DALLAS, August 14, 2000 (PRIMEZONE) -- American Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ARB) announced Monday that decreased total income and higher total expenses produced second quarter and six month net losses of $1.4 million and $7.7 million, or $.13 and $.71 per share, on revenues of $44.4 million and $89.9 million respectively, as compared to $381,000 net income and a $9.3 million net loss, or $.04 per share net income and $.87 per share net loss on revenues of $56.1 million and $100.9 million respectively, in the same periods in 1999. The six month 2000 loss was a $1.7 million improvement in net income over 1999.
Details of income are as follows:
-- Rental incomes decreased to $35.4 million and $70.5 million in the second quarter and six months of 2000, from $41.6 million and $81.9 million in the same periods in 1999. The decline is mostly due to the 14 apartments sold in 1999, partially offset by higher commercial property and hotel rents. -- Interest and other income decreased to $578,000 and $3.1 million from $6.6 million and $4.1 million for same periods in 1999 due to the collection of mortgage notes receivables and their related maturity in 2000, as well as unrealized decreases in market value of ART's trading portfolio. -- Pizza parlor sales increased to $8.4 million and $16.3 million from $7.8 million and $15 million as a result of aggressive marketing and due to cheese prices returning to historic levels. Cost of sales increased to $6.9 million and $13.3 million from $6.6 million and $12.8 million in 1999. Total expenses for the second quarter increased to $71.5 million and decreased in the six months 2000 to $134.9 million from $69.7 million and $137 million for the 1999 comparable period. -- Property operations expenses decreased to $22.7 million and $46.7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2000, from $25.5 million and $53.4 million in the same periods in 1999 due to the sale of land and income-producing properties in 1999 and 2000. The decrease was partially offset by increases in commercial property and hotel expenses. -- Interest expenses decreased to $20.4 million and $40.6 million from $24.4 million and $45.4 million in 1999, due to income-producing property and land sales. -- Depreciation, general and administrative expenses and advisory fees for the six months approximate those of the 1999 periods.
Total gains on the sale of real estate rose to $33.1 million and $51.7 million on the sale of five apartments, one office building, a shopping center and 11 land tracts, up from $21.2 million and $38.7 million in second quarter 1999. Land sales accounted for gains of $1.1 million and $3.5 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2000, from $6.4 million and $11.4 million in 1999, on decreased sales of $5.8 million and $19 million as compared to $33.3 million and $41.7 million in 1999. Costs associated with the sales fell to $4.7 million and $15.4 million from $26.9 million and $30.3 million in 1999.
Equity in income of investees in the second quarter and six months 2000 decreased to $94,000 and $296,000 from $4.1 million and $3.4 million in 1999. The decrease was attributable to losses associated with the sale of Transcontinental Realty Investors, Inc. (NYSE:TCI) and Income Opportunity Realty Investors, Inc. (AMEX:IOT) stock during the second quarter.
Minority interests increased to $17.9 million and $27.3 million for the three and six months 2000 from $6.9 million and $15.4 million in 1999. The increase is attributable to the increased earnings of National Realty, L.P. (AMEX:NLP).
American Realty Trust, Inc., a Dallas-based real estate investment company, holds a diverse portfolio of equity real estate located across the U.S., including office buildings, apartments, hotels, shopping centers, and developed and undeveloped land. ART has combined with National Realty, L.P. under ownership of a new company named American Realty Investors, Inc. (NYSE:ARL). The transaction closed on August 2, 2000. NLP unitholders and ART shareholders have received, in a tax-free exchange, shares of ARI's common stock. Each NLP unit exchanged for one ARI common share. Each American Realty Trust common share exchanged for 0.91 ARI common share. For more information on ARI, go to American Realty Web site at www.amrealtytrust.com.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (dollars in thousands, except share and per share data) Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, 2000 1999 2000 1999 Income from rents $ 35,424 $ 41,623 $ 70,503 $ 81,865 Expense from operations 22,710 25,523 46,675 53,401 Operating income 12,714 16,100 23,828 28,464 Land sales $ 5,760 $ 33,260 $ 18,953 $ 41,724 Cost of sales 4,698 26,904 15,442 30,345 Gain on land sales 1,062 6,356 3,511 11,379 Pizza sales $ 8,392 $ 7,829 $ 16,264 $ 14,953 Cost of sales 6,852 6,624 13,340 12,798 Gross margin 1,540 1,205 2,924 2,155 Income from operations $ 15,316 $ 23,661 $ 30,263 $ 41,998 Other income 578 6,637 3,121 4,054 Other expense 48,836 44,194 88,203 83,568 Gain on sale of real estate 32,078 14,845 48,232 27,338 Net income (loss) $ (864) $ 949 $ (6,587) $ (8,178) Preferred dividend requirement (563) (568) (1,071) (1,134) Net income (loss) applicable to Common shares $ (1,427) $ 381 $ (7,658) $ (9,312) Earnings Per Share Net income (loss) $ (.13) $ .04 $ (.71) $ (.87) Weighted average common shares used to compute earnings per share 10,716,533 10,759,166 10,738,003 10,750,790