Arbor Realty Trust Reports Record Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2004 Results
biz.yahoo.com
Monday February 14, 7:30 am ET
Fourth Quarter Highlights:
* Net income of $8.6 million, increase of 12% from 3Q04
* Net income of $0.52 per basic and diluted share
* New loan/investment originations of $171 million
* Declared quarterly dividend of $0.47 per share
UNIONDALE, N.Y., Feb. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Arbor Realty Trust, Inc., a real estate investment trust focused on the business of investing in real estate related bridge and mezzanine loans, preferred equity investments, mortgage related securities and other real estate related assets, today announced financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2004. Arbor reported net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2004 of $8.6 million, or $0.52 per basic and diluted common share, compared to net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2003 of $2.3 million, or $0.28 per basic and diluted common share. For the year ended December 31, 2004, net income totaled $25.1 million, or $1.81 per basic common share and $1.78 per diluted common share.
"We are very pleased to report record earnings for the fifth consecutive quarter," said Ivan Kaufman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Arbor Realty Trust. "Our strong financial performance reflects the solid execution of our focused strategy and demonstrates the continued success we have achieved by effectively and efficiently deploying our capital."
Kaufman added, "During the quarter, we originated fifteen loans and investments totaling $171 million. We believe this level of originations is sustainable for the foreseeable future as our pipeline remains strong. Every transaction we close is designed to enhance our franchise and ultimately increase shareholder value."
Total revenues for the quarter ended December 31, 2004 were $20.7 million, an increase of 21% from the previous quarter. Total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2004 were $58.0 million.
The balance in the loan and investment portfolio was $839 million at December 31, 2004. The average balance of the loan and investment portfolio was $815 million during the fourth quarter and the average yield on these assets was 9.78%.
During the fourth quarter, Arbor received $1,025,000 of distributions from one of the investments in which it retains an equity participation interest. Of this amount, $500,000 was recorded as interest income in the quarter and $525,000 was income from equity affiliates.
Arbor has maintained its investment in mortgage-backed securities, which had a weighted average balance of $47.8 million for the fourth quarter with an average yield of 2.53%. These assets were financed by borrowings with a weighted average balance of $46.3 million and an average cost of 2.18%.
Interest expense for the quarter was $7.5 million, an increase of 28% from the previous quarter, of which $7.3 million was from the debt financing of the loan and investment portfolio. This growth reflects increased average borrowings during the quarter as well as increased interest rates. The average balance of debt financing on the loan and investment portfolio was $514 million during the quarter and the average cost of these borrowings was 5.54%.
The management fee payable to Arbor's manager, Arbor Commercial Mortgage, LLC, for the quarter included $1.1 million of incentive compensation. The incentive compensation amount represents 25% of the amount by which earnings for the year ending December 31, 2004 exceeded a 9.5% return on equity threshold, as described in the management agreement with Arbor's manager. Arbor Commercial Mortgage intends to exercise its option to receive the entire amount of its incentive compensation in shares of Arbor's common stock.
Financing Activity
As of December 31, 2004, Arbor had five financing facilities for its loan and investment portfolio, aggregating $880 million. On that date, borrowings outstanding under such facilities were $531 million.
Significant progress has been made in expanding Arbor's financing alternatives to maximize shareholder returns. In January 2005, Arbor closed a non-recourse collateralized debt obligation, in which $305 million of investment-grade floating-rate notes secured by certain mezzanine and mortgage loans in Arbor's portfolio were issued. In addition, Arbor added a $50 million secured credit facility. The capacity within these financing facilities is adequate to support continued growth in the portfolio, and should enhance shareholder returns.
Portfolio Activity
During the fourth quarter, fifteen new loans totaling $171 million were originated, of which $169 million was funded. Of the new loans, seven were mezzanine loans totaling $106 million and eight were bridge loans totaling $65 million. Principal reductions aggregated $142 million in the fourth quarter.
At December 31, 2004, the loan and investment portfolio balance was $840 million, with a weighted average current interest pay rate of 8.87%. At the same date, advances on financing facilities pertaining to the loan and investment portfolio totaled $531 million, with a weighted average funding cost of 5.05%. These balances constitute an advance rate of approximately 63% as of December 31, 2004.
The loan and investment portfolio continues to perform according to expectations and there have been no defaults. Arbor continues to seek loans and investments that will generate superior risk adjusted returns with a long- term objective of capital preservation and earnings stability in varying interest rate and credit cycles.
Dividend
As previously disclosed on January 13, 2005, a dividend of $0.47 per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2004 will be paid on February 15, 2005 to stockholders of record on January 31, 2005.
Annual Meeting
Arbor Realty Trust's 2004 Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 at 1:00 pm EST. The meeting will be held at the Teleconference Center on the lower level of 333 Earle Ovington Blvd., Uniondale, New York. |
