Great Neck, New York, May 8, 2008 -- BRT Realty Trust (NYSE:BRT) today announced its results of operations for the quarter and six months ended March 31, 2008. BRT reported that for the three months ended March 31, 2008, it had total revenues of $5,303,000 and a net loss of $14,000, or a per share loss of $.00. The net loss for the quarter reflects, as an expense item, the addition of $5,300,000 ($.45 per share) to BRT’s allowance for possible loan losses. The net loss gives effect to gains of $3,818,000 ($.33 per share) on the sale of shares of Entertainment Properties Trust (EPR) in the current three month period and income of $1,036,000 from discontinued operations ($.09 per share), which is primarily due to a net gain on sale of real estate assets. For the comparable three month period in the prior fiscal year, BRT reported revenues of $10,994,000 and net income of $20,864,000, or $1.88 per share, which includes a gain on the sale of securities, primarily shares of EPR, of $15,298,000 ($1.38 per share).
For the six months ended March 31, 2008, BRT reported total revenues of $12,811,000 and net income of $3,216,000, or $.28 per share. For the six months ended March 31, 2008, BRT’s expenses include the additional $5,300,000 allowance for possible loan losses taken in the quarter ending March 31, 2008. Net income for the current six month period also includes gains of $3,818,000 ($.33 per share) from the sale of shares of EPR and income from discontinued operations of $1,446,000 ($.13 per share), which is due to a net gain on sale of real estate assets. For the six months ended March 31, 2007, BRT reported revenues of $23,739,000 and net income of $29,153,000, or $2.95 per share, which includes gains from the sale of securities, primarily EPR, of $15,298,000 ($1.55 per share), and income from discontinued operations of $358,000 ($.04 per share), which is due to a net gain on the sale of real estate assets.
Commenting on BRT’s operations and other important events in the current three and six month periods, Jeffrey Gould, President and CEO, noted as follows:
* Total revenues for the three and six months ended March 31, 2008 declined by 52% and 46%, respectively, from total revenues in the comparable three and six month periods of the prior fiscal year. The decline in both periods was primarily due to a decrease in interest income resulting from (i) a significant increase in non-performing loans and (ii) a significant decline in the average balance of loans outstanding. Also contributing to the decline in total revenues was the decrease in fee income resulting from reduced loan originations.
* The decrease in interest income in both current periods was due in large part to the increase in non-performing loans. Non-performing loans at March 31, 2008 totaled $72,698,000 (before allowance for possible losses), representing 38% of our loan portfolio, compared to $63,627,000 (before allowance for possible losses), representing 26% of our loan portfolio at September 30, 2007, our fiscal year end. Additions to non-earning loans during the quarter ended March 31, 2008 include four loans aggregating $36,517,000 in principal amount, secured by six multi-family garden properties located in Tennessee. BRT has been receiving the operating cash flow from these properties directly from a third party management company. On the condition that it continues to receive the operating cash flow and to allow a sale process with respect to these properties to proceed, BRT is forbearing, for a limited period of time, from foreclosure proceedings with respect to these properties. These six properties are subject to a contract of sale, which provides the buyer with a right to terminate during a due diligence period. If the transaction is consummated pursuant to the contract of sale, it is expected that the outstanding principal balance of these loans will be paid in full from the sale proceeds. Since the due diligence period under the contract of sale has not expired, there can be no assurance that this transaction will be consummated.
* In the current quarter, a non-performing loan with a principal outstanding balance of $1,137,500 was returned to performing status and subsequent to the end of the quarter, it was paid in full. In addition, $2,260,000 of the principal outstanding balance of two non-earning loans was paid down, and two non-earning loans with an aggregate principal balance of $26,145,000 were reclassified as real estate owned, as title was conveyed to BRT in foreclosure proceedings or by deed in lieu of foreclosure.
* The average balance of loans outstanding and fee income declined quarter versus quarter and six months versus six months due to the weakened real estate and credit markets, which caused a decrease in our loan originations. The weakened markets have severely limited investments in real estate by potential borrowers and, therefore, the demand for our bridge lending has been significantly curtailed.
* BRT’s expenses in the quarter and six months ended March 31, 2008 reflect a $5,300,000 additional provision for loan loss allowances. In its quarterly review of its loan portfolio, management determined that due to reduced liquidity and a lack of sales activity for unimproved land and for existing condominium units in the areas of Florida in which these properties are located, it was necessary to increase the loan loss allowance applicable to a nine acre development site and to an existing multi-family condominium conversion property. With respect to a property located in Indiana, after consultation with the court appointed receiver, the receiver’s managing agent and prospective contractors, BRT concluded that the cost of renovating, repairing and stabilizing this garden apartment complex would be greater than initially contemplated and, therefore, an additional allowance for losses was needed with respect to this property.
* At March 31, 2008, BRT’s real estate assets (book value) totaled $75,516,000, including $36,626,000 of real estate properties held for sale. With respect to these properties, BRT entered into a contract to sell a residential apartment complex for $27,300,000. The contract of sale provides the buyer with the right to terminate during a due diligence period, and accordingly there can be no assurance that the sale will be consummated. Subsequent to the end of the March 31, 2008 quarter, BRT sold a two acre undeveloped lot, adjacent to an income producing property it acquired by deed in lieu of foreclosure, for a consideration of $1,850,000.
* In the quarter ending March 31, 2008, a $26,842,000 loan held by a joint venture in which BRT is a 25% participant became non-performing. The venture does not deem the property impaired and has not taken an allowance for loan losses with respect to this property.
* The three and six months ending March 31, 2008 include in discontinued operations (i) the sale of an industrial building acquired in foreclosure in 2007 for a gain of $266,000, (ii) the sale of six condominium units at a condominium project acquired in foreclosure in December 2007 for a gain of $155,000, and (iii) the sale of one cooperative residential unit for a gain of $632,000.
Commenting on operations in the three and six months ended March 31, 2008, Mr. Gould stated, “it has been a very challenging time for us. We have made substantial progress in taking control of properties from borrowers who could not meet their obligations. We still have a number of foreclosure proceedings pending, which we expect to complete by fiscal year end.” He further commented that, “substantially all of our loan portfolio is secured by first liens and when a loan becomes non-earning, our task is to take control of the property as quickly as possible and to implement a strategy for maximizing the value of the property. We have previously been through down cycles in the real estate industry,” he noted, and “have both the experience and the capital to successfully manage the problems we are encountering in the current difficult market.”
BRT is a New York-based Real Estate Investment Trust that specializes in the origination and holding for investment of senior and junior commercial mortgage loans secured by real property in the United States. For more information on BRT, please visit our Home Page.
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements: Materials included in this filing may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Statements that include the words "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "believes," "estimates," "projects," "potential," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "intends," "continues," "forecast," "designed," "goal," or the negative of those words or other comparable words should be considered uncertain and forward-looking.
Contact: Simeon Brinberg, Senior Vice President - (516) 466-3100
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