RVI Retail Value Inc

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) provides readers with a perspective from management on the financial condition, results of operations and liquidity of Retail Value Inc. and its related consolidated real estate subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company” or “RVI”) (NYSE: RVI) and other factors that may affect the Company’s future results.  The Company believes it is important to read the MD&A in conjunction with its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as well as other publicly available information.  

RVI is an Ohio company formed in December 2017 that, as of March 31, 2020, owned and operated a portfolio of 26 assets, composed of 14 continental U.S. assets and 12 assets in Puerto Rico.  These properties consisted of retail shopping centers composed of 10.2 million square feet of Company-owned gross leasable area (“GLA”) and were located in 10 states and Puerto Rico.  The Company’s continental U.S. properties and Puerto Rico properties each comprised approximately 50% of its total consolidated revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2020.  At March 31, 2020, the aggregate occupancy of the Company’s shopping center portfolio was 86.7%, and the average annualized base rent per occupied square foot was $15.65.  

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Company expects to focus on realizing value in its portfolio through operations and sales of its assets.  The Company primarily intends to use net asset sale proceeds first to repay mortgage debt, second to make distributions on account of the RVI Preferred Shares, up to the preference amount, and third to make distributions to holders of the Company’s common shares.  

From January 1, 2020 through March 31, 2020, the Company sold the following assets (in thousands):

In March 2020, the World Health Organization categorized the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) as a pandemic, and it continues to spread throughout the United States and other countries across the world.  To limit the spread of COVID-19, federal, state and local governments have taken various actions including the issuance of stay-at-home orders, social distancing guidelines and ordering the temporary closure of non-essential businesses, including many of the Company’s tenants.  Accordingly, many of the Company’s tenants have adjusted, reduced or suspended operating activities.  In addition, SITE Centers, the Company’s manager, closed all of its offices in March 2020 and successfully transitioned to working remotely.  The ultimate impact of the pandemic and secondary social and economic effects on the Company's results of operations, financial position, liquidity and capital resources remains unclear and cannot be reasonably forecasted at this time.  For further discussion see “Liquidity, Capital Resources and Financing Activities” and “Economic Conditions” included in this section and Item 1A. Risk Factors in Part II of this Quarterly Report.

Manager

The Company entered into an external management agreement (the “External Management Agreement”) with SITE Centers Corp. (“SITE Centers”) which, together with various property management agreements, governs the fees, terms and conditions pursuant to which SITE Centers serves as the Company’s manager.  The Company does not have any employees.  In general, either the Company or SITE Centers may terminate these management agreements on June 30, 2020, or at the end of any six-month renewal period thereafter.  

Pursuant to the External Management Agreement, the Company pays SITE Centers and certain of its subsidiaries a monthly asset management fee in an aggregate amount of 0.5% per annum of the gross asset value of the Company’s properties (calculated in accordance with the terms of the External Management Agreement).  The External Management Agreement also provides for the reimbursement of certain expenses incurred by SITE Centers in connection with the services it provides to the Company along with the payment of transaction-based fees to SITE Centers in the event of any debt financings or change of control transactions.

Pursuant to the property management agreements, the Company pays SITE Centers and certain of its subsidiaries a monthly property management fee in an aggregate amount of 3.5% and 5.5% of the gross revenue (as calculated in accordance with the terms of the property management agreements) of the Company’s continental U.S. properties and the Puerto Rico properties, respectively.  

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As a result of the impact of COVID-19 on property revenues, the Company has agreed to pay an affiliate of SITE Centers a supplemental fee for the six-month period ending December 31, 2020 (see Item 5. Other information in Part II of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q).  The property management agreements also provide for the payment to SITE Centers of certain leasing commissions and a disposition fee of 1% of the gross sales price of each asset sold by the Company.

COMPARISON OF 2020 AND 2019 RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Where used, references to “Comparable Portfolio Properties” reflect shopping center properties owned as of March 31, 2020.  

The decrease in the continental U.S. occupancy rate primarily was due to disposition of higher occupancy properties and a combination of tenant expirations and tenant bankruptcies.  

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The decrease in Total Revenues for the Comparable Portfolio Properties primarily was due to the impact of COVID-19.  The Company recorded reductions in straight-line rent as well as the aforementioned increase in bad debt for credit risk tenants.

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The increase in Operating and Maintenance for the Comparable Portfolio Properties was primarily a result of increased property insurance premiums.  

Interest costs capitalized in conjunction with capital projects were $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, primarily related to restoration work in Puerto Rico.

Net Loss (in thousands)

The increase in net loss primarily was attributable to the sale of assets and impairment charges partially offset by a decrease in debt extinguishment costs related to the debt refinancing in 2019.

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NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Funds from Operations and Operating Funds from Operations

Definition and Basis of Presentation

The Company believes that Funds from Operations, or FFO, and Operating FFO, both non-GAAP financial measures, provide additional and useful means to assess the financial performance of REITs.  FFO and Operating FFO are frequently used by the real estate industry, as well as securities analysts, investors and other interested parties, to evaluate the performance of REITs.  The Company also believes that FFO and Operating FFO more appropriately measure the core operations of the Company and provide benchmarks to its peer group.

FFO excludes GAAP historical cost depreciation and amortization of real estate and real estate investments, which assume that the value of real estate assets diminishes ratably over time.  Historically, however, real estate values have risen or fallen with market conditions, and many companies use different depreciable lives and methods.  Because FFO excludes depreciation and amortization unique to real estate and gains and losses from property dispositions, it can provide a performance measure that, when compared year over year, reflects the impact on operations from trends in occupancy rates, rental rates, operating costs, interest costs and acquisition, disposition and development activities.  This provides a perspective of the Company’s financial performance not immediately apparent from net income determined in accordance with GAAP.

FFO is generally defined and calculated by the Company as net income (loss) (computed in accordance with GAAP), adjusted to exclude (i) gains and losses from disposition of real estate property and related investments, which are presented net of taxes, if any, (ii) impairment charges on real estate property and related investments and (iii) certain non-cash items.  These non-cash items principally include real property depreciation and amortization of intangibles.  The Company’s calculation of FFO is consistent with the definition of FFO provided by NAREIT.

The Company believes that certain charges and income recorded in its operating results are not comparable or reflective of its core operating performance.  Operating FFO is useful to investors as the Company removes non-comparable charges and income to analyze the results of its operations and assess performance of the core operating real estate portfolio.  As a result, the Company also computes Operating FFO and discusses it with the users of its financial statements, in addition to other measures such as net income (loss) determined in accordance with GAAP and FFO.  Operating FFO is generally defined and calculated by the Company as FFO excluding certain charges and gains that management believes are not comparable and indicative of the results of the Company’s operating real estate portfolio.  Such adjustments include gains/losses on the early extinguishment of debt, net hurricane-related activity, transaction costs and other restructuring type costs.  The disclosure of these charges and income is generally requested by users of the Company’s financial statements.  

The adjustment for these charges and income may not be comparable to how other REITs or real estate companies calculate their results of operations, and the Company’s calculation of Operating FFO differs from NAREIT’s definition of FFO.  Additionally, the Company provides no assurances that these charges and income are non-recurring.  These charges and income could be reasonably expected to recur in future results of operations.

These measures of performance are used by the Company for several business purposes and by other REITs.  The Company uses FFO and/or Operating FFO in part (i) as a disclosure to improve the understanding of the Company’s operating results among the investing public, (ii) as a measure of a real estate asset’s performance and (iii) to compare the Company’s performance to that of other publicly traded shopping center REITs.

For the reasons described above, management believes that FFO and Operating FFO provide the Company and investors with an important indicator of the Company’s operating performance.  They provide recognized measures of performance other than GAAP net income, which may include non-cash items (often significant).  Other real estate companies may calculate FFO and Operating FFO in a different manner.

The Company’s management recognizes the limitations of FFO and Operating FFO when compared to GAAP’s net income.  FFO and Operating FFO do not represent amounts available for dividends, capital replacement or expansion, debt service obligations or other commitments and uncertainties.  The Company’s management does not use FFO or Operating FFO as an indicator of the Company’s cash obligations and funding requirements for future commitments or redevelopment activities.  Neither FFO nor Operating FFO represents cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP, and neither is necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs.  Neither FFO nor Operating FFO should be considered an alternative to net income (computed in accordance with GAAP) or as an alternative to cash flow as a measure of liquidity.  FFO and Operating FFO are simply used as additional indicators of the Company’s operating performance.  The Company believes that to further understand its performance, FFO and Operating FFO should be compared with the Company’s reported net income (loss) and considered in addition to cash flows

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determined in accordance with GAAP, as presented in its consolidated financial statements.  Reconciliations of these measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measure of net income (loss) have been provided below.

The increase in FFO primarily was a result of debt extinguishment charges incurred in 2019 in connection with the refinancing of the Company’s mortgage loan, partially offset by the dilutive impact from the disposition of assets.  The decrease in Operating FFO primarily was due to asset sales.

The Company’s reconciliation of net loss to FFO and Operating FFO is as follows (in thousands).  The Company provides no assurances that these charges and income adjusted in the calculation of Operating FFO are non-recurring.  These charges and income could reasonably be expected to recur in future results of operations.

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LIQUIDITY, CAPITAL RESOURCES AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES

The Company requires capital to fund its operating expenses, capital expenditures and investment activities.  Absent the occurrence of an Amortization Period (as described below), the Company’s capital sources may include cash flow from operations, as well as availability under its Revolving Credit Agreement (as defined below).

Although the Company has experienced a reduction in timely collections of April 2020 rent and may experience delays in the execution of its disposition strategy as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company believes that it has sufficient liquidity and capital resources to operate its business.  At March 31, 2020, the Company had an unrestricted cash balance of $92.4 million, restricted cash on deposit with its mortgage lender of $81.3 million and $30.0 million of availability under its Revolving Credit Agreement (subject to satisfaction of applicable borrowing conditions). Debt outstanding was $519.7 million at March 31, 2020.  The Company’s mortgage loan generally requires interest-only payments subject to maintenance of a minimum debt yield and has an initial maturity date of March 2021 with three one-year extensions at the Company’s option based on satisfaction of certain conditions.  Subject to the uncertain impact of COVID-19 on capital and transactions markets, the Company expects to utilize net asset sale proceeds to repay the principal of the mortgage loan and may utilize one or more of the loan’s existing extension options. No assurance can be provided that obligations outstanding under the mortgage loan will be repaid, extended or refinanced as currently anticipated.

Mortgage Indebtedness

On March 11, 2019, certain wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a mortgage loan with an initial aggregate principal amount of $900 million.  The borrowers’ obligations to pay principal, interest and other amounts under the new mortgage loan are evidenced by certain promissory notes executed by the borrowers, referred to collectively as the notes, which are secured by, among other things: (i) mortgages encumbering the borrowers’ properties located in the continental U.S. (which comprise substantially all of the Company’s properties located in the continental U.S.) and Plaza del Sol located in Bayamon, Puerto Rico (collectively, the “Mortgaged Properties”); (ii) a pledge of the equity of the Company’s subsidiaries that own each of the Company’s properties located in Puerto Rico (collectively, the “Pledged Properties”) and a pledge of related rents and other cash flows, insurance proceeds and condemnation awards and (iii) a pledge of any reserves and accounts of any borrower.  Subsequent to closing, the originating lenders placed the notes into a securitization trust that issued and sold mortgage-backed securities to investors.

As of March 31, 2020, the aggregate principal amount of the mortgage loan was $519.7 million.  The loan facility will mature on March 9, 2021, subject to three one-year extensions at the borrowers’ option conditioned upon, among other items, (i) an event of default shall not be continuing, (ii) in the case of the second one-year extension option, evidence that the Debt Yield (as defined and calculated in accordance with the loan agreement) equals or exceeds 13% and (iii) in the case of the third one-year extension option, evidence that the Debt Yield equals or exceeds 14%.

As of March 31, 2020, the weighted-average interest rate applicable to the notes was equal to one-month LIBOR plus a spread of 3.14% per annum, provided that such spread is subject to an increase of 0.25% per annum in connection with any exercise of the third extension option.  The Borrowers are required to maintain an interest rate cap with respect to the principal amount of the notes having (i) during the initial two-year term of the loan, a LIBOR strike rate equal to 4.5% and (ii) with respect to any extension period, a LIBOR strike rate that would result in a debt service coverage ratio of 1.20x based on the Mortgaged Properties.  Application of voluntary prepayments as described below will cause the weighted-average interest rate spread to increase over time.  At March 31, 2020, the interest rate applicable to the mortgage loan was 3.8%.  

The loan facility is structured as an interest only loan throughout the initial two-year term and any exercised extension options.  As a result, so long as no Amortization Period (as described below) or event of default exists, any property cash flows available following payment of debt service and funding of certain required reserve accounts (including reserves for payment of real estate taxes, insurance premiums, ground rents, tenant improvements and capital expenditures) will be available to the borrowers to pay operating expenses and for other general corporate purposes.  An Amortization Period will be deemed to commence in the event the borrowers fail to achieve a Debt Yield of 10.0% at the end of any fiscal quarter.  The Debt Yield as of March 31, 2020, was 14.1%.  During the pendency of an Amortization Period, any property cash flows available following payment of debt service and the funding of certain reserve accounts (including the reserve accounts referenced above and additional reserves established for payment of approved operating expenses, SITE Centers management fees, certain public company costs, certain taxes and the minimum cash portion of required REIT distributions) shall be applied to the repayment of the notes.  During an Amortization Period, cash flow from the borrowers’ operations will be made available to the Company only to pay required REIT distributions in an amount equal to the minimum portion of required REIT distributions allowed by law to be paid in cash (currently 20%), with the remainder of required REIT distributions during an Amortization Period likely to be paid in common shares of the Company.

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Subject to certain conditions described in the mortgage loan agreement, the borrowers may prepay principal amounts outstanding under the loan facility in whole or in part by providing (i) advance notice of prepayment to the lenders and (ii) remitting the prepayment premium described in the mortgage loan agreement.  No prepayment premium is required with respect to any prepayments made after April 9, 2020.  Additionally, no prepayment premium will apply to prepayments made in connection with permitted property sales.  Each Mortgaged Property has a portion of the original principal amount of the mortgage loan allocated to it.  The amount of proceeds from the sale of an individual Mortgaged Property required to be applied toward prepayment of the notes (i.e., the property’s “release price”) will depend upon the Debt Yield at the time of the sale as follows:

To the extent the net cash proceeds from the sale of a Mortgaged Property that are applied to repay the mortgage loan exceed the amount specified in applicable clause (ii) above with respect to such property, the excess may be applied by the Company as a credit against the release price applicable to future sales of Mortgaged Properties.

Pledged Properties other than Plaza del Sol do not have allocated loan amounts or, in general, minimum release prices; all proceeds from sales of Pledged Properties are required to be used to prepay the notes.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in order to obtain a release of all of the Pledged Properties (excluding Plaza del Sol) in connection with a portfolio sale of all of the Pledged Properties, the loan facility requires a minimum release price equal to the greater of (i) $250 million and (ii) 100% of the net sale proceeds.

Voluntary prepayments made by the borrowers (including prepayments made with proceeds from asset sales and prepayments made with property cash flows following commencement of any Amortization Period) will be applied to tranches of notes (i) absent an event of default, in descending order of seniority (i.e., such prepayments will first be applied to the most senior tranches of notes) and (ii) following any event of default, in such order as the loan servicer determines in its sole discretion.  As a result, the Company expects that the weighted-average interest rate spread applicable to the notes will increase during the term of the loan facility.

In the event of a default, the contract rate of interest on the notes will increase to the lesser of (i) the maximum rate allowed by law or (ii) the greater of (A) 4% above the interest rate otherwise applicable and (B) the Prime Rate (as defined in the mortgage loan) plus 1.0%.  The notes contain other terms and provisions that are customary for instruments of this nature.  In addition, the Company executed a certain environmental indemnity agreement and a certain guaranty agreement in favor of the lenders under which the Company agreed to indemnify the lenders for certain environmental risks and guarantee the borrowers’ obligations under the exceptions to the non-recourse provisions in the mortgage loan agreement.  The mortgage loan agreement includes representations, warranties, affirmative and restrictive covenants and other provisions customary for agreements of this nature.  The mortgage loan agreement also includes customary events of default, including, among others, principal and interest payment defaults and breaches of affirmative or negative covenants; the mortgage loan agreement does not contain any financial maintenance covenants.  Upon the occurrence of an event of default, the lenders may avail themselves of various customary remedies under the loan agreement and other agreements executed in connection therewith or applicable law, including accelerating the loan facility and realizing on the real property collateral or pledged collateral.

Credit Agreement

In July 2018, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement (the “Revolving Credit Agreement”) with PNC Bank, National Association (“PNC”).  The Revolving Credit Agreement provides for borrowings of up to $30.0 million.  The Company’s borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement bear interest at variable rates at the Company’s election, based on either (i) LIBOR plus a specified spread ranging from 1.05% to 1.50% depending on the Company’s Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) or (ii) the Alternate Base Rate (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) plus a specified spread ranging from 0.05% to 0.50% depending on the Company’s Leverage Ratio.  The Company is also required to pay a facility fee on the aggregate revolving commitments at a rate per annum that ranges from 0.15% to 0.30% depending on the Company’s Leverage Ratio.

The Revolving Credit Agreement matures on the earliest to occur of (i) March 9, 2021, (ii) the date on which the External Management Agreement is terminated, (iii) the date on which DDR Asset Management, LLC or another wholly-owned subsidiary of SITE Centers ceases to be the “Service Provider” under the External Management Agreement as a result of assignment or operation of law or otherwise and (iv) the date on which the principal amount outstanding under the Company’s $900 million mortgage loan is repaid or refinanced.

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The Revolving Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants, including a requirement to maintain tangible net worth of $500 million.  Upon the occurrence of certain customary events of default, the Company’s obligations under the Revolving Credit Agreement may be accelerated and the lending commitments thereunder terminated.  The Company may not borrow under the Revolving Credit Agreement, and a Default (as defined therein) occurs under the Revolving Credit Agreement if there is a “Default” under SITE Centers’ corporate credit facility with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., SITE Centers’ corporate credit facility with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association or SITE Centers’ corporate credit facility with PNC.  Additionally, the Company may not borrow under the Revolving Credit Agreement if there is a “Default” under the Revolving Credit Agreement or an “Event of Default” under the Company’s $900 million mortgage loan, if the External Management Agreement is no longer in full force and effect or if the Company has delivered or received a notice of termination or a notice of default under the External Management Agreement.

The Company’s obligations under the Revolving Credit Agreement are guaranteed by SITE Centers in favor of PNC.  In consideration thereof, the Company has agreed to pay to SITE Centers the following amounts: (i) an annual guaranty commitment fee of 0.20% of the aggregate commitments under the Revolving Credit Agreement, (ii) for all times other than those referenced in clause (iii) below, when any amounts are outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement, an amount equal to 5.00% per annum times the average aggregate outstanding daily principal amount of such loans plus the aggregate stated average daily amount of outstanding letters of credit and (iii) in the event SITE Centers pays any amounts to PNC pursuant to SITE Centers’ guaranty and the Company fails to reimburse SITE Centers for such amount within three business days, an amount in cash equal to the amount of such paid obligations plus default interest, which will accrue from the date of such payment by SITE Centers until repaid by the Company at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the LIBOR rate plus 8.50%.  

Series A Preferred Stock

In connection with the Company’s separation from SITE Centers, the Company issued the RVI Preferred Shares to SITE Centers that are noncumulative and have no mandatory dividend rate.  The RVI Preferred Shares rank, with respect to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, senior in preference and priority to the Company’s common shares and any other class or series of the Company’s capital stock.  Subject to the requirement that the Company distribute to its common shareholders the minimum amount required to be distributed with respect to any taxable year in order for the Company to maintain its status as a REIT and to avoid U.S. federal income taxes, the RVI Preferred Shares will be entitled to a dividend preference for all dividends declared on the Company’s capital stock at any time up to a “preference amount” equal to $190 million in the aggregate, which amount may increase by up to an additional $10 million if the aggregate gross proceeds of the Company’s asset sales subsequent to July 1, 2018 exceed $2.0 billion.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the RVI Preferred Shares are entitled to receive dividends only when, as and if declared by the Company’s Board of Directors, and the Company’s ability to pay dividends is subject to any restrictions set forth in the terms of its indebtedness.  Upon payment to SITE Centers of aggregate dividends on the RVI Preferred Shares equaling the maximum preference amount of $200 million, the RVI Preferred Shares are required to be redeemed by the Company for $1.00 per share.

Subject to the terms of any of the Company’s indebtedness and unless prohibited by Ohio law governing distributions to stockholders, the RVI Preferred Shares must be redeemed upon (i) the Company’s failure to maintain its status as a REIT, (ii) any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of the RVI Preferred Shares or (iii) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation), the result of which is that the Company sells, assigns, transfers, conveys or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any person or entity, or any person or entity, directly or indirectly, becomes the beneficial owner of 40% or more of the Company’s common shares, measured by voting power.  The RVI Preferred Shares also contain restrictions on the Company’s ability to invest in joint ventures, acquire assets or properties, develop or redevelop real estate or make loans or advances to third parties.

The Company may redeem the RVI Preferred Shares, or any part thereof, at any time at a price payable per share calculated by dividing the number of RVI Preferred Shares outstanding on the redemption date into the difference of (x) $200 million minus (y) the aggregate amount of dividends previously distributed on the RVI Preferred Shares to be redeemed.  As of April 30, 2020, no dividends have been paid on the RVI Preferred Shares.

Common Share Dividends

The Company’s 2018 dividend was paid on January 25, 2019 and the Company’s 2019 dividend was paid on January 8, 2020, in each case in a combination of cash and the Company’s common shares.  See Note 8, “Earnings Per Share,” of the Company’s consolidated financial statements included herein.  

Distributions of Puerto Rico sourced net taxable income to Company shareholders are subject to a 10% Puerto Rico withholding tax.  In 2018, the Company entered into a closing agreement with the Puerto Rico Department of Treasury which provides that the Company will be exempt from Puerto Rico income taxes so long as it qualifies as a REIT in the U.S. and distributes at least 90% of its

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Puerto Rico net taxable income to its shareholders every year.  As such, in late 2018 and 2019 the Company’s Board of Directors declared common share dividends, subject to a 10% withholding tax, on account of taxable income generated in Puerto Rico in those years.  The amount of each dividend is expected to exceed the amount of REIT taxable income generated by the Company in the applicable year.  Accordingly, federal income taxes were not incurred by the REIT.

Dividend Distributions

The Company anticipates making distributions to holders of its common shares to satisfy the requirements to qualify as a REIT and generally not be subject to U.S. federal income and excise tax (other than with respect to operations conducted through the Company’s TRS).  U.S. federal income tax law generally requires that a REIT distribute annually to holders of its capital stock at least 90% of its REIT taxable income, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gains, and that it pay tax at regular corporate rates to the extent that it annually distributes less than 100% of its REIT taxable income.  The Company generally intends to make distributions with respect to each taxable year in an amount at least equal to its REIT taxable income for such taxable year.  The Company also anticipates making future distributions to holders of its common shares in order to satisfy the requirements of its closing agreement with the Puerto Rico Department of Treasury in order to be exempt from Puerto Rico income taxes.  Although the Company expects to declare and pay distributions on or around the end of each calendar year, the Company’s Board of Directors will evaluate its dividend policy regularly particularly in light of the current and potential impacts of COVID-19.

To the extent that cash available for future distributions is less than the Company’s REIT taxable income or its taxable income generated in Puerto Rico, or if amortization requirements commence with respect to the terms of the mortgage loan, or if the Company determines it is advisable for other reasons, the Company may make a portion of its distributions in the form of common shares, and any such distribution of common shares may be taxable as a dividend to shareholders.  The Company may also distribute debt or other securities in the future, which also may be taxable as a dividend to shareholders.

Any distributions the Company makes to its shareholders will be at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors and will depend upon, among other things, the Company’s actual and anticipated results of operations and liquidity, which will be affected by various factors, including the income from its portfolio, its operating expenses (including management fees and other obligations owing to SITE Centers), repayments of restricted cash balances to SITE Centers in connection with the mortgage loan and other expenditures and the terms of the mortgage financing and the limitations set forth in the mortgage loan agreements.  Distributions will also be impacted by the pace and success of the Company’s property disposition strategy.  As a result of the terms of the mortgage financing, the Company anticipates that the majority of distributions of sales proceeds to be made to shareholders will not occur until after the mortgage loan has been repaid or refinanced.  Furthermore, subject to the Company’s ability to make distributions to the holders of the Company’s common shares in amounts necessary to maintain its status as a REIT and to avoid payment of U.S. federal income taxes, the RVI Preferred Shares will be entitled to a dividend preference for all dividends declared on the Company’s capital stock, at any time up to the preference amount.  Subsequent to the payment of dividends on the RVI Preferred Shares equaling the maximum preference amount of $200 million, the RVI Preferred Shares are required to be redeemed by the Company for an aggregate amount of $1.00 per share.  Due to the dividend preference of the RVI Preferred Shares, distributions of sales proceeds to holders of common shares are unlikely to occur until after aggregate dividends have been paid on the RVI Preferred Shares in an amount equal to the maximum preference amount.  At this time, the Company cannot predict when or if it will declare dividends to the holders of RVI Preferred Shares and when or if such dividends, if paid, will equal the maximum preference amount.  

Dispositions

For the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company sold three shopping centers aggregating 1.2 million square feet, for an aggregate sales price of $155.6 million and net proceeds prior to debt repayment of $146.8 million.  

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Changes in cash flow compared to the prior comparable period are described as follows:

Operating Activities: Cash provided by operating activities increased $3.7 million primarily due to reduction in interest expense and costs incurred with the March 2019 debt refinancing offset by a decrease in income due to asset sales.

Investing Activities:  Cash provided by investing activities increased $47.0 million primarily due to the following:

Financing Activities:  Cash used for financing activities increased by $58.2 million primarily due to the following:

CAPITALIZATION

At March 31, 2020, the Company’s capitalization consisted of $519.7 million of mortgage debt, $190.0 million of RVI Preferred Shares and $242.7 million of market equity (market equity is defined as common shares outstanding multiplied by $12.25, the closing price of the Company’s common shares on the New York Stock Exchange at March 31, 2020), resulting in a debt to total market capitalization ratio of 0.55 to 1.0, as compared to the ratio of 0.53 to 1.0 at March 31, 2019.  The closing price of the Company’s shares on the New York Stock Exchange was $31.17 at March 29, 2019, the last trading day of March.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND OTHER COMMITMENTS

The Company had aggregate outstanding mortgage indebtedness of $519.7 million at March 31, 2020 with a maturity of March 2021, subject to three one-year extension options.  In addition, the Company has two long-term ground leases in which it is the lessee.

SITE Centers Guaranty

On July 2, 2018, SITE Centers provided an unconditional guaranty to PNC with respect to any obligations outstanding from time to time under the Company’s Revolving Credit Agreement.  In connection with this arrangement, the Company has agreed to pay to SITE Centers a guaranty commitment fee of 0.20% per annum on the committed amount of the Revolving Credit Agreement and a fee equal to 5.00% per annum on any amounts drawn by the Company under the Revolving Credit Agreement.  In the event SITE Centers pays any of the Company’s obligations on the Revolving Credit Agreement and the Company fails to reimburse such amount within three business days, the guaranty provides for default interest that accrues at a rate equal to the sum of the LIBOR rate plus 8.50% per annum.

Other Commitments

The Company has entered into agreements with general contractors related to its shopping centers having aggregate commitments of approximately $10.2 million at March 31, 2020.  These obligations, composed principally of construction contracts for the repair of the Puerto Rico properties, are generally due within 12 to 24 months, as the related construction costs are incurred, and are expected to be financed through operating cash flow.  These contracts typically can be changed or terminated without penalty.  

The Company routinely enters into contracts for the maintenance of its properties.  These contracts typically can be canceled upon 30 to 60 days’ notice without penalty.  At March 31, 2020, the Company had purchase order obligations, typically payable

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within one year, aggregating approximately $0.7 million related to the maintenance of its properties and general and administrative expenses.

Hurricane Loss

In 2017, Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico and the Company’s 12 assets in Puerto Rico, aggregating 4.4 million square feet of Company-owned GLA, were significantly impacted.  In August 2019, the Company reached a settlement with its insurer with respect to the Company’s claims related to the hurricane.  The property damage settlement proceeds are reflected in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as Restricted Cash and will be disbursed to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Company’s mortgage financing.

As of March 31, 2020, the Company had expended $116 million in connection with repairing property damage caused by the hurricane.  The Company believes the insurance settlement proceeds received will be sufficient to complete its restoration efforts.  The Company anticipates that the repair and restoration work will be substantially complete in the second half of 2020.  The timing and schedule of additional repair work to be completed are highly dependent upon any changes in the scope of work, the availability of building materials, supplies and skilled labor. In addition, the timing of completing the remaining repair work could be delayed by orders made by the Puerto Rico government related to both stay-at-home directives and the temporary closure of non-essential businesses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

INFLATION

Most of the Company’s long-term leases contain provisions designed to mitigate the adverse impact of inflation.  Such provisions include clauses enabling the Company to receive additional rental income from escalation clauses that generally increase rental rates during the terms of the leases and/or percentage rentals based on tenants’ gross sales.  Such escalations are determined by negotiation, increases in the consumer price index or similar inflation indices.  In addition, many of the Company’s leases are for terms of less than 10 years, permitting the Company to seek increased rents at market rates upon renewal.  Most of the Company’s leases require the tenants to pay their share of operating expenses, including common area maintenance, real estate taxes, insurance and utilities, thereby reducing the Company’s exposure to increases in costs and operating expenses resulting from inflation.

ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

Portfolio Composition and Retail Environment. Though leasing prospects are heavily dependent on local conditions, in general, the Company continued to see modest demand from tenants for its continental U.S. space during January and February of 2020 before uncertainty and tenant concern around the COVID-19 pandemic caused a slow-down in lease activity in March 2020.  The Company’s portfolio has a diversified tenant base, with only three tenants whose annualized rental revenue equals or exceeds 3% of the Company’s annualized revenues at March 31, 2020 (Walmart/Sam’s Club at 6.5%; Bed Bath & Beyond, which includes Bed Bath & Beyond and Christmas Tree Shops, at 3.2% and PetSmart at 3.1%).  Other significant tenants include TJX Companies (T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods) and Best Buy, all of which have relatively strong financial positions, have outperformed other retail categories on a relative basis over time and we believe remain well capitalized. Historically, these tenants have provided a stable revenue base, and we believe that they will continue to provide a stable revenue base going forward, given the long-term nature of these leases. Moreover, the majority of the tenants in the Company’s shopping centers provide day-to-day consumer necessities with a focus on value, convenience and service, which the Company believes will enable many of its tenants to succeed under a variety of economic conditions.  The Company recognizes the risks posed by current economic conditions but believes that the diversity of its properties and the credit quality of its tenant base should enable it to navigate through a potentially challenging economic environment.

The shopping center portfolio’s occupancy was 86.7% and 88.4% at March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.  The net decrease in the rate primarily was attributed to the sale of assets having higher occupancy rates and a combination of tenant expirations.  The total portfolio average annualized base rent per occupied square foot was $15.65 at March 31, 2020, as compared to $15.63 at March 31, 2019.  

At March 31, 2020, the Company owned 12 assets on the island of Puerto Rico aggregating 4.4 million square feet, representing 43% of Company-owned GLA and approximately 50% of both the Company’s total consolidated revenue and the Company’s total consolidated revenue less operating expenses (i.e., net operating income) for the three months ended March 31, 2020.  The Company believes that the tenants at its Puerto Rico assets (many of which are high-quality continental U.S. retailers, such as Walmart/Sam’s Club and the TJX Companies (T.J. Maxx and Marshalls)) typically cater to the local consumer’s desire for value, convenience and day-to-day necessities.  Nevertheless, there is continued concern about the strength of the Puerto Rican economy, the ability of the government of Puerto Rico to meet its financial obligations and the impact of the territory’s ongoing bankruptcy and debt restructuring process on the economy of Puerto Rico.  The impact of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico further exacerbated these concerns.  See Item

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1A. “Risk Factors– Geographic Concentration of the Company’s Properties Makes It Vulnerable to Natural Disasters, Extreme Weather Conditions and Climate Change.  An Uninsured Loss or a Loss That Exceeds the Limits of the Company’s Insurance Policies Could Subject the Company to a Loss of Capital and Revenue” in the Company’s Annual Report on 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

The retail sector continues to be affected by increasing competition, including the impact of e-commerce.  These dynamics are expected to continue to lead to tenant bankruptcies, closures and store downsizing.  Some conventional department stores and national chains have announced bankruptcies, store closures and/or reduced expansion plans in recent years leading to a smaller overall number of tenants requiring large store formats. The loss of a tenant or downsizing of space can adversely affect the Company.  See Item 1A. “Risk Factors – The Economic Performance and Value of the Company’s Shopping Centers Depend on Many Factors, Each of Which Could Have an Adverse Impact on the Company’s Cash Flows and Operating Results” in the Company’s Annual Report on 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.  

In addition to the impacts of increased competition, e-commerce and adverse conditions in Puerto Rico, beginning in March 2020, the retail sector has been significantly impacted by the outbreak of COVID-19. Though the impact of COVID-19 on tenant operations has varied by tenant category, local conditions and applicable government mandates, a significant number of the Company’s tenants have experienced a drastic reduction in sales and foot traffic and many tenants have been forced to limit their operations or close their businesses for a period of time. As monthly rents are generally due from tenants at the beginning of each month, the outbreak of COVID-19 had a relatively minimal impact on the Company’s collection of March 2020 rents, but it has had a significant impact on collection of April 2020 rents. Discussions with individual tenants that failed to satisfy their April rent obligations are underway. Though the outcome of these discussions is expected to vary from tenant to tenant, the Company expects that it may enter into rent-deferral arrangements with some tenants, including smaller local operators, whose operations have been significantly impacted by COVID-19.  It is also unclear to what extent, if any, the Company or its tenants will be able to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on their operations through business interruption insurance coverage.

While the Company is unable to forecast the resolution of tenant relief and abatement claims, the degree to which similar requests and claims may be made by tenants in subsequent months or the duration of the disruption to tenant and Company operations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company expects that its results of operations will be adversely impacted by the outbreak and its impact on the economy.  Additionally, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a slow-down in the volume of new leasing activity and in delivery and rent commencement with respect to newly-leased space, and may ultimately lead to tenant closures and bankruptcies which may further adversely impact the Company’s results of operations in the future.

Disposition Outlook. In addition to its goal of maximizing cash flow from property operations, the Company seeks to realize profits through the regular sale of assets to a variety of buyers.  The market upon which this aspect of the business plan relies has recently been characterized as liquid but fragmented, with a wide range of generally small, non-institutional investors.  While some investors do not require debt financing, many seek to capitalize on leveraged returns using mortgage financing at interest rates well below the initial asset-level returns implied by disposition prices.  In addition to small, often local buyers, the Company also plans to transact with mid-sized institutional investors, some of which are domestic and foreign publicly traded companies.  Many larger domestic institutions, such as pension funds and insurance companies that were traditionally large buyers of retail real estate assets, have generally become less active participants in retail transaction markets over the last several years.  Lower participation of institutions and a generally smaller overall buyer pool has resulted in some level of pressure on asset prices, particularly for larger properties, though this impact remains highly heterogeneous and varies widely by market and specific assets.  Asset prices for retail real estate in Puerto Rico remain highly uncertain due to lack of transaction activity since Hurricane Maria.

The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has created uncertainty with respect to the timing and ability of the Company to execute the disposition portion of its business plan. Beginning in March 2020, many prospective purchasers have delayed or suspended their acquisition activities due to, among other factors, the uncertainty of tenant operations and the availability and terms of financing. Purchasers’ expectations with respect to economic returns from future investments in retail real estate may also be impacted by uncertainties caused by COVID-19. Although the Company believes that the outbreak of COVID-19 may have an adverse effect on the timing and pricing of disposition activity, the Company is currently unable to predict the magnitude of such impact.  

For additional risks relating to the outbreak of COVID-19, see Item 1A. Risk Factors in Part II of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

New Accounting Standards

New Accounting Standards are more fully described in Note 1, “Nature of Business and Financial Statement Presentation,” to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

MD&A should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this report.  Historical results and percentage relationships set forth in the Company’s consolidated financial statements, including trends that might appear, should not be taken as indicative of future operations.  The Company considers portions of this information to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), both as amended, with respect to the Company’s expectations for future periods.  Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements related to acquisitions (including any related pro forma financial information) and other business development activities, future capital expenditures, financing sources and availability and the effects of environmental and other regulations.  Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved.  For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact should be deemed to be forward-looking statements.  Without limiting the foregoing, the words “will,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “seeks,” “estimates” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  Readers should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond the Company’s control and that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements and that could materially affect the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements.  For additional factors that could cause the results of the Company to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.  See Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company’s Annual Report on 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  The impact of the COVID-19 may also exacerbate the risks discussed therein and herein, any of which could have a material effect of the Company.

Factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:

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