GENERAL
The InterGroup Corporation (“InterGroup” or the “Company” and may also be referred to as “we” “us” or “our” in this report) is a Delaware corporation formed in 1985, as the successor to Mutual Real Estate Investment Trust ("M-REIT"), a New York real estate investment trust created in 1965. The Company has been a publicly-held company since M-REIT's first public offering of shares in 1966.
The Company was organized to buy, develop, operate, rehabilitate and dispose of real property of various types and descriptions, and to engage in such other business and investment activities as would benefit the Company and its shareholders. The Company was founded upon, and remains committed to, social responsibility. Such social responsibility was originally defined as providing decent and affordable housing to people without regard to race. In 1985, after examining the impact of federal, state and local equal housing laws, the Company determined to broaden its definition of social responsibility. The Company changed its form from a REIT to a corporation so that it could pursue a variety of investments beyond real estate and broaden its social impact to engage in any opportunity which would offer the potential to increase shareholder value within the Company's underlying commitment to social responsibility.
As of June 30, 2012, the Company owned approximately 79.9% of the common shares of Santa Fe Financial Corporation (“Santa Fe”), a public company (OTCBB: SFEF). Santa Fe’s revenue is primarily generated through its 68.8% owned subsidiary, Portsmouth Square, Inc. (“Portsmouth”), a public company (OTCBB: PRSI). InterGroup also directly owns approximately 12.5% of Portsmouth. Portsmouth’s principal business is conducted through its general and limited partnership interest in the Justice Investors limited partnership (“Justice” or the “Partnership”). The Portsmouth has a 50.0% limited partnership interest in Justice and serves as the Managing General Partner. The other general partner is Evon Corporation (“Evon”). Justice owns a 543 room hotel property located at 750 Kearny Street, San Francisco, California 94108, known as the “Hilton San Francisco Financial District” (the “Hotel”) and related facilities, including a five level underground parking garage. The financial statements of Justice are consolidated with those of the Company. See Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.
Most significant partnership decisions require the active participation and approval of both general partners. Pursuant to the terms of the partnership agreement, voting rights of the partners are determined according to the partners’ entitlement to share in the net profit and loss of the partnership. The Company is not entitled to any additional voting rights by virtue of its position as a general partner. The partnership agreement provides that no portion of the partnership real property can be sold without the written consent of the general partners and the limited partners entitled to more than 72% of the net profit. The partnership agreement also provides that amendments to the agreement may be made only upon the consent of the general partners and at least seventy 75% of the interests of the limited partners and the consent of at least 75% of the interests of the limited partners will also be required to remove a general partner. As of June 30, 2012, there were 113 limited partners in Justice, including Portsmouth and Evon.
Historically, the Partnership’s most significant source of income was a lease between Justice and Holiday Inn for the Hotel portion of the property. That lease was amended in 1995, and ultimately assumed by Felcor Lodging Trust, Inc. (“Felcor”) in 1998. The lease of the Hotel to Felcor was terminated effective June 30, 2004. With the termination of the Hotel lease, Justice assumed the role of an owner/operator with the assistance of a third party management company. Effective July 1, 2004, the Hotel was operated as a Holiday Inn Select brand hotel pursuant to a short-term franchise agreement until it was temporarily closed for major renovations on May 31, 2005. The Hotel was reopened on January 12, 2006 to operate as a full service Hilton hotel, pursuant to a Franchise License Agreement with Hilton Hotels Corporation. Justice also has a Management Agreement with Prism Hospitality L.P. (“Prism”) to perform the day-to-day management functions of the Hotel.
Until September 30, 2008, the Partnership also derived income from the lease of the parking garage to Evon. As discussed below, effective October 1, 2008, Justice entered into an installment sale agreement with Evon to purchase the remaining term of the garage lease and related garage assets at which time the garage became a part of the Partnership’s operations. Justice also leases a portion of the lobby level of the Hotel to a day spa operator. Portsmouth also receives management fees as the Managing General Partner of Justice for its services in overseeing and managing the Partnership’s assets and limited partnership distributions as may be declared by Justice.
In addition to the operations of the Hotel, the Company also generates income from the ownership, management and, when appropriate, sale of real estate. Properties include seventeen apartment complexes, two commercial real estate properties and two single-family houses. The properties are located throughout the United States, but are concentrated in Texas and Southern California. The Company also has investments in unimproved real property. All of the Company’s residential rental properties in California are managed by professional third party property management companies and the rental properties outside of California are managed by the Company. The commercial real estate in California is also managed by the Company.
The Company acquires its investments in real estate and other investments utilizing cash, securities or debt, subject to approval or guidelines of the Board of Directors and its Real Estate Investment Committee. The Company may also look for new real estate investment opportunities in hotels, apartments, office buildings and development properties. The acquisition of any new real estate investments will depend on the Company’s ability to find suitable investment opportunities and the availability of sufficient financing to acquire such investments. To help fund any such acquisition, the Company may borrow funds to leverage its investment capital. The amount of any such debt will depend on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the availability of financing and the sufficiency of the acquisition property’s projected cash flows to support the operations and debt service.
The Company also derives income from the investment of its cash and investment securities assets. The Company has invested in income-producing instruments, equity and debt securities and will consider other investments if such investments offer growth or profit potential. See Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for a discussion of the Company’s marketable securities and other investments.
RECENT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS
Garage Installment Sale Agreement and Parking Facilities Management Agreement
Effective October 1, 2008, Justice and Evon entered into an Installment Sale Agreement whereby the Partnership purchased all of Evon’s right title and interest in the remaining term of its lease of the parking garage, which was to expire on November 30, 2010, and other related assets. The partnership also agreed to assume Evon’s contract with Ace Parking Management, Inc. (“Ace Parking”) for the management of the garage and any other liabilities related to the operation of the garage commencing October 1, 2008. The purchase price for the garage lease and related assets was approximately $755,000, payable in one down payment of approximately $28,000 and 26 equal monthly installments of approximately $29,000, which included interest at the rate of 2.4% per annum. The Note was fully paid as of November 2010.
On October 31, 2010, Justice Investors and Ace Parking entered into an amendment of the Parking Agreement to extend the term for a period of sixty two (62) months, commencing on November 1, 2010 and terminating December 31, 2015, subject to either party’s right to terminate the agreement without cause on ninety (90) days written notice. The monthly management fee of $2,000 and the accounting fee of $250 remain the same, but the amendment modified how the Excess Profit Fee to be paid to Ace would be calculated. The amendment provides that, if net operating income (“NOI”) from the garage operations exceeds $1,800,000 but is less than $2,000,000, Ace will be entitled to an Excess Profit Fee of one percent (1%) of the total annual NOI. If the annual NOI is $2,000,000 or higher, Ace will be entitled to an Excess Profit Fee equal to two percent (2%) of the total annual NOI. The prior Excess Profit Fee entitled Ace to receive three percent of NOI in excess of $150,000.
Amendments to Justice Investors Limited Partnership Agreement
On December 1, 2008, Portsmouth and Evon, as the two general partners of Justice, entered into a 2008 Amendment to the Limited Partnership Agreement (the “Amendment”) that provides for a change in the respective roles of the general partners. Pursuant to the Amendment, Portsmouth assumed the role of Managing General Partner and Evon continued on as the Co-General Partner of Justice. The Amendment was ratified by approximately 98% of the limited partnership interests. The Amendment also provides that future amendments to the Limited Partnership Agreement may be made only upon the consent of the general partners and at least seventy five percent (75%) of the interests of the limited partners. Consent of at least 75% of the interests of the limited partners will also be required to remove a general partner pursuant to the Amendment.
Effective November 30, 2010, the general and limited partners of Justice Investors entered into an Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership, which was approved and ratified by more than 98% of the limited partnership interests of Justice. The Partnership Agreement was amended and restated in its entirety to comply with the new provisions of the California Corporations Code known as the “Uniform Limited Partnership Act of 2008”. The amendment did not result in any material modifications of the rights or obligations of the general and limited partners.
New General Partner Compensation Agreement
Concurrent with the December 2008 Amendment to the Limited Partnership Agreement, a new General Partner Compensation Agreement (the “Compensation Agreement”) was entered into on December 1, 2008, among Justice, Portsmouth and Evon to terminate and supersede all prior compensation agreement for the general partners. Pursuant to the Compensation Agreement, the general partners of Justice are entitled to receive an amount equal to 1.5% of the gross annual revenues of the Partnership (as defined), less $75,000 to be used as a contribution toward the cost of Justice engaging an asset manager. In no event shall the annual compensation be less than a minimum base of approximately $285,000, with eighty percent (80%) of that amount being allocated to Portsmouth for its services as managing general partner and twenty percent (20%) allocated to Evon as the co-general partner. Compensation earned by the general partners in each calendar year in excess of the minimum base, will be payable in equal fifty percent (50%) shares to Portsmouth and Evon. During the years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, the general partners were paid approximately $562,000 and $468,000 respectively, under the applicable compensation agreements. Of those amounts, approximately $366,000 and $323,000 was paid to Portsmouth for fiscal 2012 and 2011.
Comstock Mining, Inc. Debt Restructuring
On October 20, 2010, as part of a debt restructuring of one of its investments, the Company exchanged approximately $13,231,000 in notes, convertible notes and debt instruments that it held in Comstock Mining, Inc. (“Comstock” – now NYSE MKT: LODE) for 13,231 shares ($1,000 stated value) of newly created 7 1/2% Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock (the “A-1 Preferred”) of Comstock. Prior to the exchange, those notes and convertible debt instruments had a carrying value of $1,809,000, net of impairment adjustments. The Company accounted for the transaction as an exchange of its debt securities and recorded the new instruments (A-1 Preferred) received based on their fair value. The Company estimated the fair value of the A-1 Preferred at $1,000 per share, which was the stated value of the instrument, for a total of $13,231,000. The fair value of the A-1 Preferred had a similar value to the Series B preferred stock financing (stated value of $1,000 per share) by which Comstock concurrently raised $35.7 million in new capital from other investors in October 2010. The Company recorded an unrealized gain of $11,422,000 related to the preferred stock received in exchange for debt as part of the debt restructuring. See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Sales, Purchases and Refinancings of Properties
In January 2012, the Company sold its 24-unit apartment complex located in Los Angeles, California for $4,370,000. The Company realized a gain on the sale of real estate of approximately $1,710,000 and received net proceeds of $4,111,000 from the sale after selling costs. The Company paid off the related mortgage note payable balance of $1,504,000.
In December 2011, the Company refinanced its $926,000 mortgage note payable on its 12-unit apartment building located in Los Angeles, California for a new 10-year mortgage in the amount of $2,095,000. The interest rate on the new loan is fixed at 4.25% per annum for the first 5 years and variable for the remaining 5 years, with monthly principal and interest payments based on a 30-year amortization schedule. The note matures in January 2022. The Company received net proceeds of approximately $1,122,000 from the refinancing.
In January 2011, the Company sold its 132-unit apartment complex located in San Antonio, Texas for $5,500,000 and recognized a gain on the sale of real estate of $3,290,000. The Company received net proceeds of $2,030,000 after selling costs and the pay-off of the related outstanding mortgage note payable of $3,215,000. The proceeds were placed with a third party accommodator for the purpose of executing a Section 1031 tax-deferred exchange for another property. In April 2011, the Company purchased a 9-unit beachside apartment complex located in Marina Del Rey, California for $4,000,000 to effectuate that exchange. As part of the purchase, the Company obtained a mortgage note payable in the amount of $1,487,000. The interest rate on the loan is fixed at 5.60% per annum, with monthly principal and interest payments based on a 30-year amortization schedule. The note matures in May 2021.
HILTON HOTELS FRANCHISE LICENSE AGREEMENT
On December 10, 2004, the Partnership entered into a Franchise License Agreement with Hilton Hotels Corporation (the “Franchise Agreement”) for the right to operate the Hotel as a Hilton brand hotel. The term of the Franchise Agreement is for 15 years commencing on the opening date of the Hotel, January 12, 2006, with an option to extend that Agreement for another five years, subject to certain conditions.
Pursuant to the Franchise Agreement, the Partnership paid monthly royalty fees for the first two years of three percent (3%) of the Hotel’s gross room revenue, as defined, for the preceding calendar month; the third year was at four percent (4%) of the Hotel’s gross room revenue; and the fourth year until the end of the term will be five percent (5%) of the Hotel’s gross room revenue. Justice also pays a monthly program fee of four percent (4%) of the Hotel’s gross room revenue. The amount of the monthly program fee is subject to change; however, the increase cannot exceed one percent (1%) of the Hotel gross room revenue in any calendar year, and the cumulative increases in the monthly fees will not exceed five percent (5%) of gross room revenue. The Partnership also pays a monthly information technology recapture charge of 0.75% of the Hotel’s gross revenue. Due to the difficult economic environment, Hilton agreed to reduce its information technology fees to 0.65% for the 2010 calendar year.
Prior to operating the Hotel as a Hilton hotel, the Partnership was required to make substantial renovations to the Hotel to meet Hilton standards in accordance with a product improvement plan (“PIP”) agreed upon by Hilton and the Partnership, as well as comply with other brand standards. That project included a complete renovation and upgrade of all of the Hotel’s guestrooms, meeting rooms, common areas and restaurant and bar. As of January 12, 2006, the Hotel renovation work was substantially completed, at which time Justice obtained approval from Hilton to open the Hotel as the “Hilton San Francisco Financial District”. The Hotel opened with a limited number of rooms available to rent, which increased as the Hotel transitioned into full operations by the end of February 2006.
The total cost of the construction-renovation project of the Hotel was approximately $37,030,000, which includes approximately $630,000 in interest costs incurred during the construction phase that were capitalized. To meet those substantial financial commitments, and the costs of operations during the renovation period and for the first five months when the Hotel ramped up its operations, the Partnership has relied on additional borrowings to meet its obligations. As discussed in Item 2. Properties, the Partnership was able to secure adequate financing, collateralized by the Hotel, to meet those commitments.
HOTEL MANAGEMENT COMPANY AGREEMENT
In February 2007, the Partnership terminated its prior hotel management agreement with Dow Hotel Company and entered into a management agreement with Prism Hospitality (“Prism”) to manage and operate the Hotel as its agent, effective February 10, 2007. Prism is an experienced Hilton approved operator of upscale and luxury hotels throughout the Americas. The agreement is effective for a term of ten years, unless the agreement is extended as provided in the agreement, and the Partnership has the right to terminate the agreement upon ninety days written notice without further obligation. Under the management agreement, the Partnership is to pay base management fees of 2.5% of gross operating revenues for the fiscal year. However, 0.75% of the stated management fee is due only if the partially adjusted net operating income for the subject fiscal year exceeds the amount of a minimum Partnership return ($7 million) for that fiscal year. Prism is also entitled to an incentive management fee if certain milestones are accomplished. No incentive fees were earned during the fiscal years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011. In support of the Partnership’s efforts to reduce costs in this difficult economic environment, Prism agreed to reduce its management fees by fifty percent from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010, after which the original fee provision went back into effect. Management fees paid to Prism during the years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 were $626,000 and $469,000, respectively.
GARAGE OPERATIONS
As discussed above, until September 30, 2008, the garage portion of the Hotel property was leased by the Partnership to Evon. Effective October 1, 2008, Justice and Evon entered into an Installment Sale Agreement whereby the Partnership purchased all of Evon’s right title and interest in the remaining term of its lease of the parking garage, which was to expire on November 30, 2010, and other related assets. The Partnership also agreed to assume Evon’s contract with Ace Parking Management, Inc. (“Ace Parking”) for the management of the garage and any other liabilities related to the operation of the garage commencing October 1, 2008.
The garage is currently operated by Ace Parking for the Partnership pursuant to a Parking Facilities Management Agreement (the “Parking Agreement”). The initial term of the Parking Agreement was to expire on October 31, 2010, with an option to renew for another five-year term. Pursuant to that agreement, the Partnership paid Ace Parking a management fee of $2,000 per month, an accounting fee equal to $250 per month, plus “Excess Profit Fee” equal to three percent (3%) of annual net profits in excess of $150,000.
TRU SPA LEASE
Approximately 5,400 square feet of space on the lobby level of the Hotel is leased to Tru Spa for the operation of a health and beauty spa. The lease expires in May 2013, with a five year option to extend the term. The spa lease provides for minimum monthly rent of $14,000. Minimum rental amounts are subject to adjustment every three years based on increases in the Consumer Price Index.
CHINESE CULTURE FOUNDATION LEASE
On March 15, 2005, the Partnership entered into an amended lease with the Chinese Culture Foundation of San Francisco (the “Foundation”) for the third floor space of the Hotel commonly known as the Chinese Cultural Center, which the Foundation had right to occupy pursuant to a 50-year nominal rent lease.
The amended lease requires the Partnership to pay to the Foundation a monthly event space fee in the amount of $5,000, adjusted annually based on the local Consumer Price Index. The term of the amended lease expires on October 17, 2023, with an automatic extension for another 10 year term if the property continues to be operated as a hotel. This amendment allowed Justice to incorporate the third floor into the renovation of the Hotel resulting in a new ballroom for the joint use of the Hotel and new offices and a gallery for the Chinese Culture Center.
RENTAL PROPERTIES
As June 30, 2012, the Company's investment in real estate consisted of properties located throughout the United States, with a concentration in Texas and Southern California. These properties include seventeen apartment complexes, two single-family houses as strategic investments and two commercial real estate properties. All properties are operating properties. In addition to the properties, the Company owns approximately 4.1 acres of unimproved real estate in Texas and 2 acres of unimproved land in Maui, Hawaii.
MANAGEMENT OF RENTAL PROPERTIES
The Company may engage third party management companies as agents to manage certain of Company’s residential rental properties.
On August 1, 2005, the Company entered into a Management Agreement with Century West Properties, Inc. (“Century West”) to act as an agent of the Company to rent and manage all of the Company’s residential rental properties in the Los Angeles, California area. The Management Agreement with Century West was for an original term of twelve months ending on July 31, 2006 and continues on a month-to-month basis, until terminated upon 30 days prior written notice. The Management Agreement provides for a monthly fee equal to 4% of the monthly gross receipts from the properties with resident managers and a fee of 4 1/2% of monthly gross receipts for properties without resident managers. During the years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, the management fees were $140,000 and $161,000, respectively.
The Company’s five remaining properties located outside of California are managed directly by the Company
MARKETABLE SECURITIES INVESTMENT POLICIES
In addition to its Hotel and real estate operations, the Company also invests from time to time in income producing instruments, corporate debt and equity securities, publically traded investment funds, mortgage backed securities, securities issued by REIT’s and other companies which invest primarily in real estate.
The Company’s securities investments are made under the supervision of a Securities Investment Committee of the Board of Directors. The Committee currently has three members and is chaired by the Company’s Chairman of the Board and President, John V. Winfield. The Committee has delegated authority to manage the portfolio to the Company’s Chairman and President together with such assistants and management committees he may engage. The Committee has established investment guidelines for the Company’s investments. These guidelines presently include: (i) corporate equity securities should be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), NYSE MKT, NYSE Arca or the Nasdaq Stock Market (NASDAQ); (ii) the issuer of the listed securities should be in compliance with the listing standards of the respective National Securities Exchanges; and (iii) investment in a particular issuer should not exceed 10% of the market value of the total portfolio. The investment policies do not require the Company to divest itself of investments, which initially meet these guidelines but subsequently fail to meet one or more of the investment criteria. Non-conforming investments require the approval of the Securities Investment Committee. The Committee has in the past approved non-conforming investments and may in the future approve non-conforming investments. The Securities Investment Committee may modify these guidelines from time to time.
The Company may also invest, with the approval of the Securities Investment Committee, in unlisted securities, such as convertible notes, through private placements including private equity investment funds. Those investments in non-marketable securities are carried at cost on the Company’s balance sheet as part of other investments and reviewed for impairment on a periodic basis. As of June 30, 2012, the Company had other investments of $15,661,000.
As part of its investment strategies, the Company may assume short positions in marketable securities. Short sales are used by the Company to potentially offset normal market risks undertaken in the course of its investing activities or to provide additional return opportunities. As of June 30, 2012, the Company had obligations for securities sold (equities short) of $731,000.
In addition, the Company may utilize margin for its marketable securities purchases through the use of standard margin agreements with national brokerage firms. The use of available leverage is guided by the business judgment of management and is subject to any internal investment guidelines, which may be imposed by the Securities Investment Committee. The margin used by the Company may fluctuate depending on market conditions. The use of leverage could be viewed as risky and the market values of the portfolio may be subject to large fluctuations. As of June 30, 2012, the Company had a margin balance of $1,729,000 and incurred $587,000 and $547,000 in margin interest expense during the years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
As Chairman of the Securities Investment Committee, the Company’s President and Chief Executive officer, John V. Winfield, directs the investment activity of the Company in public and private markets pursuant to authority granted by the Board of Directors. Mr. Winfield also serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Santa Fe and Portsmouth and oversees the investment activity of those companies. Depending on certain market conditions and various risk factors, the Chief Executive Officer, his family, Santa Fe and Portsmouth may, at times, invest in the same companies in which the Company invests. The Company encourages such investments because it places personal resources of the Chief Executive Officer and his family members, and the resources of Santa Fe and Portsmouth, at risk in connection with investment decisions made on behalf of the Company.
Further information with respect to investment in marketable securities and other investments of the Company is set forth in Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section and Notes 6 and 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Seasonality
The Hotel’s operations historically have been seasonal. Like most hotels in the San Francisco area, the Hotel generally maintains higher occupancy and room rates during the first and second quarters of its fiscal year (July 1 through December 31) than it does in the third and fourth quarters (January 1 through June 30). These seasonal patterns can be expected to cause fluctuations in the quarterly revenues from the Hotel.