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 SITE Centers Corp. and its related consolidated real estate subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company” or “SITE Centers”) 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, 2020, as well as other publicly available information.
The Company is a self-administered and self-managed Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT”) in the business of acquiring, owning, developing, redeveloping, leasing and managing shopping centers. As of September 30, 2021, the Company’s portfolio consisted of 137 shopping centers (including 56 shopping centers owned through joint ventures). At September 30, 2021, the Company owned approximately 42.8 million total square feet of gross leasable area (“GLA”) through all its properties (wholly-owned and joint venture) and managed approximately 4.6 million total square feet of GLA owned by Retail Value Inc. (“RVI”). At September 30, 2021, the aggregate occupancy of the Company’s shopping center portfolio was 90.2%, and the average annualized base rent per occupied square foot was $18.44, both on a pro rata basis.
The following provides an overview of the Company’s key financial metrics (see Non-GAAP Financial Measures described later in this section) (in thousands, except per share amounts):
For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the increase in net income attributable to common shareholders, as compared to the prior-year period, was primarily attributable to the impact of net revenue relating to prior periods (including deferred rents), which was collected from cash basis tenants in the current period, gains recorded from asset sales, higher disposition fees, lower debt extinguishment costs and the valuation allowance recognized in 2020 related to the Company’s preferred investments in the BRE DDR joint ventures, partially offset by lower gain on sale of joint venture interests, the write-off of preferred share original issuance costs and lower interest income resulting from the termination of the Company’s preferred investments in the BRE DDR joint ventures in the fourth quarter of 2020.
In March 2020, the World Health Organization categorized COVID-19 as a pandemic, and it continues to spread throughout the United States and other countries across the world. Beginning in mid-March 2020, federal, state and local governments took various actions to limit the spread of COVID-19, including ordering the temporary closure of non-essential businesses (which included many of the Company’s tenants) and imposing significant social distancing guidelines and restrictions on the continued operations of essential businesses and the subsequent reopening of non-essential businesses. In addition, in order to safeguard the health of its employees and their families, the Company closed all of its offices in March 2020 and successfully transitioned to working remotely. The Company reopened its Corporate Headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio and select regional offices on a voluntary basis in October 2020. Employees returned to the office in September 2021, subject to increased flexible work arrangements. To date, the Company’s leasing and administrative operations have not been significantly impacted by the pandemic, as the Company’s significant investments in its IT infrastructure and systems in prior years facilitated the transition to remote and hybrid working environments.
As of October 15, 2021, all of the Company’s properties remain open and operational with 100% of tenants, at the Company’s share and based on average base rents, open for business. This compares to an open rate low of 45% in April 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the Company’s collection of rents from April 2020 through the end of 2020. The Company’s collection rates have shown significant improvement in the first nine months of 2021 relative to 2020 levels. A substantial majority of tenants, including tenants previously on the cash basis of accounting, are paying their monthly rent and are repaying deferred rents relating to prior periods. Included in the third quarter 2021 results and nine-months 2021 results were $1.6 million and $12.4 million, respectively, of 2020 net revenue at SITE Centers’ share, primarily from cash basis tenants. The majority of the deferral arrangements relating to 2020 revenue were repaid by the end of the third quarter of 2021, and therefore, the impact of 2020 rent collections is expected to decline in future periods. At September 30, 2021, the Company had outstanding contractual accounts receivable of $1.7 million and its pro rata share of outstanding contractual accounts receivable of unconsolidated joint ventures was $0.1 million for tenants that are not accounted for on the cash basis.
The Company calculates the aggregate percentage of rents paid with respect to a given period by comparing the amount of tenant payments received as of the date presented to the amount billed to tenants during the period. The billed amount includes abated rents, rents subject to deferral arrangements and rents owing from bankrupt tenants that were in possession of the space and billed. For the purposes of reporting the percentage of aggregate base rents collected for a given period, when rents subject to deferral arrangements are later paid, those payments are allocated to the period in which the rent was originally owed.
Although rent collection levels continued to improve in the third quarter of 2021, collection levels have not fully returned to pre-COVID levels during the first nine months of 2021, and future rent collections may be negatively impacted by any surges in COVID‑19 contagion, the discovery of new COVID-19 variants which are more infectious or resistant to COVID-19 vaccines, decreases in the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, and any implementation of additional restrictions on tenant businesses as a result thereof. For a further discussion of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business, see “Liquidity, Capital Resources and Financing Activities” and “Economic Conditions” included in this section and Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
The growth opportunities within the Company’s core property operations include rental rate increases, continued lease-up of the portfolio, and the adaptation of existing square footage to generate higher blended rental rates and operating cash flows. Additional growth opportunities include external investments and tactical redevelopment. Management intends to use retained cash flow, proceeds from the sale of lower growth assets, the repayment of other investments and proceeds from equity offerings to fund capital expenditures relating to new leasing activity, opportunistic investing and tactical redevelopment activity.
Transaction and investment highlights for the Company through October 22, 2021, include the following:
During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company completed the following operational activities:
Consolidated shopping center properties owned as of January 1, 2020, but excluding properties under development or redevelopment and those sold by the Company, are referred to herein as the “Comparable Portfolio Properties.”
Decrease in base and percentage rental income for the Comparable Portfolio Properties is due to the timing of both tenant bankruptcies, store closures from the COVID-19 pandemic and rent commencements in 2021 of the vacated space.
The following tables present the statistics for the Company’s assets affecting base and percentage rental income summarized by the following portfolios: pro rata combined shopping center portfolio, wholly-owned shopping center portfolio and joint venture shopping center portfolio:
At September 30, 2021 and 2020, the wholly-owned Comparable Portfolio Properties’ aggregate occupancy rate was 91.8% and 91.3%, respectively, and the average annualized base rent per occupied square foot was $18.61 and $18.79, respectively.
Change in depreciation and amortization for the Comparable Portfolio Properties is primarily a result of accelerated depreciation from tenant bankruptcies in 2020.
The Company’s overall balance sheet strategy is to continue to maintain liquidity and low leverage. The weighted-average interest rate (based on contractual rates and excluding fair market value of adjustments and debt issuance costs) was 3.9% and 3.7% at September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Interest costs capitalized in conjunction with redevelopment projects were $0.2 million for each of the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 and $0.5 million and $0.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The decrease in the amount of interest costs capitalized is a result of a reduction in redevelopment activity as a result of the COVID‑19 pandemic.
Net Income (in thousands)
|
Three Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended September 30,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2021
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
$ Change
|
|
Net income attributable to SITE Centers
|
$
|
28,064
|
|
|
$
|
7,287
|
|
|
$
|
20,777
|
|
|
Nine Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended September 30,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2021
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
$ Change
|
|
Net income attributable to SITE Centers
|
$
|
65,941
|
|
|
$
|
37,007
|
|
|
$
|
28,934
|
|
The increase in net income attributable to SITE Centers, as compared to the prior-year period, was primarily attributable to the impact of net revenue relating to prior periods (including deferred rents) which was collected from cash basis tenants in the current period, gains recorded from asset sales, higher disposition fees, lower debt extinguishment costs and the valuation allowance
23
recognized in 2020 related to the Company’s preferred investments in the BRE DDR joint ventures, partially offset by lower gain on sale of joint venture interests and lower interest income resulting from the termination of the Company’s preferred investment in the BRE DDR joint ventures in the fourth quarter of 2020.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
Funds from Operations and Operating Funds from Operations
Definition and Basis of Presentation
The Company believes that Funds from Operations (“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) preferred share dividends, (ii) gains and losses from disposition of real estate property and related investments, which are presented net of taxes, (iii) impairment charges on real estate property and related investments, including reserve adjustments of preferred equity interest, (iv) gains and losses from changes in control and (v) certain non-cash items. These non-cash items principally include real property depreciation and amortization of intangibles, equity income (loss) from joint ventures and equity income (loss) from non-controlling interests and adding the Company’s proportionate share of FFO from its unconsolidated joint ventures and non-controlling interests, determined on a consistent basis. The Company’s calculation of FFO is consistent with the definition of FFO provided by NAREIT.
The Company believes that certain charges, income and gains 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, income and gains 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, income 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, certain transaction fee income, transaction costs and other restructuring type costs. The disclosure of these adjustments is regularly requested by users of the Company’s financial statements.
The adjustment for these charges, income and gains 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, income and gains are non-recurring. These charges, income and gains 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 company’s performance, (iii) to influence acquisition, disposition and capital investment strategies and (iv) 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.
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. Management does not use FFO or Operating FFO as an indicator of the Company’s cash obligations
24
and funding requirements for future commitments, acquisitions or development 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 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.
Reconciliation Presentation
FFO and Operating FFO attributable to common shareholders were as follows (in thousands):
|
Three Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended September 30,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2021
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
$ Change
|
|
FFO attributable to common shareholders
|
$
|
66,504
|
|
|
$
|
42,262
|
|
|
$
|
24,242
|
|
Operating FFO attributable to common shareholders
|
|
61,361
|
|
|
|
43,531
|
|
|
|
17,830
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended September 30,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2021
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
$ Change
|
|
FFO attributable to common shareholders
|
$
|
176,510
|
|
|
$
|
128,911
|
|
|
$
|
47,599
|
|
Operating FFO attributable to common shareholders
|
|
181,917
|
|
|
|
144,571
|
|
|
|
37,346
|
|
The increase in FFO for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, primarily was attributable to the impact of net revenue relating to prior periods (including deferred rents) collected from cash basis tenants in the current period and lower debt extinguishment costs partially offset by the write-off of preferred share original issuance costs, lower fee income and lower interest income and the higher mark-to-market expense on the PRSUs. The change in Operating FFO primarily was due to the impact of net revenue relating to prior periods (including deferred rents) collected from cash basis tenants in the current period, partially offset by lower fee income and lower interest income.
The Company’s reconciliation of net income attributable to common shareholders computed in accordance with GAAP to FFO attributable to common shareholders and Operating FFO attributable to common shareholders is as follows (in thousands). The Company provides no assurances that these charges and gains are non-recurring. These charges and gains could reasonably be expected to recur in future results of operations:
|
Three Months
|
|
|
Nine Months
|
|
|
Ended September 30,
|
|
|
Ended September 30,
|
|
|
2021
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
2021
|
|
|
2020
|
|
Net income attributable to common shareholders
|
$
|
25,275
|
|
|
$
|
2,154
|
|
|
$
|
49,918
|
|
|
$
|
21,608
|
|
Depreciation and amortization of real estate investments
|
|
43,283
|
|
|
|
39,812
|
|
|
|
133,279
|
|
|
|
120,889
|
|
Equity in net income of joint ventures
|
|
(1,824
|
)
|
|
|
(250
|
)
|
|
|
(11,059
|
)
|
|
|
(908
|
)
|
Joint ventures' FFO(A)
|
|
5,659
|
|
|
|
4,388
|
|
|
|
17,065
|
|
|
|
14,529
|
|
Non-controlling interests (OP Units)
|
|
17
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
49
|
|
|
|
28
|
|
Impairment of real estate
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
7,270
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
(Adjustment) reserve of preferred equity interests
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(3,542
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
19,393
|
|
Gain on sale of joint venture interests
|
|
(35
|
)
|
|
|
(82
|
)
|
|
|
(13,943
|
)
|
|
|
(45,635
|
)
|
Gain on disposition of real estate, net
|
|
(5,871
|
)
|
|
|
(218
|
)
|
|
|
(6,069
|
)
|
|
|
(993
|
)
|
FFO attributable to common shareholders
|
|
66,504
|
|
|
|
42,262
|
|
|
|
176,510
|
|
|
|
128,911
|
|
RVI disposition fees
|
|
(5,500
|
)
|
|
|
(856
|
)
|
|
|
(6,092
|
)
|
|
|
(2,622
|
)
|
Mark-to-market adjustment (PRSUs)
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
289
|
|
|
|
5,589
|
|
|
|
(1,617
|
)
|
Executive separation charge
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,650
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,650
|
|
Debt extinguishment and other, net
|
|
356
|
|
|
|
186
|
|
|
|
722
|
|
|
|
18,207
|
|
Joint ventures – debt extinguishment and other, net
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
32
|
|
|
|
42
|
|
Write-off of preferred share original issuance costs
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
5,156
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Non-operating items, net
|
|
(5,143
|
)
|
|
|
1,269
|
|
|
|
5,407
|
|
|
|
15,660
|
|
Operating FFO attributable to common shareholders
|
$
|
61,361
|
|
|
$
|
43,531
|
|
|
$
|
181,917
|
|
|
$
|
144,571
|
|
25
|
(A)
|
At September 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company had an economic investment in unconsolidated joint ventures which owned 55 and 77 shopping center properties, respectively. These joint ventures represent the investments in which the Company recorded its share of equity in net income or loss and, accordingly, FFO and Operating FFO.
|
Joint ventures’ FFO and Operating FFO are summarized as follows (in thousands):
|
Three Months
|
|
|
Nine Months
|
|
|
Ended September 30,
|
|
|
Ended September 30,
|
|
|
2021
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
2021
|
|
|
2020
|
|
Net income (loss) attributable to unconsolidated
joint ventures
|
$
|
4,863
|
|
|
$
|
(4,748
|
)
|
|
$
|
53,525
|
|
|
$
|
(36,455
|
)
|
Depreciation and amortization of real estate investments
|
|
16,605
|
|
|
|
23,901
|
|
|
|
50,309
|
|
|
|
77,580
|
|
Impairment of real estate
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
33,240
|
|
Loss (gain) on disposition of real estate, net
|
|
455
|
|
|
|
(319
|
)
|
|
|
(36,132
|
)
|
|
|
(9,229
|
)
|
FFO
|
$
|
21,923
|
|
|
$
|
18,834
|
|
|
$
|
67,702
|
|
|
$
|
65,136
|
|
FFO at SITE Centers' ownership interests
|
$
|
5,659
|
|
|
$
|
4,388
|
|
|
$
|
17,065
|
|
|
$
|
14,529
|
|
Operating FFO at SITE Centers' ownership interests
|
$
|
5,660
|
|
|
$
|
4,388
|
|
|
$
|
17,097
|
|
|
$
|
14,571
|
|
Net Operating Income and Same Store Net Operating Income
Definition and Basis of Presentation
The Company uses Net Operating Income (“NOI”), which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as a supplemental performance measure. NOI is calculated as property revenues less property-related expenses. The Company believes NOI provides useful information to investors regarding the Company’s financial condition and results of operations because it reflects only those income and expense items that are incurred at the property level and, when compared across periods, reflects the impact on operations from trends in occupancy rates, rental rates, operating costs and acquisition and disposition activity on an unleveraged basis.
The Company also presents NOI information on a same store basis, or Same Store Net Operating Income (“SSNOI”). The Company defines SSNOI as property revenues less property-related expenses, which exclude straight-line rental income (including reimbursements) and expenses, lease termination income, management fee expense, fair market value of leases and expense recovery adjustments. SSNOI includes assets owned in comparable periods (15 months for quarter comparisons). In addition, SSNOI is presented both including and excluding activity associated with development and major redevelopment. In addition, SSNOI excludes all non-property and corporate level revenue and expenses. Other real estate companies may calculate NOI and SSNOI in a different manner. The Company believes SSNOI at its effective ownership interest provides investors with additional information regarding the operating performances of comparable assets because it excludes certain non-cash and non-comparable items as noted above. SSNOI is frequently used by the real estate industry, as well as securities analysts, investors and other interested parties, to evaluate the performance of REITs.
SSNOI is not, and is not intended to be, a presentation in accordance with GAAP. SSNOI information has its limitations as it excludes any capital expenditures associated with the re-leasing of tenant space or as needed to operate the assets. SSNOI does not represent amounts available for dividends, capital replacement or expansion, debt service obligations or other commitments and uncertainties. Management does not use SSNOI as an indicator of the Company’s cash obligations and funding requirements for future commitments, acquisitions or development activities. SSNOI does not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP and is not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs. SSNOI should not be considered as an alternative to net income (computed in accordance with GAAP) or as an alternative to cash flow as a measure of liquidity. A reconciliation of NOI and SSNOI to their most directly comparable GAAP measure of net income (loss) is provided below.
26
Reconciliation Presentation
The Company’s reconciliation of net income computed in accordance with GAAP to NOI and SSNOI for the Company at 100% and at its effective ownership interest of the assets is as follows (in thousands):
|
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
|
|
|
2021
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
2021
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
At 100%
|
|
|
At the Company's Interest
|
|
Net income attributable to SITE Centers
|
$
|
65,941
|
|
|
$
|
37,007
|
|
|
$
|
65,941
|
|
|
$
|
37,007
|
|
Fee income
|
|
(30,264
|
)
|
|
|
(34,149
|
)
|
|
|
(30,264
|
)
|
|
|
(34,149
|
)
|
Interest expense
|
|
57,701
|
|
|
|
58,487
|
|
|
|
57,701
|
|
|
|
58,487
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
137,446
|
|
|
|
125,014
|
|
|
|
137,446
|
|
|
|
125,014
|
|
General and administrative
|
|
41,547
|
|
|
|
38,542
|
|
|
|
41,547
|
|
|
|
38,542
|
|
Other expense, net
|
|
1,214
|
|
|
|
7,727
|
|
|
|
1,214
|
|
|
|
7,727
|
|
Impairment charges
|
|
7,270
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
7,270
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Equity in net income of joint ventures
|
|
(11,059
|
)
|
|
|
(908
|
)
|
|
|
(11,059
|
)
|
|
|
(908
|
)
|
Reserve of preferred equity interests
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
19,393
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
19,393
|
|
Tax expense
|
|
1,057
|
|
|
|
859
|
|
|
|
1,057
|
|
|
|
859
|
|
Gain on sale of joint venture interests
|
|
(13,943
|
)
|
|
|
(45,635
|
)
|
|
|
(13,943
|
)
|
|
|
(45,635
|
)
|
Gain on disposition of real estate, net
|
|
(6,069
|
)
|
|
|
(993
|
)
|
|
|
(6,069
|
)
|
|
|
(993
|
)
|
Income from non-controlling interests
|
|
384
|
|
|
|
621
|
|
|
|
384
|
|
|
|
621
|
|
Consolidated NOI
|
$
|
251,225
|
|
|
$
|
205,965
|
|
|
$
|
251,225
|
|
|
$
|
205,965
|
|
SITE Centers' consolidated joint venture
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(958
|
)
|
|
|
(1,200
|
)
|
Consolidated NOI, net of non-controlling interests
|
$
|
251,225
|
|
|
$
|
205,965
|
|
|
$
|
250,267
|
|
|
$
|
204,765
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures
|
$
|
53,525
|
|
|
$
|
(36,455
|
)
|
|
$
|
9,943
|
|
|
$
|
366
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
32,898
|
|
|
|
47,555
|
|
|
|
8,113
|
|
|
|
9,251
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
50,309
|
|
|
|
77,580
|
|
|
|
11,480
|
|
|
|
13,665
|
|
Impairment charges
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
33,240
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,890
|
|
Preferred share expense
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
13,710
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
685
|
|
Other expense, net
|
|
8,806
|
|
|
|
10,844
|
|
|
|
2,186
|
|
|
|
2,250
|
|
Gain on disposition of real estate, net
|
|
(36,132
|
)
|
|
|
(9,229
|
)
|
|
|
(4,387
|
)
|
|
|
(1,778
|
)
|
Unconsolidated NOI
|
$
|
109,406
|
|
|
$
|
137,245
|
|
|
$
|
27,335
|
|
|
$
|
26,329
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Consolidated + Unconsolidated NOI
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
277,602
|
|
|
$
|
231,094
|
|
Less: Non-Same Store NOI adjustments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
490
|
|
|
|
9,705
|
|
Total SSNOI including redevelopment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
278,092
|
|
|
$
|
240,799
|
|
Less: Redevelopment Same Store NOI adjustments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(11,071
|
)
|
|
|
(7,478
|
)
|
Total SSNOI excluding redevelopment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
267,021
|
|
|
$
|
233,321
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SSNOI % Change including redevelopment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15.5
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
SSNOI % Change excluding redevelopment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14.4
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
The increase in SSNOI at the Company’s effective ownership interest for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to 2020, primarily was attributable to rental income paid in 2021 by cash basis tenants which related to amounts (including deferred rent) originally owed in 2020.
LIQUIDITY, CAPITAL RESOURCES AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES
The Company periodically evaluates opportunities to issue and sell additional debt or equity securities, obtain credit facilities from lenders or repurchase or refinance long-term debt as part of its overall strategy to further strengthen its financial position. The Company remains committed to monitoring liquidity, duration and maintaining low leverage in an effort to manage its overall risk profile.
The Company’s consolidated and unconsolidated debt obligations generally require monthly or semi-annual payments of principal and/or interest over the term of the obligation. While the Company currently believes it has several viable sources to obtain capital and fund its business, including capacity under its credit facilities described below, no assurance can be provided that these obligations will be refinanced or repaid as currently anticipated.
27
The Company has historically accessed capital sources through both the public and private markets. Acquisitions and redevelopments are generally financed through cash provided from operating activities, Revolving Credit Facilities (as defined below), mortgages assumed, secured debt, unsecured debt, common and preferred equity offerings, joint venture capital and asset sales. Total consolidated debt outstanding was $1.8 billion at September 30, 2021, compared to $1.9 billion at December 31, 2020.
The Company had an unrestricted cash balance of $61.9 million at September 30, 2021, no outstanding balance on Revolving Credit Facilities, and accordingly, availability under the Revolving Credit Facilities of $970.0 million (subject to satisfaction of applicable borrowing conditions). The Company has $140.5 million of consolidated mortgage debt, at its share, maturing prior to the end of 2022 of which $87.6 million was repaid in October 2021, and no unsecured debt maturities prior to 2023. The Company’s unconsolidated joint ventures have $34.0 million of mortgage debt at the Company’s share maturing in the remainder of 2021, and $92.5 million of mortgage debt at the Company’s share maturing in 2022. As of September 30, 2021, the Company anticipates that it has approximately $26 million to fund on its pipeline of identified redevelopment projects. The Company declared dividends of $0.35 per share in the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The Company believes it has sufficient liquidity to operate its business at this time.
Revolving Credit Facilities
The Company maintains an unsecured revolving credit facility with a syndicate of financial institutions, arranged by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., Citizens Bank, N.A., RBC Capital Markets and U.S. Bank National Association (the “Unsecured Credit Facility.”) The Unsecured Credit Facility provides for borrowings of up to $950 million (which may be increased to $1.45 billion provided that the new lenders agree to existing terms of the facility or existing lenders increase their incremental commitments) and a maturity date of January 2024, with two six-month options to extend the maturity to January 2025 upon the Company’s request (subject to satisfaction of certain conditions). The Company also maintains an unsecured revolving credit facility with PNC Bank, National Association, which provides for borrowings of up to $20 million (the “PNC Facility,” and together with the Unsecured Credit Facility, the “Revolving Credit Facilities”), and has terms substantially the same as those contained in the Unsecured Credit Facility. The Company’s borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facilities bear interest at variable rates at the Company’s election, based on either LIBOR plus a specified spread (0.90% at September 30, 2021), or the Alternate Base Rate, as defined in the respective facility, plus a specified spread (0% at September 30, 2021). The Company also pays an annual facility fee of 20 basis points on the aggregate commitments applicable to each Revolving Credit Facility. The specified spreads and commitment fees vary depending on the Company’s long-term senior unsecured debt ratings from Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), Fitch Investor Services Inc. (“Fitch”) and their successors.
The Revolving Credit Facilities and the indentures under which the Company’s senior and subordinated unsecured indebtedness are, or may be, issued contain certain financial and operating covenants including, among other things, leverage ratios and debt service coverage and fixed charge coverage ratios, as well as limitations on the Company’s ability to incur secured and unsecured indebtedness, sell all or substantially all of the Company’s assets and engage in mergers and certain acquisitions. These credit facilities and indentures also contain customary default provisions including the failure to make timely payments of principal and interest payable thereunder, the failure to comply with the Company’s financial and operating covenants and the failure of the Company or its majority-owned subsidiaries (i.e., entities in which the Company has a greater than 50% interest) to pay, when due, certain indebtedness in excess of certain thresholds beyond applicable grace and cure periods. In the event the Company’s lenders or note holders declare a default, as defined in the applicable agreements governing the debt, the Company may be unable to obtain further funding and/or an acceleration of any outstanding borrowings may occur. As of September 30, 2021, the Company was in compliance with all of its financial covenants in the agreements governing its debt. Although the Company intends to operate in compliance with these covenants, if the Company were to violate these covenants, the Company may be subject to higher finance costs and fees or accelerated maturities. The Company is closely monitoring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its business and the Company believes it will continue to operate in compliance with these covenants.
Consolidated Indebtedness – as of September 30, 2021
As discussed above, the Company is committed to maintaining low leverage and may utilize proceeds from equity offerings or the sale of properties or other investments to repay additional debt. These sources of funds could be affected by various risks and uncertainties. No assurance can be provided that the Company’s debt obligations will be refinanced or repaid as currently anticipated. See Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
The Company continually evaluates its debt maturities and, based on management’s assessment, believes it has viable financing and refinancing alternatives. The Company has sought to manage its debt maturities through executing a strategy to extend debt duration, increase liquidity, maintain low leverage and improve the Company’s credit profile with a focus of lowering the Company's balance sheet risk and cost of capital.
28
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures’ Mortgage Indebtedness – as of September 30, 2021
The outstanding indebtedness of the Company’s unconsolidated joint ventures at September 30, 2021, which matures in the subsequent 13-month period (i.e. through October 31, 2022), is as follows (in millions):
|
Outstanding
at September 30, 2021
|
|
|
At SITE Centers' Share
|
|
DDR Domestic Retail Fund I(A)
|
$
|
462.5
|
|
|
$
|
92.5
|
|
RVIP IIIB(A)
|
|
61.3
|
|
|
|
15.8
|
|
Sun Center Limited(B)
|
|
18.7
|
|
|
|
14.9
|
|
DDR SAU Retail Fund LLC(C)
|
|
16.6
|
|
|
|
3.3
|
|
Total debt maturities through October 2022
|
$
|
559.1
|
|
|
$
|
126.5
|
|
|
(A)
|
Expected to be refinanced.
|
|
(B)
|
Expected to repay outstanding loan balance at maturity.
|
|
(C)
|
Expected to enter into an extension agreement with the lender or refinanced.
|
Subject to the uncertain impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on capital and transactions markets, it is expected that the joint ventures will generally fund these obligations from refinancing opportunities, including extension options or possible asset sales. No assurance can be provided that these obligations will be refinanced or repaid as currently anticipated. Similar to SITE Centers, the Company’s joint ventures experienced a reduction in rent collections, beginning in the second quarter of 2020, as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Though rent collection at the Company’s joint ventures have improved during 2021, any future deterioration in rent collection may cause one or more of these joint ventures to be unable to satisfy applicable covenants, financial tests, debt service requirements or loan maturity extension conditions in the future, thereby allowing the mortgage lender to assume control of property cash flows, limit distributions of cash to joint venture members, declare a default, increase the interest rate or accelerate the loan’s maturity.
Cash Flow Activity
The Company’s cash flow activities are summarized as follows (in thousands):
|
Nine Months
|
|
|
Ended September 30,
|
|
|
2021
|
|
|
2020
|
|
Cash flow provided by operating activities
|
$
|
217,364
|
|
|
$
|
125,934
|
|
Cash flow (used for) provided by investing activities
|
|
(64,731
|
)
|
|
|
102,370
|
|
Cash flow used for financing activities
|
|
(161,708
|
)
|
|
|
(189,941
|
)
|
Changes in cash flow for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to the prior comparable period, are as follows:
Operating Activities: Cash provided by operating activities increased $91.4 million primarily due to the following:
|
•
|
Increase in cash collected from tenants;
|
|
•
|
Reduction in interest income received from preferred investments and
|
|
•
|
Reduction in fees earned from joint ventures and managed properties.
|
Investing Activities: Cash (used for) provided by investing activities decreased $167.1 million primarily due to the following:
|
•
|
Decrease in proceeds from disposition of real estate and joint venture interests of $95.8 million and
|
|
•
|
Increase in real estate assets acquired and developed of $67.3 million.
|
Financing Activities: Cash used for financing activities decreased $28.2 million primarily due to the following:
|
•
|
Redemption of preferred shares of $150.0 million;
|
|
•
|
Increase in debt repayments net of proceeds of $72.8 million;
|
|
•
|
Decrease in dividends paid of $21.9 million and
|
|
•
|
Net proceeds from the March 2021 common share offering of $225.2 million.
|
RVI Preferred Shares
In 2018, RVI issued to the Company 1,000 shares of its series A preferred stock (the “RVI Preferred Shares”), which are noncumulative and have no mandatory dividend rate or maturity date. The RVI Preferred Shares rank, with respect to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of RVI, senior in preference and priority to RVI’s common shares and any other
29
class or series of RVI capital stock. Subject to the requirement that RVI distribute to its common shareholders the minimum amount required to be distributed with respect to any taxable year in order for RVI to maintain its status as a REIT and to avoid U.S. federal income taxes, the RVI Preferred Shares are entitled to a dividend preference for all dividends declared on RVI’s capital stock at any time up to a “preference amount” equal to $190.0 million in the aggregate, which amount could increase by up to an additional $10 million if the aggregate gross proceeds of RVI asset sales subsequent to July 1, 2018, exceeds approximately $2.0 billion. On October 6, 2021, the Company received a distribution of $190.0 million on the RVI Preferred Shares. Aggregate gross proceeds of RVI’s asset sales subsequent to July 1, 2018 through October 1, 2021 were $1.8 billion. RVI owns three remaining shopping centers as of October 1, 2021. The Company does not expect to receive any additional amounts with respect to the RVI Preferred Shares based on the level of sale proceeds expected from RVI’s remaining assets.
Dividend Distribution
The Company declared common and preferred cash dividends of $84.8 million and $54.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Company intends to distribute at least 100% of ordinary taxable income in the form of common and preferred dividends with respect to the year ending December 31, 2021 in order to maintain compliance with REIT requirements and in order to not incur federal income taxes (excluding federal income taxes applicable to its taxable REIT subsidiary activities).
The Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.11 per common share for the first quarter of 2021 and $0.12 per common share for each of the second and third quarters of 2021. The Board of Directors intends to monitor the Company’s dividend policy in order to maintain sufficient liquidity for operating and in order to maximize the Company’s free cash flow while still adhering to REIT payout requirements.
SITE Centers’ Equity
In the second and the third quarters of 2021, the Company offered and sold 980,396 and 720,076 of its common shares, respectively, on a forward basis under its $250 million continuous equity program at a weighted average price of $15.09 per share and $15.89 per share, respectively. Year to date, the Company has offered and sold 1,700,472 shares at a weighted average price of $15.43 per share before issuance costs, generating expected gross proceeds before issuance costs of $26.2 million, with no shares settled to date. The second quarter transactions may be settled at any time before the July 1, 2022 settlement date and the third quarter transactions may be settled at any time before the September 9, 2022 settlement date. As of October 22, 2021, the Company had approximately $223.8 million available for the future issuance of common shares under that program.
In March 2021, the Company issued 17.25 million common shares resulting in net proceeds of $225.2 million.
In April 2021, the Company redeemed all $150.0 million aggregate liquidation preference of its Class K Preferred Shares at a redemption price of $500 per Class K Preferred Share (or $25.00 per depositary share) plus accrued and unpaid dividends of $7.2049 per Class K Preferred Share (or $0.3602 per depositary share). The Company recorded a non-cash charge of $5.1 million to net income attributable to common shareholders in the second quarter of 2021, which represents the difference between the redemption price and the carrying amount immediately prior to redemption, which was recorded to additional paid in capital upon original issuance.
In November 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a common share repurchase program. Under the terms of the program, the Company may purchase up to a maximum value of $100 million of its common shares. Through October 22, 2021, the Company had repurchased 5.1 million of its common shares under this program in open market transactions at an aggregate cost of approximately $57.9 million, or $11.33 per share. As of October 22, 2021, the Company had not repurchased any shares under the program during 2021.
SOURCES AND USES OF CAPITAL
Strategic Transaction Activity
The Company remains committed to maintaining sufficient liquidity, managing debt duration and maintaining low leverage in an effort to manage its overall risk profile. Equity offerings, asset sales and proceeds from the repayment of other investments continue to represent a potential source of proceeds to be used to achieve these objectives.
Equity Transactions
In March 2021, the Company issued 17.25 million common shares resulting in net proceeds of $225.2 million which were used, in part, in April 2021 to redeem all of its Class K Preferred Shares having an aggregate liquidation preference of $150.0 million.
30
Acquisitions
During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company purchased three shopping centers (Delray Beach, Florida, Charlottesville, Virginia and Atlanta, Georgia) for an aggregate purchase price of $79.8 million, which includes $17.9 million of assumed mortgage indebtedness. The Company remains committed to taking advantage of its financial position and elevated cash resources, including as a result of its recent receipt of a $190.0 million distribution on the RVI Preferred Shares, to prudently grow its portfolio of assets in wealthy suburban communities.
Proceeds from Transactional Activity
During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company sold four unconsolidated shopping centers, aggregating 0.6 million square feet, five wholly-owned land parcels and the Hobby Lobby pad of a shopping center. These sales collectively generated proceeds totaling $84.6 million, of which the Company’s proportionate share of the proceeds was $41.9 million. The Company’s pro rata share of proceeds is before giving effect to the repayment of indebtedness and transaction costs.
In February 2021, one of the Company’s unconsolidated joint ventures sold its sole asset, which was a parcel of undeveloped land (approximating 70 acres) in Richmond Hill, Ontario. The Company’s share of net proceeds totaled $22.1 million, after accounting for customary closing costs and foreign currency translation. The net proceeds include $6.1 million that are held in escrow of which $4.1 million is expected to be released to the Company pending receipt of certain tax clearance certificates from the Canadian taxing authorities, and the remaining $2.0 million is considered contingent and should be released upon final dissolution of the partnership. The Company recorded an aggregate gain on the transaction of $16.8 million which included its $2.8 million share of the gain reported by the joint venture, as well as $14.0 million related to the Company’s promoted interest on the disposition of the investment and write-off of the accumulated foreign currency translation. Subsequent to the transaction, the Company has no other investments outside the United States.
On October 6, 2021, the Company received a distribution of $190.0 million on the RVI Preferred Shares, which represents the full amount expected to be paid by RVI on account of the Company’s preferred investment.
Changes in investment strategies for assets may impact the Company’s hold-period assumptions for those properties. The disposition of certain assets could result in a loss or impairment recorded in future periods. The Company evaluates all potential sale opportunities taking into account the long-term growth prospects of the assets, the use of proceeds and the impact to the Company’s balance sheet, in addition to the impact on operating results.
Redevelopment Opportunities
One key component of the Company’s long-term strategic plan will be the evaluation of additional tactical redevelopment potential within the portfolio, particularly as it relates to the efficient use of the underlying real estate. The Company will generally commence construction on various redevelopments only after substantial tenant leasing has occurred. At September 30, 2021, the Company anticipates that it has approximately $26 million to fund on its pipeline of identified redevelopment projects.
Redevelopment Projects
As part of its strategy to expand, improve and re-tenant various properties, at September 30, 2021, the Company had $42 million in construction in progress in various active consolidated redevelopment and other projects. The Company’s major redevelopment projects are typically substantially complete within two years of the construction commencement date. At September 30, 2021, the Company’s large-scale shopping center expansion and repurposing projects were as follows (in thousands):
Location
|
|
Estimated
Stabilized
Quarter
|
|
Estimated
Gross Cost
|
|
|
Cost Incurred at
September 30, 2021
|
|
West Bay Plaza - Phase II (Cleveland, Ohio)
|
|
2Q23
|
|
$
|
9,102
|
|
|
$
|
2,972
|
|
Woodfield Village Green (Chicago, Illinois)
|
|
TBD
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
663
|
|
Perimeter Pointe (Atlanta, Georgia)
|
|
TBD
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,252
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
$
|
9,102
|
|
|
$
|
4,887
|
|
31
At September 30, 2021, the Company’s tactical redevelopment projects, including outparcels, first generation space and small-scale shopping center expansions and other capital improvements, were as follows (in thousands):
Location
|
|
Estimated
Stabilized
Quarter
|
|
Estimated
Gross Cost
|
|
|
Cost Incurred at
September 30, 2021
|
|
Shoppers World (Boston, Massachusetts)
|
|
4Q23
|
|
$
|
6,672
|
|
|
$
|
164
|
|
University Hills (Denver, Colorado)
|
|
4Q23
|
|
|
4,589
|
|
|
|
519
|
|
Hamilton Marketplace (Trenton, New Jersey)
|
|
4Q22
|
|
|
3,843
|
|
|
|
2,769
|
|
Carolina Pavilion (Charlotte, North Carolina)
|
|
4Q23
|
|
|
2,339
|
|
|
|
167
|
|
West Bay Plaza (Cleveland, Ohio)
|
|
1Q22
|
|
|
335
|
|
|
|
100
|
|
Other Tactical Projects
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
13,549
|
|
|
|
12,971
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
$
|
31,327
|
|
|
$
|
16,690
|
|
No major redevelopment assets have been completed to date in 2021. For tactical redevelopment and larger retenanting projects completed in 2021, the assets placed in service were completed at a cost of approximately $116 per square foot.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
The Company has a number of off-balance sheet joint ventures with varying economic structures. Through these interests, the Company has investments in operating properties. Such arrangements are generally with institutional investors.
The Company’s unconsolidated joint ventures had aggregate outstanding indebtedness to third parties of $1.0 billion and $1.4 billion at September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively (see Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk). Such mortgages are generally non-recourse to the Company and its partners; however, certain mortgages may have recourse to the Company and its partners in certain limited situations, such as misappropriation of funds, impermissible transfer, environmental contamination and material misrepresentations.
CAPITALIZATION
At September 30, 2021, the Company’s capitalization consisted of $1.8 billion of debt, $175.0 million of preferred shares and $3.3 billion of market equity (market equity is defined as common shares and OP Units outstanding multiplied by $15.44, the closing price of the Company’s common shares on the New York Stock Exchange on September 30, 2021), resulting in a debt to total market capitalization ratio of 0.34 to 1.0, as compared to the ratio of 0.51 to 1.0 at September 30, 2020. The closing price of the Company’s common shares on the New York Stock Exchange was $7.20 at September 30, 2020. At September 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company’s total debt consisted of $1.6 billion and $1.5 billion of fixed-rate debt, respectively, and $0.2 billion and $0.3 billion of variable-rate debt, respectively.
It is management’s strategy to have access to the capital resources necessary to manage the Company’s balance sheet and to repay upcoming maturities. Accordingly, the Company may seek to obtain funds through additional debt or equity financings and/or joint venture capital in a manner consistent with its intention to operate with a conservative debt capitalization policy and to reduce the Company’s cost of capital by maintaining an investment grade rating with Moody’s, S&P and Fitch. A security rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities, as it may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the rating organization. Each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating. The Company may not be able to obtain financing on favorable terms, or at all, which may negatively affect future ratings.
The Company’s credit facilities and the indentures under which the Company’s senior and subordinated unsecured indebtedness are, or may be, issued contain certain financial and operating covenants, including, among other things, debt service coverage and fixed charge coverage ratios, as well as limitations on the Company’s ability to incur secured and unsecured indebtedness, sell all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, engage in mergers and certain acquisitions and make distribution to its shareholders. Although the Company intends to operate in compliance with these covenants, if the Company were to violate these covenants, the Company may be subject to higher finance costs and fees or accelerated maturities. In addition, certain of the Company’s credit facilities and indentures permit the acceleration of maturity in the event certain other debt of the Company is in default or has been accelerated. Foreclosure on mortgaged properties or an inability to refinance existing indebtedness would have a negative impact on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND OTHER COMMITMENTS
The Company has no consolidated debt maturing until January 2022. The Company expects to fund future maturities from utilization of its Revolving Credit Facilities, proceeds from asset sales and other investments, cash flow from operations and/or
32
additional debt or equity financings. No assurance can be provided that these obligations will be repaid as currently anticipated or refinanced.
Other Guaranties
In conjunction with the redevelopment of shopping centers, the Company had entered into commitments with general contractors aggregating approximately $19.7 million for its consolidated properties at September 30, 2021. These obligations, composed principally of construction contracts, 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, asset sales or borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facilities. 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 September 30, 2021, the Company had purchase order obligations, typically payable within one year, aggregating approximately $6.4 million related to the maintenance of its properties and general and administrative expenses.
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
Despite an increase in retailer bankruptcies in 2020, the Company experienced strong momentum in new lease discussions and renewal negotiations with tenants in the second half of 2020, which continued through the first nine months of 2021. Ultimately, the Company executed new leases and renewals aggregating approximately 2.6 million square feet of space for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, on a pro rata basis, which exceeded first nine months 2020 leasing levels. Although there may be some additional disruption among existing tenants due to the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company believes that recent strong leasing volumes are attributable to the location of the Company’s portfolio in suburban, high household income communities (which have been impacted less by the pandemic on a relative basis) and to national tenants’ strong financial positions and increasing emphasis and reliance on physical store locations to improve the spread and efficiency of fulfillment of online purchases.
The Company benefits from a diversified tenant base, with only one tenant whose annualized rental revenue equals or exceeds 3% of the Company’s annualized consolidated revenues plus the Company’s proportionate share of unconsolidated joint venture revenues (TJX Companies at 5.9%). Other significant tenants include Dick’s Sporting Goods, Ulta, Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, Nordstrom Rack, Five Below, Ross Stores, Kroger, Whole Foods and Home Depot, all of which have relatively strong financial positions, have outperformed other retail categories over time and the Company believes remain well-capitalized. Historically these tenants have provided a stable revenue base, and the Company believes that they will continue to provide a stable revenue base going forward, given the long-term nature of these leases. The majority of the tenants in the Company’s shopping centers provide day-to-day consumer necessities with a focus on value and convenience, versus discretionary items, which the Company believes will enable many of its tenants to outperform under a variety of economic conditions. The Company recognizes the risks posed by current economic conditions but believes that the position of its portfolio and the general diversity and credit quality of its tenant base should enable it to successfully navigate through a potentially challenging economic environment. The Company has relatively little reliance on overage or percentage rents generated by tenant sales performance.
The Company believes that its shopping center portfolio is well positioned, as evidenced by its historical property income growth and consistent growth in average annualized base rent per occupied square foot. Historical occupancy has generally ranged from 89% to 96% since the Company’s initial public offering in 1993. At September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the shopping center portfolio occupancy, on a pro rata basis, was 90.2% and 89.0%, respectively, and the total portfolio average annualized base rent per occupied square foot, on a pro rata basis, was $18.44 and $18.50, respectively. The Company’s portfolio has been impacted by tenant bankruptcies and lease expirations in recent years (which increased in number and pace in 2020 following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic) and the Company expects to expend significant amounts of capital in coming periods in connection with recently executed anchor leases and in order to re-lease remaining anchor vacancies. Although the per square foot cost of leasing capital expenditures has been predominantly consistent with the Company’s historical trends, the high volume of the Company’s recent anchor leasing activity will cause aggregate leasing capital expenditure levels to remain elevated. The weighted-average cost of tenant improvements and lease commissions estimated to be incurred over the expected lease term for new and renewal leases executed during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, on a pro rata basis, was $2.71 and $2.01 per rentable square foot, respectively. The Company generally does not expend a significant amount of capital on lease renewals.
Beginning in March 2020, the retail sector was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Though the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tenant operations varied by tenant category, local conditions and applicable government mandates, a significant number of the Company’s tenants experienced a reduction in sales and foot traffic, and many tenants were forced to limit their operations or close their businesses for a period of time. As of October 15, 2021, 100% of the Company’s tenants (at the Company’s share and based on average base rents) were open for business, up from an open rate low of 45% in early April 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic had no impact on the Company’s collection of rents for the first quarter of 2020, but it had a significant impact
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on collection of rents from April 2020 through the end of 2020. The Company’s collection rates have shown significant improvements in 2021 and a substantial majority of the Company’s tenants, including cash basis tenants, are paying their monthly rent and repaying deferred rents relating to prior periods. As of October 15, 2021, the Company’s quarterly rent payment rates, for assets owned at September 30, 2021, determined on a pro rata basis, for each quarterly reporting period since March 2020, and updated for subsequent cash receipts (including the repayment of deferred rents), are reflected as follows:
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Second
Quarter
2020
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Third
Quarter
2020
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Fourth
Quarter
2020
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First
Quarter
2021
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Second
Quarter
2021
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Third
Quarter
2021
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As of October 15, 2021
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91%
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96%
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97%
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98%
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99%
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99%
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For purposes of reporting the percentage of aggregate base rents collected for a given period, when rents subject to deferral arrangements are later paid, those payments are allocated to the period in which the rent was originally owed. The Company calculates the aggregate percentage of rents paid by comparing the amount of tenant payments received as of the date presented to the amount billed to tenants during the period, which billed amount includes abated rents, rents subject to deferral arrangements and rents owing from bankrupt tenants that were in possession of the space and billed.
The Company engaged in discussions with most of its larger tenants that failed to satisfy all or a portion of their rent obligations and agreed to terms on rent-deferral arrangements (and, in a small number of cases, rent abatements) and other lease modifications with a significant number of such tenants. As of September 30, 2021, $1.7 million remains outstanding under these deferral arrangements for tenants that are not accounted for on the cash basis. As of October 15, 2021, agreed upon rent deferral arrangements with tenants that remain unpaid represented 1% of 2020 rents. Agreed upon rental deferral arrangements for the first three quarters of 2021 are immaterial.
The Company is unable to forecast the duration of the disruption to tenant and Company operations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic or the ultimate level of collections of rents and other unpaid amounts owed by tenants that were deferred or unpaid during 2020. However, the level and pace of collections of such deferred rents and other unresolved amounts exceeded management’s expectations during the first nine months of 2021, especially with respect to collections from tenants previously placed on the cash basis of accounting. If new surges in contagion were to occur, or if new COVID-19 variants were to be discovered which are more resistant to vaccines, or if there are decreases in the effectiveness of such vaccines, the Company’s recent success in the collection of deferred rents and unresolved amounts could be adversely impacted and such developments could lead to new restrictions on tenant operations, nonpayment of contractual and previously deferred rents, additional tenant requests for rent relief and additional tenant closures and bankruptcies, all of which could adversely impact the Company’s results of operations in the future. Certain tenant categories remain especially vulnerable to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including movie theaters, fitness and local restaurants. For additional risks relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, see Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
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, 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 Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may also exacerbate the risks discussed therein and herein, any of which could have a material effect on the Company.
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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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The Company is subject to general risks affecting the real estate industry, including the need to enter into new leases or renew leases on favorable terms to generate rental revenues, and any economic downturn may adversely affect the ability of the Company’s tenants, or new tenants, to enter into new leases or the ability of the Company’s existing tenants to renew their leases at rates at least as favorable as their current rates;
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The Company could be adversely affected by changes in the local markets where its properties are located, as well as by adverse changes in national economic and market conditions;
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The Company may fail to anticipate the effects on its properties of changes in consumer buying practices, including sales over the internet and the resulting retailing practices and space needs of its tenants, or a general downturn in its tenants’ businesses, which may cause tenants to close stores or default in payment of rent;
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The Company is subject to competition for tenants from other owners of retail properties, and its tenants are subject to competition from other retailers and methods of distribution. The Company is dependent upon the successful operations and financial condition of its tenants, in particular its major tenants, and could be adversely affected by the bankruptcy of those tenants;
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The Company relies on major tenants, which makes it vulnerable to changes in the business and financial condition of, or demand for its space by, such tenants;
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The Company may not realize the intended benefits of acquisition or merger transactions. The acquired assets may not perform as well as the Company anticipated, or the Company may not successfully integrate the assets and realize improvements in occupancy and operating results. The acquisition of certain assets may subject the Company to liabilities, including environmental liabilities;
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The Company may fail to identify, acquire, construct or develop additional properties that produce a desired yield on invested capital, or may fail to effectively integrate acquisitions of properties or portfolios of properties. In addition, the Company may be limited in its acquisition opportunities due to competition, the inability to obtain financing on reasonable terms or any financing at all and other factors;
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The Company may fail to dispose of properties on favorable terms, especially in regions experiencing deteriorating economic conditions. In addition, real estate investments can be illiquid, particularly as prospective buyers may experience increased costs of financing or difficulties obtaining financing due to local or global conditions, and could limit the Company’s ability to promptly make changes to its portfolio to respond to economic and other conditions;
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The Company may abandon a development or redevelopment opportunity after expending resources if it determines that the opportunity is not feasible due to a variety of factors, including a lack of availability of construction financing on reasonable terms, the impact of the economic environment on prospective tenants’ ability to enter into new leases or pay contractual rent, or the inability of the Company to obtain all necessary zoning and other required governmental permits and authorizations;
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The Company may not complete development or redevelopment projects on schedule as a result of various factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, such as weather, labor conditions, governmental approvals, material shortages or general economic downturn, resulting in limited availability of capital, increased debt service expense and construction costs and decreases in revenue;
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The Company’s financial condition may be affected by required debt service payments, the risk of default, restrictions on its ability to incur additional debt or to enter into certain transactions under its credit facilities and other documents governing its debt obligations and the risk of downgrades from debt rating services. In addition, the Company may encounter difficulties in obtaining permanent financing or refinancing existing debt. Borrowings under the Company’s Revolving Credit Facilities are subject to certain representations and warranties and customary events of default, including any event that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business or financial condition;
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Changes in interest rates could adversely affect the market price of the Company’s common shares, as well as its performance and cash flow;
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Debt and/or equity financing necessary for the Company to continue to grow and operate its business may not be available or may not be available on favorable terms;
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Disruptions in the financial markets could affect the Company’s ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms and have other adverse effects on the Company and the market price of the Company’s common shares;
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The Company is subject to complex regulations related to its status as a REIT and would be adversely affected if it failed to qualify as a REIT;
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The Company must make distributions to shareholders to continue to qualify as a REIT, and if the Company must borrow funds to make distributions, those borrowings may not be available on favorable terms or at all;
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Joint venture investments may involve risks not otherwise present for investments made solely by the Company, including the possibility that a partner or co-venturer may become bankrupt, may at any time have interests or goals different from those of the Company and may take action contrary to the Company’s instructions, requests, policies or objectives, including the Company’s policy with respect to maintaining its qualification as a REIT. In addition, a partner or co‑venturer may not have access to sufficient capital to satisfy its funding obligations to the joint venture or may seek to terminate the joint venture, resulting in a loss to the Company of property revenues and management fees. The partner could cause a default under the joint venture loan for reasons outside the Company’s control. Furthermore, the Company could be required to reduce the carrying value of its equity investments, including preferred investments, if a loss in the carrying value of the investment is realized;
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The Company’s decision to dispose of real estate assets, including undeveloped land and construction in progress, would change the holding period assumption in the undiscounted cash flow impairment analyses, which could result in material impairment losses and adversely affect the Company’s financial results;
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The outcome of pending or future litigation, including litigation with tenants or joint venture partners, may adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition;
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Property damage, expenses related thereto, and other business and economic consequences (including the potential loss of revenue) resulting from extreme weather conditions or natural disasters in locations where the Company owns properties may adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition;
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Sufficiency and timing of any insurance recovery payments related to damages and lost revenues from extreme weather conditions or natural disasters may adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition;
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The Company and its tenants could be negatively affected by the impacts of pandemics and other public health crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic;
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The Company is subject to potential environmental liabilities;
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The Company may incur losses that are uninsured or exceed policy coverage due to its liability for certain injuries to persons, property or the environment occurring on its properties;
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The Company could incur additional expenses to comply with or respond to claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act or otherwise be adversely affected by changes in government regulations, including changes in environmental, zoning, tax and other regulations;
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Changes in accounting standards or other standards may adversely affect the Company’s business;
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The Company’s Board of Directors, which regularly reviews the Company’s business strategy and objectives, may change the Company’s strategic plan based on a variety of factors and conditions, including in response to changing market conditions and
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The Company and its vendors could sustain a disruption, failure or breach of their respective networks and systems, including as a result of cyber-attacks, which could disrupt the Company’s business operations, compromise the confidentiality of sensitive information and result in fines or penalties.
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