection of its lease in the amount of approximately $0.2 million; offset by (f) a decrease in financing costs of approximately $2.7 million (with a consolidated impact to FREIT of approximately $1.8 million), (excluding the impact of the deconsolidation of the operating results of the Pierre Towers from FREIT’s operating results of approximately $1.3 million in interest expense), primarily attributed to the decline in interest rates on variable mortgage loans; and (g) a decline in repairs and maintenance expense of approximately $1.1 million (with a consolidated impact to FREIT of approximately $0.8 million) due to the deferral of non-essential maintenance projects across all properties in Fiscal 2020 in an
effort to keep such costs lower while the Company has experienced a loss of revenues at the commercial properties and to adjust to the difficulty in hiring contractors due to imposed COVID-19 restrictions and mandates. See Note 17 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for further details on the deconsolidation of the Pierre Towers property to a TIC. (Refer to the segment disclosure below for a more detailed discussion of the financial performance of FREIT’s commercial and residential segments.)
SEGMENT INFORMATION
The following table sets forth comparative net operating income ("NOI") data for FREIT’s real estate segments and reconciles the NOI to consolidated net income-common equity for Fiscal 2020, as compared to Fiscal 2019 (See below for definition of NOI):
Commercial
Residential
Combined
Years Ended
October 31,
Increase (Decrease)
Years Ended
October 31,
Increase (Decrease)
Years Ended
October 31,
$
%
$
%
(In Thousands)
(In Thousands)
(In Thousands)
Rental income
$
18,769
$
20,324
$
(1,555
)
-7.7
%
$
27,812
$
32,592
$
(4,780
)
-14.7
%
$
46,581
$
52,916
Reimbursements
5,690
6,295
(605
)
-9.6
%
11.9
%
5,840
6,429
Other
(46
)
-63.0
%
50.6
%
Total revenue
24,486
26,692
(2,206
)
-8.3
%
28,638
33,175
(4,537
)
-13.7
%
53,124
59,867
Operating expenses
11,334
11,694
(360
)
-3.1
%
11,588
14,368
(2,780
)
-19.3
%
22,922
26,062
Net operating income
$
13,152
$
14,998
$
(1,846
)
-12.3
%
$
17,050
$
18,807
$
(1,757
)
-9.3
%
30,202
33,805
Gain on sale of property
$
-
$
$
(836
)
-100.0
%
$
-
$
-
$
-
0.0
%
-
Average Occupancy %
79.7
%
81.5%
*
-1.8
%
94.0
%**
95.6
%**
-1.6
%
Reconciliation to consolidated net income-common equity:
Deferred rents - straight lining
(397
)
Investment income
Unrealized loss on interest rate cap contract
-
(160
)
Special Committee third party advisory, legal and other expenses
(4,606
)
(1,416
)
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary
27,680
-
Loss on investment in tenancy-in-common
(202
)
-
General and administrative expenses
(3,821
)
(2,633
)
Depreciation
(10,341
)
(11,339
)
Tenant improvement write-off due to COVID-19
(7,277
)
-
Financing costs
(14,122
)
(18,070
)
Net income
17,320
1,793
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries
3,233
(6
)
Net income attributable to common equity
$
20,553
$
1,787
*Average occupancy rate excludes the Patchogue, New York property as the property was sold in February 2019.
**Average occupancy rate excludes the Pierre Towers property from all periods presented as the property was deconsolidated and converted to a TIC effective February 28, 2020.
NOI is based on operating revenue and expenses directly associated with the operations of the real estate properties, but excludes deferred rents (straight lining), depreciation, financing costs and other items. FREIT assesses and measures segment operating results based on NOI.
Same Property NOI: FREIT considers same property net operating income (“Same Property NOI”) to be a useful supplemental non-GAAP measure of its operating performance. FREIT defines same property within both the commercial and residential segments to be those properties that FREIT has owned and operated for both the current and prior periods presented, excluding those properties that FREIT acquired or redeveloped during those periods. Any newly acquired property that has been in operation for less than a year, any property that is undergoing a major redevelopment but may still be in operation at less than full capacity, and/or any property that has been sold or deconsolidated is not considered same property.
NOI and Same Property NOI are non-GAAP financial measures and are not measures of operating results or cash flow as measured by GAAP, and are not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs and should not be considered an alternative to cash flows as a measure of liquidity.
COMMERCIAL SEGMENT
The commercial segment contains eight (8) separate properties. Seven of these properties are multi-tenanted retail or office centers, and one is single tenanted on land located in Rockaway, New Jersey owned by FREIT from which it receives monthly rental income from a tenant who has built and operates a bank branch on the land. On February 8, 2019, FREIT sold a commercial building, formerly occupied as a Pathmark supermarket in Patchogue, New York for a sales price of $7.5 million. The sale of this property, which had a carrying value of approximately $6.2 million, resulted in a gain of approximately $0.8 million net of sales fees and commissions. Net cash proceeds of approximately $2 million were realized after paying off the related mortgage on this property in the amount of approximately $5.2 million. The sale of this property eliminates an operating loss of approximately $0.8 million ($0.12 per share) incurred, annually, since Pathmark vacated the building in December 2015 (see Note 2 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for further details).
As indicated in the table above under the caption Segment Information, total revenue and NOI from FREIT’s commercial segment for Fiscal 2020 decreased by 8.3% and 12.3%, respectively, as compared to Fiscal 2019. The decline in revenue for Fiscal 2020 was primarily attributable to the following: (a) a reduction in revenue as compared to Fiscal 2019 resulting from Cobb Theatre’s rejection of its lease due to the Cobb Theatre bankruptcy filing as of June 30, 2020 at the Rotunda retail property in the amount of approximately $0.7 million (excluding the straight-line rent receivable write-off of approximately $0.4 million); (b) a reduction in total revenue in the amount of approximately $1.2 million (excluding the straight-line rent receivable write-off of approximately $0.2 million) as compared to Fiscal 2019 due to rental revenue being deemed uncollectible and classified as a reduction in rental revenue primarily attributed to commercial tenants suffering adverse financial consequences as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; (c) a decrease in revenue of approximately $0.2 million attributed to commercial rent abatements resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic; and (d) the remainder of the decline of approximately $0.1 million attributed to the 1.8% decrease in the average annual occupancy rate in Fiscal 2020 as compared to Fiscal 2019. The decline in NOI for Fiscal 2020 was primarily attributable to the following: (a) a decrease in revenue of approximately $2.2 million as explained above; (b) an increase in expense for the reserve of uncollectible rents of approximately $0.3 million primarily resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic impact; (c) a write-off of unamortized leasing costs related to Cobb Theatres’ rejection of its lease in the amount of approximately $0.2 million; offset by (d) a decline in repairs and maintenance expense of approximately $0.7 million due to the deferral of non-essential maintenance projects across all properties in Fiscal 2020 in an effort to keep such costs lower while the Company has experienced a loss of revenues at the commercial properties and to adjust to the difficulty in hiring contractors due to imposed COVID-19 restrictions and mandates.
Same Property Operating Results: FREIT’s commercial segment currently contains eight (8) same properties. (See definition of same property under Segment Information above.) The Patchogue property was excluded from same property results for Fiscal 2020 and 2019 because this property was sold in February 2019. Same property revenue and NOI for Fiscal 2020 decreased by 8.3% and 12.9%, respectively, as compared to Fiscal 2019. The changes resulted from the factors discussed in the immediately preceding paragraph.
Leasing: The following tables reflect leasing activity at FREIT’s commercial properties for comparable leases (leases executed for spaces in which there was a tenant at some point during the previous twelve-month period) and non-comparable leases for Fiscal 2020.
RETAIL:
Number of
Leases
Lease Area
(Sq. Ft.)
Weighted
Average
Lease Rate
(per Sq. Ft.)
Weighted
Average Prior
Lease Rate
(per Sq. Ft.)
% Increase
(Decrease)
Tenant
Improvement
Allowance
(per Sq. Ft.)
(a)
Lease
Commissions
(per Sq. Ft.)
(a)
Comparable leases (b)
20,619
$
27.75
$
32.07
-13.5
%
$
-
$
0.36
Non-comparable leases
1,730
$
14.63
N/A
N/A
$
-
$
0.80
Total leasing activity
22,349
OFFICE:
Number of
Leases
Lease Area
(Sq. Ft.)
Weighted
Average
Lease Rate
(per Sq. Ft.)
Weighted
Average Prior
Lease Rate
(per Sq. Ft.)
% Increase
(Decrease)
Tenant
Improvement
Allowance
(per Sq. Ft.)
(a)
Lease
Commissions
(per Sq. Ft.)
(a)
Comparable leases (b)
$
35.87
$
32.08
11.8
%
$
-
$
0.68
Non-comparable leases
-
-
$
-
N/A
N/A
$
-
$
-
Total leasing activity
(a) These leasing costs are presented as annualized costs per square foot and are allocated uniformly over the lease term.
(b) This includes new tenant leases and/or modifications/extensions/renewals of existing tenant leases.
RESIDENTIAL SEGMENT
FREIT currently operates seven (7) multi-family apartment buildings or complexes totaling 1,171 apartment units. On February 28, 2020, FREIT reorganized its subsidiary S and A Commercial Associates Limited Partnership (“S&A”) from a partnership into a TIC. Prior to this reorganization, FREIT owned a 65% membership interest in S&A, which owned 100% of the Pierre Towers property located in Hackensack, New Jersey through its 100% interest in Pierre Towers, LLC. Accordingly, FREIT consolidated the financial statements of S&A and its subsidiary to include 100% of the subsidiary’s assets, liabilities, operations and cash flows with the interest not owned by FREIT reflected as “noncontrolling interests in subsidiary” and all significant intercompany accounts and transactions were eliminated in consolidation.
Pursuant to the TIC agreement, FREIT ultimately acquired a 65% undivided interest in the Pierre Towers property which was formerly owned by S&A. Based on the guidance of Accounting Standards Codification 810, “Consolidation”, FREIT’s investment in the TIC is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. While FREIT’s effective ownership percentage interest in the Pierre Towers property remains unchanged after the reorganization to a TIC, FREIT no longer has a controlling interest as the TIC is now under joint control. Since FREIT retained a noncontrolling financial interest in the TIC, and the
deconsolidation (as of February 28, 2020) of the subsidiary is not the result of a nonreciprocal transfer to owners, a gain on deconsolidation in the amount of approximately $27.7 million was recognized in the accompanying consolidated statement of income for the year ended October 31, 2020. This gain was measured at the date of deconsolidation as the difference between the fair value of the investment in the TIC at the date the entity was deconsolidated and the carrying amount of the former subsidiary’s assets and liabilities. (See Note 17 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for further details.)
As indicated in the table above under the caption Segment Information, total revenue and NOI from FREIT’s residential segment for Fiscal 2020 decreased by 13.7% and 9.3%, respectively, as compared to Fiscal 2019. The decline in revenue for Fiscal 2020 was primarily attributable to the following: (a) a decline in revenue of approximately $5 million resulting from the deconsolidation of the operating results of the Pierre Towers property from FREIT’s operating results due to the conversion to a TIC as of February 28, 2020; offset by (b) insurance reimbursements received in Fiscal 2020 of approximately $0.3 million; and (c) a slight increase in base rents at most properties of approximately $0.2 million as compared to Fiscal 2019. The decline in NOI for Fiscal 2020 is primarily attributed the deconsolidation of the operating results of the Pierre Towers property from FREIT’s operating results resulting in a decrease of approximately $2.2 million in NOI as compared to Fiscal 2019 offset by a decline in repairs and maintenance expense of approximately $0.4 million due to the deferral of non-essential maintenance projects across all properties in Fiscal 2020 in an effort to keep such costs lower while the Company has experienced a loss of revenues at the commercial properties and to adjust to the difficulty in hiring contractors due to imposed COVID-19 restrictions and mandates. Average occupancy for all residential properties for Fiscal 2020 decreased by approximately 1.6% over Fiscal 2019. The decline in the average occupancy rate is primarily driven by the decline in the average occupancy rate at the Icon to an average occupancy rate of 91.5% for Fiscal 2020 as compared to 95.1% for Fiscal 2019. This decline in occupancy rate is primarily attributed to tenants attending the Johns Hopkins University, which is in close proximity to the Icon and represents approximately 30% of our tenants at this property. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Johns Hopkins University only offered online classes for the fall semester which resulted in a loss of these tenants at our property.
Same Property Operating Results: FREIT’s residential segment currently contains seven (7) same properties. (See definition of same property under Segment Information above.) The Pierre Towers property was excluded from same property results for both fiscal years since this property was deconsolidated and converted to a TIC as of February 28, 2020. Same property revenue and NOI increased by 0.9% and 1.7%, respectively, from Fiscal 2019. The changes resulted from the factors discussed in the immediately preceding paragraph.
FREIT’s residential revenue is principally composed of monthly apartment rental income. Total rental income is a factor of occupancy and monthly apartment rents. Monthly average residential rents at the end of Fiscal 2020 and Fiscal 2019 were $1,953 and $1,914, respectively. For comparability purposes, the average residential rent for Fiscal 2019 has been restated to include the impact of Station Place and excludes the impact of the Pierre Towers due to the deconsolidation and conversion to a TIC in Fiscal 2020. A 1% decline in annual average occupancy, or a 1% decline in average rents from current levels, results in an annual revenue decline of approximately $274,000 and $258,000, respectively.
Capital expenditures: Since all of FREIT’s apartment communities, with the exception of the Boulders, Regency, Icon and Station Place properties, were constructed more than 25 years ago, FREIT tends to spend more in any given year on maintenance and capital improvements than may be spent on newer properties. As a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic, only capital improvements deemed essential are being made at this time. Funds for these capital projects will be available from cash flow from the property's operations and cash reserves.
FINANCING COSTS
Years Ended October 31,
(In Thousands of Dollars)
Fixed rate mortgages (a):
1st Mortgages
Existing
$
7,401
$
8,763
New
-
Variable rate mortgages:
1st Mortgages
Existing
5,211
7,384
New
-
Other
Total financing costs, gross
13,033
16,931
Amortization of mortgage costs
1,089
1,139
Total financing costs, net
$
14,122
$
18,070
(a) Includes the effect of interest rate swap contracts which effectively convert the floating interest rate to a fixed interest rate over the term of the loan.
Total net financing costs for Fiscal 2020 decreased by approximately $3,948,000 or 21.8%, compared to Fiscal 2019 which is attributable to the following: (a) a decline in interest on variable mortgage loans of approximately $2,081,000 resulting from
lower interest rates; (b) the deconsolidation of the Pierre Towers property from FREIT’s operating results due to the conversion to a TIC as of February 28, 2020 resulting in a decrease in net financing costs of approximately $1,289,000; (c) a decline in other interest expense of approximately $265,000 primarily resulting from the $5 million payment of deferred Trustee fees to two retired Trustees earlier in Fiscal 2020 and a decline in the ten (10)-year Treasury Bond interest rate as compared to Fiscal 2019; and (d) the remainder of the decrease of approximately $313,000 resulted from the decline in interest on fixed interest rate mortgages due to another year of loan amortization. (See Note 17 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for further details on the deconsolidation of the Pierre Towers property.)
INVESTMENT INCOME
Investment income for Fiscal 2020 was $204,000 as compared to $360,000 for Fiscal 2019. Investment income is principally derived from interest earned from cash on deposit in institutional money market funds and interest earned from secured loans receivable (loans made to Hekemian employees, including Robert S. Hekemian, Jr., the Chief Executive Officer, President and a Trustee of FREIT, David B. Hekemian, a Trustee of FREIT, Allan Tubin, the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of FREIT and certain other members of the immediate family of the late Robert S. Hekemian, FREIT’s former Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and consultant of FREIT) for their equity investments (through Rotunda 100, LLC) in Grande Rotunda, LLC, a limited liability company in which FREIT owns a 60% equity interest. (See Note 8 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for additional details.)
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES (“G&A”)
G&A expense for Fiscal 2020 was $3,821,000 as compared to $2,633,000 for Fiscal 2019. The primary components of G&A are accounting/auditing fees, legal and professional fees, Trustees’ and consultant fees and corporate expenses. The increase in G&A costs for Fiscal 2020 was primarily driven by an increase in legal costs of approximately $960,000 resulting from the legal proceedings between FREIT and certain of its affiliates and Sinatra Properties, LLC and an increase of approximately $300,000 in lender and legal fees related to the conversion of the Pierre Towers partnership to a TIC in Fiscal 2020. (See Note 17 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for additional details.)
SPECIAL COMMITTEE THIRD PARTY ADVISORY, LEGAL AND OTHER EXPENSES
Special Committee third party advisory, legal and other expenses for Fiscal 2020 was $4,606,000 as compared to $1,416,000 for Fiscal 2019. These expenses are primarily composed of advisory and legal fees incurred. On May 7, 2020, the Board approved the elimination of the Special Committee as a committee of the Board. (See Note 14 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for further details.)
DEPRECIATION
Depreciation expense from operations for Fiscal 2020 was $10,341,000 as compared to $11,339,000 for Fiscal 2019. The decline in depreciation expense for Fiscal 2020 was primarily attributable to the deconsolidation of the operating results of the Pierre Towers property from FREIT’s operating results as of February 28, 2020. (See Note 17 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for further details.)
Fiscal Years Ended October 31, 2019 and 2018
Summary revenues and net income for Fiscal 2019 and the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018 (“Fiscal 2018”) are as follows:
Years Ended October 31,
Change
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Real estate revenues:
Commercial properties
$
27,122
$
26,149
$
Residential properties
33,155
31,848
1,307
Total real estate revenues
60,277
57,997
2,280
Operating expenses:
Real estate operating expenses
26,062
24,883
1,179
Special Committee third party advisory, legal and other expenses
1,416
-
1,416
General and administrative
2,633
2,305
Depreciation
11,339
11,515
(176
)
Total operating expenses
41,450
38,703
2,747
Operating income
18,827
19,294
(467
)
Investment income
Unrealized (loss) gain on interest rate cap contract
(160
)
(232
)
Gain on sale of property
-
Financing costs
(18,070
)
(18,667
)
Net income
1,793
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling
interests in subsidiaries
(6
)
(523
)
Net income attributable to common equity
$
1,787
$
1,483
$
Earnings per share - basic and diluted:
$
0.26
$
0.21
$
0.05
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted
6,940
6,883
Real estate revenue for Fiscal 2019 increased 3.9% to $60,277,000 compared to $57,997,000 for Fiscal 2018. The increase in revenue was primarily attributable to an increase in the average occupancy rate at the Rotunda property resulting from the lease-up of the residential units and retail space at the property.
Net income attributable to common equity (“net income-common equity”) for Fiscal 2019 was $1,787,000 ($0.26 per share basic and diluted), compared to $1,483,000 ($0.21 per share basic and diluted) for Fiscal 2018.
The schedule below provides a non-GAAP detailed analysis of the major changes that impacted revenue and net income-common equity for Fiscal 2019 and Fiscal 2018:
NON-GAAP NET INCOME COMPONENTS
Years Ended October 31,
Change
(thousands of dollars)
Income from real estate operations:
Commercial properties
$
15,427
$
14,288
$
1,139
Residential properties
18,788
18,826
(38
)
Total income from real estate operations
34,215
33,114
1,101
Financing costs:
Fixed rate mortgages
(8,953
)
(10,248
)
1,295
Floating rate mortgages
(7,384
)
(5,368
)
(2,016
)
Floating rate - Rotunda construction loan
-
(1,321
)
1,321
Credit line
-
(28
)
Other - Corporate interest
(594
)
(652
)
Mortgage cost amortization
(1,139
)
(1,050
)
(89
)
Total financing costs
(18,070
)
(18,667
)
Investment income
Unrealized (loss) gain on interest rate cap contract
(160
)
(232
)
General & administrative expenses:
Accounting fees
(654
)
(544
)
(110
)
Legal & professional fees
(135
)
(121
)
(14
)
Trustees and consultant fees
(1,164
)
(989
)
(175
)
Stock option expense
(124
)
(130
)
Corporate expenses
(556
)
(521
)
(35
)
Total general & administrative expenses
(2,633
)
(2,305
)
(328
)
Special Committee third party advisory, legal and other expenses
(1,416
)
-
(1,416
)
Depreciation
(11,339
)
(11,515
)
Adjusted net income
(9
)
Gain on sale of property
-
Net income
1,793
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling
interests in subsidiaries
(6
)
(523
)
Net income attributable to common equity
$
1,787
$
1,483
$
Adjusted net income for Fiscal 2019 was $957,000 ($0.14 per share basic and diluted) compared to $966,000 ($0.14 per share basic and diluted) for Fiscal 2018. Adjusted net income is a non-GAAP measure, which management believes is a useful and meaningful gauge to investors of our operating performance, since it excludes the impact of unusual and infrequent items specifically: a gain related to the sale of the property in Patchogue, New York in Fiscal 2019. The slight decrease in adjusted net income for Fiscal 2019 was primarily driven by the following: (a) real estate tax credits and refunds related to the Icon at the Rotunda property in the amount of approximately $1.1 million received in Fiscal 2018 related to Fiscal 2017 (with a consolidated impact to FREIT of approximately $0.7 million); (b) Special Committee third party advisory, legal and other expenses incurred in Fiscal 2019 in the amount of approximately $1.4 million; (c) interest expense increase on the loan on the Rotunda property in the amount of approximately $0.6 million resulting primarily from an increase in interest rates as compared to the prior year; offset by (d) an increase in revenue of approximately $2.3 million as explained above and Fiscal 2018 being burdened by a $1.2 million loan prepayment cost (with a consolidated impact to FREIT of approximately $0.8 million) related to the Pierre Towers, LLC loan refinancing. (Refer to the segment disclosure below for a more detailed discussion on the financial performance of FREIT’s commercial and residential segments.)
SEGMENT INFORMATION
The following table sets forth comparative net operating income ("NOI") data for FREIT’s real estate segments and reconciles the NOI to consolidated net income-common equity for Fiscal 2019, as compared to Fiscal 2018:
Commercial
Residential
Combined
Years Ended
October 31,
Increase (Decrease)
Years Ended
October 31,
Increase (Decrease)
Years Ended
October 31,
$
%
$
%
(In Thousands)
(In Thousands)
(In Thousands)
Rental income
$
20,324
$
19,379
$
4.9
%
$
32,592
$
31,283
$
1,309
4.2
%
$
52,916
$
50,662
Reimbursements
6,295
5,989
5.1
%
28.8
%
6,429
6,093
Other
(23
)
-24.0
%
(92
)
-17.0
%
Total revenue
26,692
25,464
1,228
4.8
%
33,175
31,928
1,247
3.9
%
59,867
57,392
Operating expenses
11,694
11,861
(167
)
-1.4
%
14,368
13,022
1,346
10.3
%
26,062
24,883
Net operating income
$
14,998
$
13,603
$
1,395
10.3
%
$
18,807
$
18,906
$
(99
)
-0.5
%
33,805
32,509
Gain on sale of property
$
$
-
$
100.0
%
$
-
$
-
$
-
0.0
%
-
Average Occupancy %
81.5
%*
80.6
%*
0.9
%
95.2
%
94.4
%
0.8
%
Reconciliation to consolidated net income-common equity:
Deferred rents - straight lining
Investment income
Unrealized (loss) gain on interest rate cap contract
(160
)
Special Committee third party advisory, legal and other expenses
(1,416
)
-
General and administrative expenses
(2,633
)
(2,305
)
Depreciation
(11,339
)
(11,515
)
Financing costs
(18,070
)
(18,667
)
Net income
1,793
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
(6
)
Net income attributable to common equity
$
1,787
$
1,483
*Average occupancy rate excludes the Patchogue, New York property from all periods presented as the property was sold in February 2019.
NOI is based on operating revenue and expenses directly associated with the operations of the real estate properties, but excludes deferred rents (straight lining), depreciation, financing costs and other items. FREIT assesses and measures segment operating results based on NOI.
Same Property NOI: FREIT considers same property net operating income (“Same Property NOI”) to be a useful supplemental non-GAAP measure of its operating performance. FREIT defines same property within both the commercial and residential segments to be those properties that FREIT has owned and operated for both the current and prior periods presented, excluding those properties that FREIT acquired or redeveloped during those periods. Any newly acquired property that has been in operation for less than a year, any property that is undergoing a major redevelopment but may still be in operation at less than full capacity, and/or any property that has been sold or deconsolidated is not considered same property.
NOI and Same Property NOI are non-GAAP financial measures and are not measures of operating results or cash flow as measured by GAAP, and are not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs and should not be considered an alternative to cash flows as a measure of liquidity.
COMMERCIAL SEGMENT
The commercial segment contains eight (8) separate properties. Seven of these properties are multi-tenanted retail or office centers, and one is single tenanted on land located in Rockaway, New Jersey owned by FREIT from which it receives monthly rental income from a tenant who has built and operates a bank branch on the land. On February 8, 2019, FREIT sold a commercial building, formerly occupied as a Pathmark supermarket in Patchogue, New York for a sales price of $7.5 million. The sale of this property, which had a carrying value of approximately $6.2 million, resulted in a gain of approximately $0.8 million net of sales fees and commissions. Net cash proceeds of approximately $2 million were realized after paying off the related mortgage on this property in the amount of approximately $5.2 million. In connection with and in anticipation of the closing of the sale of the Patchogue property, FREIT declared a one-time special dividend of $0.10 per share in the first quarter of Fiscal 2019. The sale of this property eliminates an operating loss of approximately $0.8 million ($0.12 per share) incurred, annually, since Pathmark vacated the building in December 2015. (See Note 2 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements.)
As indicated in the table above under the caption Segment Information, total revenue and NOI from FREIT’s commercial segment for Fiscal 2019 increased by 4.8% and 10.3%, respectively, as compared to Fiscal 2018. Average occupancy for all commercial properties increased by 0.9% as compared to Fiscal 2018. The increase in revenue and NOI was primarily attributable to an increase in occupancy at the Rotunda property resulting from the lease-up of the new retail space from an average annual occupancy of 73.8% in Fiscal 2018 to 82.3% in Fiscal 2019.
Same Property Operating Results: FREIT’s commercial segment currently contains eight (8) same properties. (See definition of same property.) The Patchogue property was excluded from same property results for Fiscal 2019 and 2018 since this property was sold in February 2019. Same property revenue and NOI for Fiscal 2019 increased by 4.8% and 8.2%,
respectively, as compared to Fiscal 2018. The changes resulted from the factors discussed in the immediately preceding paragraph.
Leasing: The following tables reflect leasing activity at FREIT’s commercial properties for comparable leases (leases executed for spaces in which there was a tenant at some point during the previous twelve-month period) and non-comparable leases for Fiscal 2019.
RETAIL:
Number of
Leases
Lease Area
(Sq. Ft.)
Weighted
Average
Lease Rate
(per Sq. Ft.)
Weighted
Average Prior
Lease Rate
(per Sq. Ft.)
% Increase
(Decrease)
Tenant
Improvement
Allowance
(per Sq. Ft.)
(a)
Lease
Commissions
(per Sq. Ft.)
(a)
Comparable leases (b)
83,812
$
16.99
$
16.26
4.5
%
$
0.20
$
0.50
Non-comparable leases
10,708
$
33.35
N/A
N/A
$
2.32
$
1.62
Total leasing activity
94,520
OFFICE:
Number of
Leases
Lease Area
(Sq. Ft.)
Weighted
Average
Lease Rate
(per Sq. Ft.)
Weighted
Average Prior
Lease Rate
(per Sq. Ft.)
% Increase
(Decrease)
Tenant
Improvement
Allowance
(per Sq. Ft.)
(a)
Lease
Commissions
(per Sq. Ft.)
(a)
Comparable leases (b)
28,845
$
31.68
$
29.06
9.0
%
$
0.40
$
0.85
Non-comparable leases
14,590
$
25.76
N/A
N/A
$
5.16
$
1.77
Total leasing activity
43,435
(a) These leasing costs are presented as annualized costs per square foot and are allocated uniformly over the lease term.
(b) This includes new tenant leases and/or modifications/extensions/renewals of existing tenant leases.
RESIDENTIAL SEGMENT
FREIT currently operates eight (8) multi-family apartment buildings or complexes totaling 1,437 apartment units. On December 7, 2017, FREIT completed the acquisition of Station Place, a residential apartment complex consisting of one building with 45 units, located in Red Bank, New Jersey through Station Place on Monmouth, LLC (FREIT’s 100% owned consolidated subsidiary). FREIT identified Station Place as the replacement property for the Hammel Gardens property located in Maywood, New Jersey that FREIT sold on June 12, 2017, which completed the like-kind exchange pursuant to Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code (see Note 3 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for further details).
As indicated in the table above under the caption Segment Information, total revenue and NOI from FREIT’s residential segment for Fiscal 2019 increased by 3.9% and decreased by 0.5%, respectively, as compared to Fiscal 2018. Average occupancy for all residential properties increased by 0.8% as compared to Fiscal 2018. The increase in revenue for Fiscal 2019 was primarily attributable to: (a) an increase in the average occupancy at the Icon (the residential portion of the Rotunda property in Baltimore, Maryland) to 95.1% in Fiscal 2019 from 91.9% in Fiscal 2018; and (b) an increase in base rent across the residential properties. The slight decrease in NOI for Fiscal 2019 was primarily attributed to the real estate tax credits and refunds related to the Icon property at the Rotunda in the amount of $1.1 million received in Fiscal 2018 related to Fiscal 2017 (with a consolidated impact to FREIT of approximately $0.7 million) offset by a $1.2 million increase in revenue as explained above.
Same Property Operating Results: FREIT’s residential segment currently contains seven (7) same properties. (See definition of same property.) The Station Place property is not included as same property, since it is a newly acquired property that had been in operation for less than a year in Fiscal 2018. Same property revenue and NOI increased by 3.8% and decreased by 0.3%, respectively, from Fiscal 2018. Average occupancy for same properties increased by approximately 0.9% as compared to Fiscal 2018. The changes resulted from the factors discussed in the immediately preceding paragraph.
FREIT’s residential revenue is principally composed of monthly apartment rental income. Total rental income is a factor of occupancy and monthly apartment rents. Monthly average residential rents, (excluding from both periods presented for comparability purposes, the Station Place property which was a newly acquired property that had been in operation for less than a year in Fiscal 2018), at the end of Fiscal 2019 and Fiscal 2018 were $1,949 and $1,902, respectively. For comparability purposes, the average residential rent for Fiscal 2018 has been restated to include the impact of the Icon. A 1% decline in annual average occupancy, or a 1% decline in average rents from current levels, results in an annual revenue decline of approximately $326,000 and $304,000, respectively.
Capital expenditures: Since all of FREIT’s apartment communities, with the exception of the Boulders, Regency, Icon and Station Place properties, were constructed more than 25 years ago, FREIT tends to spend more in any given year on maintenance and capital improvements than may be spent on newer properties. Funds for these capital projects will be available from cash flow from the property's operations and cash reserves. In April 2018, Pierre Towers, LLC (“Pierre”), a consolidated subsidiary, entered into an agreement with Public Service Electric & Gas Company (“PSE&G”), whereby PSE&G funded a project to make certain upgrades at the Pierre property located in Hackensack, New Jersey, which included boiler replacement, replacement of interior and exterior lighting fixtures and minor lighting controls in apartment lighting. PSE&G funded 100% of this project at a total cost of approximately $926,000 and the project was completed in December
2018. Per the reimbursement agreement, Pierre Towers, LLC will reimburse PSE&G for approximately $314,000 of this cost on a monthly basis over a five-year term with no interest.
FINANCING COSTS
Years Ended October 31,
(In Thousands of Dollars)
Fixed rate mortgages (a):
1st Mortgages
Existing
$
8,763
$
8,353
New
1,895
Variable rate mortgages:
1st Mortgages
Existing
7,384
1,071
New
-
4,297
Construction loan-Rotunda
-
1,321
Credit line
-
Other
Total financing costs, gross
16,931
17,617
Amortization of mortgage costs
1,139
1,050
Total financing costs, net
$
18,070
$
18,667
(a) Includes the effect of interest rate swap contracts which effectively convert the floating interest rate to a fixed interest rate over the term of the loan.
Total net financing costs for Fiscal 2019 decreased 3.2% as compared to Fiscal 2018 which was primarily driven by Fiscal 2018 being burdened by a $1.2 million loan prepayment cost (with a consolidated impact to FREIT of approximately $0.8 million) related to the Pierre Towers, LLC loan refinancing offset by an increase in Fiscal 2019 of approximately $0.6 million in interest expense on the Grande Rotunda, LLC loan resulting from an increase in the one-month LIBOR interest rate. (See Note 5 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for more details.)
INVESTMENT INCOME
Investment income for Fiscal 2019 was $360,000 as compared to $267,000 for Fiscal 2018. Investment income is principally derived from interest earned from cash on deposit in institutional money market funds and interest earned from secured loans receivable (loans made to Hekemian employees, including, Robert S. Hekemian, Jr., the Chief Executive Officer, President and a Trustee of FREIT, David B. Hekemian, a Trustee of FREIT, Allan Tubin, the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of FREIT and certain other members of the immediate family of the late Robert S. Hekemian, FREIT’s former Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and consultant of FREIT) for their equity investments (through Rotunda 100, LLC) in Grande Rotunda, LLC, a limited liability company in which FREIT owns a 60% equity interest, and for their equity investments (through Damascus 100, LLC) in Damascus Centre, LLC, a limited liability company in which FREIT owns a 70% equity interest). The secured loan receivable (including accrued interest) from Damascus 100, LLC was repaid in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2018.
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
During Fiscal 2019, G&A was $2,633,000 as compared to $2,305,000 for Fiscal 2018. The primary components of G&A are accounting/auditing fees, legal and professional fees, Trustees’ and consultant fees.
SPECIAL COMMITTEE THIRD PARTY ADVISORY, LEGAL AND OTHER EXPENSES
Special Committee third party advisory, legal and other expenses for Fiscal 2019 was $1,416,000 as compared to $0 for Fiscal 2018. These expenses are primarily composed of advisory and legal fees incurred. The Special Committee was formed on March 28, 2019 and on May 7, 2020, the Board approved the elimination of the Special Committee as a committee of the Board. (See Note 14 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for further details.)
DEPRECIATION
Depreciation expense from operations for Fiscal 2019 was $11,339,000 as compared to $11,515,000 for Fiscal 2018. The slight decrease in depreciation in Fiscal 2019 was primarily attributable to lower depreciation expense resulting from the sale of the Patchogue property in February 2019. (See Note 2 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for further details.)
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Net cash provided by operating activities was $3.6 million for Fiscal 2020 compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $14.1 million for Fiscal 2019. FREIT expects that cash provided by operating activities and cash reserves will be adequate to cover mandatory debt service payments (including payments of interest, but excluding balloon payments), real estate taxes, recurring capital improvements at its properties and other needs to maintain its status as a REIT for at least a period of one year from the date of filing of this Form 10-K.
As at October 31, 2020, FREIT had cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaling $39.5 million, compared to $42.5 million at October 31, 2019. The decrease in cash in Fiscal 2020 is primarily attributable to $3.6 million in net cash used in financing activities, $3 million in net cash used in investing activities including capital expenditures offset by $3.6 million in net cash provided by operating activities. The primary drivers of this decline were as follows: (a) Special Committee third party advisory, legal and other expenses paid in the amount of approximately $5.1 million; (b) deferred compensation paid to two retired trustees in the amount of approximately $5 million; (c) the deconsolidation of the operating results of the Pierre Towers property from FREIT’s operating results, reducing net cash by approximately $1.4 million; offset by (d) a distribution received in the amount of approximately $2.2 million as a result of the refinancing of the loan on the Westwood Hills property in September 2020.
On February 8, 2019, FREIT sold a commercial building, formerly occupied as a Pathmark supermarket in Patchogue, New York for a sales price of $7.5 million. The sale of this property, which had a carrying value of approximately $6.2 million, resulted in a gain of approximately $0.8 million net of sales fees and commissions. Net cash proceeds of approximately $2 million were realized after paying off the related mortgage on this property in the amount of approximately $5.2 million. In connection with and in anticipation of the closing of the sale of the Patchogue property, FREIT declared a one-time special dividend of $0.10 per share in the first quarter of Fiscal 2019. The sale of this property eliminates an operating loss of approximately $0.8 million ($0.12 per share) incurred, annually, since Pathmark vacated the building in December 2015. (See Note 2 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements.)
On December 7, 2017, FREIT completed the acquisition of Station Place, a residential apartment complex consisting of one building with 45 units, located in Red Bank, New Jersey through Station Place on Monmouth, LLC (FREIT’s 100% owned consolidated subsidiary). FREIT identified Station Place as a replacement property for the Hammel Gardens property that FREIT sold on June 12, 2017 to complete the like-kind exchange transaction under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. Station Place is part of FREIT’s residential segment. The acquisition cost was $19,550,000 (inclusive of approximately $550,000 of transaction costs capitalized as part of the asset acquisition), which was funded in part with $7 million in net proceeds from the sale of the Hammel Gardens property, and the remaining balance of $12,350,000 (inclusive of the transaction costs) was funded by Station Place on Monmouth, LLC through long-term financing for this property from Provident Bank. (See Note 3 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements.)
The Rotunda property in Baltimore, Maryland (owned by FREIT’s 60% owned consolidated affiliate Grande Rotunda, LLC) is an 11.5 acre site containing, at the time that the property was acquired, a building with approximately 137,000 sq. ft. of office space and approximately 83,000 sq. ft. of retail space on the lower level of the building. In September 2013, FREIT began construction to redevelop and expand this property and, with the exception of retail tenant improvements, the redevelopment was substantially completed in the third quarter of Fiscal 2016. The redevelopment and expansion plans included a modernization of the office building and smaller adjacent buildings, construction of 379 residential apartment rental units, an additional 75,000 square feet of new retail space, and 864 above level parking spaces. By the end of the third quarter of Fiscal 2018, the residential section reached a stabilized level of occupancy of approximately 94%.
With regard to the funding of the Rotunda redevelopment project, Wells Fargo Bank, a previous lender, required that Grande Rotunda, LLC contribute not less than $14,460,000 toward the construction before any construction loan proceeds could be disbursed. To secure these funds Grande Rotunda, LLC made a capital call on its members, which are FREIT and Rotunda 100, LLC (“Rotunda 100”). FREIT’s share (60%) amounted to approximately $8.7 million, and the Rotunda 100 members’ share (40%) amounted to approximately $5.8 million. FREIT, pursuant to previous agreements, made secured loans to the Rotunda 100 members of approximately $2.1 million towards their share of the $5.8 million capital call. The balance of Rotunda 100’s capital call of approximately $3.7 million was initially made by FREIT until it was repaid by Rotunda 100 in August 2014. These loans bear an interest rate of 225 basis points over the 90 day LIBOR, and had a maturity date of June 19, 2015. On June 4, 2015, FREIT’s Board of Trustees approved an extension of the maturity date to occur the earlier of (a) June 19, 2018 or (b) five days after the closing of a permanent mortgage loan secured by the Rotunda property. On December 7, 2017, the Board approved a further extension of the maturity dates of these loans to the date or dates upon which distributions of cash are made by Grande Rotunda, LLC to its members as a result of the refinancing or sale of Grande Rotunda, LLC or the Rotunda property. Rotunda 100 is principally owned by employees of Hekemian & Co., including Allan Tubin, FREIT’s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Robert S. Hekemian, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, President and a Trustee of FREIT, David B. Hekemian, a Trustee of FREIT and certain other members of the immediate family of the late Robert S. Hekemian, FREIT’s former Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and consultant of FREIT. As of October 31, 2020, FREIT and Rotunda 100 have made their required capital contributions of $8.7 million and $5.8 million, respectively. Both FREIT and the Rotunda 100 members are treating their required capital contributions as additional investments in Grande Rotunda, LLC.
In Fiscal 2017, Grande Rotunda, LLC incurred substantial expenditures at the Rotunda property related to retail tenant improvements, leasing costs and operating expenditures which, in the aggregate, exceeded revenues as the property was still in the rent up phase and the construction loan previously held with Wells Fargo was at its maximum level resulting in no additional funding available to draw. Accordingly, during Fiscal 2017 the equity owners in Grande Rotunda, LLC (FREIT with a 60% ownership and Rotunda 100, LLC with a 40% ownership) contributed their respective pro-rata share of any cash needs through loans to Grande Rotunda, LLC. As of October 31, 2020 and October 31, 2019, Rotunda 100, LLC has funded Grande Rotunda, LLC with approximately $5.9 million and $5.7 million (including accrued interest), respectively, which is included in “Due to affiliate” on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
On February 7, 2018, Grande Rotunda, LLC (“Grande Rotunda”) refinanced its $115.3 million construction loan held by Wells Fargo with a new loan held by Aareal Capital Corporation in the amount of approximately $118.5 million with additional funding available through February 6, 2021 for retail tenant improvements and leasing costs in the amount of $3,380,000. This refinancing paid off the loan previously held by Wells Fargo, funded loan closing costs and paid the amount due to Hekemian Development Resources for a development fee of $900,000 plus accrued interest of approximately $45,000 (See Note 8 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for further details on this fee). This loan is secured by the Rotunda property, bears a floating interest rate at 285 basis points over the one-month LIBOR rate and has a maturity date of February 6, 2021 with two one-year renewal options to extend the maturity of this loan, subject to certain requirements as provided for in the loan agreement. As part of this transaction, Grande Rotunda purchased an interest rate cap on LIBOR for the full amount that can be drawn on this loan of $121.9 million, capping the one-month LIBOR rate at 3% for the first two years of this loan which matured on March 5, 2020. On February 28, 2020, Grande Rotunda purchased an interest rate cap on LIBOR, with an effective date of March 5, 2020, for the full amount that can be drawn on this loan of $121.9 million, capping the one-month LIBOR rate at 3% for one year. As of October 31, 2020, approximately $118.5 million of this loan facility was drawn down and the interest rate was approximately 2.99%. On November 5, 2020, Grande Rotunda elected to exercise the first extension option on this loan to extend the initial maturity date from February 6, 2021 until February 6, 2022. In order to extend the maturity due date Grande Rotunda must satisfy the following conditions: (a) pay to lender an extension fee of 0.2% of the extended loan balance; (b) certify that no default or events of default exist; (c) extend the interest rate cap to expire on February 6, 2022; and (d) allow lender to obtain an updated appraisal of the property. The principal balance of the amount of the loan to be extended must not exceed a loan-to-value of 62.5%. To the extent the loan-to-value exceeds the 62.5% limit, the loan must be brought in to balance via a loan reduction or by other means satisfactory to the Lender. Management expects the loan to be extended, however, until such time as a definitive agreement providing for a modification and extension of the loan is entered into, there can be no assurance the loan will be modified and extended. (See Notes 5 and 6 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for further details).
On April 22, 2016, Damascus Centre, LLC was able to take-down a second tranche of its loan held with People’s United Bank in the amount of $2,320,000, of which approximately $470,000 was readily available and the remaining $1,850,000 was held in escrow. In July 2018, these funds totaling $1,850,000 were released from escrow by the bank and became readily available to Damascus, Centre LLC. Damascus Centre, LLC distributed amounts due to FREIT and Damascus 100 and Damascus 100 in turn repaid FREIT the secured loans receivable plus accrued interest in the amount of approximately $1.9 million.
Credit Line: FREIT’s revolving line of credit provided by the Provident Bank was renewed for a three-year term ending on October 31, 2023. Draws against the credit line can be used for working capital needs and standby letters of credit. Draws against the credit line are secured by mortgages on FREIT’s Franklin Crossing Shopping Center in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey and retail space in Glen Rock, New Jersey. The total line of credit is $13 million and the interest rate on the amount outstanding is based on a floating interest rate of prime minus 25 basis points with a floor of 3.75%. During Fiscal 2017, FREIT utilized $3 million of its credit line to fund tenant improvements for new retail tenants at the Rotunda property and repaid this line of credit in full in Fiscal 2018. As of October 31, 2020 and 2019, there was no amount outstanding and $13 million was available under the line of credit. (See Note 5 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for additional details.)
Dividend: The Board of Trustees did not declare a dividend during Fiscal 2020. The Board will continue to evaluate the dividend on a quarterly basis.
As at October 31, 2020, FREIT’s aggregate outstanding mortgage debt was $307.2 million, which bears a weighted average interest rate of 3.84% and an average life of approximately 3.03 years. FREIT’s fixed rate mortgages are subject to amortization schedules that are longer than the terms of the mortgages. As such, balloon payments (unpaid principal amounts at mortgage due date) for all mortgage debt will be required as follows:
Fiscal Year
($ in millions)
Mortgage "Balloon" Payments
$140.2 (A)
$14.4
$59.8
$9.0
$13.9
$18.6
$10.5
$26.0
(A) Includes the following: (1) loan (with two one-year renewal options) on the Rotunda property located in Baltimore, Maryland with a balloon payment in the amount of approximately $118.5 million which matures on February 6, 2021. On November 5, 2020, Grande Rotunda elected to exercise the first extension option on this loan to extend the initial maturity date from February 6, 2021 until February 6, 2022; and (2) loan on the Westridge Square shopping center located in Frederick, Maryland with a balloon payment in the amount of approximately $21.7 million which matures on January 31, 2021. The lenders of these properties are conducting due diligence on these loan modifications/extensions. Management expects these loans to be modified/extended, however, until such time as a definitive agreement providing for a modification/extension of these loans are entered into, there can be no assurance these loans will be modified/extended.
The following table shows the estimated fair value and carrying value of FREIT’s long-term debt, net at October 31, 2020 and 2019:
($ in Millions)
October 31, 2020
October 31, 2019
Fair Value
$311.4
$352.9
Carrying Value, Net
$305.4
$349.9
Fair values are estimated based on market interest rates at the end of each fiscal year and on a discounted cash flow analysis. Changes in assumptions or estimation methods may significantly affect these fair value estimates. The fair value is based on observable inputs (level 2 in the fair value hierarchy as provided by authoritative guidance).
FREIT expects to refinance the individual mortgages with new mortgages or exercise extension options when their terms expire. To this extent FREIT has exposure to interest rate risk. If interest rates, at the time any individual mortgage note is due, are higher than the current fixed interest rate, higher debt service may be required, and/or refinancing proceeds may be less than the amount of mortgage debt being retired. For example, at October 31, 2020, a 1% interest rate increase would reduce the fair value of FREIT’s debt by $5.8 million, and a 1% decrease would increase the fair value by $6.1 million.
FREIT continually reviews its debt levels to determine if additional debt can prudently be utilized for property acquisitions for its real estate portfolio that will increase income and cash flow to shareholders.
On September 30, 2020, Westwood Hills, LLC (“Westwood Hills”), a consolidated subsidiary, refinanced its $19.2 million loan (which would have matured on November 1, 2020) with a new loan held by ConnectOne Bank in the amount of $25,000,000, with additional funding available in the amount of $250,000 for legal fees potentially incurred by the lender related to the lis pendens on this property. (See Note 14 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for additional details.) This loan, secured by an apartment building in Westwood, New Jersey, is interest-only based on a floating rate at 400 basis points over the one-month LIBOR rate with a floor of 4.15% and has a maturity date of October 1, 2022 with the option of Westwood Hills to extend for two (2) additional six (6)-month periods from the maturity date, subject to certain provisions of the loan agreement. This refinancing resulted in: (i) a change in the annual interest rate from a fixed rate of 4.62% to a variable rate with a floor of 4.15% and (ii) net refinancing proceeds of approximately $5.6 million that were distributed to the partners in Westwood Hills with FREIT receiving approximately $2.2 million based on its 40% membership interest in Westwood Hills. As of October 31, 2020, approximately $25,000,000 of this loan was drawn and outstanding. (See Note 5 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for additional details.)
On August 26, 2019, Berdan Court, LLC (“Berdan Court”), (owned 100% by FREIT), refinanced its $17 million loan (which matured on September 1, 2019) with the lender in the amount of $28,815,000. This loan, secured by an apartment building located in Wayne, New Jersey, has a term of ten years and bears a fixed interest rate equal to 3.54%. Interest-only payments are required each month for the first five years of the term and thereafter, principal payments plus accrued interest will be required each month through maturity. This refinancing resulted in: (i) a reduction in the annual interest rate from a fixed rate of 6.09% to a fixed rate of 3.54% and (ii) net refinancing proceeds of approximately $11.6 million which can be used for capital expenditures and general corporate purposes. (See Note 5 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for additional details.)
On April 3, 2019, WestFREIT, Corp. (owned 100% by FREIT) exercised its option to extend its loan held by M&T Bank, with a then outstanding balance of approximately $22.5 million, for twelve months. Effective beginning on June 1, 2019, the extension of this loan, secured by the Westridge Square shopping center, required monthly principal payments of $47,250 plus interest based on a floating interest rate equal to 240 basis points over the one-month LIBOR and had a maturity date of May 1, 2020 which was extended to November 1, 2020. This loan has been further extended with a new maturity date of January 31, 2021 under the same terms and conditions of the existing agreement while the lender is in discussions with the Company regarding a further modification and extension of this loan. Management expects the loan to be extended, however, until such time as a definitive agreement providing for a modification and extension of the loan is entered into, there can be no assurance the loan will be modified and extended. (See Note 5 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for additional details.)
On December 7, 2017, Station Place on Monmouth, LLC (owned 100% by FREIT) closed on a mortgage loan in the amount of $12,350,000 held by Provident Bank to purchase the Station Place property in Red Bank, New Jersey. Interest-only payments are required each month for the first two years of the term and thereafter, principal payments plus accrued interest will be required each month through maturity. The loan bears a floating interest rate equal to 180 basis points over the one-month BBA LIBOR with a maturity date of December 15, 2027. In order to minimize interest rate volatility during the term of the loan, Station Place on Monmouth, LLC entered into an interest rate swap agreement that, in effect, converted the floating interest rate to a fixed interest rate of 4.35% over the term of the loan. The interest rate swap is considered a derivative financial instrument that will be used only to reduce interest rate risk, and not held or used for trading purposes. On January 21, 2019, Station Place on Monmouth, LLC entered into a modification agreement with Provident Bank to modify the loan’s Debt Service Coverage Ratio covenants. (See Note 5 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements.)
Interest rate swap contracts: To reduce interest rate volatility, FREIT uses a “pay fixed, receive floating” interest rate swap to convert floating interest rates to fixed interest rates over the term of a certain loan. FREIT enters into these swap contracts
with a counterparty that is usually a high-quality commercial bank. In essence, FREIT agrees to pay its counterparties a fixed rate of interest on a dollar amount of notional principal (which corresponds to FREIT’s mortgage debt) over a term equal to the term of the mortgage notes. FREIT’s counterparties, in return, agree to pay FREIT a short-term rate of interest - generally LIBOR - on that same notional amount over the same term as the mortgage notes.
FREIT has variable interest rate loans secured by its Damascus Centre, LLC (“Damascus Centre”), Wayne PSC, LLC (“Wayne PSC”), FREIT Regency, LLC (“Regency”) and Station Place on Monmouth, LLC (“Station Place”) properties. To reduce interest rate fluctuations, FREIT entered into interest rate swap contracts for each of these loans. These interest rate swap contracts effectively converted variable interest rate payments to fixed interest rate payments. The contracts were based on a notional amount of approximately $22,320,000 ($18,869,000 at October 31, 2020) for the Damascus Centre swaps, a notional amount of approximately $16,200,000 ($15,255,000 at October 31, 2020) for the Regency swap, a notional amount of approximately $25,800,000 ($23,078,000 at October 31, 2020) for the Wayne PSC swap and a notional amount of approximately $12,350,000 ($12,181,000 at October 31, 2020) for the Station Place swap.
Interest rate cap contract: To limit exposure on interest rate volatility, FREIT uses an interest rate cap contract to cap a floating interest rate at a set pre-determined rate. FREIT enters into cap contracts with a counterparty that is usually a high-quality commercial bank. In essence, so long as the floating interest rate is below the cap rate, FREIT agrees to pay its counterparties a variable rate of interest on a dollar amount of notional principal (which corresponds to FREIT’s mortgage debt). Once the floating interest rate rises above the cap rate, FREIT’s counterparties, in return, agree to pay FREIT a short-term rate of interest above the cap on that same notional amount.
FREIT has a variable interest rate loan secured by its Rotunda property. As part of the refinancing of Grande Rotunda, LLC’s (Grande Rotunda) construction loan held by Wells Fargo with a new loan from Aareal Capital Corporation, Grande Rotunda, LLC purchased an interest rate cap on LIBOR for the full amount that can be drawn on this loan of $121.9 million, capping the one-month LIBOR rate at 3% for the first two years of this loan which matured on March 5, 2020. On February 28, 2020, Grande Rotunda purchased an interest rate cap on LIBOR, with an effective date of March 5, 2020, for the full amount that can be drawn on this loan of $121.9 million, capping the one-month LIBOR rate at 3% for one year. The cap contract was based on a notional amount of approximately $121,900,000 ($121,900,000 at October 31, 2020) and a term of one year with the loan being hedged against having a balance of approximately $118,520,000 and a remaining term of one year.
In accordance with ASU 2017-12, “Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities to Accounting Standards Codification Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging ("ASC 815")” which was adopted by FREIT in the first quarter of Fiscal 2020 (see Note 1 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for further details), FREIT marks-to-market its interest rate swap and cap contracts. As the floating interest rate varies from time-to-time over the term of the contract, the value of the contract will change upward or downward. If the floating rate is higher than the fixed rate, the value of the contract goes up and there is a gain and an asset. If the floating rate is less than the fixed rate, there is a loss and a liability. The interest rate swaps and cap are accounted for as cash flow hedges with the corresponding gains or losses on these contracts not affecting FREIT’s consolidated statements of income; changes in the fair value of these cash flow hedges will be reported in other comprehensive income and appear in the equity section of the consolidated balance sheet. This gain or loss represents the economic consequence of liquidating fixed rate swaps or the cap contract and replacing them with like-duration funding at current market rates, something we would likely never do. Periodic cash settlements of these contracts will be accounted for as an adjustment to interest expense. In Fiscal 2019, prior to the adoption of ASU 2017-12, the Grande Rotunda interest rate cap which matured on March 5, 2020 was, for accounting purposes, deemed to be an ineffective cash flow hedge with a corresponding gain or loss being recorded in FREIT’s consolidated statements of income.
FREIT has the following derivative-related risks with its swap and cap contracts (“contract”): 1) early termination risk, and 2) counterparty credit risk.
Early Termination Risk: If FREIT wants to terminate its contract before maturity, it would be bought out or terminated at market value; i.e., the difference in the present value of the anticipated net cash flows from each of the contract’s parties. If current variable interest rates are significantly below FREIT’s fixed interest rate payments, this could be costly. Conversely, if interest rates rise above FREIT’s fixed interest payments and FREIT elected early termination, FREIT would realize a gain on termination. At October 31, 2020, the swap contracts for Damascus Centre, Regency, Station Place and Wayne PSC were in the counterparties’ favor. If FREIT had terminated these contracts at that date it would have realized losses of approximately $0 for the Grande Rotunda cap, $610,000 for the Damascus Centre swaps, $1,385,000 for the Regency swap, $1,669,000 for the Station Place swap and $1,260,000 for the Wayne PSC swap, all of which have been included as a liability in FREIT’s consolidated balance sheet as at October 31, 2020. The change in the fair value for the contract (gain or loss) during such period has been included in comprehensive income and for the year ended October 31, 2020, FREIT recorded an unrealized loss of approximately $2,798,000 in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
In Fiscal 2019, FREIT was accounting for its interest rate swaps and cap contract in accordance with ASC 815, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”. (See Notes 1 and 6 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for additional details). For the year ended October 31 2019, FREIT recorded an unrealized loss of $6,400,000 in the consolidated statement of comprehensive loss representing the change in fair value of the swaps
during such period. For the year ended October 31, 2019, FREIT recorded an unrealized loss in the consolidated statement of income of approximately $160,000 for Grande Rotunda’s interest rate cap (which matured on March 5, 2020) representing the change in the fair value of this ineffective cash flow hedge during such period. As of October 31, 2019, the fair value of the Grande Rotunda interest rate cap contract was $0.
Counterparty Credit Risk: Each party to a cap or swap contract bears the risk that its counterparty will default on its obligation to make a periodic payment. FREIT reduces this risk by entering into swap or cap contracts only with major financial institutions that are experienced market makers in the derivatives market.
FREIT’s total contractual obligations under its line of credit and mortgage loans in place as of October 31, 2020 are as follows:
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS-PRINCIPAL
(in thousands of dollars)
Within
2 - 3
4 - 5
After 5
Total
One Year
Years
Years
Years
Long-Term Debt
Annual Amortization
$
14,945
$
3,188
$
4,944
$
3,174
$
3,639
Balloon Payments
292,295
140,200
74,149
22,915
55,031
Total Long-Term Debt*
$
307,240
$
143,388
$
79,093
$
26,089
$
58,670
*Includes deferred interest in the amount of approximately $360,000. See Note 5 to FREIT's consolidated financials for additional details.
FREIT’s annual estimated cash requirements related to interest on its line of credit and mortgage loans in place as of October 31, 2020 are as follows:
INTEREST OBLIGATIONS
(in thousands of dollars)
Within
2 - 3
4 - 5
After 5
Total
One Year
Years
Years
Years
Interest on Fixed Rate Debt
$
24,685
$
5,308
$
8,906
$
4,949
$
5,522
Interest on Variable Rate Debt (1) (2)
7,203
4,724
2,479
-
-
Total Interest Obligations
$
31,888
$
10,032
$
11,385
$
4,949
$
5,522
(1) Interest based on rates as of October 31, 2020
(2) Since management expects the loan on the Rotunda property to be extended through February 6, 2022 and the loan on the Westridge Square shopping center to be extended for at least one year through January 31, 2022, an estimate of interest expense was included (See Note 5 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for additional details.)
ADJUSTED FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS
Funds From Operations (“FFO”) is a non-GAAP measure defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”). FREIT does not include sources or distributions from equity/debt sources in its computation of FFO. Although many consider FFO as the standard measurement of a REIT’s performance, FREIT modified the NAREIT computation of FFO to include other adjustments to GAAP net income that are not considered by management to be the primary drivers of its decision making process. These adjustments to GAAP net income are straight-line rents and recurring capital improvements on FREIT’s residential apartments. The modified FFO computation is referred to as Adjusted Funds From Operations (“AFFO”). FREIT believes that AFFO is a superior measure of its operating performance. FREIT computes FFO and AFFO as follows:
Years Ended October 31,
(In Thousands, Except Per Share)
Funds From Operations ("FFO") (a)
Net income
$
17,320
$
1,793
$
Depreciation of consolidated properties
10,341
11,339
11,515
Tenant improvement write-off due to COVID-19
7,277
-
-
Amortization of deferred leasing costs
Distributions to minority interests
(583
)(b)
(686
)
(626
)(c)
Adjustment to loss in investment in tenancy-in-common for depreciation
-
-
Gain on sale of property
-
(836
)
-
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary
(27,680
)
-
-
FFO
$
8,338
$
12,221
$
12,594
Per Share - Basic and Diluted
$
1.19
$
1.76
$
1.83
(a) As prescribed by NAREIT.
(b) FFO excludes the distribution of proceeds to minority interest in the amount of approximately $3.3 million related to the refinancing of the loan for the Westwood Hills property. See Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements for further details.
(c) FFO excludes the distribution of proceeds to minority interest in the amount of approximately $6 million related to the refinancing of the loan for the Pierre Towers property (previously owned by S And A Commercial Associates Limited Partnership) which in Fiscal 2018 was a consolidated subsidiary and the distribution of funds to minority interest in the amount of approximately $1.6 million received from Damascus Centre, LLC for funds which were previously held in escrow. See Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements for further details.
Adjusted Funds From Operations ("AFFO")
FFO
$
8,338
$
12,221
$
12,594
Deferred rents (Straight lining)
(410
)
(605
)
Capital Improvements - Apartments
(347
)
(685
)
(738
)
AFFO
$
8,388
$
11,126
$
11,251
Per Share - Basic and Diluted
$
1.20
$
1.60
$
1.63
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:
Basic
6,992
6,940
6,883
Diluted
6,994
6,940
6,883
FFO and AFFO do not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP, and therefore should not be considered a substitute for net income as a measure of results of operations or for cash flow from operations as a measure of liquidity. Additionally, the application and calculation of FFO and AFFO by certain other REITs may vary materially from that of FREIT, and therefore FREIT’s FFO and AFFO may not be directly comparable to those of other REITs.
STOCK OPTION PLAN
On March 4, 2019, the Board approved the grant of an aggregate of 5,000 non-qualified share options under the Plan to the Chairman of the Board. The options have an exercise price of $15.00 per share, will vest in equal annual installments over a 5-year period and will expire 10 years from the date of grant, which will be March 3, 2029. (See Note 10 to FREIT’s consolidated financial statements for further details.)
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS
Since its inception in 1961, FREIT has elected to be treated as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. In order to qualify as a REIT, FREIT must satisfy a number of highly technical and complex operational requirements, including a requirement that FREIT must distribute to its shareholders at least 90% of its REIT taxable income. Although cash used to make distributions reduces amounts available for capital investment, FREIT generally intends to distribute not less than the minimum of REIT taxable income necessary to satisfy the applicable REIT requirement as set forth in the Internal Revenue Code. With respect to the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003, the reduction of the tax rate on dividends does not apply to FREIT dividends other than capital gains dividends, which are subject to capital gains rates. FREIT’s policy is to pass on at least 90% of its ordinary taxable income to shareholders. FREIT’s taxable income is untaxed at the trust level to the extent distributed to shareholders. FREIT’s dividends of ordinary taxable income will be taxed as ordinary income to its shareholders and FREIT’s capital gains dividends will be taxed as capital gains to its shareholders. FREIT’s Board of Trustees evaluates the dividend to be declared/paid (if any) on a quarterly basis.
The following tables list the quarterly dividends declared for the three most recent fiscal years and the dividends as a percentage of taxable income for those periods.
Fiscal Years Ended October 31,
First Quarter
$
-
$
0.150
$
-
Second Quarter
$
-
$
0.125
$
0.05
Third Quarter
$
-
$
0.125
$
0.05
Fourth Quarter
$
-
$
0.200
$
0.05
Total For Year
$
-
$
0.600
$
0.15
(in thousands of dollars)
Dividends
as a % of
Taxable Income
Fiscal
Year
Per
Share
Total
Dividends
Ordinary
Income-Tax Basis
Capital Gain
Income-Tax Basis
Taxable
Income
$
-
$
-
$
-
*
$
-
$
-
*
0.0
%
$
0.60
$
4,173
$
4,073
$
$
3,877
107.6
%
$
0.15
$
1,035
$
1,035
$
-
$
164.3
%
*Estimated
INFLATION
Inflation can impact the financial performance of FREIT in various ways. FREIT’s commercial tenant leases normally provide that the tenants bear all or a portion of most operating expenses, which can reduce the impact of inflationary increases on FREIT. Apartment leases are normally for a one-year term, which may allow FREIT to seek increased rents as leases renew or when new tenants are obtained, subject to prevailing market conditions.
ITEM 7AQUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
See “Liquidity and Capital Resources” and “Segment Information” in Item 7 above.

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The consolidated financial statements and supplementary data of FREIT are submitted as a separate section of this Form 10-K. See "Index to Consolidated Financial Statements" on page 70 of this Form 10-K.
ITEM 9CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9A CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
At the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of FREIT’s disclosure controls and procedures. This evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with participation of FREIT’s management, including FREIT’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, who concluded that FREIT’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of October 31, 2020. There have been no significant changes in FREIT’s internal controls or in other factors which could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date we carried out our evaluation.
Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in FREIT’s reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in FREIT’s reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including FREIT’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting - FREIT’s management, under the supervision of FREIT’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act). Management evaluated the effectiveness of FREIT’s internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on that evaluation, management has concluded that FREIT’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of October 31, 2020.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting - FREIT’s management, with the participation of FREIT’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated whether any change in FREIT’s internal control over financial reporting occurred during the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2020. Based on that evaluation, management concluded that there has been no change in FREIT’s internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2020 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, FREIT’s internal control over financial reporting.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 9B OTHER INFORMATION
None.
PART III
ITEM 10DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Executive Officers and Trustees
The executive officers and trustees of the Trust are as follows:
Name
Age
Position(s)
Robert S. Hekemian, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer, President and Trustee
Ronald J. Artinian
Chairman of the Board and Trustee
David F. McBride, Esq.
Trustee
John A. Aiello, Esq.
Executive Secretary, Secretary and Trustee
Justin F. Meng
Trustee
David B. Hekemian
Trustee
Richard J. Aslanian
Trustee
Allan Tubin
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
There are no family relationships among the members of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and the executive officers, except that Robert S. Hekemian, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, President and a trustee of the Trust, and David B. Hekemian, a trustee, are siblings and the sons of the late Robert S. Hekemian, the Trust’s former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hekemian & Co., Inc., the Trust’s managing agent (“Hekemian & Co.”). During the past five years, none of the trustees or executive officers of the Trust have served as directors of any company with a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act or subject to the requirements of Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act or any company registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, except Robert S. Hekemian, Jr., who was a director of Oritani Financial Corp. (ORIT), the holding company for Oritani Bank, of which he was also a director, until Oritani Financial Corp. merged into Valley National Bancorp in December 2019, and Ronald J. Artinian, who served as a director of CommonWealth REIT (now known as Equity Commonwealth) during 2014, and The Reserve, The Reserve Primary Fund in Liquidation and The Reserve Yield Plus Fund in Liquidation, which are registered investment companies, from 2006 to 2016.
Each of the executive officers of the Trust serves in his office(s) until such time as his successor is elected and qualified.
Biographical Information
Robert S. Hekemian, Jr. has served as a trustee since 2007, and he was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Trust in April 2018 following the retirement of the late Robert S. Hekemian as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Trust. Mr. Hekemian was additionally appointed to the office of President of the Trust in February 2019. Mr. Robert Hekemian, Jr.’s current term as a member of the Board is scheduled to expire in April 2023 and his term as Chief Executive Officer will expire at such time as his successor is appointed and qualifies. Mr. Hekemian has been involved in real estate activities for over 35 years, including property management, leasing, mortgage financing, construction and acquisitions of residential and commercial properties located throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. He has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Hekemian & Co. since 2004, and is a member of the Executive Committee of Hekemian & Co. From 1983 to 2003, Mr. Hekemian served as Executive Vice President of Hekemian & Co. Mr. Hekemian is principally responsible for identifying real estate acquisitions and evaluating the performance of the real estate properties managed by Hekemian & Co. with a view toward maintaining or altering management and/or leasing strategies. Mr. Hekemian is a member of the Board of Governors, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University. He formerly served on the Board of the New York Philharmonic and was the former Chairman of the Bergen Community College Foundation. He was also a former Member of the Board of Governors, Hackensack University Medical Center, and a former trustee of the Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation.
Ronald J. Artinian has served as a trustee since 1992, and he was appointed as Chairman of the Trust in April 2018 following the retirement of the late Robert S. Hekemian as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Trust. Mr. Artinian’s current term as a member of the Board is scheduled to expire in April 2022, and his term as Chairman will expire at such time as his successor is appointed and qualifies. Mr. Artinian worked in the financial services industry for 26 years, including with Smith Barney, Inc. from 1989 to 1998, where Mr. Artinian held positions as an Executive Vice President, Managing Director and National Sales Manager. Mr. Artinian retired from Smith Barney in January 1998 in order to pursue other business
interests as a private investor. Mr. Artinian joined the board of The Reserve, a money market fund, in 2007 and served as lead independent director from March 2009 through December 2016.
David F. McBride, Esq. has served as a trustee since 2007. His current term as a member of the Board is scheduled to expire in April 2023. Mr. McBride has over 45 years of diversified real estate experience. He is the Chief Executive Officer of McBride Enterprises, Inc., a family-owned real estate company started in 1898. Mr. McBride was responsible for the development of numerous office and industrial properties, as well as residential projects in Northern New Jersey. He also oversaw the operations of his family’s general construction company, the Alpert P. Schmidt Construction Company, civil engineering firm, Urban Planning and Engineering Company, and commercial brokerage firm, McBride Corporate Real Estate. Mr. McBride was also instrumental in forming the Keystone Property Trust (NYSE) in 1998 and served as its Chairman of the Board until its sale to ProLogis (NYSE) in 2004. Mr. McBride has also been a Partner in and is presently Of Counsel to the law firm of Harwood Lloyd, LLC, specializing in real estate matters. Since 1998, Mr. McBride has also served as the Chairman and President of the Mountain Club Inc., t/a The High Mountain Golf Club. Mr. McBride also served on the Advisory Board of the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University from 2008 to 2018.
John A. Aiello, Esq. has served as the Secretary and Executive Secretary of the Trust since 2003 and as a member of the Board since December 2015. His current term as a member of the Board of Trustees is scheduled to expire at the annual meeting of the Trust’s shareholders. Mr. Aiello is an officer and shareholder of the law firm of Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla, P.C., where he has practiced law for 46 years. He is Chairman of the law firm’s Corporate and Securities practice group and concentrates his practice on corporate and securities law matters, including mergers and acquisitions and various corporate finance transactions. See the section entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions; Trustee Independence”. Mr. Aiello is an emeritus member and former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Business Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association and a former member of the Board of Directors of the New Jersey chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth, a non-profit organization of professionals and business leaders in the middle market mergers and acquisitions space. Mr. Aiello is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Leon Hess School of Business of Monmouth University.
Justin F. Meng has served as a trustee since February 2016. His current term as a member of the Board is scheduled to expire in April 2022. Mr. Meng is a Managing Partner and Co-Portfolio Manager at V3 Capital Management L.P., an investment firm focused on publicly-traded real estate securities that he co-founded in 2011. Previously, he was Partner and Head of REIT Research for High Rise Capital Management, L.P., where he worked from 2005 to 2011. From 2002 to 2005, Mr. Meng served as an Associate at J.P. Morgan Asset Management in the Real Estate Investment Group, where he worked both in the acquisitions and asset management departments. From 2000 to 2002, he served as an Analyst at J.P. Morgan Asset Management in their Fixed Income Group. Mr. Meng is a CFA charterholder.
David B. Hekemian has served as a trustee since April 2018. His current term as a member of the Board is scheduled to expire at the annual meeting of the Trust’s shareholders. Mr. Hekemian has served as a commercial real estate executive at Hekemian & Co. for over 30 years, holding positions of increasing responsibilities throughout his tenure at the company with a focus on strategic business and investment planning, retail development and leasing, asset profitability management and lender negotiations. From 1988 to 1992 he served as Property Manager, and from 1992 to 1996 he served as Vice President-Salesperson. Since 1996 Mr. Hekemian has served as Principal/Broker-Salesperson, Director of Commercial Brokerage and as a member of Hekemian & Co.’s Executive Committee. Mr. Hekemian is a member of the Armenian Missionary Association of America, where he served as Assistant Treasurer and a member of the Budget and Finance Committee from 1998 to 2007 and as Co-Chairman of the Investment Committee from 1996 to 2009, which included oversight and management of a $100 million equity and fixed income portfolio. Mr. Hekemian is also a member of the Council for the Borough of Saddle River, NJ.
Richard J. Aslanian has served as a trustee since April 2018. His current term as a member of the Board is scheduled to expire at the annual meeting of the Trust’s shareholders. Mr. Aslanian is the Co-Founder of Welcome Home Brands, LLC, a distributor of imported paper and plastic bakeware products that services cruise lines, hotels, casinos and food service companies founded in 2010. From 2007 to 2009, Mr. Aslanian was the Chief Executive Officer, sole Managing Member and founder of Blue Ram Capital Management, LLC, which managed an investment partnership of public equities in developed markets. In 2006, Mr. Aslanian retired from Goldman Sachs & Co. as a Managing Director after having been with the firm since 1991, during which time he was co-head of one of the most prominent wealth management teams of the firm. From 1985 to 1991, Mr. Aslanian was an attorney at the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP where he concentrated his practice on corporate and tax matters and public and private mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Aslanian established the Richard J. Aslanian Scholarship Fund, an endowed scholarship, at the University of Pennsylvania, and has served on the boards of several charitable organizations, including the Partnership for Inner-City Education, the Harrison Educational Foundation and the Armenian Church Endowment Fund.
Allan Tubin was appointed as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Trust in February 2019. Mr. Tubin is the Chief Financial Officer of Hekemian & Co., the Trust’s managing agent. As Chief Financial Officer of Hekemian & Co., Mr. Tubin is responsible for corporate and project finance, budgeting and tax planning, accounting, and SEC compliance for FREIT. He is a member of Hekemian & Co.’s Acquisitions and Development Due Diligence Team, where he is responsible for financial forecasting and modeling. Mr. Tubin has over 25 years’ experience in real estate finance. Prior to joining Hekemian & Co. in 1996, he served as the Chief Financial Officer for the international real estate activities of the investment bank Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, and served as a certified public accountant with Ernst & Young.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Trust’s executive officers and trustees, and persons who own more than 10% of the Shares, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the SEC. Executive officers, trustees and greater than 10% Shareholders are required by SEC regulation to furnish the Trust with copies of all Forms 3, 4 and 5 they file.
Based solely on the Trust’s review of the copies of such forms it has received, the Trust believes that all of its trustees, executive officers and greater than 10% Shareholders complied with all filing requirements applicable to them with respect to reports required to be filed by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act during fiscal 2020.
Code of Ethics
The Trust has adopted a Code of Ethics that is applicable to all trustees, executive officers and management employees of the Trust, including, without limitation, the Trust’s principal executive and senior financial officers. The Audit Committee is charged with administering and interpreting the Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics is available on the Trust’s website at www.freitnj.com under the “About FREIT” and “Corporate Governance” tabs.
Audit Committee
The current members of the Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees are Ronald J. Artinian, David F. McBride and Richard J. Aslanian. Ronald J. Artinian serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee. Each member of the Audit Committee satisfies the audit committee qualifications under the NASDAQ Listing Rules and is independent, as independence for audit committee members is defined in the NASDAQ Listing Rules, and each meets the independence requirements of Exchange Act Rule 10A-3(b)(1).
The Audit Committee held four meetings during fiscal 2020. The Audit Committee selects the independent registered public accounting firm (the “Independent Registered Public Accountants”) to audit the books and accounts of the Trust. In addition, the Audit Committee reviews and pre-approves the scope and costs of all services (including non-audit services) provided by the Independent Registered Public Accountants. The Audit Committee also monitors the effectiveness of the audit effort and financial reporting and inquires into the adequacy of the Trust’s financial and operating controls.
Based on its review of the criteria of an “Audit Committee Financial Expert” under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the Board of Trustees does not believe that any of the members of the Trust’s Audit Committee qualify as an Audit Committee Financial Expert.
Each of Ronald J. Artinian, David F. McBride and Richard J. Aslanian has made significant contributions and provided valuable service to the Trust and its Shareholders as members of the Audit Committee. The Board of Trustees believes that each of Mr. Artinian, Mr. McBride and Mr. Aslanian has demonstrated that he is capable of (i) understanding accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), (ii) assessing the general application of GAAP principles in connection with the accounting for estimates, accruals and reserves, (iii) understanding financial statements and analyzing and evaluating the Trust’s financial statements, (iv) understanding internal controls and procedures for financial reporting, and (v) understanding audit committee functions, all of which are attributes of an Audit Committee Financial Expert under the rules of the SEC. Given the business experience and acumen of Mr. Artinian, Mr. McBride and Mr. Aslanian, the Board of Trustees believes that each of them is qualified to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the Trust’s Audit Committee. However, Mr. Artinian, Mr. McBride and Mr. Aslanian have not acquired these attributes through the specific experience that is required for qualification as an Audit Committee Financial Expert under the rules of the SEC, such as experience serving as, or experience actively supervising, a principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller, public accountant or auditor, or experience overseeing or assessing the performance of companies or public accountants with respect to the preparation, auditing or evaluation of financial statements. Therefore, the Board of Trustees does not believe that any of its current members meets all of the requirements under the SEC rules for qualification as an Audit Committee Financial Expert.
The Board of Trustees believes that Allan Tubin, the Trust’s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, meets all of the requirements under the rules of the SEC for qualification as an Audit Committee Financial Expert. However, Mr. Tubin is not a trustee of the Trust and would not meet the requirements for qualification as an “independent director” under the NASDAQ Listing Rules due to the fact that Mr. Tubin is an executive officer of the Trust and an executive officer of Hekemian & Co., the Trust’s managing agent. As Chief Financial Officer of the Trust, Mr. Tubin will make the certifications required under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the related rules adopted by the SEC with respect to (i) the Trust’s financial statements and other financial information included in periodic reports filed with the SEC, (ii) the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures regarding the disclosure to the certifying officers of material information relating to the Trust, and (iii) the Trust’s internal controls and the adequacy of the design and operation of such internal controls. As a certifying officer of the Trust, Mr. Tubin will meet with and make reports to the Audit Committee with respect to the items which are the subject matter of his certifications.
Based on the foregoing, the Board of Trustees believes that the Audit Committee functions effectively and properly performs and discharges its duties, and the Board does not believe that it is necessary at this time to actively search for an outside person to serve on the Board of Trustees who would qualify as an Audit Committee Financial Expert.

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Trust is externally managed by Hekemian & Co. Robert S. Hekemian, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, President and a trustee of the Trust, and David B. Hekemian, a trustee of the Trust, each holds a 33.3% equity interest in Hekemian & Co. The balance of the equity interests in Hekemian & Co. is held by other members of the Hekemian family. As compensation for its management services, the Trust pays Hekemian & Co. management and other fees pursuant to a Management Agreement between the Trust and Hekemian & Co. In addition, as an incentive to the employees of Hekemian & Co. (including members of the Hekemian family) to identify and provide real estate investment opportunities for the Trust, the Trust has advanced to such employees who are investors in certain joint venture projects, a portion of the equity capital required to be contributed by them to such joint ventures. The Management Agreement and these other incentives are more particularly described in “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions; Trustee Independence” below.
In view of the Trust’s external management structure, the Trust does not employ executive officers on a full-time basis. The following Compensation Discussion and Analysis presents information regarding the Trust’s compensation policies and programs and the compensation of the Trust’s executive officers.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Overview
The Trust’s compensation program is designed to properly compensate the executive officers commensurate with the duties and services that they are employed to perform for the Trust, to reward their dedication, hard work and success and align their interests with the long-term interests of the Trust. The Compensation Committee reviews the compensation paid to the executive officers in consideration of these objectives and makes recommendations to the Board regarding its determinations. The various factors considered by the Compensation Committee in reaching its determinations concerning the compensation of the executive officers are discussed under “Fiscal 2020 Compensation” below.
Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation
The Board has adopted a policy that provides that, in the event that the Trust is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the Trust’s material non-compliance with any financial reporting requirement, the Trust will require the reimbursement, cancellation or forfeiture, as the case may be and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, of any incentive-based compensation paid to any current or former executive officer during the three-year period preceding such restatement that was based on the erroneous data and that was paid in excess of the compensation that would have been paid to the executive officer based on the accounting restatement. The Trust will disclose any incentive-based compensation paid to any executive officer that is based on any measure of financial performance or any other financial information in the Trust’s proxy statement for the annual meeting of Shareholders and as required by the rules and regulations of the SEC.
As discussed under “Elements of Executive Compensation” below, the Trust did not pay any incentive-based compensation to any of the executive officers during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020.
Hedging Policy
It is the policy of the Trust that no employee or trustee of the Trust may purchase any financial instruments that are designed to hedge or offset any decrease in the market value of the Trust’s Shares that (i) were previously awarded, or acquired pursuant to the exercise of any option granted, to an employee or trustee by the Trust as part of the compensation of such employee or trustee or (ii) otherwise held, directly or indirectly, by an employee or trustee, which financial instruments will include, without limitation, puts, calls, straddles, equity swaps and any other derivative security that is directly linked to the Shares.
Elements of Executive Compensation
There are three elements to the compensation of the executive officers of the Trust: (1) base salary; (2) the Equity Incentive Plan; and (3) the Amended and Restated Deferred Fee Plan (the “Deferred Fee Plan”). The Compensation Committee and the Board believe that these elements allow the Trust to accomplish its objectives of properly compensating the executive officers for their services to the Trust, rewarding the dedication, hard work and success of executive officers and aligning the interests of executive officers with the long-term interests of the Trust.
Except for base salary, benefits under the Equity Incentive Plan and Deferred Fee Plan, and fees paid to the executive officers for their service as trustees, the Trust does not pay any other compensation or benefits to its executive officers, whether it be in the form of bonus, long-term incentive compensation, perquisites, rights, warrants, convertible securities, performance units, performance shares or other similar instruments. The Equity Incentive Plan and the Deferred Fee Plan are the only employee benefit plans maintained by the Trust. There are no employment contracts between the Trust and any of the executive officers, nor is there any compensatory plan or arrangement between the Trust and any of the executive officers pursuant to which an executive officer would receive payments as the result of his resignation or retirement as an executive officer, or any other event resulting in the termination of his relationship with the Trust as an executive officer, or as a result of a change in control of the Trust. The Trust’s Deferred Fee Plan, discussed below, provides that a participant may receive Shares with respect to amounts credited to such participant’s account under the Deferred Fee Plan, including amounts deferred thereunder and accrued interest, upon such participant’s attainment of the retirement age specified in the participant’s deferral election, such participant’s actual retirement, such participant’s cessation of services prior to retirement, or the occurrence of a change in control of the Trust as defined under the Deferred Fee Plan. The Trust’s Equity Incentive Plan provides that in the event of (i) a Change in Control (as defined in the Equity Incentive Plan), or (ii) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Trust, other than a sale of assets to a subsidiary or other affiliated entity of the Trust, all outstanding options granted under the Equity Incentive Plan will become exercisable (to the extent not already exercisable) immediately before or contemporaneously with the occurrence of such change in control or sale, and each outstanding restricted share award granted under the Equity Incentive Plan shall immediately become free of all restrictions, conditions and forfeiture provisions.
As of October 31, 2020, there were 202,400 unexercised options collectively held by the executive officers and trustees of the Trust that were outstanding. Additional information with respect to outstanding stock options is set forth in the “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End” table below.
Robert S. Hekemian, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, President and a trustee of the Trust, is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Hekemian & Co. David B. Hekemian, a trustee of the Trust, is the Principal/Broker - Salesperson and Director of Commercial Brokerage of Hekemian & Co. Robert S. Hekemian, the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Trust, served as a consultant to the Trust and Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Hekemian & Co. prior to his death in December 2019. Pursuant to the terms of the Management Agreement between Hekemian & Co. and the Trust, Hekemian & Co. is entitled to receive a termination fee from the Trust under certain circumstances, including the non-renewal of the Management Agreement by the Trust, termination of the Management Agreement by the Trust without cause, or termination of the Management Agreement by the Trust following an acquisition of the Trust. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions; Trustee Independence” below.
Equity Incentive Plan
The Trust originally adopted the Equity Incentive Plan in 1999 upon the approval of the Board and the shareholders. In 2007, the Board and shareholders approved amendments to the Equity Incentive Plan to (a) increase the number of Shares reserved for issuance thereunder by 300,000 Shares and (b) extend the term of the Equity Incentive Plan from September 10, 2008 to September 10, 2018. In 2018, the Board and shareholders approved further amendments to the Equity Incentive Plan to (a) increase the number of Shares reserved for issuance thereunder by an additional 300,000 Shares and (b) further extend the term of the Equity Incentive Plan from September 10, 2018 to September 10, 2028.
The purpose of the Equity Incentive Plan is to allow the Trust to retain the services of individuals who have made, and/or who are expected to make, significant contributions to the business of the Trust and its subsidiaries, to align such persons’ interests
with the long-term interests of the Trust, and to reward hard work, dedication and success by providing such individuals with an opportunity to acquire Shares of the Trust or receive other Share-based awards. Eligible participants include executive officers, trustees and consultants of the Trust, including employees of Hekemian & Co., the Trust’s managing agent.
The Board administers the Equity Incentive Plan, with the full and exclusive power to interpret the plan, to adopt rules, regulations and guidelines relating to the plan, to grant waivers of restrictions under the plan and to make all of the determinations necessary for the administration of the plan. The Board’s authority to administer the Equity Incentive Plan includes the authority, within the limits set forth in the plan, to determine the persons to whom awards may be granted, determine the number of Shares to be covered by each award, establish the terms, conditions and provisions of the awards to be granted, and establish restrictions on the awards or subsequently waive any such restriction or permit any such restriction to lapse.
The exercise price of options granted under the Equity Incentive Plan will be equal to the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Equity Incentive Plan) of the Shares on the date of the grant of the options. For any other form of award, the consideration, if any, to be paid in exchange for the award will be determined by the Board, but in no event will such consideration be greater than the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant. The term of awards will be determined by the Board, but will not exceed 10 years from the date of grant. Awards will vest in accordance with terms fixed by the Board, and vesting of awards may accelerate upon the occurrence of certain events, including a Change in Control (as defined in the Equity Incentive Plan), sale of all or substantially all of the Trust’s assets, or the death, the Retirement (as defined in the Equity Incentive Plan) of the participant or the disability of the participant.
The Board may terminate, modify or amend the Equity Incentive Plan at any time, provided that any modification or amendment that increases the number of Shares reserved for issuance thereunder is subject to the approval of the Trust’s shareholders, and any termination, modification or amendment that adversely affects the terms of any outstanding awards is subject to the consent of the holders thereof.
The Board has charged the Compensation Committee with the responsibility of making recommendations to the Board with respect to grants of awards under the Equity Incentive Plan to eligible participants. While the Equity Incentive Plan provides that options to acquire Shares will be the principal form of award under the plan, the plan also provides for grants of restricted Share awards and other Share-based awards.
The Compensation Committee did not recommend, and the Board of Trustees did not make, any grants of stock options or other equity-based awards under the Equity Incentive Plan during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020.
Amended and Restated Deferred Fee Plan
Effective November 1, 2000, the Board of trustees adopted the Deferred Fee Plan, which is intended to provide a benefit to executive officers and trustees who have made, and/or who are expected to continue to make, significant contributions to the long-term success of the Trust. An election to defer compensation is required to be made prior to the calendar year for which it will be effective, and is irrevocable with respect to the calendar year to which it applies. The Deferred Fee Plan was amended and restated effective December 31, 2008, and further amended and restated effective November 1, 2014.
The original purpose of the Deferred Fee Plan was to provide executive officers and trustees with a long-term savings opportunity. Prior to the amendments to the Deferred Fee Plan that went into effect as of November 1, 2014, the Deferred Fee Plan permitted any executive officer or trustee to elect to defer receipt of any compensation, including executive officer salary, trustee annual retainer fees, meeting attendance fees, and property site inspection fees, and the rate of interest payable on any amounts deferred was fixed at 9% per annum, compounded quarterly.
The amendments to the Deferred Fee Plan that went into effect as of November 1, 2014 shifted the purpose of the Deferred Fee Plan from a long-term savings vehicle for eligible participants to an opportunity for eligible participants to increase their equity position in the Trust. As amended and restated effective November 1, 2014, the Deferred Fee Plan no longer permits trustees who are also executive officers of the Trust to defer amounts payable to them as salary for their services as executive officers. Participants in the Deferred Fee Plan are only permitted to defer amounts payable to them for their service as trustees. In addition, from and after November 1, 2014, amounts deferred, together with the interest accrued on a participant’s entire balance, will be converted on the last day of each calendar quarter into share units that are equivalent to Shares (“Share Units”), and credited to the participant’s account. Amounts deferred under the Deferred Fee Plan are converted into Share Units on a quarterly basis, on the last day of each calendar quarter. The number of Share Units to be credited with respect to amounts deferred during a calendar quarter will be determined by the closing price of the Shares on the trading day immediately preceding the last day of such calendar quarter. The participants’ existing balances as of October 31, 2014 will be preserved in the form of cash and will not be converted into Share Units, although the interest that accrues on such existing balances from and after November 1, 2014 will be converted into Share Units. As of November 1, 2014, the interest rate on
participants’ cash balances under the Deferred Fee Plan was changed from 9% per annum to the average interest rate on ten-year Treasury bonds plus 150 basis points. In the event that any cash dividend is paid by the Trust with respect to the Shares, each participant will be credited with a number of Share Units equal to (x) the amount of the cash dividend paid with respect to one Share, (y) multiplied by the total number of Share Units credited to a participant’s account as of the record date for the dividend, (z) divided by the fair market value of one Share on the trading day immediately preceding the payment date of the dividend. In the event that any dividend is paid with respect to the Shares in Shares, each participant will be credited with a number of Share Units equal to the number of full Shares that such participant would have received had the participant been the owner, on the record date for the dividend, of a number of Shares equal to the number of Share Units credited to the participant’s account.
A participant’s deferred benefits under the Deferred Fee Plan will be paid to the participant at either: (i) the retirement age specified by the participant in the deferral election; (ii) actual retirement of the participant; (iii) upon the earlier cessation of duties as a trustee of the Trust prior to retirement; or (iv) upon a change in control of the Trust (as defined in the Deferred Fee Plan). On the payment date, the Trust will issue to the participant a number of Shares equal to the number of Share Units credited to the participant’s account, and will pay to the participant amounts maintained in the participant’s account as of October 31, 2014 as cash, in either a lump sum or in a number of substantially equal annual installments over a period not to exceed 10 years, at the election of the participant, except if a participant elects to receive payment upon the occurrence of a change in control, in which case all such amounts will be payable in a lump sum. The Trust has not created and will not create a cash sinking fund for amounts deferred pursuant to the Deferred Fee Plan that are not payable in Shares. As a result, any participant who elects to participate in the Deferred Fee Plan is an unsecured creditor of the Trust with respect to any amounts deferred thereunder. The Deferred Fee Plan may be amended, suspended or terminated by resolution of the Board at any time and from time to time; provided, that no amendment, suspension or termination will operate to adversely affect the plan benefits accrued or available for any participant.
As of October 31, 2020, an aggregate amount of approximately $2,633,000 has been deferred and earned as cash under the Deferred Fee Plan, which represents an aggregate of $1,542,000 of deferred fees and $1,091,000 of accrued deferred interest, which amounts will be maintained as cash in the participants’ accounts under the Deferred Fee Plan and will not be converted into Share Units as described above. As of October 31, 2020, there is an aggregate amount of 152,144 vested FREIT share units based on the conversion of deferred fees, interest and dividends earned since November 1, 2014.
During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, participants deferred a total of approximately $526,000 under the Deferred Fee Plan, consisting of approximately $438,000 of deferred fees and approximately $88,000 of accrued deferred interest. Pursuant to the amendments to the Deferred Fee Plan that became effective on November 1, 2014, the aggregate amount of $526,000 deferred by all participants converted into an aggregate of 29,134 Share Units during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, which were credited to the participants’ accounts. Additional information regarding the participants’ deferral of fees and the conversion of deferred amounts into Share Units credited to their accounts is set forth under “Fiscal 2020 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation” and “Fiscal 2020 Trustee Compensation” below.
Fiscal 2020 Compensation
Following Robert S. Hekemian’s retirement as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer on April 5, 2018, the Board determined, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, to pay Robert S. Hekemian, Jr. a base salary for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018 of $300,000 on a pro-rated basis for his services as Chief Executive Officer following his appointment to that office in April 2018. Robert S. Hekemian was paid an annual base salary of $300,000 prior to his retirement in April 2018.
With respect to compensation for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the base salary paid to Robert S. Hekemian, Jr. for his service as Chief Executive Officer of the Trust be increased to $400,000 per year from $300,000 per year, and that there be no adjustments to the compensation paid to Allan Tubin as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Trust, Ronald J. Artinian as Chairman of the Board of the Trust, or John A. Aiello as Executive Secretary of the Trust, and the Board approved the Compensation Committee’s recommendations.
With respect to compensation for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2020, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the base salary paid to Robert S. Hekemian, Jr. for his service as Chief Executive Officer of the Trust be maintained at $400,000 per year, and that there be no adjustments to the compensation paid to Allan Tubin as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Ronald J. Artinian as the Chairman of the Board or John A. Aiello as Executive Secretary. In an effort to further preserve FREIT’s cash flow, in May 2020, the Board of Trustees reduced all fees, salaries and retainers payable to our executive officers and members of the Board of Trustees by up to 30% from May 1, 2020 through the end of Fiscal 2020.
The Compensation Committee considers the following factors, among other things, in the course of its review of the compensation for the executive officers: (a) compensation paid by other real estate investment trusts, both as a component of
operating expenses and to ensure that the Trust’s compensation levels are competitive in the industry; (b) the duties and responsibilities of the executive officers and the value of the services provided by them; (c) the Trust’s operating results and financial condition, as well as the condition and prospects of the residential and commercial real estate markets; and (d) the results of the most recent shareholder advisory vote to approve the compensation of the executive officers, which was conducted at the special meeting in lieu of annual meeting of the shareholders held in April 2020. For the fiscal year ending October 31, 2020, the Compensation Committee also considered the roles of the executive officers in the Trust’s evaluation and pursuit of the strategic alternatives pursued by the Trust, including the Sale Agreement and Plan of Liquidation.
The Compensation Committee reviews compensation paid by other real estate investment trusts in the most general way in view of the fact that unlike many other real estate investment trusts, the Trust is externally managed. Therefore, the Trust does not retain the services of its executive officers on a full-time, exclusive basis, and the executive officers do not spend full time in their respective positions or devote all of their business activities to the Trust. The Compensation Committee and the Board take these considerations into account when determining the compensation to be paid to the Trust’s executive officers, and the compensation paid to the executive officers reflects what the Compensation Committee and the Board believe to be fair and reasonable compensation for the services that the executive officers provide to the Trust and their commitment to serve as executive officers of the Trust under these circumstances. The Compensation Committee and the Board also consider the size and scope of the Trust’s business and operations as reflected on its balance sheet and income statement in relationship to other real estate investment trusts.
As required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, at the special meeting in lieu of annual meeting of shareholders held on April 21, 2020, the shareholders were asked to approve an advisory resolution approving the compensation of the executive officers as disclosed and described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and the compensation tables and narratives contained in the Trust’s proxy statement used in connection with the special meeting. The advisory resolution received the approval of approximately 89.5% of the votes cast on this proposal. The Compensation Committee and the Board concluded from the strong approval of the advisory resolution that the shareholders believe that the Trust’s compensation policies and the compensation paid to the executive officers are appropriate and reflective of the Trust’s objectives of aligning the interests of the executive officers with the long-term interests of the Trust. In accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC, and based on the results of the vote by the shareholders at the special meeting in lieu of annual meeting of shareholders held in April 2020 on the frequency of such vote, the advisory vote by the shareholders to approve the compensation of the executive officers will occur again at the 2023 annual meeting of shareholders.
Risk Management
The Compensation Committee does not believe that the Trust’s executive compensation program gives rise to any risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Trust. Executive officers are compensated on a fixed salary basis and have not been awarded any bonuses or other compensation that might encourage the taking of unnecessary or excessive risks that threaten the long-term value of the Trust. In addition, the Compensation Committee and the Board have utilized, the Equity Incentive Plan to align the interests of the trustees and executive officers with the long-term interests of the Trust and the shareholders through grants of stock options and other equity-based awards, thereby giving the trustees and executive officers additional incentives to protect the long-term value of the Trust.
Executive Compensation and Financial Performance
As discussed above, the executive officers of the Trust are compensated primarily on a fixed salary basis and have not been awarded any incentive-based cash bonuses, and the compensation paid to the executive officers is not specifically dependent upon any particular measure of financial performance. However, the Compensation Committee considers, in general terms, both the overall financial performance and condition of the Trust and the Trust’s long-term prospects in the Committee’s determination of appropriate levels of executive salary, among other factors and considerations discussed under “Fiscal 2020 Compensation” above.
Chief Executive Officer Compensation and Employee Compensation
The table below sets forth comparative information regarding (A) the total compensation of the Chief Executive Officer for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, (B) the median of the total compensation of all other employees of the Trust, not including the Chief Executive Officer, for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, and (C) the ratio of the Chief Executive Officer’s total compensation to the median of the total compensation of all other employees (other than the Chief Executive Officer). As of October 31, 2020, excluding the Chief Executive Officer, the Trust had thirty (30) employees, including twenty-two (22) full-time employees, five (5) part-time and seasonal employees, and three executive officers.
Chief Executive Officer compensation (A)
$408,022
Median compensation of all employees (not including Chief Executive Officer) (B)
$47,286
Ratio of (A) to (B)
8.63
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, David F. McBride, Justin F. Meng and Richard J. Aslanian served on the Compensation Committee of the Board, with Mr. McBride serving as the Chairman of the Committee. None of the members of the Compensation Committee served as an executive officer or employee of the Trust at any time during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, nor have any of them ever served as an executive officer of the Trust in any prior year.
Compensation Committee Report
The Compensation Committee has discussed and reviewed the foregoing Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management. Based upon this review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Amendment.
Submitted by:
David F. McBride, Chairman
Justin F. Meng
Richard J. Aslanian
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation of all of the named executive officers of the Trust (the “Executive Officers”) as of October 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 for services in all capacities to the Trust for the 2020, 2019 and 2018 fiscal years, respectively. With respect to all compensation, the term “paid” will mean actually paid or deferred.
Name and Principal Position (1)
Year
Salary ($)(2)
Bonus ($)
Stock Awards ($)
Option Awards ($)
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)
Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($)
All Other Compensation ($)
Total ($)
Robert S. Hekemian, Former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (3)
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$128,932 (4)
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$235,806 (5)
$364,738 (6)
Robert S. Hekemian, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer (7)
$350,000
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$58,022 (9)
$408,022
$400,000
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$81,190 (9)
$481,190
$171,781 (8)
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$63,046 (9)
$234,827
Allan Tubin, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (10)
$25,500
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$25,500
$21,863 (11)
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$21,863
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
Donald W. Barney, Former President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (12)
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$20,342 (13)
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$87,211 (14)
$107,553
$75,000
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$119,515 (14)
$194,515
John A. Aiello, Esq., Executive Secretary and Secretary
$34,000
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$72,750 (15)
$106,750 (16)
$40,000
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$76,000 (15)
$116,000 (16)
$35,000
$--
$--
$--
$--
$--
$68,000 (15)
$103,000 (16)
(1)
Represents the positions held by each Executive Officer for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
(2)
Represents payment to the Executive Officers for their services as Executive Officers of the Trust.
(3)
Robert S. Hekemian retired as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and a trustee of the Trust effective April 5, 2018. Mr. Hekemian did not serve as an Executive Officer of the Trust during the fiscal years ended October 31, 2020 and 2019.
(4)
Based on an annual base salary in the amount of $300,000, prorated for the period beginning November 1, 2017 through the effective date of Robert S. Hekemian’s retirement as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer on April 5, 2018.
(5)
Of these amounts: $200,955 represents accrued interest earned in the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018 on amounts previously deferred by Robert S. Hekemian for service as an Executive Officer pursuant to the terms of the Deferred Fee Plan, pursuant to which payment of accrued interest is deferred until such time that the deferred executive officer fees are paid to Mr. Hekemian; $27,642 represents annual retainer fees, meeting fees and other fees paid to Mr. Hekemian in the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018 as consideration for his service on the Board of Trustees and, if applicable, its committees, but deferred pursuant to the terms of the Deferred Fee Plan; and $7,209 represents dividends earned related to accrued interest and fees in the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018. Pursuant to the amendments to the Deferred Fee Plan that became effective on November 1, 2014, the aggregate amount of $235,806 deferred (including dividends earned on deferral) for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018 converted into an aggregate of 14,921 Share
Units. See “Amended and Restated Deferred Fee Plan,” above.
(6)
In addition to amounts paid to Robert S. Hekemian for his service as Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and a trustee of the Trust during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018 until his retirement as an Executive Officer and trustee on April 5, 2018, Mr. Hekemian entered into a Consulting Agreement with the Trust effective April 5, 2018 and received compensation from the Trust for consulting services rendered thereunder until his death in December 2019. The compensation paid to Mr. Hekemian under the Consulting Agreement during the fiscal years ended October 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 is described in Item 13, “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions; Trustee Independence.”
(7)
Robert S. Hekemian, Jr. was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Trust effective April 5, 2018 and President of the Trust effective February 7, 2019.
(8)
Based on an annual base salary in the amount of $300,000, prorated for the period beginning on the date of Robert S. Hekemian, Jr.’s appointment as Chief Executive Officer on April 5, 2018 through the remainder of the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018.
(9)
Of these amounts: $6,772, $9,840 and $11,080 represent accrued interest earned in the fiscal years ended October 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, on amounts previously deferred by Robert S. Hekemian, Jr. pursuant to the terms of the Deferred Fee Plan, pursuant to which payment of accrued interest is deferred until such time that the deferred fees are paid to Mr. Hekemian; $51,250, $61,000 and $50,000 represent annual retainer fees, meeting fees and other fees paid to Mr. Hekemian in the fiscal years ended October 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, as consideration for his service on the Board of Trustees and, if applicable, its committees, but deferred pursuant to the terms of the Deferred Fee Plan; and $0, $10,350 and $1,966 represent dividends earned related to accrued interest and fees in the fiscal years ended October 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Pursuant to the amendments to the Deferred Fee Plan that became effective on November 1, 2014, the aggregate amount of $58,022 deferred for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 converted into an aggregate of 3,328 Share Units, $81,190 deferred (including dividends earned on deferral) for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019 converted into an aggregate of 4,927 Share Units, and the aggregate amount of $63,046 deferred (including dividends earned on deferral) for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018 converted into an aggregate of 4,002 Share Units. See “Amended and Restated Deferred Fee Plan” above.
(10)
Allan Tubin was appointed as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Trust effective February 7, 2019. Mr. Tubin did not serve as an executive officer of the Trust during fiscal 2018.
(11)
Based on an annual base salary of $30,000 pro-rated for the period beginning on the date of Mr. Tubin’s appointment as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on February 7, 2019 through the remainder of the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019.
(12)
Donald W. Barney retired as President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and a trustee of the Trust effective February 7, 2019.
(13)
Based on an annual base salary of $75,000 prorated for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019 through the date of Mr. Barney’s retirement as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on February 7, 2019.
(14)
Of these amounts: $57,081 and $65,992 represent accrued interest earned in the fiscal years ended October 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, on amounts previously deferred by Donald W. Barney for service as an Executive Officer pursuant to the terms of the Deferred Fee Plan, pursuant to which payment of accrued interest is deferred until such time that the deferred executive officer fees are paid to Mr. Barney; $13,938 and $50,000 represent annual retainer fees, meeting fees and other fees paid to Mr. Barney in the fiscal years ended October 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, as consideration for his service on the Board and, if applicable, its committees, but deferred pursuant to the terms of the Deferred Fee Plan; and $16,192 and $3,523, represent dividends earned related to accrued interest and fees in the fiscal years ended October 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Pursuant to the amendments to the Deferred Fee Plan that became effective on November 1, 2014, the aggregate amount of $87,211 deferred (including dividends earned on deferral) for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019 converted into an aggregate of 5,363 Share Units and the aggregate amount of $119,515 deferred (including dividends earned on deferral) for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018 converted into an aggregate of 7,574 Share Units. See “Amended and Restated Deferred Fee Plan” above.
(15)
During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Executive Secretary was entitled to receive: (i) meeting attendance fees in the amount of $1,500 for each meeting of the Board and its committees attended, $1,000 for each meeting participated in by teleconference; and (ii) property site inspection fees in the amount of $1,000 for each site inspection attended and reimbursement of all reasonable and verified out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the site visit.
(16)
Mr. Aiello is an officer and shareholder in the law firm of Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla, P.C. During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, Mr. Aiello paid to the law firm the retainer and meeting fees which he received in connection with his services as Secretary and Executive Secretary of the Trust during the fiscal years ended October 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation of the Executive Officers that was deferred pursuant to the Deferred Fee Plan, described under “Amended and Restated Deferred Fee Plan” above, for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020:
FISCAL 2020 NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION
Executive Contributions
in Last FY (2)
Registrant Contributions
in Last FY (2)
Aggregate Earnings
in Last FY
Aggregate Withdrawals/
Distributions
Aggregate Balance
at Last FYE (2)
Name (1)
($)
($)
($)
($)
($)
Robert S. Hekemian, Jr.
$ 51,250
$---
$ 6,772
$---
$ 663,216
Allan Tubin
$---
$---
$---
$---
$---
John A. Aiello, Esq.
$---
$---
$---
$---
$---
(1)
Effective November 1, 2000, the Board of Trustees adopted the Deferred Fee Plan for its executive officers and its trustees. The Deferred Fee Plan was amended and restated on December 30, 2008, effective as of December 31, 2008, and further amended and restated on September 4, 2014, effective beginning November 1, 2014. Prior to the amendments that went into effect beginning November 1, 2014, the Deferred Fee Plan permitted any executive officer or trustee to elect to defer receipt of any executive officer, trustee retainer, meeting attendance, or property site inspection fee. As a result of the amendments to the Deferred Fee Plan that went into effect on November 1, 2014, participants in the Deferred Fee Plan who are also Executive Officers of the Trust are only permitted to defer amounts paid to them in their capacities as trustees, and are not permitted to defer amounts paid to them in their capacities as Executive Officers. Please see the full discussion of the Deferred Fee Plan under “Amended and Restated Deferred Fee Plan” above.
(2)
All amounts reported in columns (a) and (b) are reported as compensation to the named executive officers in their capacities as members of the Board of Trustees in the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 in the “Summary Compensation Table” above.
The following table sets forth information concerning the conversion into Share Units of deferred fees, accrued deferred interest and dividends payable with respect to credited Share Units under the Deferred Fee Plan during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, and the aggregate number of credited Share Units, for each executive officer individually.
Participant
Aggregate Deferred Fees for FY 2020
Accrued Deferred Interest for FY 2020
Dividends Payable on Credited Share Units for FY 2020
Share Units Credited for FY 2020
Aggregate Share Units Credited
Robert S. Hekemian, Jr.
$51,250
$6,772
$---
3,328
22,353
Allan Tubin
$---
$---
$---
---
---
John A. Aiello, Esq.
$---
$---
$---
---
---
See “Amended and Restated Deferred Fee Plan” above for more information concerning the terms and provisions of the Deferred Fee Plan and the information set forth in these tables.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
The number of stock options outstanding under the Equity Incentive Plan, the weighted-average exercise price of the outstanding options, and the number of securities remaining available for issuance, as of October 31, 2020 were as follows:
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN TABLE
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
Plan category
(a)
(b)
(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by shareholders (1)
310,740
$18.35
442,060
Equity compensation plans not approved by shareholders
--
--
--
Total
310,740
$18.35
442,060
(1)
The Trust currently has no equity compensation plans other than the Equity Incentive Plan described under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above.
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
Option Awards
Stock Awards
Name
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#)
Option Exercise Price ($)
Option Expiration Date
Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#)
Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#)
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unexercised Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#)
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#)
Robert S. Hekemian, Jr.
19,000
---
---
$18.45 (1)
9/3/2024
---
---
---
---
4,000
---
---
$18.45 (1)
9/3/2024
---
---
---
---
Allan Tubin
6,000
---
---
$18.45 (1)
9/3/2024
---
---
---
---
John A. Aiello, Esq.
15,200
3,800 (2)
---
$21.00 (1)
11/9/2026
---
---
---
---
(1)
The exercise price of this option is equal to the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant (as defined in the Equity Incentive Plan), which is described under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above.
(2)
The unvested Shares underlying this option vest on September 4, 2021.
Fiscal 2020 Option Exercises and Stock Vested
There were no exercises of stock options or vesting of stock held by Executive Officers in the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020.
Trustee Compensation
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, each trustee was initially entitled to receive (a) an annual retainer fee of $35,000 per year; (b) a per meeting attendance fee of $1,500 per meeting of the Board and each committee of which a trustee is a member; (c) a $1,000 per meeting fee for telephonic meetings of the Board and each committee; and (d) a site inspection fee of $1,000 per site inspection. The Chairman of the Board was initially entitled to receive an additional annual retainer in the amount of $30,000 and a per meeting attendance fee of $1,800 per meeting of the Board, and the Chairman of the Audit Committee, the Chairman of the Compensation Committee and the Chairman of the Long-term Planning Committee were initially entitled to receive per meeting attendance fees of $1,800 per meeting of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Long-term Planning Committee, respectively. The Chairman of the Audit Committee was initially entitled to receive an additional annual retainer fee of $10,000, and the Chairman of the Compensation Committee and the Chairman of the Long-term Planning Committee were each initially entitled to receive an additional annual retainer fee of $7,500. The Chairman of the Special Committee was initially entitled to receive an additional quarterly retainer fee of $15,000 and each other member of the Special Committee was initially entitled to a quarterly retainer of $10,000. In an effort to further preserve FREIT’s cash flow, the Board of Trustees reduced all fees, salaries and retainers payable to our executive officers and members of the Board of Trustees by up to 30% from May 1, 2020 through the end of Fiscal 2020. In addition, Mr. Meng was paid $150,000 in fiscal 2020 in recognition of his services as Chairman of the Special Committee.
The trustees are entitled to defer all or any part of their retainer, meeting and property site inspection fees pursuant to the terms of the Deferred Fee Plan. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, trustees (including the trustees who were also Executive Officers during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020) elected to defer an aggregate amount of approximately $526,000 of annual retainer fees, meeting attendance fees, site inspection fees and accrued interest payable to them for their
services to the Board and its committees, which amount was converted into an aggregate of 29,134 Share Units during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020. In addition, the trustees (including the trustees who were also Executive Officers during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020) were credited with no Share Units during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 from the conversion of dividends paid with respect to the Share Units credited to their accounts. See “Elements of Executive Compensation - Amended and Restated Deferred Fee Plan” under “Executive Compensation - Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, the Trust paid an aggregate of $51,250 of annual retainer fees, meeting attendance fees and site inspection fees to the trustees in cash for their services to the Board of Trustees and its committees.
FISCAL 2020 TRUSTEE COMPENSATION (1)
Deferred Fees Earned
Stock Awards
Option Awards
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation
Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings
All Other Compensation
Total
Name
($)
($)
($)
($)
($)(2)
($)
($)
Ronald J. Artinian
$136,098
$---
$---
$---
$---
$---
$136,098
David F. McBride
$91,233
$---
$---
$---
$---
$---
$91,233
Justin F. Meng
$86,500
$---
$---
$---
$---
$150,000 (3)
$236,500
David B. Hekemian
$50,250
$---
$--
$---
$---
$---
$50,250
Richard J. Aslanian
$77,850
$---
$--
$---
$---
$---
$77,850
(1)
See the Summary Compensation Table above for information regarding compensation paid to each of Robert S. Hekemian, Jr. and John A. Aiello during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 in connection with their positions as trustees.
(2)
Effective November 1, 2014, the Deferred Fee Plan was amended to provide that the interest rate was equal to the average interest rate on ten-year Treasury bonds plus 150 basis points. The Deferred Fee Plan was also amended to provide that accrued deferred interest from and after November 1, 2014 would be converted into Share Units equivalent to Shares on a monthly basis. See “Amended and Restated Deferred Fee Plan” above for a description of the amendments to the Deferred Fee Plan.
(3)
Mr. Meng was paid $150,000 in recognition of his services as Chairman of the Special Committee.
The following table sets forth information concerning the conversion of deferred fees and accrued deferred interest into Share Units under the Deferred Fee Plan during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 for each trustee who participated in the Deferred Fee Plan during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, except that the information concerning the participation of Robert S. Hekemian, Jr. and John A. Aiello, Esq., in the Deferred Fee Plan in their capacities as trustees is set forth under “Executive Compensation” above.
Participant
Aggregate Deferred Fees for FY 2020
Accrued Deferred Interest for FY 2020
Dividends Paid on Credited Share Units for FY 2020
Share Units Credited for FY 2020
Aggregate Share Units Credited
Ronald J.
Artinian
$89,230
$21,368
$---
6,172
39,134
David F.
McBride
$84,525
$6,708
$---
5,023
29,414
Justin F. Meng
$86,500
$---
$---
4,639
18,436
David B.
Hekemian
$50,250
$---
$---
2,892
6,177
Richard J.
Aslanian
$77,850
$---
$---
4,246
9,992
Totals
$388,355
$28,076
$---
22,972
103,153
ITEM 12SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of Shares for (i) each person who is a beneficial owner of 5% or more of our outstanding Shares, (ii) each of our trustees and executive officers and (iii) all of our trustees and executive officers as a group, each as of January 29, 2021 unless otherwise indicated in the table below.
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership
Name of Beneficial Owner (1)
(A)
Aggregate
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned (2)
(B)
Number of Shares Acquirable within
60 Days
(C)
Aggregate
Number of Shares
Deemed to be
Beneficially
Owned
(Column A plus
Column B)
(D)
Percent
of Class (3)
Ronald J. Artinian (4)
443,492
(6)
24,400 (5)
467,892
(6)
6.8%
David F. McBride, Esq. (4)
5,000
(7)
19,000 (5)
24,000
(7)
*
Robert S. Hekemian, Jr. (4)(8)
300,148
(9)
23,000 (5)
323,148
(9)
4.7%
John A. Aiello, Esq. (4)(8)
5,000
15,200 (5)
20,200
*
Justin F. Meng (4)
15,000
(10)
15,200 (5)
30,200
(10)
*
David B. Hekemian (4)
405,546
(11)
22,600 (5)
428,146
(11)
6.2%
Richard J. Aslanian (4)
10,200
7,600 (5)
17,800
*
Allan Tubin (8)
7,662
6,000 (5)
13,662
*
All trustees and executive officers as a group (8 persons) (6)(7)(9)(10)(11)(12)
1,089,832
(12)
133,000 (5)
1,222,832
(12)
17.8%
* Shares beneficially owned do not exceed 1% of the Trust’s issued and outstanding Shares.
(1)
All trustees and executive officers listed in this table, with the exception of John A. Aiello, maintain a mailing address at 505 Main Street, P.O. Box 667, Hackensack, New Jersey 07602. John A. Aiello maintains a mailing address at 125 Half Mile Road, Suite 300, Red Bank, New Jersey 07701.
(2)
Except as otherwise indicated, all of the Shares are held beneficially and of record.
(3)
Based on 6,856,651 Shares outstanding as of January 29, 2021.
(4)
A trustee of the Trust.
(5)
Vested options to acquire Shares that are currently exercisable, or options that vest and become exercisable within 60 days after January 29, 2021.
(6)
Includes 52,504 Shares held in Individual Retirement Accounts for the benefit of Mr. Artinian. Also includes 4,350 Shares which are held by Mr. Artinian’s son, with respect to which Mr. Artinian disclaims beneficial ownership.
(7)
Includes 4,000 Shares held by Mr. McBride’s wife.
(8)
An executive officer of the Trust.
(9)
Includes (i) an aggregate of 102,216 Shares which are held by certain partnerships and limited liability companies in which Mr. Hekemian is a partner or member, (ii) 9,238 Shares which are held in trust by Mr. Hekemian for the benefit of his children, and (iii) an aggregate of 11,000 Shares which are held in certain trusts for the benefit of Mr.
Hekemian’s nephews and of which Mr. Hekemian is trustee. Also includes 25,458 Shares held in a trust of which Mr. Hekemian is a beneficiary. Mr. Hekemian disclaims beneficial ownership of the foregoing Shares held in partnerships, limited liability companies and trusts except to the extent of his pecuniary interest in such partnerships, limited liability companies and trusts.
(10)
Includes 2,400 Shares held by Mr. Meng’s wife, with respect to which Mr. Meng disclaims beneficial ownership.
(11)
Includes (i) an aggregate of 102,216 Shares which are held by certain partnerships and limited liability companies in which Mr. Hekemian is a partner or member, (ii) an aggregate of 17,638 Shares which are held in certain trusts for the benefit of Mr. Hekemian’s nephews and niece and of which Mr. Hekemian is a trustee, (iii) 25,458 Shares held in a trust of which Mr. Hekemian is a beneficiary, (iv) an aggregate of 88,940 Shares held by the Robert and Mary Jane Hekemian Foundation, Inc. of which Mr. Hekemian is the Vice President/Treasurer, and (v) 6,000 Shares held in trust by Mr. Hekemian for the benefit of his children. Mr. Hekemian disclaims beneficial ownership of the foregoing Shares held in partnerships, limited liability companies and trusts except to the extent of his pecuniary interest in such partnerships, limited liability companies and trusts. Also includes 1,600 Shares held by Mr. Hekemian’s wife, with respect to which Mr. Hekemian disclaims beneficial ownership.
(12)
Robert S. Hekemian, Jr. and David B. Hekemian are both deemed to be the beneficial owner of 102,216 Shares held by certain partnerships and limited liability companies in which each of them is a partner or member. Therefore, the total number of Shares beneficially owned by all executive officers and trustees as a group, which includes both Robert S. Hekemian, Jr. and David B. Hekemian, is not merely the aggregate of the beneficial ownership of each executive officer and trustee, since calculating the aggregate number of Shares beneficially owned by all executive officers and trustees as a group on that basis would result in the 102,216 Shares of which both Robert S. Hekemian, Jr. and David B. Hekemian are deemed the beneficial owner being double-counted. As disclosed above, Robert S. Hekemian, Jr. and David B. Hekemian disclaim beneficial ownership of the 102,216 Shares except to the extent of their respective pecuniary interests in the partnerships and limited liability companies that hold such Shares.
ITEM 13CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS; TRUSTEE INDEPENDENCE
Of the seven members of the Board, Ronald J. Artinian, David F. McBride, Justin F. Meng and Richard J. Aslanian qualify as “independent directors” in accordance with the applicable NASDAQ Listing Rules and SEC rules. The independence of the trustees serving on committees of the Board is discussed under “Committees of the Board of Trustees” above.
The Board has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee (see “Audit Committee” under Item 10 above) whereby the Audit Committee oversees and evaluates all related party transactions proposed to be entered into by the Trust. In addition, the Declaration of Trust contains procedures in the event of any proposed purchase or sale of any properties between the Trust and any trustee, executive officer or any firm, partnership or corporation in which a trustee or executive officer has or may have an interest. Further, the Trust has adopted a Code of Ethics applicable to all trustees, executive officers and management employees of the Trust (see “Code of Ethics” under Item 10 above), which Code of Ethics promotes the honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships.
Robert S. Hekemian, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of the Trust and a trustee, and David B. Hekemian, a trustee, are shareholders of Hekemian & Co. Robert S. Hekemian, Jr. and David B. Hekemian each holds a 33.3% equity interest in Hekemian & Co. The balance of the equity interest in Hekemian & Co. is held by other members of the Hekemian family, including Bryan S. Hekemian. Robert S. Hekemian was the father of Robert S. Hekemian, Jr., David B. Hekemian and Bryan S. Hekemian. Robert S. Hekemian, Jr. serves as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Hekemian & Co.; David B. Hekemian serves as a Vice President and the Treasurer of Hekemian & Co.; and Bryan S. Hekemian serves as a Vice President and the Secretary of Hekemian & Co..
On April 10, 2002, the Trust and Hekemian & Co. entered into a Management Agreement replacing the Management Agreement dated December 20, 1961, as extended. The term of the Management Agreement was automatically renewed as of November 1, 2019 for a two-year period, which will expire on October 31, 2021. The term of the Management Agreement automatically renews for periods of two years unless either party gives at least six months prior notice to the other of non-renewal. The Trust may terminate the Management Agreement (i) without cause upon one year’s prior written notice, (ii) for cause if Hekemian & Co. has not cured an event of default within 30 days of receipt of notice of termination from the Trust, or (iii) in the event of an acquisition of the Trust where the Trust ceases to effectively exist as an operating entity. The
Management Agreement provides for a termination fee in the event of a termination by the Trust without cause or following a merger or acquisition of the Trust.
Under the Management Agreement, Hekemian & Co. serves as Managing Agent for the Trust and the Trust’s properties which the Trust owned on November 1, 2001. The Trust may retain Hekemian & Co. or other managing agents to manage its properties acquired after November 1, 2001 and to perform various other duties such as sales, acquisitions, and development with respect to any or all of the Trust’s properties. However, Hekemian & Co. currently manages all properties owned by the Trust and all subsidiaries and affiliates of the Trust, except for the commercial office space of the Rotunda, a mixed use (office, retail and residential) property located in Baltimore, Maryland that was acquired in July 2005 by Grande Rotunda, LLC (“Grande Rotunda”), a limited liability company in which the Trust owns a 60% equity interest. An unaffiliated third party management company manages the commercial office space at the Rotunda. Hekemian & Co. is not the exclusive advisor for the Trust to locate and recommend investments deemed suitable for the Trust, and it is not required to offer potential acquisition properties exclusively to the Trust before acquiring those properties for Hekemian & Co.’s own account or for others, including shareholders and employees of Hekemian & Co.
The Trust retained Hekemian & Co. to manage the Preakness Shopping Center, which was acquired on November 1, 2002 by Wayne PSC, LLC (“WaynePSC”), a limited liability company in which the Trust owns a 40% membership interest, and the Damascus Shopping Center, which was acquired on July 31, 2003 by Damascus Centre, LLC (“Damascus Centre”), a limited liability company in which the Trust owns a 70% equity interest. In the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004, the Trust retained Hekemian & Co. to manage The Pierre Towers, an apartment complex acquired on April 15, 2004. This property was formerly owned by S And A Commercial Associates Limited Partnership (“S&A”), which was reorganized by FREIT on February 28, 2020 from a partnership into a tenancy-in-common (“TIC”), in which the Trust ultimately acquired a 65% undivided ownership interest. In the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005, the Trust retained Hekemian & Co. to provide supervisory and management services to Grande Rotunda, although the Trust did not retain Hekemian & Co. to manage the commercial office space at the Rotunda.
Pursuant to the terms of the Management Agreement, the Trust pays Hekemian & Co. certain basic management fees, mortgage origination fees, administrative fees, other miscellaneous fees and leasing commissions as compensation for its services. The Management Agreement includes a detailed schedule of such fees and commissions for those services which the Managing Agent may be called upon to perform. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, the Trust incurred to Hekemian & Co. and Hekemian Development Resources, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hekemian & Co. (“Hekemian Resources”), management and other fees in the approximate aggregate amount of $3,308,000, which includes the management fees of approximately $2,201,000 described in more detail below, and mortgage, leasing and other fees in the approximate amount of $1,107,000. Included in other fees for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 are commissions payable to Hekemian & Co. of approximately $125,000 for the refinancing of the Westwood Hills, LLC loan.
The Trust also uses the resources of Hekemian & Co.’s insurance department to secure insurance coverage for its properties and subsidiaries. Hekemian & Co. is paid a commission for these services, which amounted to approximately $190,000 in the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020.
During the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended October 31, 2007, the Board approved development fee arrangements for supervising the Rotunda and Damascus Shopping Center redevelopment projects. Hekemian Resources entered into Agency Agreements with each of Grande Rotunda and Damascus Centre for the performance of management services in connection with the Rotunda and Damascus Center redevelopment projects on December 10, 2009 and August 13, 2008, respectively. The Agency Agreement with respect to the Rotunda was subsequently amended as of July 24, 2012 based on revisions to the scope of the project approved by the Board. The Agency Agreement with respect to the Rotunda project provided for Hekemian Resources to receive a fee equal to 6.375% of the total development costs as defined less the amount of $3,000,000 that Grande Rotunda had previously paid to Hekemian & Co. for the Rotunda project. In addition, the Trust paid Hekemian Resources a fee in the amount of $1,400,000 in connection with the revision to the scope of the Rotunda project. The Trust paid $500,000 of this fee to Hekemian Resources in the fiscal year ended October 31, 2013. The balance of $900,000 became due upon the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the multi-family portion of the project. A final certificate of occupancy was issued in the fiscal year ended October 31, 2016; however, Hekemian Resources agreed to defer the payment of the $900,000 balance of this fee, and accordingly the $900,000 portion of the fee was included in accounts payable on the Trust’s consolidated balance sheet at October 31, 2017. The Trust paid the $900,000 portion of this fee to Hekemian Resources in February 2018 with proceeds from the refinancing of the Wells Fargo construction loan with the new loan from Aareal Capital Corporation. The Trust also paid Hekemian Resources the amount of $45,000 representing a mutually agreed upon amount of interest on the $900,000 portion of the fee for the period during which Hekemian Resources had agreed to defer payment thereof.
The Damascus Center redevelopment project has been completed, and all development fees due and payable pursuant to the Agency Agreement between Hekemian Resources and Damascus Centre were paid in full prior to the fiscal year ended October 31, 2014.
From time to time, the Trust engages Hekemian & Co., or certain affiliates of Hekemian, to provide certain additional services, such as consulting services related to development and financing activities of the Trust. Separate fee arrangements are negotiated between the Trust and Hekemian & Co. with respect to such services. The Trust also reimburses Hekemian & Co. for the salaries, payroll taxes, insurance costs and certain other costs of personnel employed at the Trust’s properties by Hekemian & Co. on behalf of the Trust.
The Trust’s real estate investments may be in the form of wholly owned fee interests or, if the circumstances warrant, joint venture interests or as tenants-in-common. The Trust will make certain real estate investments through joint ventures with other parties from time to time in order to diversify risk. The Trust will also consider investing in real estate that requires development or that involves particular risk through joint ventures in order to meet the Trust’s investment objectives. In furtherance of these objectives, the Trust has invested in joint ventures with employees and affiliates of Hekemian & Co. and with trustees of the Trust, as described below.
The Trust owns a 60% equity interest in, and is the managing member of, Grande Rotunda. Rotunda 100, LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company (“Rotunda 100”), owns a 40% interest in Grande Rotunda. Robert S. Hekemian, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, President and a trustee of the Trust and a shareholder and officer of Hekemian & Co.; David B. Hekemian, a trustee of the Trust and a shareholder and officer of Hekemian & Co.; Allan Tubin, the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Trust and an officer of Hekemian & Co.; certain other members of the immediate family of the late Robert S. Hekemian, the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of and consultant to the Trust and a former shareholder and former officer of Hekemian & Co. and other employees of Hekemian & Co. have majority managing control of Rotunda 100. In July 2005, Grande Rotunda completed the acquisition of the Rotunda for a purchase price of approximately $31 million (inclusive of transaction costs), which was financed, in part, from an acquisition loan in the amount of $22.5 million, and the balance of which was contributed in cash by the members of Grande Rotunda in proportion to their membership interests. As an incentive to the employees of Hekemian & Co. to identify and provide real estate investment opportunities for the Trust, the Trust advanced to the employees of Hekemian & Co. who are members of Rotunda 100 (including Robert S. Hekemian, Jr., David B. Hekemian, Allan Tubin and certain other members of the immediate family of the late Robert S. Hekemian), 50% of the amount of the equity capital required to be contributed by them to Rotunda 100 in connection with the acquisition and operation of the Rotunda. The Trust initially loaned an aggregate amount of approximately $1,900,000 to those Hekemian & Co. employees (including approximately $1,800,000 to Robert S. Hekemian, Jr., David B. Hekemian and Allan Tubin) and certain other members of the immediate family of the late Robert S. Hekemian with respect to their equity capital contributions (the “Rotunda Notes”). On May 8, 2008, the Board of Trustees approved amendments to the loan agreements to increase the aggregate amount of the loans to $4,000,000 (which increased the aggregate amount loaned to Robert S. Hekemian, Jr., David B. Hekemian, Allan Tubin and certain other members of the immediate family of the late Robert S. Hekemian in connection with the Rotunda Notes to $3,800,000 from the initial aggregate amount of $1,800,000). These loans bear interest that floats at 225 basis points over the 90-day London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), as adjusted each November 1, February 1, May 1 and August 1, and the loans are secured by such employees’ membership interests in Rotunda 100. The Rotunda Notes originally provided for payments of accrued interest on a quarterly basis, with no principal payments required during the term of the Rotunda Notes, except that the borrowers were required to pay to the Trust all refinancing proceeds and other cash flow they received from their interests in Grande Rotunda. The Rotunda Notes were originally scheduled to mature at the earlier of (a) 10 years after issue, on June 19, 2015 and (b) at the election of the Trust, 90 days after the borrower terminates employment with Hekemian & Co., at which time all outstanding unpaid amounts would be due. On June 4, 2015, the Board approved an extension of the terms of each of the Rotunda Notes to the earlier to occur of (a) June 19, 2018 and (b) the day that is 5 days after Grande Rotunda closes on a permanent mortgage loan secured by the Rotunda property. On December 7, 2017, the Board approved amendments to the Rotunda Notes to further extend the term of each of the Rotunda Notes to the date or dates upon which Grande Rotunda makes distributions of cash to its members as a result of either a refinancing of Grande Rotunda’s indebtedness or a sale of Grande Rotunda or all or a portion of the real property owned by it; provided, that the Rotunda Notes will mature only to the extent of such distributions to the maker of the Rotunda Notes. Pursuant to the December 7, 2017 amendments, distributions of cash as a result of events other than a refinancing of the indebtedness of Grande Rotunda or sale of the Rotunda property will not result in the maturation of the Rotunda Notes. At October 31, 2020, the outstanding principal balance on the Rotunda Notes was $4,000,000, and the accrued but unpaid interest on the Rotunda Notes was $1,194,000. Grande Rotunda paid Hekemian & Co. approximately $604,000 in management fees during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, which is included in the $2,201,000 of management fees paid by the Trust to Hekemian & Co. during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 mentioned above. Pursuant to the terms of the Management Agreement, Grande Rotunda paid Hekemian & Co. leasing commissions in the aggregate amount of approximately $20,000, which is included in the $1,107,000 of mortgage, leasing and other fees paid to Hekemian & Co. mentioned above.
Prior to the refinancing of the Wells Fargo construction loan for the Rotunda property with a new loan from Aareal Capital Corporation, the Trust and Rotunda 100, as the 60% and 40% owners of Grande Rotunda, respectively, had been contributing their respective pro-rata share of Grande Rotunda’s cash needs through loans to Grande Rotunda. As of October 31, 2020, Rotunda 100 had funded Grande Rotunda with approximately $5.9 million (including accrued interest), which is included in “Due to affiliate” on the Trust’s consolidated balance sheet as of October 31, 2020 and is characterized as a demand loan that Rotunda 100 can require to be repaid at any time.
The Trust owns a 70% membership interest in Damascus Centre, which is the owner of the Damascus Shopping Center. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005, in order to incentivize employees of Hekemian & Co., the Trust’s Board authorized an investor group comprised principally of Hekemian employees (including Robert S. Hekemian, Jr., David B. Hekemian, Allan Tubin and certain other members of the immediate family of the late Robert S. Hekemian) (the “Hekemian Group”) to acquire a 30% equity interest in Damascus Centre through Damascus 100, LLC (“Damascus 100”).
The sale of an equity interest in Damascus Centre to Damascus 100 was completed on October 31, 2006, at a sale price of $3,224,000, of which the Trust financed approximately $1,451,000. The Trust agreed to advance to the Hekemian Group up to 50% of the amount of the equity purchase price required to be paid by them (including approximately $1,400,000 to Robert S. Hekemian, Jr., David B. Hekemian and Allan Tubin) and certain other members of the immediate family of the late Robert S. Hekemian (the “Damascus Notes”). These advances were in the form of secured loans that bore interest that floated at 225 basis points over the 90-day LIBOR, as adjusted each November 1, February 1, May 1 and August 1. The Damascus Notes originally provided for payments of accrued interest on a quarterly basis, with no principal payments required during the term of the Damascus Notes, except that the borrowers were required to pay to the Trust all refinancing proceeds and other cash flow they received from their interests in Damascus Centre. The Damascus Notes were originally scheduled to mature at the earlier of (a) 10 years after issue, on September 30, 2016 and (b) at the election of the Trust, 90 days after the borrower terminates employment with Hekemian & Co., at which time all outstanding unpaid amounts would be due. On June 4, 2015, the Board approved an extension of the term of each of the Damascus Notes to the earlier to occur of (a) June 19, 2018 and (b) the day that is 5 days after the Grande Rotunda, LLC closes on a permanent mortgage loan secured by the Rotunda property. The loans were secured by such employees’ membership interests in Damascus 100. On December 7, 2017, the Board approved amendments to the Damascus Notes to further extend the term of each of the Damascus Notes to the date or dates upon which Grande Rotunda makes distributions of cash to its members as a result of either a refinancing of Grande Rotunda’s indebtedness or a sale of Grande Rotunda or all or a portion of the real property owned by it; provided, that the Damascus Notes will mature only to the extent of such distributions to the maker of the Damascus Notes. Pursuant to the December 7, 2017 amendments, distributions of cash as a result of events other than a refinancing of the indebtedness of Grande Rotunda or sale of the Rotunda property would not have resulted in the maturation of the Damascus Notes. In the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018, the Damascus 100 members repaid the Damascus Notes in full for a total payment of $1,870,000, which was comprised of principal in the amount of $1,451,000 and accrued interest in the amount of approximately $419,000. Damascus Centre paid Hekemian & Co. approximately $142,000 in management fees during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, which is included in $2,201,000 of management fees paid by the Trust to Hekemian & Co. and Hekemian Resources during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 mentioned above. Pursuant to the Management Agreement, Damascus Centre paid leasing commissions to Hekemian & Co. in the aggregate amount of approximately $3,000, which is included in the $1,107,000 of mortgage, leasing and other fees paid to Hekemian & Co. mentioned above during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020.
The Trust owns a 40% membership interest in Westwood Hills, LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company (“Westwood Hills”), which is the owner of a 210-unit residential apartment complex in Westwood, New Jersey. In addition, an aggregate of 35% of the membership interests in Westwood Hills is beneficially owned by Robert S. Hekemian, Jr., the Chief Executive Officer, President and a trustee of the Trust and a shareholder and officer of Hekemian & Co.; Ronald J. Artinian, the Chairman and a trustee of the Trust; David B. Hekemian, a trustee of the Trust and a shareholder and officer of Hekemian & Co.; the late Robert S. Hekemian, the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of and consultant to the Trust and a former shareholder and former officer of Hekemian & Co.; members of Hekemian family; and two former trustees of the Trust. Pursuant to the terms of an operating agreement, the Trust is the Managing Member of Westwood Hills. Hekemian & Co. currently serves as the Managing Agent for Westwood Hills. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, Westwood Hills paid Hekemian & Co. approximately $217,000 in management fees, which is included in the $2,201,000 of management fees paid by the Trust to Hekemian & Co. and Hekemian Resources during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 mentioned above.
The Trust owns a 40% equity interest in WaynePSC. H-TPKE, LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company (“H-TPKE”), owns a 60% equity interest in WaynePSC. In addition, an aggregate of approximately 73% of the membership interests in H-TPKE is controlled by: Robert S. Hekemian, Jr., the Chief Executive Officer, President and a trustee of the Trust and a shareholder and officer of Hekemian & Co.; David B. Hekemian, a trustee of the Trust and a shareholder and officer of Hekemian & Co.; the late Robert S. Hekemian, the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and consultant to the Trust and a former shareholder and former officer of Hekemian & Co.; members of the families of Robert S. Hekemian, Jr., David B. Hekemian and the late Robert S. Hekemian; and other employees of Hekemian & Co. The Trust is the Managing Member
of WaynePSC. WaynePSC owns a 323,000 +/- sq. ft. community shopping center located in Wayne, New Jersey, known as the Preakness Shopping Center. Hekemian & Co. is the Managing Agent for the Preakness Shopping Center. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, WaynePSC paid Hekemian & Co. an annual property management fee in the approximate amount of $160,000, which is included in the $2,201,000 of management fees paid by the Trust to Hekemian & Co. and Hekemian Resources during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 mentioned above. Pursuant to the terms of the Management Agreement, WaynePSC paid Hekemian & Co. leasing commissions in the aggregate amount of approximately $11,000 with respect to leasing activity at the Preakness Shopping Center, which is included in the $1,107,000 of mortgage, leasing and other fees paid to Hekemian & Co. mentioned above.
On February 28, 2020, FREIT reorganized S&A from a partnership into a TIC. Prior to this reorganization, FREIT owned a 65% membership interest in S&A, which owned 100% of the Pierre Towers property located in Hackensack, New Jersey through its 100% interest in Pierre Towers, LLC. Accordingly, FREIT consolidated the financial statements of S&A and its subsidiary to include 100% of the subsidiary’s assets, liabilities, operations and cash flows with the interest not owned by FREIT reflected as “noncontrolling interests in subsidiary” and all significant intercompany accounts and transactions were eliminated in consolidation.
Pursuant to the TIC agreement, FREIT ultimately acquired a 65% undivided interest in the Pierre Towers property which was formerly owned by S&A. Based on the guidance of Accounting Standards Codification 810, “Consolidation”, FREIT’s investment in the TIC is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. While FREIT’s effective ownership percentage interest in the Pierre Towers property remains unchanged after the reorganization to a TIC, FREIT no longer has a controlling interest as the TIC is now under joint control. Since FREIT retained a noncontrolling financial interest in the TIC and the deconsolidation of the subsidiary (on February 28, 2020) is not the result of a nonreciprocal transfer to owners, FREIT recognized a gain on deconsolidation. The remaining 35% undivided interest in the Pierre Towers property is owned by Robert S. Hekemian, Jr., the Chief Executive Officer, President and a trustee of the Trust and a shareholder and officer of Hekemian & Co.; David B. Hekemian, a trustee of the Trust and a shareholder and officer of Hekemian & Co.; Allan Tubin, the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Trust and an officer of Hekemian & Co.; and certain members of the immediate family of the late Robert S. Hekemian, the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and consultant to the Trust and a former shareholder and former officer of Hekemian & Co. In February 2005, and in accordance with its investment policy regarding risk diversification, the Trust allowed the minority owners of the former S&A partnership to make a cash contribution to the former S&A partnership of approximately $1.3 million to increase their ownership interest in the former S&A partnership from approximately 25% to 35%, which approximated market value at the time of the investment. On April 15, 2004, the former S&A partnership purchased The Pierre Towers, a residential apartment complex located in Hackensack, New Jersey. Prior to the reorganization of S&A from a partnership to a TIC on February 28, 2020, the Pierre Towers, LLC, on behalf of the S&A partnership, paid Hekemian & Co. management fees in the amount of approximately $123,000, which is included in the $2,201,000 of management fees paid by the Trust to Hekemian & Co. and Hekemian Resources during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 mentioned above. Subsequent to February 28, 2020 through October 31, 2020, the Pierre Towers TIC paid management fees to Hekemian & Co. of approximately $241,000. Additionally, the Pierre Towers TIC also uses the resources of the Hekemian & Co. insurance department to secure various insurance coverages for the Pierre Towers property. The Pierre Towers TIC paid approximately $26,000 for such insurance services for the period from February 28, 2020 through October 31, 2020.
Robert S. Hekemian, Jr., the Chief Executive Officer, President and a trustee of the Trust and a shareholder and officer of Hekemian & Co., was a director of Oritani Financial Corp. and its subsidiary, Oritani Bank, until Oritani Financial was merged into Valley National Bancorp in December 2019. The Trust is a party to a commercial mortgage loan with Valley National Bancorp. The mortgage loan is in the original principal amount of $22,750,000 with an interest rate of 4.75% per annum, which is secured by the Trust’s Westwood Plaza property and matures on January 13, 2023. This mortgage loan was negotiated at arm’s length and was on standard terms. Another mortgage loan with Oritani Bank in the original principal amount of $6,000,000 was repaid by the Trust in February 2019.
The Trust retained the law firm of Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla, P.C during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 to furnish legal services. John A. Aiello, a trustee and executive officer of the Trust, is an officer and shareholder in the law firm. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla, P.C. received $571,061 in fees from the Trust for its services. In addition, Mr. Aiello paid to the law firm the amount of $55,500, representing retainer and meeting fees, which Mr. Aiello received in connection with his services as the Secretary and Executive Secretary of the Trust during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020.
Effective upon the late Robert S. Hekemian’s retirement as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and as a trustee on April 5, 2018, the Trust entered into a Consulting Agreement with Mr. Hekemian, pursuant to which Mr. Hekemian provided consulting services to the Trust through December 2019. Under the Consulting Agreement, Mr. Hekemian was obliged to provide advice and consultation with respect to matters pertaining to the Trust and its subsidiaries, affiliates, assets and business, for no fewer than 30 hours per month during the term of the agreement. The Trust paid Mr. Hekemian a consulting
fee of $5,000 per month during the term of the Consulting Agreement, which was payable in the form of Shares on a quarterly basis (i.e. in quarterly installments of $15,000). The number of Shares to be issued for each quarterly installment of the consulting fee was determined by dividing the dollar amount of the consulting fee by the closing price of one Share on the OTC Pink Open Market as of the close of trading on the last trading day of the calendar quarter with respect to which such consulting fee was payable. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, consulting fee expense for Robert S. Hekemian was approximately $8,000.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14 PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Audit Fees
Audit fees billed by EisnerAmper LLP to the Trust totaled $431,000 for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 for professional services rendered in connection with the audits of the Trust’s consolidated financial statements and reviews of the quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020. Audit fees billed by EisnerAmper LLP to the Trust totaled $507,000 for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019 for professional services rendered in connection with the audits of the Trust’s consolidated financial statements, audits of internal controls over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and reviews of the quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019.
Audit-Related Fees
Audit-related fees billed in the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 and 2019 totaled $43,000 and $35,000, respectively, in connection with matters related to the Sale Agreement.
Tax Fees
In the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, EisnerAmper LLP billed the Trust $32,500 for the preparation of the Trust’s 2019 tax return and $8,735 in connection with an analysis relating to the payment of dividends and return of capital. In addition, EisnerAmper LLP billed the Trust $40,000 in the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 for tax-related matters and consultations in connection with the Sale Agreement. In the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019, EisnerAmper LLP billed the Trust $32,500 for the preparation of the Trust’s 2018 tax return and $6,000 in connection with an analysis relating to the payment of dividends and return of capital. In addition, EisnerAmper LLP billed the Trust $106,000 in the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019 for tax-related matters and consultations in connection with the Sale Agreement.
All Other Fees
EisnerAmper LLP did not bill the Trust for any other services during the fiscal years ended October 31, 2020 and 2019.
Policy on Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services
All audit and non-audit services provided by the Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm and the fees associated therewith are pre-approved by the Audit Committee in accordance with the written charter of the Audit Committee adopted by the Board of Trustees. The Audit Committee gives due consideration to the potential impact of all non-audit services on auditor independence. The engagement of EisnerAmper LLP, which was pre-approved by the Audit Committee, did not make use of the de minimis exception for pre-approval contained in the rules of the SEC that permit limited engagements for non-audit services involving amounts under a specified threshold.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15: EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES
(a) Financial Statements:
Page
(i) Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
(ii) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of October 31, 2020 and 2019
(iii) Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended October 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
(iv) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended October 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
(v) Consolidated Statements of Equity for the years ended October 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
(vi) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended October 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
(vii) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(b) Financial Statement Schedule:
(i) III - Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation
99/100
(c) Exhibits:
See Index to Exhibits.