Item 1. Business
The terms “Company,” “RPT,” “we,” “our,” or “us” refer to RPT Realty, RPT Realty, L.P., and/or their subsidiaries, as the context may require. The content of our website and the websites of third parties noted herein is not incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
General
RPT Realty owns and operates a national portfolio of open-air shopping destinations principally located in top U.S. markets. The Company's shopping centers offer diverse, locally-curated consumer experiences that reflect the lifestyles of their surrounding communities and meet the modern expectations of the Company's retail partners. The Company is a fully integrated and self-administered REIT publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”). The common shares of beneficial interest of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the “common shares”), are listed and traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “RPT”. As of December 31, 2020, our property portfolio consisted of 49 shopping centers (including five shopping centers owned through a joint venture) (the “aggregate portfolio”) representing 11.9 million square feet of gross leasable area (“GLA”). As of December 31, 2020, the Company's pro-rata share of the aggregate portfolio was 92.8% leased.
The Company's principal executive offices are located at 19 West 44th Street, Suite 1002, New York, New York 10036 and its telephone number is (212) 221-1261. The Company’s website is rptrealty.com.
We conduct substantially all of our business through our operating partnership, RPT Realty, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership” or “OP”). The Operating Partnership, either directly or indirectly through partnerships or limited liability companies, holds fee title to all of our properties. As the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, we have the exclusive power to manage and conduct the business of the Operating Partnership. As of December 31, 2020, we owned approximately 97.7% of the Operating Partnership. The interests of the limited partners are reflected as noncontrolling interests in our financial statements and the limited partners are generally individuals or entities that contributed interests in certain assets or entities to the Operating Partnership in exchange for units of limited partnership interest (“OP Units”). The holders of OP Units are entitled to exchange them for our common shares on a 1:1 basis or for cash. The form of payment is at our election.
We operate in a manner intended to qualify as a REIT pursuant to the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Certain of our operations, including property and asset management, as well as ownership of certain land parcels, are conducted through taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRSs”), which are subject to federal and state income taxes.
Impact of COVID-19
The Company is closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic, including the impact on our business, our tenants, our vendors and our partners. The following summary is intended to provide shareholders with information pertaining to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business and management’s strategy and actions to respond to these impacts. Unless otherwise specified, the statistical and other information regarding the Company’s portfolio and tenants included in this subsection are based on information available to the Company and includes its consolidated properties and its pro-rata share of unconsolidated joint ventures. Due to the uncertainty and rapidly changing nature of the COVID-19 situation, the Company anticipates that any such statistics and information will potentially change significantly. As a result, the information provided may not be indicative of the actual impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business, operations, cash flows and financial condition for the year-ended December 31, 2020 and future periods.
The spread of COVID-19 has caused significant market volatility and adverse impacts on the U.S. retail market, the U.S. economy, the global economy, and financial markets. In order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, federal, state and local governments have issued recommendations and mandatory business closures, quarantines, restrictions on travel and “shelter-in-place” or “stay at home” orders and social distancing protocols. These measures have impacted our tenants in various ways based upon their business classifications. For example, many jurisdictions have permitted only “essential” businesses to continue to fully operate, have required all “non-essential” businesses to cease or significantly modify operations and have limited restaurants to take-out and delivery services. While the Company is actively monitoring each jurisdiction's plans, it is impossible to predict when restrictions will be partially or completely lifted or relaxed, when tenants will fully re-open or what restrictions will remain in place when re-opening occurs, how such re-opening restrictions will continue to impact, or the effect of any re-opening or relaxation of such restrictions or the adoption of a vaccine will have on, the business of our tenants and whether consumer demand and spending will return to the same levels as prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has impacted the Company's properties and tenants by these and other factors as follows:
•100% of the Company's 49 shopping centers remain open and operating as of February 10, 2021.
•94% of our total tenants were open and operating, on a pro-rata basis, as of February 10, 2021 based on Annualized Base Rent (“ABR”).
•67% of the Company’s properties by ABR had a grocery or grocer component and 87% of ABR stemmed from national or regional tenants, on a pro-rata basis, as of December 31, 2020.
•91% of fourth quarter 2020 rents have been paid, on a pro-rata basis, as of February 10, 2021.
•6% of fourth quarter 2020 rents are subject to signed or approved deferral agreements, on a pro-rata basis, as of February 10, 2021.
The Company has taken a number of proactive measures to maintain the strength of its business and manage the impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s operations and liquidity, including the following:
•The health and safety of our employees and their families, our tenants and our shopping center customers is our priority. Employees were required to work from home pursuant to the Company's pre-existing work-from-home infrastructure already in-place, mitigating concerns regarding the loss of employee productivity, cybersecurity concerns, and greater difficulty in maintaining internal controls over financial reporting.
•The Company maintains continuous communication with its tenants and is providing resources and assisting tenants in identifying local, state and federal aid that may be available to support their businesses and employees during the pandemic. The Company created a dedicated COVID-19 page containing resources for tenants, including with respect
to information on the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, including the historic Paycheck Protection Program, and Families First Coronavirus Response Act; information on the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loan and debt relief programs and references to state-by-state resources to help our tenants understand specific directives that may impact their businesses.
•During the second quarter of 2020, the Company completed a workforce reduction and instituted temporary compensation reductions for the executive officers ranging from 10% to 20% of their annual base salaries. Certain executive officers also agreed to further reductions of 10% to 20% of their annual base salaries in exchange for restricted common shares with an equal value.
•To enhance its liquidity position and maintain financial flexibility, the Company borrowed $225.0 million on its unsecured revolving credit facility in March 2020. As of December 31, 2020, the Company has repaid $125.0 million of this borrowing leaving $100.0 million outstanding. On February 12, 2021, the Company repaid the remaining $100.0 million outstanding.
•The Company has taken proactive measures to manage liquidity, by suspending the Company’s shopping center acquisition and disposition activity until further notice with no transactions made since December 31, 2019. We have suspended all new development and redevelopment project starts until further notice and currently have no committed development or redevelopment projects in progress. Further, the Company started deferring all but essential maintenance capital expenditures in early March.
•In light of the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board of Trustees temporarily suspended the quarterly common dividend to retain cash starting with the second quarter of 2020. On February 11, 2021, the Company's Board of Trustees reinstated the first quarter 2021 common dividend at $0.075 per share payable on April 1, 2021, to the holders of record of Common Shares as of the close of business on March 19, 2021.
•We paid our first quarter dividend in the amount of $19.4 million on April 1, 2020, to shareholders of record as of March 20, 2020.
•We paid our fourth quarter preferred dividend in the amount of $1.7 million on January 4, 2021 to shareholders of record as of December 18, 2020. The Company anticipates it will continue to pay its preferred stock dividend.
The Company’s predominant source of revenue is from rents and reimbursable expenses received from tenants pursuant to lease agreements. Therefore, the Company’s financial results may be adversely impacted in the event our tenants are unable to make rental payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ability of tenants to pay rent is highly uncertain and cannot be predicted based upon the uncertainty surrounding the magnitude, duration and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company also experienced a slow-down in leasing activity since March 2020 caused by uncertainty and tenant concern related to the COVID-19 pandemic. While January 2020 and February 2020 leasing activity was relatively consistent with historical levels, the volume of new leasing activity has since slowed. As a result, the full impact of COVID-19 on our business is currently unknown. Our strong balance sheet and operational flexibility allowed us to successfully manage through the initial impact of COVID-19 while protecting our cash flow and liquidity. The factors described above, as well as additional factors that the Company may not currently be aware of, could materially negatively impact the Company’s ability to collect rent and could lead to tenant bankruptcies, rejection of tenant leases in bankruptcy, difficulties in renewing or re-leasing retail space, difficulties in accessing capital, impairment of the Company’s assets and other effects that could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations, financial condition and ability to pay distributions to shareholders. See “Risk Factors” in this report.
Business Strategy
Our goal is to be a dominant shopping center owner, with a focus on the following:
•Own and manage high quality open-air shopping centers predominantly concentrated in the top U.S. metropolitan statistical areas (“MSA”);
•Curate our real estate to maximize its value while being aligned with the future of the shopping center industry by leveraging technology, optimizing distribution points for brick-and-mortar and e-commerce purchases, engaging in best-in-class sustainability programs and developing a personalized appeal to attract and engage the next generation of shoppers;
•Increase the value of our properties and create long-term value and growth for our shareholders;
•Cultivate value creation redevelopment and expansion pipeline;
•Maximize balance sheet liquidity and flexibility;
•Maximize revenue by leasing to a strong and diverse tenant mix at increased rent, when possible; and
•Attract, retain and promote motivated high performing employees.
Key methods to achieve our strategy:
•Deliver above average relative shareholder return and generate outsized consistent and sustainable Same Property Net Operating Income (“Same Property NOI”) and Operating Funds from Operations (“Operating FFO”) per share growth;
•Evaluate select redevelopment projects with significant pre-leasing for which we expect to achieve attractive returns on investment;
•Sell assets that no longer meet our long-term strategy and redeploy the proceeds to lease, redevelop and acquire assets in our core and target markets;
•Achieve lower leverage while maintaining low variable interest rate risk;
•Maintain strong tenant and retailer relationships to minimize tenant turnover to attract diverse tenancy; and
•Retain access to diverse sources of capital, maintain liquidity through borrowing capacity under our unsecured line of credit and minimize the amount of debt maturities in a single year.
Our portfolio consists of community, lifestyle and power center properties tenanted by national and regional chain stores, market-leading supermarkets, as well as a strong lineup of smaller national, regional and local retailers that optimize the overall merchandise mix and reflect the community demographics of each center. Our centers also include entertainment components, including theaters, fitness centers and restaurants, which, in addition to supermarkets, are daily drivers of consumer traffic to our properties. National chain anchor tenants in our centers include, among others, TJ Maxx/Marshalls, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Ross Stores and ULTA Salon. Supermarket anchor tenants in our centers include, among others, Publix Super Market, Whole Foods, Kroger, Aldi, and Sprouts. Theater, fitness and restaurant tenants include, among others, Regal Cinema, LA Fitness, Starbucks and Panera. Our shopping centers are primarily located in key growth markets in the 40 largest MSAs in the United States such as Metro Detroit, Cincinnati, Miami, Jacksonville, Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Tampa/Lakeland, Nashville and Austin.
Operating Strategies and Significant Transactions
Our operating objective is to maximize the risk-adjusted return on invested capital at our shopping centers. We seek to do so by increasing the property operating income of our centers, controlling our capital expenditures, monitoring our tenants' credit risk and taking actions to mitigate our exposure to that tenant credit risk.
During 2020, our properties reported the following leasing activity, which is shown at pro-rata except for number of leasing transactions and square feet:
(1) Base rent represents contractual minimum rent under the new lease for the first 12 months of the term.
(2) Prior rent represents minimum rent, if any, paid by the prior tenant in the final 12 months of the term.
(3) Includes estimated tenant improvement cost, tenant allowances, and landlord costs. Excludes first generation space and leases related to development and redevelopment activity.
(4) Non-comparable lease transactions include (i) leases for space vacant for greater than 12 months and (ii) leases signed where the previous and current lease do not have a consistent lease structure.
The Company experienced a slow-down in leasing activity beginning in March 2020 caused by uncertainty and tenant concern related to the COVID-19 pandemic. While January 2020 and February 2020 leasing activity was relatively consistent with historical levels, the volume of new leasing activity with respect to newly-leased space slowed thereafter for a portion of the year ended December 31, 2020. Leasing activity since the start of the third quarter of 2020 returned to levels relatively consistent with historical results.
Investing Activities and Significant Transactions
Our investing objective is to generate an attractive risk-adjusted return on capital invested in acquisitions, developments, and redevelopments. In addition we seek to sell land or shopping centers that we deem to be fully valued or that no longer meet our investment criteria. We underwrite acquisitions based upon current cash flow, projections of future cash flow and scenario analyses that take into account the risks and opportunities of ownership. We underwrite development of new shopping centers on the same basis, but also take into account the unique risks of entitling land, constructing buildings and leasing newly built space.
In December 2020, we sold two land parcels for aggregate gross proceeds of $1.4 million. We had no acquisitions during 2020.
In December 2019, we acquired a 76,000 square foot Target shadow-anchored shopping center in Austin, Texas for $33.9 million. We also sold two shopping centers and one land outparcel for aggregate gross proceeds of $69.4 million in the first half of 2019.
On December 10, 2019, we contributed five properties valued at $244.0 million to a newly formed joint venture with an affiliate of GIC Private Limited (“GIC”), Singapore's sovereign wealth fund, referred to as R2G Venture LLC (“R2G”), and received $118.3 million in gross proceeds for the 48.5% stake in R2G that was acquired by GIC. Additionally, GIC committed up to $200.0 million of additional capital to R2G over a three year period to fund its 48.5% share of up to an aggregate of $412.4 million of potential acquisitions by R2G of grocery-anchored shopping centers in target markets in the U.S. RPT retained a 51.5% stake in R2G and receives property management, construction management and leasing fees from R2G. The Company is responsible for the day-to-day management of the properties as well as sourcing future acquisitions for R2G. Both GIC and RPT will have consent rights for all future acquisitions, and GIC has approval rights in connection with annual budgets and other specified major decisions. During the three year investment period for R2G, RPT has agreed to present all opportunities above a specified size threshold to acquire grocery-anchored shopping centers in attractive-high growth markets in the United States to R2G and not to acquire, invest in or source any such opportunities that have not previously been presented to R2G and declined by GIC.
Unless specified events occur, neither RPT nor GIC has the right to force a sale of R2G or its assets within the first five years following its formation. Thereafter, both RPT and GIC will have forced sale rights, subject to a right to participate in the purchase for the other member.
Refer to Note 4 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements in this report for additional information related to acquisitions and dispositions.
Financing Strategies and Significant Transactions
Our financing objective is to maintain a strong and flexible balance sheet to ensure access to capital at a competitive cost. In general, we seek to increase our financial flexibility by increasing our pool of unencumbered properties, maintaining a well-laddered debt maturity profile and primarily borrowing on an unsecured basis. In keeping with our objective, we routinely benchmark our balance sheet on a variety of measures to our peers in the shopping center sector and REITs in general.
During the fourth quarter 2020 we obtained an investment grade credit rating from a nationally recognized credit rating agency.
Debt
On November 6, 2019, the Operating Partnership entered into the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “credit agreement”), which consists of an unsecured revolving credit facility of up to $350.0 million (the “revolving credit facility”) and term loan facilities of $310.0 million (the “term loan facilities” and, together with the revolving credit facility, the “unsecured revolving line of credit”). The revolving credit facility matures on November 6, 2023 and can be extended up to one year to 2024 through two six-month options, subject to continued compliance with the terms of the credit agreement and the payment of an extension fee of 0.075%. Borrowings on the revolving credit facility are priced on a leverage grid ranging from LIBOR plus 105 basis points to LIBOR plus 150 basis points.
The term loan facilities mature in five separate tranches ranging from March 2023 to February 2027 and are priced on a leverage grid ranging from LIBOR plus 120 basis points to LIBOR plus 220 basis points. The credit agreement allows for the right to request increases in the revolving and term loan commitments or the making of additional term loans by up to an additional $340.0 million to a maximum aggregated amount not to exceed $1.0 billion.
In March 2020, the Company borrowed $225.0 million on its revolving credit facility in order to enhance its liquidity position and maintain financial flexibility. As of December 31, 2020, the Company has repaid $125.0 million leaving $100.0 million outstanding. At December 31, 2020 we had $250.0 million available to draw under our unsecured revolving line of credit, subject to compliance with applicable covenants. See “Debt” section in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation” below for additional discussion regarding the Company's outstanding financial covenants and related amendments thereto. On February 12, 2021, the Company repaid the remaining $100.00 million outstanding on the unsecured revolving line of credit.
On June 30, 2020, the Company entered into amendments to the note purchase agreements governing all of the Company's outstanding senior unsecured notes. The following is a summary of the material amendments:
•The occupancy tests relating to the minimum ratio of consolidated total unencumbered asset value to unsecured indebtedness were eliminated during the period from June 30, 2020 through and including September 30, 2021 (the “Specified Period”) and were otherwise reduced during the fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2021 and March 31, 2022;
•The minimum ratio of consolidated total unencumbered asset value to unsecured indebtedness that the Operating Partnership is required to maintain was reduced during the Specified Period; and
•The Operating Partnership agreed to a minimum liquidity requirement during the Specified Period.
Equity
In February 2020, the Company entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement (“Equity Distribution Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company may offer and sell, from time to time, the Company's common shares having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $100.0 million. Sales of the shares of common stock may be made, in the Company's discretion, from time to time in “at-the-market” offerings as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933. The Equity Distribution Agreement also provides that the Company may enter into forward contracts for shares of its common stock with forward sellers and forward purchasers. For the year ended December 31, 2020, we did not issue any common shares through the arrangement. As of December 31, 2020, we have full capacity remaining under the agreement. The sale of such shares issuable pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement was registered with the SEC pursuant to a prospectus supplement filed in February 2020 and the accompanying base prospectus statement forming part of the Company's shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-232007) which was filed with the SEC in June 2019.
Sustainability
We continue to advance our commitment to sustainability, with a focus on achieving goals in each of the Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) areas of sustainability. We believe that sustainability initiatives are a vital part of supporting our primary goal to maximize value for our shareholders.
See “Human Capital” section below for a discussion of our programs related to the Social area of sustainability.
In 2020, we expanded our ESG polices to broaden our impact on sustainability initiatives. We established a long-term goal to reduce our green-house gases, supplementing our existing long-term goals of electricity consumption reduction, lowering water usage and waste diversion. In 2020, we filed RPT’s first Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark, providing more transparency regarding our sustainability polices, initiatives and performance.
Human Capital
We employed 105 full-time employees as of December 31, 2020. None of our employees are represented by a competitive bargaining unit, and we believe that our relations with our employees are good. We believe our employees are key to achieving our business objectives and our corporate purpose of Turning Commercial Ground into Common Ground. RPT is committed to continually building upon a culture that promotes empowerment, transparency and excellence and we strive to make RPT an inclusive and safe workplace, with opportunities for our employees to grow and develop in their careers. To facilitate the attraction, retention and promotion of a talented and diverse workforce, we provide competitive compensation, best in class benefits and health and wellness programs, and by championing programs that build connections between our employees and the communities where they live and at the properties we own.
Our comprehensive benefits package offers flexible and convenient health and wellness options such as health insurance benefits, health savings and flexible spending accounts, paid time off, family leave, parental leave and family care resources. Throughout the pandemic we have emphasized the importance of mental wellness and have offered several virtual healthcare options. On an ongoing basis, we further promote the health and wellness of our associates by encouraging work-life balance through RPT Remote, our flexible work initiative, and sponsoring various wellness programs and corporate challenges, whereby employees are encouraged to incorporate healthy habits into their daily routines. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we implemented significant changes that we determined were in the best interest of our employees, as well as the communities in which we operate, and which comply with government regulations. This includes requiring our employees to work from home and implementing additional safety measures for employees continuing to work on-site and those returning to the office upon reopening as permitted by applicable government mandates. Additionally, RPT supports philanthropical initiatives and partners with organizations that are committed to improving the overall quality of life in our communities. Each month, we support a local community organization through charitable giving or volunteerism. We also provide competitive compensation packages to our employees. In addition to base salaries, these packages include annual bonuses, stock awards and participation in a 401(k) Plan as well as investments in our employees through professional development programs. Finally, in 2020 RPT demonstrated its commitment to maintaining an inclusive and safe work environment through unconscious bias training of all employees and the formation of a committee to oversee the Company’s ongoing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
Competition
We compete with many other entities for the acquisition of shopping centers and land suitable for new developments, including other REITs, private institutional investors and other owner-operators of shopping centers. In particular, larger REITs may enjoy competitive advantages that result from, among other things, a lower cost of capital. These competitors may increase the market prices we would have to pay in order to acquire properties. If we are unable to acquire properties that meet our criteria at prices we deem reasonable, our ability to grow will be adversely affected.
Our tenants compete with alternate forms of retailing, including on-line shopping, home shopping networks and mail order catalogs. Alternate forms of retailing may reduce the demand for space in our shopping centers. Because our ability to generate revenue may be connected to the success of our tenants, we indirectly share exposure to these same competitive factors.
Further, our shopping centers generally compete for tenants with similar properties located in the same neighborhood, community or region. Although we believe we own high quality centers in desirable geographic locations, competing centers may be newer, better located or have a better tenant mix. We also believe we compete with other centers on the basis of rental rates and management and operational expertise. In addition, new centers or retail stores may be developed, increasing the supply of retail space competing with our centers or taking retail sales from our tenants. To remain competitive, we evaluate all of the factors affecting our centers and work to position them accordingly to enable us to compete effectively.
Governmental Regulation
Compliance with various governmental regulations has an impact on our business, including our capital expenditures, earnings and competitive position, which can be material. We incur costs to monitor and take actions to comply with governmental regulations that are applicable to our business, which include, among others, federal securities laws and regulations, applicable stock exchange requirements, REIT and other tax laws and regulations, environmental and health and safety laws and regulations, local zoning, usage and other regulations relating to real property. In addition to the discussion below regarding certain environmental matters, see “Item 1A
Item 1A. Risk Factors
You should carefully consider each of the risks and uncertainties described below and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as any amendments or updates reflected in subsequent filings with the SEC. We believe these risks and uncertainties, individually or in the aggregate, could cause our actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results and could materially and adversely affect our business operations, results of operations and financial condition. This list should not be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties, and additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our results and business operations. We may update our risk factors from time to time in our future periodic reports.
Operating Risks
The COVID-19 pandemic and the future outbreak of other highly infectious or contagious diseases, could materially and adversely impact or disrupt our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and performance.
Since being reported in December 2019, COVID-19 has spread globally, including to every state in the United States. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, and on March 13, 2020, the United States declared a national emergency with respect to COVID-19.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had and could continue to have, and another pandemic in the future could have, repercussions across regional and global economies and financial markets. The outbreak of COVID-19 in many countries, including the United States, has significantly adversely impacted global economic activity and has contributed to significant volatility and negative pressure in financial markets. The global impact of the outbreak has been rapidly evolving and, as cases of COVID-19 have continued to be identified in additional countries, many countries, including the United States, have reacted by instituting quarantines, mandating business and school closures and restricting travel.
Certain states and cities, including where we own properties and where our principal places of business are located, have also reacted by instituting quarantines, restrictions on travel, “shelter-in-place” rules or “stay at home” orders, social distancing protocols, restrictions on types of business that may continue to operate, and/or restrictions on the types of construction projects that may continue. The Company cannot predict if additional states and cities will implement similar restrictions or when restrictions currently in place will expire or be relaxed or the effect of such expiration or relaxation. As a result, the COVID-19 pandemic is negatively impacting almost every industry directly or indirectly, including industries in which we and our tenants operate. A number of our tenants have announced temporary closures of their stores or modifications of their operations and requested rent deferral or rent abatement during this pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic, or a future pandemic, could also have material and adverse effects on our ability to successfully operate and on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows due to, among other factors:
•A complete or partial closure of, or other operational issues, including a decrease in customer traffic at, one or more of our properties resulting from government or tenant action, which have and could continue to adversely affect our operations and those of our tenants;
•The downturn in the economy may result in the inability of one or more of our tenants to be able to meet their obligations to us in full, or at all, or to otherwise seek modifications of such obligations, (including early lease terminations) or may result in bankruptcy or insolvency of one or more tenants;
•The reduced economic activity could result in a prolonged recession, which could negatively impact consumer discretionary spending and changes in consumer behavior, as well as a decrease in individuals' willingness to frequent our properties once tenants reopen as a result of the public health risks and social impacts of such pandemic, which could affect the ability of our properties to generate sufficient revenues to meet operating and other expenses in the short and long term;
•Difficulty accessing debt and equity capital on attractive terms, or at all, impacts to our credit ratings, and severe disruption and instability in the global financial markets or deterioration in credit and financing conditions may affect our access to capital necessary to fund business operations or address maturing liabilities on a timely basis or at all and our tenants' ability to fund their business operations and meet their obligations to us;
•Our ability to remain in compliance with financial covenants of our credit facility and other debt agreements, as amended, which non-compliance could result in a default and potentially an acceleration of indebtedness, and could negatively impact our ability to make additional borrowings;
•Any impairment in value of our tangible or intangible assets which could be recorded as a result of weaker economic conditions;
•A general decline in business activity and demand for real estate transactions could adversely affect our ability or desire to grow our portfolio of properties;
•A decrease in retail demand could make it difficult for us to renew or re-lease our properties at favorable rates, or at all, which could cause interruptions or delays in the receipt of rental payments, and we could incur significant increased re-leasing costs;
•A deterioration in our or our tenants' ability to operate in affected areas or delays in the supply of products or services to us or our tenants from vendors that are needed for our or our tenants' efficient operations could adversely affect our operations and those of our tenants;
•The potential negative impact on the health of our personnel or the personnel of our tenants, particularly if a significant number of our or their executive management team or key personnel are impacted, could result in a deterioration in our and our tenants' ability to ensure business continuity during this disruption;
•Moratoriums imposed by certain jurisdictions on landlord commercial eviction proceedings and collection actions. We may experience delays in commencing actions and recovering costs, and we may be unable to recover all amounts due under the applicable lease agreements;
•The failure of our tenants to reopen may result in co-tenancy claims as a result of the failure to satisfy occupancy thresholds;
•The increase in unanticipated operating costs as a result of compliance with regulations, additional sanitation measures, remote working arrangements and changes to regulations requiring mandatory paid time off for employees;
•Any inability to effectively manage our portfolio and operations while working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic and for a time after such pandemic, which could adversely impact our business;
•The limited access to our facilities, management, tenants, support staff and professional advisors, which could decrease the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, increase our susceptibility to cybersecurity breaches or hamper our ability to comply with regulatory obligations leading to reputational harm and regulatory issues or fines; and
•Our insurance may not cover loss of revenue or other expenses resulting from the pandemic and related shelter-in-place rules.
The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts our operations and those of our tenants will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the scope, magnitude and duration of the pandemic, the actions taken to contain the pandemic or mitigate its impact, including the adoption of available COVID-19 vaccines, all of which could vary by geographic region, and the direct and indirect economic effects of the pandemic and containment measures, among others. Additional closures by our tenants of their stores and early terminations by our tenants of their leases could reduce our cash flows, which, among other effects, could impact our ability to restart paying dividends to our shareholders at expected levels or at all. The rapid development and fluidity of this situation precludes any prediction as to the full adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A shift in retail shopping from brick and mortar stores to online shopping may have an adverse impact on our cash flow, financial condition and results of operations.
In recent periods, sales by online retailers such as Amazon have increased, and many retailers operating brick and mortar stores have made online sales a vital piece of their businesses. Although many of the retailers operating in our properties sell groceries and other necessity-based soft goods or provide services, including entertainment and dining options, the shift to online shopping may cause declines in brick and mortar sales generated by certain of our tenants and/or may cause certain of our tenants to reduce the size or number of their retail locations in the future. As a result, our cash flow, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
National economic conditions and retail sales trends may adversely affect the performance of our properties.
Demand to lease space in our shopping centers generally fluctuates with the overall economy. Economic downturns often result in a lower rate of retail sales growth, or even declines in retail sales. In response, retailers that lease space in shopping centers typically reduce their demand for retail space during such downturns. As a result, economic downturns and unfavorable retail sales trends may diminish the income, cash flow, and value of our properties.
Our concentration of properties in Florida and Michigan makes us more susceptible to adverse market conditions in these states.
Our performance depends on the economic conditions in the markets in which we operate. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the pro-rata portion of our aggregate properties located in Florida and Michigan accounted for approximately 22.1% and 19.2%, and 21.8% and 19.8%, respectively, of our annualized base rent. To the extent that market conditions in these or other states in which we operate deteriorate, the performance or value of our properties may be adversely affected.
Increasing sales through non-retail channels and changes in the supply and demand for the type of space we lease to our tenants could affect the income, cash flow and value of our properties.
Our tenants compete with alternate forms of retailing, including on-line shopping, home shopping networks and mail order catalogs. Alternate forms of retailing may reduce the demand for space in our shopping centers. Our shopping centers generally compete for tenants with similar properties located in the same neighborhood, community or region. Although we believe we own high quality centers, competing centers may be newer, better located or have a better tenant mix. In addition, new centers or retail stores may be developed, increasing the supply of retail space competing with our centers or taking retail sales from our tenants.
As a result, we may not be able to renew leases or attract replacement tenants as leases expire. When we do renew tenants or attract replacement tenants, the terms of renewals or new leases may be less favorable to us than current lease terms. In order to lease our vacancies, we often incur costs to reconfigure or modernize our properties to suit the needs of a particular tenant. Under competitive circumstances, such costs may exceed our budgets. If we are unable to lease vacant space promptly, if the rental rates upon a renewal or new lease are lower than expected, or if the costs incurred to lease space exceed our expectations, then the income and cash flow of our properties will decrease.
Our reliance on key tenants for significant portions of our revenues exposes us to increased risk of tenant bankruptcies that could adversely affect our income and cash flow.
As of December 31, 2020, 40.3% of our contractual combined annualized base rents was from our top 25 tenants, including our top five tenants: TJX Companies (4.6%), Dick's Sporting Goods (3.4%), Regal Cinemas (3.1%), Bed Bath & Beyond (3.0%) and LA Fitness (2.7%). No other tenant represented more than 2.0% of our total annualized base rent. The credit risk posed by our major tenants varies.
If any of our major tenants experiences financial difficulties, or if a significant number of our tenants experience financial difficulties, such that they are unable to make rental payments or file for bankruptcy protection, our operating results could be adversely affected. Bankruptcy filings by our tenants or lease guarantors generally delay our efforts to collect pre-bankruptcy receivables and could ultimately preclude full collection of these sums. If a tenant rejects a lease, we would have only a general unsecured claim for damages, which may be collectible only to the extent that funds are available and only in the same percentage as is paid to all other holders of unsecured claims.
Our properties generally rely on anchor tenants (tenants greater than or equal to 10,000 square feet) to attract customers. The loss of anchor tenants may adversely impact the performance of our properties.
If any of our anchor tenants becomes insolvent, suffers a downturn in business, abandons occupancy or decides not to renew its lease, such event could adversely impact the performance of the affected center. An abandonment or lease termination by an anchor tenant may give other tenants in the same shopping center the right to terminate their leases or pay less rent pursuant to the terms of their leases. Our leases with anchor tenants may, in certain circumstances, permit them to transfer their leases to other retailers. The transfer to a new anchor tenant could result in lower customer traffic to the center, which would affect our other tenants. In addition, a transfer of a lease to a new anchor tenant could give other tenants the right to make reduced rental payments or to terminate their leases.
We may be restricted from leasing vacant space based on existing exclusivity lease provisions with some of our tenants.
In a number of cases, our leases give a tenant the exclusive right to sell clearly identified types of merchandise or provide specific types of services at a particular shopping center. In other cases, leases with a tenant may limit the ability of other tenants to sell similar merchandise or provide similar services to that tenant. When leasing a vacant space, these restrictions may limit the number and types of prospective tenants suitable for that space. If we are unable to lease space on satisfactory terms, our operating results would be adversely impacted.
Increases in operating expenses could adversely affect our operating results.
Our operating expenses include, among other items, property taxes, insurance, utilities, repairs and the maintenance of the common areas of our shopping centers. We may experience increases in our operating expenses, some or all of which may be out of our control. Most of our leases require that tenants pay for a share of property taxes, insurance and common area maintenance costs. However, if any property is not fully occupied or if recovery income from tenants is not sufficient to cover operating expenses, then we could be required to expend our own funds for operating expenses. In addition, we may be unable to renew leases or negotiate new leases with terms requiring our tenants to pay all the property tax, insurance and common area maintenance costs that tenants currently pay, which would adversely affect our operating results.
Our real estate assets may be subject to additional impairment provisions based on market and economic conditions.
On a periodic basis, we assess whether there are any indicators that the value of our real estate properties and other investments may be impaired. Under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) a property’s value is impaired only if the estimate of the aggregate future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) to be generated by the property is less than the carrying value of the property. In our estimate of cash flows, we consider factors such as expected future operating income, trends and prospects, the effects of demand, competition and other factors. We are required to make subjective assessments as to whether there are impairments in the value of our real estate properties and other investments.
No assurance can be given that we will be able to recover the current carrying amount of all of our properties and those of our unconsolidated joint ventures. There can be no assurance that we will not take charges in the future related to the impairment of our assets. Impairment may be impacted by macroeconomic conditions, including those caused by global pandemics, such as COVID-19, which may result in property operational disruption and indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Any future impairment could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations in the period in which the charge is taken. We recorded an impairment provision of $0.6 million in 2020 related to our land held for future development. Refer to Note 1 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements for further information related to impairment provisions.
Our redevelopment projects may not yield anticipated returns, which would adversely affect our operating results.
Our redevelopment activities generally call for a capital commitment and project scope greater than that required to lease vacant space. To the extent a significant amount of construction is required, we are susceptible to risks such as permitting, cost overruns and timing delays as a result of the lack of availability of materials and labor, the failure of tenants to commit or fulfill their commitments, weather conditions and other factors outside of our control. Any substantial unanticipated delays or expenses would adversely affect the investment returns from these redevelopment projects and adversely impact our operating results.
Current or future joint venture investments could be adversely affected by our lack of sole decision-making authority.
We have in the past, are currently and may in the future acquire and own properties in joint ventures with other persons or entities when we believe circumstances warrant the use of such structures. Our existing joint ventures are subject to various risks, and any additional joint venture arrangements in which we may engage in the future are likely to be subject to various risks, including the following:
•lack of exclusive control over the joint venture, which may prevent us from taking actions that are in our best interest;
•future capital constraints of our partners or failure of our partners to fund their share of required capital contributions, which may require us to contribute more capital than we anticipated to fund developments and/or cover the joint venture's liabilities;
•our partners may at any time have business or economic goals that are inconsistent with ours;
•actions by our partners that could jeopardize our REIT status, require us to pay taxes or subject the properties owned by the joint venture to liabilities greater than those contemplated by the terms of the joint venture agreements;
•disputes between us and our partners that may result in litigation or arbitration that would increase our expenses and prevent our officers and/or directors from focusing their time and effort on our business;
•changes in economic and market conditions for any adjacent non-retail use that may adversely impact the cash flow of our retail property;
•joint venture agreements that may require prior consent of our joint venture partners for a sale or transfer to a third party of our interest in the joint venture, which would restrict our ability to dispose of our interest in such a joint venture; and
•joint venture agreements may include the right to trigger a buy-sell, put right or forced sale arrangement, which could cause us to sell our interest, or acquire our partner’s interest, or to sell the underlying asset, at a time when we otherwise would not have initiated such a transaction, without our consent or on unfavorable terms.
If any of the foregoing were to occur, our cash flow, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
If we suffer losses that are uninsured or in excess of our insurance coverage limits, we could lose invested capital and anticipated profits.
Catastrophic losses, such as losses resulting from wars, acts of terrorism, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and tornadoes or other natural disasters, and pollution or environmental matters, generally are either uninsurable or not economically insurable, or may be subject to insurance coverage limitations, such as large deductibles or co-payments. Although we currently maintain “all risk” replacement cost insurance for our buildings, rents and personal property, commercial general liability insurance and pollution and environmental liability insurance, our insurance coverage may be inadequate if any of the events described above occurs to, or causes the destruction of, one or more of our properties. Under that scenario, we could lose both our invested capital and anticipated profits from that property.
Investing Risks
We face competition for the acquisition and development of real estate properties, which may impede our ability to grow our operations or may increase the cost of these activities.
We compete with many other entities for the acquisition of shopping centers and land suitable for new developments, including other REITs, private institutional investors and other owner-operators of shopping centers. In particular, larger REITs may enjoy competitive advantages that result from, among other things, a lower cost of capital. These competitors may increase the market prices we would have to pay in order to acquire properties. If we are unable to acquire properties that meet our criteria at prices we deem reasonable, our ability to grow will be adversely affected.
We may be unable to complete acquisitions and, even if acquisitions are completed, our operating results at acquired properties may not meet our financial expectations.
We continue to evaluate the market of available properties and expect to continue to acquire properties when we believe strategic opportunities exist. Our ability to acquire properties on favorable terms and successfully operate or develop them is subject to the following risks:
•we may be unable to acquire a desired property because of competition from other real estate investors with substantial capital, including other REITs, real estate operating companies and institutional investment funds;
•even if we are able to acquire a desired property, competition from other potential investors may significantly increase the purchase price;
•we may incur significant costs and divert management’s attention in connection with the evaluation and negotiation of potential acquisitions, including ones that are subsequently not completed;
•we may be unable to finance acquisitions on favorable terms and in the time period we desire, or at all;
•we may be unable to quickly and efficiently integrate newly acquired properties, particularly the acquisition of portfolios of properties, into our existing operations;
•we may acquire properties that are not initially accretive to our results and we may not successfully manage and lease those properties to meet our expectations; and
•we may acquire properties that are subject to liabilities without any recourse, or with only limited recourse to former owners, with respect to unknown liabilities for clean-up of undisclosed environmental contamination, claims by tenants or other persons to former owners of the properties and claims for indemnification by general partners, directors, officers and others indemnified by the former owners of the properties.
If we are unable to acquire properties on favorable terms, obtain financing in a timely manner and on favorable terms or operate acquired properties to meet our financial expectations, our cash flow, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Commercial real estate investments are relatively illiquid, which could hamper our ability to dispose of properties that no longer meet our investment criteria or respond to adverse changes in the performance of our properties.
Our ability to promptly sell one or more properties in our portfolio in response to changing economic, financial and investment conditions is limited because real estate investments are relatively illiquid. The real estate market is affected by many factors, such as general economic conditions, supply and demand, availability of financing, interest rates and other factors that are beyond our control. We cannot be certain that we will be able to sell any property for the price and other terms we seek, or that any price or other terms offered by a prospective purchaser would be acceptable to us. We also cannot estimate with certainty the length of time needed to find a willing purchaser and to complete the sale of a property. We may be required to expend funds to correct defects or to make improvements before a property can be sold. Factors that impede our ability to dispose of properties could adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.
We are seeking to develop new properties or redevelop existing properties, an activity that has inherent risks that could adversely impact our cash flow, financial condition and results of operations. These activities are subject to the following risks:
•We may not be able to complete construction on schedule due to labor disruptions, construction delays, and delays or failure to receive zoning or other regulatory approvals;
•We may abandon our development, redevelopment and expansion opportunities after expending resources to determine feasibility and we may incur an impairment loss on our investment;
•Construction and other project costs may exceed our original estimates because of increases in material and labor costs, interest rates, operating costs, and leasing costs;
•We may not be able to obtain financing on favorable terms for construction;
•We might not be able to secure key anchor or other tenants;
•We may experience a decrease in customer traffic during the redevelopment period causing a decrease in tenant sales;
•Occupancy rates and rents at a completed project may not meet our projections; and
•The time frame required for development, constructions and lease-up of these properties means that we may have to wait years for a significant cash return.
If any of these events occur, our development activities may have an adverse effect on our results of operations, including additional impairment provisions. For a detailed discussion of development projects, refer to Notes 3 and 5 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
Financing Risks
Increases in interest rates may affect the cost of our variable-rate borrowings, our ability to refinance maturing debt and the cost of any such refinancings.
As of December 31, 2020, we had eleven interest rate swap agreements in effect for an aggregate notional amount of $310.0 million converting our floating rate corporate debt to fixed rate debt. In addition, we have entered into two forward starting interest rate swap agreement for an aggregate notional amount of $75.0 million. After accounting for these interest rate swap agreements, we had $100.0 million of variable rate debt outstanding at December 31, 2020. Increases in interest rates on our existing indebtedness would increase our interest expense, which would adversely affect our cash flow and our ability to distribute cash to our shareholders. For example, if market rates of interest on our variable rate debt outstanding as of December 31, 2020 increased by 1.0%, the increase in interest expense on our existing variable rate debt would decrease future earnings and cash flows by approximately $1.0 million annually. Interest rate increases could also constrain our ability to refinance maturing debt because lenders may reduce their advance rates in order to maintain debt service coverage ratios.
Our debt must be refinanced upon maturity, which makes us reliant on the capital markets on an ongoing basis.
We are not structured in a manner to generate and retain sufficient cash flow from operations to repay our debt at maturity. Instead, we expect to refinance our debt by raising equity, debt or other capital prior to the time that it matures. As of December 31, 2020, we had $1.0 billion of outstanding indebtedness, net of deferred financing costs, including $0.9 million of finance lease obligations. The availability, price and duration of capital can vary significantly. If we seek to refinance maturing debt when capital market conditions are restrictive, we may find capital scarce, costly or unavailable. Refinancing debt at a higher cost would affect our operating results and cash available for distribution. The failure to refinance our debt at maturity would result in default and the exercise by our lenders of the remedies available to them, including foreclosure and, in the case of recourse debt, liability for unpaid amounts.
We could increase our outstanding debt.
Our management and Board of Trustees (“Board”) generally have discretion to increase the amount of our outstanding debt at any time. Subject to existing financial covenants, we could become more highly leveraged, resulting in an increase in debt service costs that could adversely affect our cash flow and the amount available for distribution to our shareholders. If we increase our debt, we may also increase the risk of default on our debt.
Our mortgage debt exposes us to the risk of loss of property, which could adversely affect our financial condition.
As of December 31, 2020, we had $86.4 million of mortgage debt, net of unamortized premiums and deferred financing costs, encumbering our properties. A default on any of our mortgage debt may result in foreclosure actions by lenders and ultimately our loss of the mortgaged property. For federal income tax purposes, a foreclosure of any of our properties would be treated as a sale of the property for a purchase price equal to the outstanding balance of the debt secured by the mortgage. If the outstanding balance of the debt secured by the mortgage exceeds our tax basis in the property, we would recognize taxable income on foreclosure but would not receive any cash proceeds.
Financial covenants may restrict our operating, investing or financing activities, which may adversely impact our financial condition and operating results.
The financial covenants contained in our mortgages and debt agreements reduce our flexibility in conducting our operations and create a risk of default on our debt if we cannot continue to satisfy them. The mortgages on our properties contain customary negative covenants such as those that limit our ability, without the prior consent of the lender, to further mortgage the applicable property or to discontinue insurance coverage. In addition, if we breach covenants in our debt agreements, the lender can declare a default and require us to repay the debt immediately and, if the debt is secured, can ultimately take possession of the property securing the loan.
Our outstanding unsecured revolving line of credit contains customary restrictions, requirements and other limitations on our ability to incur indebtedness, including limitations on the maximum ratio of total liabilities to assets, the minimum fixed charge coverage and the minimum tangible net worth. Our ability to borrow under our unsecured revolving line of credit is subject to compliance with these financial and other covenants. We rely on our ability to borrow under our unsecured revolving line of credit to finance acquisition, development and redevelopment activities and for working capital. If we are unable to borrow under our unsecured revolving line of credit, our financial condition and results of operations would be adversely impacted.
Further, if we are not able to maintain compliance with our covenants due to the impact of COVID-19, or obtain waivers or modifications in order to maintain compliance, our lenders and note holders of our unsecured debt would have the right to accelerate payment, including make whole payments where applicable, which would have a material adverse impact on our financial condition.
We must distribute a substantial portion of our income annually in order to maintain our REIT status, and as a result we may not retain sufficient cash from operations to fund our investing needs.
As a REIT, we are subject to annual distribution requirements under the Code. In general, we must distribute at least 90% of our REIT taxable income annually, excluding net capital gains, to our shareholders to maintain our REIT status. We intend to make distributions to our shareholders to comply with the requirements of the Code.
Differences in timing between the recognition of taxable income and the actual receipt of cash could require us to sell assets or borrow funds on a short-term or long-term basis to meet the 90% distribution requirement. In addition, the distribution requirement reduces the amount of cash we retain for use in funding our capital requirements and our growth. As a result, we
have historically funded our acquisition, development and redevelopment activities by any of the following: selling assets that no longer meet our investment criteria; selling common shares and preferred shares; borrowing from financial institutions; and entering into joint venture transactions with third parties. Our failure to obtain funds from these sources could limit our ability to grow, which could have a material adverse effect on the value of our securities.
There may be future dilution to holders of our common shares.
Our Articles of Restatement of Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”) authorizes our Board to, among other things, issue additional common or preferred shares, or securities convertible or exchangeable into equity securities, without shareholder approval. We may issue such additional equity or convertible securities to raise additional capital. The issuance of any additional common or preferred shares or convertible securities could be dilutive to holders of our common shares. Moreover, to the extent that we issue restricted shares, options or warrants to purchase our common shares in the future and those options or warrants are exercised or the restricted shares vest, our shareholders will experience further dilution. Holders of our common shares have no preemptive rights that entitle them to purchase a pro rata share of any offering of shares of any class or series and, therefore, such sales or offerings could result in increased dilution to our shareholders.
We may issue debt and equity securities or securities convertible into equity securities, any of which may be senior to our common shares as to distributions and in liquidation, which could negatively affect the value of our common shares.
There were 842,321 shares of unvested restricted common shares outstanding at December 31, 2020.
We may be adversely affected by changes in LIBOR reporting practices or any alternative rates.
In July 2017, the Financial Conduct Authority, the authority that regulates LIBOR, announced it intends to stop compelling banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. In November 2020, the ICE Benchmark Administration, the administrator of LIBOR, announced plans to consult on ceasing publications of LIBOR on December 31, 2021 for only the one week and two week LIBOR tenors, and on June 30, 2023 for all other LIBOR tenors. The Alternative Reference Rates Committee (ARRC) has proposed that the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) is the rate that represents best practice as the alternative to USD-LIBOR for use in derivatives and other financial contracts that are currently indexed to USD-LIBOR. ARRC has proposed a paced market transition plan to SOFR from USD-LIBOR, and organizations are currently working on industry wide and company specific transition plans as it relates to derivatives and cash markets exposed to USD-LIBOR. There is no guarantee that a transition from LIBOR to an alternative will not result in financial market disruptions, significant increases in benchmark rates or financing costs to borrowers. We have material contracts that are indexed to USD-LIBOR, and we are monitoring this activity and evaluating the related risks.
Adverse changes in our credit rating could affect our borrowing capacity and borrowing terms.
Our creditworthiness is rated by a nationally recognized credit rating agency. The credit rating assigned is based on our operating performance, liquidity and leverage ratios, financial condition and prospects, and other factors viewed by the credit agency as relevant to our industry. Our credit rating can affect our ability to access debt capital, as well as the terms of certain existing and future debt financing we may obtain. Since we depend on debt financing to fund our business, an adverse change in our credit rating, including changes in our credit outlook, or even the initiation of a review of our credit rating that could result in an adverse change, could adversely affect our financial condition, operating results and cash flow.
Corporate Risks
The price of our common shares may fluctuate significantly.
The market price of our common shares fluctuates based upon numerous factors, many of which are outside of our control. A decline in our share price, whether related to our operating results or not, may constrain our ability to raise equity in pursuit of our business objectives. In addition, a decline in price may affect the perceptions of lenders, tenants or others with whom we transact. Such parties may withdraw from doing business with us as a result. An inability to raise capital at a suitable cost or at any cost, or to do business with certain tenants or other parties, would affect our operations and financial condition.
Our failure to qualify as a REIT would result in higher taxes and reduced cash available for distribution to our shareholders.
We intend to operate in a manner so as to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. Our continued qualification as a REIT will depend on our satisfaction of certain asset, income, investment, organizational, distribution, shareholder ownership and other requirements on a continuing basis. Our ability to satisfy the asset requirements depends upon our analysis of the fair market values of our assets, some of which are not susceptible to a precise determination and for which we will not obtain independent appraisals. In addition, our compliance with the REIT income and asset requirements depends upon our ability to manage successfully the composition of our income and assets on an ongoing basis. Moreover, the proper classification of an instrument as debt or equity for federal income tax purposes may be uncertain in some circumstances, which could affect the application of the REIT qualification requirements. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) will not contend that our interests in subsidiaries or other issuers constitute a violation of the REIT requirements. Moreover, future economic, market, legal, tax or other considerations may cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT.
If we were to fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, we would be subject to federal income tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on our taxable income at regular corporate rates and distributions to shareholders would not be deductible by us in computing our taxable income. Any such corporate tax liability could be substantial and would reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to our shareholders, which in turn could have an adverse impact on the value of and trading prices for, our common shares. Unless entitled to relief under certain Code provisions, we also would be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which we ceased to qualify as a REIT.
If our subsidiary REITs failed to qualify as REITs, we could be subject to higher taxes and could fail to remain qualified as a REIT.
Our Operating Partnership indirectly owns 51.5% of the common shares of each of five subsidiary REITs that will elect to be taxed as REITs under the U.S. federal income tax law for their short taxable year ended December 31, 2020. Our subsidiary REITs are subject to the various REIT qualification requirements and other limitations described herein that are applicable to us. If any of our subsidiary REITs were to fail to qualify as a REIT, then (i) such subsidiary REITs would become subject to U.S. federal income tax and (ii) our ownership of shares in such subsidiary REITs would cease to be a qualifying asset for purposes of the asset tests applicable to REITs. If our subsidiary REITs were to fail to qualify as a REIT, it is possible that we would fail certain of the asset tests applicable to REITs, in which event we would fail to qualify as a REIT unless we could avail ourselves of certain relief provisions. We intend to implement certain protective arrangements intended to avoid such an outcome if our subsidiary REITs were not to qualify as a REIT, but there can be no assurance that such arrangements will be effective to avoid the resulting adverse consequences to us.
Even as a REIT, we may be subject to various federal income and excise taxes, as well as state and local taxes.
Even as a REIT, we may be subject to federal income and excise taxes in various situations, such as if we fail to distribute all of our REIT taxable income. We also will be required to pay a 100% tax on non-arm’s length transactions between us and our TRSs and on any net income from sales of property that the IRS successfully asserts was property held for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. Additionally, we may be subject to state or local taxation in various state or local jurisdictions, including those in which we transact business. The state and local tax laws may not conform to the federal income tax treatment. Any taxes imposed on us would reduce our operating cash flow and net income.
The rules dealing with federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the United States Treasury Department. Changes to tax laws, which may have retroactive application, could adversely affect our shareholders or us. We cannot predict how changes in tax laws might affect our shareholders or us.
We are party to litigation in the ordinary course of business, and an unfavorable court ruling could have a negative effect on us.
We are the defendant in a number of claims brought by various parties against us. Although we intend to exercise due care and consideration in all aspects of our business, it is possible additional claims could be made against us. We maintain insurance coverage including general liability coverage to help protect us in the event a claim is awarded; however, some claims may be uninsured. In the event that claims against us are successful and uninsured or under insured, or we elect to settle claims that we determine are in our interest to settle, our operating results and cash flow could be adversely impacted. In addition, an increase in claims and/or payments could result in higher insurance premiums, which could also adversely affect our operating results and cash flow.
We are subject to various environmental laws and regulations which govern our operations and which may result in potential liability.
Under various federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, a current or previous owner or operator of real estate may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous or toxic substances disposed, stored, released, generated, manufactured or discharged from, on, at, onto, under or in such property. Environmental laws often impose such liability without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the presence or release of such hazardous or toxic substance. The presence of such substances, or the failure to properly remediate such substances when present, released or discharged, may adversely affect the owner’s ability to sell or rent such property or to borrow using such property as collateral. The cost of any required remediation and the liability of the owner or operator therefore as to any property is generally not limited under such environmental laws and could exceed the value of the property and/or the aggregate assets of the owner or operator. Persons who arrange for the disposal or treatment of hazardous or toxic substances may also be liable for the cost of removal or remediation of such substances at a disposal or treatment facility, whether or not such facility is owned or operated by such persons. In addition to any action required by federal, state or local authorities, the presence or release of hazardous or toxic substances on or from any property could result in private plaintiffs bringing claims for personal injury or other causes of action.
In connection with ownership (direct or indirect), operation, management and development of real properties, we have the potential to be liable for remediation, releases or injury. In addition, environmental laws impose on owners or operators the requirement of ongoing compliance with rules and regulations regarding business-related activities that may affect the environment. Such activities include, for example, the ownership or use of transformers or underground tanks, the treatment or discharge of waste waters or other materials, the removal or abatement of asbestos-containing materials (“ACMs”) or lead-containing paint during renovations or otherwise, or notification to various parties concerning the potential presence of regulated matters, including ACMs. Failure to comply with such requirements could result in difficulty in the lease or sale of any affected property and/or the imposition of monetary penalties, fines or other sanctions in addition to the costs required to attain compliance. Several of our properties have or may contain ACMs or underground storage tanks; however, we are not aware of any potential environmental liability which could reasonably be expected to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations. No assurance can be given that future laws, ordinances or regulations will not impose any material environmental requirement or liability, or that a material adverse environmental condition does not otherwise exist.
Our success depends on key personnel whose continued service is not guaranteed.
We depend on the efforts and expertise of our senior management team to manage our day-to-day operations and strategic business direction. While we have retention and severance agreements with certain members of our executive management team that provide for certain payments in the event of a change of control or termination without cause, we do not have employment agreements with all of the members of our executive management team. Therefore, we cannot guarantee their continued service. The loss of their services, and our inability to find suitable replacements, could have an adverse effect on our operations.
Our business and operations would suffer in the event of system failures, security breaches, cyber security intrusions, cyber-attacks or other disruptions of our information technology systems.
We rely extensively upon information technology networks and systems, some of which are managed by third parties, to process, transmit and store electronic information, and to manage and support a variety of business processes and activities. Although we employ a number of security measures to prevent, detect and mitigate these risks, including a disaster recovery plan for our internal information technology systems, a dedicated IT team, employee training and background checks and password protection, along with purchasing cyber liability insurance coverage, there can be no assurance that these measures will be effective and our systems, networks and services remain vulnerable to damages from any number of sources, including system failures due to energy blackouts, natural disasters, terrorism, war or telecommunication failures, security breaches, cyber intrusions and cyber security attacks, such as computer viruses, malware or e-mail attachments or any unauthorized access to our data and/or computer systems. In recent years, there has been an increased number of significant cyber security attacks that include, but are not limited to, gaining unauthorized access to digital systems for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data or causing operational disruption. A system failure, security breach, cyber intrusion, cyber-attack or other disruption of our information technology systems may cause interruptions in our operations and other negative consequences, which may include but are not limited to the following, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our cash flow, financial condition and results of operations:
•Compromising of confidential information;
•Manipulation and destruction of data;
•System downtime and operational disruptions;
•Remediation cost that may include liability for stolen assets or information, expenses related to repairing system damage, costs associated with damage to business relationships or due to legal requirements imposed;
•Loss of revenues resulting from unauthorized use of proprietary information;
•Cost to deploy additional protection strategies, training employees and engaging third party experts and consultants;
•Reputational damage adversely affecting investor confidence;
•Damage to tenant relationships;
•Violation of applicable privacy and other laws;
•Litigation; and
•Loss of trade secrets.
Restrictions on the ownership of our common shares are in place to preserve our REIT status.
Our Declaration of Trust restricts ownership by any one shareholder to no more than 9.8% of our outstanding common shares, subject to certain exceptions granted by our Board. The ownership limit is intended to ensure that we maintain our REIT status given that the Code imposes certain limitations on the ownership of the stock of a REIT. Not more than 50% in value of our outstanding shares of beneficial interest may be owned, directly or indirectly by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code) during the last half of any taxable year. If an individual or entity were found to own constructively more than 9.8% in value of our outstanding shares, then any excess shares would be transferred by operation of our Declaration of Trust to a charitable trust, which would sell such shares for the benefit of the shareholder in accordance with procedures specified in our Declaration of Trust.
The ownership limit may discourage a change in control, may discourage tender offers for our common shares and may limit the opportunities for our shareholders to receive a premium for their shares. Upon due consideration, our Board previously has granted limited exceptions to this restriction for certain shareholders who requested an increase in their ownership limit. However, the Board has no obligation to grant such limited exceptions in the future.
Certain anti-takeover provisions of our Declaration of Trust and Bylaws may inhibit a change of our control.
Certain provisions contained in our Declaration of Trust and Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) and the Maryland General Corporation Law, as applicable to Maryland REITs, may discourage a third party from making a tender offer or acquisition proposal to us. These provisions and actions may delay, deter or prevent a change in control or the removal of existing management. These provisions and actions also may delay or prevent the shareholders from receiving a premium for their common shares of beneficial interest over then-prevailing market prices.
These provisions and actions include:
•the REIT ownership limit described above;
•authorization of the issuance of our preferred shares of beneficial interest with powers, preferences or rights to be determined by our Board;
•special meetings of our shareholders may be called only by the chairman of our Board, the president, one-third of the Trustees, or the secretary upon the written request of the holders of shares entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting;
•a two-thirds shareholder vote is required to approve some amendments to our Declaration of Trust;
•our Bylaws contain advance-notice requirements for proposals to be presented at shareholder meetings; and
•our Board, without the approval of our shareholders, may from time to time (i) amend our Declaration of Trust to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of beneficial interest, or the number of shares of beneficial interest of any class, that we have authority to issue, and (ii) reclassify any unissued shares of beneficial interest into one or more classes or series of shares of beneficial interest.
In addition, the Trust, by Board action, may elect to be subject to certain provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law that inhibit takeovers such as the provision that permits the Board by way of resolution to classify itself, notwithstanding any provision our Declaration of Trust or Bylaws.
Changes in accounting standards may adversely impact our financial results.
The Financial Accounting Standards Board, in conjunction with the SEC, has several projects on its agenda, as well as recently issued updates that could impact how we currently account for material transactions. At this time, we are unable to predict with certainty which, if any, proposals may be passed or what level of impact that new standards may have on the presentation of our consolidated financial statements, results of operations and financial ratios required by our debt covenants. Refer to Note 2 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in this report for further information related to recently issued accounting pronouncements.
U.S. federal tax reform legislation could affect REITs generally, the geographic markets in which we operate, our stock and our results of operations, both positively and negatively in ways that are difficult to anticipate.
Changes to the federal income tax laws are proposed regularly. Additionally, the REIT rules are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which may result in revisions to regulations and interpretations in addition to statutory changes. If enacted, certain such changes could have an adverse impact on our business and financial results. In particular, H.R. 1, which generally took effect for taxable years that began on or after January 1, 2018 (subject to certain exceptions), made many significant changes to the federal income tax laws that profoundly impacted the taxation of individuals, corporations (both regular C corporations as well as corporations that have elected to be taxed as REITs), and the taxation of taxpayers with overseas assets and operations. A number of changes that affect non-corporate taxpayers will expire at the end of 2025 unless Congress acts to extend them. These changes will impact us and our shareholders in various ways, some of which are adverse or potentially adverse compared to prior law. To date, the IRS has issued guidance with respect to many of the new provisions but there are several interpretive issues that still require further guidance. It is likely that technical corrections legislation will be needed to clarify certain aspects of the new law and give proper effect to Congressional intent. There can be no assurance, however, that technical clarifications or further changes needed to prevent unintended or unforeseen tax consequences will be enacted by Congress in the near future. In addition, while certain elements of tax reform legislation do not impact us directly as a REIT, they could impact the geographic markets in which we operate, the tenants that populate our shopping centers and the customers who frequent our properties in ways, both positive and negative, that are difficult to anticipate.
Other legislative proposals could be enacted in the future that could affect REITs and their shareholders. Prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the effect of H.R. 1 and any other potential tax law changes on an investment in our common stock.
We may have to borrow funds or sell assets to meet our distribution requirements.
Subject to some adjustments that are unique to REITs, a REIT generally must distribute 90% of its taxable income. For the purpose of determining taxable income, we may be required to accrue interest, rent and other items treated as earned for tax purposes but that we have not yet received. In addition, we may be required not to accrue as expenses for tax purposes some that which actually have been paid, including, for example, payments of principal on our debt, or some of our deductions might be disallowed by the Internal Revenue Service. As a result, we could have taxable income in excess of cash available for distribution. If this occurs, we may have to borrow funds or liquidate some of our assets in order to meet the distribution requirement applicable to a REIT.
Liquidation of our assets may jeopardize our REIT qualification.
To qualify as a REIT, we must comply with requirements regarding our assets and our sources of income. If we are compelled to liquidate our investments to repay obligations to our lenders, we may be unable to comply with these requirements, ultimately jeopardizing our qualification as a REIT, or we may be subject to a 100% tax on any gain if we sell assets in transactions that are considered to be “prohibited transactions,” which are explained in the risk factor “Even as a REIT, we may be subject to various federal income and excise taxes, as well as state and local taxes”.
Dividends payable by REITs do not qualify for the reduced tax rates on dividend income from regular corporations.
The maximum federal income tax rate applicable to “qualified dividend income” payable by non-REIT corporations to certain non-corporate U.S. stockholders is generally 20%, and a 3.8% Medicare tax may also apply. Dividends paid by REITs, however, generally are not eligible for the reduced rates applicable to qualified dividend income. Commencing with taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2018 and continuing through 2025, H.R. 1 temporarily reduces the effective tax rate on ordinary REIT dividends (i.e., dividends other than capital gain dividends and dividends attributable to certain qualified dividend income received by us) for U.S. holders of our common stock that are individuals, estates or trusts by permitting such holders to claim a deduction in determining their taxable income equal to 20% of any such dividends they receive. Taking into account H.R. 1’s reduction in the maximum individual federal income tax rate from 39.6% to 37%, this results in a maximum effective rate of regular income tax on ordinary REIT dividends of 29.6% through 2025 (as compared to the 20% maximum federal income tax rate applicable to qualified dividend income received from a non-REIT corporation). The more favorable rates applicable to regular corporate distributions could cause investors who are individuals to perceive investments in REITs to be relatively less attractive than investments in the stocks of non-REIT corporations that pay distributions. This could materially and adversely affect the value of the stock of REITs, including our common stock.
Item 1B.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 2.
Item 2. Properties
As of December 31, 2020, we owned and managed a portfolio of 49 shopping centers (including five shopping centers owned through R2G) with approximately 11.9 million square feet (“SF”) of GLA. Our wholly-owned properties consist of 44 shopping centers comprising approximately 11.1 million square feet of GLA.
(1) Average base rent per leased SF is calculated based on annual minimum contractual base rent pursuant to the tenant lease, excluding percentage rent and recovery income from tenants and COVID-19 related abatements, and is net of tenant concessions. Percentage rent and recovery income from tenants is presented separately in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) statement.
(2) Tenants in parenthesis represent non-company owned GLA.
(3) Space delivered to tenant.
Our leases for tenant space under 10,000 square feet generally have terms ranging from three to five years. Tenant leases greater than or equal to 10,000 square feet generally have lease terms of five years or longer, and are considered anchor leases. Many of the anchor leases provide tenants with the option of extending the lease term at expiration at contracted rental rates that often include fixed rent increases, consumer price index adjustments or other market rate adjustments from the prior base rent. The majority of our leases provide for monthly payment of base rent in advance, reimbursement of the tenant’s allocable real estate taxes, insurance and common area maintenance expenses and reimbursement for utility costs if not directly metered.
The following table sets forth as of December 31, 2020 the breakdown of GLA between anchor and small shop tenants, of our wholly owned properties portfolio comprised of 44 properties and the pro-rata share of the five shopping centers owned through R2G (the “R2G Portfolio”):
(1) Anchor tenant is defined as any tenant leasing 10,000 square feet or more.
(2) Small shop tenant is defined as any tenant leasing less than 10,000 square feet.
The following table provides, as of December 31, 2020, information regarding leases with the 25 largest retail tenants (in terms of annualized base rent) for our wholly owned properties portfolio and the pro-rata share of the R2G Portfolio:
(1)Source: Latest Company filings, as of December 31, 2020, per CreditRiskMonitor, Standard and Poors, and Moody's. Credit ratings relate to the parent or other affiliated entity that has obtained a rating and may not relate solely to the entities that are financially responsible for the lease.
(2)Marshalls (10) / TJ Maxx (8) / HomeGoods (4) / Sierra Trading Post (1)
(3)Dick's Sporting Goods (8) / Field & Stream (1) / Golf Galaxy (1)
(4)Bed Bath & Beyond (7) / Buy Buy Baby (5) / Cost Plus World Market (2)
(5)Ross Dress for Less (11) / DD's Discounts (1)
(6)Old Navy (7) / Gap (2) / Banana Republic (1) / Athleta (3)
(7)OfficeMax (3) / Office Depot (2)
Lease Expirations
The following tables set forth a schedule of lease expirations for our wholly owned portfolio and the pro-rata share of the R2G Portfolio, for each of the next ten years and thereafter, assuming that no renewal options are exercised:
ALL TENANTS
(1) Annualized Base Rent is based upon rents currently in place.
(2) Includes signed leases where rent has not yet commenced.
ANCHOR TENANTS (greater than or equal to 10,000 square feet)
(1) Annualized Base Rent is based upon rents currently in place.
(2) Includes signed leases where rent has not yet commenced.
SMALL SHOP TENANTS (less than 10,000 square feet)
(1) Annualized Base Rent is based upon rents currently in place.
(2) Includes signed leases where rent has not yet commenced.
Land Available for Development
At December 31, 2020, our three largest development sites, Parkway Shops, Lakeland Park Center and Hartland Towne Square, had environmental phase one assessments completed. It is our policy to start construction on new development projects only after the project has received entitlements, significant anchor commitments and construction financing, if appropriate. At December 31, 2020, we had received entitlements at our Parkway Shops site. We continue to evaluate the best use for land available for development, portions of which are adjacent to our existing shopping centers.
Our development and construction activities are subject to risks and uncertainties including, among others, our inability to obtain the necessary governmental approvals for a project, our determination that the expected return on a project is not sufficient to warrant continuation of the planned development, or our change in plan or scope for the development. If any of these events occur, we may record an impairment provision. See Item 1A. Risk Factors, for further information regarding our risk factors.
The Company evaluates these assets each reporting period and records an impairment charge equal to the difference between the current carrying value and fair value, when the fair value is determined to be less than the asset's carrying value. During 2020, we recorded a $0.6 million impairment charge on a land parcel that was ultimately sold. We also recorded an impairment provision of $0.2 million in 2018 related to developable land that we decided to market for sale, which was ultimately sold. Refer to Note 1 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in this report for further information related to impairment provisions.
Insurance
Our tenants are generally responsible under their leases for providing adequate insurance on the spaces they lease. In addition, we believe our properties are adequately covered by commercial general liability, fire, flood, terrorism, environmental, and where necessary, hurricane and windstorm insurance coverages, which are all provided by reputable companies, with commercially reasonable exclusions, deductibles and limits.
Item 3.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we are involved in certain litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. We do not believe that any of this litigation will have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements. There are no material pending governmental proceedings.
Item 4.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 5.
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market Information
Our common shares are currently listed and traded on the NYSE under the symbol “RPT”. On February 12, 2021, the closing price of our common shares on the NYSE was $10.59.
Sale of Unregistered Securities
There were no unregistered sales of equity securities during the quarter ended December 31, 2020.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Common share repurchases during the quarterly period ended December 31, 2020 were as follows:
During the quarterly period ended December 31, 2020, we withheld 205 shares from employees to satisfy estimated statutory income tax obligations related to vesting of restricted share awards. The value of the common shares withheld was based on the closing price of our common shares on the applicable vesting date.
Shareholder Return Performance Graph
The following line graph sets forth the cumulative total return on a $100 investment (assuming the reinvestment of dividends) in each of our common shares, the NAREIT Equity Index and the S&P 500 Index for the period December 31, 2015 through December 31, 2020. The stock price performance shown is not necessarily indicative of future price performance. The data shown is based on the share prices or index values, as applicable, at the end of each month shown.
Holders
The number of holders of record of our common shares was 1,011 at February 12, 2021. A substantially greater number of holders are beneficial owners whose shares of record are held by banks, brokers and other financial institutions.
Dividends
Under the Code, a REIT must meet requirements, including a requirement that it distribute to its shareholders at least 90% of its REIT taxable income annually, excluding net capital gain. Distributions paid by us are at the discretion of our Board and depend on our actual net income available to common shareholders, cash flow, financial condition, capital requirements, the annual distribution requirements under REIT provisions of the Code, and such other factors as the Board deems relevant. We do not believe that the preferential rights available to the holders of our preferred shares or the financial covenants contained in our debt agreements had or will have an adverse effect on our ability to pay dividends in the normal course of business to our common shareholders or to distribute amounts necessary to maintain our qualification as a REIT. See “Dividends and Equity” under Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, included in this report.
For information on our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2020, refer to Item 12 of Part III of this report and Note 15 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in this report for further information regarding our share-based compensation and other benefit plans.
Item 6.
Item 6. Reserved
Item 7.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements, the notes thereto, and the comparative summary of selected financial data included in this report.
Overview
RPT Realty owns and operates a national portfolio of open-air shopping destinations principally located in top U.S. markets. The Company's shopping centers offer diverse, locally-curated consumer experiences that reflect the lifestyles of their surrounding communities and meet the modern expectations of the Company's retail partners. As of December 31, 2020, our property portfolio consisted of 49 shopping centers (including five shopping centers owned through R2G) representing 11.9 million square feet of GLA. As of December 31, 2020, the Company's pro-rata share of the aggregate portfolio was 92.8% leased.
Our goal is to be a dominant shopping center owner, with a focus on the following:
•Own and manage high quality open-air shopping centers predominantly concentrated in the top U.S. metropolitan statistical areas (“MSA”);
•Curate our real estate to maximize its value while being aligned with the future of the shopping center industry by leveraging technology, optimizing distribution points for brick-and-mortar and e-commerce purchases, engaging in best-in-class sustainability programs and developing a personalized appeal to attract and engage the next generation of shoppers;
•Increase the value of our properties and create long-term value and growth for our shareholders;
•Cultivate value creation redevelopment and expansion pipeline;
•Maximize balance sheet liquidity and flexibility;
•Maximize revenue by leasing to a strong and diverse tenant mix at increased rent, when possible; and
•Attract, retain and promote motivated high performing employees.
Key methods to achieve our strategy:
•Deliver above average relative shareholder return and generate outsized consistent and sustainable Same Property Net Operating Income (“Same Property NOI”) and Operating Funds from Operations (“Operating FFO”) per share growth;
•Evaluate select redevelopment projects with significant pre-leasing for which we expect to achieve attractive returns on investment;
•Sell assets that no longer meet our long-term strategy and redeploy the proceeds to lease, redevelop and acquire assets in our core and target markets;
•Achieve lower leverage while maintaining low variable interest rate risk;
•Maintain strong tenant and retailer relationships to minimize tenant turnover to attract diverse tenancy; and
•Retain access to diverse sources of capital, maintain liquidity through borrowing capacity under our unsecured line of credit and minimize the amount of debt maturities in a single year.
The following highlights the Company's significant transactions, events and results that occurred during the year ended December 31, 2020, which reflect the impact of our business as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic:
Financial Results:
•Net (loss) income available to common shareholders was $(16.9) million, or $(0.21) per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2020, as compared to $84.8 million, or $1.04 per diluted share, for the same period in 2019.
•FFO was $66.5 million, or $0.81 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2020, as compared to $88.0 million, or $1.00 per diluted share, for the same period in 2019.
•Operating FFO was $64.2 million, or $0.78 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2020, as compared to $90.9 million, or $1.04 per diluted share, for the same period in 2019.
•Same property net operating income decreased (7.5)% for the year ended December 31, 2020, as compared to the same period in 2019.
•Executed 149 new leases and renewals, totaling approximately 1.1 million square feet in the aggregate portfolio.
•As of December 31, 2020, the Company's aggregate portfolio leased rate was 92.8%, as compared to 94.7% at December 31, 2019.
Acquisition Activity (See Note 4 of the notes to consolidated financial statements in this report):
•We had no acquisitions during the year ended December 31, 2020.
Disposition Activity (See Note 4 and Note 5 of the notes to consolidated financial statements in this report):
•Disposed of two land parcels for aggregate gross proceeds of $1.4 million. These transactions resulted in an aggregate gain on sale of real estate of $0.3 million and an aggregate impairment provision of $0.6 million.
Critical Accounting Policies
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Our estimates are based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
We believe the following critical accounting policies require our most subjective judgment and use of estimates in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.
Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable
Most of our leases contain non-contingent rent escalations for which we recognize income on a straight-line basis over the non-cancelable lease term. This method results in rental income in the early years of a lease being higher than actual cash received, creating a straight-line rent receivable asset which is included in the “Other Assets” line item in our consolidated balance sheets. We review our unbilled straight-line rent receivable balance to determine the future collectability of revenue that will not be billed to or collected from tenants due to early lease terminations, lease modifications, bankruptcies and other factors. Our evaluation is based on our assessment of tenant credit risk changes indicating that expected future straight-line rent may not be realized. Depending on circumstances, we may provide a reserve against the previously recognized straight-line rent receivable asset for a portion, up to its full value, that we estimate may not be received.
Additionally, we monitor the collectability of our accounts receivable from specific tenants on an ongoing basis, analyze historical experience, customer creditworthiness, current economic trends and changes in tenant payment terms when evaluating the likelihood of tenant payment. For operating leases in which collectibility of rental income is not considered probable, rental income is recognized on a cash basis and allowances are taken for those balances that we have reason to believe may be uncollectible in the period it is determined not to be probable of collection.
For more information refer to Note 1 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in this report.
Acquisitions
Acquisitions of properties are accounted for utilizing the acquisition method (which requires all assets acquired and liabilities assumed be measured at acquisition date fair value) and, accordingly, the results of operations of an acquired property are included in our results of operations from the date of acquisition. Estimates of fair values are based upon future cash flows and other valuation techniques in accordance with our fair value measurements policy, which are used to allocate the purchase price of acquired property among land, buildings on an “as if vacant” basis, tenant improvements, identifiable intangibles and any gain on purchase. Identifiable intangible assets and liabilities include the effect of above-and below-market leases, the value of having leases in place (“as-is” versus “as if vacant” and absorption costs), other intangible assets such as assumed tax increment revenue bonds and out-of-market assumed mortgages. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of 40 years for buildings, and over the remaining terms of any intangible asset contracts
and the respective tenant leases, which may include bargain renewal options. The impact of these estimates, including estimates in connection with acquisition values and estimated useful lives, could result in significant differences related to the purchased assets, liabilities and subsequent depreciation or amortization expense. For more information, refer to Note 1 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in this report.
Impairment
We review our investment in real estate, including any related intangible assets, for impairment on a property-by-property basis whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the property may not be recoverable. These changes in circumstances include, but are not limited to, changes in occupancy, rental rates, tenant sales, net operating income, geographic location, real estate values and expected holding period. The viability of all projects under construction or development, including those owned by unconsolidated joint ventures, is regularly evaluated under applicable accounting requirements, including requirements relating to abandonment of assets or changes in use. To the extent a project or an individual component of the project, is no longer considered to have value, the related capitalized costs are charged against operations.
Impairment provisions resulting from any event or change in circumstances, including changes in our intentions or our analysis of varying scenarios, could be material to our consolidated financial statements.
We recognize an impairment of an investment in real estate when the estimated undiscounted cash flow are less than the net carrying value of the property. Impairment may be impacted by macroeconomic conditions, including those caused by global pandemics, such as COVID-19, which may result in property operational disruption and indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. If it is determined that an investment in real estate is impaired, then the carrying value is reduced to the estimated fair value as determined by cash flow models and discount rates or comparable sales in accordance with our fair value measurement policy. Refer to Note 1 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in this report.
Results of Operations
Comparison of the Year Ended December 31, 2020 to the Year Ended December 31, 2019
The following summarizes certain line items from our audited statements of operations which we believe are important in understanding our operations and/or those items that have significantly changed during the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to 2019:
Total revenue in 2020 decreased $42.4 million, or (18.1)%, from 2019. The decrease is primarily due to the following:
•$22.1 million decrease related to five properties that were contributed to R2G during the fourth quarter of 2019; and
•$16.7 million decrease due to increased rental income not probable of collection as well as related straight-line rent reserves and rent abatement in the current period, primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and
•$3.3 million decrease from acceleration of below market leases in the prior period attributable to tenants who vacated prior to the original estimated lease end dates; and
•$1.2 million decrease in recovery income at existing properties as compared to the prior period; partially offset by
•$1.1 million increase related to the net impact of two properties sold during the first quarter of 2019 and one property acquired during the fourth quarter of 2019; and
•$1.2 million increase related to management and leasing fees collected due to R2G.
Real estate tax expense in 2020 decreased by $2.9 million, or (8.0)%, from 2019, primarily due to properties contributed to R2G during the fourth quarter of 2019.
Recoverable operating expense in 2020 decreased by $3.3 million, or (13.2)%, from 2019, primarily due to properties contributed to R2G during the fourth quarter of 2019, as well as lower common area maintenance expenses at existing properties.
Non-recoverable operating expense in 2020 decreased by $1.3 million, or (12.9)%, from 2019, primarily due to lower legal fees associated with a tenant dispute that concluded during the second quarter of 2020, less travel expense and properties contributed to R2G during the fourth quarter of 2019.
Depreciation and amortization expense in 2020 decreased by $1.4 million, or (1.8)%, from 2019. The decrease is primarily due to properties contributed to R2G during the fourth quarter of 2019, partially offset by higher asset write offs in the current year for tenants that vacated prior to their original lease end date.
During 2020 we recorded transaction costs of $0.2 million related to legal and professional fees associated with a property acquisition and property sale of a center that were terminated.
General and administrative expense in 2020 decreased by $1.8 million, or (6.6)%, from 2019. The net decrease is primarily a result of lower severance and management reorganization expense, which in the prior year was largely comprised of severance to a former executive officer and performance award expense related to the Company's former Chief Executive Officer, as well as lower bonus expense and lower travel expense in the current year. These decreases were partially offset by higher wages and payroll related expenses, higher stock-based compensation expense and higher legal fees.
During 2020 we recorded an impairment provision totaling $0.6 million, related to land held for development. The adjustment was triggered by changes in the expected use of the land and in the associated sales price assumptions. Refer to Note 1 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in this report for further information related to impairment provisions. We did not record any impairments in 2019.
During 2020 the Company recorded an insured benefit of $2.7 million related to insurance proceeds received in connection with a property damaged by a hail storm in 2019. During fourth quarter of 2019 the Company wrote off the corresponding damaged real estate assets, net of insurance proceeds received as of December 31, 2019.
Gain on sale of real estate was $0.3 million in 2020. In the comparable period in 2019 we had a gain on sale of real estate of $81.9 million. The decrease is primarily a result of the five properties contributed to R2G during the fourth quarter of 2019.
Earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures in 2020 increased $1.0 million from 2019 primarily due to R2G which was formed in the fourth quarter of 2019, partially offset by the gain on sale of the Nora Plaza property by one of our joint ventures in the prior period.
Interest expense in 2020 decreased by $0.7 million, or (1.8)%, from 2019. The decrease is primarily as a result of a 50 basis point decrease in our weighted average interest rate, partially offset by a 12.9% increase in our average outstanding debt. The increase in our average outstanding debt is the result of $225.0 million of borrowings in March 2020 on our unsecured revolving credit facility to strengthen the Company's liquidity position due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company has subsequently repaid $125.0 million during the remainder of 2020, leaving $100.0 million outstanding.
Other gain on unconsolidated joint ventures in 2020 decreased by $0.2 million primarily due to the sale of the Nora Plaza property by one of our joint ventures in the prior period. The gain represents the difference between our share of the distributed proceeds and the carrying value of our equity investment in such joint venture.
During 2019 we recorded loss on extinguishment of debt of $2.6 million, which represented the write-off of unamortized deferred financing costs associated with the junior subordinated notes that were redeemed in full in April 2019 and term loans that were repaid in November 2019, as well as deferred financing costs and a prepayment penalty associated with our senior unsecured notes that were repaid in December 2019.
Comparison of the Year Ended December 31, 2019 to the Year Ended December 31, 2018
The following summarizes certain line items from our audited statements of operations which we believe are important in understanding our operations and/or those items which have significantly changed during the year ended December 31, 2019 as compared to 2018:
Total revenue in 2019 decreased by $26.5 million, or (10.2)%, from 2018. The decrease is primarily due to the following:
•$28.6 million decrease related to properties sold in 2019 and 2018;
•$5.2 million decrease from acceleration of a below market lease in the prior period attributable to a specific tenant who vacated prior to the original lease termination date; primarily offset by a
•$3.3 million increase from acceleration of below market leases in the current period attributable to tenants who vacated prior to the original estimated lease termination date; and a
•$3.8 million increase related to our existing centers largely attributable to higher minimum rent primarily from occupancy gains, contractual rent increases and lease renewals and higher recovery income mainly as a result of an increase in recoverable expenses at existing centers.
Real estate tax expense in 2019 decreased by $6.3 million, or (15.0)% from 2018, primarily due to properties sold during 2019 and 2018.
Recoverable operating expense in 2019 decreased by $0.9 million, or (3.5)% from 2018, primarily due to properties sold during 2019 and 2018, partially offset by higher common area maintenance expenses at existing properties.
Non-recoverable operating expense in 2019 decreased by $3.0 million, or 41.3% from 2018, primarily due to higher internal leasing costs as a result of the adoption of ASC 842 which eliminated the capitalization of these costs in the current year as well as higher legal fees associated with a tenant dispute, partially offset by properties sold during 2019 and 2018.
Depreciation and amortization expense in 2019 decreased by $8.7 million, or (9.9)%, from 2018. The decrease is primarily a result of properties sold during 2019 and 2018.
During 2018 we recorded acquisition costs of $0.2 million related to legal and professional fees associated with a potential shopping center acquisition that was not ultimately pursued during the year.
General and administrative expense in 2019 decreased $3.7 million, or (11.9)%, from 2018. The net decrease is primarily a result of lower severance and management reorganization expense, which includes severance costs associated with former executives as well as sign-on bonuses and recruiting fees attributable to the new executive team, partially offset by an increase in bonus expense and higher share-based compensation expense.
During 2018 we recorded an impairment provision totaling $13.7 million, of which $13.5 million was on shopping centers classified as income producing and $0.2 million on land available for development. The adjustments related to shopping centers were triggered by changes in associated market prices and expected hold period assumptions, as well as a purchase price reduction at one property. The provision related to land held for development was triggered by changes in the expected use of the land and higher costs. Refer to Note 1 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in this report for further information related to impairment provisions. We did not record any impairments in 2019.
During 2019 the Company wrote off real estate assets that were damaged by a hail storm at one property, which resulted in a charge of $2.3 million, net of $3.5 million of insurance proceeds received as of December 31, 2019. The damage incurred will be fully covered by insurance.
Gain on sale of real estate was $81.9 million in 2019. In the comparable period in 2018 we had a gain of $4.0 million. The increase is primarily a result of the five properties contributed to R2G during the fourth quarter of 2019.
Earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures in 2019 remained flat from 2018.
Interest expense in 2019 decreased by $3.4 million, or (7.8)%, from 2018. The decrease is primarily a result of a 9.2% decrease in our average outstanding debt, partially offset by lower capitalized interest. The decline in our average outstanding debt is the result of using proceeds from asset sales in the fourth quarter of 2018 and first quarter of 2019 to pay down our revolving credit line and redeem our junior subordinated notes.
Other gain on unconsolidated joint ventures in 2019 decreased by $5.0 million primarily due to the sale of the Martin Square property by our joint venture, Ramco/Lion Venture LP, in the prior period. The gain represents the difference between our share of the distributed proceeds and the carrying value of our equity investment in such joint venture.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary uses of capital include principal and interest payments on our outstanding indebtedness, ongoing capital expenditures such as leasing capital expenditures and building improvements, shareholder distributions, operating expenses of our business, debt maturities, acquisitions and discretionary capital expenditures such as targeted remerchandising, expansions, redevelopment and development. We generally strive to cover our principal and interest payments, operating expenses, shareholder distributions, and ongoing capital expenditures from cash flow from operations, although from time to time we have borrowed or sold assets to finance a portion of those uses. We believe the combination of cash flow from operations, cash balances, favorable relationships with our lenders, issuance of debt, property dispositions and issuance of equity securities will provide adequate capital resources to fund all of our expected uses over at least the next 12 months. Although we believe that the combination of factors discussed above will provide sufficient liquidity, no such assurance can be given. As discussed herein, the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted states and cities where the Company’s tenants operate their businesses and where the Company’s properties are located and has had an adverse impact on our short-term cash flow due to a significant number of tenants not paying rent for the second, third and fourth quarters of 2020. COVID-19 could continue to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows as the reduced economic activity severely impacts certain of our tenants’ businesses, financial condition and liquidity and may cause certain tenants to be unable to meet their obligations to us in full, timely or at all. Continued nonpayment of rent or closures by our tenants of their stores could reduce our cash flows, which would adversely impact our liquidity and the achievement of our financial forecast.
We believe our current capital structure provides us with the financial flexibility to fund our current capital needs. We intend to continue to enhance our financial and operational flexibility by extending the duration of our debt, laddering our debt maturities, expanding our unencumbered asset base, and improving our leverage profile. In addition, we believe we have access to multiple forms of capital which includes unsecured corporate debt, secured mortgage debt, and preferred and common equity. However, there can be no assurances in this regard and additional financing and capital may not ultimately be available to us going forward, on favorable terms or at all.
At December 31, 2020 and 2019, we had $211.5 million and $114.6 million, respectively, in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash. Restricted cash generally consists of funds held in escrow by mortgage lenders to pay real estate taxes, insurance premiums and certain capital expenditures. As of December 31, 2020, we had $37.0 million of debt maturing in 2021, and we had $250.0 million available to be drawn on our $350.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility subject to compliance with applicable financial covenants. The current amount of outstanding indebtedness is close to the maximum permitted amount under the covenants contained in our revolving credit facility, and as a result our ability to retain our outstanding borrowings and utilize the limited remaining amount available under our revolving credit facility would depend on our continued compliance with financial covenants and other terms of our revolving credit agreement, which may be impacted by certain factors including tenant store closures and the nonpayment of rent, unless we obtain waivers or modifications to our loan document covenants. These covenants are generally based on our financial results from the most recently completed four fiscal quarters and, as a result, the impact on these financial covenants from adverse short-term impacts on operating results is partially mitigated by previous and/or subsequent operating results. Refer to Note 8 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion on our covenants.
Our long-term, post-COVID-19 pandemic, liquidity needs consist primarily of funds necessary to pay indebtedness at maturity, potential acquisitions of properties, redevelopment of existing properties, the development of land and discretionary capital expenditures. We continually search for investment opportunities that may require additional capital and/or liquidity. We will continue to pursue the strategy of selling non-core properties or land that no longer meet our investment criteria or advance our business strategy. Our ability to obtain acceptable selling prices and satisfactory terms and financing will impact the timing of any future sales. We anticipate using net proceeds from the sale of properties or land to reduce outstanding debt and support current and future growth oriented initiatives. To the extent that asset sales are not sufficient to meet our long-term liquidity needs, we expect to meet such needs by raising debt or issuing equity.
We have on file with the SEC an automatic shelf registration statement relating to the offer and sale of an indeterminable amount of debt securities, preferred shares, common shares, depository shares, warrant and rights. From time to time, we may issue securities under this registration statement for working capital and other general corporate purposes.
The following is a summary of our cash flow activities:
Operating Activities
Net cash flow provided by operating activities decreased by $27.5 million in 2020 compared to 2019 primarily due to the following:
•Lower rental income receipts of $17.6 million as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and
•Impact of shopping centers contributed to R2G in 2019.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $18.9 million in 2020, compared to net cash provided by investing activities of $95.1 million in 2019. The $114.0 million change in net cash from investing activities was primarily due to the following:
•Net proceeds from the sale of real estate, including those completed by our joint ventures, decreased $185.9 million; partially offset by
•Development and capital improvements, including those covered by insurance, decreased $33.5 million;
•Acquisitions of real estate decreased $33.9 million; and
•Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures decreased $4.7 million.
During 2020, we sold two land parcels for aggregate net proceeds of $1.3 million. During 2019, we sold two shopping centers and one land parcel for aggregate net proceeds of $67.9 million. In addition, on December 10, 2019, we announced the formation of R2G. We contributed five properties valued at $244.0 million to R2G and received $118.3 million in gross proceeds ($117.3 million net) for the 48.5% stake in R2G that was acquired by GIC. Refer to Note 4 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in this report for additional information related to dispositions.
We had no acquisition activity during 2020. In 2019 we acquired one property, Lakehills Plaza in Austin, Texas for approximately $33.9 million.
Our development and capital improvements spend in 2020 decreased by $33.5 million compared to 2019. The decrease was primarily a result of the Company's strategy to defer all but essential maintenance capital expenditures in order to preserve liquidity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At December 31, 2020, we did not have any active development or redevelopment projects ongoing.
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $52.8 million in 2020, compared to net cash used in financing activities of $115.9 million in 2019. The $168.7 million change in net cash from financing activities was primarily due to the following:
•Net borrowing on our revolving credit facility in 2020 of $100.0 million;
•Suspension of our common dividend and distributions paid to operating partnership unit holders in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic of $36.1 million; and
•Redemption of all of our outstanding junior subordinated notes due 2038 for an aggregate purchase price of $28.6 million in 2019.
On November 6, 2019, the Operating Partnership entered into the credit agreement, which consists of an unsecured revolving credit facility of up to $350.0 million and term loan facilities of $310.0 million. As of December 31, 2020, $250.0 million was available to be drawn on our $350.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility, subject to our compliance with certain covenants. It is anticipated that additional funds borrowed under our unsecured revolving line of credit will be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital, capital expenditures, the repayment of indebtedness or other corporate activities. For further information on the unsecured revolving line of credit and other debt, refer to Note 8 of notes to the consolidated financial statements in this report.
Dividends and Equity
We currently qualify, and intend to continue to qualify in the future, as a REIT under the Code. As a REIT, we must distribute to our shareholders at least 90% of our REIT taxable income annually, excluding net capital gains. Distributions paid are at the discretion of our Board and depend on our actual net income available to common shareholders, cash flow, financial condition, capital requirements, restrictions in financing arrangements, the annual distribution requirements under REIT provisions of the Code and such other factors as our Board deems relevant.
We paid cash dividends of $0.44 per common share to shareholders in 2020, as compared to cash dividends of $0.88 per common share to shareholders in 2019. Additionally, we paid cash dividends of $3.625 per share of our 7.25% Series D Cumulative Convertible Perpetual Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest to preferred shareholders in 2020 and 2019. Our dividend policy is to make distributions to shareholders of at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, excluding net capital gains, in order to maintain qualification as a REIT. Distributions paid by us are generally expected to be funded from cash flows from operating activities. To the extent that cash flows from operating activities are insufficient to pay total distributions for any period, alternative funding sources are used. Examples of alternative funding sources include proceeds from sales of real estate and bank borrowings. During 2020, our cash flow from operations exceeded the sum of our principal and interest payments, operating expenses, shareholder distributions and recurring capital expenditures by $7.4 million. In light of the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board of Trustees temporarily suspended the quarterly common dividend and quarterly operating unit holder distributions to retain cash starting with the second quarter of 2020. On February 11, 2021, the Company's Board of Trustees reinstated the first quarter 2021 common cash dividend at $0.075 per share payable on April 1, 2021, to the holders of record of Common Shares as of the close of business on March 19, 2021. In addition, the Company will reinstate a distribution of $0.075 per unit to the operating partnership unit holders for the first quarter of 2021. The Board of Trustees will continue to evaluate the Company’s dividend policy throughout the remainder of 2021 based upon the Company's financial performance and economic outlook and intends to maintain a quarterly common dividend of at least the amount required to continue qualifying as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax requirements.
In February 2020, the Company entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement (“Equity Distribution Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company may offer and sell, from time to time, the Company's common shares having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $100.0 million. Sales of the shares of common stock may be made, in the Company's discretion, from time to time, in “at-the-market” offerings as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act. The Equity Distribution Agreement also provides that the Company may enter into forward contracts for shares of its common stock with forward sellers and forward purchasers. For the year ended December 31, 2020, we did not issue any common shares through the arrangement. As of December 31, 2020, we have full capacity remaining under the agreement. The sale of such shares issuable pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement was registered with the SEC pursuant to a prospectus supplement filed in February 2020 and the accompanying base prospectus statement forming part of the Company's shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-232007) which was filed with the SEC in June 2019.
Debt
At December 31, 2020, we had $1.0 billion of debt outstanding consisting of $535.0 million in senior unsecured notes, $310.0 million of unsecured term loan facilities, and $85.3 million of fixed rate mortgage loans encumbering certain properties, and $100.0 million of borrowings on our revolving credit facility.
Our $845.0 million of senior unsecured notes and unsecured term loans have interest rates ranging from 2.51% to 4.74% and are due at various maturity dates from June 2021 through December 2029.
Our $85.3 million of fixed rate mortgages have interest rates ranging from 3.76% to 5.80% and are due at various maturity dates from February 2022 through June 2026. The fixed rate mortgage notes are secured by mortgages on properties that have an approximate net book value of $146.2 million as of December 31, 2020.
In addition, we have eleven interest rate swap agreements in effect for an aggregate notional amount of $310.0 million and two
forward starting interest rate swap agreements for an aggregate notional amount of $75.0 million converting our floating rate corporate debt to fixed rate debt. After taking into account the impact of converting our variable rate debt to fixed rate debt by use of the interest rate swap agreements, at December 31, 2020, we had $100.0 million of variable rate debt outstanding.
Our revolving credit facility, senior unsecured notes and term loan facilities contain representations, warranties and covenants, and events of default. These include financial covenants such as total leverage, fixed charge coverage ratio, unsecured leverage ratio, tangible net worth and various other calculations, which are detailed in the specific agreements governing our indebtedness, many of which are exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Additionally, our senior unsecured notes only permitted us to include an unencumbered real estate asset in the measurement of our unsecured leverage ratio if such asset satisfied 80% and 85% occupancy tests for the prior quarter. Such occupancy tests were generally based on the percentage of tenants operating, paying rent and not otherwise in default based on leases requiring current rental payments. Accordingly, as a result of the various uncertainties and factors surrounding COVID-19 and its impact on our tenants and their businesses and, therefore, its potential impact on our ability to maintain compliance with our loan covenants, on June 30, 2020, we entered into amendments to the note purchase agreements governing all of our outstanding senior unsecured notes. The following is a summary of the material amendments to the note purchase agreements:
•The occupancy tests relating to the minimum ratio of consolidated total unencumbered asset value to unsecured indebtedness were eliminated during the period from June 30, 2020 through and including September 30, 2021 (the “Specified Period”) and were otherwise reduced during the fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2021 and March 31, 2022;
•The minimum ratio of consolidated total unencumbered asset value to unsecured indebtedness that the Operating Partnership is required to maintain was reduced during the Specified Period; and
•The Operating Partnership agreed to a minimum liquidity requirement during the Specified Period.
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
Real Estate Joint Ventures
We consolidate entities in which we own less than 100% equity interest if we have a controlling interest or are the primary beneficiary in a variable interest entity, as defined in the Consolidation Topic of FASB ASC 810. From time to time, we enter into joint venture arrangements from which we believe we can benefit by owning a partial interest in one or more properties.
As of December 31, 2020, our investments in unconsolidated joint ventures were approximately $126.3 million representing our ownership interest in three joint ventures. We accounted for these entities under the equity method. Refer to Note 6 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in this report for further information regarding our equity investments in unconsolidated joint ventures.
We are engaged by certain of our joint ventures to provide asset management, property management, construction management, leasing and investing services for such ventures' respective properties. We receive fees for our services, including a property management fee calculated as a percentage of gross revenues received.
Guarantee
A redevelopment agreement was entered into between the City of Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission and the Company, to construct and develop River City Marketplace in 2005. As part of the agreement, the city agreed to finance up to $12.2 million of bonds. Repayment of the bonds is to be made in accordance with a level-payment amortization schedule over 20 years, and repayments are made out of tax revenues generated by the redevelopment. The remaining debt service payments due over the life of the bonds, including principal and interest, are $8.0 million. As part of the redevelopment, the Company executed a guaranty agreement whereby the Company would fund debt service payments if incremental revenues were not sufficient to fund repayment. There have been no payments made by the Company under this guaranty agreement to date.
Contractual Obligations
The following are our contractual cash obligations as of December 31, 2020:
(1)Excludes $1.1 million of unamortized mortgage debt premium and $3.6 million in deferred financing costs.
(2)Variable rate debt interest is calculated using rates at December 31, 2020.
(3)Includes interest payments associated with the finance lease obligation of $0.3 million.
(4)Includes interest payments associated with the development obligations of $0.6 million.
At December 31, 2020, we did not have any contractual obligations that required or allowed settlement, in whole or in part, with consideration other than cash.
Mortgages and Notes Payable
See the analysis of our debt included in “Liquidity and Capital Resources” above.
Operating and Finance Leases
We have an operating ground lease at Centennial Shops located in Edina, Minnesota. The lease includes rent escalations throughout the lease period and expires in April 2105.
We have an operating lease for our 12,572 square foot corporate office in Southfield, Michigan, which commenced in August 2019, and an operating lease for our 5,629 square foot corporate office in New York, New York. These leases are set to expire in December 2024 and January 2024, respectively. Our Southfield, Michigan corporate office lease includes two additional five year renewal options to extend the lease through December 2034 and our New York, New York corporate office lease includes an additional five year renewal to extend the lease through January 2029.
We also have a ground finance lease at our Buttermilk Towne Center with the City of Crescent Springs, Kentucky. The lease provides for fixed annual payments of $0.1 million through maturity in December 2032, at which time we can acquire the land for one dollar.
Construction Costs
In connection with the development and expansion of various shopping centers as of December 31, 2020, we have entered into agreements for construction activities with an aggregate cost of approximately $1.5 million.
Planned Capital Spending
We are focused on enhancing the value of our existing portfolio of shopping centers through successful leasing efforts, including the reconfiguration of anchor-space and small shop lease-up.
For 2021, we anticipate spending between $30.0 million and $40.0 million for capital expenditures, of which $1.5 million is reflected in the construction commitments in the above contractual obligations table. Our 2021 estimate includes ongoing capital expenditure spending between $20.0 million and $27.0 million and discretionary capital expenditure spending between $10.0 million and $13.0 million. Ongoing capital expenditures relates to leasing costs and building improvements whereas discretionary capital expenditures relate to targeted remerchandising, outlots/expansion, and development/redevelopment. Estimates for future spending will change as new projects are approved.
Capitalization
At December 31, 2020 and 2019, our total market capitalization was $1.6 billion and $2.2 billion, respectively, and is detailed below:
(1) Net debt represents (i) our total debt principal, which excludes unamortized premium and deferred financing costs, net, plus (ii) our finance lease obligation, less (iii) our cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, less (iv) our pro-rata share of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of each of our unconsolidated entities. We believe this calculation is useful to understand our financial condition. Our method of calculating net debt may be different from methods used by other companies and may not be comparable.
At December 31, 2020, noncontrolling interests represented a 2.3% ownership in the Operating Partnership. The OP Units may, under certain circumstances, be exchanged for our common shares on a one-for-one basis. We, as sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, have the option, but not the obligation, to settle exchanged OP Units held by others in cash. Assuming the exchange of all OP Units, there would have been approximately 82.0 million of our common shares outstanding at December 31, 2020, with a market value of approximately $709.0 million.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Certain of our key performance indicators are considered non-GAAP financial measures. Management uses these measures along with our GAAP financial statements in order to evaluate our operations results. We believe these additional measures provide additional and useful means to assess our performance. However, these measures do not represent alternatives to GAAP measures as indicators of performance and a comparison of the Company's presentations to similarly titled measures of other REITs may not necessarily be meaningful due to possible differences in definitions and application by such REITs.
Funds From Operations
We consider funds from operations, also known as “FFO,” to be an appropriate supplemental measure of the financial performance of an equity REIT. The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) is an industry body public REITs participate in and provides guidance to its members on Non-GAAP financial measures. Under the NAREIT definition, FFO represents net income (computed in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains (or losses) from sales of depreciable property and impairment provisions on depreciable real estate or on investments in non-consolidated investees that are driven by measurable decreases in the fair value of depreciable real estate held by the investee, plus depreciation and amortization, (excluding amortization of financing costs). Adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures are calculated to reflect funds from operations on the same basis. We have adopted the NAREIT definition in our computation of FFO.
In addition to FFO, we include Operating FFO as an additional measure of our financial and operating performance. Operating FFO excludes acquisition costs and periodic items such as gains (or losses) from sales of land and impairment provisions on land, bargain purchase gains, severance expense, executive management reorganization costs, net, accelerated amortization of debt premiums, gains or losses on extinguishment of debt, uncapitalized financing costs, insured expenses, net, accelerated write-offs of above and below market lease intangibles, accelerated write-offs of lease incentives and R2G Venture LLC related costs that are not adjusted under the current NAREIT definition of FFO. We provide a reconciliation of FFO to Operating FFO. FFO and Operating FFO should not be considered alternatives to GAAP net income available to common shareholders or as alternatives to cash flow as measures of liquidity.
While we consider FFO and Operating FFO useful measures for reviewing our comparative operating and financial performance between periods or to compare our performance to different REITs, our computations of FFO and Operating FFO may differ from the computations utilized by other real estate companies, and therefore, may not be comparable.
We recognize the limitations of FFO and Operating FFO when compared to GAAP net income available to common shareholders. FFO and Operating FFO do not represent amounts available for needed capital replacement or expansion, debt service obligations, or other commitments and uncertainties. In addition, FFO and Operating FFO do not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP and are not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs, including the payment of dividends.
The following table illustrates the calculations of FFO and Operating FFO:
(1)Amounts noted are included in Earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures.
(2)The total noncontrolling interest reflects OP Units convertible on a one-for-one basis into common shares. The Company's net income for the year ended December 31, 2019 (largely driven by gain on sale of real estate), resulted in an income allocation to OP Units which drove an OP Unit ratio of $1.14 (based on 1,909 weighted average OP Units outstanding) as of December 31, 2019. In instances when the OP Unit ratio exceeds basic FFO, the OP Units are considered anti-dilutive, and as a result are not included in the calculation of fully diluted FFO and Operating FFO for the year ended December 31, 2019.
(3)7.25% Series D Cumulative Convertible Perpetual Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest, $0.01 par value per share paid annual dividends of $6.7 million and are currently convertible into approximately 7.0 million common shares. They are dilutive only when earnings or FFO exceed approximately $0.96 per diluted share per year. The conversion ratio is subject to adjustment based upon a number of factors, and such adjustment could affect the dilutive impact of the Series D convertible preferred shares on FFO and earnings per share in future periods.
(4)For 2020, costs associated with a terminated acquisition and a terminated disposition.
(5)Amounts noted are included in General and administrative expense.
(6)For 2019, largely comprised of severance to a former executive officer and performance award expense related to the Company's former Chief Executive Officer. For 2018, includes severance, accelerated vesting of restricted stock and performance award charges and the benefit from the forfeiture of unvested restricted stock and performance awards associated with our former executives, in addition to recruiting fees, relocation expenses and cash inducement bonuses related to the Company's current executive team.
(7)For 2019, comprised of special incentive expense related to the execution of the R2G Venture LLC joint venture agreement.
(8)Amounts noted are included in Other (expense) income, net.
(9)The denominator to calculate diluted (loss) earnings per share includes weighted average common shares only for the year ended December 31, 2020, includes weighted average common shares, restricted stock and preferred shares for the year ended December 31, 2019, and includes weighted average common shares and restricted stock for the year ended December 31, 2018.
NOI, Same Property NOI and NOI from Other Investments
NOI consists of (i) rental income and other property income, before straight-line rental income, amortization of lease inducements, amortization of acquired above and below market lease intangibles and lease termination fees less (ii) real estate taxes and all recoverable and non-recoverable operating expenses other than straight-line ground rent expense, in each case, including our share of these items from our R2G Venture LLC unconsolidated joint venture.
NOI, Same Property NOI and NOI from Other Investments are supplemental non-GAAP financial measures of real estate companies' operating performance. Same Property NOI is considered by management to be a relevant performance measure of our operations because it includes only the NOI of comparable operating properties for the reporting period. Same Property NOI for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 represents NOI from the Company's same property portfolio consisting of 41 consolidated operating properties acquired or placed in service and stabilized prior to January 1, 2019 and five previously consolidated properties contributed to the newly formed joint venture, R2G Venture LLC, in December 2019. Same property NOI from these five properties includes 51.5% of their NOI as a consolidated property for the period January 1, 2018 through December 9, 2019 and 51.5% of their NOI as an unconsolidated property accounted for under the equity method for the period December 10, 2019 through December 31, 2019. Same Property NOI excludes properties under redevelopment or where activities have started in preparation for redevelopment. A property is designated as a redevelopment when planned improvements significantly impact the property. NOI from Other Investments for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 represents NOI primarily from (i) properties disposed of and acquired during 2019 and 2020, (ii) 48.5% of the NOI prior to December 10, 2019 from the five previously consolidated properties contributed to the R2G Venture LLC unconsolidated joint venture, (iii) Webster Place and Rivertowne Square where the Company has begun activities in anticipation of future redevelopment, (iv) certain property related employee compensation, benefits, and travel expense and (v) non-comparable operating income and expense adjustments.
NOI, Same Property NOI and NOI from Other Investments should not be considered alternatives to net income in accordance with GAAP or as measures of liquidity. Our method of calculating these measures may differ from methods used by other REITs and, accordingly, may not be comparable to such other REITs.
The following is a summary of our owned properties for the periods noted with consistent classification in the prior period for presentation of Same Property NOI:
(1)Includes the following property for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2020: Lakehills Plaza.
(2)Includes the following properties for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019: Rivertowne Square and Webster Place. The entire property indicated for each period is completely excluded from the Same Property NOI.
The following is a reconciliation of our Operating Income to Same Property NOI at Pro-Rata:
(1) Represents 51.5% of the NOI from the five properties contributed to R2G Venture LLC after December 9, 2019.
(2) Includes 100.0% of the NOI from the five properties contributed to R2G Venture LLC prior to December 10, 2019 and 51.5% of the NOI from the same five properties after December 9, 2019.
(3) Includes 51.5% of the NOI from the five properties contributed to R2G Venture LLC for all periods presented.
Inflation
Inflation has been relatively low in recent years and has not had a significant impact on the results of our operations. Should inflation rates increase in the future, substantially all of our tenant leases contain provisions designed to partially mitigate the negative impact of inflation in the near term. Such lease provisions include clauses that require our tenants to reimburse us for real estate taxes and many of the operating expenses we incur. Also, many of our leases provide for periodic increases in base rent which are either of a fixed amount or based on changes in the consumer price index and/or percentage rents (where the tenant pays us rent based on a percentage of its sales). Significant inflation rate increases over a prolonged period of time may have a material adverse impact on our business.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to Note 2 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in this report for a discussion of Recent Accounting Pronouncements.
Item 7A.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We have exposure to interest rate risk on our variable rate debt obligations. Based on market conditions, we may manage our exposure to interest rate risk by entering into interest rate swap agreements to hedge our variable rate debt. We are not subject to any foreign currency exchange rate risk or commodity price risk, or other material rate or price risks. Based on our debt and interest rates and interest rate swap agreements in effect at December 31, 2020, a 100 basis point change in interest rates would impact our future earnings and cash flows by approximately $1.0 million annually. We believe that a 100 basis point increase in interest rates would decrease the fair value of our total outstanding debt by approximately $26.5 million at December 31, 2020.
We had interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $385.0 million as of December 31, 2020. The agreements provided for swapping one-month LIBOR to fixed interest rates ranging from 1.26% to 1.77% and had expirations ranging from 2021 to 2027. The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2020 concerning our long-term debt obligations, including principal cash flows by scheduled amortization payment and scheduled maturity, weighted average interest rates of maturing amounts and fair market value:
We estimated the fair market value of our fixed rate mortgages using a discounted cash flow analysis, based on borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements with the same remaining maturity. Considerable judgment is required to develop estimated fair values of financial instruments. The table incorporates only those exposures that exist at December 31, 2020 and does not consider those exposures or positions which could arise after that date or firm commitments as of such date. Therefore, the information presented therein has limited predictive value. Our actual interest rate fluctuations will depend on the exposures that arise during the period and on market interest rates at that time.
In July 2017, the Financial Conduct Authority, the authority that regulates LIBOR, announced it intends to stop compelling banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. In November 2020, the ICE Benchmark Administration, the administrator of LIBOR, announced plans to consult on ceasing publications of LIBOR on December 31, 2021 for only the one week and two week LIBOR tenors, and on June 30, 2023 for all other LIBOR tenors. The Alternative Reference Rates Committee (ARRC) has proposed that the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) is the rate that represents best practice as the alternative to USD-LIBOR for use in derivatives and other financial contracts that are currently indexed to USD-LIBOR. ARRC has proposed a paced market transition plan to SOFR from USD-LIBOR and organizations are currently working on industry wide and company specific transition plans as it relates to derivatives and cash markets exposed to USD-LIBOR. There is no guarantee that a transition from LIBOR to an alternative will not result in financial market disruptions, significant increases in benchmark rates, or financing costs to borrowers. We have material contracts that are indexed to USD-LIBOR, and we are monitoring this activity and evaluating the related risks.
Item 8.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Our consolidated financial statements and supplementary data are included as a separate section in this Annual Report on Form 10-K commencing on page and are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports under the Exchange Act, such as this report on Form 10-K, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the design control objectives, and management was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
We carried out an assessment as of December 31, 2020 of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. This assessment was done under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Based on such evaluation, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of December 31, 2020.
Statement of Our Management
Our management has issued a report on its assessment of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, which appears on page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Statement of Our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Grant Thornton LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm that audited the financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, has issued an attestation report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, which appears on page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B.
Item 9B. Other Information
None.
PART III
Item 10.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement to be filed within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K.
Item 11.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement to be filed within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K.
Item 12.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement to be filed within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K.
Item 13.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement to be filed within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K.
Item 14.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement to be filed within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K.
PART IV
Item 15.
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(1) Consolidated financial statements. See “Item 8 - Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
(2) Financial statement schedule. See “Item 8 - Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
(3) Exhibits
3.1 Articles of Restatement of Declaration of Trust of the Company, effective June 8, 2010, incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Company's 2010 Proxy dated April 30, 2010.
3.2 Articles of Amendment, as filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland on April 5, 2011, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 6, 2011.
3.3 Articles Supplementary, as filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland on April 5, 2011, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 6, 2011.
3.4 Articles Supplementary, as filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland on April 28, 2011, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 28, 2011.
3.5 Articles of Amendment, as filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland on September 21, 2012, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 21, 2012.
3.6 Articles of Amendment, as filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland on July 31, 2013, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 31, 2013.
3.7 Articles of Amendment, as filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland on November 9, 2018, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 13, 2018.
3.8 Articles of Amendment, as filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland on February 28, 2020, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 28, 2020.
3.9 Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, effective November 13, 2018, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 13, 2018.
3.10 Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, effective February 13, 2020, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 20, 2020.
3.11 Amendment No. 2 to the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, effective March 27, 2020, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 1, 2020.
4.1 Description of the Company's Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K on February 20, 2020.
10.1 Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 10, 1996, among the Company, Dennis Gershenson, Joel Gershenson, Bruce Gershenson, Richard Gershenson, Michael A. Ward U/T/A dated 2/22/77, as amended, and each of the Persons set forth on Exhibit A attached thereto, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 1996.
10.2 Exchange Rights Agreement, dated May 10, 1996, among the Company and each of the Persons whose names are set forth on Exhibit A attached thereto, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 1996.
10.3 Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Ramco/Lion Venture LP, dated as of December 29, 2004, by Ramco-Gershenson Properties, L.P., as a limited partner, Ramco Lion LLC, as a general partner, CLPF-Ramco, L.P., as a limited partner, and CLPF-Ramco GP, LLC as a general partner, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.62 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.
10.4* Summary of Trustee Compensation Program.**
10.5 Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust 2012 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated June 12, 2012.**
10.6 Change in Control Policy, dated May 14, 2013, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 16, 2013.
10.7 $110 Million Note Purchase Agreement, by Ramco-Gershenson Properties, L.P. incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 2, 2013.
10.8 Second Amendment, dated June 30, 2020, to the $110 Million Note Purchase Agreement, dated June 27, 2013, by RPT Realty, L.P., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 6, 2020.
10.9 $100 Million Note Purchase Agreement, by Ramco-Gershenson Properties, L.P. dated May 28, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2014.
10.10 Third Amendment, dated June 30, 2020, to the $100 Million Note Purchase Agreement, dated May 28, 2014, by RPT Realty, L.P., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 6, 2020.
10.11 $100 Million Note Purchase Agreement, by Ramco-Gershenson Properties, L.P. dated September 30, 2015, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2015.
10.12 Second Amendment, dated June 30 2020, to the $100 Million Note Purchase Agreement, dated September 30, 2015, by RPT Realty, L.P., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 6, 2020.
10.13 $75 Million Note Purchase Agreement, by Ramco-Gershenson Properties, L.P. dated August 19, 2016, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 7, 2016.
10.14 Second Amendment, dated June 30 2020, to the $75 Million Note Purchase Agreement, dated August 19, 2016, by RPT Realty, L.P., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 6, 2020.
10.15 $75 Million Note Purchase Agreement, by Ramco-Gershenson Properties, L.P. dated December 21, 2017 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 27, 2017.
10.16 First Amendment, dated June 30, 2020, to the $75 Million Note Purchase Agreement, dated December 21, 2017, by RPT Realty, L.P., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 6, 2020.
10.17 Employment Agreement, dated June 11, 2020 between the Company and Brian Harper, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 15, 2020.**
10.18 Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust Inducement Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 12, 2018.**
10.19 Employment Agreement, dated June 11, 2020 between the Company and Michael Fitzmaurice, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 15, 2020.**
10.20 RPT Realty 2019 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated April 30, 2019.**
10.21 Employment Offer, dated June 25, 2018, between the Company and Timothy Collier, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2019.**
10.22 Employment Offer with Raymond Merk, dated July 9, 2019, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2019.**
10.23 Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated November 6, 2019 among RPT Realty, L.P., as Borrower, KeyBank National Association, as Administrative Agent, KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., BMO Capital Markets, and Capital One, National Association, as Joint-Lead Arrangers, BMO Capital Markets, N.A., and Capital One, National Association, as Syndication Agents, certain lenders from time to time parties thereto, as Lenders, and RPT Realty and certain subsidiaries of RPT Realty, L.P., as a Guarantors, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 8, 2019.
10.24* Employment Offer with Heather Ohlberg, dated October 5, 2018**
10.25* Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust Deferred Fee Plan for Trustees
21.1* Subsidiaries.
23.1* Consent of Grant Thornton LLP.
31.1* Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2* Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (furnished herewith)
32.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (furnished herewith)
101.SCH* Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL* Inline XBRL Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF* Inline XBRL Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LAB* Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE * Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
104* Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL with applicable taxonomy extension information contained in Exhibits 101.*).
* Filed herewith
** Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement
15(b) The exhibits listed at Item 15(a)(3) that are noted ‘filed herewith’ are hereby filed with this report.
15(c) The financial statement schedules listed at Item 15(a)(2) are hereby filed with this report.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary.
Not Applicable.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
RPT REALTY
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(f) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and preparation of our consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that pertain to our ability to record, process, summarize and report reliable financial data. Management recognizes that there are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of any internal control and effective internal control over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. Additionally, because of changes in conditions, the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting may vary over time.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Our management conducted an assessment of our internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020 using the framework established in 2013 by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control - Integrated Framework. Based on this assessment, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2020.
Our independent registered public accounting firm, Grant Thornton LLP, has issued an attestation report on our internal control over financial reporting. Their report appears on page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Board of Trustees and Shareholders
RPT Realty
Opinion on internal control over financial reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of RPT Realty (a Maryland corporation) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by COSO.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020, and our report dated February 18, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and limitations of internal control over financial reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
Chicago, Illinois
February 18, 2021
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Board of Trustees and Shareholders
RPT Realty
Opinion on the financial statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of RPT Realty (a Maryland corporation) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes and financial statement schedules included under Item 15(a) (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”), and our report dated February 18, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion.
Basis for opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical audit matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Evaluating the provision for impairment of income producing properties
At December 31, 2020, the Company's income producing properties total $1.43 billion. As described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company reviews its income producing properties for impairment on a property-by-property basis whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the property may not be recoverable. These changes in circumstances include, but are not limited to, changes in occupancy, rental rates, net operating income, real estate values, and expected holding period. The Company recognizes an impairment of an income producing property when the estimated undiscounted cash flow is less than the net carrying value of the property. If it is determined that an investment is impaired, then the carrying value is reduced to the estimated fair value as determined by cash flow models and discount rates or comparable sales.
The principal consideration for our determination that the evaluation of impairment of income producing properties was a critical audit matter was a higher risk of estimation uncertainty due to sensitivity of management judgments not only regarding indicators of impairment but also regarding estimates and assumptions utilized in forecasting cash flows for recoverability and making fair value measurements.
Our audit procedures related to the evaluation of impairment of income producing properties included the following, among others. We assessed the design and tested the operating effectiveness of relevant controls over the evaluation of potential impairments of income producing properties, such as controls over the Company’s monitoring of income producing properties and controls over the Company's assessments of recoverability. We evaluated the appropriateness of management's metrics of financial and operating performance in the context of an income producing shopping center, and the completeness of the population of properties requiring further analysis. We examined the Company's undiscounted cash flow analyses utilized to assess recoverability. We evaluated the reasonableness of the methods and significant inputs and assumptions used in the undiscounted cash flow analyses including the scope, severity, and duration of the pandemic attributable to COVID-19, capitalization rates, estimated holding periods, re-leasing absorption periods, and potential disposal proceeds to be received upon a sale. We evaluated these inputs and assumptions in comparison with a combination of observable market data and historical performance of the impacted properties. Our assessment included sensitivity analyses over these significant assumptions, and we considered whether such assumptions were consistent with evidence obtained in other areas of the audit.
Evaluating the collectibility of operating lease receivables
As described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company monitors the collectability of accounts receivable from specific tenants on an ongoing basis, analyzes historical experience, tenant creditworthiness, current economic trends and changes in tenant payment terms when evaluating the likelihood of tenant payment. For operating leases in which collectability of rental income is not considered probable, rental income is recognized on the lesser of cash or accrual basis, and allowances are taken for those balances that the Company has reason to believe may be uncollectible in the period it is determined not to be probable of collection. In addition, many of the Company's leases contain non-contingent rent escalations for which the Company recognizes income on a straight-line basis over the non-cancelable lease term. This method results in rental income in the early years of a lease being higher than actual cash received, creating a straight-line rent receivable asset. The Company reviews unbilled straight-line rent receivable balances to determine the future collectability of revenue that will not be billed to or collected from tenants due to early lease terminations, lease modifications, bankruptcies and other factors. Depending on circumstances, the Company may provide a reserve against the previously recognized straight-line rent receivable asset for a portion, up to its full value, that the Company estimates may not be received. At December 31, 2020, the Company recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts of $13.0 million and an allowance for straight line rent receivables of $4.1 million.
The principal consideration for our determination that evaluating the collectability of operating lease receivables was a critical audit matter was a higher risk of estimation uncertainty due to the judgment applied by management to determine whether a tenant's lease payments are probable of collection. Management's judgments are sensitive to subjective considerations such as the creditworthiness of the tenant, current economic conditions, and historical experience with the tenant and other tenants operating in a similar industry.
Our audit procedures related to the evaluation of collectability of operating lease receivables included the following, among others. We obtained an understanding of management's collectability assessment process, including the methodologies used by management and the information used in performing the assessment. We tested the design and operating effectiveness of management's internal controls relating to the collectability assessment process. We evaluated management's accounting policies related to the collectability assessment process. Specifically, we selected a sample of rent concession agreements and evaluated management's application of authoritative accounting guidance for lease concessions related to the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, we verified the completeness of the population of operating lease receivables included in the collectability assessment. We selected a subset of operating lease receivables and evaluated management’s estimates of collectability by testing rent payment collections after the balance sheet date, evaluating historical payment patterns of the tenants, and considering the presence or absence of a rent concession agreement. Our evaluation also considered whether information used in management's assessment process was consistent with evidence obtained in other areas of the audit.
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2005.
/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
Chicago, Illinois
February 18, 2021
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
RPT REALTY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
1. Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
RPT Realty, together with our subsidiaries (the “Company” or “RPT”), is a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) engaged in the business of owning and operating a national portfolio of open-air shopping destinations principally located in the top U.S. markets. The Company's shopping centers offer diverse, locally-curated consumer experiences that reflect the lifestyles of their surrounding communities and meet the modern expectations of the Company's retail partners. The Company is a fully integrated and self-administered REIT publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). The common shares of beneficial interest of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the “common share”), are listed and traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “RPT”. As of December 31, 2020, the Company's portfolio consisted of 49 shopping centers (including five shopping centers owned through a joint venture) representing 11.9 million square feet of gross leaseable area (“GLA”). We also have ownership interests of 7%, 30%, and 51.5%, respectively, in three joint ventures, one of which owns five shopping centers and two of which have no significant activity. Our joint ventures are reported using equity method accounting. We earn fees from certain joint ventures for managing, construction management, leasing and redeveloping the shopping centers they own. We also own interests in several land parcels that are available for development. Most of our properties are anchored by supermarkets and/or national chain stores.
We made an election to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, we generally will not be subject to federal income tax, provided that we annually distribute at least 90% of our taxable income to our shareholders and meet other conditions.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of us and our majority owned subsidiary, RPT Realty, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership” which was 97.7% owned by us at December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018), and all wholly-owned subsidiaries, including entities in which we have a controlling interest or have been determined to be the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (“VIE”). The presentation of consolidated financial statements does not itself imply that assets of any consolidated entity (including any special-purpose entity formed for a particular project) are available to pay the liabilities of any other consolidated entity, or that the liabilities of any other consolidated entity (including any special-purpose entity formed for a particular project) are obligations of any other consolidated entity. Investments in real estate joint ventures over which we have the ability to exercise significant influence, but for which we do not have financial or operating control, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Accordingly, our share of the earnings (loss) of these joint ventures is included in consolidated net income (loss). All intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation.
We own 100% of the non-voting and voting common stock of RPT Realty, Inc., and therefore it is included in the consolidated financial statements. RPT Realty, Inc. has elected to be a taxable REIT subsidiary for federal income tax purposes. RPT Realty, Inc. provides property management services to us and to other entities, including certain real estate joint venture partners.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires our management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and reported amounts that are not readily apparent from other sources. The Company considered impacts to its estimates related to the current pandemic of the novel coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”) as appropriate, within its consolidated financial statements and there may be changes to those estimates in future periods. The Company believes that its accounting estimates are appropriate after giving consideration to the increased uncertainties surrounding the severity and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications of prior period amounts have been made in the consolidated financial statements and footnotes in order to conform to the current presentation.
Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable
Our shopping center space is generally leased to retail tenants under leases that are classified as operating leases. We recognize minimum rents using the straight-line method over the terms of the leases commencing when the tenant takes possession of the space or when construction of landlord funded improvements is substantially complete. Certain of the leases also provide for contingent percentage rental income which is recorded on an accrual basis once the specified target that triggers this type of income is achieved. The leases also provide for reimbursement from tenants for common area maintenance, insurance, real estate taxes and other operating expenses (“recovery income”). The majority of our recovery income is estimated and recognized as revenue in the period the recoverable costs are incurred or accrued. Revenues from management, leasing, and other fees are recognized in the period in which the services have been provided and the earnings process is complete. Lease termination income is recognized when a lease termination agreement is executed by the parties and the tenant vacates the space. When a lease is terminated early but the tenant continues to control the space under a modified lease agreement, the lease termination fee is generally recognized evenly over the remaining term of the modified lease agreement.
Current accounts receivable from tenants primarily relate to contractual minimum rent, percentage rent and recovery income.
In accordance with ASC 842, income from operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected term of the lease for all leases for which collectibility is considered probable at the commencement date. We monitor the collectability of our accounts receivable from specific tenants on an ongoing basis, analyze historical experience, tenant creditworthiness, current economic trends and changes in tenant payment terms when evaluating the likelihood of tenant payment. For operating leases in which collectibility of rental income is not considered probable, rental income is recognized on the lesser of cash or accrual basis, and allowances are taken for those balances that we have reason to believe may be uncollectible in the period it is determined not to be probable of collection. When tenants are in bankruptcy, we make estimates of the expected recovery of pre-petition and post-petition claims. The period to resolve these claims can exceed one year. Management believes the allowance for doubtful accounts is adequate to absorb currently estimated rental income not probable of collection. However, if we experience actual activity in excess of the allowance we have established, our operating income would be reduced. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, our accounts receivable were $26.6 million and $25.0 million, respectively, net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $13.0 million and $1.0 million, respectively. The increase in the allowance for doubtful accounts during the current year is primarily attributable to increased uncertainty regarding the collectibility of certain tenant receivables due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, many of our leases contain non-contingent rent escalations for which we recognize income on a straight-line basis over the non-cancelable lease term. This method results in rental income in the early years of a lease being higher than actual cash received, creating a straight-line rent receivable asset which is included in the “Other assets, net” line item in our consolidated balance sheets. We review our unbilled straight-line rent receivable balance to determine the future collectability of revenue that will not be billed to or collected from tenants due to early lease terminations, lease modifications, bankruptcies and other factors. Our evaluation is based on our assessment of tenant credit risk changes indicating that expected future straight-line rent may not be realized. Depending on circumstances, we may provide a reserve against the previously recognized straight-line rent receivable asset for a portion, up to its full value, that we estimate may not be received. The balance of straight-line rent receivable at December 31, 2020 and 2019, net of allowances of $4.1 million and $1.8 million, respectively, was $17.6 million and $19.6 million, respectively. To the extent any of the tenants under these leases become unable to pay its contractual cash rents, we may be required to write down the straight-line rent receivable from that tenant, which would reduce our operating income. The increase in the straight-line rent receivable allowance during the current year is primarily attributable to increased uncertainty regarding the collectibility of certain tenant receivables due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Real Estate
Real estate assets that we own directly are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method. The estimated useful lives for computing depreciation are generally 10 - 40 years for buildings and improvements and 5 - 30 years for parking lot surfacing and equipment. We capitalize all capital improvement expenditures associated with replacements and improvements to real property that extend the property's useful life and depreciate them over their estimated useful lives ranging from 15 - 25 years. In addition, we capitalize qualifying tenant leasehold improvements and depreciate them over the lesser of the useful life of the improvements or the term of the related tenant lease. We also
capitalize direct internal and external costs of procuring leases and amortize them over the base term of the lease. If a tenant vacates before the expiration of its lease, we charge unamortized leasing costs and undepreciated tenant leasehold improvements of no future value to expense. We charge maintenance and repair costs that do not extend an asset’s life to expense as incurred.
Sale of a real estate asset is recognized when it is determined that the sale has been consummated, the buyer’s initial and continuing investment is adequate, our receivable, if any, is not subject to future subordination, and the buyer has assumed the usual risks and rewards of ownership of the asset. We will classify properties as held for sale when executed purchase and sales agreement contingencies have been satisfied thereby signifying that the sale is legally binding.
Acquisitions of properties are accounted for utilizing the acquisition method and, accordingly, the results of operations of an acquired property are included in our results of operations from the date of acquisition. Estimates of fair values are based upon future cash flows and other valuation techniques in accordance with our fair value measurements policy, which are used to allocate the purchase price of acquired property among land, buildings on an “as if vacant” basis, tenant improvements, identifiable intangibles and any gain on purchase. Identifiable intangible assets and liabilities include the effect of above-and below-market leases, the value of having leases in place (“as-is” versus “as if vacant” and absorption costs), other intangible assets such as assumed tax increment revenue bonds and out-of-market assumed mortgages. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of 40 years for buildings, and over the remaining terms of any intangible asset contracts and the respective tenant leases, which may include bargain renewal options. The impact of these estimates, including estimates in connection with acquisition values and estimated useful lives, could result in significant differences related to the purchased assets, liabilities and subsequent depreciation or amortization expense.
Real estate also includes costs incurred in the development of new operating properties and the redevelopment of existing operating properties. These properties are carried at cost and no depreciation is recorded on these assets until the commencement of rental revenue or no later than one year from the completion of major construction. These costs include pre-development costs directly identifiable with the specific project, development and construction costs, interest, real estate taxes and insurance. Interest is capitalized on land under development and buildings under construction based on the weighted average rate applicable to our borrowings outstanding during the period and the weighted average balance of qualified assets under development/redevelopment during the period. Indirect project costs associated with development or construction of a real estate project are capitalized until the earlier of one year following substantial completion of construction or when the property becomes available for occupancy.
The capitalized costs associated with development and redevelopment projects are depreciated over the useful life of the improvements. If we determine a development or redevelopment project is no longer probable, we expense all capitalized costs which are not recoverable.
It is our policy to start vertical construction on new development projects only after the project has received entitlements, significant anchor leasing commitments, construction financing and joint venture partner commitments, if appropriate. We are in the entitlement and pre-leasing phases at our development projects.
Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
We review our investment in real estate, including any related intangible assets, for impairment on a property-by-property basis whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the property may not be recoverable. These changes in circumstances include, but are not limited to, changes in occupancy, rental rates, net operating income, real estate values and expected holding period. The viability of all projects under construction or development, including those owned by unconsolidated joint ventures, is regularly evaluated under applicable accounting requirements, including requirements relating to abandonment of assets or changes in use. To the extent a project, or individual components of the project, is no longer considered to have value, the related capitalized costs are charged against operations.
Impairment provisions resulting from any event or change in circumstances, including changes in management’s intentions or management’s analysis of varying scenarios, could be material to our consolidated financial statements.
We recognize an impairment of an investment in real estate when the estimated undiscounted cash flow is less than the net carrying value of the property. If it is determined that an investment in real estate is impaired, then the carrying value is reduced to the estimated fair value as determined by cash flow models and discount rates or comparable sales in accordance with our fair value measurement policy.
In 2020, we recorded a $0.6 million impairment provision related to developable land. The adjustment related to changes in the expected use and changes in associated sales price assumptions related to land held for development.
Investments in Real Estate Joint Ventures
We have three equity investments in unconsolidated joint venture entities in which we own 51.5% or less of the total ownership interest, one of which owns five shopping centers and two of which have no significant activity. Under all of our joint ventures, because we can influence but not make significant decisions without our partners' approval, these investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. We provide leasing, construction, development, asset and property management services to these joint ventures for which we are paid fees.
We review our equity investments in unconsolidated entities for impairment on a venture-by-venture basis whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the equity investment may not be recoverable. In testing for impairment of these equity investments, we primarily use cash flow models, discount rates, and capitalization rates to estimate the fair value of properties held in joint ventures, and mark the debt of the joint ventures to market. Considerable judgment by management is applied when determining whether an equity investment in an unconsolidated entity is impaired and, if so, the amount of the impairment. Changes to assumptions regarding cash flows, discount rates or capitalization rates could be material to our consolidated financial statements.
There were no impairment provisions on our equity investments in joint ventures recorded in 2020, 2019 or 2018.
Deferred Financing Costs
Debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability is presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. Unamortized debt issuance costs of $3.6 million and $3.8 million are included in Notes payable, net as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Debt issuance costs associated with a line of credit arrangement is classified as an asset and subsequently amortized ratably over the term of the line of credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line of credit arrangement. Unamortized debt issuance costs related to our unsecured revolving credit facility of $2.0 million and $2.7 million are included in Other assets, net as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Other Assets, net
Other assets consist primarily of acquired development agreement intangibles, straight-line rent receivable, deferred leasing costs, deferred financing costs related to our unsecured revolving credit facility and prepaid expenses. Deferred financing costs related to our unsecured revolving credit facility and leasing costs are amortized using the straight-line method over the terms of the respective agreements, which approximates the effective interest method. Should a tenant terminate its lease, the unamortized portion of the leasing cost is expensed. Unamortized deferred financing costs are expensed when the related agreements are terminated before their scheduled maturity dates. Lastly, the acquired development agreements are amortized over the terms of the respective agreements.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
We consider all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash balances in individual banks may exceed the federally insured limit by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”). As of December 31, 2020, we had $209.2 million in excess of the FDIC insured limit.
Recognition of Share-based Compensation Expense
We grant share-based compensation awards to employees and trustees in the form of restricted common shares and cash and equity settled awards, and in the past, we have granted stock options to employees and trustees. Our share-based award costs are equal to each grant date fair value and are recognized over the service periods of the awards using the graded vesting method. We recognize forfeitures related to stock awards and stock options as they occur. See Note 15 of these notes to the consolidated financial statements for further information regarding our share based compensation.
Income Tax Status
We made an election, and believe our operating activities permit us to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, we generally will not be subject to federal income tax, provided that we distribute at least 90% of our taxable income annually to our shareholders and meet other conditions. We are obligated to pay state taxes, generally consisting of franchise or gross receipts taxes in certain states which are not material to our consolidated financial statements.
Certain of our operations, including property and asset management, as well as ownership of certain land parcels, are conducted through taxable REIT subsidiaries, (“TRSs”) which are subject to federal and state income taxes. During the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, we sold various properties and land parcels at a gain, resulting in both a federal and state tax liability. See Note 16 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in this report for further information regarding income taxes.
Variable Interest Entities (“VIE”)
Certain entities that do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties or in which equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest qualify as VIEs. VIEs are required to be consolidated by their primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary of a VIE has both (i) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact economic performance of the VIE, and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. We have evaluated our investments in joint ventures and determined that our joint ventures do not meet the requirements of a VIE and, therefore, consolidation of these ventures is not required.
Noncontrolling Interest in Subsidiaries
There are third parties who have certain noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership that are exchangeable for our common shares on a 1:1 basis or cash, at our election. Noncontrolling interest is classified as a separate component of equity outside of the permanent equity section of our consolidated balance sheets. Consolidated net income and comprehensive income includes the noncontrolling interest’s share. The calculation of earnings per share is based on income available to common shareholders.
Segment Information
Our primary business is the ownership, management, redevelopment, development and operation of retail shopping centers. We do not distinguish our primary business or group our operations on a geographical basis for purposes of measuring performance. We review operating and financial data for each property on an individual basis and define an operating segment as an individual property. The individual properties have been aggregated into one reportable segment based upon their similarities with regard to both the nature and economics of the centers, tenants and operational processes, as well as long-term financial performance. No one individual property constitutes more than 10% of our revenue or property operating income and none of our shopping centers is located outside the United States. Accordingly, we have a single reportable segment for disclosure purposes.
Significant Risks and Uncertainties
One of the most significant risks and uncertainties is the potential adverse effect of COVID-19. On February 28, 2020, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) raised its assessment of the COVID-19 threat from high to very high at a global level due to the continued increase in the number of cases and affected countries, and on March 11, 2020, the WHO characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic. On March 13, 2020, the United States declared a national emergency with respect to COVID-19. As a result of COVID-19, we have received numerous rent relief requests, most often in the form of rent deferrals. We have evaluated, and continue to evaluate, each tenant rent relief request on an individual basis, considering a number of factors. While the Company is unable at this time to reasonably estimate the impact that COVID-19 will continue to have on our business, financial position and operating results in future periods due to numerous uncertainties, the Company is closely monitoring the impact of the pandemic on all aspects of its business. A number of our tenants have closed their stores for a period of time as a result of COVID-19 and have requested rent relief, most often in the form of rent deferral, which the Company evaluates on a case-by-case basis. The COVID-19 pandemic has had and will likely to continue to have, repercussions across local, national and global economies and financial markets, including a potential global recession.
COVID-19 may continue to have material and adverse effects on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows in the near term due to, but not limited to, the following:
•Reduced economic activity severely impacting our tenants' businesses, financial condition and liquidity and may cause tenants to be unable to fully meet their obligations to us or to otherwise seek modifications of such obligations, resulting in increases in uncollectible receivables and reductions in rental income;
•The negative financial impact of COVID-19 could impact our future compliance with financial covenants of our credit agreement and other debt agreements, and as a result, our lenders may require us to accelerate the timing of payments which would have a material adverse effect on our business, operations, financial condition and liquidity, unless we obtain waivers or modifications from our lenders; and
•Weaker economic conditions could cause us to recognize impairment in the value of our tangible and intangible assets based on the Company's reasonable assessment.
The extent to which COVID-19 impacts our operations and those of our tenants will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the scope, severity and duration of the pandemic, the actions taken to contain the pandemic or mitigate its impact, and the direct and indirect economic effects of the pandemic and containment measures, among others. As such, we are unable to predict the impact that it ultimately will have on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
2. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In April 2020, the FASB issued a staff question-and-answer (“Q&A”) document focused on the application of the lease guidance in ASC 842, Leases, for lease concessions related to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Included in this Q&A, the FASB staff determined that it would be acceptable for entities to make an election to account for lease concessions related to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic consistent with how those concessions would be accounted for under Topic 842 and Topic 840 as though enforceable rights and obligations for those concessions existed (regardless of whether those enforceable rights and obligations for the concessions explicitly exist in the contract). Consequently, for concessions related to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, an entity will not have to analyze each contract to determine whether enforceable rights and obligations for concessions exist in the contract and can elect to apply or not apply the lease modification guidance in Topic 842 and Topic 840 to those contracts.
The FASB also acknowledged that some concessions will provide a deferral of payments with no substantive changes to the consideration in the original contract. The FASB indicated that a deferral affects the timing, but the amount of the consideration is substantially the same as that required by the original contract. The staff expects that there will be multiple ways to account for those deferrals, none of which the staff believes is more preferable than the others. Two of those methods are:
•Account for the concessions as if no changes to the lease contract were made. Under that accounting, a lessor would increase its lease receivable, and a lessee would increase its accounts payable as receivables/payments accrue. In its income statement, a lessor would continue to recognize income, and a lessee would continue to recognize expense during the deferral period.
•Account for the deferred payments as variable lease payments.
In cases where we have granted a deferral for future periods as a result of COVID-19, we have accounted for the concessions as if no changes to the lease contract were made. Under that accounting, we have increased our lease receivable as the receivables have accrued. In our statement of operations, we have continued to recognize income during the deferral period to the extent that we believe collection of that income is probable.
In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting” (“ASU 2020-04”). In addition, the FASB subsequently issued ASU 2021-01 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)” (“ASU 2021-01”) which further clarifies the optional expedients available. ASU 2020-04 and ASU 2021-01 provides temporary optional guidance to ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform. The new guidance provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles to contract modifications and hedging relationships, subject to meeting certain criteria, that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued. The ASU is intended to help stakeholders during the global market-wide reference rate transition period. Therefore, it will be in effect for a limited time through December 31, 2022. The Company has elected to apply the hedge accounting expedients related to probability and the assessments of effectiveness for future LIBOR-indexed cash flows to assume that the index upon which future hedged transactions will be based matches the index on the corresponding derivatives. Application of these expedients preserves the presentation of derivatives consistent with past presentation. As additional index changes in the market occur, the Company will evaluate the impact of the guidance and may apply other elections as applicable.
3. Real Estate
Included in our net real estate are income producing shopping center properties that are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization, construction in process and land available for development.
Following is the detail of the construction in progress and land available for development as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:
Construction in progress represents existing development, redevelopment and tenant build-out projects. When projects are substantially complete and ready for their intended use, balances are transferred to land or building and improvements as appropriate.
Land available for development includes real estate projects where vertical construction has yet to commence, but which have been identified by us and are available for future development when market conditions dictate the demand for a new shopping center. The viability of all projects under construction or development, including those owned by unconsolidated joint ventures, is regularly evaluated under applicable accounting requirements, including requirements relating to abandonment of assets or changes in use.
4. Property Acquisitions and Dispositions
Acquisitions
The following table provides a summary of our acquisitions during 2020 and 2019:
The total aggregate fair value of the acquisitions was allocated and is reflected in the following table in accordance with accounting guidance for business combinations. At the time of acquisition, these assets and liabilities were considered Level 3 fair value measurements:
Unaudited Proforma Information
If the 2019 acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2019, our consolidated revenues and net income for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 would have been as follows:
Dispositions
The following table provides a summary of our disposition activity during 2020 and 2019:
(1) We contributed five previously wholly-owned properties to the newly formed joint venture, R2G Venture LLC. Refer to Note 6 of these notes to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
5. Impairment Provisions
We established provisions for impairment for the following consolidated assets:
During 2020, changes in the expected use and changes in associated sales price assumptions related to land held for development resulted in an impairment provision of $0.6 million.
During 2018, the Company's decision to market for potential sale certain wholly-owned income producing properties resulted in an impairment provision of $13.4 million. The adjustment was triggered by changes in the associated market prices and expected hold period assumptions related to these shopping centers. During 2018, changes in the expected use and changes in associated sales price assumptions related to land held for development resulted in an impairment provision of $0.2 million.
6. Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures
As of December 31, 2020, we had three joint venture agreements: 1) R2G Venture LLC, 2) Ramco/Lion Venture LLP, and 3) Ramco HHF NP LLC, whereby we own 51.5%, 30%, and 7%, respectively, of the equity in each joint venture. As of December 31, 2020, our R2G Venture LLC joint venture owned five income-producing shopping centers, and our other two joint ventures did not own any income producing properties. We and the joint venture partners have joint approval rights for major decisions, including those regarding property operations. We cannot make significant decisions without our partner’s approval. Accordingly, we account for our interest in the joint ventures using the equity method of accounting.
Combined financial information of our unconsolidated joint ventures is summarized as follows:
Acquisitions
The following table provides a summary of our unconsolidated joint venture property acquisitions during 2020 and 2019:
(1) The income producing properties acquired were: (1) Coral Creek Shops located in Coconut Creek, FL, (2) Mission Bay Plaza located in Boca Raton, FL, (3) The Crossroads located in Royal Palm Beach, FL, (3) The Shops at Old Orchard located in West Bloomfield, MI, and (5) Town & Country Crossing located in Town & Country, MO.
The total aggregate fair value of the acquisitions was allocated and is reflected in the following table in accordance with accounting guidance for business combinations. At the time of acquisition, these assets and liabilities were considered Level 3 fair value measurements:
Dispositions
The following table provides a summary of our unconsolidated joint venture property disposition activity during 2020 and 2019:
The Company recorded an other gain on unconsolidated joint ventures for the year ended December 31, 2019 of $0.2 million which represents the excess of the net cash distributed to it from the Nora Plaza disposition and its proportionate share of the remaining equity in the unconsolidated joint venture.
Joint Venture Management and Other Fee Income
We are engaged by certain of our joint ventures, which we consider to be related parties, to provide asset management, property management, leasing and investing services for such ventures' respective properties. We receive fees for our services, including property management fees calculated as a percentage of gross revenues received and recognize these fees as the services are rendered.
The following table provides information for our fees earned which are reported in our consolidated statements of operations:
7. Other Assets, Net and Acquired Lease Intangible Assets, Net
Other assets, net consisted of the following:
(1)Represents in-place public improvement agreement of approximately $13.0 million and real estate tax exemption agreement of approximately $4.0 million associated with two properties acquired in 2014.
Straight-line rent receivables are recorded net of allowances of $4.1 million and $1.8 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Acquired lease intangible assets, net consisted of the following:
Acquired lease intangible assets have a remaining weighted-average amortization period of 11.1 years as of December 31, 2020. These intangible assets are being amortized over the terms of the applicable lease. Amortization of lease origination costs is an increase to amortization expense and amortization of above-market leases is a reduction to rental income over the applicable terms of the respective leases. Amortization of the above market lease asset resulted in a reduction of revenue of approximately $0.7 million, $0.8 million, and $1.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.
Combined, amortizable other assets, net and acquired lease intangibles, net totaled $81.3 million. The following table represents estimated aggregate amortization expense related to those assets as of December 31, 2020:
8. Debt
The following table summarizes our mortgages, notes payable, revolving credit facility and finance lease obligation as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:
Senior Unsecured Notes
The following table summarizes the Company's senior unsecured notes:
Unsecured Term Loan Facilities and Revolving Credit Facility
On November 6, 2019, the Operating Partnership entered into a Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “credit agreement”) which consists of an unsecured revolving credit facility (the “revolving credit facility”) of up to $350.0 million and term loan facilities of $310.0 million (the “term loan facilities” and, together with the revolving credit facility, the “unsecured revolving line of credit”). The revolving credit facility matures on November 6, 2023 and can be extended for up to one year to 2024 through two six-month options, subject to continued compliance with the terms of the credit agreement and the payment
of an extension fee of 0.075%. Borrowings on the revolving credit facility are priced on a leverage grid ranging from LIBOR plus 105 basis points to LIBOR plus 150 basis points.
The term loan facilities mature in five separate tranches ranging from March 3, 2023 to February 5, 2027 and are priced on a leverage grid ranging from LIBOR plus 120 basis points to LIBOR plus 220 basis points. The credit agreement allows for the right to request increases in the revolving and term loan commitments or the making of additional term loans by up to an additional $340.0 million to a maximum aggregate amount not to exceed $1.0 billion.
The following table summarizes the Company's unsecured term loan facilities and revolving credit facility:
(1)Swapped to a weighted average fixed rate of 1.77%, plus a credit spread of 1.25%, based on a leverage grid at December 31, 2020.
(2)Swapped to a weighted average fixed rate of 1.26%, plus a credit spread of 1.25%, based on a leverage grid at December 31, 2020
(3)Swapped to a weighted average fixed rate of 1.32%, plus a credit spread of 1.25%, based on a leverage grid at December 31, 2020.
(4)Swapped to a weighted average fixed rate of 1.30%, plus a credit spread of 1.65%, based on a leverage grid at December 31, 2020.
(5)Swapped to a weighted average fixed rate of 1.47%, plus a credit spread of 1.65%, based on a leverage grid at December 31, 2020.
As of December 31, 2020, we had $100.0 million outstanding under our unsecured revolving credit facility, an increase of $100.0 million from December 31, 2019, as a result of borrowings in March 2020 to strengthen the Company's liquidity position due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We had no outstanding letters of credit issued under our revolving credit facility as of December 31, 2020. We had $250.0 million of unused capacity under our $350.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility that could be borrowed subject to compliance with applicable financial covenants. Based on our recent borrowings under our revolving credit facility to enhance our liquidity position, our current amount of outstanding indebtedness is close to the maximum permitted amount under the covenants contained in our revolving credit facility, and as a result our ability to retain our outstanding borrowings and utilize the limited remaining amount available under our revolving credit facility would depend on our continued compliance with financial covenants and other terms of our revolving credit agreement, which may be impacted by certain factors including tenant store closures and the nonpayment of rent, unless we obtain waivers or modifications to our loan document covenants. These covenants are generally based on our financial results from the most recently completed four fiscal quarters and, as a result, the impact on these financial covenants from adverse short-term impacts on operating results is partially mitigated by previous and/or subsequent operating results. The interest rate as of December 31, 2020 was 1.30%.
Mortgages
The following table summarizes the Company's fixed rate mortgages:
The fixed rate mortgages are secured by properties that have an approximate net book value of $146.2 million as of December 31, 2020.
The mortgage loans encumbering our properties are generally nonrecourse, subject to certain exceptions for which we would be liable for any resulting losses incurred by the lender. These exceptions vary from loan to loan but generally include fraud or a material misrepresentation, misstatement or omission by the borrower, intentional or grossly negligent conduct by the borrower that harms the property or results in a loss to the lender, filing of a bankruptcy petition by the borrower, either directly or indirectly and certain environmental liabilities. In addition, upon the occurrence of certain events, such as fraud or filing of a bankruptcy petition by the borrower, we or our joint ventures would be liable for the entire outstanding balance of the loan, all interest accrued thereon and certain other costs, including penalties and expenses.
Finance lease
At December 31, 2020 we had a finance ground lease at our Buttermilk Towne Center with the City of Crescent Springs, Kentucky with a gross carrying value of $13.2 million classified as land. Total amounts expensed as interest relating to this lease were negligible for the year ended December 31, 2020, and were $0.1 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2019, and 2018.
Covenants
On June 30, 2020, the Company entered into amendments to the note purchase agreements governing all of the Company's outstanding senior unsecured notes. The following is a summary of the material amendments:
•The occupancy tests relating to the minimum ratio of consolidated total unencumbered asset value to unsecured indebtedness were eliminated during the period from June 30, 2020 through and including September 30, 2021 (the “Specified Period”) and were otherwise reduced during the fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2021 and March 31, 2022;
•The minimum ratio of consolidated total unencumbered asset value to unsecured indebtedness that the Operating Partnership is required to maintain was reduced during the Specified Period; and
•The Operating Partnership agreed to a minimum liquidity requirement during the Specified Period.
Our revolving credit facility, senior unsecured notes as amended and term loan facilities contain financial covenants relating to total leverage, fixed charge coverage ratio, unencumbered assets, tangible net worth and various other calculations. As of December 31, 2020, we were in compliance with these covenants.
The following table presents scheduled principal payments on mortgages, notes payable, revolving credit facility and finance lease payments as of December 31, 2020:
(1)Scheduled maturities in 2023 include the $100.0 million balance on the unsecured revolving credit facility drawn as of December 31, 2020. The unsecured revolving credit facility has two six-month extensions available at the the Company's option provided compliance with financial covenants is maintained.
9. Acquired Lease Intangible Liabilities, Net
Acquired lease intangible liabilities, net were $35.3 million and $38.9 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The lease intangible liabilities relate to below-market leases and are being accreted over the applicable terms of the acquired leases, which resulted in an increase in revenue of $3.6 million, $7.6 million, and $11.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
10. Fair Value
We utilize fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain assets and liabilities and to determine fair value disclosures. Derivative instruments (interest rate swaps) are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Additionally, we, from time to time, may be required to record other assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, GAAP establishes three fair value levels, based on the markets in which the assets and liabilities are traded and the reliability of the assumptions used to determine fair value. The assessed inputs used in determining any fair value measurement could result in incorrect valuations that could be material to our consolidated financial statements. These levels are:
Level 1 Valuation is based upon quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets.
Level 2 Valuation is based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market.
Level 3 Valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use at least one significant assumption not observable in the market. These unobservable assumptions reflect estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.
The following is a description of valuation methodologies used for our assets and liabilities recorded at fair value.
Derivative Assets and Liabilities
All of our derivative instruments are interest rate swaps for which quoted market prices are not readily available. For those derivatives, we measure fair value on a recurring basis using valuation models that use primarily market observable inputs, such as yield curves. We classify derivative instruments as Level 2. Refer to Note 11 of notes to the consolidated financial statements for additional information on our derivative financial instruments.
The table below presents the recorded amount of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:
Other Assets and Liabilities
The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, receivables and accounts payable and accrued liabilities are reasonable estimates of their fair values because of the short maturity of these financial instruments.
Debt
We estimated the fair value of our debt based on our incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements with the same remaining maturity and on the discounted estimated future cash payments to be made for other debt. The discount rates used approximate current lending rates for loans or groups of loans with similar maturities and credit quality, assumes the debt is outstanding through maturity and considers the debt’s collateral (if applicable). Since such amounts are estimates that are based on limited available market information for similar transactions, there can be no assurance that the disclosed value of any financial instrument could be realized by immediate settlement of the instrument. Fixed rate debt (including variable rate debt swapped to fixed through derivatives) with carrying values of $930.3 million and $832.6 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, have fair values of approximately $927.5 million and $848.2 million, respectively. Variable rate debt’s fair value is estimated to be the carrying values of $100.0 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019. We classify our debt as Level 2.
Net Real Estate
Our net real estate, including any identifiable intangible assets, are regularly subject to impairment testing but marked to fair value on a nonrecurring basis. To estimate fair value, we use discounted cash flow models that include assumptions of the discount rates that market participants would use in pricing the asset. To the extent impairment has occurred, we charge to expense the excess of the carrying value of the property over its estimated fair value. We classify impaired real estate assets as nonrecurring Level 3.
The table below presents the recorded amount of assets at the time they were marked to fair value during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 on a nonrecurring basis. We did not have any material liabilities that were required to be measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:
Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
Our equity investments in unconsolidated joint venture entities are subject to impairment testing on a nonrecurring basis if a decline in the fair value of the investment below the carrying amount is determined to be a decline that is other-than-temporary. To estimate the fair value of properties held by unconsolidated entities, we use cash flow models, discount rates, and capitalization rates based upon assumptions of the rates that market participants would use in pricing the asset. To the extent other-than-temporary impairment has occurred, we charge to expense the excess of the carrying value of the equity investment over its estimated fair value. We classify other-than-temporarily impaired equity investments in unconsolidated entities as nonrecurring Level 3.
11. Derivative Financial Instruments
We utilize interest rate swap agreements for risk management purposes to reduce the impact of changes in interest rates on our variable rate debt. We may also enter into forward starting swaps to set the effective interest rate on planned variable rate financing. On the date we enter into an interest rate swap, the derivative is designated as a hedge against the variability of cash flows that are to be paid in connection with a recognized liability. Subsequent changes in the fair value of a derivative designated as a cash flow hedge that is determined to be highly effective are recorded in other comprehensive income (“OCI”) until earnings are affected by the variability of cash flows of the hedged transaction. The differential between fixed and variable rates to be paid or received is accrued, as interest rates change, and recognized currently as interest expense in our consolidated statements of operations. We assess effectiveness of our cash flow hedges both at inception and on an ongoing basis. Our cash flow hedges become ineffective if critical terms of the hedging instrument and the debt do not perfectly match such as notional amounts, settlement dates, reset dates, calculation period and LIBOR rate. At December 31, 2020, all of our hedges were effective.
In July 2017, the Financial Conduct Authority, the authority that regulates LIBOR, announced it intends to stop compelling banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. In November 2020, the ICE Benchmark Administration, the administrator of LIBOR, announced plans to consult on ceasing publications of LIBOR on December 31, 2021 for only the one week and two week LIBOR tenors, and on June 30, 2023 for all other LIBOR tenors. The Alternative Reference Rates Committee (ARRC) has proposed that the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) is the rate that represents best practice as the alternative to USD-LIBOR for use in derivatives and other financial contracts that are currently indexed to USD-LIBOR. ARRC has proposed a paced market transition plan to SOFR from USD-LIBOR and organizations are currently working on industry wide and company specific transition plans as it relates to derivatives and cash markets exposed to USD-LIBOR. There is no guarantee that a transition from LIBOR to an alternative will not result in financial market disruptions, significant increases in benchmark rates, or financing costs to borrowers. We have material contracts that are indexed to USD-LIBOR, and we are monitoring this activity and evaluating the related risks.
As of December 31, 2019, we had seven interest rate swap agreements in effect for an aggregate notional amount of $210.0 million and five forward stating interest rate swap agreements for an aggregate notional amount of $150.0 million, converting our floating rate corporate debt to fixed rate debt. Additionally, in February 2020, we entered into four additional interest rate swap agreements for an aggregate notional amount of $100.0 million. As of December 31, 2020, we had eleven interest rate swap agreements in effect for an aggregate notional amount of $310.0 million and two forward stating interest rate swap agreements for an aggregate notional amount of $75.0 million.
The following table summarizes the notional values and fair values of our derivative financial instruments as of December 31, 2020:
The following table summarizes the notional values and fair values of our derivative financial instruments as of December 31, 2019:
The effect of derivative financial instruments on our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 is summarized as follows:
12. Leases
Revenues
Approximate future minimum revenues from rentals under non-cancelable operating leases in effect at December 31, 2020, assuming no new or renegotiated leases or option extensions on lease agreements and no early lease terminations were as follows:
We recognized rental income related to variable lease payments of $44.2 million and $51.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Substantially all of the assets included as income producing properties, net on the consolidated balance sheets, relate to our portfolio of wholly owned shopping centers, in which we are the lessor under operating leases with our tenants. As of December 31, 2020, the Company’s wholly owned portfolio was 93.0% leased.
Expenses
We have operating leases for our corporate office in New York, New York and our Southfield, Michigan office, that expire in January 2024 and December 2024, respectively. Our operating lease in New York includes an additional five year renewal and our operating lease in Southfield includes two additional five year renewals which are all exercisable at our option. We also have an operating ground lease at Centennial Shops located in Edina, Minnesota which includes rent escalations throughout the lease period and expires in April 2105. In addition, we have a finance ground lease at our Buttermilk Towne Center with the City of Crescent Springs that expires in December 2032. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet; we recognize lease expenses for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
The components of lease expense were as follows:
Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases is as follows:
Supplemental cash flow information related to leases is as follows:
Maturities of lease liabilities as of December 31, 2020 were as follows:
13. Earnings per Common Share
The following table sets forth the computation of basic earnings per share (“EPS”):
The following table sets forth the computation of diluted EPS:
(1)Restricted stock awards are not included in the diluted per share calculation where the effect of their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.
(2)The assumed conversion of preferred shares is dilutive for the year ended December 31, 2019 and anti-dilutive for all other periods presented.
We exclude certain securities from the computation of diluted earnings per share. The following table presents the outstanding securities that were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share and the number of common shares each was convertible into (in thousands):
14. Shareholders’ Equity
Underwritten public offerings
We did not complete any underwritten public offerings in 2020, 2019 or 2018.
Equity Distribution Agreement
In February 2020, the Company entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement (“Equity Distribution Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company may offer and sell, from time to time, the Company's common shares having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $100.0 million. Sales of the shares of common stock may be made, in the Company's discretion, from time to time in "at-the-market" offerings as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933. The Equity Distribution Agreement also provides that the Company may enter into forward contracts for shares of its common stock with forward sellers and forward purchasers. For the year ended December 31, 2020, we did not issue any common shares through the arrangement. As of December 31, 2020, we have full capacity remaining under the agreement.
Non-Controlling Interests
As of December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 we had 1,909,018 OP Units outstanding. OP Unit holders are entitled to exchange their units for our common shares on a 1:1 basis or for cash. The form of payment is at our election. During 2018, there were 7,385 OP Units converted for cash in the amount of $0.1 million. During 2020 and 2019, there were no units converted for cash.
Preferred Shares
As of December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 we had 1,848,539 shares of 7.25% Series D Cumulative Convertible Perpetual Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest (“Preferred Shares”), outstanding that have a liquidation preference of $50 per share and a par value of $0.01 per share. The Preferred Shares were convertible at any time by the holders to our common shares at a conversion rate of $13.17, $13.24 and $13.48 per share as of December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The conversion rate is adjusted quarterly. The Preferred Shares are also convertible under certain circumstances at our election. The holders of the Preferred Shares have no voting rights. At December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, the Preferred Shares were convertible into approximately 7.0 million, 7.0 million and 6.9 million shares of common stock, respectively.
The following table provides a summary of dividends declared and paid per share:
A summary of the income tax status of dividends per share paid is as follows:
(1) Represents qualified REIT dividends that may be eligible for the 20% qualified business income deduction under Section 199A of the Internal Revenue Code if 1986, as amended, that is available for non-corporate taxpayers and is included in "Ordinary Dividends".
The fourth quarter distribution for 2019 which was paid on January 2, 2020, has been treated as paid on January 2, 2020 for income tax purposes.
The fourth quarter Preferred Shares distribution for 2020, which was paid on January 4, 2021, has been treated as paid on January 4, 2021 for income tax purposes. The fourth quarter preferred shares distribution for 2019, which was paid on January 2, 2020 has been treated as paid on January 2, 2020 for income tax purposes.
Dividend reinvestment plan
We have a dividend reinvestment plan that allows for participating shareholders to have their dividend distributions automatically invested in additional common shares based on the average price of the shares acquired for the distribution.
15. Share-Based Compensation and Other Benefit Plans
Incentive, Inducement and Stock Option Plans
As of December 31, 2020, we have two share-based compensation plans in effect: 1) the 2019 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2019 LTIP”) and 2) the Inducement Incentive Plan (“Inducement Plan”). On April 29, 2019, our shareholders approved the 2019 LTIP, which replaced the 2012 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2012 LTIP”). The 2019 LTIP is administered by the compensation committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”). The 2019 LTIP provides for the award to our trustees, officers, employees and other service providers of restricted shares, restricted share units, options to purchase shares, share appreciation rights, unrestricted shares, and other awards to acquire up to an aggregate of 3.5 million common shares of beneficial interest plus any shares that become available under the 2012 LTIP as a result of the forfeiture, expiration or cancellation of outstanding awards or any award settled in cash in lieu of shares under such plan. As of December 31, 2020, there were 2.2 million shares of beneficial interest available for issuance under the 2019 LTIP. The Inducement Plan was approved by the Board in April 2018 and under such plan the Compensation Committee may grant, subject to any Company performance conditions as specified by the Compensation Committee, restricted shares, restricted share units, options and other awards to individuals who were not previously employees or members of the Board as an inducement to the individual's entry into employment with the Company. The Inducement Plan allows us to issue up to 6.0 million common shares, of which 5.0 million common shares remained available for issuance as of December 31, 2020; however, we do not intend to make further awards under the Inducement Plan following adoption of the 2019 LTIP.
The following share-based compensation plans have been terminated, except with respect to awards currently outstanding under each plan:
•2012 LTIP which allowed for the grant of restricted shares, restricted share units, options and other awards to trustees, officers and other key employees;
•The 2009 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2009 LTIP”) which allowed for the grant of restricted shares, restricted share units, options and other awards to trustees, officers and other key employees; and
•The 2008 Restricted Share Plan for Non-Employee Trustees (the “Trustees' Plan”) which allowed for the grant of restricted shares to non-employee trustees of the Company.
We recognized total share-based compensation expense of $6.3 million, $6.5 million, and $6.7 million for 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.
Restricted Stock Share-Based Compensation
Under the 2012 LTIP, Inducement Plan and 2019 LTIP, the Company has made grants of service-based restricted shares, performance-based cash awards and performance-based equity awards. The service-based restricted share awards to employees vest over three years or five years and the compensation expense is recognized on a graded vesting basis. The service-based restricted share awards to trustees vest over one year. We recognized expense related to service-based restricted share grants of $3.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, $3.5 million for year ended December 31, 2019 and $4.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, we granted the following awards:
•317,011 shares of service-based restricted stock. The service-based awards were valued based on our closing stock price as of the grant date. The service-based restricted share awards to employees vest over three years and the compensation expense is recognized on a graded vesting basis. The service-based restricted share awards to trustees vest over one year;
•286,944 shares of service-based restricted stock were granted in connection with the extension of the employment agreements of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, which vest in full on June 30, 2025 and June 30, 2024, respectively. The service-based awards were valued based on our closing stock price as of the grant date; and
•32,069 shares of service-based restricted stock were granted as part of the salary exchange program pursuant to which certain members of the Company's senior leadership team voluntarily reduced their 2020 annual base salary in exchange for restricted common shares. These shares will vest on January 2, 2021, subject to continued employment through such date. The service-based awards were valued based on our closing stock price as of the grant date.
•Performance-based equity awards that are earned subject to a future performance measurement based on a three-year shareholder return peer comparison and performance-based liability and equity awards that are earned subject to a future performance measurement based on the Company's stock price over a four-year performance period (“TSR Grants”).
A summary of the activity of service-based restricted shares under the 2012 LTIP, the Inducement Plan and the 2019 LTIP for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 is presented below:
As of December 31, 2020, we had 626,220 unvested service-based share awards outstanding under the 2019 LTIP, 72,976 unvested service-based share awards outstanding under the Inducement Plan, and 143,125 unvested service-based share awards outstanding under the 2012 LTIP. These awards have various expiration dates through June 2025.
The Company has TSR Grants that are either earned (1) subject to a future performance measurement based on a three-year shareholder return peer comparison or (2) subject to a future performance measurement based on the Company's stock price over a four-year performance period. Pursuant to ASC 718 - Stock Compensation, we determine the grant date fair value of TSR Grants that will be settled in cash, and any subsequent re-measurements, based upon a Monte Carlo simulation model. We will recognize the compensation expense ratably over the requisite service period. We are required to re-value the cash awards at the end of each quarter using the same methodology as was used at the initial grant date and adjust the compensation expense accordingly. If at the end of the three-year or four-year measurement period the performance criterion is not met, compensation expense related to the cash awards previously recognized would be reversed. We recognized compensation expense of $0.2 million, $1.1 million and $0.9 million related to these performance awards recorded during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The weighted average assumptions used in the Monte Carlo simulation models are summarized in the following table:
The Company also determines the grant date fair value of the TSR Grants that will be settled in equity based upon a Monte Carlo simulation model and recognizes the compensation expense ratably over the requisite service period. These equity awards are not re-valued at the end of each quarter. The compensation cost will be recognized regardless of whether the performance criterion are met, provided the requisite service has been provided. We recognized compensation expense of $2.4 million, $1.9 million, and $1.1 million related to these performance awards recorded during the years ended December 31, 2020 2019 and 2018, respectively. The fair value of each grant for the reported periods is estimated on the date of grant using the Monte Carlo simulation model using the weighted average assumptions noted in the following table:
As of December 31, 2020, we had $12.7 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted shares and performance based equity and cash awards. This expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.3 years.
Stock Option Share-Based Compensation
When we grant options, the fair value of each option granted, used in determining the share-based compensation expense, is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. This model incorporates certain assumptions for inputs including risk-free rates, expected dividend yield of the underlying common shares, expected option life and expected volatility.
No options were granted under any of our plans in the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
Other Benefit Plan
The Company has a defined contribution profit sharing plan and trust (the “Plan”) with a qualified cash or deferred 401(k) arrangement covering all employees. Participation in the Plan is discretionary for all full-time employees who have attained the age of 21. The entry date eligibility is the first pay date of a quarter following the date of hire. Our expense for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 was approximately $0.2 million, $0.2 million and $0.2 million, respectively.
16. Taxes
Income Taxes
We conduct our operations with the intent of meeting the requirements applicable to a REIT under sections 856 through 860 of the Code. In order to maintain our qualification as a REIT, we are required to distribute annually at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, excluding net capital gain, to our shareholders. As long as we qualify as a REIT, we will generally not be liable for federal corporate income taxes.
Certain of our operations, including property management and asset management, as well as ownership of certain land, are conducted through our TRSs which allows us to provide certain services and conduct certain activities that are not generally considered as qualifying REIT activities.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities reflect the impact of temporary differences between the amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the bases of such assets and liabilities as measured by tax laws. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance to the amount where realization is more likely than not assured after considering all available evidence, including expected taxable earnings and potential tax planning strategies. Our temporary differences primarily relate to deferred compensation, depreciation, impairment charges and net operating loss carryforwards.
As of December 31, 2020, we had a federal and state deferred tax asset of $8.0 million and a valuation allowance of $8.0 million, which represents an increase of $0.5 million from December 31, 2019. Our deferred tax assets, such as net operating losses and land basis differences, are reduced by an offsetting valuation allowance where there is uncertainty regarding their realizability. We believe that it is more likely than not that the results of future operations will not generate sufficient taxable income to recognize the deferred tax assets. These future operations are primarily dependent upon the profitability of our TRSs, the timing and amounts of gains on land sales, and other factors affecting the results of operations of the TRSs.
If in the future we are able to conclude it is more likely than not that we will realize a future benefit from a deferred tax asset, we will reduce the related valuation allowance by the appropriate amount. If this occurs, it will result in a net deferred tax asset on our balance sheet and an income tax benefit of equal magnitude in our statement of operations in the period we made the determination.
Income tax benefit for the year ended December 31, 2020 was negligible. For both the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, we recorded an income tax provision of approximately $0.2 million.
We had no unrecognized tax benefits as of or during the three year period ended December 31, 2020. We expect no significant increases or decreases in unrecognized tax benefits due to changes in tax positions within one year of December 31, 2020. No material interest or penalties relating to income taxes were recognized in the statement of operations for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018 or in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018. It is our accounting policy to classify interest and penalties relating to unrecognized tax benefits as tax expense. As of December 31, 2020, returns for the calendar years 2017 through 2020 remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and various state and local tax jurisdictions. As of December 31, 2020, certain returns for calendar year 2016 also remain subject to examination by various state and local tax jurisdictions.
Sales Tax
We collect various taxes from tenants and remit these amounts, on a net basis, to the applicable taxing authorities.
17. Commitments and Contingencies
Construction Costs
In connection with the development and expansion of various shopping centers as of December 31, 2020, we had entered into agreements for construction costs of approximately $1.5 million.
Litigation
We are currently involved in certain litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. We are not aware of any matters that would have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
Development Obligations
As of December 31, 2020, the Company has $2.2 million of development related obligations that require annual payments through December 2043.
Guarantee
A redevelopment agreement was entered into between the City of Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission and the Company, to construct and develop River City Marketplace in 2005. As part of the agreement, the city agreed to finance up to $12.2 million of bonds. Repayment of the bonds is to be made in accordance with a level-payment amortization schedule over 20 years, and repayments are made out of tax revenues generated by the redevelopment. The remaining debt service payments due over the life of the bonds, including principal and interest, are $8.0 million. As part of the redevelopment, the Company executed a guaranty agreement whereby the Company would fund debt service payments if incremental revenues were not sufficient to fund repayment. There have been no payments made by the Company under this guaranty agreement to date.
Environmental Matters
We are subject to numerous federal, state and local environmental laws, ordinances and regulations in the areas where we own or operate properties. We are not aware of any contamination which may have been caused by us or any of our tenants that would have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
As part of our risk management activities, we have applied and been accepted into state sponsored environmental programs which will expedite and assure satisfactory compliance with environmental laws and regulations should contaminants need to be remediated. We also have an environmental insurance policy that covers us against third party liabilities and remediation costs.
While we believe that we do not have any material exposure to environmental remediation costs, we cannot give absolute assurance that changes in the law or new discoveries of contamination will not result in additional liabilities to us.
18. Reorganization
In connection with the reorganization of the executive management team, we recorded one-time employee termination benefits of $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Such charges are reflected in the consolidated statements of operations in general and administrative expense.
19. Subsequent Events
We have evaluated subsequent events through the date that the consolidated financial statements were issued.
On February 12, 2021 the Company repaid $100.0 million of borrowings on our unsecured revolving credit facility. Subsequent to this repayment, the Company had no balance outstanding under our unsecured revolving credit facility.
Since the onset of COVID-19, the Company has received rent relief requests, most often in the form of rent deferral requests. The Company is evaluating each tenant rent relief request on an individual basis, considering a number of factors. Though the outcome of tenant negotiations will vary tenant to tenant, the Company has entered and continues to expect that it will enter into rent relief agreements, such as agreements granting deferral or abatement of lease payments, with those tenants whose operations have been significantly impacted by COVID-19.
20. Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
The following table sets forth summarized quarterly financial data for the year ended December 31, 2020:
(1)EPS amounts are based on weighted average common shares outstanding during the quarter and, therefore, may not agree with the EPS calculated for the year ended December 31, 2020.
The following table sets forth summarized quarterly financial data for the year ended December 31, 2019:
(1)EPS amounts are based on weighted average common shares outstanding during the quarter and, therefore, may not agree with the EPS calculated for the year ended December 31, 2019.
RPT REALTY
SCHEDULE II
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
December 31, 2020
(in thousands of dollars)
RPT REALTY
SCHEDULE III
SUMMARY OF REAL ESTATE AND ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION
December 31, 2020
(in thousands of dollars)
(1) Primarily in Hartland, MI, Lakeland, FL and Jacksonville, FL.
SCHEDULE III
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT AND ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION
December 31, 2020