United Development Funding IV Reports Third Quarter 2014 Financial Results

GRAPEVINE, Texas, Nov. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- United Development Funding IV ("UDF IV" or the "Trust") (NASDAQ: UDF) today reported net interest income after provision for loan losses for the third quarter ended September 30, 2014, of $16.5 million, an increase of 29% as compared to $12.9 million in the prior year quarter.  Net income for the third quarter was $13.4 million, or $0.44 per share, an increase of 74% as compared to $7.7 million, or $0.24 per share, for the prior year quarter. 

Net interest income after provision for loan losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, was $49.4 million, an increase of 50% as compared to $32.8 million in the same period of fiscal 2013.  Net income for the first nine months of fiscal 2014 was $36.6 million, or $1.16 per share, an increase of 77% as compared to $20.7 million, or $0.80 per share, in the same period of fiscal 2013.    

The quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2014, included approximately $77,000 and $5.1 million, respectively, of costs associated with listing the Trust's shares on the NASDAQ and the related tender offer. The nine months ended September 30, 2014, also included a $3.2 million reduction in general and administrative expense – related parties from the reversal of an accrued liability for acquisition and origination fees that will no longer be paid to the Trust's advisor.

The portfolio of loan participation interests and notes receivable, net of the provision for loan losses and unamortized commitment fees, increased 32% to $593.4 million (131 loans) at September 30, 2014, from $448.5 million (100 loans) a year ago.  The net debt to total capitalization ratio (calculated as debt less cash divided by debt less cash plus equity) at September 30, 2014, was 20.6%.  The Trust's target range for this ratio is 30% to 35%.

During the quarter and in conjunction with listing its shares on NASDAQ, the Trust completed a tender offer of $35 million for approximately 1.7 million shares of its common shares of beneficial interest at $20.50 per share.  The Trust financed the tender by entering into a $35 million term loan with a maturity date of July 2, 2015, which it may extend to December 31, 2015. 

On October 2, 2014, the Trust announced that it would pay monthly distributions of $0.1367 per share on October 27, November 25 and December 26, 2014, to shareholders of record at the close of business on October 17, November 14 and December 16, 2014, respectively. The October distribution was subsequently paid as announced.

The Trust expects to earn between $1.80 and $1.90 per share for fiscal 2015, and expects to declare distributions of approximately $1.75 per share in fiscal 2015. 

The Trust will host a conference call today (Thursday, November 13, 2014) at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time.  The dial-in number is 1-866-312-7299, and the call will also be webcast from the Trust's website at www.udfiv.com.  A replay of the call will be available after 2:00 p.m. ET on November 13, 2014 at 1-877-344-7529, access code 10054541.  The replay will also be available from the Trust's website at www.udfiv.com  through midnight ET on November 28, 2014.

Hollis M. Greenlaw, CEO and Chairman, said, "We are excited to report the highest quarterly net income and earnings per share in the history of our trust.  Our results this quarter demonstrate the strength, depth and scalability of our UDF platform and our ability to invest capital effectively in the area of single-family residential finance.  Our guidance for 2015 reflects our ability to continue to grow our earnings and distributions.  We see significant opportunities to increase our lending and investment portfolio during this gradual residential housing recovery.  While the majority of our portfolio is in Texas, we have now expanded to South Carolina and the Tampa and Orlando markets in Florida, and we expect to enter North Carolina by the end of 2014."

About United Development Funding IV

United Development Funding IV is a publicly traded Maryland real estate investment trust listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market.  UDF IV was formed primarily to generate current interest income by investing in secured loans and producing profits from investments in residential real estate.   Additional information about UDF IV can be found on its website at www.udfiv.com.  UDF IV may disseminate important information regarding its operations, including financial information, through social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Important Notice Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements may relate to anticipated financial performance, business prospects, outcome of regulatory proceedings, market conditions and other matters. We make these forward-looking statements in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will exist or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current intents, beliefs, expectations and assumptions and on information currently available to management that are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of our control, and could cause future events or results to be materially different from those stated or implied in these forward-looking statements. Words such as "may," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "would," "could," "should" and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements that were true at the time made may ultimately prove to be incorrect or false. We caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect our management's view only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes as a result of new information, future developments, subsequent events or circumstances or otherwise.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements include but are not limited to:  changes in general economic conditions, the real estate market and the credit market; increases in development costs that may exceed estimates; development delays; increases in interest rates or decreases in residential lot take down or purchase rates; our borrowers' inability to sell residential lots; potential need to fund development costs not completed by the initial borrower or other capital expenditures out of operating cash flows; economic fluctuations in Texas, where our investments are geographically concentrated; retention of our senior management team; changes in property taxes; legislative and regulatory changes, including changes to laws governing the taxation of REITs; the availability of capital and financing; restrictive covenants in our credit facilities; and our ability to remain qualified as a REIT. 

These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2014 and in subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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SOURCE United Development Funding IV

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