Deferred fee plan

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2014

Deferred fee plan [Abstract]

Deferred fee plan

Note 13- Deferred fee plan:

During fiscal 2001, the Board adopted a deferred fee plan for its officers and trustees, which was amended and restated in fiscal 2009 to make the deferred fee plan compliant with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Deferred Fee Plan”). Pursuant to the Deferred Fee Plan, any officer or trustee may elect to defer receipt of any fees that would be due them. These fees include annual retainer and meeting attendance fees as determined by the full Board of Trustees. FREIT has agreed to pay any participant (the “Participant”) in the Deferred Fee Plan interest on any deferred fee at 9% per annum, compounded quarterly. Any such deferred fee is to be paid to the Participants at the later of: (i) the retirement age specified in the deferral election; (ii) actual retirement; or (iii) upon cessation of a Participant's duties as an officer or trustee.

The Deferred Fee Plan provides that any such deferral fee will be paid in a lump sum or in annual installments over a period not to exceed 10 years, at the election of the Participant. Trustee fee expense (including interest) for each of the years ended October 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $1,204,000, $1,101,000, and $1,045,000, respectively. As of October 31, 2014 and 2013, approximately $5,163,000 and $4,703,000, respectively, of fees have been deferred together with accrued interest of approximately $3,854,000 and $3,110,000, respectively.

On September 4, 2014, the Board approved the following amendments to the FREIT Deferred Fee Plan, effective November 1, 2014, as follows:

(a) On a prospective basis, a change in the interest rate payable on deferred fees payable to FREIT Trustees from 9% per annum, compounded quarterly, to a floating rate, adjusted quarterly, equal to the average interest rate on ten year treasury bonds plus 150 basis points;

(b) On a prospective basis, allowing for the continued deferral of fees payable to FREIT Trustees, but not for the deferral of salaries payable to Executive Officers of FREIT;

(c) To provide for the issuance of share units payable in FREIT shares in respect of (i) deferred amounts of fees on a prospective basis; (ii) interest on fees deferred prior to November 1, 2014; and (iii) dividends payable in respect of share units allocated to participants in the Deferred Fee Plan as a result of the deferrals described in subparagraphs (c)(i) and (c)(ii) above. The number of share units will be determined by the closing price of FREIT shares on the date of the deferral. The number of share units will be converted into an equivalent number of FREIT shares upon distribution to the participant on a future date designated by the participant.