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FORM 10-Q

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
     
þ
  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
  THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended     December 31, 2004

OR

     
o
  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
  THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from __________________ to ___________________

Commission File Number: 1-8122

GRUBB & ELLIS COMPANY


(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Delaware   94-1424307
     
(State or other jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)   Identification No.)

2215 Sanders Road, Suite 400,
Northbrook, IL 60062


(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)

(847) 753-7500


(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

No Change


(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 þ No o

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

Yes o No þ

15,114,871


(Number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s
common stock at February 04, 2005)

 
 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I
Item 1. Financial Statements
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
PART II
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Item 5. Other Information
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
SIGNATURE
EXHIBIT INDEX
Section 302 Certification
Section 906 Certification


Table of Contents

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

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Table of Contents

Item 1. Financial Statements

GRUBB & ELLIS COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data)
(unaudited)

                 
    December 31,     June 30,  
    2004     2004  
ASSETS
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted deposits of $800 and $3,340 at December 31, 2004 and June 30, 2004, respectively
  $ 36,972     $ 14,971  
Services fees receivable, net
    15,156       10,810  
Other receivables
    2,875       2,968  
Professional service contracts, net
    1,316       1,184  
Prepaid income taxes
    190       251  
Prepaid and other current assets
    3,423       1,979  
Deferred tax assets, net
    3,000       3,000  
 
           
Total current assets
    62,932       35,163  
Noncurrent assets:
               
Equipment, software and leasehold improvements, net
    8,970       9,865  
Goodwill, net
    24,763       24,763  
Other assets
    3,688       3,924  
 
           
 
               
Total assets
  $ 100,353     $ 73,715  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
 
               
Current liabilities :
               
Accounts payable
  $ 4,275     $ 4,756  
Commissions payable
    8,485       6,433  
Dividends payable
    3,637        
Accrued compensation and employee benefits
    12,727       9,072  
Deferred commissions payable
    13,845       312  
Other accrued expenses
    7,287       5,968  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    50,256       26,541  
Long-term liabilities:
               
Credit facility debt
    25,000       25,000  
Accrued claims and settlements
    5,432       5,523  
Other liabilities
    1,685       2,028  
 
           
Total liabilities
    82,373       59,092  
 
           
Stockholders’ equity:
               
Preferred stock: 1,000,000 shares authorized; 11,725 Series A shares issued and outstanding at $1,000 stated value at December 31, 2004 and June 30, 2004, respectively
    11,725       11,725  
Common stock, $.01 par value: 50,000,000 shares authorized; 15,114,871 and 15,097,371 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2004 and June 30, 2004, respectively
    151       151  
Additional paid-in-capital
    67,822       71,410  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    22        
Retained deficit
    (61,740 )     (68,663 )
 
           
Total stockholders’ equity
    17,980       14,623  
 
           
 
               
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 100,353     $ 73,715  
 
           

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

GRUBB & ELLIS COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except share data)
(unaudited)

                                 
    For the three months     For the six months  
    ended December 31,     ended December 31,  
    2004     2003     2004     2003  
Services revenue:
                               
Transaction fees
  $ 86,197     $ 75,051     $ 141,950     $ 130,613  
Management fees, including reimbursed salaries, wages and benefits
    49,383       48,738       97,309       95,060  
 
                       
Total services revenue
    135,580       123,789       239,259       225,673  
 
                       
 
                               
Costs of services:
                               
Transaction commissions
    55,513       46,528       90,369       80,336  
Reimbursable salaries, wages and benefits
    36,224       34,872       71,289       68,183  
Salaries, wages, benefits and other direct costs
    8,876       9,537       17,769       18,272  
 
                       
Total costs of services
    100,613       90,937       179,427       166,791  
 
                               
Costs and expenses:
                               
Salaries, wages and benefits
    13,306       9,953       26,596       22,252  
Selling, general and administrative
    11,510       12,689       22,708       23,821  
Depreciation and amortization
    1,465       1,634       2,908       3,363  
 
                       
Total costs
    126,894       115,213       231,639       216,227  
 
                       
 
                               
Total operating income
    8,686       8,576       7,620       9,446  
 
                               
Other income and expenses:
                               
Interest income
    90       47       132       88  
Interest expense
    (398 )     (147 )     (754 )     (274 )
Interest expense – affiliate
          (512 )           (1,057 )
 
                       
Income before income taxes
    8,378       7,964       6,998       8,203  
 
                               
Provision for income taxes
    (75 )     (116 )     (75 )     (116 )
 
                       
 
                               
Net income
    8,303       7,848       6,923       8,087  
 
                               
Preferred stock dividends accrued
    (451 )     (401 )     (889 )     (790 )
 
                       
 
                               
Net income to common stockholders
  $ 7,852     $ 7,447     $ 6,034     $ 7,297  
 
                       
 
                               
Net income per weighted average common share outstanding:
                               
 
                               
Basic -
  $ 0.52     $ 0.49     $ 0.40     $ 0.48  
 
                       
 
                               
Diluted -
  $ 0.52     $ 0.49     $ 0.40     $ 0.48  
 
                       
 
                               
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
                               
 
                               
Basic -
    15,114,871       15,097,371       15,108,974       15,097,371  
 
                       
 
                               
Diluted -
    15,231,924       15,098,494       15,200,313       15,097,933  
 
                       

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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GRUBB & ELLIS COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

                 
    For the six months ended  
    December 31,  
    2004     2003  
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
               
Net income
  $ 6,923     $ 8,087  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Deferral of payment of services commissions
    13,533       9,953  
Depreciation and amortization expense
    2,908       3,363  
Payment of severance costs and office closure costs
    (703 )     (2,968 )
Recovery for services fees receivable valuation allowances
    (139 )     (49 )
Net receipt of tax refunds
    45       280  
Funding of multi-year service contracts
    (375 )     (344 )
Increase in services fees receivable
    (4,064 )     (246 )
Decrease in prepaid income taxes
    16       77  
Increase in prepaid and other assets
    (1,894 )     (3,958 )
Increase in accounts and commissions payable
    1,483       4,237  
Increase in accrued compensation and employee benefits
    3,663       2,649  
Decrease in accrued claims and settlements
    (91 )     (625 )
Increase in other liabilities
    1,881       1,334  
 
             
Net cash provided by operating activities
    23,186       21,790  
 
           
 
               
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
               
Purchases of equipment, software and leasehold improvements
    (1,251 )     (493 )
Other investing activities
    151        
 
           
Net cash used in investing activities
    (1,100 )     (493 )
 
           
 
               
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
               
Repayment of borrowing from affiliate
          (5,000 )
Other financing activities
    (85 )      
 
           
Cash used in financing activities
    (85 )     (5,000 )
 
           
 
               
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    22,001       16,297  
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    14,971       13,938  
 
           
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period, including restricted deposits of $800 and $3,340 at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively
  $ 36,972     $ 30,235  
 
           

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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GRUBB & ELLIS COMPANY
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

1. Interim Period Reporting

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Grubb & Ellis Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) and are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements and, therefore, should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2004.

The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, which require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities (including disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities) at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and results of operations for the interim periods presented have been included in these financial statements and are of a normal and recurring nature.

Certain amounts in prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. Such reclassifications have not changed previously reported results of operations or cash flows.

Operating results for the six months ended December 31, 2004 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved in future periods.

2. Total Comprehensive Income

The Company entered into an interest rate protection agreement that effectively caps the variable interest rate exposure on a portion of its existing credit facility debt for a period of two years. The Company was also a party to two interest rate swap agreements that expired March 31, 2004 that effectively fixed the interest rate on a portion of its then outstanding term loan obligations. The Company determined that these agreements were to be characterized as effective under the definitions included within Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.”

The change in value of these instruments during a reporting period is characterized as Other Comprehensive Income or Loss, and totaled approximately $22,000 and $125,000 of unrealized income during the six months ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. These results, along with the Company’s net income of $6,923,000 and $8,087,000 for the six months ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, resulted in Total Comprehensive Income of $6,945,000 and $8,212,000 for the respective periods.

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GRUBB & ELLIS COMPANY
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

3. Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes for the six months ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 is as follows (in thousands):

                 
    For the six months ended  
    December 31,  
    2004     2003  
Current provision
  $ (2,508 )   $ (1,572 )
Deferred provision
    (672 )     (2,302 )
Decrease in valuation allowance
    3,105       3,758  
 
           
 
               
 
  $ (75 )   $ (116 )
 
           

The Company recorded prepaid taxes totaling approximately $190,000 and $251,000 as of December 31, 2004 and June 30, 2004, respectively. Included in these assets are tax refund receivables resulting from filed state returns and prepaid tax estimates totaling approximately $166,000 and $109,000 at December 31, 2004 and June 30, 2004, respectively. Also included are tax effected operating loss carrybacks totaling approximately $24,000 and $142,000 at December 30, 2004 and June 30, 2004, respectively, which the Company will realize or has realized primarily against state tax liability payments made in prior tax years. The Company also received net tax refunds of approximately $45,000 and $280,000 during the six months ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, primarily related to its state tax carrybacks.

The Company realized approximately $3.1 million of its deferred tax assets during the six months ended December 31, 2004 due to the generation of significant taxable income during the period. Similarly, the Company decreased its valuation allowance related to its deferred tax assets by approximately the same amount as of December 31, 2004 due to the likelihood that the Company would continue to realize a portion of its deferred assets in future periods. During the six months ended December 31, 2003, the Company generated sufficient taxable income to realize a portion of its deferred tax assets and correspondingly reduced the valuation allowance by approximately $3.8 million. The Company had fully reserved its deferred tax assets at June 30, 2003 to reflect uncertainty at that time in regards to the realization of the assets in future periods.

4. Earnings Per Common Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations (in thousands, except per share data):

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GRUBB & ELLIS COMPANY
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

4. Earnings per Common Share (Continued)

                                 
    For the three months ended     For the six months ended  
    December 31,     December 31,  
    2004     2003     2004     2003  
Net income to common stockholders
  $ 7,852     $ 7,447     $ 6,034     $ 7,297  
 
                       
Basic earnings per common share:
                               
 
                               
Weighted average common shares outstanding
    15,115       15,097       15,109       15,097  
 
                       
 
Net income per common share – basic
  $ 0.52     $ 0.49     $ 0.40     $ 0.48  
 
                       
Diluted earnings per common share:
                               
 
                               
Weighted average common shares outstanding
    15,115       15,097       15,109       15,097  
Effect of dilutive securities:
                               
Stock options and warrants
    117       1       91       1  
 
                       
 
Weighted average dilutive common shares outstanding
    15,232       15,098       15,200       15,098  
 
                       
 
                               
Net income per common share – diluted
  $ 0.52     $ 0.49     $ 0.40     $ 0.48  
 
                       

Additionally, options outstanding to purchase shares of common stock, the effect of which would be anti-dilutive, were approximately 814,000 and 1,521,000 at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, and were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the option exercise price was greater than the average market price of the common shares for the six months.

5. Exchange of Preferred Stock

On December 30, 2004, the Company entered into an agreement (the “Preferred Stock Exchange Agreement”) with Kojaian Ventures, L.L.C. (“KV”), a related party, in KV’s capacity as the holder of all the Company’s issued and outstanding 11,725 shares of Series A Preferred Stock which carries a preferential cumulative dividend of 12% per annum (the “Series A Preferred Stock”). Pursuant to the Preferred Stock Exchange Agreement, the Company agreed to pay to KV all accrued and unpaid dividends with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock for the period September 19, 2002, the date of issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock, up to and through December 31, 2004. In exchange therefore, KV agreed to eliminate in its entirety, as of January 1, 2005, the 12% preferential cumulative dividend payable on the Series A Preferred Stock. Upon the closing of the transaction in January 2005, the Company delivered to KV the one time accrued dividend payment of approximately $3.6 million.

The Company and KV effected the elimination of the 12% cumulative preferred dividend with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock by an exchange of preferred securities. Specifically, simultaneously upon the consummation of the transaction on January 4, 2005, KV delivered to the Company its original share certificate representing 11,725 shares of Series A Preferred Stock in exchange for a new share certificate representing 11,725 shares of a newly created Series A-1 Preferred Stock of the Company (the “New Preferred Stock”). The New Preferred Stock is identical in all respects to the Series A Preferred Stock except that the New Preferred Stock does not have a cumulative preferred dividend and is now only entitled to receive dividends if and when dividends are declared and paid to holders of the Company’s common stock.

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GRUBB & ELLIS COMPANY
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

5. Exchange of Preferred Stock (Continued)

Like the Series A Preferred Stock, the New Preferred Stock is not convertible into common stock, but nonetheless votes on an “as liquidated basis” along with the holders of common stock on all matters. Consequently, the New Preferred Stock, like the Series A Preferred Stock, currently is entitled to the number of votes equal to 11,173,925 shares of common stock, or approximately 42.5% of all voting securities of the Company. In addition, as noted above, with the elimination of the preferential cumulative dividend, the New Preferred Stock will now only be entitled to receive dividends if and when dividends are declared by the Company on, and paid to holders of, the Company’s common stock. The holders of the New Preferred Stock will receive dividends, if any, based upon the number of voting common stock equivalents represented by the New Preferred Stock.

6. Segment Information

The Company has two reportable segments – Transaction Services and Management Services, and evaluates segment performance and allocates resources based on earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and other special charges (“EBITDA”) that include an allocation (primarily based on segment revenue) of certain corporate level administrative expenses (amounts in thousands).

                         
    Transaction     Management     Segment  
    Services     Services     Totals  
Six months ended December 31, 2004
                       
Total revenue
  $ 141,950     $ 97,309     $ 239,259  
EBITDA
    10,519       9       10,528  
Total assets as of December 31, 2004
    81,406       15,757       97,163  
Goodwill, net
    18,376       6,387       24,763  
 
                       
Six months ended December 31, 2003
                       
Total revenue
  $ 130,613     $ 95,060     $ 225,673  
EBITDA
    12,196       613       12,809  
Total assets as of December 31, 2003
    73,262       19,117       92,379  
Goodwill, net
    20,571       6,387       26,958  

Reconciliation of Segment EBITDA to Income Before Income Taxes

                 
    Six Months Ended December 30  
    2004     2003  
Total segment EBITDA
  $ 10,528     $ 12,809  
Less:
               
Depreciation & amortization
    (2,908 )     (3,363 )
Net interest expense
    (622 )     (1,243 )
 
           
 
               
Income before income taxes
  $ 6,998     $ 8,203  
 
           

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GRUBB & ELLIS COMPANY
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

6. Segment Information (Continued)

Reconciliation of Segment Assets to Balance Sheet (in thousands):

                 
    As of December 31,  
    2004     2003  
Total segment assets
  $ 97,163     $ 92,379  
Current tax assets
    190       312  
Deferred tax assets
    3,000        
 
           
 
               
Total assets
  $ 100,353     $ 92,691  
 
           

In evaluating segment performance, the Company’s management utilizes EBITDA as a measure of the segment’s ability to generate cash flow from its operations. Other items contained within the measurement of net income, such as interest and taxes, and special charges, are generated and managed at the corporate administration level rather than the segment level. In addition, net income measures also include non-cash amounts such as depreciation and amortization expense.

Management believes that EBITDA as presented with respect to the Company’s reportable segments is an important measure of cash generated by the Company’s operating activities. EBITDA is similar to net cash flow from operations because it excludes certain non-cash items; however, it also excludes interest and income taxes. Management believes that EBITDA is relevant because it assists investors in evaluating their investment. EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) or cash flows from operating activities (which are determined in accordance with GAAP), as an indicator of operating performance or a measure of liquidity. EBITDA also facilitates comparison of the Company’s results of operations with those companies having different capital structures. Other companies may define EBITDA differently, and, as a result, such measures may not be comparable to the Company’s EBITDA.

7. Commitments and Contingencies

Environmental:

As first reported in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the period ended December 31, 2000 and subsequently updated in its Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2004, a corporate subsidiary of the Company owns a 33% interest in a general partnership, which in turn owns property in the State of Texas which is the subject of an environmental assessment and remediation effort, due to the discovery of certain chemicals related to a release by a former bankrupted tenant of dry cleaning solvent in the soil and groundwater of the partnership’s property and adjacent properties. The Company has no financial recourse available against the former tenant due to its insolvency. Prior assessments had determined that minimal costs would be incurred to remediate the release. However, subsequent findings at and around the partnership’s property increased the probability that additional remediation costs would be necessary. The partnership is working with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission and the local municipality to implement a multi-faceted plan, which includes both remediation and ongoing monitoring of the affected properties. Although the partnership’s other partners have made all past contributions and are expected to make all future required contributions, there can be no assurances to this effect. As of December 31, 2004, the Company’s share of cumulative costs to remediate and monitor this situation is estimated at approximately $1,157,000, based upon a comprehensive project plan prepared by an independent third party environmental remediation firm, or an increase of $100,000 during the six months ended December 31, 2004. Approximately $974,000 of this amount has been paid as of December 31, 2004 and the remaining $183,000 has been reflected as a loss reserve for such matters in the consolidated balance sheet. The Company’s management believes that the outcome of these events will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

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GRUBB & ELLIS COMPANY
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

7. Commitments and Contingencies (Continued)

Insolvent Insurance Provider:

In the Company’s Form 10-Q for the period ended December 31, 2001, the following situation regarding an insolvent insurance provider was initially disclosed and subsequently updated in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2004. In fiscal years 1999 and 2000, the Company’s primary errors and omissions insurance carrier was Reliance Insurance Company (of Illinois and California, collectively “Reliance”). The Company had four open claims that were covered by Reliance policies in which defense and/or settlement costs exceeded a self-insured retention.

In October 2001, Reliance was placed in liquidation by order of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which casts doubt on the recovery from Reliance of the Company’s open claims. The Company had established loss reserves for the estimated settlement costs of the claims and all of the claims have now been resolved. The Company is seeking reimbursement for the costs of defense, settlement and/or judgment in excess of the self-insured retention from the liquidator. No new significant information has been obtained in the six months ended December 31, 2004. The Company is unable to estimate the probability and timing of any potential reimbursement at this time, and therefore, has not assumed any potential recoveries in establishing its reserves.

General:

The Company is involved in various claims and lawsuits arising out of the conduct of its business, as well as in connection with its participation in various joint ventures and partnerships, many of which may not be covered by the Company’s insurance policies. In the opinion of management, the eventual outcome of such claims and lawsuits is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

8. Stock Options and Stock Purchase Plans

The Company accounts for its stock-based employee compensation plan under the intrinsic value method in accordance with APB 25. The Company has adopted the disclosure-only provisions of Statement 123, as amended by FASB Statement No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure (“FAS 148”). Had the Company elected to adopt the fair value recognition provisions of FAS 123, pro forma net income and net income per share would be as follows (in thousands):

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GRUBB & ELLIS COMPANY
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

8. Stock Options and Stock Purchase Plans (Continued)

                 
    For the six months ended December 31,  
    2004     2003  
Net income to common stockholders, as reported
  $ 6,034     $ 7,297  
 
               
Add: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under the intrinsic value method for all
               
awards, net of related tax effects
           
 
               
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under the fair value based method for
               
all awards, net of related tax effects
    (57 )     (187 )
 
           
 
               
Pro forma net income to common stockholders
  $ 5,977     $ 7,110  
 
           
 
               
Net earnings per weighted average common share outstanding:
               
 
               
Basic – as reported
  $ 0.40     $ 0.48  
 
           
 
               
Basic – pro forma
  $ 0.40     $ 0.47  
 
           
 
               
Diluted – as reported
  $ 0.40     $ 0.48  
 
           
 
               
Diluted – pro forma
  $ 0.39     $ 0.47  
 
           

9. Change in Accounting Estimate

The Company has maintained partially self-insured and deductible programs for errors and omissions, general liability, workers' compensation and certain employee health care costs. Reserves are based upon an estimate provided by an independent actuarial firm of the aggregate of the liability for reported claims and an estimate of incurred but not reported claims.

During the quarter ended December 31, 2003, the independent actuarial firm which the Company uses to calculate self insurance reserves reduced its estimate of incurred but not paid health insurance obligations based upon the actual claims experience of the Company through November 30, 2003. The Company correspondingly reduced its related insurance liability reserve as a result of the revised actuarial estimate. The Company recorded this revision as a reduction to salaries, wages and benefits expense totaling approximately $3.0 million in its statement of operations for the quarter ended December 31, 2003.

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

NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Report contains statements that are not historical facts and constitute projections, forecasts or forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company in future periods to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or suggested by these statements. You can identify such statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements use words such as “believe,” “expect,” “should,” “strive,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate” and “anticipate” or similar expressions. When we discuss strategy or plans, we are making projections, forecasts or forward-looking statements. Actual results and stockholder’s value will be affected by a variety of risks and factors, including, without limitation, international, national and local economic conditions and real estate risks and financing risks and acts of terror or war. Many of the risks and factors that will determine these results and values are beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict. These statements are necessarily based upon various assumptions involving judgment with respect to the future. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Report. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates of revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Factors that could adversely affect the Company’s ability to obtain these results and value include, among other things: (i) the volume of transactions and prices for real estate in the real estate markets generally, (ii) a general or regional economic downturn that could create a recession in the real estate markets, (iii) the Company’s debt level and its ability to make interest and principal payments, (iv) an increase in expenses related to new initiatives, investments in people, technology, and service improvements, (v) the Company’s ability to implement, and the success of, new initiatives and investments, including expansion into new specialty areas and integration of the Company’s business units, (vi) the ability of the Company to consummate acquisitions and integrate acquired companies and assets, and (vii) other factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004, filed on September 28, 2004.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

A discussion of the Company’s critical accounting policies, which include revenue recognition, impairment of goodwill, deferred taxes and insurance and claims reserves, can be found in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004. There have been no material changes to these policies in fiscal 2005.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Services Revenue

The Company earns revenue from the delivery of transaction and management services to the commercial real estate industry. Transaction fees include commissions from leasing, acquisition and disposition, and agency leasing assignments as well as fees from appraisal and consulting services. Management fees, which include reimbursed salaries, wages and benefits, comprise the remainder of the Company’s services revenues, and include fees related to both property and facilities management outsourcing and business services.

Services revenue in any given quarter during the three fiscal year period ended June 30, 2004, as a percentage of total annual services revenue, ranged from a high of 30.1% to a low of 20.8%, with services revenue earned in the second quarters of each of the last three fiscal years ranging from 28.1% to 30.1%. The Company has typically experienced its lowest quarterly services revenue in the quarter ending March 31 of each year with higher and more consistent services revenue in the quarters ending June 30 and September 30, and its highest

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quarterly services revenue in the quarter ending December 31, due to increased activity caused by the desire of clients to complete transactions by calendar year-end.

Total services revenue of $239.3 million was recognized for the six months ended December 31, 2004 as compared to revenue of $225.7 million for the same period last year. Transaction fees increased by $11.3 million, or 8.7%, in the current fiscal period over the same period in 2003. The Company continued to realize increased commissions from investment sales in the current fiscal year, as well as from industrial leasing and land sales. Management fees increased by $2.2 million, or 2.4%, during that same period due to increased reimbursed revenues related to salaries, wages and benefits, as described below.

Total revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2004 was $135.6 million, an increase of 9.5% over revenue of $123.8 for the same period last year. Transaction services fees increased by $11.1 or 14.9% in the current fiscal quarter over the same quarter in 2003 due primarily to an increase in commissions from industrial and office leases, while management services fees increased by $645,000 or 1.3% during the same period.

Costs of Services

Transaction commissions expense has historically been the Company’s largest expense and is a direct function of gross transaction services revenue levels, which include transaction services commissions and other fees. Professionals receive transaction commissions at rates that increase upon achievement of certain levels of production. As a percentage of gross transaction revenue, related commission expense increased to 63.7% for the six months ended December 31, 2004 as compared to 61.5% for the same period in 2003 and increased to 64.4% from 62.0% for the respective quarters ended December 31 in the same periods. These increases resulted from higher overall transaction revenues as well as increased transaction production levels in certain markets in the country.

Reimbursable expenses, related to salaries, wages and benefits, increased by $3.1 million, or 4.6% in the current fiscal period over the same period in 2003, and $1.4 million, or 3.9%, for the respective quarters ended December 31 in the same periods, primarily due to the staffing requirements of new facility management assignments.

Salaries and other direct costs decreased by $503,000, or 2.8%, in the current fiscal period over the same period in 2003, and $661,000, or 6.9%, for the respective quarters ended December 31 in the same periods.

Costs and Expenses

Salaries, wages and benefits increased by $4.3 million, or 19.5%, during the six months ended December 31, 2004 as compared to December 31, 2003 as the Company incurred higher performance based incentive compensation. A significant part of this increase related to a decrease in the estimate of the Company’s incurred but not paid health insurance claims during the quarter ended December 31, 2003, along with an increase in the workers compensation insurance liability during the quarter ended December 31, 2004. See Note 9 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $1.1 million or 4.7%, for the same period. Similarly, for the quarter ended December 31, 2004, salaries, wages and benefits increased by $3.4 million, or 33.7%, as compared to the same period in the prior year, while selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $1.2 million, or 9.3%.

Depreciation and amortization expense for the six months ended December 31, 2004 decreased 13.5% to $2.9 million from $3.4 million in the comparable period last year as the Company continued to closely monitor its investment in equipment, software and leasehold improvements. In addition, the Company holds multi-year service contracts with certain key professionals, the costs of which are amortized over the lives of the respective contracts, which are generally two to three years. Amortization expense relating to these contracts increased slightly to $695,000 from $675,000 for the six months ended December 31, 2004 as compared to the

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same period in the prior year and slightly offset the decrease. A similar related overall decrease resulted in the quarter ended December 31, 2004, as depreciation and amortization expense decreased $169,000, or 10.3%, from the comparable prior year period.

Interest income increased during the six months ended December 31, 2004 as compared to the same period in the prior year as average invested funds and interest rates increased.

Interest expense incurred during the six months ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 was due primarily to the Company’s term loan borrowings under the respective credit facility in effect during the period. The credit facility in place throughout the six month period ended December 31, 2003 was provided by an affiliated entity of the Company’s controlling stockholder and Chairman. The Company refinanced this facility with an unaffiliated financial institution in June 2004. Interest expense was also incurred during the six months ended December 31, 2003 due to an outstanding note payable-affiliate that was subsequently repaid in June 2004.

Net Income

Net income to common stockholders for the six months ended December 31, 2004 was $6.0 million, or $0.40 per common share on a diluted basis, as compared to $7.3 million, or $0.48 per common share, for the same period in the prior fiscal year. For the quarter ended December 31, 2004, net income was $7.9 million, or $0.52 per common share on a diluted basis, as compared to $7.4 million, or $0.49 per common share, for the same period in fiscal year 2004. Dividends accrued on the Series A Preferred Stock issued by the Company were $889,000 for the six months ended December 31, 2004 and $790,000 for the same period in 2003.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

For the six months ended December 31, 2004, the Company generated net cash flow from operating activities of $23.2 million including cash retained as a result of the deferral of payments of commissions totaling $13.5 million, used $1.1 million in net investing activities primarily for purchases of equipment, software and leasehold improvements and used $85,000 in other financing activities.

The Company has historically experienced the highest use of operating cash in the quarter ended March 31, primarily related to the payment of incentive and deferred commission payable balances which attain peak levels during the quarter ended December 31. Deferred commission balances of approximately $13.5 million, related to revenues earned in calendar year 2004, were paid in January 2005, and production and incentive bonuses of approximately $6.8 million are expected to be paid during the quarter ended March 31, 2005.

See Note 6 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1 of this Report for information concerning earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

On December 30, 2004, the Company entered into the Preferred Stock Exchange Agreement with KV, in its capacity as the holder of all the Company’s issued and outstanding 11,725 shares of Series A Preferred Stock which carries a preferential cumulative dividend of 12% per annum. Pursuant to the Preferred Stock Exchange Agreement, the Company agreed to pay to KV all accrued and unpaid dividends with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock for the period September 19, 2002, the date of issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock, up to and through December 31, 2004. In exchange therefore, KV agreed to eliminate in its entirety, as of January 1, 2005, the 12% preferential cumulative dividend payable on the Series A Preferred Stock. Upon the closing of the transaction in January 2005, the Company delivered to KV the one time accrued dividend payment of approximately $3.6 million.

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The Company and KV effected the elimination of the 12% cumulative preferred dividend with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock by an exchange of preferred securities. Specifically, simultaneously upon the consummation of the transaction on January 4, 2005, KV delivered to the Company its original share certificate representing 11,725 shares of Series A Preferred Stock in exchange for a new share certificate representing 11,725 shares of a newly created Series A-1 Preferred Stock of the Company, or the New Preferred Stock. The New Preferred Stock is identical in all respects to the Series A Preferred Stock except that the New Preferred Stock does not have a cumulative preferred dividend and is now only entitled to receive dividends if and when dividends are declared and paid to holders of the Company’s common stock.

Consequently, the ownership interest of KV and its affiliates in the Company (the combined total holdings of Series A-1 Preferred Stock and Common Stock) remains the same, which is currently equal to approximately 57% of the Company's total voting power. The Company's Board of Directors believes, however, that common stockholders of the Company who are not affiliated with KV benefit favorably from the elimination of the 12% preferential dividend resulting from the exchange of the old Series A Preferred Stock for the new Series A-1 Preferred Stock which will carry to preferential dividend. The Company's Board of Directors also believes that common stockholders unaffiliated with KV should be cognizant of the dilutive effect to common stockholders as a result of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock (which has the same dilutive effect as the old Series A Preferred Stock) in the event there occurs a liquidation, sale event or change in control with respect to the company at some point in the future.

Like the Series A Preferred Stock, the New Preferred Stock is not convertible into common stock, but nonetheless votes on an “as liquidated basis” along with the holders of common stock on all matters. Consequently, the New Preferred Stock, like the Series A Preferred Stock, currently is entitled to the number of votes equal to 11,173,925 shares of common stock, or approximately 42.5% of all voting securities of the Company. In addition, as noted above, with the elimination of the preferential cumulative dividend, the New Preferred Stock will now only be entitled to receive dividends if and when dividends are declared by the Company on, and paid to holders of, the Company’s common stock. The holders of the New Preferred Stock will receive dividends, if any, based upon the number of voting common stock equivalents represented by the New Preferred Stock.

In the event of adverse economic conditions or other unfavorable events, and to the extent that the Company’s cash requirements are not met by operating cash flow or additional debt or equity proceeds, the Company may find it necessary to reduce expenditure levels or undertake other actions as may be appropriate under the circumstances. The Company has no current principal payments due under the $25.0 million term portion of its Credit Facility with Deutsche Bank as of December 31, 2004. The Company also has a revolving line of credit of $15 million, of which approximately $12.5 million is available as of December 31, 2004. During the quarter ended December 31, 2004, the Company issued three letters of credit, totaling approximately $2.5 million, under the revolving line of credit to collateralize certain obligations related to its insurance programs.

Interest on outstanding borrowings under the credit facility is based upon Deutsche Bank’s prime rate and/or a LIBOR based rate plus, in either case, an additional margin based upon a particular financial leverage ratio of the Company, and will vary depending upon which interest rate options the Company chooses to be applied to specific borrowings. The average interest rate incurred by the Company on all credit facility obligations during fiscal years 2005 and 2004 was 5.75% and 5.04%, respectively.

Scheduled principal payments on the term loan portion of the Credit Agreement total $2.0 million in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006 and $23.0 million in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007 when the term loan is scheduled to mature. The Company also has an option to extend the term loan maturity for an additional year.

The Company leases office space throughout the country through non-cancelable operating leases, which expire at various dates through February 2014. Significant office leases in both the Chicago and New York City markets are expiring during calendar 2005 and the Company will be required to renew these leases or secure alternative office space. Historically, such renewal or new lease situations require additional capital expenditures to be made related to furnishings and/or leasehold improvements. The Company currently has not yet entered into any contractual lease arrangements in this regard, and the ultimate amount of any such capital expenditures regarding these two locations is presently unknown.

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk - Derivatives

The Company’s credit facility debt obligations are floating rate obligations whose interest rate and related monthly interest payments vary with the movement in LIBOR. As of December 31, 2004, the outstanding principal balances on these debt obligations totaled $25.0 million. Since interest payments on this obligation will increase if interest rate markets rise, or decrease if interest rate markets decline, the Company is subject to cash flow risk related to these debt instruments. In order to mitigate this risk, the terms of the new credit agreement executed by the Company in June 2004 required the Company to enter into interest rate protection agreements to effectively cap the variable interest rate exposure on a portion of the obligations for a period of two years. The Company executed such an interest agreement with Deutsche Bank AG in July 2004, which will provide for quarterly payments to the Company equal to the variable interest amount paid by the Company in excess of 3.5% of the underlying notional amounts.

The Company does not utilize financial instruments for trading or other speculative purposes, nor does it utilize leveraged financial instruments.

Interest rate risk - Debt

The Company’s earnings are affected by changes in short term interest rates as a result of the variable interest rates incurred on the Company’s credit facility obligations. However, due to its purchase of the interest rate cap agreement described above, the effects of interest rate changes are limited. If LIBOR borrowing rates increase by 50 basis points, over the average levels incurred by the Company during fiscal 2005, the Company’s interest expense would increase, and income before income taxes would decrease, by $125,000 per annum. Comparatively, if LIBOR borrowing rates decrease by 50 basis points below the average levels incurred by the Company during fiscal 2005, the Company’s interest expense would decrease, and income before income taxes would increase, by $125,000 per annum. These amounts are determined by considering the impact of the hypothetical interest rates on the Company’s borrowing cost and interest rate cap agreement. They do not consider the effects that such an environment could have on the level of overall economic activity. These sensitivity analyses also assume no changes in the Company’s future or past years’ financial structure.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Effective as of December 31, 2004, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Co-Chief Executive Officers and the Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a - 15e under the Exchange Act). Based upon the evaluation, the Company’s Co-Chief Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to timely alert them to material information relating to the Company (including its consolidated subsidiaries) required to be included in the Company’s Exchange Act filings. There were no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect those controls subsequent to the date of the evaluation.

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PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

(Items 2 and 3 are not applicable
for the quarter ended December 31, 2004)

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Item 1. Legal Proceedings

The disclosure called for by Item 1 is incorporated by reference to Note 7 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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

The 2004 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company was held on November 9, 2004. The Company submitted to a vote of stockholders, through the solicitation of proxies, the election of five directors, representing the entire Board of Directors. The votes cast for and withheld with respect to each nominee for election as director were as follows:

                 
            Votes  
            Withholding  
Nominee   Votes For     Authority  
R. David Anacker
    19,910,013       36,470  
Anthony G. Antone
    19,701,754       244,729  
C. Michael Kojaian
    19,733,339       213,144  
Robert J. McLaughlin
    19,908,971       37,512  
Rodger D. Young
    19,699,567       246,916  

Item 5. Other Information

Registration statement on Form S-1

On October 29th, 2004 the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-1, registration no. 333-120094 (the “Registration Statement”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) relating solely to the resale of shares owned by certain stockholders of the Company; specifically, Warburg Pincus Investors Liquidating Trust, as successor to Warburg Pincus Investors, L.P. (“Warburg Pincus”), The Goldman Sachs Group (“Goldman Sachs”), and Goldman Sachs’ affiliate, Archon Group, L.P. (“Archon”). The Registration Statement was filed pursuant to a written demand for registration made by Warburg Pincus under a registration rights agreement that Warburg Pincus, and others, had entered into with the Company in December of 1996 in connection with equity financing that was provided to the Company at the time. Goldman Sachs and Archon included their shares on the Registration Statement pursuant to their “piggy back” registration rights under the registration rights agreement that Archon had entered into with the Company in connection with additional equity financing that was provided to the Company in January 1997. The Registration Statement relates to an aggregate of 7,471,257 shares of the Company’s common stock: 5,861,902 shares owned by Warburg Pincus; 1,496,700 shares owned by Goldman Sachs; and 112,655 shares owned by the Archon Group. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of these shares nor will the sale of all of these shares result in a change in control of the Company. The Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC on November 15, 2004.

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

     
(a)
  Exhibits
 
   
(3)
  Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
 
   
3.1
  Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, as restated November 1, 1994, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1995.

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3.2
  Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant as filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on December 9, 1997, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Registrant’s Statement on Form S-8 filed on December 19, 1997 (File No. 333-42741).
 
   
3.3
  Amended and Restated Certificate of Designations, Number, Voting Powers, Preferences and Rights of Series A Preferred Stock of Grubb & Ellis Company, as filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on September 13, 2002 incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.8 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on October 15, 2002.
 
   
3.4
  Preferred Stock Exchange Agreement dated as of December 30, 2004 by and between the Registrant and Kojaian Ventures, L.L.C. incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 6, 2005.
 
   
3.5
  Certificate of Designations, Number, Voting Posers, Preferences and Rights of Series A-1 Preferred Stock of Grubb & Ellis Company, as filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on January 4, 2005 incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 6, 2005.
 
   
3.6
  Bylaws of the Registrant, as amended and restated effective May 31, 2000, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.5 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on September 28, 2000.
 
   
(10)
  Material Contracts
 
   
10.1*
  Employment Agreement entered into on November 9, 2004, between Robert H. Osbrink and the Registrant, effective January 1, 2004 incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 15, 2004.


*Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
     
(31)
  Section 302 Certifications
 
   
(32)
  Section 906 Certification
 
   
(b)
  Reports on Form 8-K
 
   
  A Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 29, 2004 was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 2, 2004 reporting under Item 8.01 that the Company issued a press release announcing that it had filed a registration statement of Form S-1 relating to its common stock.
 
   
  A Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 15, 2004 was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 19, 2004 reporting under Item 8.01 that the Company issued a press release announcing that the registration statement of Form S-1 relating to its common stock that the Company had previously filed had been declared effective.
 
   
  A Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 30, 2004 was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 6, 2005 reporting under Item 1.01 and Item 3.02 the entering into of the Preferred Stock Exchange Agreement.

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     SIGNATURE

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.
         
 
GRUBB & ELLIS COMPANY
          (Registrant)
 
 
Date: February 18, 2005  /s/ Brian D. Parker    
  Brian D. Parker   
  Chief Financial Officer and
acting in capacity of co-Chief Executive Officer 
 

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Grubb & Ellis Company

EXHIBIT INDEX

for the quarter ended December 31, 2004

Exhibit

(31)   Section 302 Certifications

(32)   Section 906 Certification

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