Attached files

file filename
EX-32 - FIRST HARTFORD CORPex32.htm
EX-31 - FIRST HARTFORD CORPex312.htm
EX-31 - FIRST HARTFORD CORPex311.htm

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-K

 

[ X]      ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
            OF 1934.

For the fiscal year ended  April 30, 2016                                       

[ ]         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   0-8862                                                                                        

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maine

 

01-0185800

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

 (I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization)

 

Identification No.)

 

149 Colonial Road, Manchester, Connecticut                      06042                     

(Address of principal executive offices)                                   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code 860-646-6555                                    

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:  None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, par value of $1 per share

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

☐   Yes             X  No

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

☐  Yes             X  No

 

Indicate by checkmark 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.

X  Yes           ☐  No

 

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule-405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files)

☐  Yes           X  No

 

 

1

 


 

 

Indicate by checkmark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of the Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to the Form 10-K.

                                                                                                                        X  Yes             ☐  No

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (check one):

 Large accelerated filer           ☐  

Accelerated filer                    ☐

Non-accelerated filer              ☐  

Smaller reporting company      X


Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
Yes   X No

As of October 31, 2015, the aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock (based upon $2.75 closing price on that date on the OTC Securities Market) held by non-affiliates (excludes shares reported as beneficially owned by directors and officers – and does not constitute an admission as to affiliate status) was $2,895,591.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practical date:  2,377,565 as of July 31, 2016.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

None.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward Looking Statements

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward looking statements that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions as described from time to time in registration statements, annual reports, and other periodic reports and filings of First Hartford Corporation and Subsidiaries (the Company) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  All statements, other than statements of historical facts, which address the Company’s expectations of sources of capital or which express the Company’s expectation for the future with respect to financial performance or operating strategies can be identified as forward-looking statements.  As a result, there can be no assurance that the Company’s future results will not be materially different from those described herein as “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate” or “expect”, which reflect the current view of the Company with respect to future events.  We caution readers that these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof.  The Company hereby expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statement to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which such statement is based.

 

 

2

 


 

 

PART I

ITEM 1.           BUSINESS

First Hartford Corporation, which was incorporated in Maine in 1909, and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”), is engaged in two business segments: 1) the purchase, development, ownership, management and sale of real estate and 2) providing preferred developer services for two corporate franchise operators (i.e., “Fee for Service”).

Business Narrative:

First business segment:

The principal activity of the Company’s first segment of business is the purchase, development, ownership, management and sale of real estate.  The real estate, owned and/or managed by the Company through various subsidiaries and joint ventures, is located in Connecticut, Delaware, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Texas.  Non-residential tenants are obtained through brokers and employed representatives of the Company, by means of Industry Trade Shows, direct contacts with retail stores and other potential commercial tenants, and an occasional inquiry by potential tenants at the Company’s on-site offices.  Residential tenants are obtained through advertisements and inquiry at on-site offices.

The Company has a comprehensive investment strategy when it comes to new projects or acquisitions.  Before investing, the Company conducts comprehensive due diligence that includes researching demographics, traffic, nearby vacancies, competition, and nearby market conditions.  After a potential investment has been fully vetted, a decision is made.

The Company’s real estate business is diversified by geographical locations, type of commercial property, and form of ownership or management.  The commercial real estate business is not divided further into significant separate classes of products or services.

When profitable opportunities arise, the Company will buy and sell certain properties.

The Company also owns and operates a movie theater and a liquor store at one of its properties.

Please also see Note 14 of the Financial Statements included within.

Second business segment:

The principal activity of the Company’s second segment of business is providing preferred developer services to CVS Health (CVS) and Cumberland Farms Inc. in certain geographic areas.

CVS: The Company has an agreement with CVS to be a preferred developer in Texas within the Rio Grande Valley, Houston, and Western Texas (excluding El Paso and Austin), in New York within Long Island and portions of Rockland County, in Northern New Jersey, in most of Connecticut, and in Louisiana.  This is a fee for service agreement by which the Company will locate a site, negotiate a letter of intent, prepare store development budgets, demographics, arrange traffic counts and submit for CVS Real Estate Committee approval.  Once so approved, the Company will negotiate a purchase or lease of such property and obtain permits.  The Company will invoice 75% of the total fee when the property is purchased or leased and a building permit is issued.  Fees vary based on location and style of the store.  A CVS pre-qualified third party contractor is selected who will work through the Company.  The Company will manage the construction and administrate the contracts and payments.  When a Certificate of Occupancy is obtained, the Company will invoice 15% of the total fee.  After the store is opened and all the open construction items are completed, the Company will invoice 10% of the total fee. Income is recognized as required services, as outlined in the development agreement, are completed.  The entire process will normally take 1-3 years. The volume of revenue from this fee for service agreement is in excess of 10% of the Company’s annual revenue (excluding sales of real estate).  The loss of the CVS contract would have a material adverse effect on the revenues and operations of the Company.

 

3

 


 

 

PART I

ITEM 1.           BUSINESS (concluded):

Second business segment (concluded):

Cumberland Farms: The Company is also a preferred developer for Cumberland Farms Inc. within Connecticut, New York, and Western Massachusetts.  Its scope of work is less than the CVS arrangement above as the Company is not involved in the construction management of the store.  This is a fee for service agreement by which the Company will locate a site, negotiate a letter of intent, prepare store development budgets, demographics, arrange traffic counts and submit for Cumberland Farms Real Estate Committee approval.  Once so approved, the Company will negotiate a purchase or lease of such property and obtain state and local approval and associated permits for construction.  The Company will invoice 100% of the total fee when the property is purchased or leased and a building permit is issued. Income is recognized as required services, as outlined in the development agreement, are completed.  The entire process will normally take 1-2 years.   The loss of the Cumberland Farms contract would have a material adverse effect on the revenues and operations of the Company.

Please also see Note 14 of the Financial Statements included within.

Miscellaneous Business Reporting:

The Company does not produce or offer any products, and as such, it has no foreign operations, no inventory (except a small amount at the liquor store), and does not export products or services. Its present business segments are not seasonal in nature.  The Company does not have any patents, licenses, franchises, concessions, or royalty agreements.  The Company is not conducting any research and development.  The Company's business segments do not and are not expected to involve contracts or subcontracts with the United States government. 

The Company’s operations and property are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations concerning the protection of the environment, including air and water quality, hazardous or toxic substances and health safety.  There is no significant environmental litigation involving any of the Company’s properties.             

The Company has a backlog, or pipeline, of potential development projects with CVS and Cumberland Farms.  The Company does not believe backlog is a useful measure of past performance or continuing performance because the life of each project ranges from one to three years and the number of future projects is not predictable.

The Company’s economic performance and the value of its real estate are subject to the risks incidental to the development, construction and ownership of real estate properties, as well as the economic well-being of its tenants.

Employment: On April 30, 2016, the Company employed 101 people full-time and 32 people part-time.

Competition: The Company competes with many other established companies, many of which are larger and possess substantially greater financial resources and substantially larger staffs.

ITEM 1A.        RISK FACTORS

Smaller reporting companies are not required to provide the information required by this item.

 

 

4

 


 

 

ITEM 2.           PROPERTIES

The following table shows the location, general character, ownership status, and cost (including leasing cost) of the materially important physical properties of the Company.

Consolidated Subsidiaries - Commercial Properties

 

 

Company

Managed

 

Location of

Properties

 

 

Use

Available Space or

Facilities and Major

Tenants

 

 

Ownership Status

 

 

Cost

           

X

Edinburg, TX

Shopping Center

460,195 sq. ft.

JC Penney 22%

Academy Sports 17%

Burlington Coat Factory 17%, Effective rent per sq. ft. occupied, exclusive of JC Penney (JC Penney owns building) is $10.01, occupied 100%

100% owned by a subsidiary of the Company. Lender to get extra interest if available (50% of cash flow) plus 50% of cash proceeds from sale or refinancing.

$49,151,133

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

West Springfield, MA

 

 

 

 

Shopping Center

144,350 sq. ft.

Price Rite 28%

Big Lots 21%

Harbor Freight 12%, Effective rent per sq. ft. occupied is $9.29, 92.15% occupied

100% owned by a subsidiary of the Company.

8,072,125

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

North Adams, MA

Shopping Center

131,691 sq. ft.

Steeple City Cinema 20% (Company owned);

Steeple City Liquor 11% (Company owned);

Peebles 14%

Planet Fitness 8%

Effective rent per sq. ft. occupied – net of 41,067 sq. ft. Company owned $8.45, 82.51% occupied

100% owned by a subsidiary of the Company. Commencing on October 1, 2015 and continuing through September 30, 2019 the Company will remit 50% of the cash flow of the property to Lender.

7,480,974

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

 


 

 

ITEM 2.           PROPERTIES (continued):

Consolidated Subsidiaries - Commercial Properties (continued):

 

Company

Managed

 

Location of

Properties

 

 

Use

Available Space or

Facilities and Major

Tenants

 

 

Ownership Status

 

 

Cost

           

X

Plainfield, CT

Strip Shopping Center

 

60,154 sq. ft.

Big Y 76%,

effective rent per sq. ft. occupied is $11.68, 97% occupied

 

100% owned by a subsidiary of the Company.

4,958,956

           

 

Cranston, RI

Shopping Center

259,218 sq. ft.

Kmart 40%

Stop & Shop 25%

TJ Maxx 9%

Effective rent per sq. ft. occupied is $14.22

98.43% occupied

50% owned by a subsidiary of the Company.

27,476,742

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cranston, RI

College

60,000 sq. ft. Career Education College

Effective rent per sq. ft. is $26.68

Currently vacant-leased to 12/31/18

50% owned by a subsidiary of the Company.

10,124,263

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cranston, RI

Restaurant

Texas Roadhouse

Land Lease

100% occupied

50% owned by a subsidiary of the Company.

239,414

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cranston, RI

Police Station

60,000 sq. ft. Leased to City of Cranston

Effective rent per sq. ft. occupied is $17.75

100% occupied

50% owned by a subsidiary of the Company.

10,132,902

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

Lubbock, TX

Shopping Center

160,555 sq. ft.

Steinmart 26%

Mardel 25%

TJ Maxx 19%

Effective rent per

sq. ft. occupied is $9.14 96.38% occupied

2.0% owned by a subsidiary of the Company.

5,799,614

 

 

6

 


 

 

ITEM 2.           PROPERTIES (continued):

 

Consolidated Subsidiaries - Commercial Properties (continued):

The properties listed above contain approximately 1,336,163 rentable sq. ft., of which approximately 46,245 sq. ft., or approximately 3.5%, was vacant at April 30, 2016.  Over the next 10 years, 75 of the current 82 leases will expire as follows:

 

Year Ended

 

Number of Leases

 

Sq. Ft.

 

Base Rent

 

 

Percentage of Base Rent

4/30/17

9

64,076

$862,913

6.20%

4/30/18

8

62,013

$668,966

4.80%

4/30/19

16

240,842

$3,559,289

25.56%

4/30/20

10

131,979

$1,342,223

9.64%

4/30/21

8

111,567

$843,704

6.06%

4/30/22

9

105,977

$1,616,340

11.61%

4/30/23

7

92,000

$967,950

6.95%

4/30/24

3

95,808

$618,647

4.44%

4/30/25

2

38,754

$365,721

2.63%

4/30/26

3

32,709

$353,414

2.54%

 

Total rental income of these properties for the year ended April 30, 2016 was $17,869,972, of which $4,169,005 is allocated for reimbursement of real estate taxes, common area expenses, and insurance expenses.

The Company does not have any individual tenants that account for 5% or more of the Company’s revenues.

Consolidated Subsidiaries – Residential Properties

 

Company

Managed

 

Location of

Properties

 

 

Use

Available Space or

Facilities and Major

Tenants

 

 

Ownership Status

 

 

Cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

Rockland, MA

Apartments

204 units, low to moderate income, 95% occupied, effective sq. ft. rent - $22.77

.01% owned by a 75% owned subsidiary of the Company.

22,331,048

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

Somerville, MA

Apartments

501 units, low to moderate income, 99% occupied, effective sq. ft. rent - $24.08

.0049% owned by a 75% owned subsidiary of the Company.

48,720,216

 

 

7

 


 

 

ITEM 2.           PROPERTIES (continued):

Non-Consolidated Subsidiaries

 

Company

Managed

 

Location of

Properties

 

 

Use

Available Space or

Facilities and Major

Tenants

 

 

Ownership Status

 

 

Cost

           

X

Claymont, DE

Apartments

208 units, senior housing, 100% sec 8 subsidized

Nonconsolidated,

.01% owned by a 75% owned subsidiary of the Company.

7,629,959

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dover Township, NJ

Shopping Center

108,084 sq. ft.

Stop & Shop 52%

Dollar Tree 9%

Plus Outparcels

50% owned by a subsidiary of the Company.

13,648,066

 

In addition to the materially important physical properties of the Company listed above, the Company owns several other properties that are being developed or may be developed in the future as opportunities arise. Many of these other properties involve ground lease or build-to-suit deals. In some cases, the land being developed is solely for a single entity, in other cases the land is primarily for a single entity with some excess land retained for future development, and in other cases the land is banked for future potential development. Generally, the Company sells the properties within twelve months after development is completed.

 

Location of Properties

 

Use

 

Anticipated Completion Date

 

Cost Incurred to Date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Orleans, LA

 

Single entity build-to-suit plus shopping center

 

FY 2017 Q3

 

14,735,409

Conroe, TX

 

Single tenant build-to-suit

 

FY 2017 Q2

 

5,683,667

Austin, TX

 

Single tenant ground lease plus additional tenant

 

FY 2017 Q3

 

5,371,352

Buda, TX

 

7.4 acres of land – can support 30,000 sq. ft. development

 

FY 2018

 

2,941,605

Conroe, TX

 

3.4 acres of land – can support 20,000 sq. ft. development

 

FY 2018

 

1,960,944

Del Valle, TX

 

15.6 acres of land – can support 100,000 sq. ft. development

 

Unknown

 

1,452,091

All Other Properties Held

 

 

 

 

 

2,101,501

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total cost of developed properties and property under construction (excludes non-consolidated subsidiaries)

$228,733,956

 

The Company also owns properties it is currently holding for sale.  The properties include a single tenant build-to-suit in Stanhope, NJ, vacant land in East Providence, RI, and a single-tenant property in Olathe, KS.  The total cost of these properties as of April 30, 2016 was $15,422,312.

 

 

 

 

 

8

 


 

 

 

 

ITEM 3.           LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is involved in legal proceedings which arise during the normal course of its business, including disputes over tax assessments, commercial contracts, lease agreements, construction contracts, employee disputes and personal injuries. The Company does not believe the outcome of any of these proceedings will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Other proceedings

The Company is not aware of any material legal proceedings which would need to be cited herein.

There are no proceedings involving officers and directors; see Item 10(f) on Page 50.

ITEM 4.           MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not Applicable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9

 


 

 

PART II

ITEM 5.           MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
                        AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The Company trades on the OTC Securities Market under the symbol FHRT.  Investors can find current financial disclosures and quotes for the Company on Yahoo Finance and other financial sites.

STOCK PRICE AND DIVIDEND INFORMATION

Stock Price

2016

High

Low

Dividends Paid Per Common Share

First Quarter

$3.05

$2.00

None

Second Quarter

$3.25

$2.75

None

Third Quarter

$3.00

$2.25

None

Fourth Quarter

$3.00

$2.30

None

 

 

 

 

2015

First Quarter

$2.20

$1.50

None

Second Quarter

$2.10

$1.51

None

Third Quarter

$2.46

$1.50

None

Fourth Quarter

$2.46

$1.91

None

 

No dividends have been paid in the past two fiscal years and the Company has no plans or intentions to institute payment of dividends in the foreseeable future.

Sales of common stock on the open-market occur sporadically.  A recent reported sale was for $2.45 per share on May 31, 2016 for a total of 12,000 shares.

The Company repurchased 5,250 shares of common stock during the year ended April 30, 2016 at an average price of $2.73 per share.  These shares were not purchased as part of a publicly announced plan or program. 

The Company did not sell any unregistered shares of securities during the year ended April 30, 2016.

There were approximately 345 shareholders of record for the Company’s common stock as of April 30, 2016.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

 


 

 

 

ITEM 5.           MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS 
                        
AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES (continued):

10b5-1 Private Repurchase Stock Plan: On March 29, 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a 10b5-1 Private Repurchase Stock Plan for the repurchase of up to 150,000 shares of the Company's common stock in minimum blocks of 15,000 shares and maximum blocks of 70,000 shares.  All eligible shareholders shall at all times during the transaction hold less than 5% of the issued and outstanding common stock of the Company.  Repurchases may be made at management’s discretion from time-to-time only through privately negotiated transactions pursuant to the terms of the 10b5-1 plan to meet the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  The privately negotiated purchase price may not to exceed $5.00 per share.  The program will be suspended for 15 days before the due date of each quarterly or annual report filing and will resume 15 days after the next successive filing.  The repurchase program may extend up to maximum of 12 months and may be suspended for periods or discontinued at any time.    Any shares acquired under this program will be retired.  Please see the below table for information with respect to repurchases by the Company:

Issuer Repurchases of its Equity Securities

Month of Transactions

Total number of shares purchased

Average price paid per share

Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs

Maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs

 

 

 

 

 

May 1, 2015 – April 30, 2016a

5,250

$2.73

0

0

May 11, 2016 b

25,000

$3.00

25,000

125,000

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

30,250

$2.95

25,000

125,000

 

  1. The transactions comprised of the acquisition of the 5,250 shares were not conducted pursuant to a publicly announced program, and therefore are discontinued.
     

  2. The transactions comprised of the acquisition of the 25,000 shares required pursuant to the March 29, 2016 publicly announced 10b5-1 Private Repurchase Stock Plan.

 

ITEM 6.           SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Smaller reporting companies are not required to provide the information required by this item.

 

 

 

 

11

 


 

 

ITEM 7.           MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
                        AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The discussion and analysis below provides information that the Company believes is relevant to an assessment and understanding of its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.  This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere herein.

This and certain other sections of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K contain statements reflecting the Company’s views about its future performance and constitute  “forward-looking statements” under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These views may differ materially from the results discussed in such forward-looking statements.  Readers should consider that various factors, including changes in general economic conditions, interest rates and the availability of funds, and competition and relationships with key customers and their financial condition, may affect the Company’s performance.  The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Rental Income

Rental income for the years ended April 30, by type of tenant, follows:

 

2016

 

2015

Residential

$12,117,191

 

$11,121,786

Commercial

18,299,709

 

18,191,994

 

$30,416,900

 

$29,313,780

 

 

 

 

The increase in residential rental income was primarily caused by an increase in the subsidy received for the Rockland, MA property, partially offset by increases in concessions and vacancies.

There were no individually significant variances in commercial rental income.  Normal rent rate increases and rental income received on development properties awaiting sale were offset by the impact of the voluntary foreclosure of the Putnam, CT property on June 5, 2015 (see Note 16 to the Financial Statements included within for discussion).

 

 

12

 


 

 

ITEM 7.           MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
                        AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued);

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued):

Service Income

Service income for the years ended April 30 is made up of the following:

 

2016

 

2015

Preferred Developer Fees

$6,298,250

 

$6,795,500

Management and Other Fees

492,845

 

463,587

 

$6,791,095

 

$7,259,087

 

Preferred developer fees are from CVS and Cumberland Farms.  The decrease in preferred developer fees reflected lower fees received from CVS.  The decrease for CVS was the result of a recent acquisition that has resulted in the slowing of their pipeline for new stores.  This slowdown will continue until CVS determines the impact of this acquisition on new market expansion.  Preferred developer fees for Cumberland Farms were flat year-over-year.

Management fees are mainly from the Claymont, DE project. 

Sales (and Cost of Sales) of Real Estate

When profitable opportunities arise, the Company will buy and sell certain properties.  The Company had several purchases and sales of real estate in fiscal years 2016 and 2015.  While the Company expects to continue to discover more opportunities going forward, there are no guarantees that they will be discovered or, if discovered, be of the magnitude and profitability of recent real estate sales.

During the year ended April 30, 2016, the Company had three significant sales of real estate, as follows: 1) sold a parcel of land in Pearland, TX for $1,104,161 (cost of $766,786), 2) sold a property in Austin, TX for $10,246,021 (cost of $7,800,521), and 3) sold a property in Vernon, NJ for $9,750,000 (cost of $8,906,639).  There were also costs related to property sales that occurred in the fiscal year ended April 30, 2015 totaling $199,077 that were not anticipated as of the prior fiscal year end.

During the year ended April 30, 2015, the Company had five significant sales of real estate, as follows: 1) sold a property in Huntsville, TX for $6,695,000 (cost of $4,509,976), 2) sold a parcel of land in Conroe, TX for $3,875,000 (cost of $2,530,477), 3) sold a property in New Orleans, LA for $10,900,000 (cost of $8,522,813), 4) sold a parcel of land in Buda, TX for $2,835,052 (cost of $1,554,046), and 5) sold a property in Avondale, LA for $6,096,000 (cost of $5,212,782).  There was also $42,500 of residual costs related to the 2014 Pearland, TX sale.

Other Income

The increase in other income was primarily at the liquor store, which obtained a liquor license in December 2014.  Prior to obtaining the liquor license, the store only sold beer and wine. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13

 


 

 

 

ITEM 7.           MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
                        AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued);

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued):

Operating Costs and Expenses

Rental Expenses

Rental expense for the years ended April 30, by type of tenant, follows:

                                                                                                                                   

Residential

2016

 

2015

Depreciation and Amortization

$2,218,905

 

$2,222,546

Other Rental Expenses

8,305,098

 

7,941,247

 

$10,524,003

 

$10,163,793

Commercial

 

 

 

Depreciation and Amortization

$3,300,138

 

$3,585,607

Other Rental Expenses

6,904,291

 

6,684,493

 

$10,204,429

 

$10,270,100

 

 

 

 

Total

$20,728,432

 

$20,433,893

 

The increase in residential rental expenses reflected the capitalization of previously expensed asbestos remediation costs at the Clarendon property in the prior year third quarter as these costs, which are ongoing, were determined to improve the condition and safety of the property and mitigate and prevent environmental contamination that has yet to occur and that otherwise may result from future operations or activities.  Also contributing to the increase were higher voucher incentive payments made to Rockland’s tenants in an effort to maximize subsidy income.  Partially offsetting these increases were non-recurring sprinkler and fire damage-related expenses at Clarendon in the prior year and lower snow removal expenses due to the mild winter.

The slight decrease in commercial rental expenses was mainly due to the impact of the voluntary foreclosure of the Putnam, CT property on June 5, 2015, partially offset by increased costs related to the expansion of our shopping center in Edinburg, TX. 

Service Expenses

Service expenses for the years ended April 30 is made up of the following:

 

2016

 

2015

Preferred Developer Expenses and Other Costs

$3,677,113

 

$2,437,779

Fees

2,018,680

 

2,008,001

 

$5,695,793

 

$4,445,780

Construction and Other Costs

95,382

 

118,773

 

$5,791,175

 

$4,564,553

 

 

 

 

The increase in service expenses reflected higher preferred developer expenses and fees reflecting the ramp-up to full staffing that occurred in the second half of fiscal year 2015 and into fiscal year 2016, as well as salary increases. 

 

 

 

14

 


 

 

 

 

ITEM 7.           MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
                        AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued);

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued):

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses (“SG&A”)

The increase in SG&A expenses was caused by higher expenses at the liquor store in North Adams, MA, which did not obtain a liquor license until December 2014, partially offset by several employees now focused on the Preferred Developer program and thus no longer performing SG&A duties. 

Non-Operating Income (Expense):

Equity in Earnings (Losses) of Unconsolidated Subsidiaries

The equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated subsidiaries is broken down as follows:

                                                                                                                                               

 

2016

 

2015

 

Income from Operations

$306,851

 

$350,276

 

Defeasance and Refinancing

-0-

 

(399,656)

 

Distributions

360,000

 

840,000

 

Equity in Earnings of Unconsolidated Subsidiary

$666,851

 

$790,620

 

 

The Company has an investment in an affiliated limited liability entity Dover Parkade, LLC, (Dover).  The Company has a 50% interest in Dover which owns a shopping center in Dover Township, NJ.  The operating and financial policies of Dover are not controlled by the Company.  For the years prior to May 1, 2009, the Company was committed to providing funding to this equity method investee.  The Company’s investment was recorded at cost and subsequently adjusted for its share of their net income and losses and distributions. To 2009, losses and distributions from Dover exceeded the Company’s investment.  Since then, distributions from Dover have been credited to income.  The Company does not control the rate of distributions of Dover.  Such distributions are in excess of Dover’s net assets since its accumulated net losses (including significant amounts for depreciation and amortization) have exceeded capital contributions.

During fiscal year 2015, the equity in earnings of Dover was charged $399,656, which represents 50% of the direct cost of defeasance on the refinancing of its prior mortgage plus some additional defeasance cost.  As a result of this refinancing, the Company received a distribution of $600,000, which is included in the $840,000 total distributions above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15

 


 

 

 

 

ITEM 7.           MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
                        AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued);

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued):

Other Income

Other income is broken down as follows:

 

2016 

  2015

Edinburg Economic Development Corporation contributions

$-0-

 

$2,391,850

Investment Income

416,811

 

172,399

Clarendon Residual Funds

189,912

 

-0-

Total

$606,723

 

$2,564,249

 

In connection with the Company’s development and construction of a shopping center owned and operated by the Company in Edinburg, TX, the Company entered into an Economic Development Agreement dated February 20, 2007 with the City of Edinburg and other local non-profit corporations.  In connection with the agreement, the Company received contributions from the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation (EEDC) of up to $4,000,000 as its 0.5% share of sales tax revenue generated from the shopping center.  Such nonreciprocal transfers of the Company’s share of sales taxes generated are recorded by the Company as other non-operating income when received.  The Company does not expect any more income from this agreement after April 30, 2015.  See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

The increase in investment income was caused by realized gains on sales on investments in part to help finance the refinancing at CP Associates as discussed in Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.  Note that unrealized investment gains are recorded in equity.

During the year ended April 30, 2016, the Company received $189,912 of residual funds that remained in a reserve account after payoff of the underlying bondholders securitized by the mortgage that was refinanced at Clarendon in February 2015.

Gain (Loss) on Derivatives (Non-Cash)

The Company, through its 50% owned consolidated subsidiaries, has entered into two separate floating-to-fixed interest rate swap agreements with banks that expire in May 2025 and July 2031.  The Company has determined that these derivative instruments do not meet the requirements of hedge accounting and have therefore recorded the change in fair value of these derivative instruments through income.  Note that the change in fair value recorded through income is a non-cash item.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16

 


 

 

 

 

ITEM 7.           MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
                        AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued):

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued):

Gain on Forgiveness of Debt

During the year ended April 30, 2015, a 100% owned subsidiary of the Company, Main Street NA Parkade, LLC, signed an agreement that the Mortgage loan secured by the property of Main Street NA Parkade located in North Adams would be reduced from $12,575,423 to $7,260,000.  As of the date hereof, the Note reflects an outstanding principal balance of $7,260,000 due to a reduction of principal indebtedness through debt forgiveness by Lender, which resulted in a gain in the amount of $5,315,423 during the year ended April 30, 2015. During the year ended April 30, 2014, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $4,027,573 on this property.  This impairment reflected the continuing overall economic decline in the geographical area and retail industry that thwarted the Company’s efforts to replace terminating tenants and generate sufficient cash flows to recover the carrying amount of the shopping center.

TERMS:

Commencing October 1, 2014 through and including January 1, 2020.  Interest shall be 200 basis points in excess of the thirty day LIBOR rate.

Amortization commencing February 1, 2020 through October 1, 2030 (“Maturity Date”) on the basis of a 25 year schedule of amortization with a balloon payment due on October 1, 2030.  Interest during this period shall be 5.5% per annum. 

Call Option – Lender may elect to accelerate this Note and require the Company to prepay without premium the entire unpaid principal balance at any time after March 1, 2017.

The Note is non-recourse.

Amended and Restated Escrow and Security Agreement:

Beginning October 1, 2014 and including September 30, 2015 all net cash flow of the property shall be deposited in the Escrow account.

Additional Interest Agreement (AIA) was amended as follows:

Commencing on October 1, 2015 and continuing through September 30, 2019 the Company will remit 50% of the cash flow of the property to Lender.  Lender will apply all such payments received to the outstanding amount due on the date of the next installment due under the loan.

Gain on Voluntary Foreclosure

On November 1, 2014, a payment was due for the mortgage of the shopping center in Putnam, CT in the amount of approximately $4,700,000.  The rentable space of the shopping center was 57,529 square feet, 46% of which was leased to one store.  That store informed the Company that they were not renewing their lease, which expired on January 31, 2015, and, as a result, the Company found it impossible to refinance the mortgage without finding a replacement tenant.  Therefore, on June 5, 2015, the Company agreed to transfer title of the property to the lender.  The Company recognized a gain of $2,649,850 since the mortgage was non-recourse and was in excess of the book value.  Pre-tax income for this shopping center was $44,645 and $53,003 for the years ended April 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Loss on Impairment

During the year ended April 30, 2016, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $330,700 on a non-core property it owns in Wethersfield, CT.  The amount of the impairment loss represented the excess of the cost over the estimated net sales proceeds from the property.

 

 

 

 

17

 


 

 

ITEM 7.           MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
                        AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued):

Interest Expense

Interest expense for the years ended April 30, by type of tenant, follows:

 

2016

 

2015

Residential

$2,516,383

 

$2,873,915

Commercial

6,852,573

 

7,352,422

 

$9,368,956

 

$10,226,337

 

The decrease in residential interest was the result of the refinancings at Rockland and Clarendon that occurred in December 2014 and February 2015, respectively.

The decrease in commercial interest expense was primarily the result of the voluntary foreclosure of the Putnam, CT property on June 5, 2015 and savings from the refinancings at Cranston and CP Associates (see Note 3 of the Financial Statements included within for discussion).

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

See Note 10 to the Company’s financial statements for information about the effective income tax rate.

As of April 30, 2016, the Company has a net deferred tax asset in the amount of $2,130,776. The net deferred tax asset includes Federal net operating loss carryforwards of $3,657,878 that are available to offset future Federal taxable income. The Company has recorded $1,426,572 as the potential tax effect. In addition, the Company has recorded a net deferred asset in the amount of $368,442, which represents a basis difference in real estate assets owned by the Company. It also has an Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) credit of $261,054.  Lastly, no valuation allowance has been recorded based on anticipated future profitability being able to fully utilize the net operating loss carryforwards and future depreciation benefits.

Capital Resources and Liquidity

At April 30, 2016, the Company had $5,982,506 of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents.  This includes $3,310,665 belonging to partner entities in which the Company’s financial interests range from .01% (VIEs) to 50%.  Funds received from CVS, which are to be paid out in connection with CVS developments, of $1,664,214 and tenant security deposits held by VIEs of $406,749 are included in restricted cash and cash equivalents. 

At April 30, 2016, the Company had $1,601,795 of investments in marketable securities, all of which belongs to partner entities.

The sources of future borrowings that may be needed for new construction loans, property purchases, or balloon payments on existing loans are unclear at this time.  On December 7, 2015, the Company entered into a $2,000,000 revolving demand loan agreement (“line of credit”) with a regional bank.  The interest rate on this loan is Wall Street Journal Prime, with a floor of 3.25%.  The loan is unsecured and there are no guarantors.  Interest is to be paid monthly; principal is to be repaid within twelve months or on demand, at the bank’s discretion.  There are no prepayment penalties.  This line of credit will primarily be used from time to time to fund initial investments related to development opportunities.  As of April 30, 2016, the Company had borrowings of $1,694,091 against this credit line.  The Company also obtained another credit line as part of its purchase of land in Austin, TX as described in Note 17 to the Company’s financial statements. This $2,760,000 line of credit will primarily be used from time to time to fund initial investments related to development opportunities.  As of April 30, 2016, the Company had borrowings of $958,000 against this credit line.

This discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 in this Annual Report.

 

18

 


 

 

 

 

ITEM 7.           MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
                        AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (concluded):

Recently Issued Accounting Guidance:

For a description of recently issued accounting pronouncements, see Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES:

For a discussion of accounting policies see Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

ITEM 7A.        QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Smaller reporting companies are not required to provide the information required by this item.

ITEM 8.           FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Financial statements begin on page 22.  See the index to Financial Statements in Item 15.

ITEM 9.           CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON
                        ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

No change in the Company’s principal independent accountants occurred during the Company’s two most recent fiscal years or any subsequent interim period, nor did any disagreements occur with the Company’s accountants on any matter of accounting principles or practices or financial statement disclosure that would require a current report on Form 8-K.

 

ITEM 9A.        CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES


Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain “disclosure controls and procedures”, as such term is defined in Rule 13a – 15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our President and Treasurer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  We conducted an evaluation (the “Evaluation”), under the supervision and with the participation of the President and Treasurer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of disclosure controls and procedures (“Disclosure Controls”) as of the end of the period covered by this report pursuant to Rule 13a – 15b of the Exchange Act. 

Based on this Evaluation, our President and Treasurer concluded that because of weaknesses in our control environment, our Disclosure Controls were not effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

The management of First Hartford Corporation is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a – 15(f).  The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance to the Company’s management and Board of Directors regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

 

 

19

 


 

 

 

ITEM 9A.        CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES (concluded)

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting (concluded)

The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal controls over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention of overriding controls.  Accordingly, even effective internal control over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation.  Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Our management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of April 30, 2016.  In making this assessment, it used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework.  Based on our assessment, we believe that, as of April 30, 2016, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was not effective due to the existence of the material weaknesses identified by management and disclosed below:

Lack of Appropriate Independent Oversight.  There are no independent members of the Board of Directors who could provide an appropriate level of oversight, including challenging management’s accounting for and reporting of transactions.

Although the Company has identified a lack of appropriate independent oversight as a material weakness, an independent board of directors is not required by The OTC Markets (the electronic quotation system that trades the Company’s securities) and the Company does not intend to remediate this material weakness at this time.

The Company has engaged a consultant to assist the Company with certain complex, non-routine and unusual accounting issues and transactions when they are encountered.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During the years ended April 30, 2016 and 2015, there have been no changes in internal control over financial reporting that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

20

 


 

 

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and
Stockholders of First Hartford Corporation

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of First Hartford Corporation and Subsidiaries as of April 30, 2016 and 2015, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ deficiency and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended April 30, 2016.  First Hartford Corporation and Subsidiaries’ management is responsible for these financial statements.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  The company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting.  Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting.  Accordingly, we express no such opinion.  An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of First Hartford Corporation and Subsidiaries as of April 30, 2016 and 2015, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended April 30, 2016 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Mahoney Sabol & Company, LLP
Glastonbury, Connecticut
August 5, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21

 


 

 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015

ASSETS

 

2016

 

2015

Real estate and equipment:

 

 

 

Developed properties and property under construction (including $74,693,823 in 2016 and $72,621,441 in 2015 for VIEs)

$228,733,956

 

$211,318,882

Equipment and tenant improvements (including $2,425,896 in 2016 and $2,353,355 in 2015 for VIEs)

3,763,420

 

3,663,080

 

232,497,376

 

214,981,962

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization (including $13,827,009 in 2016 and $11,786,480 in 2015 for VIEs)

42,654,076

 

39,149,517

 

189,843,300

 

175,832,445

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property held for sale

15,422,312

 

342,175

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents (including $1,507,163 in 2016 and $1,067,182 in 2015 for VIEs)

5,982,506

 

9,698,341

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents – restricted (including $406,749 in 2016 and $418,110 in 2015 for VIEs)

2,070,963

 

948,721

 

 

 

 

Marketable securities (including $1,601,795 in 2016 and $2,029,684 in 2015 for VIEs)

1,601,795

 

3,964,398

 

 

 

 

Accounts and notes receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of

$769,961 in 2016 and $694,849 in 2015 (including $27,651 in 2016 and $687,468 in 2015 for VIE’s)

 

3,959,574

 

 

4,848,217

 

 

 

 

Other receivables

5,956,103

 

12,080,979

 

 

 

 

Deposits and escrow accounts (including $4,137,450 in 2016 and $5,126,568 in 2015 for VIEs)

9,937,588

 

9,671,401

 

 

 

 

Prepaid expenses (including $306,547 in 2016 and $275,419 in 2015 for VIEs)

1,438,759

 

1,184,170

 

 

 

 

Deferred expenses, net (including $184,722 in 2016 and $201,583 in 2015 for VIEs)

2,952,630

 

4,348,892

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment in affiliates

100

 

100

 

 

 

 

Due from related parties and affiliates

159,954

 

664,909

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax asset

2,130,776

 

2,802,007

 

 

 

 

Total assets

$241,456,360

 

$226,386,755

 

 

See accompanying notes.

22

 


 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015
(continued)

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIENCY)

 

 

2016

 

2015

Liabilities:

 

 

 

Mortgages and other notes payable:

 

 

 

Construction loans payable

$68,031,502

 

$55,553,207

Mortgages payable (including $56,580,047 in 2016 and $57,364,872 in 2015 for VIEs)

149,119,630

 

146,507,036

Notes payable (including $1,704,697 in 2016 and $1,704,697 in 2015 for VIEs)

1,744,697

 

1,744,697

Lines of credit

2,652,091

 

-0-

Less: Deferred debt issuance costs (including $1,151,746 in 2016 and $1,218,989 in 2015 for VIEs)

 

(1,837,083)

 

 

(1,656,088)

 

219,710,837

 

202,148,852

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable (including $961,884 in 2016 and $1,224,988 in 2015 for VIEs)

3,701,702

 

3,399,900

Other payables

8,843,015

 

13,588,295

Accrued liabilities (including $3,254,953 in 2016 and $3,178,121 in 2015 for VIEs)

6,124,930

 

5,852,198

Derivative liability

4,693,209

 

2,515,330

Deferred income (including $254,576 in 2016 and $241,216 in 2015 for VIEs)

677,694

 

546,313

Other liabilities

1,654,361

 

1,961,212

Due to related parties and affiliates (including $430,269 in 2016 and $415,018 in 2015 for VIEs)

602,121

 

486,951

Total liabilities

246,007,869

 

230,499,051

 

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ Equity (Deficiency):

 

 

 

First Hartford Corporation

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $1 par value; $.50 cumulative and convertible;

   authorized 4,000,000 shares; no shares outstanding

 

-0-

 

 

-0-

Common stock, $1 par value; authorized 6,000,000 shares:

   issued 3,298,609 in 2016 and 2015, outstanding 2,404,590

   and 2,409,840 in 2016 and 2015, respectively

3,298,609

 

3,298,609

 

 

 

 

Capital in excess of par

5,198,928

 

5,198,928

Accumulated deficit

(8,600,495)

 

(10,368,421)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

-0-

 

95,815

Treasury stock, at cost, 894,019 and 888,769 shares in 2016 and 2015, respectively

(4,984,416)

 

(4,970,082)

Total First Hartford Corporation

(5,087,374)

 

(6,745,151)

 

 

 

 

Noncontrolling interests

535,865

 

2,632,855

Total shareholders’ equity (deficiency)

(4,551,509)

 

(4,112,296)

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity (deficiency)

$241,456,360

 

$226,386,755

See accompanying notes.

23

 


 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
FOR THE YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015

 

 

 

2016

 

2015

Revenues:

 

 

 

Rental income

$30,416,900

 

$29,313,780

Service income

6,791,095

 

7,259,087

Sales of real estate

21,100,182

 

30,401,052

Other revenues

3,555,335

 

2,565,740

 

61,863,512

 

69,539,659

 

 

 

 

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

Rental expenses (includes depreciation and amortization of $5,519,043 and $5,808,153 in 2016
   and 2015, respectively)

20,728,432

 

20,433,893

Service expenses

5,791,175

 

4,564,553

Cost of real estate sales

17,673,023

 

22,372,594

Selling, general and administrative expenses

7,141,236

 

6,773,993

 

51,333,866

 

54,145,033

 

 

 

 

Income from operations

10,529,646

 

15,394,626

 

 

 

 

Non-operating income (expense):

 

 

 

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries

666,851

 

790,620

Other income

606,723

 

2,564,249

Loss on derivatives (non-cash)

(2,177,879)

 

(104,157)

Gain on forgiveness of debt

-0-

 

5,315,423

Gain on voluntary foreclosure

2,649,850

 

-0-

Loss on impairment

(330,700)

 

-0-

Interest expense

(9,368,956)

 

(10,226,337)

 

(7,954,111)

 

(1,660,202)

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

2,575,535

 

13,734,424

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

932,147

 

(2,210,181)

 

 

 

 

Consolidated net income

1,643,388

 

15,944,605

 

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

124,538

 

908,991

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to First Hartford Corporation

$1,767,926

 

$16,853,596

 

 

 

 

Net income per share – basic

$0.73

 

$6.99

 

 

 

 

Net income per share – diluted

$0.73

 

$6.99

 

 

 

 

Shares used in basic per share computation

2,407,526

 

2,411,480

Shares used in diluted per share computation

2,407,526

 

2,411,480

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

24

 


 

 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015

 

 

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

 

Consolidated net income

$1,643,388

 

$15,944,605

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:

 

 

 

Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities

(466,872)

 

269,975

 

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

1,176,516

 

16,214,580

 

 

 

 

Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests:

 

 

 

Net loss

124,538

 

908,991

Unrealized losses on marketable securities

371,057

 

208,473

 

 

 

 

 

495,595

 

1,117,464

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income attributable to First Hartford Corporation

$1,672,111

 

$17,332,044

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

See accompanying notes.

25

 


 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIENCY
FOR THE YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015

 

 

Common

Stock

 

Capital in

Excess of Par

 

Accumulated

Deficit

 

Accumulated Other

Comprehensive

(Loss) Income*

 

Treasury

Stock

 

Total First

Hartford Corporation

 

Noncontrolling

Interests

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, April 30, 2014

$3,298,609

 

$5,198,928

 

$(27,222,017)

 

$34,313

 

$(4,964,884)

 

$(23,655,051)

 

$4,213,521

 

$(19,441,530)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distribution

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

(880,148)

 

(880,148)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of treasury stock

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

(5,198)

 

(5,198)

 

-0-

 

(5,198)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

-0-

 

-0-

 

16,853,596

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

16,853,596

 

(908,991)

 

15,944,605

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gain on marketable securities

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

61,502

 

-0-

 

61,502

 

208,473

 

269,975

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, April 30, 2015

3,298,609

 

5,198,928

 

(10,368,421)

 

95,815

 

(4,970,082)

 

(6,745,151)

 

2,632,855

 

(4,112,296)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distribution

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

(1,601,395)

 

(1,601,395)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of treasury stock

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

(14,334)

 

(14,334)

 

-0-

 

(14,334)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

-0-

 

-0-

 

1,767,926

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

1,767,926

 

(124,538)

 

1,643,388

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized loss on marketable securities

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

(95,815)

 

-0-

 

(95,815)

 

(371,057)

 

(466,872)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, April 30, 2016

$3,298,609

 

$5,198,928

 

$(8,600,495)

 

$ -0-

 

$(4,984,416)

 

$(5,087,374)

 

$535,865

 

$(4,551,509)

 

*Consists exclusively of net unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale marketable securities.

 

See accompanying notes.

27

 


 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015


 

 

2016

 

2015

Operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated net income

$1,643,388

 

$15,944,605

Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income

 

 

 

to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries, net of

 

 

 

distributions of $360,000 in 2016 and $840,000 in 2015

(306,851)

 

49,380

Gain on sale of real estate

(3,427,159)

 

(8,028,458)

Gain on voluntary foreclosure

(2,649,850)

 

-0-

Loss on impairment

330,700

 

-0-

Forgiveness of debt

-0-

 

(5,315,423)

Depreciation of real estate and equipment

5,210,982

 

5,342,339

Amortization of deferred expenses

388,414

 

382,156

Deferred income taxes

671,231

 

(2,802,007)

Loss on derivatives

2,177,879

 

104,157

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

Accounts, notes and other receivables

6,998,755

 

4,180,336

Deposits and escrows

(459,504)

 

(5,764,162)

Prepaid expenses

(260,531)

 

(258,264)

Deferred expenses

821,944

 

(3,283,958)

Cash and cash equivalents – restricted

(1,122,242)

 

(179,490)

Accrued liabilities

272,732

 

384,491

Deferred income

169,398

 

(308,808)

Accounts and other payables

(4,443,478)

 

(174,447)

Net cash provided by operating activities

6,015,808

 

272,447

 

 

 

 

Investing activities:

 

 

 

Investments in marketable securities

(3,189,006)

 

(349,943)

Proceeds from sale of marketable securities

5,084,737

 

1,561,768

Purchases of equipment and tenant improvements

(193,541)

 

(23,788)

Proceeds from sales of real estate

21,100,182

 

30,401,052

Additions to developed properties and property under construction

(53,846,161)

 

(37,085,890)

Net cash (used in) investing activities

(31,043,789)

 

(5,496,801)

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

27

 


 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015
(continued)

 

 

2016

 

2015

Financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of treasury stock

$(14,334)

 

$(5,198)

Distributions to noncontrolling interests

(1,601,395)

 

(880,148)

Proceeds from:

 

 

 

Construction loans

24,343,442

 

21,824,319

Mortgages

11,752,500

 

8,766,598

Notes

-0-

 

40,000

Credit lines

3,140,928

 

-0-

Principal payments on:

 

 

 

Construction loans

(11,865,147)

 

(15,587,597)

Mortgages

(4,575,136)

 

(5,252,298)

Notes

-0-

 

-0-

Credit lines

(488,837)

 

-0-

Advances to related parties and affiliates, net

620,125

 

(483,866)

Net cash provided by financing activities

21,312,146

 

8,421,810

 

 

 

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

(3,715,835)

 

3,197,456

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

9,698,341

 

6,500,885

 

 

 

 

Cash and equivalents, end of year

$5,982,506

 

$9,698,341

 

 

 

 

Cash paid during the year for interest

$8,952,062

 

 

$9,855,616

 

Cash paid during the year for income taxes

$762,994

 

$158,577

 

 

 

 

 

Debt refinancing in 1st quarter:

 

 

 

New mortgage loan

$39,000,000

 

$-0-

Debt reduced

(39,723,828)

 

(-0-)

Net cash from refinancing in 1st quarter

$(723,828)

 

$-0-

 

 

 

 

Debt refinancing in 2nd quarter:

 

 

 

New mortgage loan

$-0-

 

$10,500,000

Debt reduced

(-0-)

 

(7,794,014)

Net cash from refinancing in 2nd quarter

$-0-

 

$2,705,986

 

 

 

 

Debt refinancing in 3rd quarter:

 

 

 

New mortgage loan

$-0-

 

$1,289,449

Debt reduced

(-0-)

 

(1,029,833)

Net cash from refinancing in 3rd quarter

$-0-

 

$259,616

 

Debt refinancing in 4th quarter:

 

 

 

New mortgage loan

$-0-

 

$17,564,600

Debt reduced

(-0-)

 

(13,088,604)

Net cash from refinancing in 4th quarter

$-0-

 

$4,475,996

 

See accompanying notes.

28

 


 

 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015

 

1.     

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:

Description of Business

First Hartford Corporation (the Company) was incorporated in Maine in 1909 and is engaged in the purchase, development, ownership, management and sale of real estate, all of which is considered the “Real Estate Operation” segment.  The Company has a second segment “Fee for Service” in which the Company is engaged as a preferred developer for CVS and Cumberland Farms (see Service Income to follow).

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and all other entities in which the Company has a controlling financial interest.  The latter includes those in which the Company has been determined to be the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity or otherwise meets certain criteria as a sole general partner or managing member in accordance with the consolidation guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification.  As such, included in the consolidated financial statements are the accounts of Rockland Place Apartments Limited Partnership and Clarendon Hill Somerville Limited Partnership.  The Company’s ownership percentage in these variable interest entity partnerships is nominal.  All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of 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.

Financial Statement Presentation

Because the Company is engaged in the development and sale of real estate at various stages of construction, the operating cycle may extend beyond one year.  Accordingly, following the usual practice of the real estate industry, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets are unclassified.

Statements of Cash Flows

For purposes of the statements of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Revenue Recognition

Rental Income – Rental income is recognized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the respective leases and consists of base rent and reimbursements for certain costs such as real estate taxes, utilities, insurance, common maintenance and other recoverable costs as provided in the lease agreements.  There are no contingent rents. If conditions of rent are not met, certain tenants may have rights to pay percentage rent not to exceed stated rent. Currently, there are a very limited number of tenants on percentage rent.

 

29

 


 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015

 

1.     

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued):

Revenue Recognition (concluded):

 

Service Income - The Company is party to Preferred Developer Agreements with CVS and Cumberland Farms.  Under these agreements, the Company’s fee for such services provided is recognized as earned when services, as outlined in the development agreements, are provided. Fees earned related to the development of pharmacy stores for CVS during the years ended April 30, 2016 and 2015 were $4,767,000 and $5,260,500, respectively. Fees earned for Cumberland Farms during the years ended April 30, 2016 and April 30, 2015 were $1,531,250 and $1,535,000, respectively.  These fees are included in service income in the consolidated statements of income. 

 

The Company also provides management and maintenance services to others.  Fees for such services provided are recognized in service income as earned when services are provided.

 

Sales of Real Estate – The Company recognizes sales of real estate as revenue upon the transfer of title and when substantially all performance requisites have been fulfilled.  For the years ended April 30, 2016 and 2015, the Company had sales of $21,100,182 and $30,401,052, respectively.  The cost of the property sold was $17,673,023 and $22,372,594 for 2016 and 2015, respectively.  None of the property sold was otherwise providing significant ongoing cash flows to the Company.

 

Construction Income - The Company primarily develops real estate for its own use.  However, revenues from long-term projects built for third parties are recognized on the percentage-of-completion method of accounting based on costs incurred to date in relation to total actual costs and estimated costs to complete.  Revisions in costs and profit estimates are reflected in operations during the accounting period in which the facts become known.  The Company provides for estimated losses on contracts in the year such losses become known.  There were no long-term construction projects or revenue for the years ended April 30, 2016 and 2015.

 

Other Receivables and Payables

 

Pursuant to the Company’s Preferred Developer Agreement with CVS, the Company is obligated to fund allowable costs incurred in connection with the identification and development of new retail pharmacy stores for which it receives direct reimbursements from CVS.  Payables for allowable costs incurred in connection with these activities but not yet funded were $7,478,581 and $12,484,551 as of April 30, 2016 and 2015 respectively, and have been included as “other payables” in the consolidated balance sheets.  Related reimbursements due from CVS were $5,956,103 and $12,080,979 as of April 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and have been included in “other receivables” in the consolidated balance sheets.

Cash and Cash Equivalents – Restricted

Cash and cash equivalents – restricted, consist of funds received from CVS in connection with the Company’s Preferred Developer Agreement.  Such amounts are to be used for the payment of costs incurred by the Company for the development and construction of CVS retail pharmacy stores. The restricted cash also includes Tenant Security Deposits held by the VIEs.

 

 

 

 

30

 


 

 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015

 

1.     

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued):

Developed Properties, Equipment and Tenant Improvements

Developed properties, equipment and tenant improvements are recorded at cost.

Depreciation and amortization are provided using the straight-line method based on the following estimated useful lives.

Description  

Years

   
Developed properties

15 – 40

Equipment

3 – 10

Tenant improvements 

Lesser of improvement life

 

or lease term

                                                           

Expenditures for major renewals and betterments, which extend the useful lives of developed properties, equipment and tenant improvements, are capitalized.  Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred.

 

Property Under Construction

 

The Company capitalizes costs directly associated with property under construction. Such costs include materials, construction labor and payroll cost, allocation of salaries and payroll cost from direct activities such as engineering, purchasing and legal and services provided by subcontractors. Material carrying costs for property taxes, insurance and interest are also capitalized during the period of active construction until construction is substantially complete.

 

The Company capitalizes labor cost for direct work by offsite staff on specific projects.  In the year ended April 30, 2016, $131,028 was capitalized.  In the year ended April 30, 2015, $189,223 was capitalized.   

 

Property Held for Sale

 

The Company classifies property as “held for sale” if management commits to sell the property and actively markets the property to potential buyers at fair market value, the property is available for immediate sale in its present condition subject only to terms that are usual and customary for sales of such property, and the sale is probable within one year.  

 

Deferred Expenses

 

Expenditures directly related to real estate under consideration for development are deferred and included in deferred expenses in the consolidated balance sheets.  These costs include option payments, attorney’s fees, architect and engineering fees, consultants, etc., but only to the extent they are from outside sources.  If development of the real estate commences, all of the accumulated costs are reclassified to property under construction in the consolidated balance sheets.  If the project is later abandoned, all of the accumulated costs are charged to expense.

 

31

 


 

 

 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015

 

1.     

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued):

Deferred Expenses (concluded):

 

Leasing costs incurred, primarily commissions, are capitalized for signed leases and included in deferred expenses in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.  Such costs are amortized using the straight-line method over the terms of the related leases.  The unamortized balance of such cost was $1,086,042 and $1,119,179 as of April 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. 

 

Amortization expense for the next five years is expected to be as follows:

Year Ending April 30,

2017

$205,198

2018

195,206

2019

152,902

2020

86,571

2021

71,785

Thereafter

374,380

Total

$1,086,042

                                               

Investment in Affiliated Entities

 

The Company has an investment in an affiliated limited liability entity Dover Parkade, LLC, (“Dover”).  The Company has a 50% interest in Dover which owns a shopping center in Dover Township, NJ.  The operating and financial policies of Dover are not controlled by the Company.  For years prior to May 1, 2009, the Company was committed to provide funding to this equity method investee.  The Company’s investment was recorded at cost and subsequently adjusted for its share of their net income and losses and distributions. To 2009, losses and distributions from Dover exceeded the Company’s investment.  Since then, distributions from Dover have been credited to income. The resulting carrying value of this investment of ($1,654,361) as of April 30, 2016 and ($1,961,212) as of April 30, 2015 is included in other liabilities.

 

On October 4, 2011, the Company entered into a partnership with a nonprofit entity which purchased a 99 year leasehold interest in a 208 unit subsidized housing project in Claymont, Delaware.  The Company is a non-controlling .01% limited partner in the entity.  The Company’s investment is carried at cost of $100. A subsidiary of the Company is the managing agent.

 

The Company recorded equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries of $666,851 and $790,620 for the years ended April 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, which includes significant distributions.

 

 

32

 


 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015

 

1.     

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued):

Fair Value Measurements

Certain assets and liabilities are presented at fair value on a recurring basis.  In addition, fair values are disclosed for certain other assets and liabilities.  In all cases, fair value is determined using valuation techniques based on a hierarchy of inputs.  A summary of the hierarchy follows:

·

Level 1 –

Quoted prices in active markets that are unadjusted and accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.

   

 

·

Level 2 –

Quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or financial instruments for which significant observable inputs are available, either directly or indirectly such as interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals; and

   

 

·

Level 3 –

Prices or valuations that require inputs that are unobservable.

 

In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy.  In such cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls has been determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.  The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.

The Company’s financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, marketable securities, accounts payable, accrued expenses and debt.  The fair values of accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses are estimated to approximate their carrying amounts because of their relative short-term nature.  In general, the carrying amount of variable rate debt approximates its fair value.  Further, the carrying amount of fixed rate debt approximates fair value debt since the interest rates on the debt approximates the Company’s current incremental borrowing rate.  Information about the fair values of marketable securities and derivative liabilities is presented below.

Level 1

Marketable Securities – Common and Preferred Stocks

The Company determines the appropriate classifications of its investments in marketable debt and equity securities at the time of purchase and re-evaluates such determinations at each balance sheet date.  As of April 30, 2016 and 2015, investments consist of equity securities, which are classified as available for sale.  Investments in marketable securities are stated at fair value.  Fair value for marketable securities is based on the last sale of the period obtained from recognized stock exchanges (i.e. Level 1).  Net unrealized holding gains and temporary losses on equity securities are included as a separate component of the deficiency. Net unrealized losses of $466,872 as of April 30, 2016 and gains of $269,975 as of April 30, 2015 are included in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income and noncontrolling interests. Gains or losses on securities sold are based on the specific identification method.

 

 

33

 


 

 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015

 

1.     

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued):

Fair Value Measurements (concluded):

Level 2

Derivative Instruments

The Company, through its 50% owned consolidated subsidiaries, has entered into two separate floating-to-fixed interest rate swap agreements with banks that expire in May 2025 and July 2031.  The Company has determined that these derivative instruments do not meet the requirements of hedge accounting and have therefore recorded the change in fair value of these derivative instruments through income in the consolidated statement of operations.  The loss on derivatives incurred during the years ended April 30, 2016 and 2015 totaled $2,177,879 and $104,157, respectively, and the Company has recorded a liability of $4,693,209 and $2,515,330 in the consolidated balance sheets, which represents the fair value of the interest rate swaps as of April 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Level 3

Debt

A VIE of the Company assumed a third mortgage note with MHFA on November 1, 2006, having a balance of $18,315,482. The note bears interest at the rate of 5.36% per annum. The VIE has the right to purchase the note upon maturity for the fair value of the note as determined by an appraiser. The mortgage loan was recorded at its estimated fair value on the date of acquisition. The fair value of the third mortgage note has been determined based on the fair value of the property on the acquisition date less the primary loan balances.  As of April 30, 2016, the carrying amount of the loan was $1,828,910.

 

There have been no significant transfers between Level 1 and Level 2.

 

Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount might not be recovered. 

  Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes are provided on the differences between the financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities and on net operating loss carryforwards using the enacted tax rates.

A valuation allowance would be provided for deferred income tax assets for which realization is not likely in the near term.

 

 

 

34

 


 

 

 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015

 

1.     

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued):

  Income Taxes (concluded):

As of April 30, 2016 and 2015, the Company has no significant uncertain income tax positions.  The Company recognizes interest and penalties on any uncertain income tax positions as a component of income tax expense. During the years ended April 30, 2016 and 2015, the Company did not recognize any interest or penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits.

The Company received a notice from the Internal Revenue Service dated November 29, 2012 that the Service has completed its examination of the Company’s Federal income tax return for the period ended April 30, 2010.  The examination resulted in no change in reported tax.  The determination does not include any partnerships in which the Company has an interest.  The statute of limitations is three years unless there is fraud or substantial understatement of income. Therefore, tax returns for fiscal years 2013-2016 are open to examination by Federal, local and state authorities.

 

Stock Compensation

Share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the calculated fair value of the award, and is recognized as an expense over the employee’s requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity grant).

Earnings (loss) per share (EPS)

Basic earnings (loss) per share amounts are determined using the weighted-average outstanding common shares for the year.  Diluted earnings (loss) per share amounts include the weighted-average outstanding common shares as well as potentially dilutive common stock options and warrants using the “treasury stock” method. There were no options outstanding at April 30, 2016 or April 30, 2015.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued a standard on revenue recognition providing a single, comprehensive revenue recognition model for all contracts with customers.  The revenue standard is based on the principle that revenue should be recognized to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration of which the entity expects to be entitled in exchanged for those goods or services. The standard is effective beginning January 1, 2017, with no early adoption permitted.  The amendments may be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect recognized as of the date of initial application.  We are currently evaluating the adoption method options and the impact of the new guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued a standard that amends the current consolidation guidance.  The amendments affect both the variable interest entity (VIE) and voting interest entity (VOE) consolidation models.  The changes are extensive and apply to all companies.  The need to assess an entity under the different consolidation model may change previous consolidation conclusions.  The standard is effective in fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2015 with early adoption permitted.  The Company has evaluated the impact of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements and concluded that it has no impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

 

35

 


 

 

 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015

 

1.     

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued):

New Accounting Pronouncements (concluded):

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, "Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs," which requires debt issuance costs to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the associated debt liability, and amortization of those costs should be reported as interest expense. This ASU is effective for financial statements issued for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and early adoption is permitted. The new guidance is applied on a retrospective basis for each period presented in the balance sheet. The Company has implemented this ASU and, accordingly, deferred debt issuance costs of $1,656,088 that were previously recorded in deferred expenses in the April 30, 2015 balance sheet are now recorded as a separate item called deferred debt issuance costs in the debt section of the April 30, 2015 balance sheet.

2. Consolidated Variable Interest Entities

 

The Company’s consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Rockland Place Apartments Limited Partnership (“Rockland”), Clarendon Hill Somerville Limited Partnership (“Clarendon”) and Trolley Barn Associates, LLC (“Trolley Barn”).  The Company has consolidated Rockland, Clarendon and Trolley Barn based on the express legal rights and obligations provided to it by the underlying partnership agreements and its control of their business activity. 

Connolly and Partners, LLC (75% owned by the Company) has a .01% ownership interest in and is a general partner of Rockland.  Connolly and Partners, LLC also owns 49% of Clarendon Hill Somerville, LLC which owns .01% of and is the general partner of Clarendon.  Trolley Barn is 50% owned by the Company.

Rockland owns and operates a rental housing project consisting of 204 units located in Rockland, Massachusetts.  Clarendon owns and operates a 501 unit apartment complex in Somerville, Massachusetts.  Both projects were renovated and are managed by the Company.  Renovation costs were financed with loans from Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency (MHFA), subsidies from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and limited partner capital contributions.

Each building of the projects qualifies for low-income housing credits pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 42 (“Section 42”), which regulates the use of the projects as to occupant eligibility and unit gross rent, among other requirements.  Each building of the projects must meet the provisions of these regulations during each of fifteen consecutive years in order to remain qualified to receive the credits.  In addition, Rockland and Clarendon have executed an Extended Low-Income Housing Agreement, which requires the utilization of each project pursuant to Section 42 through the compliance period, even if Rockland or Clarendon disposes of the project.

Each project’s low-income housing credits are contingent on its ability to maintain compliance with applicable sections of Section 42.  Failure to maintain compliance with occupant eligibility, and/or unit gross rent, or to correct noncompliance within a specified time period could result in recapture of previously taken tax credits plus interest.  In addition, such potential noncompliance may result in an adjustment to the capital contributed by the investment limited partner.

Rockland has an agreement with the Rockland Housing Authority whereby the Housing Authority has the option to purchase the property, after the 15-year tax credit compliant period on January 1, 2024, from Rockland.  The option price is based on a specified formula in the agreement.

 

 

 

36

 


 

 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015

 

2. Consolidated Variable Interest Entities (concluded):

 

Clarendon has an agreement with the 51% owner of Clarendon Hill Somerville, LLC, Clarendon Hill Towers Tenant Association, LLC (“CHTTA”), whereby CHTTA has an option to purchase the property after the 15 year tax credit compliance period from the partnership.  The option price is the greater of:

a.       Outstanding debt and taxes, or

b.      Fair market value of the property

The assets at April 30, 2016 and 2015 of the consolidated VIEs (Rockland and Clarendon) that can be used only to settle their obligations and the liabilities for which creditors (or beneficial interest holders) do not have recourse to the general credit of the Company are shown parenthetically in the line items of the consolidated balance sheets.

A summary of the assets and liabilities of Rockland and Clarendon included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as follows:

 

April 30,

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

 

Real estate and equipment, net

$65,735,521

 

$65,746,701

Other assets

8,195,007

 

9,822,867

Total assets

73,930,528

 

75,569,568

 

 

 

 

Intercompany profit elimination

(2,863,451)

 

(2,974,130)

Consolidated

$71,067,077

 

$72,595,438

 

 

 

 

Mortgages and other notes payable

$57,132,998

 

$57,850,580

Other liabilities

4,471,413

 

4,644,325

Total liabilities

$61,604,411

 

$62,494,905

 

Substantially all assets of Rockland and Clarendon are pledged as collateral for its debt. The recourse of the holders of the mortgages and other notes payable is limited to the assets of Rockland and Clarendon. Combined revenues for Rockland and Clarendon were $12,117,191 for the year ended April 30, 2016 and $11,121,786 for the year ended April 30, 2015. The combined net loss for Rockland and Clarendon was $390,055 for the year ended April 30, 2016 and $1,764,208 for the year ended April 30, 2015. Since the Company’s ownership interest in both entities is nominal, substantially all of such losses are allocated to the noncontrolling interests in the consolidated financial statements. 

Trolley Barn’ s only asset is approximately seven acres of land in Cranston, RI.

 

 

 

37

 


 

 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015

3.     

Construction Loans, Mortgages, Notes Payable, and Lines of Credit:

Information about the Company’s debt follows:

 

2016

 

2015

Construction loans and mortgages payable with interest rates ranging from

 

 

 

zero to 7.25% at April 30, 2016 and 2015 and maturities at various dates through 2056.

$217,151,132

 

$202,060,243

 

 

 

 

Notes payable with interest rates ranging from zero to 4.40% at

 

 

 

April 30, 2016 and 2015 and maturities ranging from 2025 to 2050.

1,744,697

 

1,744,697

 

 

 

 

Lines of credit with interest rates ranging from 3.0% to 3.4% at April 30, 2016

and maturities ranging from January 31, 2017 to June 30, 2017.

2,652,091

 

-0-

 

 

 

 

 

221,547,920

 

203,804,940

 

 

 

 

Less deferred debt issuance costs

(1,837,083)

 

(1,656,088)

 

 

 

 

 

$219,710,837

 

$202,148,852

 

As of April 30, 2016 and 2015, $420,906 and $57,624 of interest was capitalized.

Aggregate principal payments due on the above debt for each of the years succeeding April 30, 2016 are as follows:

Year Ending April 30,

 

 

2017

$30,092,123

2018

25,773,334

2019

3,138,909

2020

5,376,865

2021

2,296,650

Thereafter

154,870,039

 

$221,547,920

 

Substantially all real estate owned is pledged as collateral for construction and mortgage loans.

Refinancings:

West Springfield, MA – Refinance: On August 15, 2014, the Company refinanced the mortgage on its shopping center in West Springfield, MA in the amount of $10,500,000.  A prior mortgage with a remaining balance of $7,815,897 with an interest rate of 5.52% was paid from the proceeds.  The new mortgage has an interest rate of 4.60% with a 30 year amortization and duration of 10 years, calls for interest only for the first two years.  Transaction costs of $110,000 are being amortized over the life of the loan.

38

 


 

 

 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015

3.     

Construction Loans, Mortgages, Notes Payable, and Lines of Credit (concluded):

Rockland, MA – Refinance: On December 18, 2014, the Company refinanced two mortgages on Rockland in the amount of $1,289,449.  The two prior mortgages with a combined remaining balance of $1,029,833 and interest rates of 7.937% and 11.0% were paid from the proceeds.  The two new mortgages both have an interest rate of 3.0% and have maturity dates of December 1, 2016 and March 1, 2018.  Transaction costs of $108,111 are being amortized over the life of the loans.

Somerville, MA - Refinance: On February 23, 2015, the Company refinanced a mortgage on Clarendon in the amount of $17,564,600.  A prior mortgage with a remaining balance of $13,045,612 with an interest rate of 5.59% was paid from the proceeds.  The new mortgage has an interest rate of 3.75%, calls for monthly payments of $85,088, and has a maturity date of November 1, 2042.  Transaction costs of $312,413 are being amortized over the life of the loan.

Cranston, RI – Refinance: On May 28, 2015, the Company refinanced the mortgage on their shopping center in Cranston, RI in the amount of $33,500,000.  A prior mortgage with a remaining balance of $30,235,368 with an interest rate of 5.603% was paid from the proceeds.  The new mortgage has a variable interest rate of 30 day LIBOR plus 1.90% (2.34% at April 30, 2016) and calls for 119 monthly principal payments of $57,279 (along with interest) and one final lump-sum payment of $26,683,779 in May 2025.  Simultaneously, the Company entered into a floating-to-fixed interest rate swap agreement with the bank fixing the interest rate at 4.15%.

CP Associates – Refinance: On June 9, 2015, the Company refinanced a mortgage on their Career Education building in Cranston, RI in the amount of $5,500,000.  A prior mortgage with a remaining balance of $9,442,011 with an interest rate of 1.25% plus 30 day LIBOR (fixed at an effective interest rate of 6.11% through a floating-to-fixed interest rate swap agreement that was also retired) was paid from the proceeds and cash on-hand.  The new mortgage has a fixed interest rate of 3.00% through November 8, 2018, after which it adjusts to be a variable rate equal to 2.50% plus 30 day LIBOR.  Principal payments of $250,000 are due quarterly, with interest payable monthly.  The final payment is due on June 9, 2020, if not sooner paid (there is no prepayment penalty).

Lines of Credit:

On December 7, 2015, the Company entered into a $2,000,000 revolving demand loan agreement (“line of credit”) with a regional bank.  The interest rate on this loan is Wall Street Journal Prime, with a floor of 3.25%.  The loan is unsecured and there are no guarantors.  Interest is to be paid monthly; principal is to be repaid within twelve months or on demand, at the bank’s discretion.  There are no prepayment penalties.  This line of credit will primarily be used from time to time to fund initial investments related to development opportunities.  As of April 30, 2016, the Company had borrowings of $1,694,091 against this credit line.

The Company also obtained another credit line, in the amount of $2,760,000, as part of its purchase of land in Austin, TX as described in Note 17. This line of credit will primarily be used from time to time to fund initial investments related to development opportunities.  As of April 30, 2016, the Company had borrowings of $958,000 against this credit line.

4.      Public Infrastructure Reimbursements and Other Incentives:

In connection with the Company’s development and construction of a shopping center owned and operated by the Company in the City of Edinburg, TX, the Company entered into an Economic Development Agreement dated February 20, 2007 with the City of Edinburg and other local non-profit corporations.  In connection with the agreement, the Company received reimbursements of public infrastructure costs incurred by the Company in addition to other cash incentives.

39

 


 

 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015

4.      Public Infrastructure Reimbursements and Other Incentives (concluded):

Public Infrastructure Reimbursements

During the year ended April 30, 2010, the Company recognized a receivable from the City of Edinburg and reduction of the cost of the shopping center of $8,000,000 for the reimbursement of eligible public infrastructure costs incurred by the Company.  The reimbursement was payable solely by the City of Edinburg from proceeds of public infrastructure bonds and/or from proceeds from 50% of the City’s dedicated 1% sales tax generated from the shopping center.  The Company received the final $1,788,467 in reimbursements of eligible public infrastructure costs in the year ended April 30, 2015.  There is no remaining receivable at April 30, 2016 or April 30, 2015.

Other Cash Incentives

In connection with the agreements, the Company also received contributions from the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation (“EEDC”) of up to $4,000,000 as its .5% share of sales tax revenue generated from the shopping center.  Such nonreciprocal transfers of the Company’s share of sales taxes generated are recorded by the Company as other non-operating income when received.  The Company received $-0- and $2,391,850 from the EEDC for the years ended April 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  The Company does not expect any more income from this agreement.

5. Pledge of Stock in Subsidiaries:

     

For an extended period of time the Company was unable to obtain financing (secured or unsecured) without the personal guarantees of the Chairman of the Company.  To some degree, the Company has recently been able to obtain financing without a guarantee, but generally guarantees continue to be a necessary component to some construction loans.  In the past, the Company has provided pledges of the stock of its subsidiaries to the Chairman of the Company as protection from personal losses due to his guarantees.  These pledges are expected to stay in place until the guarantees are eliminated.

The Chairman of the Company has guaranteed the following outstanding amounts at April 30, 2016:

Mortgage loan – Edinburg, TX

$1,284,400

Mortgage loan – Manchester, CT (Company HQ)

$214,763

Land loan – Buda, TX

$1,505,000

 

 

In the event that the Chairman is called upon to pay on any of the above guarantees, the Company would become liable to him.

 

 

 

 

 

40

 


 

 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015

 

 

6.    Related Party Transactions:

Included in amounts due from related parties and affiliates is $157,288 and $157,288 at April 30, 2016 and 2015 relating to funds borrowed from Hartford Lubbock Limited Partnership by Green Manor Corp., which owns Journal Publishing and owns 98.01% of Hartford Lubbock Limited Partnership. These funds were borrowed some years ago (prior to consolidation).

Included in amounts due from related parties and affiliates is $-0- and $500,000 at April 30, 2016 and 2015 relating to funds provided to Cranston Brewery LLC by CP Associates, LLC, a 50% owned subsidiary of the Company.  Cranston Brewery LLC owns the other 50% of CP Associates, LLC. 

Included in amounts due to related parties and affiliates is $502,091 and $486,840 payable to Cranston Brewery LLC at April 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Cranston Brewery LLC is an affiliate but not owned by the Company. The amount due represents its funding of operations of Trolley Barn Associates (50%). The Company’s advances to Trolley Barn Associates were eliminated in consolidation.

 

Included in amounts due to related parties and affiliates is $80,000 and $-0- payable to New Folly Brook Commons, LLC at April 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. New Folly Brook Commons, LLC is owned by the Chairman of the Company. The amount due represents the remaining balance for condominiums sold by New Folly Brook Commons, LLC to a subsidiary of the Company.

 

Included in amounts due to related parties and affiliates is $20,000 and $-0- payable to the Chairman of the Company at April 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  The amount due represents a short-term loan to Hartford Lubbock Limited Partnership.

 

7. 

Stock Option Plan:

The Company does not have a stock option plan. 

During the years ended April 30, 2016 and 2015, no options were granted or exercised. 

8.     

Employee Retirement Plan:

The Company had adopted a SIMPLE IRA through December 31, 2015.  This plan was replaced by a 401(k) Plan on January 1, 2016. Under this plan, all employees over 18 years of age, working at least 30 hours weekly are eligible to participate.  Participants are eligible to defer earnings to the extent of IRS regulations.  The Company matches up to 4% of each participating employee’ s annual salary (was 3% under the SIMPLE IRA).  Pension expense was $132,643 and $81,650 for the years ended April 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

 

41

 


 

 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES  
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015

9.        

Gain on Forgiveness of Debt:

During the year ended April 30, 2015, a 100% owned subsidiary of the Company, Main Street NA Parkade, LLC, signed an agreement that the Mortgage loan secured by the property of Main Street NA Parkade located in North Adams would be reduced from $12,575,423 to $7,260,000.  As of the date hereof the Note reflects an outstanding principal balance of $7,260,000 due to a reduction of principal indebtedness through debt forgiveness by Lender resulting in a gain in the amount of $5,315,423 during the year ended April 30, 2015.  During the year ended April 30, 2014, the Company previously recorded an impairment loss of $4,027,573 on this property.  This impairment reflected the continuing overall economic decline in the geographical area and retail industry that thwarted the Company’s efforts to replace terminating tenants and generate sufficient cash flows to recover the carrying amount of the shopping center.

10.  Income Taxes:

The provision (benefit) for income taxes consists of:

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

 

Current Federal income taxes

$80,000

 

$201,000

Current State income taxes

180,915

 

390,826

Deferred Federal income taxes

551,708

 

(2,442,776)

Deferred State income taxes

119,524

 

(359,231)

 

$932,147

 

$(2,210,181)

 

 

 

 

The components of the net deferred income tax asset follow:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax effect of net operating loss carry-forwards

$1,426,572

 

$716,382

Basis in fixed assets

368,442

 

2,085,304

AMT credits

261,054

 

-0-

Other

74,708

 

321

Subtotal

2,130,776

 

2,802,007

Less: Valuation allowance

-0-

 

-0-

 

$2,130,776

 

$2,802,007

 

A reconciliation of the provision (benefit) for income taxes with amounts determined by applying the statutory U.S. Federal income tax rate before income taxes is as follows:

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

 

Federal statutory rate (34%)

$918,025

 

$4,978,761

State tax – net of Federal effect

401,915

 

390,826

Change in valuation allowance on deferred tax assets

-0-

 

(5,051,000)

Losses attributable to noncontrolling interests

(42,343)

 

(309,057)

True-up of deferred income taxes

(301,433)

 

(1,818,246)

Change in tax rates

-0-

 

(359,232)

Other

(44,017)

 

(42,233)

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

$932,147

 

$(2,210,181)

 

 

42

 


 

 

 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015

 

11.    

Leases:

The Company leases commercial and residential real estate to tenants under various operating leases expiring through 2038.

Minimum future rentals to be received on non-cancellable commercial real estate leases as of April 30, 2016 are as follows:

 

Year Ending April 30,

 

 

2017

$13,405,977

2018

12,400,195

2019

11,132,296

2020

8,357,404

2021

7,378,512

Thereafter

30,898,991

Total

$83,573,375


 

  

12.  Investments in Affiliates:

Summarized financial and other information for the Company’s investment in Dover Parkade LLC (Dover) follows:

Dover – New Jersey:

As of and for the years ended April 30,

Company ownership – 50%

 

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

 

Assets

$12,567,753

 

$13,048,902

Liabilities

19,756,185

 

20,131,036

Members’ deficit

(7,188,432)

 

(7,082,134)

Revenue

2,708,632

 

2,684,492

Operating expenses

1,281,968

 

1,308,420

Non-operating expense, net

(812,962)

 

(1,617,679)

Net income (loss)

613,702

 

(241,607)

 

Dover’s major tenant is Stop & Shop, which provided 53% and 55% of the total revenue in the years ended April 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, under a lease that expires on June 30, 2026.

13.    

Concentrations of Credit Risk:

The Company’s financial instruments that are subject to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, and accounts, notes and other receivables.

The Company places its cash deposits, including investments in certificates of deposit, with various financial institutions.  Bank deposits may be in excess of current Federal depository insurance limits.

The Company has one customer which accounts for more than 10% of the Company’s revenue in both 2016 and 2015.

 

 

43

 


 

 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015

 

13.    

Concentrations of Credit Risk (concluded):

The Company assesses the financial strength of its tenants prior to executing leases and typically requires a security deposit and prepayment of rent.  The Company establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts receivable based upon factors surrounding the credit risk of specific tenants, historical trends and other information.

The Company assesses the financial strength of CVS prior to incurring costs in connection with the development of CVS pharmacy stores.  Based on historical experience and other information, no allowance for doubtful accounts related to these receivables is considered necessary by management as of April 30, 2016 or 2015.

14.     Segment Information:

The factors used by the Company to identify reportable segments include differences in products and services and segregated operations within the Company. The first segment, “Real Estate Operations” participates in the purchase, development, management, ownership and the sale of real estate.  Within its second segment, “Fee for Service”, the Company provides preferred developer services to CVS and Cumberland Farms Inc. in certain geographic areas. Summary financial information for the two reportable segments is as follows:

 

2016

 

2015

Revenues:

 

 

 

Real Estate Operations

$55,565,262

 

$62,728,465

Fee for Service

6,298,250

 

6,811,194

Total

$61,863,512

 

$69,539,659

 

 

 

 

Operating Cost and Expense:

 

 

 

Real Estate Operations

$38,498,837

 

$42,925,260

Fee for Service

5,695,793

 

4,445,780

Administrative Expenses

7,141,236

 

6,773,993

Total

$51,333,866

 

$54,145,033

 

 

 

 

 

All costs after administrative expenses are cost of the real estate operation.

 

The only assets in the balance sheet belonging to the Fee for Service segment is restricted cash of $1,664,214 in 2016 and $530,611 in 2015 and receivables of $5,956,103 in 2016 and $12,080,979 in 2015.

 

15.  Deferred Compensation Plan:

 

On December 1, 2014, the Company adopted a Deferred Bonus Plan that awarded six key employees an annual payment of $21,667 each for three years.  All of the six employees have satisfied the vesting requirement and received the first payment on August 15, 2015.  The total expense recorded for this bonus was $390,000.

 

 

44

 


 

 

 

 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015

 

16. 

Gain on Voluntary Foreclosure:

Putnam, CT – Transfer to Lender: On November 1, 2014, a payment was due for the mortgage of the shopping center in Putnam, CT in the amount of approximately $4,700,000.  The rentable space of the shopping center is 57,529 square feet, 46% of which was leased to one store.  That store informed the Company that they were not renewing their lease, which expired on January 31, 2015, and, as a result, the Company found it impossible to refinance the mortgage without finding a replacement tenant.  Therefore, on June 5, 2015, the Company agreed to transfer title of the property to the lender.  The Company recognized a gain since the mortgage was non-recourse and was in excess of the book value.  Pre-tax income for this shopping center was $44,645 and $53,003 for the years ended April 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

17.  Purchases of Real Estate:

New Orleans, LA – Land Purchase: On May 29, 2015, the Company purchased a parcel of land in New Orleans, LA, for $7,999,901 including closing costs.  The Company subdivided this lot and is overseeing construction of a shopping plaza with the goal of either leasing or selling these parcels shortly after construction is completed.  This purchase was financed with advances from new promissory notes of $4,383,502 and working capital of $3,616,399.  Key terms of the construction loans, which in total amount to $13,210,000, are as follows:

 

Note #1

Note #2

Note Amount:

$7,436,645

$5,773,355

 

Initial Term Maturity Date:

April 28, 2016 (extended to November 28, 2016)

 

May 28, 2017

 

Interest Rate:

Lesser of a) thirty day LIBOR plus applicable margin (3.50% prior to subdivision of land, 2.50% after) or b) highest lawful rate, as defined.

Lesser of a) thirty day LIBOR plus applicable margin (3.50% prior to subdivision of land, 2.75% after) or b) highest lawful rate, as defined.

 

Renewal Option:

Initial Term Maturity Date shall be renewed and extended at borrower’s option to November 28, 2016 if agreed-upon conditions are met.

Initial Term Maturity Date shall be renewed and extended at borrower’s option to May 28, 2018 and again until May 28, 2019 if agreed-upon conditions are met.

 

 

 

 

 

45

 


 

 

 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015

 

17.  Purchases of Real Estate (continued):

 

Austin, TX – Land Purchases: On July 30, 2015, the Company purchased a parcel of land in Austin, TX for $1,874,309 including closing costs.  The Company is overseeing construction of a retail store with the goal of selling the property shortly after construction is completed.  This purchase was financed with a loan of $1,312,500 and working capital of $561,809.  On March 23, 2016, the Company purchased a parcel of land adjacent to this property for $3,187,997 and is overseeing construction of another retail store with the goal of selling the property shortly after construction is completed.  Simultaneously, loan proceeds from two separate loans of $4,558,000 were obtained on both properties to finance the new acquisition and pay off the existing loan of $1,312,500 on the adjacent property.  Key terms of the loans are as follows:

 

 

Term Loan

Line of Credit Loan

 

Loan Amount:

$3,600,000

$958,000

 

Total LOC:

N/A

$2,760,000

 

Maturity Date:

September 23, 2017

March 23, 2017

 

Interest Rate:

2.50% plus One Month ICE LIBOR rate up to maturity date, 12.0% thereafter

3.00% plus One Month ICE LIBOR rate up to maturity date, 12.0% thereafter

 

Interest Payable:

Interest only payable monthly.

Interest only payable monthly.

 

Vernon, NJ – Land Purchase: On September 8, 2015, the Company purchased a parcel of land in Vernon, NJ, for $4,175,985 including closing costs.  This purchase was financed with an advance from a new construction loan of $2,959,018 and working capital of $1,216,967.  The Company oversaw construction of a retail store and sold the property on February 3, 2016.

Conroe, TX – Land Purchase: On December 23, 2015, the Company purchased a parcel of land in Conroe, TX, for $3,125,470 including closing costs.  The Company is overseeing construction of a retail store with the goal of selling the property shortly after construction is completed.  This purchase was financed with an advance from a new construction loan of $2,253,880, advances from a line of credit (see Note 3) of $694,081, and working capital of $177,509.  Key terms of the construction loan are as follows:

 

Maximum Loan Amount:

$5,650,000

Maturity Date:

December 24, 2019

Interest Rate:

One Month ICE LIBOR rate, as defined, plus a margin of 2.50% per annum.

Payments:

Interest only payable monthly through February 5, 2017.  Thereafter, interest plus principal based on a 25-year amortization at an assumed interest rate payable monthly.

 

Olathe, KS – Property Purchase: On April 20, 2016, the Company purchased a property with a single retail tenant in Olathe, KS for $6,712,698 including closing costs.  The Company plans to resell it by the end of the calendar year.  This purchase was financed with an advance from a new loan of $5,335,000, advances from the Company’s line of credit of $500,000 (see Note 3), and working capital of $877,698. Key terms of the loan are as follows:   

 

Loan Amount:

$5,335,000

Maturity Date:

January 20, 2017

Interest Rate:

LIBOR, as defined, plus 2.20%.

Payments:

Interest only payable monthly.

 

Interest Rate:                     

46

 


 

 

 

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2016 AND 2015

 

17.  Purchases of Real Estate (continued):

Buda, TX Land Purchases: On April 29, 2016, the Company purchased a parcel of land in Buda, TX adjacent to another parcel owned by the Company for $686,167 including closing costs.  In addition, subsequent to April 30, 2016, on May 13, 2016, the Company purchased three additional parcels of land adjacent to these parcels for $1,051,034 including closing costs. These purchases were financed by a new land loan of $1,505,000 with the balance funded by working capital.  Key terms of the loan are as follows:

 

Loan Amount:    

$1,505,000

Maturity Date:    

September 24, 2017

Interest Rate:     

The lower of a) the Prime Rate per Wall Street Journal plus 1.00% or b) 4.25%.

Payments:     

Interest only payable monthly.  At maturity, outstanding principal plus any accrued interest will be payable.

Guarantors:     

Both the Company (Corporate) and Chairman of the Company (Individual).

 

 

 

 

18.  Subsequent Events:

The Company has evaluated for subsequent events through August 5, 2016, the date the financial statements were issued.

On June 15, 2016, Rockland Place Apartments LP repaid its bridge mortgage note with a principal balance of $591,174, its Fourth Mortgage Note with a principal balance of $500,000, and its Flexible Subsidy Capital Improvement Loan with a principal balance of $4,268,539 in full via a refinancing that will enable it to use the proceeds to redevelop the complex.

On June 3, 2016, Rockland Place Apartments LP executed a First Mortgage Note payable with the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency in the amount of $14,300,000.  The proceeds of the note were used to retire the debt noted above, fund certain escrows, and pay closing costs.  Funds will also be used to redevelop the complex.  The note has a 40-year term and requires monthly payments of principal and interest of $54,628.  The interest rate is fixed at 3.41%. The note is nonrecourse.

On June 29, 2016, the Company sold a property in Stanhope, NJ for $10,000,050 that had a cost basis of approximately $8,105,000.  A construction loan with a balance of $6,329,667 was paid off with the proceeds.

On June 30, 2016, the Company sold a portion of its property in Edinburg, TX (i.e., Texas Roadhouse) for $2,210,000 that had a cost basis of approximately $1,277,550.  A mortgage loan with a balance of $1,279,136 was paid off with the proceeds.

 

 

 

47

 


 

 

PART III

ITEM 10.         DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

(a)         Identification of Directors

   

The directors of First Hartford Corporation, their ages and the periods during which each has served as such are as follows:

            Name        

Age

Period of Service

       Neil H. Ellis   

88

1966 – Present

     David B. Harding  

71

1998 – Present

      Jeff Carlson  

61

2015 – Present

       John Toic   

44

2015 – Present

   William Connolly   

67

2015 – Present

There are no arrangements or understandings between any of the foregoing and any other person pursuant to which such person was or is to be selected director or officer.

The directors of the Company are each elected to one-year terms.  

Note that Stuart I. Greenwald was a director from 1980 through June 10, 2015, the date of his passing.  Mr. Greenwald was also the Treasurer and Secretary of the Company up through that date.

(b)          Identification of Executive Officers

The names and ages of all executive officers of First Hartford Corporation, their positions and the periods during which each has served as such are as follows:

Name

Age

Position

Period of Service

 

 

 

 

John Toic

 

44

President

2015 – Present

Neil H. Ellis

 

88

Chairman of the Board

1966 – Present

Jeff Carlson

61

Secretary

2015 - Present

Eric J. Harrington

46

Treasurer

2015 - Present

David B. Harding

71

Vice President

1998 – Present

 

There are no arrangements or understandings between any of the foregoing and any other person pursuant to which such person was or is to be selected director or officer.

Note that Stuart I. Greenwald was Treasurer / Secretary from 1980 through June 10, 2015, the date of his passing.  Mr. Carlson and Mr. Harrington were appointed to be the Secretary and Treasurer, respectively, on June 15, 2015. 

48

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

ITEM 10.         DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (continued):

(c)          Identification of Certain Significant Employees

 

Name

Age

Position

Period of Service

N/A

 

 

 

    

(d)   Family Relationships

There are no family relationships among any directors or executive officers.

  (e)

Business Experience

  1.

Following is a brief description of the background of each director or executive officer:

Mr. Ellis served as President and as a director of the Company since 1966 until 2015, at which time he resigned as President and continued as Chairman of the Board.  He is also President and Director of Green Manor Corporation, a holding company (which includes Journal Publishing Inc., Lubbock Parkade Inc. and MIP 16A Corp.) owned by him and his wife.

           

Mr. Harrington was appointed the role of Treasurer on June 15, 2015.  Mr. Harrington was hired in January 2015 as the Manager of Accounting; he now serves as the Treasurer and as the principal financial officer of the Company.  Mr. Harrington has been a CPA since 1995; he holds a B.S. in Business Administration, 1991, from Western New England College.  His recent prior business experience has been:  Director of Accounting at FM Facility Maintenance from 2012 to January, 2015; United Technologies from 2005 through 2012 in various manager of accounting and controller positions at several of its subsidiaries; Gerber Scientific 1995 through 2005 in various manager of accounting and controller positions; and at Price Waterhouse from 1991 through 1995 as an accountant.

Mr. Harding has served as Vice President and as a director of the Company since 1998.  Additionally, he was the President or Vice President of Richmond Realty, LLC (“Richmond”) a real estate management company owned by him and his wife from January 1996 until it was dissolved.  Prior to 1998, he had worked for the Company in the finance area for three years.  In the past, Richmond had managed certain properties of the Company.

 

Mr. Toic was elected President of the Company in January 2015.  Previously, he served as Vice President of Municipal Affairs and CVS Development at the Company since 2005.  He was elected as a director in 2015. 

 

Mr. Carlson was appointed to be Secretary of the Company on June 15, 2015.  Mr. Carlson has been serving as General Counsel since 2000, and has been counsel to the Company since 1981; he was admitted to the practice law in the State of Connecticut in 1981.  Mr. Carlson holds a B.A. from Fairfield University, and a law degree from Southwestern University School of Law.

 

Mr. Connolly has been the Managing Partner of Connolly and Partners, LLC since 2005.  He has been involved in the management development and redevelopment of real estate since 1972.  He was elected as a director in 2015.

 

  2. Directorships:

No directors hold any other directorships, except directorships in subsidiaries of the Company, and Mr. Ellis for the aforementioned Green Manor Corporation.

49

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 10.         DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (concluded):

  (f) Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings:

No director or executive officer has been involved in any material legal proceedings required to be disclosed under item 401(f) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the Commission.

 

(g)           Promoter and Control Persons:

     

       Not applicable.

 

(h)         Audit Committee Financial Expert:

The Company does not have an audit committee and does not have a committee charter because it does not have any independent members on its Board of Directors.  Instead, its entire Board of Directors attempts to fulfill the functions of an audit committee. From time to time, the Board of Directors will seek guidance from outside independent consultants. Mr. Ellis, Mr. Harding, Mr. Toic, and Mr. Carlson are members of the Company’s management and Mr. Connolly is an employee of the Company. In addition, Mr. Ellis has various business relationships with the Company described under “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions”, in Item 13.  Thus, none of the members of the Board of Directors meet the criteria for independence established by the New York Stock Exchange or other self-regulating stock exchanges.  The Company does not otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for listing on the NYSE or with such other self-regulating stock exchanges.

 

(i)           Section 16 (a) of the Exchange Act - Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company’s directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities, to file with the Commission initial reports of beneficial ownership on Form 3 and reports of changes in beneficial ownership of the Company’s equity securities on Forms 4 and 5.  The rules promulgated by the Commission under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act require those persons to furnish the Company with copies of all reports filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 16(a).  Based solely upon a review of such forms actually furnished to the Company, and written representations of certain of the Company’s directors and executive officers that no forms were required to be filed, the Company believes that during fiscal year 2016, all directors, executive officers and 10% shareholders of the Company have not had to file any reports under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

(j)           Code of Ethics

The Company’s Code of Ethics, applicable to the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, was included in the second quarter 10-Q filed on December 19, 2005.  The Company will provide any person, without charge, a copy of any portion of the Code of Ethics upon request directed to the Treasurer of the Company.

 

 

 

50

 


 

 

 

 

ITEM 11.         EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

(a)   Summary Compensation Table

Name& Principal Position

Year

Salary

Bonus

Stock
Awards

Option
Awards

Non-Equity Incentive Plan
Compensation

Non-qualified Deferred
Compensation Earnings

All
Other Compensation

Total

Neil H. Ellis, Chairman, (President prior to January 26, 2015)

2016

$400,000

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$400,000

 

2015

$400,875

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$400,875

Stuart I. Greenwald1 FORMER: Director, Treasurer and Secretary (through June 10, 2015)

2016

$118,461

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

Simple IRA / 401(k)

 

$1,218

$119,679

 

2015

$176,000

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$65,000

$5,280

$246,280

Eric Harrington, Treasurer (effective June 15, 2015)

2016

$134,616

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

Simple IRA / 401(k)

 

$4,457

$139,073

 

2015

$32,308

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$485

$32,793

 

David B. Harding, Vice President

2016

$150,010

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

Simple IRA / 401(k)

 

$5,681

$155,691

 

2015

$201,960

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$65,000

$6,059

$273,019

John Toic, President (effective January 26, 2015)

2016

$201,455

$299,166

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

Simple IRA / 401(k)

 

$11,090

$511,711

 

2015

$105,019

$242,500

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$65,000

$3,150

$415,669

 

 

Jeff Carlson, General Counsel & Secretary (effective June 15, 2015)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016

$175,000

$25,000

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

Simple IRA / 401(k)

 

$7,682

$207,682

 

2015

$157,218

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$65,000

$4,717

$226,935

 

 

William Connolly, Managing Director of Connolly and Partners, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016

$149,988

$72,243

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

Simple IRA / 401(k)

 

$4,979

$227,210

 

2015

$149,988

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$-0-

$4,500

$154,488

 

51

 


 

 

ITEM 11.         EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (continued):

Footnote 1: Salary includes compensation totaling $98,154 paid to the estate of Stuart I. Greenwald from June 11, 2015 through December 31, 2015 as a post-employment Board-approved death benefit for Mr. Greenwald’s loyalty and long-term service to the Company and $20,307 paid as salary directly to Mr. Greenwald up until his passing on June 10, 2015.

 

Directors Compensation

 

Directors have not received any compensation for serving on the Board since each of the directors is either an officer or employee of the Company and, therefore, not independent.

 (b)      Stock Options

The Company does not have a stock option plan.  All options were unexercised on February 11, 2014 and expired unused.

(c)        No Compensation Committee

The Company does not have a compensation committee and does not have a committee charter because it does not have independent members on its board of directors.  Instead its entire Board of Directors attempts to fulfill the functions of a compensation committee.  From time to time, the Board of Directors may seek guidance from outside independent consultants.  Mr. Ellis, Mr. Harding, Mr. Toic, and Mr. Carlson are members of the Company’s management and Mr. Connolly is an employee of the Company.  In addition, Mr. Ellis has various business relationships with the Company described under “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions”, in Item 13. 

 

 (d)     Benefits and Perquisites

Medical

All employees, including executive officers, working over 30 hours a week are entitled to Company-paid medical insurance of which the employee pays, family $73 a week, employee and spouse $58 a week, and employee alone $27 a week. 

Mr. Ellis has opted out of the Company plan and is covered by Medicare.

Disability

Short-Term: Non-management employees receive the first week week’s pay at 100% of their salary or rate of pay when out on short term disability. The following weeks (based on years of service - one week per year of service) are paid at 70% of salary or rate of pay.   The following weeks, if necessary, are paid at 60% of salary or rate of pay.  The maximum benefit will not exceed $6,000 a month and ends at the 180th day of disability, at which time the long-term disability takes effect.

Management employees, as defined by the Company and including executive officers, receive 100% of their pay for the first 180 days of disability.

 

 

52

 


 

 

 

ITEM 11.         EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (concluded):

Long-Term: After 180 days of disability, employees receive 60% of their regular straight-time salary for absences due to long-term illness or injury until they reach eligibility for Social Security or death.   Management employees, as defined by the Company and including executive officers, will have the difference between the long-term disability benefits and normal full salary paid for by the Company as determined by the Board of Directors.

Life Insurance

Each employee of First Hartford, including each executive officer, is eligible to receive life insurance until such employee reaches the age of 70 that, in the event of such employee’s death, will provide proceeds of two times the annual salary of each employee.  At the age of 70, the amount of life insurance proceeds each employee is entitled to receive upon his death is equal to one times such employee’s annual salary.

(e)     Automobiles

To assist management of the Company in carrying out its responsibilities and to improve job performance, the Company provides its executive officers with automobiles.  The Company cannot specifically or precisely ascertain the amount of personal benefit, if any, derived by those officers from such automobiles.  However, after reasonable inquiry, the Company has concluded that the amount of any such benefit is immaterial and does not in any event exceed $10,000 to any officer.  No provision had therefore been made for any such benefit.  All of the above mentioned officers are provided automobiles.

(f)     Deferred Compensation Plan

On December 1, 2014, the Company adopted a Deferred Bonus Plan that awarded six employees an annual payment of $21,667 each for three years.  Included in these six employees are Mr. Greenwald, Mr. Harding, Mr. Toic, and Mr. Carlson.  All of the six employees satisfied the vesting requirement and received the first payment on August 15, 2015.  The total expense recorded for this bonus was $390,000, of which $260,000 related to the four named executives.

On March 6, 2014, the Company adopted a Deferred Bonus Plan for Mr. Harding agreeing to pay him 7% of the amount of any remaining Operating Reserve held at Clarendon, as defined, payable to the Company upon approved distribution of the Operating Reserve upon termination of the Partnership Agreement.  There has been no expense recognized as of April 30, 2016 as the event needed to trigger this payment has not yet occurred.

 (g)     Bonuses

Prior to December 31, 2015, Mr. Toic’s base salary was $105,019.  In addition, Mr. Toic had an agreement to receive a $7,500 bonus on each CVS / Cumberland Farms fee for service closing, with a minimum of $175,000 for any calendar year.  During fiscal years 2016 and 2015, Mr. Toic received bonuses of $174,167 and $217,500, respectively, under this agreement.  In addition, in fiscal years 2016 and 2015, Mr. Toic received bonuses totaling $125,000 and $25,000, respectively, for his work on the sale of several properties.  Beginning on January 1, 2016, Mr. Toic will no longer receive bonuses prospectively (he may still be paid for certain identified property sales that have not yet occurred as of that date) and his base salary has been increased to $400,000.

In fiscal year 2016, Mr. Carlson received a $25,000 bonus for his work on the sale of several properties.

Mr. Connolly receives commissions equal to 8% of gross management fees paid by the three residential properties.  In fiscal years 2016 and 2015, he received $72,243 and $0, respectively.

 

53

 


 

 

ITEM 12.        SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

(a)                Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners:

The following table sets forth information as of fifteen days prior to the date hereof, based upon beneficial owner reported filings with the SEC, with respect to all persons known to the Company to be beneficial owners of more than 5% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock:

Title

of

Class

Name & Address of

Beneficial Owner of

Identity of Group

Amount and Nature
of Beneficial
Ownerships

 

Percent

Of Class

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

Neil H. Ellis

1,355,326 (1)

56.4%

 

43 Butternut Road

 

 

 

Manchester, CT 06040

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

John Filippelli

320,258 (2)

13.3%

 

23 Lakeview Drive

 

 

 

Pawling, NY 12564

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

Joel Lehrer

200,000

8.3%

 

231 Atlantic Street, Unit 58

 

 

 

Keyport, NJ 07735

 

 

 

 

 

 

  (1)

Includes 417,183 shares owned by a corporation, which is wholly owned by Mr. & Mrs. Ellis; 18,593 shares owned beneficially and of record by Mr. Ellis’ wife; 53,412 shares held as Trustee for his daughters in which he disclaims beneficial ownership.  Excludes 14,250 shares held as trustee for the Jonathan G. Ellis Leukemia Foundation (a charitable foundation).

   

 

  (2) 

Included in Mr. Filippelli’s shares are 128,573 shares over which he has Shared Dispositive Power with Mr. Filippelli’s wife and 3,652 shares owned by Mr. Filippelli’s wife.

 

(b)               Security Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers:

The following sets forth information as of the date hereof with respect to all shares beneficially owned by all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group:

Title of Class

Name & Address of Beneficial Owner of

Identity of Group

Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownerships

Percent

Of Class

 

 

 

 

Common

Neil H. Ellis

1,355,326

56.4%

 

43 Butternut Road

 

 

 

Manchester, CT 06040

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common

All Directors and Officers

1,355,426

56.4%

 

As a Group (6 in number)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

54

 


 

 

 

 

ITEM 12.          SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND
RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS (concluded):

(c)                Changes in Control

The Company is aware of no arrangements, which may result at a subsequent date in change in control of the Company.

(d)               Equity Compensation Plan Information

None.

ITEM 13.         CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

                       

(a)                  Parkade Center Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of First Hartford Corporation) has a 1.99% Interest in Hartford Lubbock Parkade LP, a partnership, which owns a shopping center in Lubbock, TX.  Lubbock Parkade Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Journal Publishing Inc. owns 98.01% of the Partnership.  Journal Publishing Inc. is owned by Neil H. Ellis, the Chairman of First Hartford Corporation, and his wife Elizabeth, through their ownership of Green Manor Inc. which owns Journal Publishing Inc. First Hartford Realty Corporation manages the Property and receives a 4% management fee, which is the industry norm for a shopping center.

For the years ended April 30, 2016 and 2015, Parkade Center Inc. and First Hartford Realty Corporation were paid the following:

 

2016 2015

Management Fee (at 4%) 

$63,990  $66,473

For the years ended April 30, 2016 and 2015, Parkade Center Inc. received distributions of $7,264 and $5,057, respectively. For the years ended April 30, 2016 and 2015, Lubbock Parkade Inc. received distributions of $312,000 and $343,048, respectively, from Hartford Lubbock LP.

(b)                  Certain Business Relationships:

Refer to (a) above.

(c)                   Indebtedness of Management:

There is none.

(d)                  Transactions with Promoters:

There is none.

(e)                   Director Independence:

All of the Directors of the Company are executives and/or employees of the Company and by definition are not independent.  The Company does not have any directors that meet the independence standards for audit, nominating or compensation committee.

 

The Company’s securities are listed on The OTC Markets (the electronic quotation system that trades the Company’s securities) and such exchanges and systems do not require that a majority of the Board of Directors be independent.

 

 

 

55

 


 

 

 

ITEM 14.         PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

On December 5, 2013, the Company engaged Mahoney Sabol & Company, LLP to audit 2013 and 2012.  This agreement has been renewed for 2014-2016.

 

The 2016 and 2015 amounts in the table below represent expenses for Mahoney Sabol & Company, LLP.                                              

 

2016

2015

Audit Fees (1)

$115,500

$115,500

Audit Related Fees

-0-

-0-

Tax Fees

-0-

-0-

All Other Fees (2)

-0-

-0-

 

 

 


 

(1)   Includes fees for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K, and Form 10-Q’s filed Quarterly.

(2)   Includes fees for research.

Due to the fact that the Company does not have a formal audit committee, the Board of Directors has:

(a)          Reviewed and discussed the Company’s audited financial statements with the independent auditors;

(b)         Discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by professional standards;

(c)               Reviewed and discussed the independence of the auditors and received a written disclosure from the audit firm confirming its independence. 

Based on the review and discussions described above, the Board of Directors approved the inclusion of the Company’s audited financial statements in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2016.

Neil H. Ellis

David B. Harding

William Connolly

John Toic

Jeff Carlson

 

 

56

 


 

 

PART IV

 

ITEM 15.         EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

     

Pages

 

       

(a) 

(1)

The following items are included in Part II, Item 8:

 
   

 

 
   

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm -

21

   

 

 
   

Financial Statements:

 
   

 

 
   

Consolidated Balance Sheets – April 30, 2016 and 2015

22 - 23

   

 

 
   

Consolidated Statements of Income for the Years

 
   

    Ended April 30, 2016 and 2015

24

   

 

 
   

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years

 
   

     Ended April, 30, 2016 and 2015  

25
   

 

 

   

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Deficiency

 
   

      for the Years Ended April 30, 2016 and 2015 

26

   

 

 
   

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years

 
   

     Ended April 30, 2016 and 2015 

27 - 28

   

 

 
   

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

29 - 47

   

                                                                                   

 
 

(2)

Financial statement schedules

 
   

All financial statement schedules are omitted because they are not required.

 

(b)  

Exhibits

              

 
   

 

 
 

(3)

Articles of Incorporation and by-laws.

 
       
   

Exhibits (3) to Form-K for the Fiscal Year ended April 30, 1984, Pages 1-18 of

 
   

Exhibits Binders, incorporated by reference to Securities File Number 0-8862.

 

 

 

57

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

ITEM 15.         EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES (continued):

 

(b) 

Exhibits (continued):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(12)

Subsidiaries of the Registrant.

 

 

 

 

Name of Subsidiary     

State in which Incorporated

 

 

 

First Hartford Realty Corporation           

Delaware

 

 

 

Lead Tech, Inc.         

Connecticut

 

 

 

Parkade Center, Inc.    

Texas

 

 

 

Plainfield Parkade, Inc.           

Connecticut

 

 

 

EH&N Construction Company        

Delaware

 

 

 

Dover Parkade, LLC   

Delaware

 

 

 

DE 150 Corp.            

Delaware

 

 

 

Brewery Parkade, Inc.        

Rhode Island

 

 

 

Cranston Parkade, LLC         

Rhode Island

 

 

 

Tri-City Plaza, Inc.            

Delaware

 

 

 

1150 Union Street Corp.         

Massachusetts

 

 

 

CP Associates, LLC       

Rhode Island

 

 

 

Trolley Barn Associates, LLC         

Rhode Island

 

 

 

Main Street NA Parkade, LLC 

Connecticut

 

 

 

Connolly & Partners, LLC      

Massachusetts

 

 

 

Cranston/BVT Associates Limited Partnership            

Rhode Island

 

 

 

CP/BVT Inc.           

Rhode Island

 

 

 

FHRC Management Corp.         

Delaware

 

 

 

The Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley, LP          

Texas

 

 

 

Edinburg SRGV, LLC                                                 

Delaware

 

 

 

Rockland Place Apartments, LLC                               

Massachusetts

 

 

 

Rockland Place Developers, LLC 

Massachusetts

 

 

 

Rockland Place Apartments, LP          

Massachusetts

 

 

 

EH&NU Inc.         

Massachusetts

 

 

 

First BTS, LLC          

Texas

 

 

 

First BTS Claiborne, LLC             

Louisiana

 

 

 

First GL Conroe, LLC              

Texas

 

 

 

First BTS Avondale, LLC   

Louisiana

 

 

 

First BTS Austin, LLC

Texas

 

 

 

First GL Buda, LLC 

Texas

 

58

 


 

 

                                                   

                                                            

                                                              

ITEM 15.         EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES (continued):

 

(b)

Exhibits (continued):

 

 

 

 

                                        

 

 

 

(12)

Subsidiaries of the Registrant (Continued):

 

 

 

 

Name of Subsidiary    

State in which Incorporated

 

 

 

First BTS Stanhope, LLC              

New Jersey

 

 

 

First BTS N Carrollton LLC     

Louisiana

 

 

 

First BTS Mid-City, LLC                   

Louisiana

 

 

 

First BTS Vernon, LLC          

New Jersey

 

 

 

First BTS Conroe, LLC            

Texas

 

 

 

First BTS MLK & 183, LLC           

Texas

 

 

 

First BTS Parmer, LLC           

Texas

 

 

 

999 Realty, LLC                       

Delaware

 

 

 

The Robert Company, LLC        

Texas

 

 

 

SATIS Corporation                

Connecticut

 

 

 

First Hartford Rio Grande Valley, Inc.        

Texas

 

 

 

Del Valle Parkade, LLC            

Texas  

 

 

 

EPFH, LLC         

Texas

 

 

 

Clarendon Hill Somerville Limited Partnership          

Massachusetts

 

 

 

Clarendon Developer, LLC          

Massachusetts

 

 

 

Clarendon Hill Somerville, LLC          

Massachusetts

 

 

 

LTI Environmental Services, Inc.   

Massachusetts

 

 

 

Steeple City Cinemas, Inc.         

Massachusetts

 

 

 

Steeple City Liquors, Inc.       

Massachusetts

 

 

 

Hartford Lubbock Limited Partnership          

Texas

 

 

 

Hartford Lubbock Limited Partnership II                    

Texas

 

 

 

Connolly Claymont, LLC                                           

Delaware

 

 

 

B’nai B’rith Claymont LP              

Delaware

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(31.1)

Exhibit 31.1, CEO Certification

 

 

 

(31.2)

Exhibit 31.2, CFO Certification

 

 

 

(32.1)  

Exhibit 32.1, CEO and CFO Certification as to 18 U.S.C. 1350

 

 

(b) 

Other Financial Statements

 

 

 

None.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

59 


 

 

 

S I G N A T U R E S

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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 authorize.

 

Dated:  August 5, 2016

 

                                                                       

FIRST HARTFORD CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

                                                                       

By: /s/ Neil H. Ellis

                                                                                          

      Neil H. Ellis

                                                                                          

      Chairman of the Board

 

 

            Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

           

August 5, 2016

/s/ Neil H. Ellis

 

Neil H. Ellis

 

Chief Executive Officer,

 

Chairman of the Board

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

                       

August 5, 2016

/s/Eric J. Harrington

 

Eric J. Harrington

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

Treasurer                                

 

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 60