10-Q 1 qtr1003.htm INVESTORS REAL ESTATE TRUST - 10-Q - OCTOBER 31, 2003 Investors Real Estate Trust - 10-Q - October 31, 2003

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 15, 2003

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.
20549

Form 10-Q

Quarterly Report under Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For Quarter Ended October 31, 2003

Commission File Number 0-14851

 INVESTORS REAL ESTATE TRUST
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 

North Dakota
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

45-0311232
 (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

Post Office Box 1988
12 South Main Street
Minot, ND
 (Address of principal executive offices)

58702-1988
 (Zip code)

 (701) 837-4738
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

 N/A
 (Former name, former address, and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.)

      Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes x          No o

      Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).                                   

Yes x       No o

      Registrant is a North Dakota Real Estate Investment Trust.  As of December 8, 2003, it had 40,677,880 shares of beneficial interest outstanding.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

   Part I Financial Information Page
   

Item 1.

Financial Statements - Second Quarter - Fiscal 2004

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets
     
October 31, 2003 (unaudited) and April 30, 2003

3

Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)
     
 For the Three Months and Six Months ended October 31, 2003
       and 2002

4

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)
     
 For the Six Months ended October 31, 2003 and 2002

5

Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity (unaudited)
       
For the Six Months ended October 31, 2003

6

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

8

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
      Results of Operations

18

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

36
    Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

36
 

 

 
   Part II Other Information  
     

Item 1.
Legal Proceedings 37

Item 2.
Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds 37

Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities - None 37

Item 4.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 37

Item 5.
Other Information - None 37

Item 6.
Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 38

Signatures
  38

 


Table of Contents

                        PART I

Item 1.  Financial Statements - Second Quarter  - Fiscal 2004

INVESTORS REAL ESTATE TRUST
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
BALANCE SHEETS

ASSETS  

(unaudited)
October 31, 2003
 

April 20, 2003
Real Estate Investments        
     Property Owned   999,792,737   919,780,802
     Less Accumulated Depreciation   (86,912,556   (75,638,772
    912,880,181   844,142,030
     Mortgage Loans Receivable   2,054,660   1,182,940
        Total Real Estate Investments   914,934,841   845,324,970
OTHER ASSETS        
     Cash   21,843,527    15,564,714
     Marketable Securities - Available for Sale   2,703,032   3,077,260
     Rent Receivable, Net of Allowance   5,366,473   4,604,150
     Real Estate Deposits          1,004,207    353,600
     Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets          2,410,420   1,086,620
     Tax, Insurance and Other Escrow          7,936,942   7,433,923
     Deferred Charges and Leasing Costs          5,633,714    4,706,393
     Property & Equipment, Net          2,272,652   2,088,074
     Goodwill   1,440,817   1,440,817
     TOTAL ASSETS   965,546,625   885,680,521
         
LIABILITIES        
     Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses   16,231,954   16,638,506
     Notes Payable                   0   11,247,531
     Mortgages Payable   583,159,585   539,397,202
     Investment Certificates Issued   8,263,005   9,034,696
        Total Liabilities   607,654,544   576,317,935
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE 7)        
         
MINORITY INTEREST IN PARTNERSHIPS             15,579,794           14,224,628
         
MINORITY INTEREST OF UNIT HOLDERS IN OPERATING PARTNERSHIP
       11,549,252 on 10/31/03
       10,206,036 on 04/30/03
  92,057,621   80,376,853
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
     Shares of Beneficial Interest
        40,595,779 on 10/31/03
        36,166,351 on 04/30/03
  282,157,776   240,645,207
Accumulated Distributions in Excess of Net Income   (31,903,110   (25,884,102
Total Shareholders’ Equity   250,254,666   214,761,105
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY   965,546,625  

885,680,521

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

3

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INVESTORS REAL ESTATE TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited)
For the Three Months and Six Months ended October 31, 2003 and 2002

 

Three Months Ended
 October 31
   

Six Months Ended
 October 31
 
 

2003
     

2002

2003

2002
 
REVENUE                          
     Real Estate Rentals $ 29,095,171     $ 25,742,486     $ 57,253,031     $ 50,110,157  
     Tenant Reimbursements   4,832,420       3,477,477       9,599,999       6,645,030  
     Discounts and Fees   55,505       59,136       112,884       122,970  
     Total Revenue   33,983,096       29,279,099       66,965,914       56,878,157  
 
OPERATING EXPENSE                        
     Interest   10,407,764        8,960,688       20,557,048       17,628,473  
     Depreciation   5,775,693       4,755,045        11,351,721       9,109,684  
     Utilities   2,300,003       1,883,244       4,256,128       3,493,047  
     Maintenance   3,524,623       2,966,086       7,017,802       5,670,644  
     Taxes 4,183,825     3,280,777     8,190,943     6,404,609  
     Insurance    724,319        522,946        1,396,962       1,016,422  
     Property Management Expenses   2,219,118       1,904,743       4,293,134       3,859,795  
     Property Management Related Party   200,629       120,291       329,644       245,440  
     Administrative Expense   586,672       452,031       1,215,864       898,163  
     Advisory and Trustee Services 29,375       28,456       56,975       57,056  
     Operating Expenses   383,065       245,267       531,393       489,848  
     Amortization   187,138       160,386       372,632       283,210  
     Amortization of Related Party Costs   19,353       7,142       33,463       12,587  
     Total Operating Expense 30,541,577     25,287,102     59,603,709     49,168,978  
                               
Operating Income   3,441,519       3,991,997       7,362,205       7,709,179  
           
Non-Operating Income 92,867      239,723     185,473     38,480  
       
Income Before Gain/Loss on
     Properties and Minority Interest
3,534,386       4,231,720       7,547,678       8,247,659  
Gain on Sale of Investment   0     52,774   0       315,342  
Minority Interest Portion of Other
     Partnerships’ Income
  ( 212,217 )     (180,291 )     ( 469,229 )     (462,777 )
Minority Interest Portion of Operating
    Partnership Income
  (811,241 )     (1,002,392 )     (1,652,291 )     (2,019,414 )
Income From Continuing Operations   2,510,928       3,101,811       5,426,158       6,080,810  
Discontinued Operations, net   104,124       (33,589 )     109,078       (84,587 )
           
Net Income $         2,615,052     $         3,068,222    

$

        5,535,236    

$

        5,996,223  
                               
Net Income Per Share (basic and diluted) $                    .07     $                    .10     $                    .15     $                    .19  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

4


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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
For the Six Months ended October 31, 2003 and 2002  

Six Months
Ended October 31
    2003   2002
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES        
NET INCOME $ 5,535,236  $ 5,996,223 
        Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
        provided by operating activities
       
            Depreciation and amortization   11,759,636     9,531,739 
            Minority interest portion of income   2,123,303    2,454,016 
            Gain on sale of investments and discontinued operations   (103,045)   (315,342)
            Capitalized Interest Income   (66,417)                   (1,295)
            Interest reinvested in investment certificates   169,148    185,021 
            Changes in other assets and liabilities:        
                (Increase) decrease in real estate deposits   (1,672,530)                   (2,590)
                (Increase) decrease in other assets   (1,141,046)   1,981,603 
                (Increase) decrease in rent receivable   (762,323)   (846,583)
                (Increase) decrease in tax, insurance and other escrow   (411,066)   (900,547)
                (Increase) decrease in deferred charges   (1,159,309)   (1,462,194)
                Increase (decrease) in accounts payable & accrued expenses      (1,541,905)             83,196 
Net cash provided by operating activities $    12,729,682  $    16,703,247 
         
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES        
        Proceeds from sale of marketable securities - available-for-sale $ 15,374,228  $ 33,500,000 
        Proceeds from notes receivable                   0    3,500,000 
        Proceeds from sale of property                   50,847    1,003,004 
        Principal payments on mortgage loans receivable                   37,669   372,631 
        Payments for acquisition and improvements of properties   (47,678,715)   (50,206,255)
        Purchase of marketable securities - available-for-sale   (15,000,000)   (25,652,269)
        Investment in mortgage loan receivable      (1,000,000)            (32,956)
Net cash used for investing activities $   (48,215,971) $   (37,515,845)

 continued

The remainder of this page has been left blank intentionally.

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS  - continued

   

Six Months
Ended October 31
    2003     2002
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES      
Proceeds from sale of shares, net of issue costs $ 35,416,358    $ 31,663,100 
Proceeds from mortgages payable   54,887,261      16,300,000 
Proceeds from notes payable   10,851     
Repurchase of shares and minority interest units   (2,963)     (9,527)
Distributions paid to shareholders   (6,771,746)     (5,516,228)
Distributions paid to unit-holders of operating partnership   (3,042,856)     (2,734,138)
Distributions paid to other minority partners   (407,704)     (522,379)
Redemption of investment certificates   (940,838)     (10,962,534)
Principal payments on mortgages payable   (26,124,878)     (4,996,362)
     Principal payments on notes payable   (11,258,383)                      0 
Net cash provided by financing activities   41,765,102      23,221,932 
       
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH   6,278,813      2,409,334 
       
CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD      15,564,714        12,333,426 
CASH AT END OF PERIOD $ 21,843,527    $ 14,742,760 
       
SUPPLEMENTARY SCHEDULE OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND
   FINANCING ACTIVITIES FOR THE PERIOD
     
Distribution reinvestment plan $ 5,169,275    $ 4,595,130 
    Proceeds from sale of properties deposited directly
        with escrow agent
  368,353      1,208,988 
    Properties acquired through the issuance of minority
        interest units in the operating partnership
  14,386,226      8,049,117 
Interest reinvested directly in investment certificates   169,148      185,021 
Operating Partnership units converted to shares   929,899      1,163,206 
Real estate investment acquired through assumption of
     mortgage loans payable and accrual of costs
  15,000,000      27,803,654 
Minority partner interest in IRET-BD       1,486,108 
Minority partner interest in Golden Hills   1,293,640     
       
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION      
Cash paid during the period for:      
Interest paid on mortgages $ 19,856,018    $ 17,007,664 
     Interest paid on investment certificates   197,494      568,508 
     Interest paid on margin account and other          299,279                         0 
  $ 20,352,791    $ 17,576,172 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. 

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Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity
For the Six Months ended October 31, 2003 (unaudited)

NUMBER
OF SHARES
BENEFICIAL
INTEREST
DISTRIBUTIONS
IN EXCESS OF
NET INCOME
ACCUMULATED
OTHER
COMPREHENSIVE
INCOME (LOSS)
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
       
Balance May 1, 2003 36,166,351  $ 240,645,207  $ (25,884,102) $ --  $ 214,761,105 
Comprehensive Income      
     Net income 5,535,236      5,535,236 
Total comprehensive income     $ 5,535,236 
Distributions (11,554,244)     (11,554,244)
Distribution reinvestment plan 548,810  5,169,275      5,169,275 
Sale of shares 3,880,911  36,346,257      36,346,257 
Fractional shares repurchased

                (293)

 

             (2,963)

 

                      -- 

 

                       -- 

 

                (2,963)

Balance October 31, 2003         40,595,779  $    282,157,776  $   (31,903,110) $                        --  $     250,254,666 

 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the Six Months ended October 31, 2003 and 2002 (unaudited)

 Note 1  - Organization
      Investors Real Estate Trust ("IRET") is a self-advised real estate investment trust engaged in acquiring, owning and leasing multi-family and commercial real estate.  IRET has elected to be taxed as a Real Estate Investment Trust ("REIT") under Sections 856-860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  REITs are subject to a number of organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement to distribute 90% of ordinary taxable income to shareholders, and, generally, are not subject to federal income tax on net income.  IRET’s residential apartment communities and commercial properties are located mainly in the states of North Dakota and Minnesota, but also in the states of Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Georgia, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, Michigan, Washington and Wisconsin.  IRET conducts a majority of its business activities through its operating partnership, IRET Properties, a North Dakota Limited Partnership (the "Operating Partnership"), as well as through a number of other subsidiary entities.

       All references to IRET or the Company refer to Investors Real Estate Trust and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Note 2 - Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation
     
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of IRET and all its subsidiaries in which it maintains a controlling interest.

      The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of IRET and its general partnership interest in the Operating Partnership as of October 31, 2003, and April 30, 2003.  The Company’s interest in the Operating Partnership was 77.9% and 78.0%, respectively, as of October 31, 2003, and April 30, 2003.  Such interest has been calculated as the percentage of outstanding common shares of beneficial interest of IRET divided by the total outstanding common shares of beneficial interest and Operating Partnership units ("UPREIT Units") outstanding.  The remaining ownership percentage is reflected as Minority Interest of Unit Holders in Operating Partnership in these consolidated financial statements.  The limited partners have exchange rights that enable them to cause the Operating Partnership to exchange their UPREIT Units for cash, or, at the option of the Company, for shares of beneficial interest, on a one-for-one basis.  The exchange may, generally, be exercised by the limited partners at any time after the first anniversary of the date of the acquisition of the UPREIT Units (provided, however, that not more than two exchanges may occur during each calendar year, and each limited partner may not exercise the exchange for less than 1,000 Units, or, if such limited partner holds less than 1,000 Units, for all of the Units held by such limited partner).  Some limited partners have contractually agreed to a holding period of greater than one year.

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 Note 2 - continued

       The consolidated financial statements also include the ownership by the Operating Partnership of:  (1) a 60.31% ownership interest in Minnesota Medical Investors LLC, SMB Operating Company LLC, and SMB MM LLC, collectively known as Southdale Medical Center; (2) a 51% ownership interest in Mendota Properties, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company, the holder of all of the issued and outstanding membership interests in Mendota Office Holding LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company, and Mendota Office Three and Four, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company, which are the owners of five multi-tenant commercial real estate properties in Dakota County, Minnesota, (3) a 51% ownership interest in IRET-BD, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company, the holder of all of the issued and outstanding membership interests in IRET - DMS, LLC and IRET - Brenwood, LLC, which are the owners of a warehouse facility in Des Moines, Iowa and a four-building office complex in Minnetonka, Minnesota, respectively, and (4) a 90% ownership in IRET-Golden Jack, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, which owns a 190,758 square foot multi-tenant commercial office building in Golden Valley, MN, known as Golden Hills Office Center.   These companies are consolidated into IRET's financial statement with minority interests reflecting the minority partners’ share of ownership and net income. 

    All material inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.

Unaudited Interim Financial Statements
     
The interim consolidated financial statements of IRET have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").  Accordingly, certain disclosures accompanying annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America are omitted.  The year-end balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods have been included. 

      The current period's results of operations are not necessarily indicative of results, which ultimately may be achieved for the year.  The interim consolidated financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2003, filed with the SEC.

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Note 2 - continued

 Reclassifications
      Certain reclassifications have been made to the consolidated financial statements for the six months ended October 31, 2002, to conform to the classifications used in the six months ended October 31, 2003.  The reclassifications had no effect on net income, retained earnings, or cash flows as previously reported.

 Recent Accounting Pronouncements
      In November 2002, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation ("FIN") No. 45, "Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others".  FIN No. 45 clarifies the requirements for a guarantor’s accounting for and disclosure of certain guarantees issued and outstanding.  The initial recognition and the initial measurement provisions of FIN No. 45 are applicable to guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002.  The disclosure requirements of FIN No. 45 are effective for financial statements of interim or annual periods after December 15, 2002.  The adoption of FIN No. 45 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

      In January 2003, the FASB issued FIN No. 46, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51".  FIN No. 46 explains how to identify variable interest entities and how an enterprise assesses its interests in a variable interest entity to decide whether to consolidate that entity.  This Interpretation requires existing unconsolidated variable interest entities to be consolidated by their primary beneficiaries if the entities do not effectively disperse risks among parties involved.  FIN No. 46 is effective immediately for variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003, and to variable interest entities in which an enterprise obtains an interest after that date.  In October, 2003, the FASB deferred the effective date of FIN No. 46 to the first interim or annual period ending after December 15, 2003, for variable interest entities in which an enterprise holds a variable interest that it acquired before February 1, 2003.  Management believes the adoption of FIN No. 46 will not have a significant impact on the Company's financial statements.

      In May, 2003, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 150, "Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments With Characteristics of Both Liabilities and Equity".  SFAS No. 150 establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity.  SFAS No. 150 is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise is effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003.  The Company adopted SFAS No. 150 on August 1, 2003 and the adoption did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

Note 3 - Goodwill
      There was no change in the carrying amount of goodwill for the six months ended October 31, 2003.  Goodwill is tested on an annual basis the first day of each fiscal year, and any impairment adjustments are reflected at that time.  SFAS No. 142 has no significant impact on IRET’s net income or earnings per share when comparing the six months ended October 31, 2003, to October 31, 2002.

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Note 4 - Earnings Per Share
      Earnings per share  ("EPS") is computed as net income available to common shareholders divided by the weighted average number of common shares of beneficial interest outstanding for the period.  The Company has no outstanding warrants, convertible stock, or other contractual obligations requiring issuance of additional common shares of beneficial interest that would result in a dilution of earnings. 

      The exchange of outstanding UPREIT Units for common shares of beneficial interest would have no effect on EPS as unit-holders and shareholders presently share equally in the net income of the Operating Partnership. 

      The following table presents a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share for the three months and six months ended October 31, 2003, and 2002, as required by SFAS No. 128, "Earnings per Share."

 

Three Months
Ended October 31

Six Months
Ended October 31
  2003 2002 2003 2002
NUMERATOR
        Income from continuing operations
$ 2,510,928 $ 3,101,811  $ 5,426,158 $ 6,080,810 
        Gain (Loss) from discontinued Operations         104,124          (33,589)           109,078          (84,587)
        Net Income $    2,615,052 $     3,068,222  $      5,535,236 $     5,996,223 
DENOMINATOR
        Weighted average shares
 38,326,708   31,885,130     37,342,362   31,141,311 
     
Earnings per share from continuing operations $ .07 $ .10  $ .15 $ .19 
Earnings per share from discontinued operations  

                    --

 

                    -- 

 

                    --

 

                    -- 

Net income per share (basic and diluted) $                   .07 $                  .10  $                   .15 $                   .19 

Note 5 - Shareholders' Equity
     
During the three months ended October 31, 2003, we issued 3,758,793 shares of beneficial interest at $10.00 per share, for gross proceeds of $35,416,358.  Offering costs and selling commissions were approximately $2,096,358.  IRET plans to use the net proceeds from the offering for general business purposes, including the acquisition, development, renovation, expansion or improvement of income-producing properties.  We also issued 272,035 shares on July 1, 2003, and 276,775 shares on October 1, 2003, pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan, for total proceeds of $5,169,275.  In addition, as of October 31, 2003, 114,439 UPREIT units have been converted to shares during fiscal year 2004, with a total value of $929,899 included in shareholders' equity.

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Note 6 - Segment Reporting
      IRET is engaged in acquiring, owning and leasing multi-family residential and commercial real estate.  Each property is considered a separate operating segment.  Each segment on a stand-alone basis is less than 10% of the revenues, profit or loss, and assets of the combined reported operating segments, and meets the majority of the aggregation criteria under SFAS 131.  IRET’s operating segments are aggregated and classified as multi-family residential and commercial properties for purposes of producing reportable segments.  The revenues, profit (loss) and assets for both of these reportable segments are summarized as follows as of and for the six and three-month periods ended October 31, 2003 and 2002, along with reconciliations to the consolidated financial statements:

Three Months Ended October 31, 2003

  Commercial   Residential Total
     
Real Estate Revenue $      17,889,706 $      16,037,885 $      33,927,591 
Expenses  
     Mortgage Interest 5,516,029   4,521,329 10,037,358 
     Depreciation 2,949,003   2,787,762 5,736,765 
     Utilities and Maintenance  2,732,781   3,091,845 5,824,626 
     Real Estate Taxes 2,402,069   1,781,756 4,183,825 
     Insurance 194,561                   529,758                 724,319 
     Property Management            717,792            1,701,955         2,419,747 
Total Segment Expense       14,512,235          14,414,405       28,926,640 
Segment Operating Profit       3,377,471 $        1,623,480 $    5,000,951 
     Reconciliation to consolidated operations:                                  
     Interest Discounts and Fee Revenue $ 148,372 
     Other Interest Expense                   (370,406)
     Depreciation - Furniture and Fixtures                   (38,928)
     Administrative, Advisory and Trustee Fees                   (616,047)
     Operating Expenses    (383,065)
     Amortization                          (206,491)
Income Before Gain/Loss on Properties and Minority Interest $    3,534,386 

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Note 6 - continued

Three Months Ended October 31, 2002

    Commercial   Residential   Total
             
Real Estate Revenue $      13,960,169 $      15,259,794 $      29,219,963 
Expenses            
     Mortgage Interest   4,389,507   4,317,019   8,706,526 
     Depreciation   2,182,828   2,550,331   4,733,159 
     Utilities and Maintenance    1,915,832   2,933,498   4,849,330 
     Real Estate Taxes   1,582,371   1,698,406   3,280,777 
     Insurance   131,641   391,305   522,946 
     Property Management            491,961         1,533,073          2,025,034 
Total Segment Expense     10,694,140        13,423,632        24,117,772 
Segment Operating Profit  $     3,266,029 $      1,836,162 $      5,102,191 
Reconciliation to consolidated operations:                                  
     Interest Discounts and Fee Revenue $ 298,859 
     Other Interest Expense   (254,162)
     Depreciation - Furniture and Fixtures   (21,886)
     Administrative, Advisory and Trustee Fees   (480,487)
     Operating Expenses    (245,267)
     Amortization             (167,528
Income Before Gain/Loss on Properties and Minority Interest $     4,231,720 

Six Months Ended October 31, 2003

    Commercial   Residential   Total
         
Real Estate Revenue $      36,040,106 $      30,812,924 $      66,853,030 
Expenses        
     Mortgage Interest   10,978,618   8,924,771   19,903,389 
     Depreciation   5,925,139   5,349,945   11,275,084 
     Utilities and Maintenance    5,286,394   5,987,536   11,273,930 
     Real Estate Taxes   4,749,827   3,441,116   8,190,943 
     Insurance                   373,357   1,023,605   1,396,962 
     Property Management          1,353,143        3,269,635          4,622,778 
Total Segment Expense        28,666,478       27,996,608        56,663,086 
Segment Operating Profit  $      7,373,628 $     2,816,316 $   10,189,944 
Reconciliation to consolidated operations:                                  
     Interest Discounts and Fee Revenue $ 298,357 
     Other Interest Expense   (653,659)
     Depreciation - Furniture and Fixtures   (76,637)
     Administrative, Advisory and Trustee Fees   (1,272,839)
     Operating Expenses    (531,393)
     Amortization         (406,095)
Income Before Gain/Loss on Properties and Minority Interest $    7,547,678

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Note 6 - continued

Six Months Ended October 31, 2002

    Commercial   Residential   Total
             
Real Estate Revenue $      26,658,110 $     30,097,077 $     56,755,187 
Expenses            
     Mortgage Interest   8,374,796   8,670,956   17,045,752 
     Depreciation   4,075,677   4,985,713   9,061,390 
     Utilities and Maintenance    3,485,074   5,678,617   9,163,691 
     Real Estate Taxes   3,024,776   3,379,833   6,404,609 
     Insurance   245,000   771,422   1,016,422 
     Property Management          1,127,979          2,977,256           4,105,235 
Total Segment Expense        20,333,302        26,463,797         46,797,099 
Segment Operating Profit  $      6,324,808 $      3,633,280 $       9,958,088 
Reconciliation to consolidated operations:                                  
     Interest Discounts and Fee Revenue $ 661,450 
     Other Interest Expense   (582,721)
     Depreciation - Furniture and Fixtures   (48,294)
     Administrative, Advisory and Trustee Fees   (955,219)
     Operating Expenses    (489,848)
     Amortization             (295,797)
Income Before Gain/Loss on Properties and Minority Interest $      8,247,659 

Segment Assets and Accumulated Depreciation

October 31, 2003

 

Commercial

Residential

Total

 Segment Assets      
   Property Owned

$561,306,322 

$438,486,415 

$999,792,737 

   Less Accumulated Depreciation

   (31,011,498)

     (55,901,058)

     (86,912,556)

Total Property Owned

$530,294,824 

$  382,585,357 

 $912,880,181 

April 30, 2003

 

Commercial

Residential

Total

 Segment Assets      
   Property Owned

$520,864,186 

$398,916,616 

$919,780,802 

   Less Accumulated Depreciation

   (25,086,219)

     (50,552,553)

     (75,638,772)

Total Property Owned

$495,777,967 

$  348,364,063 

 $844,142,030 

 

Note 7 - Commitments and Contingencies

      Litigation - IRET is involved in various lawsuits arising in the normal course of business.  Management believes that such matters will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

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      Insurance - IRET carries insurance coverage on its properties of types and in amounts that the Company believes are customarily obtained by owners of similar properties.

      Purchase Options - The Company has granted options to purchase certain Company properties to various parties.  The options grant the parties the right to purchase these properties at the greater of their appraised value or an annual compounded increase of 2% to 2.5% of the initial cost of the property to the Company.  The total property cost of the eighteen properties subject to purchase options is $67,756,342.  The cost to the option holder to purchase a property will be determined at the time the option is exercised.

      Real Estate Expansions and Development; Tenant Improvements - IRET is financing a $5.1 million addition to its existing Edgewood Vista facility in Virginia, Minnesota.  IRET has paid approximately $1.8 million in respect of this addition as of October 31, 2003.  IRET is committed to loan up to $3.6 million to fund construction of the Nebraska Orthopedic Facility in Omaha, Nebraska.  IRET had outstanding contractual construction commitments of $7.9 million relating to property expansions, development and tenant improvements in progress as of October 31, 2003 (including the Edgewood Vista expansion and the Nebraska Orthopedic Facility specified above).

      Environmental Matters - Under various federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations, a current or previous owner or operator of real estate may be liable for the costs of removal of, or remediation of, certain hazardous or toxic substances in, on, around or under property.  IRET has no knowledge of any violation of environmental laws, ordinances or regulations at any of its properties.

 

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Note 8 - Discontinued Operations

      Below is a summary of the results of operations of the properties disposed of through their respective disposition dates:

 

Three Months Ended
 October 31

Six Months Ended
 October 31
   

2003

 

2002

 

2003

 

2002

REVENUE                
     Real Estate Rentals $ 2,032  $ 292,539  $ 11,032  $ 551,413 
     Tenant Reimbursements     337      4,101 
     Discounts and Fees   --    78    --    184 
     Total Revenue   2,032    292,954    11,032    555,698 
                 
OPERATING EXPENSE                
     Interest   129    127,347    1,270    255,624 
     Depreciation   455    63,129    1,820    126,258 
     Utilities & Maintenance     84,359      163,703 
     Taxes     33,417      66,621 
     Insurance   31    8,530    126    17,061 
     Property Management Expenses     20,595      39,193 
     Total Operating Expense   615    337,377    3,216    668,460 
                 
Income Before Gain/Loss on
     Properties and Minority Interest
$ 1,417    (44,423)   7,816    (112,762)
Minority Interest Portion of
     Operating Partnership Loss
  (338)   10,8 34   (1,783)   28,175 
                 
Gain (Loss) from Operations
  1,079    (33,589)   6,033    (84,587)
                 
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Discontinued Operations   103,045      103,045   
                 
Discontinued Operations, Net $         104,124  $ (33,589) $ 109,078  $ (84,587)

 

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Note 9 - Acquisitions and Dispositions
      During the three months ended October 31, 2003, IRET acquired two commercial properties and one apartment complex.  For the six months ended October 31, 2003, IRET has acquired in total four commercial properties and four apartment complexes, and has sold one commercial property:

 Acquisitions

Acquisition Cost

Commercial Property

   
30,464 sq. ft. - Benton Business Park - Sauk Rapids, MN $ 1,610,730
24,000 sq. ft. - West River Business Park - Waite Park, MN   1,509,276
213,271 sq. ft. - Buffalo Mall - Jamestown, ND   4,275,150
190,758 sq. ft. - Golden Hills Office Center - Golden Valley, MN   27,500,000
    34,895,156
Apartments    
240 units - Connelly Estates - Burnsville, MN   13,855,790
115 units - Remada Court Apartments - Eagan, MN   6,602,890
151 units - Winchester/Village Townhouses - Rochester, MN   8,903,810
160 units - Brookfield Village - Topeka, KS   7,252,607
                    36,615,097
Total Property Acquisitions $ 71,510,253


      The four commercial properties were acquired in exchange for the issuance of 85,472 UPREIT Units with an agreed value of $580,437, plus $34,314,719 of cash and cash equivalents.

     The four apartment complexes were acquired in exchange for the issuance of 1,372,183 UPREIT Units with an agreed value of $13,535,779 plus $23,079,318 cash and cash equivalents.

Disposition

      On August 22, 2003, IRET sold a 6,225 square foot commercial building, known as Interstate Bakery, in St. Paul, MN.  The sales price was $420,000, with an approximate gain on sale of $103,000.

 

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Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

       The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements included in this report, as well as the Company’s audited financial statements for the year ended April 30, 2003, which financial statements were attached to the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

       Forward Looking Statements - Certain matters included in this discussion are forward looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws.  Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the following statements are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that the expectations expressed will actually be achieved.  Many factors may cause actual results to differ materially from our current expectations, including general economic conditions, local real estate conditions, the general level of interest rates and the availability of financing, timely completion and lease-up of properties under construction and various other economic risks inherent in the business of owning and operating investment real estate. 

       Critical Accounting Policies - In preparing the consolidated financial statements management has made estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Set forth below is a summary of the accounting policies that management believes are critical to the preparation of the consolidated financial statements. The summary should be read in conjunction with the more complete discussion of the Company's accounting policies included in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2003, on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

       Real Estate - Real estate is carried at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. As of October 31, 2003, the Company's carrying amount of its real estate, net of accumulated depreciation, is $913 million. Maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred. Depreciation requires an estimate by management of the useful life of each property as well as an allocation of the costs associated with a property to its various components. If the Company does not allocate these costs appropriately or incorrectly estimates the useful lives of its real estate, depreciation expense may be misstated.

       Upon acquisitions of real estate, the Company assesses the fair value of acquired tangible assets (including land, buildings, and tenant improvements) and considers whether there were significant intangible assets acquired (for example, above- and below-market leases, the value of acquired in-place leases, and tenant relationships, in accordance with SFAS No. 141) and acquired liabilities, and allocates the purchase price based on these assessments. The Company assesses fair value based on estimated cash flow projections that utilize appropriate discount and capitalization rates and available market information. Estimates of future cash flows are based on a number of factors including the historical operating results, known trends, and market/economic conditions that may affect the property. The Company's properties are

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reviewed for impairment if events or circumstances change indicating that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable.  If the Company incorrectly estimates the values at acquisition or the undiscounted cash flows, initial allocations of purchase price and future impairment charges may be different. The impact of the Company's estimates in connection with acquisitions and future impairment analysis could be material to the Company's financial statements.

       Mortgage Loans Receivable - The Company evaluates the collectibility of both interest and principal of each of its mortgage loans receivable ($2 million as of October 31, 2003) if circumstances warrant to determine whether it is impaired. If the Company fails to identify that the borrower is unable to perform, the Company's bad debt expense may be different.

       Allowance for Doubtful Accounts - The Company periodically evaluates the collectibility of amounts due from tenants and maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of tenants to make required payments under the lease agreement. The Company also maintains an allowance for receivables arising from the straight-lining of rents. This receivable arises from earnings recognized in excess of amounts currently due under the lease agreements. Management exercises judgment in establishing these allowances and considers payment history and current credit status in developing these estimates. If estimates differ from actual results this would impact reported results.

       Revenue Recognition - The Company has the following revenue sources and revenue recognition policies:

 

  • Base Rents - income arising from tenant leases. These rents are recognized over the non-cancelable term of the related leases on a straight-line basis, which includes the effects of rent steps and free rent abatements under the leases.
  • Percentage Rents - income arising from retail tenant leases which are contingent upon the sales of the tenant exceeding a defined threshold. These rents are recognized in accordance with SAB 101, which states that this income is to be recognized on after the contingency has been removed (i.e. sales thresholds have been achieved).
  • Expense Reimbursement Income - income arising from tenant leases, which provide for the recovery of all or a portion of the operating expenses and real estate taxes of the respective property. This income is accrued in the same periods as the expenses are incurred.

       Before the Company recognizes revenue, it assesses, among other things, its collectibility. If the Company incorrectly determines the collectibility of its revenue, its net income and assets could be overstated.

       Income Taxes - The Company operates in a manner intended to enable it to continue to qualify as a Real Estate Investment Trust ("REIT") under Sections 856-860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Under those sections, a REIT which distributes at least 90% of its REIT taxable income as a distribution to its shareholders each year and which meets certain

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other conditions will not be taxed on that portion of its taxable income which is distributed to its shareholders. The Company intends to distribute to its shareholders 100% of its taxable income. Therefore, no provision for Federal income taxes is required. If the Company fails to distribute the required amount of income to its shareholders, it would fail to qualify as a REIT and substantial adverse tax consequences may result.

Results of Operations
For the Three Months and Six Months ended October 31, 2003 and 2002

       Throughout this section, we have provided certain information on a "stabilized property" basis.  Information provided on a stabilized property basis is provided only for those properties owned for the entirety of both periods being compared, and includes properties, which were redeveloped or expanded during the periods being compared.  Properties purchased or sold, and properties under development during the periods being compared are excluded from our stabilized property analysis.

Revenues
       Total IRET revenues for the second quarter of Fiscal 2004 ended October 31, 2003, were $33,983,096 compared to $29,279,099 received in the second quarter of the prior fiscal year ended October 31, 2002.  This is an increase of $4,703,997, or 16%.  Total revenues for the first six months of Fiscal 2004 ended October 31, 2003, were $66,965,914 compared to $56,878,157 for the same period of the prior year, an increase of $10,087,757, or 18%.  These increases in revenue resulted primarily from the additional investments in real estate made by IRET as well as other factors shown by the following analysis for the first two quarters of Fiscal 2004:

   

Increase in
Total Revenue
Three months
ended
October 31, 2003
 

Increase in
Total Revenue
Six months
ended
 October 31, 2003
Rent from 64 properties acquired in Fiscal 2003 in excess
     of that received in 2003 from the same 64 properties
$ 4,241,177  $ 9,435,858 
Rent from eight properties acquired in Fiscal 2004   1,142,222    1,176,481 
Decrease in rental receipts and accruals on existing
     properties due to changes in scheduled rent and lease renewals/termination
  (675),771   (514,496)
Decrease in ancillary income                (3,631)                (10,086)
Net increase in total revenue $       4,703,997  $      10,0 87,757

 

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Segment Expenses and Operating Profit
      The following table shows the changes in revenues, operating expenses, interest, and depreciation by reportable operating segment for the six months and three months ended October 31, 2003, as compared to the six months and three months ended October 31, 2002:

 Three Months Ended October 31

Commercial:  

2003
     

2002
     

Change
     

%
Real Estate Revenue $ 17,889,706     $ 13,960,169     $ 3,929,537       28.1  
Expenses                              
     Mortgage Interest   5,516,029       4,389,507       1,126,522       25.7  
     Depreciation   2,949,003       2,182,828       766,175       35.1  
     Utilities and Maintenance    2,732,781       1,915,832       816,949       42.6  
     Real Estate Taxes   2,402,069       1,582,371       819,698       51.8  
     Insurance   194,561       131,641       62,920       47.8  
     Property Management   717,792       491,961       225,831       45.9  
Total Segment Expense   14,512,235       10,694,140       3,818,095       35.7  
Segment Operating Profit $ 3,377,471     $ 3,266,029     $ 111,442       3.4  

Residential:  

2003
     

2002
     

Change
     

%
Real Estate Revenue $ 16,037,885     $ 15,259,794     $ 778,091       5.1  
Expenses                              
     Mortgage Interest   4,521,329       4,317,019       204,310       4.7  
     Depreciation   2,787,762       2,550,331       237,431       9.3  
     Utilities and Maintenance    3,091,845       2,933,498       158,347       5.4  
     Real Estate Taxes   1,781,756       1,698,406                       83,350       4.9  
     Insurance   529,758       391,305       138,453       35.4  
     Property Management   1,701,955       1,533,073       168,882       11.0  
Total Segment Expense   14,414,405       13,423,632       990,773       7.4  
Segment Operating Profit $ 1,623,480     $ 1,836,162     $ (212,682 )     (11.6 )

 Six Months Ended October 31

Commercial:  

2003
     

2002
     

Change
     

%
 
Real Estate Revenue $ 36,040,106     $ 26,658,110     $ 9,381,996       35.2  
Expenses                              
     Mortgage Interest   10,978,618       8,374,796       2,603,822       31.1  
     Depreciation   5,925,139       4,075,677       1,849,462       45.4  
     Utilities and Maintenance    5,286,394       3,485,074       1,801,320       51.7  
     Real Estate Taxes   4,749,827       3,024,776       1,725,051       57.0  
     Insurance   373,357       245,000       128,357       52.4  
     Property Management   1,353,143       1,127,979       225,164       20.0  
Total Segment Expense   28,666,478       20,333,302       8,333,176       41.0  
Segment Operating Profit $ 7,373,628     $ 6,324,808     $ 1,048,820       16.6

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 Segment Expenses and Operating Profit - continued

 Six Months Ended October 31

Residential:  

2003
     

2002
     

Change
     

%
 
Real Estate Revenue $ 30,812,924     $ 30,097,077     $ 715,847       2.4  
Expenses                              
     Mortgage Interest   8,924,771       8,670,956       253,815       2.9  
     Depreciation   5,349,945       4,985,713       364,232       7.3  
     Utilities and Maintenance    5,987,536       5,678,617       308,919       5.4  
     Real Estate Taxes   3,441,116       3,379,833       61,283       1.8  
     Insurance   1,023,605       771,422       252,183       32.7  
     Property Management   3,269,635       2,977,256       292,379       9.8  
Total Segment Expense   27,996,608       26,463,797       1,532,811       5.8  
Segment Operating Profit $ 2,816,316     $ 3,633,280     $ (816,964 )     (22.5 )

Factors Impacting Net Income
      During the first three months and six months of Fiscal 2004 ended October 31, 2003, the same factors that combined to reduce our net income per share during the previous fiscal year continue to limit the growth of our total revenue and ultimately negatively impacted our net income per share:

  • Increased Economic Vacancy & Concessions - During the second quarter of Fiscal 2004, vacancy levels continued to increase throughout our entire portfolio. Our stabilized apartment vacancy increased to 8.2% from 7.6% for the three months ended October 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.  Likewise, vacancy levels at our stabilized commercial properties increased to 5.6% from 2.9% for the three months ended October 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.  Our stabilized apartment vacancy increased to 8.9% from 8.0% for the six months ended October 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.  Likewise, vacancy levels at our stabilized commercial properties increased to 5.5% from 2.9% for the six months ended October 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

Our residential vacancy increase on stabilized properties does not reflect the concessions, such as free rent, that have been granted to attract new tenants to our residential properties.  Our stabilized apartment concessions were $651,439 and $278,393 for the three months ended October 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively, an increase of 134%.  For the six months ended October 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively, our concessions were $1,208,264 compared to $589,939 for the same period in the prior years, an increase of 105%.

Our commercial vacancy levels are primarily due to our inability to either renew existing leases or to re-lease space being vacated by tenants at the expiration of their lease.  As we previously reported to our shareholders, despite some positive economic developments, we have yet to see an increase in demand for apartments or for commercial space.  For the balance of fiscal 2004, we consider that demand for both commercial space and apartments will be further reduced by a general decline in overall rental activity due to winter.  Our expectation is that demand in IRET’s markets for both apartments and

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commercial space will continue to remain weak through the balance of fiscal 2004.  As a result, we do not expect our occupancy levels to improve or a reduction in the level of rent concessions during our fiscal 2004, which ends April 30, 2004.

  • Increased Maintenance Expense - The maintenance expense category increased by $558,537, or 18.8% for the three months ended October 31, 2003, and $1,347,158, or 23.8%, for the six months ended October 31, 2003, as compared to the corresponding periods of Fiscal 2003.  Of the increased maintenance costs for the three months ended October 31, 2003, $669,693, or 119.9%, is attributable to the addition of new real estate.   Of this amount $413,211, or 61.7%, is recoverable from commercial tenants.  Existing real estate assets saw a decrease in maintenance costs of $111,156, or 19.9%.  Of the increased maintenance costs for the six months ended October 31, 2003, $1,196,722, or 88.8%, is attributable to the addition of new real estate.   Of  this amount, $874,352, or 73.1%, is recoverable from commercial tenants.  The remaining $150,436, or 11.2%, is due to increased costs for maintenance on existing real estate assets.
  • Increased Utility Expense - The utility expense category increased by $416,759, or 22.1%, for the three months ended October 31, 2003, and $763,081, or 21.8%, for the six months ended October 31, 2003, as compared to the corresponding period of Fiscal 2003.  Of the increased utility costs for the three months ended October 31, 2003, $347,237, or 83.3%, is attributable to the addition of new real estate, while $69,522, or 16.7%, is due to increased costs for utilities on existing real estate assets.  Our Park Meadows and West Stonehill properties in St. Cloud, Minnesota, account for, respectively, $22,210, or 32%, and $31,145, or 45%, of the three months ended October 31, 2003, increased costs for utilities on existing real estate assets, because of significant water, sewer and garbage disposal rate increases imposed by the City of Cloud.  Of the increased utility costs for the six months ended October 31, 2003, $589,640, or 77.3%, is attributable to the addition of new real estate, while $173,441, or 22.7%, is due to increased costs for utilities on existing real estate assets.
  • Increased Administrative and Operating Expense - Administrative and operating expenses increased by $272,439, or 28.1%, for the three months ended October 31, 2003, and $359,246, or 20.6%, for the six months ended October 31, 2003, as compared to the corresponding period of Fiscal 2003, primarily because of increased salary and other expense resulting from our merger with the T. F. James Company located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  As a result of the merger, we opened an office in Minneapolis and acquired six additional employees.  In addition, the increase includes costs related to the 3.7 million shares issued during the three months ended October 31, 2003, and the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders in September, 2003.
  • Increased Insurance Premiums - Insurance expense increased by $201,373, or 38.5%, for the three months ended October 31, 2003, and $380,540, or 37.4%, for the six months ended October 31, 2003, as compared to the corresponding period of Fiscal 2003.  Of the increased insurance costs for the three months ended October 31, 2003, $85,594, or 42.5%, is attributable to the addition of new real estate, while $115,779, or 57.5%, is due to increased premium costs for coverage on existing real estate assets. Of the increased

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insurance costs for the six months ended October 31, 2003, $150,809, or 39.6%, is attributable to the addition of new real estate while $229,731, or 60.4%, is due to increased costs for insurance on existing real estate assets.  Under the terms of most of our commercial leases, the full costs of insurance are paid by the tenant as additional rent. For our other real estate properties, any increase in our insurance costs must be collected from tenants in the form of a general rent increase.  While we continue to implement portfolio wide rent increases wherever possible, the current economic conditions and increased vacancy levels have prevented us from raising rents in the amount necessary to fully recover our increased insurance costs. We expect our insurance expense to continue at its current level for the remaining six months of this fiscal year as well as for the next fiscal year.

  • Increased Mortgage Interest Expense - Our mortgage debt increased $43,762,383, or 8.1%, to $583,159,585 as of October 31, 2003, as compared to April 30, 2003.  Our mortgage interest expense increased by $1,003,606, or 21.2%, for the three months ended October 31, 2003, and $2,857,637, or 16.8%, for the six months ended October 31, 2003.  Of the increased mortgage interest expense for the three months ended October 31, 2003, $1,609,992 is attributable to the addition of new real estate, while mortgage interest expenses on existing real estate assets declined by $279,160.  Of the increased mortgage interest expense for the six months ended October 31, 2003, $3,340,783 is attributable to the addition of new real estate, while mortgage interest expenses on existing real estate assets declined by $483,146.  Our overall weighted average interest rate on all outstanding mortgage debt is 7.44% as of October 31, 2003.
  • Increased Minority Partnership Interests - In addition to the factors discussed above that have negatively impacted our earnings despite an overall increase in gross revenue, the increase in the number of limited partnership units (“UPREIT Units”) issued by the Operating Partnership has also impacted our net income.  Even though our real estate revenue increased by $4,707,628, or 16.1%, for the quarter ending October 31, 2003, and increased $10,097,843, or 17.8%, for the six months ending October 31, 2003, our net income decreased $453,170, or 14.8%, and $460,987, or 7.7%, respectively.  During the six months ending October 31, 2003, outstanding UPREIT Units in the Operating Partnership increased by 1,343,216 units. Under the terms of the Operating Partnership, each limited partner is entitled to an equal allocation of net income or net loss. We issue UPREIT Units in exchange for the contribution of an interest in real estate.  If capital gain income and the limited partnership ownership interest reflected as minority interests on the financial statements are excluded, the increase in net income is more closely related to the increase in revenue, as shown in the following chart.

 

For the Three Months Ended October 31   2003   2002 % Change
         
Net Income $ 2,615,052  $ 3,068,222  (14.8%)
Add back portion allocated to:          
   Minority interests - other partnerships   12,217    180,291   
   Minority interests - operating partnerships   811,241    1,002,392   
Add back Discontinued Operations   (104,124)   33,589   
Subtract capital gain income                        0              (52,774)                    -- 
Income before gain (loss) on properties,
   minority interest and discontinued operations
$      3,534,386  $

     4,231,720 

      (16.5%)

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For the Six Months Ended October 31   2003   2002 % Change
           
Net Income $ 5,535,236  $ 5,996,223  (7.7%)
Add back portion allocated to:          
   Minority interests - other partnerships   469,229    462,777   
   Minority interests - operating partnerships   1,652,291    2,019,414   
Add back Discontinued Operations   (109,078)   84,587   
Subtract capital gain income                         0           (315,342)                  -- 
Income before gain (loss) on properties,
   minority interest and discontinued operations
$       7,547,678  $     8,247,659         (8.5%)

Results on a "Stabilized Property" Basis
The following table presents results on a stabilized property basis for the three months and six months ended October 31, 2003, for multi-family residential and commercial properties. Property Segment Operating Profit should not be considered as an alternative to operating net income as determined in accordance with GAAP as a measure of IRET's performance.

 

For the Three Months Ended October 31

 

2003

 

 

 

2002

 

 

% Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Multi-Family Residential

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        Real Estate Revenue

$

14,860,130

 

 

$

15,093,512

 

 

(1.5%

)

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        Utilities & Maintenance

 

2,865,791

 

 

 

2,897,446

 

 

(1.1%

)

        Property Management

 

1,565,617

 

 

 

1,883,643

 

 

(16.9%

)

        Real Estate Taxes

 

1,670,456

 

 

 

1,675,708

 

 

                (0.3%

)

        Insurance

 

463,586

 

 

 

365,049

 

 

                27.0%

 

        Mortgage Interest

 

4,333,696

 

 

 

 4,310,997

 

 

0.5%

 

        Total Expenses

 

10,899,146

 

 

 

11,132,843

 

 

                (2.1%

)

        Property Segment Operating Profit

$

3,960,984

 

 

$

3,960,669

 

 

0.0%

 

 

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Table of Contents

Results on a "Stabilized Property" Basis - continued 

For the Three Months Ended October 31  

2003
     

2002
   

% Change
 
                     
Commercial                    
        Real Estate Revenue $ 12,126,300     $ 12,380,969     (2.1% )
Expenses:                    
        Utilities & Maintenance   1,685,353       1,678,639     0.4%  
        Property Management   463,863       436,925     6.2%  
        Real Estate Taxes   1,436,462       1,405,861                     2.2%  
        Insurance   124,954       109,848     13.8%  
        Mortgage Interest   3,912,469       4,031,735     (0.5% )
        Total Expenses $ 7,623,101     $ 7,663,008                     (2.1% )
        Property Segment Operating Profit   4,503,199       4,717,961       (4.6% )
Total Stabilized Segment Operating Profit   8,464,183       8,678,630        
Reconciliation to Segment Operating Profit                    
Real Estate Revenue - Non-Stabilized   6,941,161       1,745,482        
Expenses - Non-Stabilized                    
        Utilities & Maintenance   (1,273,482 )     (273,245 )      
        Property Management   (390,267 )     295,534        
        Real Estate Taxes     (1,076,907 )      (199,208 )      
        Insurance    (135,779 )      (48,049 )      
        Depreciation    (5,736,765 )      (4,733,159 )      
        Mortgage Interest    (1,791,193 )     (363,794 )      
Total Segment Operating Profit    5,000,951       5,102,191        

For the Six Months Ended October 31  

2003
     

2002
   

% Change
 
                     
Multi-Family Residential                    
        Total Receipts $ 29,465,768     $ 29,882,371     (1.4% )
Expenses:                    
        Utilities & Maintenance   5,714,837       5,629,165     1.5%  
        Property Management   3,109,582       3,322,723     (6.4% )
        Taxes   3,310,496       3,349,418     (1.2% )
        Insurance   927,171       730,628     26.9%  
        Mortgage Interest   8,660,373       8,633,330     0.3%  
        Total Expenses   21,722,459       21,665,264     0.3%  
        Property Segment Operating Profit $ 7,743,309     $ 8,217,107     (5.8% )

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Results on a "Stabilized Property" Basis - continued

For the Six Months Ended October 31  

2003
     

2002
   

% Change
 
                     
Commercial                    
        Total Receipts $ 24,693,363     $ 24,548,504     0.6%  
Expenses:                    
        Utilities & Maintenance   3,471,519       3,204,415     8.3%  
        Property Management   952,971       1,060,525     (10.1% )
        Taxes   2,868,684       2,779,583     3.2%  
        Insurance   245,648       216,465     13.5%  
        Mortgage Interest   7,834,647       7,970,362     (1.7% )
        Total Expenses $ 15,373,469     $ 15,231,350     0.9%  
        Property Segment Operating Profit   9,319,894       9,317,154     --  
Total Stabilized Segment Operating Profit   17,063,203       17,534,261        
Reconciliation to Segment Operating Profit                    
Real Estate Revenue - Non-Stabilized   12,693,899       2,324,312        
Expenses - Non-Stabilized                    
        Utilities & Maintenance   (2,087,574 )     (330,111 )      
        Property Management   (560,225 )     278,013        
        Real Estate Taxes    (2,011,763 )     (275,608 )      
        Insurance   (224,143 )     (69,329 )      
        Depreciation   (11,275,084 )     (9,061,390 )      
        Mortgage Interest   (3,408,369 )     (442,060 )      
Total Segment Operating Profit    10,189,944       9,958,088        

Economic Occupancy Rates
      IRET monitors both physical vacancy rates and economic vacancy rates at each of its properties.  Physical vacancy for multi-family residential properties is calculated as the number of total habitable units that are vacant divided by the total number of units in the property.  Physical vacancy for commercial buildings is calculated as the total number of vacant square feet in a particular building, divided by the total number of square feet (vacant and occupied) in the building.  Economic vacancy is defined as total possible revenue less vacancy loss as a percentage of total possible revenue.  Total possible revenue is determined by valuing occupied units or square footage at contract rates, and vacant units or square footage at market rates.

  

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      Economic occupancy rates are calculated as a percentage of the actual rent paid to IRET versus the scheduled rent charged by IRET for the period of time presented.  The following tables compare economic occupancy rates on a "stabilized property" basis for the three months and six months ended October 31, 2003 and 2002: 

Three Months Ended
October 31

Six Months Ended
October 31

2003

 

2002

 

Percent Change

2003

2002

Percent Change

     Residential

91.81% 92.42%   (0.6%) 91.07%

 

91.98%

 

(0.9%)

     Commercial

94.40%   97.12%   (2.7%) 94.46% 97.12%

 

(2.7%)

 Credit Risk
      The following table lists our top ten commercial tenants on October 31, 2003, for all commercial properties owned by us.  No single tenant accounted for more than 10% of revenues from commercial properties during the second quarter of Fiscal 2004.

Lessee

 

Monthly Rent

 

 

% of Total Rental
 Income from
Commercial Properties

Edgewood Living Communities, Inc.

$

312,513

 

 

                                6.5%

Health East - Woodbury & Maplewood

 

                159,720

 

 

                                3.3%

Microsoft - Great Plains

 

                156,250

 

 

                                3.3%

Allina Health

 

                155,970

 

 

                                3.3%

Northland Insurance Company

 

                146,749

 

 

                                3.1%

Smurfit - Stone Container Corp.

 

                128,305

 

 

                                2.7%

State of Idaho - Department of Health & Welfare

 

                118,925

 

 

                                2.5%

Wilson’s the Leather Experts, Inc.

 

                116,594

 

 

                                2.4%

Alliant Techsystems, Inc.

 

                101,098

 

 

                                2.1%

Miracle Ear, Inc. & Miracle Ear Manufacturing Services, Inc.

 

97,163

 

 

                                2.0%

All Others

 

 3,283,264

 

 

                68.8%

Total Monthly Rent as of October 31, 2003

$

4,776,551

 

 

                100.0%

    

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28

Table of Contents

Property Acquisitions
     
During the six months ended October 31, 2003, IRET acquired four commercial properties and four apartment complexes:

Commercial Property

 

Acquisition Cost
30,464 sq. ft. - Benton Business Park - Sauk Rapids, MN $ 1,610,730
24,000 sq. ft. - West River Business Park - Waite Park, MN   1,509,276
213,271 sq. ft. - Buffalo Mall - Jamestown, ND   4,275,150
190,758 sq. ft. - Golden Hills Office Center - Golden Valley, MN                   27,500,000
    34,895,156
Apartments    
240 units - Connelly Estates - Burnsville, MN   13,855,790
115 units - Remada Court Apartments - Eagan, MN   6,602,890
151 units - Winchester/Village Townhouses - Rochester, MN                   8,903,810
160 units - Brookfield Village - Topeka, KS                   7,252,607
                    36,615,097
     
Total Property Acquisitions $ 71,510,253

      The four commercial properties were acquired in exchange for the issuance of 85,472 UPREIT Units with an agreed value of $580,437 plus $34,314,719 of cash and cash equivalents.

      These four apartment complexes were acquired in exchange for the issuance of 1,372,183 UPREIT Units with an agreed value of $13,535,779 plus $23,079,318 cash and cash equivalents.

 Funds From Operations
      IRET considers Funds from Operations ("FFO") a useful measure of performance for an equity REIT.  IRET uses the definition of FFO adopted by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, Inc. ("NAREIT") in 1991, as clarified in 1995, 1999 and 2002.  NAREIT defines FFO to mean "net income (computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles), excluding gains (or losses) from sales of property, plus depreciation and amortization, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures.  Adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures will be calculated to reflect funds from operations on the same basis."

       While IRET uses the NAREIT definition of FFO, the components of that definition in many cases require interpretation, and IRET accordingly has made certain interpretations in applying the definition.  In particular, in calculating FFO per share, IRET "adds back" to net income computed in accordance with GAAP the allocations made to limited partners, and divides this amount by the total number of IRET shares of beneficial interest and UPREIT Units outstanding. 

       The NAREIT definition of FFO per share calculates FFO per common shareholder by dividing GAAP net income by the total number of common shares of beneficial interest outstanding, ignoring the UPREIT Units.  However, IRET considers that it is a more accurate measure of IRET’s performance to divide the net income amount by the sum of all outstanding shares of beneficial interest and UPREIT Units.  Under the partnership agreement pursuant to which IRET’s UPREIT Units are issued, UPREIT Unit-holders effectively have the same claim

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on the earnings and assets of IRET as do IRET’s shares of beneficial interest shareholders, and therefore IRET considers that the UPREIT Units also should be included with the shares of beneficial interest in calculating FFO per share.  To omit the UPREIT units in calculating FFO per share would, in IRET’s view, result in the net income amount being allocated across a misleadingly small number of shares, and could accordingly result in a misleadingly high FFO per share number.  IRET believes that, while this particular adjustment made by IRET in calculating FFO is not specifically provided for in the NAREIT definition, it is consistent with the definition.

      While FFO is widely used by REITs as a primary performance metric, not all real estate companies use the same definition of FFO or calculate FFO in the same way.  Accordingly, FFO presented here is not necessarily comparable to FFO presented by other real estate companies.

      FFO should not be considered as an alternative to net income as determined in accordance with GAAP as a measure of IRET’s performance, but rather should be considered as an additional, supplemental measure, and should be viewed in conjunction with net income as presented in the consolidated financial statements included in this report.   FFO does not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and is not necessarily indicative of sufficient cash flow to fund all of IRET’s needs or its ability to service indebtedness or make distributions.

      FFO for IRET for the three and six months ended October 31, 2003 increased to $9,118,445 and $18,458,979, respectively, compared to $8,826,235 and $16,899,097 for the comparable periods ended October 31, 2002, an increase of 3.3% and 9.2%, respectively.

      The calculation of FFO and reconciliation to GAAP net income available to common shareholders for the three and six months ended October 31, 2003 and 2002 are presented below:

    Three Months Ended
October 31, 2003
    Three Months Ended
October 31, 2002
                       
   

 

Amount

    Weighted
Avg Shares
and Units(2)
    Per
Share and
Unit(4)
   

 

Amount

    Weighted
Avg Shares
and Units(2)
    Per
Share and
Unit(4)
                                   
Net income $ 2,615,052     38,326,707   $ .07   $ 3,068,222     31,885,130   $ .10
                                   
Adjustments:                                  
    Minority interest in earnings of
     Unit-holders
811,579 11,547,107   991,558 10,562,792

    Depreciation and Amortization(1)

  5,794,859                 4,819,229            

(Earnings)loss from depreciable
    property  sales

(103,045 )      (52,774 )
Funds from operations applicable to all
    shareholders and unit-holders
$ 9,118,445 49,873,814 $ .18   $ 8,826,235     42,447,922   $                 .21
Total distributions paid to shareholders/
    unit-holders(3)
$ 7,633,423 $ 6,347,079

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Six Months Ended
October 31, 2003
   

Six Months Ended
October 31, 2002
                       
   

 

Amount

   

Weighted
Avg Shares
and Units(2)
   

Per
Share and
Unit(4)
   

 

Amount
   

Weighted
Avg Shares
and Units(2)
   

Per
Share and
Unit(4)
                                   
Net income $ 5,535,236     37,342,362   $ .15   $ 5,996,223     31,141,311   $ .19
                                   
Adjustments:                                  
    Minority interest in earnings of    
       Unit-holders
  1,654,074 10,848,136   1,991,239 9,901,272

    Depreciation and Amortization(1)

  11,372,714                 9,226,977            

(Earnings)loss from depreciable
    property  sales

                                 (103,045 )        (315,342 )  
Funds from operations applicable to all    shareholders and unit-holders $ 18,458,979     48,190,498   $ .38   $ 16,899,097     41,042,583   $                 .41

Total distributions paid to shareholders/

    unit-holders(3)

$ 14,983,877               $ 12,692,151            

(1) Depreciation on office equipment and other assets used by us are excluded.  Amortization of financing and other expenses are excluded, except for amortization of leasing commissions which is included.

(2)  UPREIT Units of the Operating Partnership are exchangeable for shares of beneficial interest on a one-for-one basis.

(3)  Cash distributions are paid equally on shares of beneficial interest and UPREIT Units.  It is our intent to distribute approximately 65.0% to 80.0% of FFO to our shareholders and the holders of UPREIT Units of the Operating Partnership

(4)  Net income is calculated on a per share basis.  Funds From Operations is calculated on a per share and unit basis.

 Distributions
      The following distributions per share and unit were paid during the six months ended October 31st of Fiscal year 2004 and 2003:

Date  

2004

     

2003

   

Percent Change

                   
July 1 $ .1585     $ .1540     2.9%
October 1          .1590              .1560           1.9%
   Total $       .3175      $       .3100    $     2.4%

Liquidity and Capital Resources
      The Company’s principal liquidity demands are distributions to the holders of the Company’s shares of beneficial interest and UPREIT Units, capital improvements and repairs and maintenance for the properties, redemption of outstanding investment certificates, acquisition of additional properties, property development and debt repayments.

      The Company expects to meet its short-term liquidity requirements through net cash flows provided by its operating activities, and through draws from time to time on its unsecured lines of credit.  The Company considers its ability to generate cash to be adequate to meet all

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operating requirements and to make distributions to its shareholders in accordance with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, applicable to REITs.

      As of October 31, 2003, the Company had three unsecured lines of credit in the amounts of $10 million dollars, $10 million dollars, and $4.4 million dollars from (1) Bremer Bank, (2) First Western Bank and Trust, and (3) First International Bank and Trust, respectively.  The Company had no outstanding balances under these lines of credit as of October 31, 2003.  Borrowings under the lines of credit bear interest currently at 4.00% which is (1) Bremer Financial Corporation Reference Rate, (2) highest New York Prime as published in the Wall Street Journal, and (3) highest New York Prime as published in the Wall Street Journal, respectively.  Accordingly, increases in interest rates will increase the Company’s interest expense on its lines of credit and as a result will affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.  The lines of credit expire on September 15, 2004, September 1, 2004, and December 12, 2003, respectively.

      To the extent the Company does not satisfy its long-term liquidity requirements, which consist primarily of maturities under the Company’s long-term debt, development and redevelopment costs and potential acquisition opportunities, through net cash flows provided by operating activities and its credit facilities, it intends to satisfy such requirements through a combination of funding sources which the Company believes will be available to it, including the issuance of UPREIT Units, additional equity, proceeds from the Company’s Distribution Reinvestment Plan, proceeds from the sale of properties, and additional long-term secured or unsecured indebtedness.

      As of October 31, 2003, the Company has issued 3,758,793 shares of beneficial interest at $10.00 per share, for aggregate net proceeds, after offering costs and selling commissions, of approximately $33,320,000.  IRET plans to use the net proceeds from the offering for general business purposes, including the acquisition, development, renovation, expansion or improvement of income-producing properties.

      The Company’s sources and uses of cash for the six months ended October 31, 2003, compared to the six months ended October 31, 2002, are as follows:

Six Months Ended October 31, 2003
      Cash flows provided by operating activities of $12,729,682 were comprised of (i) income of $5,535,236, and (ii) adjustments for non-cash items of $13,882,625 partially offset by (iii) the net change in operating assets and liabilities of $6,688,179.  The adjustments for non-cash items are primarily comprised of (i) depreciation and amortization of $11,759,636, and (ii) minority interest of $2,123,303.

      Net cash used in investing activities of $48,215,971 was primarily comprised of acquisition and improvements of properties of $47,678,715, and investment in loan receivable of $1,000,000.

      Net cash provided by financing activities of $41,765,102 was primarily comprised of (i) proceeds from borrowings of $54,887,261, (ii) proceeds from sale of shares $35,416,358,

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partially offset by (iii) repayments of borrowings of $37,383,261, (iv) distributions paid to shareholders/unit holders of $9,814,602, (v) redemption of investment certificates of $940,838, and (vi) distributions to minority partners of $407,704.

Six Months Ended October 31, 2002
      Cash flow provided by operating activities of $16,703,247 was comprised of (i) income of $5,996,223, (ii) adjustments for non-cash items of $11,855,433, partially offset by (iii) the net change in operating assets and liabilities of $1,148,409.  The adjustments for non-cash items were primarily comprised of (i) depreciation and amortization of $9,531,739, and (ii) minority interest of $2,454,016, partially offset by the loss on sale of properties of $315,342.

      Net cash used in investing activities of $37,515,845 was comprised of (i) acquisition and improvements on properties of $50,206,255, and (ii) purchase of marketable securities of $25,652,269, partially offset by (iii) proceeds from sale of marketable securities of $33,500,000, (iv) proceeds from notes receivable $3,500,000, (v) proceeds from sale of property of $1,003,004, and (vi) repayments on mortgage loans receivable of $372,631.

      Net cash provided by financing activities of $23,221,932 was primarily comprised of (i) the issuance of common shares of $31,663,100, (ii) notes and mortgages payable of $16,300,000, partially offset by (iii) redemption of investment certificates of $10,962,534, (iv) distributions paid to holders/unit holders of $8,250,366, (v) repayments of borrowings of $4,996,362, and (vi) distributions to minority partners of $522,379.

Financial Condition
      The important changes in IRET’s balance sheet during the six months of Fiscal 2004 ended October 31, 2003, were:

  • Real Estate Owned  - Real estate owned increased to $999,792,737 at October 31, 2003, from the April 30, 2003 figure of $919,780,802.  The increase resulted primarily from the acquisition of additional investment properties net of dispositions as described below: 

Acquired                                    
        Benton Business Park - Sauk Rapids, MN

$

1,610,730

 
        West River Business Park - Waite Park, MN  

1,509,276

 
        Connelly Estates - Burnsville, MN  

13,855,790

 
        Remada Court Apartments - Eagan, MN  

6,602,890

 
        Winchester/Village Townhouses - Rochester, MN  

8,903,810

 
        Brookfield Village - Topeka, KS  

7,252,607

 
        Buffalo Mall - Jamestown, ND  

4,275,150

 
        Golden Hills Office Center - Golden Valley, MN  

27,500,000

 
   

 

 
Disposed  

 

 
        Interstate Bakery - St. Paul, MN  

(320,000

)

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  • Mortgage Loans Receivable - Mortgage loans receivable increased to $2,054,660 at October 31, 2003, from $1,182,940 at April 30, 2003.  This increase resulted from a construction loan to the tenant for an addition to Edgewood Vista facility in Virginia, MN, net of scheduled payments received, and a reclassification of an amount to other assets.
  • Cash - Cash on hand on October 31, 2003, was $21,843,527 compared to $15,564,714 on April 30, 2002.  This increase was due primarily to cash flows from operations, refinancing, sale of shares, and new mortgage loans.
     
  • Marketable Securities - During the six months ended October 31, 2003, IRET decreased its investment in marketable securities classified as available-for-sale to $2,703,032 from $3,077,260 on April 30, 2003.  This decrease was primarily due to the sale of marketable securities.
     
  • Mortgages Payable - Mortgages payable on October 31, 2003, totaled $583,159,585, compared to $539,397,202 at April 30, 2003.  This increase resulted from refinancing of mortgages and the placement of new mortgages.  The weighted average interest rate payable on the outstanding indebtedness on October 31, 2003, was 7.44%.
     
  • Investment Certificates - Investment Certificates outstanding on October 31, 2003, totaled $8,263,005, compared to $9,034,696 on April 30, 2003.  This decrease resulted from the redemption of maturing investment certificates during the six months ended October 31, 2003.
     
  • Operating Partnership Units - Outstanding UPREIT Units in the Operating Partnership increased to 11,549,252 Units on October 31, 2003, as compared to the 10,206,036 Units outstanding on April 30, 2003.  The increase resulted primarily from the issuance of additional UPREIT Units to acquire the Benton Business Park, West River Business Park, Connelly Estates, Remada Court Apartments, Winchester and Village Townhouses, and Brookfield Village.
  • Shares of Beneficial Interest - Shares of beneficial interest outstanding on October 31, 2003, totaled 40,595,779, as compared to 36,166,351 shares outstanding on April 30, 2003.  This increase in shares outstanding was primarily due to the issuance of 3,758,793 shares of beneficial interest gross proceeds of $35,416,358, and the issuance of shares pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan consisting of 272,035 shares issued on July 1, 2003, and 276,775 on October 1, 2003, for total proceeds of $5,169,275, and UPREIT conversions of 114,439 for $929,899 in shareholder' equity.

Pending Acquisitions and Dispositions
      As of October 31, 2003, IRET was a party to purchase agreements to acquire two commercial properties for purchase prices totaling approximately $25,932,000.  The Company will finance approximately $16,855,000 of the total purchase price for these two properties with bank or other financial institution loans, and will require approximately $9,076,000 in cash to

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close these acquisitions. Also as of October 31, 2003, IRET was a party to contracts to sell four properties and a parcel of vacant land, for sale prices totaling $3,286,420.  The Company expects to complete these pending acquisitions and dispositions over the next several months; however, the purchase or sale of each of these properties is subject to the Company’s or the buyer’s completion of due diligence and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions, and there can be no assurance that any or all of these pending acquisitions and dispositions will be completed.

 

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Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

      Our exposure to market risk is limited to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates on our current and future fixed and variable rate debt obligations. Even though our philosophy is to maintain a fairly low exposure to interest rate fluctuation risk, we are still vulnerable to significant fluctuations in interest rates on variable rate debt, on any future repricing or refinancing of fixed rate debt and on future debt.

We primarily use long-term (more than nine years) and medium-term (five to seven years) debt as a source of capital. We do not currently use derivative securities, interest-rate swaps or any other type of hedging activity to manage our interest rate risk. As of October 31, 2003, we had the following amount of future principal payments on mortgages secured by our real estate: 

Long Term Debt

 

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Thereafter

Total

 

Fixed Rate

$

12,434,124

 

$

16,944,122

 

$

14,453,093

 

$

17,097,194

 

$

36,571,938

 

$

458,354,753

 

$

555,855,224

 

Variable Rate

 

938,911

 

 

1,970,673

 

 

3,785,189

 

 

2,016,727

 

 

  2,070,661

 

 

16,522,200

 

 

  27,304,361

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

583,159,585

(1)

(1)   The weighted average interest rate as of October 31, 2003, was 7.44%. Any fluctuations on the variable interest rates could increase or decrease our interest expenses. For example, an increase of one percent per annum on our $27,304,361  of variable rate indebtedness would increase our annual interest expense by $273,044.

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures  

      IRET carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of IRET’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that IRET’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information required to be disclosed in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

       There were no changes in IRET’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during IRET’s most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

  

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

      In the course of our operations, we become involved in litigation.  At this time, we know of no pending or threatened proceedings that would have a material impact upon us.

Item 2.  Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds.

      At the Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders on September 23, 2003, the Company’s shareholders approved the adoption of the Articles of Amendment and Third Restated Declaration of Trust, which, among other things, incorporates modified provisions regarding the capitalization of the Company and regarding transfer restrictions and ownership limitations on the Company’s shares of beneficial interest.  The Articles of Amendment and Third Restated Declaration of Trust were filed with the SEC on August 13, 2003, with the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for the 2003 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. 

Items 3 and 5 are not applicable and have been omitted.

Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

      At the Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders, held on September 23, 2003, the following action was taken:

      The shareholders elected the nine individuals nominated to serve as trustees of the Company until the 2004 Annual Meeting or until the election and qualification of their successors, as set forth in Proxy Item No. 1 in the Company’s Notice of the Annual Meeting and the Proxy Statement relating to the Annual Meeting.  The nine individuals elected, and the number of votes cast for, or withheld, with respect to each of them, follows: 

Trustees

 

For

 

Withheld

John F. Decker

 

29,062,235

 

909,367

Daniel L. Feist 

 

29,644,484

 

327,118

Steven B. Hoyt

 

27,988,900

 

1,982,702

Charles Wm. James

 

27,959,996

 

1,998,791

Patrick G. Jones

 

29,673,566

 

298,036

Timothy P. Mihalick

 

28,036,721

 

1,933,830

Jeffrey L. Miller

 

29,677,811

 

293,791

Stephen L. Stenehjem

 

29,656,256

 

315,347

Thomas A. Wentz, Jr.

 

27,866,576

 

2,105,026

      The shareholders approved the proposal to adopt the Articles of Amendment and Third Restated Declaration of Trust, as set forth in Proxy Item No. 2 in the Company’s Notice of the Annual Meeting and the Proxy Statement relating to the Annual Meeting.  The shareholders approved the proposal with 19,886,136 votes for, 3,309,705 votes against and 356,302 abstentions.

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Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)    Exhibits:

Exhibit No. Description
3(ii) Second Restated Trustees’ Regulations (Bylaws), as adopted on September 24, 2003.
31.1 Certification by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2 Certification by Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

(b)   Reports on Form 8-K during the quarter ended October 31, 2003:  During the quarter ended October 31, 2003, the Company did not file any current reports on Form 8-K.

Signatures

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

INVESTORS REAL ESTATE TRUST
(Registrant)

By:  /S/ Thomas A. Wentz, Sr.
      Thomas A. Wentz, Sr., President & Chief
      Executive Officer

     

By:  /S/ Diane K. Bryantt
     Diane K. Bryantt, Senior Vice President &
      Chief Financial Officer

 Date:  December 15, 2003

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