COMMON AND PREFERRED SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST AND EQUITY

12 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

COMMON AND PREFERRED SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST AND EQUITY [Abstract]

COMMON AND PREFERRED SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST AND EQUITY

NOTE 17 • COMMON AND PREFERRED SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST AND EQUITY

Distribution Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan.  During fiscal years 2012 and 2011, IRET issued 4.8 million and 1.7 million common shares, respectively, pursuant to its distribution reinvestment and share purchase plan, at a total value at issuance of $34.3 million and $14.5 million, respectively. The shares issued under the distribution reinvestment and share purchase plan during fiscal year 2012 consisted of 1.5 million shares valued at issuance at $10.8 million that were issued for reinvested distributions and approximately 3.3 million shares valued at $23.5 million at issuance that were sold for voluntary cash contributions. The shares issued under the distribution reinvestment and share purchase plan during fiscal year 2011 consisted of 1.3 million shares valued at issuance at $11.4 million that were issued for reinvested distributions and approximately 372,000 shares valued at $3.1 million at issuance that were sold for voluntary cash contributions. IRET's distribution reinvestment plan is available to common shareholders of IRET and all limited partners of IRET Properties. Under the distribution reinvestment plan, shareholders or limited partners may elect to have all or a portion of their distributions used to purchase additional IRET common shares, and may elect to make voluntary cash contributions for the purchase of IRET common shares, at a discount (currently 5%) from the market price.

Conversion of Units to Common Shares.  During fiscal years 2012 and 2011, respectively, approximately 759,000 and 1.0 million Units were converted to common shares, with a total value of $3.5 million and $6.9 million included in equity.

Issuance of Common Shares.  The Company has an effective shelf registration statement under which it has registered common and preferred shares of beneficial interest with an aggregate public offering price of up to $150.0 million. On January 20, 2012, the Company entered into a continuous equity offering program under this shelf registration statement with BMO Capital Markets Corp. ("BMO") as sales agent, pursuant to which the Company may from time to time offer and sell its common shares of beneficial interest having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $100.0 million. Sales of common shares, if any, under the program will depend upon market conditions and other factors to be determined by IRET.  During fiscal year 2012, IRET issued 3.3 million common shares under this program for total proceeds (before offering expenses but after underwriting discounts and commissions) of $24.0 million.  During fiscal year 2011, IRET sold 1.8 million common shares under its previous continuous equity offering program with Robert W. Baird & Co., Incorporated as sales agent, for net proceeds of approximately $15.0 million, before offering expenses but after underwriting discounts and commissions.  The shelf registration statement under which the Company had reserved shares for issuance under this previous continuous equity offering program expired at the end of its three-year life during the second quarter of fiscal year 2012.

Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest.  During fiscal year 2004, the Company issued 1,150,000 shares of 8.25% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest for total proceeds of $27.3 million, net of selling costs. Holders of the Company's Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest are entitled to receive dividends at an annual rate of 8.25% of the liquidation preference of $25 per share, or $2.0625 per share per annum. These dividends are cumulative and payable quarterly in arrears. The shares are not convertible into or exchangeable for any other property or any other securities of the Company at the election of the holders. However, the Company, at its option, may redeem the shares at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus any accrued and unpaid distributions through the date of redemption. The shares have no maturity date and will remain outstanding indefinitely unless redeemed by the Company.