BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., April 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Kennedy Wilson (OTC: KWIC), a real estate investment and services firm, reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2006 . Net income for the first quarter was $5.4 million or $.99 per share diluted, compared to $950,000 or $.17 per share in the first quarter of 2005. Total revenue for the quarter was $15.4 million compared to $13.5 million in the first quarter of 2005. Operating income for the quarter was $2.9 million compared to $2.2 million for the same quarter of 2005.

Kennedy Wilson is a real estate investment and services firm. The Company was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, with five regional offices and operations in 18 states. Kennedy Wilson is an investor and manager of value-added investments, including commercial and industrial properties, apartments, and discounted note portfolios. The Company acquires properties both in partnership with institutional investors and in wholly-owned projects. Kennedy Wilson also offers clients a comprehensive array of real estate services, including property management, leasing, asset management, brokerage, and development.

This release contains forward-looking statements as well as historical information. Statements of goals and strategies and words such as 'plan', 'believe', 'anticipate', 'expect', 'objectives', 'forecast', and 'predict' and other similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are included in accordance with the 'safe harbor' provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the company's actual results, performance, or financial condition to be materially different from any results, performance, or financial condition suggested by the statements in this release.

    Contact:  Freeman A. Lyle
              Executive Vice President - Chief Financial Officer
              Tel:  (310) 887-6453  Fax:  (310) 887-6414



                    Kennedy-Wilson, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                         Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                                    March 31,    December 31,
                                                      2006           2005
                                                  (Unaudited)

    Assets
      Cash and cash equivalents                   $12,394,000    $19,424,000
      Accounts receivable                           3,768,000      3,562,000
      Notes receivable                              5,693,000      6,705,000
      Real estate                                   6,667,000             --
      Investments in joint ventures                45,945,000     36,847,000
      Contracts and other assets, net               3,119,000      2,958,000
      Goodwill                                     23,965,000     23,965,000
                                  Total Assets   $101,551,000    $93,461,000

    Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

    Liabilities
      Accounts payable                               $438,000       $332,000
      Accrued expenses and other liabilities        2,014,000      1,089,000
      Accrued salaries and benefits                 4,784,000      4,269,000
      Deferred and accrued income taxes             9,107,000     11,905,000
      Notes payable                                11,714,000     13,132,000
      Borrowings under lines of credit             17,567,000     18,947,000
      Mortgage loan payable                         6,000,000             --
      Senior unsecured notes                               --      1,667,000
                             Total liabilities     51,624,000     51,341,000

    Commitments and Contingencies

    Stockholders' Equity

    Preferred stock, $0.01 par value:
     5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued
     as of March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005            --             --
    Common stock, $0.01 par value:
     50,000,000 shares authorized; 5,607,706 and
     5,477,706 shares issued and outstanding
     as of March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005,
     respectively                                      56,000         55,000
    Additional paid-in capital                     12,697,000     14,883,000
    Restricted stock - deferred compensation               --     (4,588,000)
    Retained earnings                              37,174,000     31,770,000
                    Total stockholders' equity     49,927,000     42,120,000
    Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity   $101,551,000    $93,461,000



                    Kennedy-Wilson, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                      Consolidated Statements of Income
                                 (Unaudited)

                                                       Three months ended
                                                            March 31,
                                                       2006           2005
    Revenue
      Property management and leasing fees         $3,860,000     $3,713,000
      Commissions                                   2,830,000      2,041,000
      Equity in joint venture income                8,398,000      7,239,000
      Interest and other income                       354,000        497,000
                                 Total revenue     15,442,000     13,490,000

    Operating Expenses
      Commissions and marketing expenses               468,000       552,000
      Compensation and related expenses             10,100,000     8,481,000
      General and administrative                     1,781,000     1,705,000
      Depreciation and amortization                    180,000       517,000
                      Total operating expenses      12,529,000    11,255,000
                        Total operating income       2,913,000     2,235,000

    Non-operating income (expense)
      Gain on sale of asset                          7,060,000            --
      Interest expense                                (753,000)     (836,000)
    Income from continuing operations
     before minority interest, provision for
     income taxes and discontinued operations        9,220,000     1,399,000
    Minority interest                                 (214,000)           --
      Income before provision for income taxes
       and discontinued operations                   9,006,000     1,399,000
    Provision for income taxes                      (3,602,000)     (559,000)
             Income from continuing operations       5,404,000       840,000
    Gain on disposition of real estate
     held for sale, net of tax                              --       110,000
                                    Net Income      $5,404,000      $950,000

    Basic earnings per share
      Income from continuing operations                  $1.15         $0.17
      Income from discontinued operations                   --          0.02
      Net income                                         $1.15         $0.19

      Basic weighted average shares                  4,704,964     5,036,853

    Diluted earnings per share
      Income from continuing operations                  $0.99         $0.15
      Income from discontinued operations                   --          0.02
      Net income                                         $0.99         $0.17

      Diluted weighted average shares                5,450,492     5,669,474

SOURCE Kennedy Wilson