UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
þ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO THE SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010
or
¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission file number: 1-07533
FEDERAL REALTY INVESTMENT TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Declaration of Trust)
Maryland | 52-0782497 | |
(State of Organization) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | |
1626 East Jefferson Street, Rockville, Maryland | 20852 | |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
(301) 998-8100
(Registrants Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class |
Name Of Each Exchange On Which Registered | |
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, $.01 par value per share, with associated Common Share Purchase Rights |
New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. þ Yes ¨ No
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. ¨ Yes þ No
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. þ Yes ¨No
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files). þ Yes ¨ No
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrants knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. þ
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large Accelerated Filer | þ | Accelerated Filer | ¨ | |||||
Non-Accelerated Filer | ¨ | (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company | ¨ |
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ¨ Yes þ No
The aggregate market value of the Registrants common shares held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, based upon the closing sales price of the Registrants common shares on June 30, 2010 was $4.3 billion.
The number of Registrants common shares outstanding on February 9, 2011 was 61,537,817.
FEDERAL REALTY INVESTMENT TRUST
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Registrants Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the Registrants 2011 annual meeting of shareholders to be held in May 2011 will be incorporated by reference into Part III hereof.
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References to we, us, our or the Trust refer to Federal Realty Investment Trust and our business and operations conducted through our directly or indirectly owned subsidiaries.
General
We are an equity real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in the ownership, management, and redevelopment of high quality retail and mixed-use properties located primarily in densely populated and affluent communities in strategically selected metropolitan markets in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, as well as in California. As of December 31, 2010, we owned or had a majority interest in community and neighborhood shopping centers and mixed-use properties which are operated as 85 predominantly retail real estate projects comprising approximately 18.3 million square feet. In total, the real estate projects were 93.9% leased and 93.2% occupied at December 31, 2010. A joint venture in which we own a 30% interest owned seven retail real estate projects totaling approximately 1.0 million square feet as of December 31, 2010. In total, the joint venture properties in which we own an interest were 91.0% leased and 90.4% occupied at December 31, 2010. We have paid quarterly dividends to our shareholders continuously since our founding in 1962 and have increased our dividends per common share for 43 consecutive years.
We were founded in 1962 as a REIT under the laws of the District of Columbia and re-formed as a REIT in the state of Maryland in 1999. We operate in a manner intended to qualify as a REIT for tax purposes pursuant to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code). Our principal executive offices are located at 1626 East Jefferson Street, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Our telephone number is (301) 998-8100. Our website address is www.federalrealty.com. The information contained on our website is not a part of this report and is not incorporated herein by reference.
Business Objectives and Strategies
Our primary business objective is to own, manage, acquire and redevelop a portfolio of high quality retail properties that will:
| protect investor capital; |
| provide increasing cash flow for distribution to shareholders; |
| generate higher internal growth than our peers; and |
| provide potential for capital appreciation. |
Our traditional focus has been and remains on regional community and neighborhood shopping centers that generally are anchored by grocery stores. Late in 1994, recognizing a trend of increased consumer acceptance of retailer expansion to main streets, we expanded our investment strategy to include street retail and mixed-use properties. The mixed-use properties are typically centered around a retail component but may also include office, residential and/or hotel components.
Operating Strategies
Our core operating strategy is to actively manage our properties to maximize rents and maintain occupancy levels by attracting and retaining a strong and diverse base of tenants and replacing weaker, underperforming tenants with stronger ones. Our properties are generally located in some of the most densely populated and affluent areas of the country. These strong demographics help our tenants generate higher sales, which has enabled us to maintain higher occupancy rates, charge higher rental rates, and maintain steady rent growth, all of which increase the value of our portfolio. Our operating strategies also include:
| increasing rental rates through the renewal of expiring leases or the leasing of space to new tenants at higher rental rates while limiting vacancy and down-time; |
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| maintaining a diversified tenant base, thereby limiting exposure to any one tenants financial or operating difficulties; |
| monitoring the merchandising mix of our tenant base to achieve a balance of strong national and regional tenants with local specialty tenants; |
| minimizing overhead and operating costs; |
| monitoring the physical appearance of our properties and the construction quality, condition and design of the buildings and other improvements located on our properties to maximize our ability to attract customers and thereby generate higher rents and occupancy rates; |
| developing local and regional market expertise in order to capitalize on market and retailing trends; |
| leveraging the contacts and experience of our management team to build and maintain long-term relationships with tenants, investors and financing sources; and |
| providing exceptional customer service. |
Investing Strategies
Our investment strategy is to deploy capital at risk-adjusted rates of return that exceed our long-term weighted average cost of capital in projects that have potential for future income growth. Our investments primarily fall into one of the following four categories:
| renovating, expanding, reconfiguring and/or retenanting our existing properties to take advantage of under-utilized land or existing square footage to increase revenue; |
| renovating or expanding tenant spaces for tenants capable of producing higher sales, and therefore, paying higher rents, including expanding space available to an existing tenant that is performing well but is operating out of an old or otherwise inefficient store format; |
| acquiring quality retail properties and other quality properties that have a significant retail component located in densely populated or affluent areas where barriers to entry for further development are high, and that have possibilities for enhancing operating performance through renovation, expansion, reconfiguration and/or retenanting; and |
| developing the retail portions of mixed-use properties and developing or otherwise investing in other portions of mixed-use properties we already own in order to capitalize on the overall value created in the mixed-use properties. |
Investment Criteria
When we evaluate potential redevelopment, retenanting, expansion, acquisition and development opportunities, we consider such factors as:
| the expected returns in relation to our short and long-term cost of capital as well as the anticipated risk we will face in achieving the expected returns; |
| the anticipated growth rate of operating income generated by the property; |
| the tenant mix at the property, tenant sales performance and the creditworthiness of those tenants; |
| the geographic area in which the property is located, including the population density and household incomes, as well as the population and income trends in that geographic area; |
| competitive conditions in the vicinity of the property, including competition for tenants and the ability of others to create competing properties through redevelopment, new construction or renovation; |
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| access to and visibility of the property from existing roadways and the potential for new, widened or realigned, roadways within the propertys trade area, which may affect access and commuting and shopping patterns; |
| the level and success of our existing investments in the market area; |
| the current market value of the land, buildings and other improvements and the potential for increasing those market values; and |
| the physical condition of the land, buildings and other improvements, including the structural and environmental condition. |
Financing Strategies
Our financing strategies are designed to enable us to maintain an investment grade balance sheet while retaining sufficient flexibility to fund our operating and investing activities in the most cost-efficient way possible. Our financing strategies include:
| maintaining a prudent level of overall leverage and an appropriate pool of unencumbered properties that is sufficient to support our unsecured borrowings; |
| managing our exposure to variable-rate debt; |
| maintaining an available line of credit to fund operating and investing needs on a short-term basis; |
| taking advantage of market opportunities to refinance existing debt, reduce interest costs and manage our debt maturity schedule so that a significant portion of our debt does not mature in any one year; |
| selling properties that have limited growth potential or are not a strategic fit within our overall portfolio and redeploying the proceeds to redevelop, renovate, retenant and/or expand our existing properties, acquire new properties or reduce debt; and |
| utilizing the most advantageous long-term source of capital available to us to finance redevelopment and acquisition opportunities, which may include: |
| the sale of our equity or debt securities through public offerings or private placements, |
| the incurrence of indebtedness through unsecured or secured borrowings, |
| the issuance of operating units in a new or existing downREIT partnership that is controlled and consolidated by us (generally operating units in a downREIT partnership are issued in exchange for a tax deferred contribution of property; these units receive the same distributions as our common shares and the holders of these units have the right to exchange their units for cash or the same number of our common shares, at our option), or |
| the use of joint venture arrangements. |
Employees
At February 9, 2011, we had 238 full-time employees and 123 part-time employees. None of our employees are represented by a collective bargaining unit. We believe that our relationship with our employees is good.
Tax Status
We elected to be taxed as a REIT under the federal income tax laws when we filed our 1962 tax return. As a REIT, we are generally not subject to federal income tax on taxable income that we distribute to our shareholders. Under the Code, REITs are subject to numerous organizational and operational requirements, including the requirement to generally distribute at least 90% of taxable income each year. We will be subject to
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federal income tax on our taxable income (including any applicable alternative minimum tax) at regular corporate rates if we fail to qualify as a REIT for tax purposes in any taxable year, or to the extent we distribute less than 100% of our taxable income. We will also generally not be permitted to qualify for treatment as a REIT for federal income tax purposes for four years following the year during which qualification is lost. Even if we qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, we may be subject to certain state and local income and franchise taxes and to federal income and excise taxes on our undistributed taxable income.
We have elected to treat certain of our subsidiaries as taxable REIT subsidiaries, which we refer to as a TRS. In general, a TRS may engage in any real estate business and certain non-real estate businesses, subject to certain limitations under the Code. A TRS is subject to federal and state income taxes. In 2010, 2009, and 2008, our TRS incurred net income taxes/(refunds) of approximately $0.4 million, $0.5 million and $(0.8) million, respectively, primarily related to sales of condominiums at Santana Row and our investment in certain restaurant joint ventures at Santana Row.
Governmental Regulations Affecting Our Properties
We and our properties are subject to a variety of federal, state and local environmental, health, safety and similar laws, including:
| the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, which we refer to as CERCLA; |
| the Resource Conservation & Recovery Act; |
| the Federal Clean Water Act; |
| the Federal Clean Air Act; |
| the Toxic Substances Control Act; |
| the Occupational Safety & Health Act; and |
| the Americans with Disabilities Act. |
The application of these laws to a specific property that we own depends on a variety of property-specific circumstances, including the current and former uses of the property, the building materials used at the property and the physical layout of the property. Under certain environmental laws, principally CERCLA, we, as the owner or operator of properties currently or previously owned, may be required to investigate and clean up certain hazardous or toxic substances, asbestos-containing materials, or petroleum product releases at the property. We may also be held liable to a governmental entity or third parties for property damage and for investigation and clean up costs incurred in connection with the contamination, whether or not we knew of, or were responsible for, such contamination. In addition, some environmental laws create a lien on the contaminated site in favor of the government for damages and costs it incurs in connection with the contamination. As the owner or operator of real estate, we also may be liable under common law to third parties for damages and injuries resulting from environmental contamination emanating from the real estate. Such costs or liabilities could exceed the value of the affected real estate. The presence of contamination or the failure to remediate contamination may adversely affect our ability to sell or lease real estate or to borrow using the real estate as collateral.
Neither existing environmental, health, safety and similar laws nor the costs of our compliance with these laws has had a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations, and management does not believe they will in the future. In addition, we have not incurred, and do not expect to incur, any material costs or liabilities due to environmental contamination at properties we currently own or have owned in the past. However, we cannot predict the impact of new or changed laws or regulations on properties we currently own or may acquire in the future. We have no current plans for substantial capital expenditures with respect to compliance with environmental, health, safety and similar laws and we carry environmental insurance which covers a number of environmental risks for most of our properties.
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Competition
Numerous commercial developers and real estate companies compete with us with respect to the leasing and the acquisition of properties. Some of these competitors may possess greater capital resources than we do, although we do not believe that any single competitor or group of competitors in any of the primary markets where our properties are located are dominant in that market. This competition may:
| reduce the number of properties available for acquisition; |
| increase the cost of properties available for acquisition; |
| interfere with our ability to attract and retain tenants, leading to increased vacancy rates and/or reduced rents; and |
| adversely affect our ability to minimize expenses of operation. |
Retailers at our properties also face increasing competition from outlet stores, discount shopping clubs, superstores, and other forms of marketing of goods and services, such as direct mail, internet marketing and telemarketing. This competition could contribute to lease defaults and insolvency of tenants.
Available Information
Copies of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) are available free of charge through the Investors section of our website at www.federalrealty.com as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file the material with, or furnish the material to, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC.
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Business Conduct, Code of Ethics applicable to our Chief Executive Officer and senior financial officers, Whistleblower Policy, organizational documents and the charters of our audit committee, compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee are all available in the Corporate Governance section of the Investors section of our website.
Amendments to the Code of Ethics or Code of Business Conduct or waivers that apply to any of our executive officers or our senior financial officers will be disclosed in that section of our website as well.
You may obtain a printed copy of any of the foregoing materials from us by writing to us at Investor Relations, Federal Realty Investment Trust, 1626 East Jefferson Street, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
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This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Exchange Act and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Also, documents that we incorporate by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including documents that we subsequently file with the SEC will contain forward-looking statements. When we refer to forward-looking statements or information, sometimes we use words such as may, will, could, should, plans, intends, expects, believes, estimates, anticipates and continues. In particular, the below risk factors describe forward-looking information. The risk factors describe risks that may affect these statements but are not all-inclusive, particularly with respect to possible future events. Many things can happen that can cause actual results to be different from those we describe. These factors include, but are not limited to the following:
Revenue from our properties may be reduced or limited if the retail operations of our tenants are not successful.
Revenue from our properties depends primarily on the ability of our tenants to pay the full amount of rent and other charges due under their leases on a timely basis. Some of our leases provide for the payment, in addition to base rent, of additional rent above the base amount according to a specified percentage of the gross sales generated by the tenants and generally provide for reimbursement of real estate taxes and expenses of operating the property. The current economic conditions may impact the success of our tenants retail operations and therefore the amount of rent and expense reimbursements we receive from our tenants. We have seen some tenants experiencing declining sales, vacating early, failing to pay rent on a timely basis or filing for bankruptcy, as well as seeking rent relief from us as landlord. Any reduction in our tenants abilities to pay base rent, percentage rent or other charges on a timely basis, including the filing by any of our tenants for bankruptcy protection, will adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In the event of default by a tenant, we may experience delays and unexpected costs in enforcing our rights as landlord under lease terms, which may also adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Our net income depends on the success and continued presence of our anchor tenants.
Our net income could be adversely affected in the event of a downturn in the business, or the bankruptcy or insolvency, of any anchor store or anchor tenant. Anchor tenants generally occupy large amounts of square footage, pay a significant portion of the total rents at a property and contribute to the success of other tenants by drawing significant numbers of customers to a property. The closing of one or more anchor stores at a property could adversely affect that property and result in lease terminations by, or reductions in rent from, other tenants whose leases may permit termination or rent reduction in those circumstances or whose own operations may suffer as a result. As a result of the current economic conditions, we have seen a decrease in the number of tenants available to fill anchor spaces. Therefore, tenant demand for certain of our anchor spaces may decrease and as a result, we may see an increase in vacancy and/or a decrease in rents for those spaces that could have a negative impact to our net income.
We may be unable to collect balances due from tenants that file for bankruptcy protection.
If a tenant or lease guarantor files for bankruptcy, we may not be able to collect all pre-petition amounts owed by that party. In addition, a tenant that files for bankruptcy protection may terminate our lease in which event we would have a general unsecured claim that would likely be for less than the full amount owed to us for the remainder of the lease term, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operation.
We may experience difficulty or delay in renewing leases or re-leasing space.
We derive most of our revenue directly or indirectly from rent received from our tenants. We are subject to the risks that, upon expiration or termination of leases, whether by their terms, as a result of a tenant bankruptcy,
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general economic conditions or otherwise, leases for space in our properties may not be renewed, space may not be re-leased, or the terms of renewal or re-lease, including the cost of required renovations or concessions to tenants, may be less favorable than current lease terms which may include decreases in rental rates. As a result, our results of operations and our net income could be reduced.
The amount of debt we have and the restrictions imposed by that debt could adversely affect our business and financial condition.
As of December 31, 2010, we had approximately $1.8 billion of debt outstanding. Of that outstanding debt, approximately $506.7 million was secured by all or a portion of 21 of our real estate projects and approximately $59.9 million represented capital lease obligations on three of our properties. In addition, we own a 30% interest in a joint venture that had $57.6 million of debt secured by four properties as of December 31, 2010. Approximately $1.7 billion (95%) of our debt as of December 31, 2010, which includes all of our property secured debt and our capital lease obligations, is fixed rate debt. Our joint ventures debt of $57.6 million is also fixed rate debt. Our organizational documents do not limit the level or amount of debt that we may incur. The amount of our debt outstanding from time to time could have important consequences to our shareholders. For example, it could:
| require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our debt, thereby reducing funds available for operations, property acquisitions, redevelopments and other appropriate business opportunities that may arise in the future; |
| limit our ability to make distributions on our outstanding common shares and preferred shares; |
| make it difficult to satisfy our debt service requirements; |
| require us to dedicate increased amounts of our cash flow from operations to payments on debt upon refinancing or on our variable rate, unhedged debt, if interest rates rise; |
| limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the factors that affect the profitability of our business; |
| limit our ability to obtain any additional debt or equity financing we may need in the future for working capital, debt refinancing, capital expenditures, acquisitions, redevelopments or other general corporate purposes or to obtain such financing on favorable terms; and/or |
| limit our flexibility in conducting our business, which may place us at a disadvantage compared to competitors with less debt or debt with less restrictive terms. |
Our ability to make scheduled payments of the principal of, to pay interest on, or to refinance our indebtedness will depend primarily on our future performance, which to a certain extent is subject to economic, financial, competitive and other factors beyond our control. There can be no assurance that our business will continue to generate sufficient cash flow from operations in the future to service our debt or meet our other cash needs. If we are unable to generate this cash flow from our business, we may be required to refinance all or a portion of our existing debt, sell assets or obtain additional financing to meet our debt obligations and other cash needs, including the payment of dividends required to maintain our status as a real estate investment trust. We cannot assure you that any such refinancing, sale of assets or additional financing would be possible on terms that we would find acceptable.
We are obligated to comply with financial and other covenants pursuant to our debt obligations that could restrict our operating activities, and the failure to comply with such covenants could result in defaults that accelerate payment under our debt.
Our revolving credit facility and certain series of notes include financial covenants that may limit our operating activities in the future. We are also required to comply with additional covenants that include, among other things, provisions:
| relating to the maintenance of property securing a mortgage; |
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| restricting our ability to pledge assets or create liens; |
| restricting our ability to incur additional debt; |
| restricting our ability to amend or modify existing leases at properties securing a mortgage; |
| restricting our ability to enter into transactions with affiliates; and |
| restricting our ability to consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets. |
As of December 31, 2010, we were in compliance with all of our financial covenants. If we were to breach any of our debt covenants, including the covenants listed above, and did not cure the breach within any applicable cure period, our lenders could require us to repay the debt immediately, and, if the debt is secured, could immediately begin proceedings to take possession of the property securing the loan. Many of our debt arrangements, including our public notes and our revolving credit facility, are cross-defaulted, which means that the lenders under those debt arrangements can put us in default and require immediate repayment of their debt if we breach and fail to cure a default under certain of our other debt obligations. As a result, any default under our debt covenants could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, our results of operations, our ability to meet our obligations and the market value of our shares.
Our development activities have inherent risks.
The ground-up development of improvements on real property, as opposed to the renovation and redevelopment of existing improvements, presents substantial risks. We generally do not intend to undertake on our own construction of any new large-scale mixed-use, ground-up development projects; however, we do intend to complete the development and construction of remaining phases of projects we already have started, such as Santana Row in San Jose, California and Assembly Row in Somerville, Massachusetts, as well as any future redevelopment of Mid-Pike Plaza in Rockville, Maryland. We may undertake development of these and other projects if it is justifiable on a risk-adjusted return basis. We may also choose to delay completion of a project if market conditions do not allow an appropriate return. If conditions arise and we are not able or decide not to complete a project or if the expected cash flows of our project do not exceed the book value, an impairment of the project may be required. If additional phases of any of our existing projects or if any new projects are not successful, it may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
A key component of our development at Assembly Row is the development of public infrastructure. This includes the roads throughout the project as well as the building of a T-Stop, which is a stop on the greater Boston areas subway system, adjacent to our property. While we will contribute significantly to the infrastructure development, we also expect to receive substantial public funding for the project. The final funding decision and amount, however, is out of our control and therefore, there can be no assurance that we will receive the public funding. If we do not receive adequate public funding or necessary government approval for a T-Stop at the property, the project may not provide a justifiable risk- adjusted return resulting in a temporary or permanent hold on the project and a write-off of a portion of the project.
In addition to the risks associated with real estate investment in general as described elsewhere, the risks associated with our remaining development activities include:
| significant time lag between commencement and stabilization subjects us to greater risks due to fluctuations in the general economy; |
| failure or inability to obtain construction or permanent financing on favorable terms; |
| failure or inability to obtain public funding from governmental agencies to fund infrastructure projects; |
| expenditure of money and time on projects that may never be completed; |
| inability to achieve projected rental rates or anticipated pace of lease-up; |
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| higher than estimated construction or operating costs, including labor and material costs; and |
| possible delay in completion of a project because of a number of factors, including weather, labor disruptions, construction delays or delays in receipt of zoning or other regulatory approvals, acts of terror or other acts of violence, or acts of God (such as fires, earthquakes or floods). |
Redevelopments and acquisitions may fail to perform as expected.
Our investment strategy includes the redevelopment and acquisition of community and neighborhood shopping centers and other properties in densely populated areas with high average household incomes and significant barriers to adding competitive retail supply. The redevelopment and acquisition of properties entails risks that include the following, any of which could adversely affect our results of operations and our ability to meet our obligations:
| our estimate of the costs to improve, reposition or redevelop a property may prove to be too low, or the time we estimate to complete the improvement, repositioning or redevelopment may be too short. As a result, the property may fail to achieve the returns we have projected, either temporarily or for a longer time; |
| we may not be able to identify suitable properties to acquire or may be unable to complete the acquisition of the properties we identify; |
| we may not be able to integrate an acquisition into our existing operations successfully; |
| properties we redevelop or acquire may fail to achieve the occupancy or rental rates we project, within the time frames we project, at the time we make the decision to invest, which may result in the properties failure to achieve the returns we projected; |
| our pre-acquisition evaluation of the physical condition of each new investment may not detect certain defects or identify necessary repairs until after the property is acquired, which could significantly increase our total acquisition costs or decrease cash flow from the property; and |
| our investigation of a property or building prior to our acquisition, and any representations we may receive from the seller of such building or property, may fail to reveal various liabilities, which could reduce the cash flow from the property or increase our acquisition cost. |
Our ability to grow will be limited if we cannot obtain additional capital.
Our growth strategy is focused on the redevelopment of properties we already own and the acquisition of additional properties. We believe that it will be difficult to fund our expected growth with cash from operating activities because, in addition to other requirements, we are generally required to distribute to our shareholders at least 90% of our taxable income each year to continue to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. As a result, we must rely primarily upon the availability of debt or equity capital, which may or may not be available on favorable terms or at all. Debt could include the sale of debt securities and mortgage loans from third parties. While we were able to consummate financings during 2009 and 2010, if economic conditions and conditions in the capital markets are not favorable at the time we need to raise capital, we may need to obtain capital on less favorable terms than in recent years for debt financings. Equity capital could include our common shares or preferred shares. We cannot guarantee that additional financing, refinancing or other capital will be available in the amounts we desire or on favorable terms. Our access to debt or equity capital depends on a number of factors, including the markets perception of our growth potential, our ability to pay dividends, and our current and potential future earnings. Depending on the outcome of these factors as well as the impact of the economic environment, we could experience delay or difficulty in implementing our growth strategy on satisfactory terms, or be unable to implement this strategy.
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Rising interest rates could adversely affect our cash flow and the market price of our outstanding debt and preferred shares.
Of our approximately $1.8 billion of debt outstanding as of December 31, 2010, approximately $86.4 million bears interest at variable rates and was unhedged. We may borrow additional funds at variable interest rates in the future. Increases in interest rates would increase the interest expense on our variable rate debt and reduce our cash flow, which could adversely affect our ability to service our debt and meet our other obligations and also could reduce the amount we are able to distribute to our shareholders. Although we have in the past and may in the future enter into hedging arrangements or other transactions as to all or a portion of our variable rate debt to limit our exposure to rising interest rates, the amounts we are required to pay under the variable rate debt to which the hedging or similar arrangements relate may increase in the event of non-performance by the counterparties to any of our hedging arrangements. In addition, an increase in market interest rates may lead purchasers of our debt securities and preferred shares to demand a higher annual yield, which could adversely affect the market price of our outstanding debt securities and preferred shares and the cost and/or timing of refinancing or issuing additional debt securities or preferred shares.
The market value of our debt and equity securities is subject to various factors that may cause significant fluctuations or volatility.
As with other publicly traded securities, the market price of our debt and equity securities depends on various factors, which may change from time to time and/or may be unrelated to our financial condition, operating performance or prospects that may cause significant fluctuations or volatility in such prices. These factors include, among others:
| general economic and financial market conditions; |
| level and trend of interest rates; |
| our ability to access the capital markets to raise additional capital; |
| the issuance of additional equity or debt securities; |
| changes in our funds from operations (FFO) or earnings estimates; |
| changes in our debt or analyst ratings; |
| our financial condition and performance; |
| market perception of our business compared to other REITs; and/or |
| market perception of REITs, in general, compared to other investment alternatives. |
Our performance and value are subject to general risks associated with the real estate industry.
Our economic performance and the value of our real estate assets, and, consequently, the value of our investments, are subject to the risk that if our properties do not generate revenues sufficient to meet our operating expenses, including debt service and capital expenditures, our cash flow and ability to pay distributions to our shareholders will be adversely affected. As a real estate company, we are susceptible to the following real estate industry risks:
| economic downturns in general, or in the areas where our properties are located; |
| adverse changes in local real estate market conditions, such as an oversupply or reduction in demand; |
| changes in tenant preferences that reduce the attractiveness of our properties to tenants; |
| zoning or regulatory restrictions; |
| decreases in market rental rates; |
| weather conditions that may increase or decrease energy costs and other weather-related expenses; |
| costs associated with the need to periodically repair, renovate and re-lease space; and |
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| increases in the cost of adequate maintenance, insurance and other operating costs, including real estate taxes, associated with one or more properties, which may occur even when circumstances such as market factors and competition cause a reduction in revenues from one or more properties, although real estate taxes typically do not increase upon a reduction in such revenues. |
Each of these risks could result in decreases in market rental rates and increases in vacancy rates, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operation.
Many real estate costs are fixed, even if income from our properties decreases.
Our financial results depend primarily on leasing space in our properties to tenants on terms favorable to us. Costs associated with real estate investment, such as real estate taxes, insurance and maintenance costs, generally are not reduced even when a property is not fully occupied, rental rates decrease, or other circumstances cause a reduction in income from the property. As a result, cash flow from the operations of our properties may be reduced if a tenant does not pay its rent or we are unable to rent our properties on favorable terms. Under those circumstances, we might not be able to enforce our rights as landlord without delays and may incur substantial legal costs. Additionally, new properties that we may acquire or redevelop may not produce any significant revenue immediately, and the cash flow from existing operations may be insufficient to pay the operating expenses and debt service associated with such new properties until they are fully occupied.
Competition may limit our ability to purchase new properties and generate sufficient income from tenants.
Numerous commercial developers and real estate companies compete with us in seeking tenants for our existing properties and properties for acquisition. This competition may:
| reduce properties available for acquisition; |
| increase the cost of properties available for acquisition; |
| reduce rents payable to us; |
| interfere with our ability to attract and retain tenants; |
| lead to increased vacancy rates at our properties; and |
| adversely affect our ability to minimize expenses of operation. |
Retailers at our properties also face increasing competition from outlet stores, discount shopping clubs, and other forms of marketing of goods, such as direct mail, internet marketing and telemarketing. This competition could contribute to lease defaults and insolvency of tenants. If we are unable to continue to attract appropriate retail tenants to our properties, or to purchase new properties in our geographic markets, it could materially affect our ability to generate net income, service our debt and make distributions to our shareholders.
We may be unable to sell properties when appropriate because real estate investments are illiquid.
Real estate investments generally cannot be sold quickly. In addition, there are some limitations under federal income tax laws applicable to real estate and to REITs in particular that may limit our ability to sell our assets. We may not be able to alter our portfolio promptly in response to changes in economic or other conditions including being unable to sell a property at a return we believe is appropriate due to the economic environment. Our inability to respond quickly to adverse changes in the performance of our investments could have an adverse effect on our ability to meet our obligations and make distributions to our shareholders.
Our insurance coverage on our properties may be inadequate.
We currently carry comprehensive insurance on all of our properties, including insurance for liability, fire, flood, rental loss and acts of terrorism. We also currently carry earthquake insurance on all of our properties in
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California and environmental insurance on most of our properties. All of these policies contain coverage limitations. We believe these coverages are of the types and amounts customarily obtained for or by an owner of similar types of real property assets located in the areas where our properties are located. We intend to obtain similar insurance coverage on subsequently acquired properties.
The availability of insurance coverage may decrease and the prices for insurance may increase as a consequence of significant losses incurred by the insurance industry. As a result, we may be unable to renew or duplicate our current insurance coverage in adequate amounts or at reasonable prices. In addition, insurance companies may no longer offer coverage against certain types of losses, such as losses due to terrorist acts and toxic mold, or, if offered, the expense of obtaining these types of insurance may not be justified. We therefore may cease to have insurance coverage against certain types of losses and/or there may be decreases in the limits of insurance available. If an uninsured loss or a loss in excess of our insured limits occurs, we could lose all or a portion of the capital we have invested in a property, as well as the anticipated future revenue from the property, but still remain obligated for any mortgage debt or other financial obligations related to the property. We cannot guarantee that material losses in excess of insurance proceeds will not occur in the future. If any of our properties were to experience a catastrophic loss, it could disrupt seriously our operations, delay revenue and result in large expenses to repair or rebuild the property. Also, due to inflation, changes in codes and ordinances, environmental considerations and other factors, it may not be feasible to use insurance proceeds to replace a building after it has been damaged or destroyed. Further, we may be unable to collect insurance proceeds if our insurers are unable to pay or contest a claim. Events such as these could adversely affect our results of operations and our ability to meet our obligations, including distributions to our shareholders.
We may have limited flexibility in dealing with our jointly owned investments.
Our organizational documents do not limit the amount of funds that we may invest in properties and assets owned jointly with other persons or entities. As of December 31, 2010, we held three predominantly retail real estate projects jointly with other persons in addition to our joint venture with affiliates of a discretionary fund created and advised by ING Clarion Partners (Clarion), Taurus Newbury Street JV II Limited Partnership (Newbury Street Partnership) and properties owned in a downREIT structure. We may make additional joint investments in the future. Our existing and future joint investments may subject us to special risks, including the possibility that our partners or co-investors might become bankrupt, that those partners or co-investors might have economic or other business interests or goals which are unlike or incompatible with our business interests or goals, that those partners or co-investors might be in a position to take action contrary to our suggestions or instructions, or in opposition to our policies or objectives, and that disputes may develop with our joint venture partners over decisions affecting the property or the joint venture, which may result in litigation or arbitration or some other form of dispute resolution. Although as of December 31, 2010, we held the managing general partnership or membership interest in all of our existing co-investments, except Newbury Street Partnership, we must obtain the consent of the co-investor or meet defined criteria to sell or to finance these properties. Joint ownership gives a third party the opportunity to influence the return we can achieve on some of our investments and may adversely affect our ability to make distributions to our shareholders. We may also be liable for the actions of our co-investors.
On July 1, 2004, we entered into a joint venture with Clarion for purposes of acquiring properties. Although we are the managing general partner of that entity, we have only a 30% ownership interest in that entity. Our partners consent is required to take certain actions with respect to the properties acquired by the venture, and as a result, we may not be able to take actions that we believe are necessary or desirable to protect or increase the value of the property or the propertys income stream. Pursuant to the terms of our partnership, we must obtain our partners consent to do the following:
| enter into new anchor tenant leases, modify existing anchor tenant leases or enforce remedies against anchor tenants; |
| make certain repairs, renovations or other changes or improvements to properties; and |
| sell or finance the property with secured debt. |
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The terms of our partnership require that certain acquisition opportunities be presented first to the joint venture, which limits our ability to acquire properties for our own account which could, in turn, limit our ability to grow. Our joint venture with Clarion is subject to a buy-sell provision which is customary for real estate joint venture agreements and the industry. Either partner may initiate these provisions at any time, which could result in either the sale of our interest or the use of available cash or borrowings to acquire Clarions interest. Our investment in this joint venture is also subject to the risks described above for jointly owned investments. As of December 31, 2010, this joint venture owned seven properties.
In addition, in May 2010, we formed Newbury Street Partnership, a joint venture limited partnership with an affiliate of Taurus Investment Holdings, LLC (Taurus), which plans to acquire, operate and redevelop up to $200 million of properties located primarily in the Back Bay section of Boston, Massachusetts. We do not serve as general partner or manager for this joint venture; however, Taurus must obtain our consent for certain major decisions. Our joint venture with Taurus is subject to a buy-sell provision which is customary for real estate joint venture agreements and the industry. The buy-sell can be exercised only in certain circumstances through May 2014 and may be initiated by either party at anytime thereafter, which could result in either the sale of our interest or the use of available cash or borrowings to acquire Taurus interest. As of December 31, 2010, Newbury Street Partnership owned two mixed-use buildings on Newbury Street.
Environmental laws and regulations could reduce the value or profitability of our properties.
All real property and the operations conducted on real property are subject to federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations relating to hazardous materials, environmental protection and human health and safety. Under various federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations, we and our tenants may be required to investigate and clean up certain hazardous or toxic substances released on or in properties we own or operate, and also may be required to pay other costs relating to hazardous or toxic substances. This liability may be imposed without regard to whether we or our tenants knew about the release of these types of substances or were responsible for their release. The presence of contamination or the failure to properly remediate contamination at any of our properties may adversely affect our ability to sell or lease those properties or to borrow funds by using those properties as collateral. The costs or liabilities could exceed the value of the affected real estate. We are not aware of any environmental condition with respect to any of our properties that management believes would have a material adverse effect on our business, assets or results of operations taken as a whole. The uses of any of our properties prior to our acquisition of the property and the building materials used at the property are among the property-specific factors that will affect how the environmental laws are applied to our properties. If we are subject to any material environmental liabilities, the liabilities could adversely affect our results of operations and our ability to meet our obligations.
We cannot predict what other environmental legislation or regulations will be enacted in the future, how existing or future laws or regulations will be administered or interpreted or what environmental conditions may be found to exist on the properties in the future. Compliance with existing and new laws and regulations may require us or our tenants to spend funds to remedy environmental problems. Our tenants, like many of their competitors, have incurred, and will continue to incur, capital and operating expenditures and other costs associated with complying with these laws and regulations, which will adversely affect their potential profitability.
Generally, our tenants must comply with environmental laws and meet remediation requirements. Our leases typically impose obligations on our tenants to indemnify us from any compliance costs we may incur as a result of the environmental conditions on the property caused by the tenant. If a lease does not require compliance or if a tenant fails to or cannot comply, we could be forced to pay these costs. If not addressed, environmental conditions could impair our ability to sell or re-lease the affected properties in the future or result in lower sales prices or rent payments.
15
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 could require us to take remedial steps with respect to existing or newly acquired properties.
Our existing properties, as well as properties we may acquire, as commercial facilities, are required to comply with Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Investigation of a property may reveal non-compliance with this Act. The requirements of this Act, or of other federal, state or local laws or regulations, also may change in the future and restrict further renovations of our properties with respect to access for disabled persons. Future compliance with this Act may require expensive changes to the properties.
The revenues generated by our tenants could be negatively affected by various federal, state and local laws to which they are subject.
We and our tenants are subject to a wide range of federal, state and local laws and regulations, such as local licensing requirements, consumer protection laws and state and local fire, life-safety and similar requirements that affect the use of the properties. The leases typically require that each tenant comply with all laws and regulations. Failure to comply could result in fines by governmental authorities, awards of damages to private litigants, or restrictions on the ability to conduct business on such properties. Non-compliance of this sort could reduce our revenues from a tenant, could require us to pay penalties or fines relating to any non-compliance, and could adversely affect our ability to sell or lease a property.
Failure to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes would cause us to be taxed as a corporation, which would substantially reduce funds available for payment of distributions.
We believe that we are organized and qualified as a REIT for federal income tax purposes and currently intend to operate in a manner that will allow us to continue to qualify as a REIT under the Code. However, we cannot assure you that we will remain qualified as such in the future.
Qualification as a REIT involves the application of highly technical and complex Code provisions and applicable income tax regulations that have been issued under the Code. Certain facts and circumstances not entirely within our control may affect our ability to qualify as a REIT. For example, in order to qualify as a REIT, at least 95% of our gross income in any year must be derived from qualifying rents and certain other income. Satisfying this requirement could be difficult, for example, if defaults by tenants were to reduce the amount of income from qualifying rents. As a REIT, we must generally make annual distributions to shareholders of at least 90% of our taxable income. In addition, new legislation, new regulations, new administrative interpretations or new court decisions may significantly change the tax laws with respect to qualification as a REIT or the federal income tax consequences of such qualification.
If we fail to qualify as a REIT:
| we would not be allowed a deduction for distributions to shareholders in computing taxable income; |
| we would be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates; |
| we could be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax; |
| unless we are entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we could not elect to be taxed as a REIT for four taxable years following the year during which we were disqualified; |
| we could be required to pay significant income taxes, which would substantially reduce the funds available for investment or for distribution to our shareholders for each year in which we failed or were not permitted to qualify; and |
| we would no longer be required by law to make any distributions to our shareholders. |
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We may be required to incur additional debt to qualify as a REIT.
As a REIT, we must generally make annual distributions to shareholders of at least 90% of our taxable income. We are subject to income tax on amounts of undistributed taxable income and net capital gain. In addition, we would be subject to a 4% excise tax if we fail to distribute sufficient income to meet a minimum distribution test based on our ordinary income, capital gain and aggregate undistributed income from prior years. We intend to make distributions to shareholders to comply with the Codes distribution provisions and to avoid federal income and excise tax. We may need to borrow funds to meet our distribution requirements because:
| our income may not be matched by our related expenses at the time the income is considered received for purposes of determining taxable income; and |
| non-deductible capital expenditures, creation of reserves, or debt service requirements may reduce available cash but not taxable income. |
In these circumstances, we might have to borrow funds on terms we might otherwise find unfavorable and we may have to borrow funds even if our management believes the market conditions make borrowing financially unattractive. Current tax law also allows us to pay a portion of our distributions in shares instead of cash.
To maintain our status as a REIT, we limit the amount of shares any one shareholder can own.
The Code imposes certain limitations on the ownership of the stock of a REIT. For example, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding shares of capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code) during the last half of any taxable year. To protect our REIT status, our declaration of trust prohibits any one shareholder from owning (actually or constructively) more than 9.8% in value of the outstanding common shares or of any class or series of outstanding preferred shares. The constructive ownership rules are complex. Shares of our capital stock owned, actually or constructively, by a group of related individuals and/or entities may be treated as constructively owned by one of those individuals or entities. As a result, the acquisition of less than 9.8% in value of the outstanding common shares and/or a class or series of preferred shares (or the acquisition of an interest in an entity that owns common shares or preferred shares) by an individual or entity could cause that individual or entity (or another) to own constructively more than 9.8% in value of the outstanding capital stock. If that happened, either the transfer or ownership would be void or the shares would be transferred to a charitable trust and then sold to someone who can own those shares without violating the 9.8% ownership limit.
The Board of Trustees may waive these restrictions on a case-by-case basis. In addition, the Board of Trustees and two-thirds of our shareholders eligible to vote at a shareholder meeting may remove these restrictions if they determine it is no longer in our best interests to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a REIT. The 9.8% ownership restrictions may delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change of our control that might involve a premium price for the common shares or otherwise be in the shareholders best interest.
We cannot assure you we will continue to pay dividends at historical rates.
Our ability to continue to pay dividends on our common shares at historical rates or to increase our common share dividend rate, and our ability to pay preferred share dividends and service our debt securities, will depend on a number of factors, including, among others, the following:
| our financial condition and results of future operations; |
| the performance of lease terms by tenants; |
| the terms of our loan covenants; and |
| our ability to acquire, finance, develop or redevelop and lease additional properties at attractive rates. |
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If we do not maintain or increase the dividend on our common shares, it could have an adverse effect on the market price of our common shares and other securities. Any preferred shares we may offer in the future may have a fixed dividend rate that would not increase with any increases in the dividend rate of our common shares. Conversely, payment of dividends on our common shares may be subject to payment in full of the dividends on any preferred shares and payment of interest on any debt securities we may offer.
Certain tax and 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 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. If this were to happen, it could delay, deter or prevent a change in control or the removal of existing management. These provisions also may delay or prevent the shareholders from receiving a premium for their common shares over then-prevailing market prices. These provisions include:
| the REIT ownership limit described above; |
| authorization of the issuance of our preferred shares with powers, preferences or rights to be determined by the Board of Trustees; |
| special meetings of our shareholders may be called only by the chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, the president, by one-third of the trustees or by shareholders possessing no less than 25% of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting; |
| the Board of Trustees, without a shareholder vote, can classify or reclassify unissued shares of beneficial interest, including the reclassification of common shares into preferred shares and vice-versa; |
| a two-thirds shareholder vote is required to approve some amendments to the declaration of trust; |
| advance-notice requirements for proposals to be presented at shareholder meetings; and |
| a shareholder rights plan that provides, among other things, that when specified events occur, our shareholders will be entitled to purchase from us a number of common shares equal in value to two times the purchase price, which initially will be equal to $65 per share, subject to certain adjustments. |
In addition, if we elect to be governed by it in the future, the Maryland control share acquisition law could delay or prevent a change in control. Under Maryland law, unless a REIT elects not to be subject to this law, control shares acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights except to the extent approved by shareholders by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, excluding shares owned by the acquirer and by officers or trustees who are employees of the REIT. Control shares are voting shares that would entitle the acquirer to exercise voting power in electing trustees within specified ranges of voting power. A control share acquisition means the acquisition of control shares, with some exceptions.
Our bylaws state that the Maryland control share acquisition law will not apply to any acquisition by any person of our common shares. This bylaw provision may be repealed, in whole or in part, at any time, whether before or after an acquisition of control shares, by a vote of a majority of the shareholders entitled to vote, and, upon such repeal, may, to the extent provided by any successor bylaw, apply to any prior or subsequent control share acquisition.
We may amend or revise our business policies without your approval.
Our Board of Trustees may amend or revise our operating policies without shareholder approval. Our investment, financing and borrowing policies and policies with respect to all other activities, such as growth, debt, capitalization and operations, are determined by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees may amend or revise these policies at any time and from time to time at its discretion. A change in these policies could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations, and the market price of our securities.
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The current business plan adopted by our Board of Trustees focuses on our investment in quality retail based properties that are frequently neighborhood and community shopping centers, principally through redevelopments and acquisitions. If this business plan is not successful, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements that we make, including those in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Except as may be required by law, we make no promise to update any of the forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You should carefully review the above risks and the risk factors.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
General
As of December 31, 2010, we owned or had a majority ownership interest in community and neighborhood shopping centers and mixed-used properties which are operated as 85 predominantly retail real estate projects comprising approximately 18.3 million square feet. These properties are located primarily in densely populated and affluent communities in strategic metropolitan markets in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, as well as California. No single property accounted for over 10% of our 2010 total revenue. We believe that our properties are adequately covered by commercial general liability, fire, flood, earthquake, terrorism and business interruption insurance provided by reputable companies, with commercially reasonable exclusions, deductibles and limits.
Tenant Diversification
As of December 31, 2010, we had approximately 2,400 leases, with tenants ranging from sole proprietors to major national and international retailers. No one tenant or affiliated group of tenants accounted for more than 2.6% of our annualized base rent as of December 31, 2010. As a result of our tenant diversification, we believe our exposure to any one bankruptcy filing in the retail sector has not been and will not be significant, however, multiple filings by a number of retailers could have a significant impact.
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Geographic Diversification
Our 85 real estate projects are located in 13 states and the District of Columbia. The following table shows the number of projects, the gross leasable area (GLA) of commercial space and the percentage of total portfolio gross leasable area of commercial space in each state as of December 31, 2010.
State |
Number of Projects |
Gross Leasable Area |
Percentage of Gross Leasable Area |
|||||||||
(In square feet) | ||||||||||||
Maryland |
17 | 3,706,000 | 20.2 | % | ||||||||
Virginia |
15 | 3,616,000 | 19.8 | % | ||||||||
California |
12 | 2,497,000 | 13.7 | % | ||||||||
Pennsylvania(1) |
11 | 2,405,000 | 13.1 | % | ||||||||
New Jersey |
4 | 1,383,000 | 7.6 | % | ||||||||
Massachusetts |
7 | 1,382,000 | 7.6 | % | ||||||||
New York |
6 | 1,198,000 | 6.5 | % | ||||||||
Illinois |
4 | 752,000 | 4.1 | % | ||||||||
Connecticut(1) |
2 | 305,000 | 1.7 | % | ||||||||
Florida |
2 | 308,000 | 1.7 | % | ||||||||
Michigan |
1 | 217,000 | 1.2 | % | ||||||||
Texas |
1 | 196,000 | 1.1 | % | ||||||||
District of Columbia |
2 | 168,000 | 0.9 | % | ||||||||
North Carolina |
1 | 153,000 | 0.8 | % | ||||||||
Total |
85 | 18,286,000 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||
(1) | Additionally, we own two participating mortgages totaling approximately $29.4 million secured by multiple buildings in Manayunk, Pennsylvania, and $18.3 million of loans secured by two properties in Norwalk, Connecticut. |
Leases, Lease Terms and Lease Expirations
Our leases are classified as operating leases and typically are structured to require the monthly payment of minimum rents in advance, subject to periodic increases during the term of the lease, percentage rents based on the level of sales achieved by tenants, and reimbursement of a majority of on-site operating expenses and real estate taxes. These features in our leases generally reduce our exposure to higher costs and allow us to participate in improved tenant sales.
Commercial property leases generally range from 3 to 10 years; however, certain leases, primarily with anchor tenants, may be longer. Many of our leases contain tenant options that enable the tenant to extend the term of the lease at expiration at pre-established rental rates that often include fixed rent increases, consumer price index adjustments or other market rate adjustments from the prior base rent. Leases on residential units are generally for a period of one year or less and, in 2010, represented approximately 4.1% of total rental income.
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The following table sets forth the schedule of lease expirations for our commercial leases in place as of December 31, 2010 for each of the 10 years beginning with 2011 and after 2020 in the aggregate assuming that none of the tenants exercise future renewal options. Annualized base rents reflect in-place contractual rents as of December 31, 2010.
Year of Lease Expiration |
Leased Square Footage Expiring |
Percentage of Leased Square Footage Expiring |
Annualized Base Rent Represented by Expiring Leases |
Percentage of Annualized Base Rent Represented by Expiring Leases |
||||||||||||
2011 |
1,412,000 | 8 | % | 34,881,000 | 9 | % | ||||||||||
2012 |
2,242,000 | 13 | % | 50,088,000 | 13 | % | ||||||||||
2013 |
2,070,000 | 12 | % | 49,733,000 | 13 | % | ||||||||||
2014 |
2,244,000 | 13 | % | 51,217,000 | 13 | % | ||||||||||
2015 |
1,789,000 | 11 | % | 41,035,000 | 11 | % | ||||||||||
2016 |
1,397,000 | 8 | % | 34,708,000 | 9 | % | ||||||||||
2017 |
1,125,000 | 7 | % | 24,705,000 | 6 | % | ||||||||||
2018 |
965,000 | 6 | % | 19,015,000 | 5 | % | ||||||||||
2019 |
718,000 | 4 | % | 17,658,000 | 4 | % | ||||||||||
2020 |
705,000 | 4 | % | 19,185,000 | 5 | % | ||||||||||
Thereafter |
2,358,000 | 14 | % | 45,448,000 | 12 | % | ||||||||||
Total |
17,025,000 | 100 | % | $ | 387,673,000 | 100 | % | |||||||||
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Retail and Residential Properties
The following table sets forth information concerning all real estate projects in which we owned an equity interest, had a leasehold interest, or otherwise controlled and are consolidated as of December 31, 2010. Except as otherwise noted, we are the sole owner of our retail real estate projects. Principal tenants are the largest tenants in the project based on square feet leased or are tenants important to a projects success due to their ability to attract retail customers.
Property, City, State, Zip Code |
Year Completed |
Year Acquired |
Square Feet(1) /Apartment Units |
Average Rent Per Square Foot |
Percentage Leased(2) |
Principal Tenant(s) | ||||||
California |
||||||||||||
150 Post Street San Francisco, CA 94108 |
1908, 1965 | 1997 | 102,000 | $42.36 | 100% | Brooks Brothers H & M | ||||||
Colorado Blvd Pasadena, CA(3) |
1905-1988 |
1996/1998 | 69,000 | $37.58 | 99% | Pottery Barn Banana Republic | ||||||
Crow Canyon Commons San Ramon, CA(3)(12) |
1980-2006 | 2005/2007 | 242,000 | $19.02 | 89% | Lucky Loehmanns Rite Aid | ||||||
Escondido Promenade Escondido, CA 92029(4)(13) |
1987 | 1996/2010 | 222,000 | $23.76 | 98% | Toys R Us TJ Maxx | ||||||
Fifth Avenue San Diego, CA |
1888-1995 | 1996-1997 | 51,000 | $27.46 | 93% | Urban Outfitters | ||||||
Hermosa Avenue Hermosa Beach, CA |
1922 | 1997 | 23,000 | $31.59 | 100% | |||||||
Hollywood Blvd Hollywood, CA(5) |
1921-1991 | 1999 | 153,000 | $21.90 | 75% | DSW L.A. Fitness Fresh & Easy | ||||||
Kings Court Los Gatos, CA 95032(3)(6) |
1960 | 1998 | 79,000 | $28.43 | 97% | Lunardis Supermarket CVS | ||||||
Old Town Center Los Gatos, CA 95030 |
1962, 1998 | 1997 | 95,000 | $30.04 | 97% | Borders Books Gap Kids Banana Republic | ||||||
Santana RowRetail San Jose, CA 95128 |
2002, 2009 | 1997 | 608,000 | $44.31 | 99% | Crate & Barrel Borders Books Container Store Best Buy CineArts Theatre Hotel Valencia | ||||||
Santana RowResidential San Jose, CA 95128 |
2003-2006 | 1997 | 295 units | N/A | 96% | |||||||
Third Street Promenade Santa Monica, CA |
1888-2000 | 1996-2000 | 209,000 | $61.59 | 97% | Abercrombie & Fitch J. Crew Old Navy Banana Republic | ||||||
Westgate San Jose, CA |
1960-1966 | 2004 | 644,000 | $12.96 | 95% | Safeway Target Burlington Coat Factory Barnes & Noble Ross Dress For Less Michaels | ||||||
Connecticut |
||||||||||||
Bristol Bristol, CT 06010 |
1959 | 1995 | 269,000 | $12.24 | 94% | Stop & Shop TJ Maxx | ||||||
Greenwich Avenue Greenwich Avenue, CT |
1993 | 1995 | 36,000 | $53.00 | 100% | Saks Fifth Avenue |
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Property, City, State, Zip Code |
Year Completed |
Year Acquired |
Square Feet(1) /Apartment Units |
Average Rent Per Square Foot |
Percentage Leased(2) |
Principal Tenant(s) | ||||||
District of Columbia |
||||||||||||
Friendship Center Washington, DC 20015 |
1998 | 2001 | 119,000 | $33.15 | 100% | Maggianos Borders Books | ||||||
Sams Park & Shop Washington, DC 20008 |
1930 | 1995 | 49,000 | $38.41 | 100% | Petco | ||||||
Florida |
||||||||||||
Courtyard Shops Wellington, FL 33414(12) |
1990, 1998 | 2008 | 130,000 | $19.28 | 88% | Publix | ||||||
Del Mar Village Boca Raton, FL 33433 |
1982, 1984 & 2007 | 2008 | 178,000 | $17.24 | 90% | Winn Dixie CVS | ||||||
Illinois |
||||||||||||
Crossroads Highland Park, IL 60035 |
1959 | 1993 | 168,000 | $17.46 | 95% | Golfsmith Guitar Center LA Fitness | ||||||
Finley Square Downers Grove, IL 60515 |
1974 | 1995 | 315,000 | $10.58 | 99% | Bed, Bath & Beyond Petsmart Buy Buy Baby | ||||||
Garden Market Western Springs, IL 60558 |
1958 | 1994 | 140,000 | $12.50 | 95% | Dominicks Walgreens | ||||||
North Lake Commons Lake Zurich, IL 60047 |
1989 | 1994 | 129,000 | $12.19 | 89% | Dominicks | ||||||
Maryland |
||||||||||||
Bethesda Row Bethesda, MD 20814(3)(12) |
1945-1991 2001 |
1993/2006 2008/2010 |
521,000 | $43.21 | 96% | Apple Computer Barnes & Noble Giant Food Landmark Theater | ||||||
Bethesda Row Residential Bethesda, MD 20814 |
2008 | 1993 | 180 units | N/A | 96% | |||||||
Congressional Plaza Rockville, MD 20852(8) |
1965 | 1965 | 332,000 | $31.88 | 100% | Buy Buy Baby Whole Foods Container Store | ||||||
Congressional Plaza Residential Rockville, MD 20852(8) |
2003 | 1965 | 146 units | N/A | 92% | |||||||
Courthouse Center Rockville, MD 20852 |
1975 | 1997 | 36,000 | $17.67 | 93% | |||||||
Federal Plaza Rockville, MD 20852(12) |
1970 | 1989 | 248,000 | $32.00 | 87% | Micro Center Ross Dress For Less TJ Maxx Trader Joes | ||||||
Free State Shopping Center Bowie, MD 20715(10) |
1970 | 2007 | 279,000 | $15.21 | 88% | Giant Food TJ Maxx Ross Dress For Less Office Depot | ||||||
Gaithersburg Square Gaithersburg, MD 20878 |
1966 | 1993 | 209,000 | $25.10 | 79% | Bed, Bath & Beyond Ross Dress For Less | ||||||
Governor Plaza Glen Burnie, MD 21961 |
1963 | 1985 | 268,000 | $17.17 | 87% | Bally Total Fitness Aldi Dicks Sporting Goods | ||||||
Laurel Centre Laurel, MD 20707 |
1956 | 1986 | 388,000 | $18.35 | 85% | Giant Food Marshalls | ||||||
Mid-Pike Plaza Rockville, MD 20852 |
1963 | 1982/2007 | 309,000 | $27.12 | 73% | Bally Total Fitness Toys R Us A.C. Moore |
23
Property, City, State, Zip Code |
Year Completed |
Year Acquired |
Square Feet(1) /Apartment Units |
Average Rent Per Square Foot |
Percentage Leased(2) |
Principal Tenant(s) | ||||||
Perring Plaza Baltimore, MD 21134 |
1963 | 1985 | 401,000 | $12.42 | 98% | Burlington Coat Factory Home Depot Shoppers Food Warehouse Jo-Ann Stores | ||||||
Plaza Del Mercado Silver Spring, MD 20906(10)(12) |
1969 | 2004 | 96,000 | $19.64 | 93% | Giant Food CVS | ||||||
Quince Orchard Gaithersburg, MD 20877(3) |
1975 | 1993 | 248,000 | $20.07 | 63% | Magruders Staples | ||||||
Rockville Town Square Rockville, MD 20852 |
2006-2007 | 2006-2007 | 182,000 | $33.13 | 78% | CVS Golds Gym | ||||||
Rollingwood Apartments Silver Spring, MD 20910 9 three-story buildings(12) |
1960 | 1971 | 282 units | N/A | 97% | |||||||
THE AVENUE at White Marsh Baltimore, MD 21236(9)(12) |
1997 | 2007 | 298,000 | $21.14 | 100% | AMC Loews Old Navy Barnes & Noble A.C. Moore | ||||||
The Shoppes at Nottingham Square Baltimore, MD 21236 |
2005-2006 | 2007 | 52,000 | $37.54 | 100% | |||||||
White Marsh Other Baltimore, MD 21236 |
1985 | 2007 | 49,000 | $28.05 | 100% | |||||||
White Marsh Plaza Baltimore, MD 21236(12) |
1987 | 2007 | 80,000 | $20.12 | 100% | Giant Food | ||||||
Wildwood Bethesda, MD 20814(12) |
1958 | 1969 | 85,000 | $82.52 | 97% | CVS Balduccis | ||||||
Massachusetts |
||||||||||||
Assembly Square Marketplace/Assembly Row Somerville, MA 02145 |
2005 | 2005-2010 | 332,000 | $16.42 | 100% | Bed, Bath & Beyond Christmas Tree Shops Kmart Staples TJ Maxx A.C. Moore Sports Authority | ||||||
Atlantic Plaza North Reading, MA 01864(10)(12) |
1960 | 2004 | 123,000 | $17.05 | 87% | Stop & Shop Sears | ||||||
Campus Plaza Bridgewater, MA 02324(10) |
1970 | 2004 | 117,000 | $12.74 | 94% | Roche Brothers Burlington Coat Factory | ||||||
Chelsea Commons Chelsea, MA 02150(12) |
1962-1969, 2008 | 2006-2008 | 222,000 | $10.71 | 100% | Sav-A-Lot Home Depot Planet Fitness | ||||||
Dedham Dedham, MA 02026 |
1959 | 1993 | 243,000 | $15.79 | 93% | Star Market | ||||||
Linden Square Wellesley, MA 02481 |
1960, 2008 | 2006 | 218,000 | $40.13 | 92% | Roche Brothers Supermarket CVS | ||||||
Newbury Street Boston, MA 02116(10) |
1877-1929 | 2010 | 32,000 | $80.37 | 55% | Pierre Deux Jonathan Adler | ||||||
North Dartmouth North Dartmouth, MA 02747 |
2004 | 2006 | 48,000 | $13.80 | 100% | Stop & Shop | ||||||
Pleasant Shops Weymouth, MA 02190(10) |
1974 | 2004 | 129,000 | $13.60 | 94% | Foodmaster Marshalls | ||||||
Queen Anne Plaza Norwell, MA 02061 |
1967 | 1994 | 149,000 | $15.11 | 100% | TJ Maxx Hannaford | ||||||
Saugus Plaza Saugus, MA 01906 |
1976 | 1996 | 170,000 | $10.81 | 94% | Kmart Super Stop & Shop |
24
Property, City, State, Zip Code |
Year Completed |
Year Acquired |
Square Feet(1) /Apartment Units |
Average Rent Per Square Foot |
Percentage Leased(2) |
Principal Tenant(s) | ||||||
Michigan |
||||||||||||
Gratiot Plaza Roseville, MI 48066 |
1964 | 1973 | 217,000 | $11.73 | 99% | Bed, Bath & Best Buy Kroger DSW | ||||||
North Carolina |
||||||||||||
Eastgate Chapel Hill, NC 27514 |
1963 | 1986 | 153,000 | $20.68 | 100% | Stein Mart Trader Joes | ||||||
New Jersey |
||||||||||||
Brick Plaza Brick Township, NJ 08723(3)(12) |
1958 | 1989 | 409,000 | $15.05 | 95% | A&P Supermarket Barnes & Noble AMC Loews Sports Authority | ||||||
Ellisburg Circle Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 |
1959 | 1992 | 267,000 | $14.83 | 94% | Genuardis Buy Buy Baby Stein Mart | ||||||
Mercer Mall Lawrenceville, NJ 08648(3)(7) |
1975 | 2003 | 500,000 | $20.30 | 100% | Raymour & Bed, Bath & DSW TJ Maxx Shop Rite | ||||||
Troy Parsippany-Troy, NJ 07054 |
1966 | 1980 | 207,000 | $20.24 | 100% | Pathmark L.A. Fitness | ||||||
New York |
||||||||||||
Forest Hills Forest Hills, NY |
1937-1987 | 1997 | 46,000 | $20.04 | 96% | Midway Theatre | ||||||
Fresh Meadows Queens, NY 11365 |
1949 | 1997 | 405,000 | $25.16 | 98% | AMC Loews Kohls | ||||||
Greenlawn Plaza Greenlawn, NY 11743(10)(12) |
1975, 2004 | 2006 | 106,000 | $16.00 | 99% | Waldbaums Tuesday Morning | ||||||
Hauppauge Hauppauge, NY 11788(12) |
1963 | 1998 | 133,000 | $24.39 | 100% | Shop Rite A.C. Moore | ||||||
Huntington Huntington, NY 11746 |
1962 | 1988/2007 | 292,000 | $20.94 | 99% | Barnes & Noble Bed,
Bath & Buy Buy Baby Toys R Us Michaels | ||||||
Huntington Square East Northport, NY 11731(3) |
1980, 2007 | 2010 | 74,000 | $24.98 | 89% | Barnes & Noble | ||||||
Melville Mall Huntington, NY 11747(11)(12) |
1974 | 2006 | 248,000 | $17.98 | 100% | Waldbaums Marshalls Kohls | ||||||
Pennsylvania |
||||||||||||
Andorra Philadelphia, PA 19128 |
1953 | 1988 | 267,000 | $14.05 | 95% | Acme Markets Kohls Staples L.A. Fitness | ||||||
Bala Cynwyd Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 |
1955 | 1993 | 282,000 | $17.26 | 99% | Acme Markets Lord & Taylor L.A. Fitness |
25
Property, City, State, Zip Code |
Year Completed |
Year Acquired |
Square Feet(1) /Apartment Units |
Average Rent Per Square Foot |
Percentage Leased(2) |
Principal Tenant(s) | ||||||
Feasterville Feasterville, PA 19047 |
1958 | 1980 | 111,000 | $13.81 | 100% | Giant Food OfficeMax | ||||||
Flourtown Flourtown, PA 19031 |
1957 | 1980 | 166,000 | $22.44 | 48% | Genuardis | ||||||
Lancaster Lancaster, PA 17601(7) |
1958 | 1980 | 126,000 | $17.64 | 94% | Giant Food Michaels | ||||||
Langhorne Square Levittown, PA 19056 |
1966 | 1985 | 219,000 | $14.76 | 96% | Marshalls Redners Warehouse Market | ||||||
Lawrence Park Broomall, PA 19008(12) |
1972 | 1980 | 353,000 | $18.37 | 98% | Acme Markets TJ Maxx CHI HomeGoods | ||||||
Northeast Philadelphia, PA 19114 |
1959 | 1983 | 284,000 | $11.30 | 89% | Burlington Coat Factory Marshalls | ||||||
Town Center of New Britain New Britain, PA 18901 |
1969 | 2006 | 124,000 | $9.09 | 86% | Giant Food Rite Aid | ||||||
Willow Grove Willow Grove, PA 19090 |
1953 | 1984 | 216,000 | $19.21 | 90% | Barnes & Noble HomeGoods Marshalls | ||||||
Wynnewood Wynnewood, PA 19096(12) |
1948 | 1996 | 257,000 | $24.74 | 96% | Bed, Bath & Beyond Borders Books Genuardis Old Navy | ||||||
Texas |
||||||||||||
Houston Street San Antonio, TX |
1890-1935 | 1998 | 196,000 | $22.44 | 83% | Hotel Valencia Walgreens | ||||||
Virginia |
||||||||||||
Barcroft Plaza Falls Church, VA 22041(10)(12) |
1963, 1972 & 1990 | 2006-2007 | 101,000 | $22.48 | 88% | Harris Teeter Bank of America | ||||||
Barracks Road Charlottesville, VA 22905(12) |
1958 | 1985 | 486,000 | $21.44 | 99% | Anthropologie Bed, Bath & Beyond Harris Teeter Kroger Barnes & Noble Old Navy Michaels Ulta | ||||||
Falls Plaza/Falls PlazaEast Falls Church, VA 22046 |
1960-1962 | 1967/1972 | 144,000 | $29.82 | 100% | Giant Food CVS Staples | ||||||
Idylwood Plaza Falls Church, VA 22030(12) |
1991 | 1994 | 73,000 | $41.81 | 100% | Whole Foods | ||||||
Leesburg Plaza Leesburg, VA 20176(6)(12) |
1967 | 1998 | 236,000 | $22.14 | 95% | Giant Food Pier 1 Imports Office Depot Petsmart | ||||||
Loehmanns Plaza Fairfax, VA 22042(12) |
1971 | 1983 | 268,000 | $26.20 | 96% | Bally Total Fitness Giant Food Loehmanns Dress Shop |
26
Property, City, State, Zip Code |
Year Completed |
Year Acquired |
Square Feet(1) /Apartment Units |
Average Rent Per Square Foot |
Percentage Leased(2) |
Principal Tenant(s) | ||||||
Mount Vernon/South Valley/ 7770 Richmond Hwy Alexandria, VA 22306(3)(6)(12) |
1966-1974 | 2003/2006 | 565,000 | $15.32 | 95% | Shoppers Food Warehouse Bed, Bath & Beyond Michaels Home Depot TJ Maxx Golds Gym | ||||||
Old Keene Mill Springfield, VA 22152 |
1968 | 1976 | 92,000 | $33.35 | 97% | Whole Foods Walgreens | ||||||
Pan Am Fairfax, VA 22031 |
1979 | 1993 | 227,000 | $18.41 | 100% | Michaels Micro Center Safeway | ||||||
Pentagon Row Arlington, VA 22202(12) |
2001-2002 | 1998/2010 | 296,000 | $33.69 | 99% | Harris Teeter Bed, Bath & Beyond Bally Total Fitness DSW | ||||||
Pike 7 Plaza Vienna, VA 22180(6) |
1968 | 1997 | 164,000 | $38.11 | 100% | DSW Staples TJ Maxx | ||||||
Shoppers World Charlottesville, VA 22091(12) |
1975-2001 | 2007 | 169,000 | $11.92 | 94% | Whole Foods Staples | ||||||
Shops at Willow Lawn Richmond, VA 23230 |
1957 | 1983 | 480,000 | $16.02 | 88% | Kroger Old Navy Ross Dress For Less Staples | ||||||
Tower Shopping Center Springfield, VA 22150 |
1960 | 1998 | 112,000 | $24.04 | 91% | Talbots | ||||||
Tysons Station Falls Church, VA 22043(12) |
1954 | 1978 | 49,000 | $39.43 | 100% | Trader Joes | ||||||
Village at Shirlington Arlington, VA 22206(7) |
1940, 2006-2009 | 1995 | 255,000 | $33.22 | 98% | AMC Loews Carlyle Grand Café Harris Teeter | ||||||
Total All RegionsRetail(14) |
18,286,000 | $22.77 | 94% | |||||||||
Total All RegionsResidential |
903 units | 95% | ||||||||||
(1) | Represents the physical square footage of the commercial portion of the property, which may differ from the gross leasable square footage used to express percentage leased. Some of our properties include office space which is included in this square footage but is not material in total. |
(2) | Retail percentage leased is expressed as a percentage of rentable commercial square feet occupied or subject to a lease under which rent is currently payable and includes square feet covered by leases for stores not yet opened. Residential percentage leased is expressed as a percentage of units occupied or subject to a lease. |
(3) | All or a portion of this property is owned pursuant to a ground lease. |
(4) | We own the controlling interest in this center. |
(5) | We own a 90% general and limited partnership interests in these buildings. |
(6) | We own this property in a downREIT partnership, of which a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trust is the sole general partner, with third party partners holding operating partnership units. |
(7) | All or a portion of this property is subject to a capital lease obligation. |
(8) | We own a 64.1% membership interest in this property. |
(9) | 50% of the ownership of this property is in a downREIT partnership, of which a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trust is the sole general partner, with third party partners holding operating partnership units. |
(10) | Properties acquired through the Taurus Newbury Street JV II Limited Partnership or a joint venture arrangement with affiliates of a discretionary fund created and advised by ING Clarion Partners. |
(11) | The Trust controls Melville Mall through a 20 year master lease and secondary financing to the owner. Because the Trust controls the activities that most significantly impact this property and retains substantially all of the economic benefit and risk associated with it, we consolidate this property and its operations. |
27
(12) | All or a portion of this property is encumbered by a mortgage loan. |
(13) | On November 10, 2010, we acquired an adjacent site to this property which totaled approximately 75,000 square feet, and we are in the process of preparing the space for lease. |
(14) | Aggregate information is calculated on a GLA weighted-average basis, excluding properties acquired through the Taurus Newbury Street JV II Limited Partnership and a joint venture arrangement with affiliates of a discretionary fund created and advised by ING Clarion Partners. |
In May 2003, a breach of contract action was filed against us in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division, alleging that a one page document entitled Final Proposal constituted a ground lease of a parcel of property located adjacent to our Santana Row property and gave the plaintiff the option to require that we acquire the property at a price determined in accordance with a formula included in the Final Proposal. The Final Proposal explicitly stated that it was subject to approval of the terms and conditions of a formal agreement. A trial as to liability only was held in June 2006 and a jury rendered a verdict against us.
A trial on the issue of damages was held in April 2008 and the court issued a tentative ruling in April 2009 awarding damages to the plaintiff of approximately $14.4 million plus interest. Accordingly, considering all the information available to us when we filed our March 31, 2009 Form 10-Q, our best estimate of damages, interest, and other costs was $21.4 million resulting in an increase in our accrual for this matter of $20.6 million. In June 2009, the court issued a final judgment awarding damages of $15.9 million (including interest) plus costs of suit and in July 2009, we and the plaintiff both filed a notice of appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In December 2009, the plaintiff filed an appellees principal and response brief providing additional information regarding the issues the plaintiff is appealing. Given the additional information regarding the appeal, we lowered our accrual to $16.4 million in the fourth quarter 2009, which reflected our best estimate of the litigation liability. Oral arguments on the appeal were heard in December 2010. A final ruling on the appeal was issued in February 2011 which rejected both appeals and consequently, affirmed the final judgment against us. Therefore, in December 2010, we adjusted our accrual to $16.2 million which reflects the amount we expect to pay in first quarter 2011.
The net change in our accrual in 2010 and 2009 is included in litigation provision in our consolidated statements of operations. The litigation accrual of $16.2 million and $16.4 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, is included in the accounts payable and accrued expenses line item in our consolidated balance sheets. During 2010 and 2009, we incurred additional legal and other costs related to this lawsuit and appeal process which are also included in the litigation provision line item in the consolidated statements of operations.
ITEM 4. [REMOVED AND RESERVED]
28
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR OUR COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Our common shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol FRT. Listed below are the high and low closing prices of our common shares as reported on the New York Stock Exchange and the dividends declared for each of the periods indicated.
Price Per Share | Dividends Declared Per Share |
|||||||||||
High | Low | |||||||||||
2010 |
||||||||||||
Fourth quarter |
$ | 84.32 | $ | 74.87 | $ | 0.670 | ||||||
Third quarter |
$ | 83.32 | $ | 68.91 | $ | 0.670 | ||||||
Second quarter |
$ | 79.52 | $ | 68.35 | $ | 0.660 | ||||||
First quarter |
$ | 74.11 | $ | 63.07 | $ | 0.660 | ||||||
2009 |
||||||||||||
Fourth quarter |
$ | 70.49 | $ | 57.49 | $ | 0.660 | ||||||
Third quarter |
$ | 66.03 | $ | 48.24 | $ | 0.660 | ||||||
Second quarter |
$ | 59.28 | $ | 45.51 | $ | 0.650 | ||||||
First quarter |
$ | 60.31 | $ | 38.82 | $ | 0.650 |
On February 9, 2011, there were 3,666 holders of record of our common shares.
Our ongoing operations generally will not be subject to federal income taxes as long as we maintain our REIT status and distribute to shareholders at least 100% of our taxable income. Under the Code, REITs are subject to numerous organizational and operational requirements, including the requirement to generally distribute at least 90% of taxable income.
Future distributions will be at the discretion of our Board of Trustees and will depend on our actual net income available for common shareholders, financial condition, capital requirements, the annual distribution requirements under the REIT provisions of the Code and such other factors as the Board of Trustees deems relevant. We have paid quarterly dividends to our shareholders continuously since our founding in 1962 and have increased our regular annual dividend rate for 43 consecutive years.
Our total annual dividends paid per common share for 2010 and 2009 were $2.65 per share and $2.61 per share, respectively. The annual dividend amounts are different from dividends as calculated for federal income tax purposes. Distributions to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits for federal income tax purposes generally will be taxable to a shareholder as ordinary dividend income. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a nontaxable reduction of the shareholders basis in such shareholders shares, to the extent thereof, and thereafter as taxable capital gain. Distributions that are treated as a reduction of the shareholders basis in its shares will have the effect of increasing the amount of gain, or reducing the amount of loss, recognized upon the sale of the shareholders shares. No assurances can be given regarding what portion, if any, of distributions in 2011 or subsequent years will constitute a return of capital for federal income tax purposes. During a year in which a REIT earns a net long-term capital gain, the REIT can elect under Section 857(b)(3) of the Code to designate a portion of dividends paid to shareholders as capital gain dividends. If this election is made, then the capital gain dividends are generally taxable to the shareholder as long-term capital gains.
29
The following table reflects the income tax status of distributions per share paid to common shareholders:
Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||
2010 | 2009 | |||||||
Ordinary dividend |
$ | 2.519 | $ | 2.377 | ||||
Ordinary dividend eligible for 15% tax rate |
0.025 | 0.024 | ||||||
Return of capital |
0.106 | 0.183 | ||||||
Capital gain |
| 0.026 | ||||||
$ | 2.650 | $ | 2.610 | |||||
Distributions on our 5.417% Series 1 Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares were paid at the rate of $1.354 per share per annum commencing on the issuance date of March 8, 2007. 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.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Shares
Under the terms of various operating partnership agreements of certain of our affiliated limited partnerships, the interest of limited partners in those limited partnerships may be redeemed, subject to certain conditions, for cash or an equivalent number of our common shares, at our option. On October 8, 2010 and November 16, 2010, we redeemed 3,473 operating partnership units each for the equivalent number of our common shares. All other equity securities sold by us during 2010 that were not registered have been previously reported in a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
No equity securities were purchased by us during 2010. However, 495 restricted common shares were forfeited by former employees.
30
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table includes certain financial information on a consolidated historical basis. You should read this section in conjunction with Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. Our selected operating data, other data and balance sheet data for the years ended December 31, 2006 through 2009 have been reclassified to conform to the 2010 presentation.
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||||||||
(In thousands, except per share data and ratios) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Operating Data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Rental income |
$ | 525,528 | $ | 512,725 | $ | 501,055 | $ | 464,884 | $ | 413,719 | ||||||||||
Property operating income(1) |
$ | 374,532 | $ | 363,782 | $ | 354,731 | $ | 336,434 | $ | 301,229 | ||||||||||
Income from continuing operations |
$ | 127,107 | $ | 102,379 | $ | 120,616 | $ | 99,430 | $ | 94,276 | ||||||||||
Gain on sale of real estate |
$ | 1,410 | $ | 1,298 | $ | 12,572 | $ | 94,768 | $ | 23,956 | ||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 128,237 | $ | 103,872 | $ | 135,153 | $ | 201,127 | $ | 123,065 | ||||||||||
Net income attributable to the Trust |
$ | 122,790 | $ | 98,304 | $ | 129,787 | $ | 195,537 | $ | 118,712 | ||||||||||
Net income available for common shareholders |
$ | 122,249 | $ | 97,763 | $ | 129,246 | $ | 195,095 | $ | 103,514 | ||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
$ | 256,735 | $ | 256,765 | $ | 228,285 | $ | 214,209 | $ | 186,654 | ||||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
$ | (187,088 | ) | $ | (127,341 | ) | $ | (207,567 | ) | $ | (151,439 | ) | $ | (317,429 | ) | |||||
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities |
$ | (189,239 | ) | $ | (9,258 | ) | $ | (56,186 | ) | $ | (23,574 | ) | $ | 133,631 | ||||||
Dividends declared on common shares |
$ | 163,382 | $ | 157,638 | $ | 148,444 | $ | 135,102 | $ | 133,066 | ||||||||||
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Basic |
61,182 | 59,704 | 58,665 | 56,108 | 53,469 | |||||||||||||||
Diluted |
61,324 | 59,830 | 58,889 | 56,473 | 53,858 | |||||||||||||||
Earnings per common share, basic: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Continuing operations |
$ | 1.97 | $ | 1.60 | $ | 1.94 | $ | 1.66 | $ | 1.39 | ||||||||||
Discontinued operations |
0.01 | 0.03 | 0.25 | 1.81 | 0.40 | |||||||||||||||
Gain on sale of real estate |
0.01 | | | | 0.14 | |||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 1.99 | $ | 1.63 | $ | 2.19 | $ | 3.47 | $ | 1.93 | ||||||||||
Earnings per common share, diluted: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Continuing operations |
$ | 1.96 | $ | 1.60 | $ | 1.94 | $ | 1.65 | $ | 1.38 | ||||||||||
Discontinued operations |
0.01 | 0.03 | 0.25 | 1.80 | 0.39 | |||||||||||||||
Gain on sale of real estate |
0.01 | | | | 0.14 | |||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 1.98 | $ | 1.63 | $ | 2.19 | $ | 3.45 | $ | 1.91 | ||||||||||
Dividends declared per common share(2) |
$ | 2.66 | $ | 2.62 | $ | 2.52 | $ | 2.37 | $ | 2.46 | ||||||||||
Other Data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Funds from operations available to common shareholders(3)(4)(5) |
$ | 239,210 | $ | 211,065 | $ | 228,397 | $ | 206,037 | $ | 176,419 | ||||||||||
EBITDA(4)(6) |
$ | 352,481 | $ | 328,491 | $ | 344,465 | $ | 423,150 | $ | 321,136 | ||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA(4)(6) |
$ | 351,071 | $ | 327,193 | $ | 331,893 | $ | 328,382 | $ | 297,180 | ||||||||||
Ratio of EBITDA to combined fixed charges and preferred share dividends(4)(6)(7) |
3.1 | x | 2.8 | x | 3.2 | x | 3.3 | x | 2.6 | x | ||||||||||
Ratio of Adjusted EBITDA to combined fixed charges and preferred share dividends(4)(6)(7) |
3.1 | x | 2.7 | x | 3.1 | x | 2.6 | x | 2.4 | x |
31
As of December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||||||||
(In thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Balance Sheet Data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Real estate, at cost |
$ | 3,895,942 | $ | 3,759,234 | $ | 3,673,685 | $ | 3,452,847 | $ | 3,204,258 | ||||||||||
Total assets |
$ | 3,159,553 | $ | 3,222,309 | $ | 3,092,776 | $ | 2,989,297 | $ | 2,688,606 | ||||||||||
Mortgages payable and capital lease obligations |
$ | 589,441 | $ | 601,884 | $ | 452,810 | $ | 450,084 | $ | 460,398 | ||||||||||
Notes payable |
$ | 97,881 | $ | 261,745 | $ | 336,391 | $ | 210,820 | $ | 109,024 | ||||||||||
Senior notes and debentures |
$ | 1,079,827 | $ | 930,219 | $ | 956,584 | $ | 977,556 | $ | 1,127,508 | ||||||||||
Preferred shares |
$ | 9,997 | $ | 9,997 | $ | 9,997 | $ | 9,997 | $ | | ||||||||||
Shareholders equity |
$ | 1,181,130 | $ | 1,209,063 | $ | 1,146,954 | $ | 1,146,450 | $ | 806,269 | ||||||||||
Number of common shares outstanding |
61,526 | 61,242 | 58,986 | 58,646 | 55,321 |
(1) | Property operating income is a non-GAAP measure that consists of rental income, other property income and mortgage interest income, less rental expenses and real estate taxes. This measure is used internally to evaluate the performance of property operations and we consider it to be a significant measure. Property operating income should not be considered an alternative measure of operating results or cash flow from operations as determined in accordance with GAAP. |
(2) | The 2006 dividends declared per common share include a special dividend of $0.20 resulting from the sales of condominiums at Santana Row. |
(3) | FFO is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure of real estate companies operating performances. The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT) defines FFO as follows: net income, computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP, plus depreciation and amortization of real estate assets and excluding extraordinary items and gains on the sale of real estate. We compute FFO in accordance with the NAREIT definition, and we have historically reported our FFO available for common shareholders in addition to our net income. |
We consider FFO available for common shareholders a meaningful, additional measure of operating performance primarily because it excludes the assumption that the value of the real estate assets diminishes predictably over time, as implied by the historical cost convention of GAAP and the recording of depreciation. We use FFO primarily as one of several means of assessing our operating performance in comparison with other REITs. Comparison of our presentation of FFO to similarly titled measures for other REITs may not necessarily be meaningful due to possible differences in the application of the NAREIT definition used by such REITs. Additional information regarding our calculation of FFO is contained in Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The reconciliation of net income to funds from operations available for common shareholders is as follows:
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 128,237 | $ | 103,872 | $ | 135,153 | $ | 201,127 | $ | 123,065 | ||||||||||
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests |
(5,447 | ) | (5,568 | ) | (5,366 | ) | (5,590 | ) | (4,353 | ) | ||||||||||
Gain on sale of real estate |
(1,410 | ) | (1,298 | ) | (12,572 | ) | (94,768 | ) | (23,956 | ) | ||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization of real estate assets |
107,187 | 103,104 | 101,450 | 95,565 | 88,649 | |||||||||||||||
Amortization of initial direct costs of leases |
9,552 | 9,821 | 8,771 | 8,473 | 7,390 | |||||||||||||||
Depreciation of joint venture real estate assets |
1,499 | 1,388 | 1,331 | 1,241 | 768 | |||||||||||||||
Funds from operations |
239,618 | 211,319 | 228,767 | 206,048 | 191,563 | |||||||||||||||
Dividends on preferred shares |
(541 | ) | (541 | ) | (541 | ) | (442 | ) | (10,423 | ) | ||||||||||
Income attributable to operating partnership units |
980 | 974 | 950 | 1,156 | 748 | |||||||||||||||
Preferred share redemption costs |
| | | | (4,775 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Income attributable to unvested shares |
(847 | ) | (687 | ) | (779 | ) | (725 | ) | (694 | ) | ||||||||||
Funds from operations available for common shareholders |
$ | 239,210 | $ | 211,065 | $ | 228,397 | $ | 206,037 | $ | 176,419 | ||||||||||
(4) | Includes a charge of $0.3 million and $16.4 million in 2010 and 2009, respectively, for adjusting the accrual for litigation regarding a parcel of land located adjacent to Santana Row as well as other costs related to the litigation and appeal process. The matter is further discussed in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements. |
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(5) | Includes a charge of $1.6 million in 2008 related to the settlement of a litigation matter relating to a shopping center in New Jersey. The matter is further discussed in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements. |
(6) | The SEC has stated that EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure as calculated in the table below. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure that means net income or loss plus net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, gain or loss on sale of real estate and impairments of real estate if any. Adjusted EBITDA is presented because it approximates a key performance measure in our debt covenants, but it should not be considered an alternative measure of operating results or cash flow from operations as determined in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other REITs. |
The reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented is as follows:
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 128,237 | $ | 103,872 | $ | 135,153 | $ | 201,127 | $ | 123,065 | ||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
119,817 | 115,093 | 111,068 | 105,966 | 97,879 | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
101,882 | 108,781 | 99,163 | 117,394 | 102,808 | |||||||||||||||
Early extinguishment of debt |
2,801 | 2,639 | | | | |||||||||||||||
Other interest income |
(256 | ) | (1,894 | ) | (919 | ) | (1,337 | ) | (2,616 | ) | ||||||||||
EBITDA |
352,481 | 328,491 | 344,465 | 423,150 | 321,136 | |||||||||||||||
Gain on sale of real estate |
(1,410 | ) | (1,298 | ) | (12,572 | ) | (94,768 | ) | (23,956 | ) | ||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ | 351,071 | $ | 327,193 | $ | 331,893 | $ | 328,382 | $ | 297,180 | ||||||||||
(7) | Fixed charges consist of interest on borrowed funds (including capitalized interest), amortization of debt discount and expense and the portion of rent expense representing an interest factor. Preferred share dividends consist of dividends paid on preferred shares and preferred share redemption costs. Our Series B preferred shares were redeemed in full in November 2006. |
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Certain statements in this section or elsewhere in this report may be deemed forward-looking statements. See Item 1A. Risk Factors in this report for important information regarding these forward-looking statements and certain risk and uncertainties that may affect us. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto appearing in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of this report.
Overview
We are an equity real estate investment trust specializing in the ownership, management and redevelopment of high quality retail and mixed-use properties located primarily in densely populated and affluent communities in strategic metropolitan markets in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions of the United States, as well as in California. As of December 31, 2010, we owned or had a majority interest in community and neighborhood shopping centers and mixed-use properties which are operated as 85 predominantly retail real estate projects comprising approximately 18.3 million square feet. In total, the real estate projects were 93.9% leased and 93.2% occupied at December 31, 2010. A joint venture in which we own a 30% interest owned seven retail real estate projects totaling approximately 1.0 million square feet as of December 31, 2010. In total, the joint venture properties in which we own an interest were 91.0% leased and 90.4% occupied at December 31, 2010. We have paid quarterly dividends to our shareholders continuously since our founding in 1962 and have increased our dividends per common share for 43 consecutive years.
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Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, referred to as GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that in certain circumstances affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and revenues and expenses. These estimates are prepared using managements best judgment, after considering past and current events and economic conditions. In addition, information relied upon by management in preparing such estimates includes internally generated financial and operating information, external market information, when available, and when necessary, information obtained from consultations with third party experts. Actual results could differ from these estimates. A discussion of possible risks which may affect these estimates is included in Item 1A. Risk Factors of this report. Management considers an accounting estimate to be critical if changes in the estimate could have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations or financial condition.
Our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements; however, the most critical accounting policies, which involve the use of estimates and assumptions as to future uncertainties and, therefore, may result in actual amounts that differ from estimates, are as follows:
Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable
Our leases with tenants are classified as operating leases. Substantially all such leases contain fixed escalations which occur at specified times during the term of the lease. Base rents are recognized on a straight-line basis from when the tenant controls the space through the term of the related lease, net of valuation adjustments, based on managements assessment of credit, collection and other business risk. Percentage rents, which represent additional rents based upon the level of sales achieved by certain tenants, are recognized at the end of the lease year or earlier if we have determined the required sales level is achieved and the percentage rents are collectible. Real estate tax and other cost reimbursements are recognized on an accrual basis over the periods in which the related expenditures are incurred. For a tenant to terminate its lease agreement prior to the end of the agreed term, we may require that they pay a fee to cancel the lease agreement. Lease termination fees for which the tenant has relinquished control of the space are generally recognized on the termination date. 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 and percentage rent as well as real estate tax and other cost reimbursements. Accounts receivable from straight-line rent is typically longer term in nature and relates to the cumulative amount by which straight-line rental income recorded to date exceeds cash rents billed to date under the contractual lease agreement.
We make estimates of the collectability of our current accounts receivable and straight-line rents receivable which requires significant judgment by management. The collectability of receivables is affected by numerous factors including current economic conditions, bankruptcies, and the ability of the tenant to perform under the terms of their lease agreement. While we make estimates of potentially uncollectible amounts and provide an allowance for them through bad debt expense, actual collectability could differ from those estimates which could affect our net income. With respect to the allowance for current uncollectible tenant receivables, we assess the collectability of outstanding receivables by evaluating such factors as nature and age of the receivable, past history and current financial condition of the specific tenant including our assessment of the tenants ability to meet its contractual lease obligations, and the status of any pending disputes or lease negotiations with the tenant. At December 31, 2010 and 2009, our allowance for doubtful accounts was $18.7 million and $16.1 million, respectively. Historically, we have recognized bad debt expense between 0.4% and 1.3% of rental income and it was 1.2% in 2010 reflecting economic changes and their impact to our tenants. A change in the estimate of collectability of a receivable would result in a change to our allowance for doubtful accounts and correspondingly bad debt expense and net income. For example, in the event our estimates were not accurate and
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we were required to increase our allowance by 1% of rental income, our bad debt expense would have increased and our net income would have decreased by $5.3 million.
Due to the nature of the accounts receivable from straight-line rents, the collection period of these amounts typically extends beyond one year. Our experience relative to unbilled straight-line rents is that a portion of the amounts otherwise recognizable as revenue is never billed to or collected from tenants due to early lease terminations, lease modifications, bankruptcies and other factors. Accordingly, the extended collection period for straight-line rents along with our evaluation of tenant credit risk may result in the nonrecognition of a portion of straight-line rental income until the collection of such income is reasonably assured. If our evaluation of tenant credit risk changes indicating more straight-line revenue is reasonably collectible than previously estimated and realized, the additional straight-line rental income is recognized as revenue. If our evaluation of tenant credit risk changes indicating a portion of realized straight-line rental income is no longer collectible, a reserve and bad debt expense is recorded. At December 31, 2010 and 2009, accounts receivable include approximately $45.6 million and $41.8 million, respectively, related to straight-line rents. Correspondingly, these estimates of collectability have a direct impact on our net income.
Real Estate
The nature of our business as an owner, redeveloper and operator of retail shopping centers and mixed-use properties means that we invest significant amounts of capital. Depreciation and maintenance costs relating to our properties constitute substantial costs for us as well as the industry as a whole. We capitalize real estate investments and depreciate them on a straight-line basis in accordance with GAAP and consistent with industry standards based on our best estimates of the assets physical and economic useful lives. We periodically review the estimated lives of our assets and implement changes, as necessary, to these estimates and, therefore, to our depreciation rates. These reviews take into account the historical retirement and replacement of our assets, the repairs required to maintain the condition of our assets, the cost of redevelopments that may extend the useful lives of our assets and general economic and real estate factors. A newly developed neighborhood shopping center building would typically have an economic useful life of 50 to 60 years, but since many of our assets are not newly developed buildings, estimating the useful lives of assets that are long-lived requires significant management judgment. Certain events could occur that would materially affect our estimates and assumptions related to depreciation. Unforeseen competition or changes in customer shopping habits could substantially alter our assumptions regarding our ability to realize the expected return on investment in the property and therefore reduce the economic life of the asset and affect the amount of depreciation expense to be charged against both the current and future revenues. These assessments have a direct impact on our net income. The longer the economic useful life, the lower the depreciation expense will be for that asset in a fiscal period, which in turn will increase our net income. Similarly, having a shorter economic useful life would increase the depreciation for a fiscal period and decrease our net income.
Land, buildings and real estate under development are recorded at cost. We compute depreciation using the straight-line method with useful lives ranging generally from 35 years to a maximum of 50 years on buildings and major improvements. Maintenance and repair costs are charged to operations as incurred. Tenant work and other major improvements, which improve or extend the life of the asset, are capitalized and depreciated over the life of the lease or the estimated useful life of the improvements, whichever is shorter. Minor improvements, furniture and equipment are capitalized and depreciated over useful lives ranging from 3 to 20 years. Certain external and internal costs directly related to the development, redevelopment and leasing of real estate, including applicable salaries and the related direct costs, are capitalized. The capitalized costs associated with developments and redevelopments are depreciated over the life of the improvement. Capitalized costs associated with leases are depreciated or amortized over the base term of the lease. Unamortized leasing costs are charged to expense if the applicable tenant vacates before the expiration of its lease. Undepreciated tenant work is written-off if the applicable tenant vacates and the tenant work is replaced or has no future value. Additionally, we make estimates as to the probability of certain development and redevelopment projects being completed. If we determine the redevelopment is no longer probable of completion, we immediately expense all capitalized costs which are not recoverable.
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When applicable, as lessee, we classify our leases of land and building as operating or capital leases. We are required to use judgment and make estimates in determining the lease term, the estimated economic life of the property and the interest rate to be used in determining whether or not the lease meets the qualification of a capital lease and is recorded as an asset.
Interest costs on developments and major redevelopments are capitalized as part of developments and redevelopments not yet placed in service. Capitalization of interest commences when development activities and expenditures begin and end upon completion, which is when the asset is ready for its intended use. Generally, rental property is considered substantially complete and ready for its intended use upon completion of tenant improvements, but no later than one year from completion of major construction activity. We make judgments as to the time period over which to capitalize such costs and these assumptions have a direct impact on net income because capitalized costs are not subtracted in calculating net income. If the time period for capitalizing interest is extended, more interest is capitalized, thereby decreasing interest expense and increasing net income during that period.
Real Estate Acquisitions
Upon acquisition of operating real estate properties, we estimate the fair value of acquired tangible assets (consisting of land, building and improvements), identified intangible assets and liabilities (consisting of above-market and below-market leases, in-place leases and tenant relationships), and assumed debt. Based on these estimates, we allocate the purchase price to the applicable assets and liabilities. We utilize methods similar to those used by independent appraisers in estimating the fair value of acquired assets and liabilities. The value allocated to in-place leases is amortized over the related lease term and reflected as rental income in the statement of operations. If the value of below market lease intangibles includes renewal option periods, we include such renewal periods in the amortization period utilized. If a tenant vacates its space prior to contractual termination of its lease, the unamortized balance of any in-place lease value is written off to rental income.
Long-Lived Assets and Impairment
There are estimates and assumptions made by management in preparing the consolidated financial statements for which the actual results will be determined over long periods of time. This includes the recoverability of long-lived assets, including our properties that have been acquired or redeveloped and our investment in certain joint ventures. Managements evaluation of impairment includes review for possible indicators of impairment as well as, in certain circumstances, undiscounted and discounted cash flow analysis. Since most of our investments in real estate are wholly-owned or controlled assets which are held for use, a property with impairment indicators is first tested for impairment by comparing the undiscounted cash flows, including residual value, to the current net book value of the property. If the undiscounted cash flows are less than the net book value, the property is written down to expected fair value.
The calculation of both discounted and undiscounted cash flows requires management to make estimates of future cash flows including revenues, operating expenses, required maintenance and development expenditures, market conditions, demand for space by tenants and rental rates over long periods. Because our properties typically have a long life, the assumptions used to estimate the future recoverability of book value requires significant management judgment. Actual results could be significantly different from the estimates. These estimates have a direct impact on net income, because recording an impairment charge results in a negative adjustment to net income.
Contingencies
We are sometimes involved in lawsuits, warranty claims, and environmental matters arising in the ordinary course of business. Management makes assumptions and estimates concerning the likelihood and amount of any potential loss relating to these matters. We accrue a liability for litigation if an unfavorable outcome is probable
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and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. If an unfavorable outcome is probable and a reasonable estimate of the loss is a range, we accrue the best estimate within the range; however, if no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount, the minimum within the range is accrued. Any difference between our estimate of a potential loss and the actual outcome would result in an increase or decrease to net income.
As further discussed in Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, we are party to a litigation matter related to a parcel of land adjacent to our Santana Row property. During 2009, the judge awarded damages to the plaintiff including interest and costs of suit resulting in us increasing our litigation accrual to $16.4 million. We and the plaintiff both appealed the ruling and oral arguments on the appeal were heard in December 2010. A final ruling on the appeal was issued in February 2011 which rejected both appeals and consequently, affirmed the final judgment against us. Therefore, in December 2010, we adjusted our accrual to $16.2 million which reflects the amount we expect to pay in first quarter 2011.
In addition, we reserve for estimated losses, if any, associated with warranties given to a buyer at the time an asset is sold or other potential liabilities relating to that sale, taking any insurance policies into account. These warranties may extend up to ten years and the calculation of potential liability requires significant judgment. If changes in facts and circumstances indicate that warranty reserves are understated, we will accrue additional reserves at such time a liability has been incurred and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Warranty reserves are released once the legal liability period has expired or all related work has been substantially completed. Any changes to our estimated warranty losses would result in an increase or decrease in net income.
Self-Insurance
We are self-insured for general liability costs up to predetermined retained amounts per claim, and we believe that we maintain adequate accruals to cover our retained liability. We currently do not maintain third party stop-loss insurance policies to cover liability costs in excess of predetermined retained amounts. Our accrual for self-insurance liability is determined by management and is based on claims filed and an estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported. Management considers a number of factors, including third-party actuarial analysis and future increases in costs of claims, when making these determinations. If our liability costs differ from these accruals, it will increase or decrease our net income.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a new accounting standard which provides certain changes to the evaluation of a VIE including requiring a qualitative rather than quantitative analysis to determine the primary beneficiary of a VIE, continuous assessments of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, and enhanced disclosures about an enterprises involvement with a VIE. Under the new standard, the primary beneficiary has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact economic performance of the VIE and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE.
We adopted the standard effective January 1, 2010. The adoption did not have a material impact to our financial statements. The newly required balance sheet disclosures regarding assets and liabilities of a consolidated VIE have been parenthetically included in our balance sheet. These parenthetical amounts relate to Melville Mall in Huntington, New York, a shopping center and adjacent commercial building in Norwalk, Connecticut, which is further discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements in this Form 10-K, and Huntington Square in East Northport, New York, which is further discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in this Form 10-K. Although the adoption of this standard did not have a material impact to our financial statements, this standard could impact future consolidation of entities based on the specific facts and circumstances of those entities.
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In July 2010, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that requires enhanced disclosures about financing receivables, including the allowance for credit losses, credit quality, and impaired loans. This standard is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2010. We adopted the standard in the fourth quarter 2010 and it did not have a material impact to our financial statements.
Property Acquisitions and Dispositions
2010 Significant Acquisitions
A summary of our significant acquisitions in 2010 is as follows:
Date |
Property |
City, State | Gross Leasable Area |
Purchase Price |
||||||||
(In square feet) | (In millions) | |||||||||||
August 16 |
Huntington Square | East Northport, NY | 74,000 | $ | 17.6 | (1) | ||||||
November 10 |
Former Mervyns Parcel (Escondido Promenade) |
Escondido, CA | 75,000 | 11.2 | (2) | |||||||
November 22 |
Pentagon Row | Arlington, VA | N/A | 8.5 | (3) | |||||||
December 27 |
Bethesda Row | Bethesda, MD | N/A | 9.4 | (4) | |||||||
Total | 149,000 | $ | 46.7 | |||||||||
(1) | We acquired the leasehold interest in this property. Approximately $9.2 million of net assets acquired were allocated to other assets for above market leases and a below market ground lease for which we are the lessee. Approximately $1.7 million of net assets acquired were allocated to liabilities for below market leases. We incurred approximately $0.3 million of acquisition costs which are included in general and administrative expenses. |
(2) | This property is adjacent to and operated as part of Escondido Promenade which is owned through a partnership in which we own the controlling interest. |
(3) | We and a subsidiary of Post Properties, Inc. (Post) purchased the fee interest in the land under Pentagon Row. The land was purchased as a result of a favorable outcome to litigation. In September 2008, we and Post sued Vornado Realty Trust and related entities (Vornado) for breach of contract in the Circuit Court of Arlington County, Virginia. The breach of contract was a result of Vornados acquiring in transactions in 2005 and 2007 the fee interest in the land under our Pentagon Row project without first giving us and Post the opportunity to purchase the fee interest in that land as required by the right of first offer (ROFO) provisions included in the documentation relating to the Pentagon Row project. On April 30, 2010, the judge in this case issued a ruling that Vornado failed to comply with the ROFO and as a result, breached the contract, and ordered Vornado to sell to us and Post, collectively, the land under Pentagon Row. Vornado appealed the ruling, however, the appeal was denied in November 2010. As part of the acquisition of the land and termination of the respective ground lease, we were relieved of our deferred ground rent liability for approximately $8.8 million. The liability was offset against the net purchase price with the excess of the liability over the purchase price of $0.3 million included in the statement of operations as an adjustment to rental expense. |
(4) | We acquired the fee interest in approximately 2.1 acres of land under Bethesda Row. Prior to the transaction, the land parcel was owned pursuant to a ground lease and encumbered by a capital lease obligation which were terminated as part of the transaction. |
2010 Assets Held for Sale
In December 2010, we committed to a plan of sale for two buildings on Fifth Avenue in San Diego, California. As the buildings met the criteria to be classified as held for sale, we recognized a $0.4 million loss to write down one of the buildings to its expected sales price less cost to sell. We expect the sales will be completed in 2011. The operations of the buildings have been reclassified as discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of operations for all years presented and included in assets held for sale in our consolidated balance sheets.
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2009 Significant Transactions
On June 26, 2009, one of our tenants acquired from us our fee interest in a land parcel in White Marsh, Maryland, that was subject to a long-term ground lease. The ground lease included an option for the tenant to purchase the fee interest. The sales price was $2.1 million and resulted in a gain of $0.4 million.
On October 16, 2009, we acquired 16.6 acres of riverfront property at Assembly Row in Somerville, Massachusetts, for use in future development, in exchange for the sale of 12.4 acres of adjacent inland land, $3 million in cash, and the assumption of a $5 million liability. The purchase price of the riverfront parcel was determined to be $33.1 million based on current fair value calculations. The sale of the inland land resulted in no gain or loss on sale as the fair value of the consideration exchanged equaled the cost basis of the land sold.
2010 Significant Debt, Equity and Other Transactions
On January 28, 2010, we delivered notice exercising our option to extend the maturity date by one year to July 27, 2011 on our revolving credit facility, which bears interest at LIBOR plus 42.5 basis points. We paid an extension fee of $0.5 million which is being amortized over the remaining term of the revolving credit facility.
On March 1, 2010, we issued $150.0 million of fixed rate senior notes that mature on April 1, 2020 and bear interest at 5.90%. The net proceeds from this note offering after issuance discounts, underwriting fees and other costs were $148.5 million.
On various dates from February 25, 2010 to March 2, 2010, we repaid the remaining $250.0 million balance of our term loan. The term loan had an original maturity date of July 27, 2011, however, the loan agreement included an option to prepay the loan, in whole or in part, at any time without premium or penalty. Due to these repayments, approximately $2.8 million of unamortized debt fees were recorded as additional interest expense in 2010 and are included in early extinguishment of debt in the consolidated statement of operations. The term loan was repaid using cash on hand and cash from the $150.0 million note issuance.
On March 30, 2010, we acquired the first mortgage loan on a shopping center located in Norwalk, Connecticut. The first mortgage loan bears interest at 7.25%, matures on September 1, 2032, and as of December 31, 2010, had an outstanding contractual principal balance of $11.3 million. Since November 5, 2008, we have held the second mortgage on this shopping center and a first mortgage on an adjacent commercial building which had an outstanding balance of $7.4 million at December 31, 2010. All of these loans are currently in default and foreclosure proceedings have been filed.
We reached an agreement with the borrower whereby the borrower would repay the loans by March 29, 2011, and are currently in negotiations with the borrower to modify the loans. If the loans are not modified or the borrower fails to repay the loans at that time, we will be entitled to receive a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure for both properties. If we acquire the properties through exercise of the deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, we believe the fair value of the properties approximates our carrying amount of these loans which are on non-accrual status.
Because the loans are in default, we have certain rights under the first mortgage loan agreement that give us the ability to direct the activities that most significantly impact the shopping center. Although we are not currently exercising and do not expect to exercise those rights, the existence of those rights in the loan agreement results in the entity being a VIE. Additionally, given our investment in both the first and second mortgage on the property, the overall decline in fair market value since the loans were initiated, and the current default status of the loans, we also have the obligation to absorb losses or rights to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Consequently, we have determined we are the primary beneficiary of this VIE and consolidated the shopping center and adjacent building as of March 30, 2010. Therefore, our investment in the property of approximately $18.3 million is included in real estate in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2010.
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In October 2010, Donald C. Wood, our Chief Executive Officer, was granted 60,931 shares of restricted stock valued at approximately $5,000,000, which will vest on October 12, 2015. Additionally, Mr. Woods annual base pay was increased from $700,000 to $850,000 per year effective November 1, 2010, his target bonus was increased from 100% of his base salary to 150% of his base salary beginning with his 2010 bonus, and his target amount for potential equity to be issued in February 2011 under our 2010 Performance Incentive Plan, as amended (2010 Plan), was increased from $2.0 million to $4.0 million. Grants under the 2010 Plan generally vest over three to six years.
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Trustees determined that these compensation adjustments were prudent, consistent with the Trusts compensation philosophy and in the best interest of the Trusts shareholders after considering four primary factors: (a) the appropriate market value for Mr. Woods services after retaining a consultant to benchmark comparable real estate companies and make recommendations; (b) the historical outperformance of the company over the last decade in terms of shareholder value creation and the prospects for continued outperformance in the future; (c) the active recruiting for Mr. Woods services in the marketplace and the related strong desire to retain him and his senior management team at the Trust; and (d) the ability of the current senior management team to take advantage of future opportunities to increase shareholder value.
On December 27, 2010, we acquired the fee interest in approximately 2.1 acres of land under our Bethesda Row property. Prior to the transaction, we had a capital lease obligation of $1.0 million on the land parcel which was extinguished as part of the transaction.
Formation of Joint Venture
In May 2010, we formed Taurus Newbury Street JV II Limited Partnership (Newbury Street Partnership), a joint venture limited partnership with an affiliate of Taurus Investment Holdings, LLC (Taurus), which plans to acquire, operate and redevelop up to $200 million of properties located primarily in the Back Bay section of Boston, Massachusetts. We hold an 85% limited partnership interest in Newbury Street Partnership and Taurus holds a 15% limited partnership interest and serves as general partner. As general partner, Taurus is responsible for the operation and management of the properties, subject to our approval on major decisions. We have evaluated the entity and determined that it is not a VIE. Accordingly, given Taurus role as general partner, we account for our interest in Newbury Street Partnership using the equity method. During 2010, we recorded expenses of approximately $0.2 million related to our share of formation costs of Newbury Street Partnership.
Newbury Street Partnership is subject to a buy-sell provision which is customary for real estate joint venture agreements and the industry. The buy-sell can be exercised only in certain circumstances through May 2014 and may be initiated by either party at anytime thereafter which could result in either the sale of our interest or the use of available cash or borrowings to acquire Taurus interest.
On May 26, 2010, Newbury Street Partnership acquired the fee interest in two buildings located on Newbury Street in Boston, Massachusetts for a purchase price of $17.5 million. The properties include approximately 32,000 square feet of retail and office space. A significant portion of the office space was vacant when the properties were acquired and are currently being leased up. We contributed $7.8 million towards this acquisition and provided an $8.8 million interest-only loan secured by the two buildings. The loan matures in May 2012, subject to a one-year extension option, and bears interest at 30-day LIBOR plus 400 basis points. All amounts contributed and advanced to Newbury Street Partnership are included in Investment in real estate partnerships in the consolidated balance sheet. Intercompany profit generated from interest income on the loan is eliminated in consolidation. Due to the timing of receiving financial information from the general partner, our share of operating earnings is recorded one quarter in arrears. During 2010, we recorded approximately $0.2 million related to our share of acquisition related costs.
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Litigation Provision
In May 2003, a breach of contract action was filed against us in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division, alleging that a one page document entitled Final Proposal constituted a ground lease of a parcel of property located adjacent to our Santana Row property and gave the plaintiff the option to require that we acquire the property at a price determined in accordance with a formula included in the Final Proposal. The Final Proposal explicitly stated that it was subject to approval of the terms and conditions of a formal agreement. A trial as to liability only was held in June 2006 and a jury rendered a verdict against us.
A trial on the issue of damages was held in April 2008 and the court issued a tentative ruling in April 2009 awarding damages to the plaintiff of approximately $14.4 million plus interest. Accordingly, considering all the information available to us when we filed our March 31, 2009 Form 10-Q, our best estimate of damages, interest, and other costs was $21.4 million resulting in an increase in our accrual for this matter of $20.6 million. In June 2009, the court issued a final judgment awarding damages of $15.9 million (including interest) plus costs of suit and in July 2009, we and the plaintiff both filed a notice of appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In December 2009, the plaintiff filed an appellees principal and response brief providing additional information regarding the issues the plaintiff is appealing. Given the additional information regarding the appeal, we lowered our accrual to $16.4 million in the fourth quarter 2009, which reflected our best estimate of the litigation liability. Oral arguments on the appeal were heard in December 2010. A final ruling on the appeal was issued in February 2011 which rejected both appeals and consequently, affirmed the final judgment against us. Therefore, in December 2010, we adjusted our accrual to $16.2 million which reflects the amount we expect to pay in first quarter 2011.
The net change in our accrual in 2010 and 2009 is included in litigation provision in our consolidated statements of operations. The litigation accrual of $16.2 million and $16.4 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, is included in the accounts payable and accrued expenses line item in our consolidated balance sheets. During 2010 and 2009, we incurred additional legal and other costs related to this lawsuit and appeal process which are also included in the litigation provision line item in the consolidated statements of operations.
Subsequent Event
On January 19, 2011, we acquired the fee interest in Tower Shops located in Davie, Florida for a net purchase price of approximately $66.1 million which includes the assumption of a mortgage loan of approximately $41.0 million. The mortgage loan bears interest at 6.52%, is interest only until July 2011 at which time it converts to a 30-year amortization schedule and matures in July 2015. The loan is pre-payable after June 2011 and we expect to repay the loan during 2011 which will include a 3% prepayment premium on the outstanding loan balance. The property contains approximately 372,000 square feet of gross leasable area and is shadow-anchored by Home Depot and Costco.
Outlook
We seek growth in earnings, funds from operations, and cash flows primarily through a combination of the following:
| growth in our portfolio from property redevelopments, |
| expansion of our portfolio through property acquisitions, and |
| growth in our same-center portfolio. |
Our properties are located in densely populated or affluent areas with high barriers to entry which allow us to take advantage of redevelopment opportunities that enhance our operating performance through renovation, expansion, reconfiguration, and/or retenanting. We evaluate our properties on an ongoing basis to identify these
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types of opportunities. In 2010, redevelopment projects totaling $27 million stabilized. In 2011 and 2012, we expect to have redevelopment projects stabilizing with projected costs of approximately $48 million and $50 million, respectively.
Additionally, we continue to invest in the development at Assembly Row which is a long-term development project we expect to be involved in over the coming years. The project currently has zoning entitlements to build 2.3 million square feet of commercial-use buildings, 2,100 residential units, and a 200 room hotel. We expect that we will structure any future development in a manner designed to mitigate our risk which may include transfers of entitlements or co-developing with other real estate companies. We have entered into a preliminary agreement with a residential developer for the first phase of development and continue our current predevelopment and infrastructure work. We received approximately $10 million in public funding in April 2010, which is included in notes payable in the consolidated balance sheet, related to the infrastructure work we have completed and we expect the state will complete certain additional infrastructure work using government stimulus funds. We incurred approximately $16 million related to the development in 2010, net of the public funding discussed above, and expect to incur between $10 million and $30 million in 2011, net of expected public funding.
We continue to review acquisition opportunities in our primary markets that complement our portfolio and provide long term opportunities. Generally, our acquisitions do not initially contribute significantly to earnings growth; however, they provide long-term re-leasing growth, redevelopment opportunities, and other strategic opportunities. Any growth from acquisitions is contingent on our ability to find properties that meet our qualitative standards at prices that meet our financial hurdles. Changes in interest rates may affect our success in achieving earnings growth through acquisitions by affecting both the price that must be paid to acquire a property, as well as our ability to economically finance the property acquisition. Generally, our acquisitions are initially financed by available cash and/or borrowings under our revolving credit facility which may be repaid later with funds raised through the issuance of new equity or new long-term debt. On occasion we also finance our acquisitions through the issuance of common shares, preferred shares, or downREIT units as well as through assumed or new mortgages.
Our same-center growth is primarily driven by increases in rental rates on new leases and lease renewals and changes in portfolio occupancy. Over the long-term, the infill nature and strong demographics of our properties provide a strategic advantage allowing us to maintain relatively high occupancy and increase rental rates. The current economic environment may, however, impact our ability to increase rental rates in the short-term and may require us to decrease some rental rates. This will have a long-term impact over the contractual term of the lease agreement, which on average is between five and ten years. We expect to continue to see small changes in occupancy over the short term and expect increases in occupancy to be a driver of our same-center growth over the long term as we are able to re-lease these vacant spaces. We seek to maintain a mix of strong national, regional, and local retailers. At December 31, 2010, no single tenant accounted for more than 2.6% of annualized base rent.
The current economic environment has impacted the success of our tenants retail operations and therefore the amount of rent and expense reimbursements we receive from our tenants. Since 2008, we have seen tenants experiencing declining sales, vacating early, or filing for bankruptcy, as well as seeking rent relief from us as landlord. Any reduction in our tenants abilities to pay base rent, percentage rent or other charges, will adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. While we believe the locations of our centers and diverse tenant base mitigates the negative impact of the economic environment, we may see an increase in vacancy over the short term that could have a negative impact on our revenue and bad debt expense. During the latter part of 2010, we saw positive signs of improvement for some of our tenants as well as increased interest for our retail spaces; however, there can be no assurance that these positive signs will continue. We continue to monitor our tenants operating performances as well as trends in the retail industry to evaluate any future impact.
At December 31, 2010, the leasable square feet in our properties was 93.2% occupied and 93.9% leased. The leased rate is higher than the occupied rate due to leased spaces that are being redeveloped or improved or that
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are awaiting permits and, therefore, are not yet ready to be occupied. Our occupancy and leased rates are subject to variability over time due to factors including acquisitions, the timing of the start and stabilization of our redevelopment projects, lease expirations and tenant bankruptcies.
Results of Operations
Throughout this section, we have provided certain information on a same-center basis. Information provided on a same-center basis includes the results of properties that we owned and operated for the entirety of both periods being compared except for properties for which significant redevelopment or expansion occurred during either of the periods being compared and properties classified as discontinued operations.
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009
Change | ||||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | Dollars | % | |||||||||||||
(Dollar amounts in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Rental income |
$ | 525,528 | $ | 512,725 | $ | 12,803 | 2.5 | % | ||||||||
Other property income |
14,545 | 12,850 | 1,695 | 13.2 | % | |||||||||||
Mortgage interest income |
4,601 | 4,943 | (342 | ) | -6.9 | % | ||||||||||
Total property revenue |
544,674 | 530,518 | 14,156 | 2.7 | % | |||||||||||
Rental expenses |
111,034 | 108,627 | 2,407 | 2.2 | % | |||||||||||
Real estate taxes |
59,108 | 58,109 | 999 | 1.7 | % | |||||||||||
Total property expenses |
170,142 | 166,736 | 3,406 | 2.0 | % | |||||||||||
Property operating income |
374,532 | 363,782 | 10,750 | 3.0 | % | |||||||||||
Other interest income |
256 | 1,894 | (1,638 | ) | -86.5 | % | ||||||||||
Income from real estate partnerships |
1,060 | 1,322 | (262 | ) | -19.8 | % | ||||||||||
Interest expense |
(101,882 | ) | (108,781 | ) | 6,899 | -6.3 | % | |||||||||
Early extinguishment of debt |
(2,801 | ) | (2,639 | ) | (162 | ) | 6.1 | % | ||||||||
General and administrative expense |
(24,189 | ) | (22,032 | ) | (2,157 | ) | 9.8 | % | ||||||||
Litigation provision |
(330 | ) | (16,355 | ) | 16,025 | -98.0 | % | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
(119,539 | ) | (114,812 | ) | (4,727 | ) | 4.1 | % | ||||||||
Total other, net |
(247,425 | ) | (261,403 | ) | 13,978 | -5.3 | % | |||||||||
Income from continuing operations |
127,107 | 102,379 | 24,728 | 24.2 | % | |||||||||||
Discontinued operations(loss) income |
(280 | ) | 195 | (475 | ) | -243.6 | % | |||||||||
Discontinued operationsgain on sale of real estate |
1,000 | 1,298 | (298 | ) | -23.0 | % | ||||||||||
Gain on sale of real estate |
410 | | 410 | 100.0 | % | |||||||||||
Net income |
128,237 | 103,872 | 24,365 | 23.5 | % | |||||||||||
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests |
(5,447 | ) | (5,568 | ) | 121 | -2.2 | % | |||||||||
Net income attributable to the Trust |
$ | 122,790 | $ | 98,304 | $ | 24,486 | 24.9 | % | ||||||||
Property Revenues
Total property revenue increased $14.2 million, or 2.7%, to $544.7 million in 2010 compared to $530.5 million in 2009. The percentage occupied at our shopping centers remained unchanged at 93.2% at December 31, 2010 and 2009. Changes in the components of property revenue are discussed below.
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Rental Income
Rental income consists primarily of minimum rent, cost reimbursements from tenants and percentage rent. Rental income increased $12.8 million, or 2.5%, to $525.5 million in 2010 compared to $512.7 million in 2009 due primarily to the following:
| an increase of $8.6 million at same-center properties due primarily to higher rental rates on new and renewal leases, increased cost reimbursements, and increased temporary tenant income, |
| an increase of $2.6 million at redevelopment properties due primarily to increased occupancy and rental rates on new leases and higher cost reimbursements, and |
| an increase of $0.8 million attributable to a property acquired in 2010. |
Other Property Income
Other property income increased $1.7 million, or 13.2%, to $14.5 million in 2010 compared to $12.9 million in 2009. Included in other property income are items which, although recurring, tend to fluctuate more than rental income from period to period, such as lease termination fees. This increase is primarily due to an increase in lease termination fees.
Property Expenses
Total property expenses increased $3.4 million, or 2.0%, to $170.1 million in 2010 compared to $166.7 million in 2009. Changes in the components of property expenses are discussed below.
Rental Expenses
Rental expenses increased $2.4 million, or 2.2%, to $111.0 million in 2010 compared to $108.6 million in 2009. This increase is due primarily to the following:
| an increase of $1.9 million in repairs and maintenance due primarily to snow removal costs, |
| an increase of $1.0 million in other operating costs at same-center properties due primarily to higher demolition costs, and |
| an increase of $0.6 million in utility costs, |
partially offset by
| a decrease of $1.4 million in ground rent expense due to the purchase of the fee interest in the land under Pentagon Row resulting from the settlement of certain litigation. |
As a result of the changes in rental income, other property income and rental expenses as discussed above, rental expenses as a percentage of rental income plus other property income decreased slightly to 20.6% in 2010 from 20.7% in 2009.
Real Estate Taxes
Real estate tax expense increased $1.0 million, or 1.7%, to $59.1 million in 2010 compared to $58.1 million in 2009 due primarily to annual increases in tax assessments partially offset by lower assessments and refunds of taxes at certain properties due primarily to successful tax appeals..
Property Operating Income
Property operating income increased $10.8 million, or 3.0%, to $374.5 million in 2010 compared to $363.8 million in 2009. This increase is primarily due to growth in earnings at same-center and redevelopment properties.
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Other
Other Interest Income
Other interest income decreased $1.6 million, or 86.5%, to $0.3 million in 2010 compared to $1.9 million in 2009. This decrease is due primarily to decreased short-term investing. During 2009, we invested the funds from our 2009 debt and equity transactions on a short-term basis in money market and other highly liquid investments.
Income from Real Estate Partnerships
Income from real estate partnerships decreased $0.3 million, or 19.8%, to $1.1 million in 2010 compared to $1.3 million in 2009. The decrease is due primarily to $0.4 million of formation and acquisition related expenses from our Newbury Street Partnership.
Interest Expense
Interest expense decreased $6.9 million, or 6.3%, to $101.9 million in 2010 compared to $108.8 million in 2009. This decrease is due primarily to the following:
| a decrease of $8.2 million due to lower borrowings, and |
| an increase of $0.7 million in capitalized interest, |
partially offset by
| an increase of $2.1 million due to a higher overall weighted average borrowing rate. |
Gross interest costs were $108.2 million and $114.3 million in 2010 and 2009, respectively. Capitalized interest was $6.3 million and $5.5 million in 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Early Extinguishment of Debt
The $2.8 million early extinguishment of debt expense in 2010 is due to the write-off of unamortized debt fees related to the $250.0 million payoff of the term loan prior to its maturity date. The $2.6 million early extinguishment of debt for 2009 consists of $1.7 million due to the write-off of unamortized debt fees related to the $122.0 million pay down of the term loan in the fourth quarter 2009 and $1.0 million related to a cash tender offer for $40.3 million of our 8.75% senior notes due December 1, 2009, which were purchased and retired at a 2% premium to par value.
General and Administrative Expense
General and administrative expense increased $2.2 million, or 9.8%, to $24.2 million in 2010 compared to $22.0 million in 2009. The increase is primarily due to higher personnel related costs, higher acquisition costs as a result of expensing all transaction costs, and higher legal fees, as a result of the litigation regarding certain rights to acquire the land under Pentagon Row further discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements in this Form 10-K.
Litigation Provision
The $0.3 million litigation provision in 2010 is due to certain costs related to the litigation and appeal process over a parcel of land located adjacent to Santana Row partially offset by the adjustment of the litigation provision to $16.2 million based on the rejection of both parties appeals in February 2011. The $16.4 million litigation provision in 2009 relates to increasing the accrual as well as costs related to the litigation and appeal process for such litigation matter. See Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements in this Form 10-K for further discussion on the litigation.
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Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense increased $4.7 million, or 4.1%, to $119.5 million in 2010 from $114.8 million in 2009. This increase is due primarily to capital improvements at same-center and redevelopment properties and accelerated depreciation related to the change in use of certain redevelopment buildings.
Discontinued Operations(Loss) Income
(Loss) income from discontinued operations represents the operating (loss) income of properties that have been disposed or will be disposed, which is required to be reported separately from results of ongoing operations. The decrease relates to a $0.4 million expense in 2010 to write down one of the properties to be sold in 2011 to fair value less cost to sell.
Discontinued OperationsGain on Sale of Real Estate
The $1.0 million gain on sale of real estate from discontinued operations for 2010 relates to the final settlement reached with the contractors responsible for performing defective work in previous years related to the work done in connection with the sale of certain condominium units at Santana Row. The $1.3 million gain on sale of real estate from discontinued operations for 2009 consists primarily of $0.9 million in insurance proceeds received related to repairs we performed on certain condominium units at Santana Row as the result of defective work done by third party contractors in prior years and $0.4 million on the sale of our fee interest in a land parcel in White Marsh, Maryland, that was subject to a long-term ground lease.
Gain on Sale of Real Estate
The $0.4 million gain on sale of real estate in 2010 is due to condemnation proceeds, net of costs, at one of our Northern Virginia properties in order to expand a local road.
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YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008
Change | ||||||||||||||||
2009 | 2008 | Dollars | % | |||||||||||||
(Dollar amounts in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Rental income |
$ | 512,725 | $ | 501,055 | $ | 11,670 | 2.3 | % | ||||||||
Other property income |
12,850 | 14,008 | (1,158 | ) | -8.3 | % | ||||||||||
Mortgage interest income |
4,943 | 4,548 | 395 | 8.7 | % | |||||||||||
Total property revenue |
530,518 | 519,611 | 10,907 | 2.1 | % | |||||||||||
Rental expenses |
108,627 | 109,463 | (836 | ) | -0.8 | % | ||||||||||
Real estate taxes |
58,109 | 55,417 | 2,692 | 4.9 | % | |||||||||||
Total property expenses |
166,736 | 164,880 | 1,856 | 1.1 | % | |||||||||||
Property operating income |
363,782 | 354,731 | 9,051 | 2.6 | % | |||||||||||
Other interest income |
1,894 | 916 | 978 | 106.8 | % | |||||||||||
Income from real estate partnership |
1,322 | 1,612 | (290 | ) | -18.0 | % | ||||||||||
Interest expense |
(108,781 | ) | (99,163 | ) | (9,618 | ) | 9.7 | % | ||||||||
Early extinguishment of debt |
(2,639 | ) | | (2,639 | ) | 100.0 | % | |||||||||
General and administrative expense |
(22,032 | ) | (26,732 | ) | 4,700 | -17.6 | % | |||||||||
Litigation provision |
(16,355 | ) | | (16,355 | ) | 100.0 | % | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
(114,812 | ) | (110,748 | ) | (4,064 | ) | 3.7 | % | ||||||||
Total other, net |
(261,403 | ) | (234,115 | ) | (27,288 | ) | 11.7 | % | ||||||||
Income from continuing operations |
102,379 | 120,616 | (18,237 | ) | -15.1 | % | ||||||||||
Discontinued operations-income |
195 | 1,965 | (1,770 | ) | -90.1 | % | ||||||||||
Discontinued operations-gain on sale of real estate |
1,298 | 12,572 | (11,274 | ) | -89.7 | % | ||||||||||
Net income |
103,872 | 135,153 | (31,281 | ) | -23.1 | % | ||||||||||
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests |
(5,568 | ) | (5,366 | ) | (202 | ) | 3.8 | % | ||||||||
Net income attributable to the Trust |
$ | 98,304 | $ | 129,787 | $ | (31,483 | ) | -24.3 | % | |||||||
Property Revenues
Total property revenue increased $10.9 million, or 2.1%, to $530.5 million in 2009 compared to $519.6 million in 2008. The percentage occupied at our shopping centers decreased to 93.2% at December 31, 2009 compared to 94.3% at December 31, 2008. Changes in the components of property revenue are discussed below.
Rental Income
Rental income consists primarily of minimum rent, cost recoveries from tenants and percentage rent. Rental income increased $11.7 million, or 2.3%, to $512.7 million in 2009 compared to $501.1 million in 2008, due primarily to the following:
| an increase of $7.0 million at redevelopment properties due primarily to increased rental rates on new leases including newly created retail and residential spaces generating revenue and increased cost reimbursements, |
| an increase of $4.8 million attributable to properties acquired in 2008, and |
| an increase of $0.9 million at same-center properties due to increased rental rates on new and renewal leases and increased temporary tenant income partially offset by lower occupancy, percentage rent and recoveries, |
partially offset by
| a decrease of $1.1 million as a result of having demolished an operating property in 2008 for use in future development. |
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Other Property Income
Other property income decreased $1.2 million, or 8.3%, to $12.9 million in 2009 compared to $14.0 million in 2008. Included in other property income are items which, although recurring, tend to fluctuate more than rental income from period to period, such as lease termination fees. In 2009, the decrease is primarily due to a decrease in lease termination fees partially offset by an increase in income from our restaurant joint ventures.
Property Expenses
Total property expenses increased $1.9 million, or 1.1%, to $166.7 million in 2009 compared to $164.9 million in 2008. Changes in the components of property expenses are discussed below.
Rental Expenses
Rental expenses decreased $0.8 million, or 0.8%, to $108.6 million in 2009 compared to $109.5 million in 2008. This decrease is due primarily to the following:
| a decrease of $1.4 million in ground rent expense at same-center properties due primarily to the acquisition of the fee interest in two land parcels at Bethesda Row in 2008, |
| a decrease of $1.1 million in marketing expense at same-center and redevelopment properties, primarily due to costs related to Arlington East (Bethesda Row) which opened during 2008, |
| a decrease of $0.7 million in insurance expense at same-center properties, and |
| a decrease of $0.3 million in payroll expense at same-center and redevelopment properties, |
partially offset by
| an increase of $2.0 million in repairs and maintenance at same-center and redevelopment properties primarily due to higher snow removal costs, and |
| an increase of $0.9 million attributable to properties acquired in 2008, |
As a result of the changes in rental income, rental expenses and other property income described above, rental expenses as a percentage of rental income plus other property income decreased to 20.7% in 2009 from 21.3% in 2008.
Real Estate Taxes
Real estate tax expense increased $2.7 million, or 4.9%, to $58.1 million in 2009 compared to $55.4 million in 2008. This increase is due primarily to an increase of $1.8 million related to higher assessments at redevelopment properties and $0.8 million related to properties acquired in 2008.
Property Operating Income
Property operating income increased $9.1 million, or 2.6%, to $363.8 million in 2009 compared to $354.7 million in 2008. As discussed above, this increase is due primarily to growth in earnings at redevelopment properties, earnings attributable to properties acquired in 2008, partially offset by lower earnings in our same-center portfolio as discussed above.
Other
Other Interest Income
Other interest income increased $1.0 million to $1.9 million in 2009 compared to $0.9 million in 2008. This increase is due primarily to investing the funds from our second quarter and August 2009 debt and equity
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transactions on a short-term basis in money market and other highly liquid investments while we evaluate the current environment to determine the best use of the proceeds in addition to repaying the 8.75% senior notes that matured in December 2009 and paying down the term loan in October and December 2009.
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased $9.6 million, or 9.7%, to $108.8 million in 2009 compared to $99.2 million in 2008. This increase is primarily due to the following:
| an increase of $10.4 million due to higher borrowings, |
partially offset by
| a decrease of $0.6 million due to a lower overall weighted average borrowing rate, and |
| an increase of $0.2 million in capitalized interest. |
Gross interest costs were $114.3 million and $104.5 million in 2009 and 2008, respectively. Capitalized interest amounted to $5.5 million and $5.3 million in 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Early Extinguishment of Debt
The $2.6 million early extinguishment of debt in 2009 consists of $1.7 million due to the write-off of unamortized debt fees related to the $122.0 million pay down of the term loan in the fourth quarter 2009 and $1.0 million related to a cash tender offer for $40.3 million of our 8.75% senior notes due December 1, 2009, which were purchased and retired at a 2% premium to par value.
General and Administrative Expense
General and administrative expense decreased $4.7 million, or 17.6%, to $22.0 million in 2009 from $26.7 million in 2008. The decrease is primarily due to a $1.6 million litigation settlement in 2008 related to a shopping center in New Jersey, $1.5 million lower legal fees related to litigation over a parcel of land located adjacent to Santana Row and other legal matters, and overall cost reduction efforts partially offset by expensing previously capitalized predevelopment costs.
Litigation Provision
The $16.4 million litigation provision in 2009 is due to increasing the accrual for litigation regarding a parcel of land located adjacent to Santana Row as well as other costs related to the litigation and appeal process. See Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements in this Form 10-K for further discussion on the litigation.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense increased $4.1 million, or 3.7%, to $114.8 million in 2009 from $110.7 million in 2008. This increase is due primarily to capital improvements at same-center and redevelopment properties and 2008 acquisitions as well as accelerated depreciation for tenant improvements where the tenant vacated prior to the end of their lease term. This increase is partially offset by accelerated depreciation in 2008 related to the change in use of a redevelopment building which was later demolished.
Discontinued Operations-Income
Income from discontinued operations represents the operating income of properties that have been disposed, or will be disposed, which is required to be reported separately from results of ongoing operations. The reported income of $0.2 million and $2.0 million in 2009 and 2008, respectively, represents the income for the period during which we owned properties held for sale in 2010 or sold in 2009 and 2008.
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Discontinued Operations-Gain on Sale of Real Estate
The $1.3 million gain on sale of real estate from discontinued operations for 2009 consists primarily of $0.9 million in insurance proceeds received related to repairs we performed on certain condominium units sold at Santana Row as the result of defective work done by third party contractors in prior years and $0.4 million on the sale of our fee interest in a land parcel in White Marsh, Maryland, that was subject to a long-term ground lease.
The $12.6 million gain on sale of real estate from discontinued operations for 2008 is due to a $5.2 million gain on the sale of one property in Connecticut, a $5.2 million decrease in the warranty reserve for condominium units sold at Santana Row in 2005 and 2006, $1.1 million of accrued state tax refunds applied for in 2008 related to the initial sales of the condominium units at Santana Row, and a $0.9 million gain on the sale of four land parcels in Maryland and Massachusetts.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Due to the nature of our business and strategy, we typically generate significant amounts of cash from operations. The cash generated from operations is primarily paid to our common and preferred shareholders in the form of dividends. As a REIT, we must generally make annual distributions to shareholders of at least 90% of our taxable income.
Our short-term liquidity requirements consist primarily of obligations under our capital and operating leases, normal recurring operating expenses, regular debt service requirements (including debt service relating to additional or replacement debt, as well as scheduled debt maturities), recurring expenditures, non-recurring expenditures (such as tenant improvements and redevelopments) and dividends to common and preferred shareholders. Our long-term capital requirements consist primarily of maturities under our long-term debt agreements, development and redevelopment costs and potential acquisitions.
We intend to operate with and maintain a conservative capital structure that will allow us to maintain strong debt service coverage and fixed-charge coverage ratios as part of our commitment to investment-grade debt ratings. In the short and long term, we may seek to obtain funds through the issuance of additional equity, unsecured and/or secured debt financings, joint venture relationships relating to existing properties or new acquisitions, and property dispositions that are consistent with this conservative structure.
In March 2010, we took advantage of lower long-term interest rates and issued $150 million of 10-year senior notes at a 5.90% interest rate. Using funds from the senior note offering as well as cash on hand, we repaid the outstanding $250 million balance on our term loan in advance of it maturing in July 2011. Cash and cash equivalents were $15.8 million at December 31, 2010, which is a $119.6 million decrease from the $135.4 million balance at December 31, 2009. The significant decrease is due primarily to the debt transactions discussed above and capital investments during 2010; however, cash and cash equivalents are not the only indicator of our liquidity. We also have a $300 million unsecured revolving credit facility that matures July 27, 2011, which had an outstanding balance of $77.0 million at December 31, 2010. During 2010, the maximum amount of borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility was $82.0 million, the weighted average amount of borrowings outstanding was $23.4 million, and the weighted average interest rate, before amortization of debt fees, was 0.7%.
During 2011, we have approximately $112.3 million of debt maturities related to mortgages payable and senior notes. Additionally, our $300 million revolving credit facility matures in July 2011. We are currently working with lenders to refinance our revolving credit facility and anticipate being able to obtain at least similar levels of commitments under a new facility. We expect the interest rate to be higher than our current revolving credit facility consistent with current market rates for similar facilities. We currently believe that cash flows from operations, cash on hand and our revolving credit facility will be sufficient to finance our operations, debt maturities, litigation settlement, and recurring capital expenditures.
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Our overall capital requirements in 2011 will depend upon acquisition opportunities, the level of improvements and redevelopments on existing properties and the timing and cost of development of future phases of existing properties. While the amount of future expenditures will depend on numerous factors, we expect to incur at least similar levels of capital expenditures in 2011 compared to prior periods which will be funded on a short-term basis with cash flow from operations, cash on hand, and/or the revolving credit facility, and on a long-term basis, with long-term debt or equity.
If necessary, we may access the debt or equity capital markets to finance significant acquisitions. Given our past success as well as the status of the capital markets, we expect debt or equity to be available to us. Although there is no intent at this time, if market conditions deteriorate, we may also delay the timing of certain development and redevelopment projects as well as limit future acquisitions, reduce our operating expenditures, or re-evaluate our dividend policy.
In addition to the conditions in the capital markets which could affect our ability to access those markets, the following factors could affect our ability to meet our liquidity requirements:
| restrictions in our debt instruments or preferred shares may limit us from incurring debt or issuing equity at all, or on acceptable terms under then-prevailing market conditions and |
| we may be unable to service additional or replacement debt due to increases in interest rates or a decline in our operating performance. |
Summary of Cash Flows for 2010 and 2009
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2010 | 2009 | |||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||
Cash provided by operating activities |
$ | 256,735 | $ | 256,765 | ||||
Cash used in investing activities |
(187,088 | ) | (127,341 | ) | ||||
Cash used in financing activities |
(189,239 | ) | (9,258 | ) | ||||
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents |
(119,592 | ) | 120,166 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year |
135,389 | 15,223 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year |
$ | 15,797 | $ | 135,389 | ||||
Net cash provided by operating activities was $256.7 million during 2010 and $256.8 million during 2009. The minimal change was primarily attributable to increases in net income before the litigation provision offset by timing of interest payments on our senior notes and term loan as a result of changes in the debt outstanding in 2009 and 2010 and timing of payments related to operating expenses.
Net cash used in investing activities increased $59.7 million to $187.1 million during 2010 from $127.3 million during 2009. The increase was primarily attributable to:
| $57.1 million of acquisitions in 2010 primarily related to Huntington Square, the former Mervyns outparcel at Escondido Promenade, and the fee interest in Pentagon Row and a portion of Bethesda Row, |
| $16.7 million investment in the Newbury Street Partnership, and |
| $10.5 million acquisition of a first mortgage loan in March 2010, |
partially offset by
| $13.0 million decrease in capital investments, and |
| $7.0 million contribution in 2009, to our real estate partnership with a discretionary fund created and advised by ING Clarion Partners, which was used to repay property level debt which came due in December 1, 2009. |
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Net cash used in financing activities increased $180.0 million to $189.2 million during 2010 from $9.3 million during 2009. The increase was primarily attributable to:
| $516.7 million decrease in net proceeds from the issuance of mortgages, capital leases and notes payable due primarily to the 2009 issuance of our $372 million term loan and $163.1 million in new mortgage loans, |
| $108.9 million decrease in net proceeds from the issuance of common shares due primarily to the 2009 issuance of 2.0 million shares in August 2009, and |
| $7.0 million increase in dividends paid to common and preferred shareholders due to an increase in the dividend rate as well as an increase in the number of shares outstanding primarily as a result of the August 2009 issuance of 2.0 million shares, |
partially offset by
| $175.9 million decrease in repayment of senior notes as our 8.75% senior notes due December 1, 2009, were repaid in 2009, |
| $200.1 million increase in net borrowings on our revolving credit facility, and |
| $74.9 million decrease in repayment of mortgages, capital leases and notes payable due substantially to the payoff of our $200 million term loan in May 2009 and $122 million of pay-downs on our new term loan in the fourth quarter 2009 partially offset by the $250 million payoff of our term loan in 2010. |
Contractual Commitments
The following table provides a summary of our fixed, noncancelable obligations as of December 31, 2010:
Commitments Due by Period | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total | Less Than 1 Year |
1-3 Years | 3-5 Years | After 5 Years |
||||||||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed rate debt (principal and interest) |
$ | 2,126,400 | $ | 219,961 | $ | 581,791 | $ | 619,858 | $ | 704,790 | ||||||||||
Capital lease obligations (principal and interest) |
165,342 | 5,475 | 10,972 | 10,975 | 137,920 | |||||||||||||||
Variable rate debt (principal only)(1) |
86,400 | 77,000 | | | 9,400 | |||||||||||||||
Operating leases |
59,924 | 1,467 | 2,620 | 2,556 | 53,281 | |||||||||||||||
Real estate commitments(2) |
67,500 | | | | 67,500 | |||||||||||||||
Development, redevelopment, and capital improvement obligations |
54,378 | 54,243 | 91 | 44 | | |||||||||||||||
Contractual operating obligations |
11,700 | 7,509 | 3,974 | 217 | | |||||||||||||||
Total contractual obligations |
$ | 2,571,644 | $ | 365,655 | $ | 599,448 | $ | 633,650 | $ | 972,891 | ||||||||||
(1) | Variable rate debt includes a $9.4 million bond that had an interest rate of 0.51% at December 31, 2010 and our revolving credit facility, which currently has an outstanding balance of $77.0 million that bears interest at LIBOR plus 0.425%. |
(2) | A master lease on Melville Mall includes a fixed price put option requiring us to purchase the property for $5 million plus the assumption of the owners debt. The current mortgage loan matures in September 2014, is expected to be refinanced at maturity, and has an outstanding contractual balance of $23.1 million at December 31, 2010. The real estate commitments currently include the fixed $5 million and all payments related to the current mortgage loan are included in fixed rate debt. |
In addition to the amounts set forth in the table above and other liquidity requirements previously discussed, the following potential commitments exist:
(a) Under the terms of the Congressional Plaza partnership agreement, from and after January 1, 1986, an unaffiliated third party has the right to require us and the two other minority partners to purchase between
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one-half to all of its 29.47% interest in Congressional Plaza at the interests then-current fair market value. Based on managements current estimate of fair market value as of December 31, 2010, our estimated liability upon exercise of the put option would range from approximately $44 million to $51 million.
(b) Under the terms of one other partnership which owns a project in southern California, if certain leasing and revenue levels are obtained for the property owned by the partnership, the other partner may require us to purchase their 10% partnership interest at a formula price based upon property operating income. The purchase price for the partnership interest will be paid using our common shares or, subject to certain conditions, cash. If the other partner does not redeem their interest, we may choose to purchase the partnership interest upon the same terms.
(c) Under the terms of various other partnership agreements, the partners have the right to exchange their operating units for cash or the same number of our common shares, at our option. As of December 31, 2010, a total of 362,314 operating units are outstanding.
(d) At December 31, 2010, we had letters of credit outstanding of approximately $14.0 million which are collateral for existing indebtedness and other obligations of the Trust.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have a joint venture arrangement (the Partnership) with affiliates of a discretionary fund created and advised by ING Clarion Partners (Clarion). We own 30% of the equity in the Partnership and Clarion owns 70%. We hold a general partnership interest, however, Clarion also holds a general partnership interest and has substantive participating rights. We cannot make significant decisions without Clarions approval. Accordingly, we account for our interest in the Partnership using the equity method. As of December 31, 2010, the Partnership owned seven retail real estate properties. We are the manager of the Partnership and its properties, earning fees for acquisitions, management, leasing and financing. We also have the opportunity to receive performance-based earnings through our Partnership interest. The Partnership is subject to a buy-sell provision which is customary in real estate joint venture agreements and the industry. Either partner may initiate these provisions at any time, which could result in either the sale of our interest or the use of available cash or borrowings to acquire Clarions interest. At December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Partnership had $57.6 million and $57.8 million, respectively, of mortgages payable outstanding and our investment in the Partnership was $35.5 million and $35.6 million, respectively.
In May 2010, we formed Taurus Newbury Street JV II Limited Partnership (Newbury Street Partnership), a joint venture limited partnership with an affiliate of Taurus Investment Holdings, LLC (Taurus), which plans to acquire, operate and redevelop up to $200 million in properties located primarily in the Back Bay section of Boston, Massachusetts. We hold an 85% limited partnership interest in Newbury Street Partnership and Taurus holds a 15% limited partnership interest and serves as general partner. As general partner, Taurus is responsible for the operation and management of the properties, subject to our approval on major decisions. We have evaluated the entity and determined that it is not a VIE. Accordingly, given Taurus role as general partner, we account for our interest in Newbury Street Partnership using the equity method. The entity is subject to a buy-sell provision which is customary for real estate joint venture agreements and the industry. The buy-sell can be exercised only in certain circumstances through May 2014 and may be initiated by either party at anytime thereafter which could result in either the sale of our interest or the use of available cash or borrowings to acquire Taurus interest. At December 31, 2010, we had invested approximately $16.7 million in Newbury Street Partnership including an $8.8 million mortgage loan.
Other than the joint venture described above and items disclosed in the Contractual Commitments Table, we have no off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2010 that are reasonably likely to have a current or future material effect on our financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.
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Debt Financing Arrangements
The following is a summary of our total debt outstanding as of December 31, 2010:
Description of Debt |
Original Debt Issued |
Principal Balance as of December 31, 2010 |
Stated Interest Rate as of December 31, 2010 |
Maturity Date | ||||||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Mortgages payable(1) |
||||||||||||||||
Secured fixed rate |
||||||||||||||||
Federal Plaza |
36,500 | $ | 31,901 | 6.75 | % | June 1, 2011 | ||||||||||
Tysons Station |
7,000 | 5,713 | 7.40 | % | September 1, 2011 | |||||||||||
Courtyard Shops |
Acquired | 7,289 | 6.87 | % | July 1, 2012 | |||||||||||
Bethesda Row |
Acquired | 19,994 | 5.37 | % | January 1, 2013 | |||||||||||
Bethesda Row |
Acquired | 4,163 | 5.05 | % | February 1, 2013 | |||||||||||
White Marsh Plaza(2) |
Acquired | 9,580 | 6.04 | % | April 1, 2013 | |||||||||||
Crow Canyon |
Acquired | 20,395 | 5.40 | % | August 11, 2013 | |||||||||||
Idylwood Plaza |
16,910 | 16,544 | 7.50 | % | June 5, 2014 | |||||||||||
Leesburg Plaza |
29,423 | 28,786 | 7.50 | % | June 5, 2014 | |||||||||||
Loehmanns Plaza |
38,047 | 37,224 | 7.50 | % | June 5, 2014 | |||||||||||
Pentagon Row |
54,619 | 53,437 | 7.50 | % | June 5, 2014 | |||||||||||
Melville Mall(3) |
Acquired | 23,073 | 5.25 | % | September 1, 2014 | |||||||||||
THE AVENUE at White Marsh |
Acquired | 57,803 | 5.46 | % | January 1, 2015 | |||||||||||
Barracks Road |
44,300 | 39,850 | 7.95 | % | November 1, 2015 | |||||||||||
Hauppauge |
16,700 | 15,022 | 7.95 | % | November 1, 2015 | |||||||||||
Lawrence Park |
31,400 | 28,246 | 7.95 | % | November 1, 2015 | |||||||||||
Wildwood |
27,600 | 24,827 | 7.95 | % | November 1, 2015 | |||||||||||
Wynnewood |
32,000 | 28,785 | 7.95 | % | November 1, 2015 | |||||||||||
Brick Plaza |
33,000 | 29,429 | 7.42 | % | November 1, 2015 | |||||||||||
Rollingwood Apartments |
24,050 | 23,567 | 5.54 | % | May 1, 2019 | |||||||||||
Shoppers World |
Acquired | 5,593 | 5.91 | % | January 31, 2021 | |||||||||||
Mount Vernon(4) |
13,250 | 10,937 | 5.66 | % | April 15, 2028 | |||||||||||
Chelsea |
Acquired | 7,795 | 5.36 | % | January 15, 2031 | |||||||||||
Subtotal |
529,953 | |||||||||||||||
Net unamortized discount |
(452 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total mortgages payable |
529,501 | |||||||||||||||
Notes payable |
||||||||||||||||
Unsecured fixed rate |
||||||||||||||||
Various(5) |
15,308 | 11,481 | 3.57 | % | Various through 2013 | |||||||||||
Unsecured variable rate |
||||||||||||||||
Revolving credit facility(6) |
300,000 | 77,000 | LIBOR + 0.425 | % | July 27, 2011 | |||||||||||
Escondido (Municipal bonds)(7) |
9,400 | 9,400 | 0.51 | % | October 1, 2016 | |||||||||||
Total notes payable |
97,881 | |||||||||||||||
Senior notes and debentures |
||||||||||||||||
Unsecured fixed rate |
||||||||||||||||
4.50% notes |
75,000 | 75,000 | 4.500 | % | February 15, 2011 | |||||||||||
6.00% notes |
175,000 | 175,000 | 6.000 | % | July 15, 2012 | |||||||||||
5.40% notes |
135,000 | 135,000 | 5.400 | % | December 1, 2013 | |||||||||||
5.95% notes |
150,000 | 150,000 | 5.950 | % | August 15, 2014 | |||||||||||
5.65% notes |
125,000 | 125,000 | 5.650 | % | June 1, 2016 | |||||||||||
6.20% notes |
200,000 | 200,000 | 6.200 | % | January 15, 2017 | |||||||||||
5.90% notes |
150,000 | 150,000 | 5.900 | % | April 1, 2020 | |||||||||||
7.48% debentures |
50,000 | 29,200 | 7.480 | % | August 15, 2026 | |||||||||||
6.82% medium term notes |
40,000 | 40,000 | 6.820 | % | August 1, 2027 | |||||||||||
Subtotal |
1,079,200 | |||||||||||||||
Net unamortized premium |
627 | |||||||||||||||
Total senior notes and debentures |
1,079,827 | |||||||||||||||
Capital lease obligations |
||||||||||||||||
Various |
59,940 | Various | Various through 2106 | |||||||||||||
Total debt and capital lease obligations |
$ | 1,767,149 | ||||||||||||||
(1) | Mortgages payable do not include our 30% share ($17.3 million) of the $57.6 million debt of the Partnership with a discretionary fund created and advised by ING Clarion Partners. It also excludes the $8.8 million mortgage loan on our Newbury Street Partnership for which we are the lender. |
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(2) | The interest rate of 6.04% represents the weighted average interest rate for two mortgage loans secured by this property. The loan balance represents an interest only loan of $4.35 million at a stated rate of 6.18% and the remaining balance at a stated rate of 5.96%. |
(3) | We acquired control of Melville Mall through a 20-year master lease and secondary financing. Because we control the activities that most significantly impact this property and retain substantially all of the economic benefit and risk associated with it, this property is consolidated and the mortgage loan is reflected on the balance sheet, though it is not our legal obligation. |
(4) | The interest rate is fixed at 5.66% for the first ten years and then will be reset to a market rate in 2013. The lender has the option to call the loan on April 15, 2013 or any time thereafter. |
(5) | The interest rate of 3.57% represents the weighted average interest rate for three unsecured fixed rate notes payable. These notes mature between April 1, 2012 and January 31, 2013. |
(6) | The maximum amount drawn under our revolving credit facility during 2010 was $82.0 million and the weighted average effective interest rate, before amortization of debt fees, was 0.72%. |
(7) | The bonds require monthly interest only payments through maturity. The bonds bear interest at a variable rate determined weekly, which would enable the bonds to be remarketed at 100% of their principal amount. The property is not encumbered by a lien. |
Our revolving credit facility and other debt agreements include financial and other covenants that may limit our operating activities in the future. As of December 31, 2010, we were in compliance with all of the financial and other covenants. If we were to breach any of our debt covenants and did not cure the breach within any applicable cure period, our lenders could require us to repay the debt immediately and, if the debt is secured, could immediately begin proceedings to take possession of the property securing the loan. Many of our debt arrangements, including our public notes and our revolving credit facility, are cross-defaulted, which means that the lenders under those debt arrangements can put us in default and require immediate repayment of their debt if we breach and fail to cure a default under certain of our other debt obligations. As a result, any default under our debt covenants could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, our results of operations, our ability to meet our obligations and the market value of our shares. Our organizational documents do not limit the level or amount of debt that we may incur.
The following is a summary of our debt maturities as of December 31, 2010:
Unsecured | Secured | Capital Lease |
Total | |||||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
2011 |
$ | 152,724 | (1) | $ | 47,349 | $ | 1,403 | $ | 201,476 | |||||||
2012 |
185,727 | 17,380 | 1,500 | 204,607 | ||||||||||||
2013 |
135,030 | 72,107 | 1,609 | 208,746 | ||||||||||||
2014 |
150,000 | 156,364 | 1,725 | 308,089 | ||||||||||||
2015 |
| 203,398 | 1,851 | 205,249 | ||||||||||||
Thereafter |
553,600 | 33,355 | 51,852 | 638,807 | ||||||||||||
$ | 1,177,081 | $ | 529,953 | $ | 59,940 | $ | 1,766,974 | (2) | ||||||||
(1) | Our $300 million revolving credit facility matures on July 27, 2011. As of December 31, 2010, there is $77.0 million drawn under this credit facility. |
(2) | Total debt maturities differs from the total reported on the consolidated balance sheet due to unamortized discounts and premiums as of December 31, 2010. |
Interest Rate Hedging
We had no hedging instruments outstanding during 2010. We use derivative instruments to manage exposure to variable interest rate risk. We generally enter into interest rate swaps to manage our exposure to variable interest rate risk and treasury locks to manage the risk of interest rates rising prior to the issuance of debt. We enter into derivative instruments that qualify as cash flow hedges and do not enter into derivative instruments for speculative purposes.
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REIT Qualification
We intend to maintain our qualification as a REIT under Section 856(c) of the Code. As a REIT, we generally will not be subject to corporate federal income taxes on income we distribute to our shareholders as long as we satisfy certain technical requirements of the Code, including the requirement to distribute at least 90% of our taxable income to our shareholders.
Funds From Operations
Funds from operations (FFO) is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure of real estate companies operating performance. The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT) defines FFO as follows: net income, computed in accordance with the U.S. GAAP, plus depreciation and amortization of real estate assets and excluding extraordinary items and gains and losses on the sale of real estate. We compute FFO in accordance with the NAREIT definition, and we have historically reported our FFO available for common shareholders in addition to our net income and net cash provided by operating activities. It should be noted that FFO:
| does not represent cash flows from operating activities in accordance with GAAP (which, unlike FFO, generally reflects all cash effects of transactions and other events in the determination of net income); |
| should not be considered an alternative to net income as an indication of our performance; and |
| is not necessarily indicative of cash flow as a measure of liquidity or ability to fund cash needs, including the payment of dividends. |
We consider FFO available for common shareholders a meaningful, additional measure of operating performance primarily because it excludes the assumption that the value of the real estate assets diminishes predictably over time, as implied by the historical cost convention of GAAP and the recording of depreciation. We use FFO primarily as one of several means of assessing our operating performance in comparison with other REITs. Comparison of our presentation of FFO to similarly titled measures for other REITs may not necessarily be meaningful due to possible differences in the application of the NAREIT definition used by such REITs.
An increase or decrease in FFO available for common shareholders does not necessarily result in an increase or decrease in aggregate distributions because our Board of Trustees is not required to increase distributions on a quarterly basis unless it is necessary for us to maintain REIT status. However, we must distribute 90% of our taxable income to remain qualified as a REIT. Therefore, a significant increase in FFO will generally require an increase in distributions to shareholders although not necessarily on a proportionate basis.
Included below is a reconciliation of net income to FFO available for common shareholders as well as FFO available to common shareholders excluding the litigation provision. As further discussed in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements, net income for 2010 and 2009 includes certain charges related to the litigation and appeal process over a parcel of land adjacent to Santana Row as well as adjusting the accrual for such litigation matter. Management believes FFO excluding this litigation provision provides a more meaningful evaluation of operations; while litigation is not unusual, we believe the premise of the underlying litigation matter (see Note 8 for discussion) warrants presentation of FFO excluding the related charges.
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The reconciliation of net income to FFO available for common shareholders is as follows:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | ||||||||||
(In thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 128,237 | $ | 103,872 | $ | 135,153 | ||||||
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests |
(5,447 | ) | (5,568 | ) | (5,366 | ) | ||||||
Gain on sale of real estate |
(1,410 | ) | (1,298 | ) | (12,572 | ) | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization of real estate assets |
107,187 | 103,104 | 101,450 | |||||||||
Amortization of initial direct costs of leases |
9,552 | 9,821 | 8,771 | |||||||||
Depreciation of joint venture real estate assets |
1,499 | 1,388 | 1,331 | |||||||||
Funds from operations |
239,618 | 211,319 | 228,767 | |||||||||
Dividends on preferred shares |
(541 | ) | (541 | ) | (541 | ) | ||||||
Income attributable to operating partnership units |
980 | 974 | 950 | |||||||||
Income attributable to unvested shares |
(847 | ) | (687 | ) | (779 | ) | ||||||
Funds from operations available for common shareholders |
$ | 239,210 | $ | 211,065 | $ | 228,397 | ||||||
Litigation provision, net of allocation to unvested shares |
329 | 16,301 | | |||||||||
Funds from operations available for common shareholders excluding litigation provision |
$ | 239,539 | $ | 227,366 | $ | 228,397 | ||||||
Weighted average number of common shares, diluted(1) |
61,693 | 60,201 | 59,266 | |||||||||
Funds from operations available for common shareholders, per diluted share |
$ | 3.88 | $ | 3.51 | $ | 3.85 | ||||||
Litigation provision per diluted share |
| 0.27 | | |||||||||
Funds from operations available for common shareholders excluding litigation provision, per diluted share |
$ | 3.88 | $ | 3.78 | $ | 3.85 | ||||||
(1) | The weighted average common shares used to compute FFO per diluted common share includes operating partnership units that were excluded from the computation of diluted EPS. Conversion of these operating partnership units is dilutive in the computation of FFO per diluted common share but is anti-dilutive for the computation of diluted EPS for the periods presented. |
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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Our use of financial instruments, such as debt instruments, subjects us to market risk which may affect our future earnings and cash flows, as well as the fair value of our assets. Market risk generally refers to the risk of loss from changes in interest rates and market prices. We manage our market risk by attempting to match anticipated inflow of cash from our operating, investing and financing activities with anticipated outflow of cash to fund debt payments, dividends to common and preferred shareholders, investments, capital expenditures and other cash requirements.
As of December 31, 2010, we were not party to any open derivative financial instruments. We may enter into certain types of derivative financial instruments to further reduce interest rate risk. We use interest rate protection and swap agreements, for example, to convert some of our variable rate debt to a fixed-rate basis or to hedge anticipated financing transactions. We use derivatives for hedging purposes rather than speculation and do not enter into financial instruments for trading purposes.
Interest Rate Risk
The following discusses the effect of hypothetical changes in market rates of interest on interest expense for our variable rate debt and on the fair value of our total outstanding debt, including our fixed-rate debt. Interest rate risk amounts were determined by considering the impact of hypothetical interest rates on our debt. Quoted market prices were used to estimate the fair value of our marketable senior notes and debentures and discounted cash flow analysis is generally used to estimate the fair value of our mortgage and notes payable. Considerable judgment is necessary to estimate the fair value of financial instruments. This analysis does not purport to take into account all of the factors that may affect our debt, such as the effect that a changing interest rate environment could have on the overall level of economic activity or the action that our management might take to reduce our exposure to the change. This analysis assumes no change in our financial structure.
Fixed Interest Rate Debt
The majority of our outstanding debt obligations (maturing at various times through 2031 or through 2106 including capital lease obligations) have fixed interest rates which limit the risk of fluctuating interest rates. However, interest rate fluctuations may affect the fair value of our fixed rate debt instruments. At December 31, 2010, we had $1.6 billion of fixed-rate debt outstanding and $59.9 million of capital lease obligations. If market interest rates on our fixed-rate debt instruments at December 31, 2010 had been 1.0% higher, the fair value of those debt instruments on that date would have decreased by approximately $67.2 million. If market interest rates on our fixed-rate debt instruments at December 31, 2010 had been 1.0% lower, the fair value of those debt instruments on that date would have increased by approximately $71.7 million.
Variable Interest Rate Debt
Generally, we believe that our primary interest rate risk is due to fluctuations in interest rates on our variable rate debt. At December 31, 2010, we had $86.4 million of variable rate debt outstanding which consisted of $77.0 million outstanding on our revolving credit facility and $9.4 million of municipal bonds. Based upon this amount of variable rate debt and the specific terms, if market interest rates increased 1.0%, our annual interest expense would increase by approximately $0.9 million, and our net income and cash flows for the year would decrease by approximately $0.9 million. Conversely, if market interest rates decreased 1.0%, our annual interest expense would decrease by approximately $0.6 million with a corresponding increase in our net income and cash flows for the year.
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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Our consolidated financial statements and supplementary data are included as a separate section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K commencing on page F-1 and are incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Quarterly Assessment
We carried out an assessment as of December 31, 2010 of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting. This assessment was done under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer. Rules adopted by the SEC require that we present the conclusions of our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer about the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and the conclusions of our management about the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the period covered by this annual report.
Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer Certifications
Included as Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K are forms of Certification of our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer. The forms of Certification are required in accordance with Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. This section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K that you are currently reading is the information concerning the assessment referred to in the Section 302 certifications and this information should be read in conjunction with the Section 302 certifications for a more complete understanding of the topics presented.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports, such as this report on Form 10-K, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SECs rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our President and Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President-Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. These controls and procedures are based closely on the definition of disclosure controls and procedures in Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act. Rules adopted by the SEC require that we present the conclusions of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer about the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this annual report.
Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Establishing and maintaining internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our President and Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President-Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, and effected by our employees, including management and our Board of Trustees, 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 in the United States of America. This process includes policies and procedures that:
| pertain to the maintenance of records that accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets in reasonable detail; |
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| provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are made only in accordance with the authorization procedures we have established; and |
| provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of any of our assets in circumstances that could have a material adverse effect on our financial statements. |
Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls
Management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting will prevent all errors and fraud. In designing and evaluating our control system, management recognized that any control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, that may affect our operation have been or will be detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by managements override of the control. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions that cannot be anticipated at the present time, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
Scope of the Evaluations
The evaluation by our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer of our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting included a review of our procedures and procedures performed by internal audit, as well as discussions with our Disclosure Committee and others in our organization, as appropriate. In conducting this evaluation, our management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal ControlIntegrated Framework. In the course of the evaluation, we sought to identify data errors, control problems or acts of fraud and to confirm that appropriate corrective action, including process improvements, were being undertaken. The evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting is done on a quarterly basis, so that the conclusions concerning the effectiveness of such controls can be reported in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Reports on Form 10-K.
Our internal control over financial reporting is also assessed on an ongoing basis by personnel in our accounting department and by our independent auditors in connection with their audit and review activities. The overall goals of these various evaluation activities are to monitor our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting and to make modifications as necessary. Our intent in this regard is that the disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting will be maintained and updated (including with improvements and corrections) as conditions warrant. Among other matters, we sought in our evaluation to determine whether there were any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, or whether we had identified any acts of fraud involving personnel who have a significant role in our internal control over financial reporting. This information is important both for the evaluation generally and because the Section 302 certifications require that our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer disclose that information to the Audit Committee of our Board of Trustees and our
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independent auditors and also require us to report on related matters in this section of the Annual Report on Form 10-K. In the Public Company Accounting Oversight Boards Auditing Standard No. 5, a deficiency in internal control over financial reporting exists when the design or operation of a control does not allow management or employees, in the normal course of performing their assigned functions, to prevent or detect misstatements on a timely basis. A significant deficiency is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting that is less severe than a material weakness, yet important enough to merit attention by those responsible for oversight of the companys financial reporting. A material weakness is defined in Auditing Standard No. 5 as a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the companys annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. We also sought to deal with other control matters in the evaluation, and in any case in which a problem was identified, we considered what revision, improvement and/or correction was necessary to be made in accordance with our on-going procedures.
Periodic Evaluation and Conclusion of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that such controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SECs rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Periodic Evaluation and Conclusion of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our internal control over financial reporting as of the end of our most recent fiscal year. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that such internal control over financial reporting was effective as of the end of our most recent fiscal year 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 in the United States of America.
Statement of Our Management
Our management has issued a report on its assessment of the Trusts internal control over financial reporting, which appears on page F-2 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 included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, has issued an attestation report on the Trusts internal control over financial reporting, which appears on page F-3 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting during our fourth fiscal quarter of 2010 that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Not applicable.
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Certain information required in Part III is omitted from this Report but is incorporated herein by reference from our Proxy Statement for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (as amended or supplemented, the Proxy Statement).
ITEM 10. TRUSTEES, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The tables and narrative in the Proxy Statement identifying our Trustees and Board committees under the caption Election of Trustees and Corporate Governance, the sections of the Proxy Statement entitled Executive Officers and Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance and other information included in the Proxy Statement required by this Item 10 are incorporated herein by reference.
We have adopted a Code of Ethics, which is applicable to our Chief Executive Officer and senior financial officers. The Code of Ethics is available in the Corporate Governance section of the Investors section of our website at www.federalrealty.com.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The sections of the Proxy Statement entitled Summary Compensation Table, Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation, Compensation Committee Report, Trustee Compensation and Compensation Discussion and Analysis and other information included in the Proxy Statement required by this Item 11 are incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS
The sections of the Proxy Statement entitled Share Ownership and Equity Compensation Plan Information and other information included in the Proxy Statement required by this Item 12 are incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND TRUSTEE INDEPENDENCE
The sections of the Proxy Statement entitled Certain Relationship and Related Transactions and Independence of Trustees and other information included in the Proxy Statement required by this Item 13 are incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The sections of the Proxy Statement entitled Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and Relationship with Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and other information included in the Proxy Statement required by this Item 14 are incorporated herein by reference.
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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)(1) Financial Statements
Our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, together with Managements Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting and Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm are included as a separate section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K commencing on page F-1.
(2) Financial Statement Schedules
Our financial statement schedules are included in a separate section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K commencing on page F-34.
(3) Exhibits
A list of exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K is set forth on the Exhibit Index immediately preceding such exhibits and is incorporated herein by reference.
(b) See Exhibit Index
(c) Not Applicable
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Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized this 15th day of February, 2011.
Federal Realty Investment Trust | ||
By: | /S/ DONALD C. WOOD | |
Donald C. Wood President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacity and on the dates indicated. Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints each of Donald C. Wood and Dawn M. Becker as his or her attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments to this Report and to file same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, granting unto such attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary in connection with such matters and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact and agent or his or her substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Signature |
Title |
Date | ||
/S/ DONALD C. WOOD Donald C. Wood |
President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee (Principal Executive Officer) |
February 15, 2011 | ||
/S/ ANDREW P. BLOCHER Andrew P. Blocher |
Senior Vice President-Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
February 15, 2011 | ||
/S/ JOSEPH S. VASSALLUZZO Joseph S. Vassalluzzo |
Non-Executive Chairman |
February 15, 2011 | ||
/S/ JON E. BORTZ Jon E. Bortz |
Trustee |
February 15, 2011 | ||
/S/ DAVID W. FAEDER David W. Faeder |
Trustee |
February 15, 2011 | ||
/S/ KRISTIN GAMBLE Kristin Gamble |
Trustee |
February 15, 2011 | ||
/S/ GAIL P. STEINEL Gail P. Steinel |
Trustee |
February 15, 2011 | ||
/S/ WARREN M. THOMPSON Warren M. Thompson |
Trustee |
February 15, 2011 |
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Item 8 and Item 15(a)(1) and (2)
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules
Consolidated Financial Statements | Page No. | |||
Management Assessment Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting |
F-2 | |||
F-3 | ||||
F-4 | ||||
F-5 | ||||
F-6 | ||||
F-7 | ||||
F-8 | ||||
F-9-F-33 | ||||
Financial Statement Schedules |
||||
Schedule IIISummary of Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation |
F-34-F-39 | |||
F-40-F-41 |
All other schedules have been omitted either because the information is not applicable, not material, or is disclosed in our consolidated financial statements and related notes.
F-1
Management Assessment Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The management of Federal Realty is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Establishing and maintaining internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our President and Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, and effected by our employees, including management and our Board of Trustees, 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. This process includes policies and procedures that:
| pertain to the maintenance of records that accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets in reasonable detail; |
| provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are made only in accordance with the authorization procedures we have established; and |
| provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of any of our assets in circumstances that could have a material adverse effect on our financial statements. |
Management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, do not expect that our internal control over financial reporting will prevent all errors and fraud. In designing and evaluating our control system, management recognized that any control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, that may affect our operation have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by managements override of the control. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.
Management conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of the Trusts internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010. In making this assessment, it used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal ControlIntegrated Framework. Based on this assessment, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, based on those criteria, as of December 31, 2010.
Grant Thornton LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the Trusts consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, has issued an attestation report on the Trusts internal control over financial reporting, which appears on page F-3 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
F-2
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Trustees and Shareholders of Federal Realty Investment Trust
We have audited Federal Realty Investment Trust (a Maryland real estate investment trust) and subsidiaries (collectively, the Trust) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal ControlIntegrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Federal Realty Investment Trusts 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 Assessment Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on Federal Realty Investment Trusts internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). 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.
A companys 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 companys 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 companys 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.
In our opinion, Federal Realty Investment Trust and subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal ControlIntegrated Framework issued by COSO.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Federal Realty Investment Trust and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010 and our report dated February 15, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion.
/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
McLean, Virginia
February 15, 2011
F-3
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Trustees and Shareholders of Federal Realty Investment Trust
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Federal Realty Investment Trust (a Maryland real estate investment trust) and subsidiaries (collectively, the Trust) as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010. Our audits of the basic financial statements included the financial statement schedules listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a) (1) and (2). These financial statements and financial statement schedules are the responsibility of the Trusts management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedules based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Trust as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the related financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Trusts internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal ControlIntegrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and our report dated February 15, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion.
/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
McLean, Virginia
February 15, 2011
F-4
Federal Realty Investment Trust
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31, | ||||||||
2010 | 2009 | |||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||
Real estate, at cost |
||||||||
Operating (including $97,157 and $68,643 of consolidated variable interest entities, respectively) |
$ | 3,726,223 | $ | 3,619,562 | ||||
Construction-in-progress |
163,200 | 132,758 | ||||||
Assets held for sale (discontinued operations) |
6,519 | 6,914 | ||||||