Arbor Foresees Additional CDO

UNIONDALE, NY-A second collaterized debt obligation is in the planning stages for Arbor Realty Trust, Ivan Kaufman, the REIT’s chairman and CEO, said during the company first-quarter results conference call. He added that the company believes it will be “beneficial to add another CDO in the next few months. We’ve initiated that effort.” The company plans to focus on improving its balance sheet in the coming months and Kaufman noted that the first CDO provided “excellent long-term financing.” In late December Arbor priced CDO at $305 million.

For the quarter ended March 31, locally based Arbor reported net income for the quarter of $9.7 million, or $0.58 per basic and diluted common share, compared to net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2004 of $3.1 million, or $0.38 per basic and diluted common share. During the quarter, Arbor originated eleven loans and investments totaling $244 million and total revenues were $23.5 million, an increase of 187% from the first quarter of 2004. Of the new loans and investments, six were mezzanine loans totaling $128 million, two were bridge loans totaling $60 million, two were junior participating interests totaling $50 million and one was a preferred equity investment of $6 million.

Last year’s IPO provided a “solid foundation for future performance,” Kaufman said. “Common equity is our most precious asset.” He believes that despite aggressive competition, Arbor can continue at its current level in its national portfolio and still have adequate growth. “Our philosophy has been that we won’t make a loan unless we’re willing to own the asset.” The pipeline is good and filled with repeat buyers, he added.