SAUL CENTERS INC
For the period ended Mar 31, 2024. Filed May 2, 2024.
View on SEC.govAbout this filing
A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.
Mar 31, 2024 · Filed May 2, 2024
Extracted filing text, with the paragraph anchors used by the comparison.
See the whole filing, with its images and exhibitsContents
(c) Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash and cash equivalents totaled $7.1 million and $11.8 million at March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company maintains cash balances at various financial institutions and, from time to time, those balances may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses on such deposits and actively monitors its banking relationships to mitigate its exposure to significant credit risk on those deposits. The Company’s cash flow is affected by its operating, investing and financing activities, as described below.
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| (In thousands) | 2024 | 2023 |
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $33,828 | $36,098 |
| Net cash used in investing activities | (45,569) | (43,156) |
| Net cash provided by financing activities | 10,413 | 5,591 |
| Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | $(1,328) | $(1,467) |
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities represents cash received primarily from rental revenue, plus other revenue, less property operating expenses, leasing costs, normal recurring general and administrative expenses and interest payments on debt outstanding.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities includes property acquisitions, developments, redevelopments, tenant improvements and other property capital expenditures. The $2.4 million increase in cash used in investing activities is primarily due to (a) increased development expenditures of $1.6 million and (b) increased additions to real estate investments throughout the portfolio of $0.8 million.
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities represents (a) cash used to repay and curtail loans, redeem preferred stock and pay dividends and distributions to holders of common stock, preferred stock and limited partnership units minus (b) cash received from loan proceeds and issuance of common stock, preferred stock and limited partnership units. See note 5 to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion of financing activity.
Liquidity Requirements
Short-term liquidity requirements consist primarily of normal recurring operating expenses and capital expenditures, debt service requirements (including debt service relating to additional and replacement debt), distributions to common and preferred stockholders, distributions to unit holders, and amounts required for expansion and renovation of the Current Portfolio Properties and selective acquisition and development of additional properties. In order to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, the Company must distribute to its stockholders at least 90% of its “real estate investment trust taxable income,” as defined in the Code. The Company expects to meet these short-term liquidity requirements (other than amounts required for additional property acquisitions and developments) through cash provided from operations, available cash and its existing line of credit.
The Company is developing Twinbrook Quarter Phase I (“Phase I”) located in Rockville, Maryland. Phase I includes an 80,000 square foot Wegmans supermarket, approximately 25,000 square feet of small shop space, 452 apartment units and a 230,000 square foot office building. The office tower portion of Phase I is not being constructed at this time. In connection with the development of the residential and retail portions of Phase I, we must also invest in infrastructure and other items that will support both Phase I and other portions of the development of Twinbrook Quarter. Excluding imputed capitalized interest, the total cost of the project is expected to be approximately $331.5 million, of which $271.4 million is related to the development of the residential and retail portions of Phase I and $60.1 million is related to infrastructure and other items. Of the expected $331.5 million total cost, $283.1 million has been invested to date. A portion of the cost of the project is being financed by a $145.0 million construction-to-permanent loan. During the second quarter of 2023, the Company commenced drawing on the loan and, as of March 31, 2024, the outstanding balance of the loan was $90.3 million, net of unamortized deferred debt costs. Sitework and ground floor retail façade work continues around all four sides of the building. Apartment unit construction is in process on levels two through 12 and work is in process on the lobbies and interior amenity spaces. Initial
-27- delivery of Phase I is anticipated in late 2024. The development potential of all phases of the entire 18.4 acre Twinbrook Quarter site totals 1,865 residential units, 473,000 square feet of retail space, and 431,000 square feet of office space.
The Company is developing Hampden House, a project located in downtown Bethesda, Maryland that will include up to 366 apartment units and 10,100 square feet of retail space. Excluding imputed capitalized interest, the total cost of the project is expected to be approximately $246.4 million, of which $153.0 million has been invested to date. A portion of the cost of the project is being financed by a $133.0 million construction-to-permanent loan. During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company commenced drawing on the loan and, as of March 31, 2024, the outstanding balance of the loan was $18.6 million, net of unamortized deferred debt costs. Above grade construction of the structure is nearing completion and has topped out at the roof level. Exterior sheathing and window installation have begun. Interior framing and installation of mechanical, electrical and plumbing infrastructure is underway. Construction is expected to be completed in late 2025.
Long-term liquidity requirements consist primarily of obligations under our long-term debt and dividends paid to our preferred shareholders. The Company anticipates that long-term liquidity requirements will also include amounts required for property acquisitions and developments.
The Company may also redevelop certain of the Current Portfolio Properties and may develop additional freestanding outparcels or expansions within certain of the Shopping Centers. Acquisition and development of properties are undertaken only after careful analysis and review, and management’s determination that such properties are expected to provide long-term earnings and cash flow growth. During the remainder of the year, developments, expansions or acquisitions (if any) are expected to be funded with available cash, bank borrowings from the Credit Facility, construction and permanent financing, proceeds from the operation of the Company’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (“DRIP”) or other external debt or equity capital resources available to the Company. Any future borrowings may be at the Saul Centers, Operating Partnership or Subsidiary Partnership level. The availability and terms of any such financing will depend upon market and other conditions.
Dividend Reinvestments
The Company has a DRIP that allows its common stockholders and holders of limited partnership interests an opportunity to buy additional shares of common stock by reinvesting all or a portion of their dividends or distributions. The DRIP provides for investing in newly issued shares of common stock at a 3% discount from market price without payment of any brokerage commissions, service charges or other expenses. All expenses of the DRIP are paid by the Company. The Company issued 14,199 and 11,579 shares pursuant to the DRIP at a weighted average discounted price of $37.71 and $41.06 per share, during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company issued 306,512 limited partnership units pursuant to the DRIP at a weighted average price of $38.30 per unit during the three months ended March 31, 2024. The Company did not issue any limited partnership units pursuant to the DRIP during the three months ended March 31, 2023. The Company also credited 1,808 and 1,648 shares to directors pursuant to the reinvestment of dividends specified by the Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan at a weighted average discounted price of $37.71 and $41.06 per share, during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Capital Strategy and Financing Activity
As a general policy, the Company intends to maintain a ratio of its total debt to total estimated asset market value of 50% or less and to actively manage the Company’s leverage and debt expense on an ongoing basis in order to maintain prudent coverage of fixed charges. Asset value is the aggregate fair market value of the Current Portfolio Properties and any subsequently acquired properties as reasonably determined by management by reference to each property's aggregate cash flow. Given the Company’s current debt level, it is management’s belief that the ratio of the Company’s debt to total asset value was below 50% as of March 31, 2024.
The organizational documents of the Company do not limit the absolute amount or percentage of indebtedness that it may incur. The Board may, from time to time, reevaluate the Company’s debt/capitalization strategy in light of current economic conditions, relative costs of capital, market values of the Company’s property portfolio, opportunities for acquisition, development or expansion, and such other factors as the Board then deems relevant. The Board may modify the Company’s debt/capitalization policy based on such a reevaluation without shareholder approval and consequently, may increase or decrease the Company’s debt to total estimated asset market value ratio above or below 50% or may waive the policy for certain periods of time. Whenever management determines the financing environment is favorable, the Company may opportunistically refinance or renegotiate the terms of certain of its outstanding debt in order to achieve longer maturities and/or more favorable loan terms.
At March 31, 2024, the Company had a $525.0 million Credit Facility comprised of a $425.0 million revolving credit facility and a $100.0 million term loan. The revolving credit facility matures on August 29, 2025, and may be extended by the Company for one additional year, subject to satisfaction of certain conditions. The term loan matures on February 26, 2027.
-28-
Interest accrues at a rate of SOFR plus 10 basis points plus an applicable spread, which is determined by certain leverage tests. As of March 31, 2024, the applicable spread for borrowings was 140 basis points related to the revolving credit facility and 135 basis points related to the term loan. Letters of credit may be issued under the Credit Facility. On March 31, 2024, based on the value of the Company’s unencumbered properties, approximately $127.6 million was available under the Credit Facility and $374.0 million was outstanding.
The Credit Facility requires the Company and its subsidiaries to maintain compliance with certain financial covenants. The material covenants require the Company, on a consolidated basis, to:
limit the amount of debt as a percentage of gross asset value, as defined in the loan agreement, to less than 60% (leverage ratio);
limit the amount of debt so that interest coverage will exceed 2.0x on a trailing four-quarter basis (interest expense coverage); and
limit the amount of debt so that interest, scheduled principal amortization and preferred dividend coverage exceeds 1.4x on a trailing four-quarter basis (fixed charge coverage).
As of March 31, 2024, the Company was in compliance with all such covenants. See note 5 to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion of all financing activity.
On August 23, 2022, the Company entered into two floating-to-fixed interest rate swap agreements to manage the interest rate risk associated with $100.0 million of its variable-rate debt. The effective date of each swap agreement is October 3, 2022 and each has a $50.0 million notional amount. One agreement terminates on October 1, 2027 and effectively fixes SOFR at 2.96%. The other agreement terminates on October 1, 2030 and effectively fixes SOFR at 2.91%. Because the interest-rate swaps effectively fix SOFR for $100.0 million of variable-rate debt, unless otherwise indicated, $100.0 million of variable-rate debt is being treated as fixed-rate debt for disclosure purposes beginning September 30, 2022. The Company has designated the agreements as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes.
During the second quarter of 2023, the Company commenced drawing on its $145.0 million construction-to-permanent loan related to the residential and retail portions of Phase I of the Twinbrook Quarter development project. As of March 31, 2024, the balance of the loan was $90.3 million, net of unamortized deferred debt costs.
During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company commenced drawing on its $133.0 million loan related to the Hampden House development project. As of March 31, 2024, the balance of the loan was $18.6 million, net of unamortized deferred debt costs.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements that are reasonably likely to have a current or future material effect on the Company’s financial condition, revenue or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.
-29-
Funds From Operations
Funds From Operations (FFO)1 available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests (after deducting preferred stock dividends) for the 2024 Quarter totaled $27.5 million, an increase of 2.3% compared to the 2023 Quarter. FFO available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests increased primarily due to (a) higher commercial base rent of $1.4 million and (b) higher residential base rent of $0.3 million, partially offset by (c) higher interest expense, net and amortization of deferred debt costs of $0.6 million and (d) higher general and administrative costs of $0.5 million.
The following table presents a reconciliation from net income to FFO available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests for the periods indicated:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| (In thousands, except per share amounts) | 2024 | 2023 |
| Net income | $18,263 | $17,663 |
| Add: | ||
| Real estate depreciation and amortization | 12,029 | 12,017 |
| FFO | 30,292 | 29,680 |
| Subtract: | ||
| Preferred stock dividends | (2,798) | (2,798) |
| FFO available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests | $27,494 | $26,882 |
| Weighted average shares and units: | ||
| Basic | 34,348 | 33,323 |
| Diluted (2) | 34,352 | 34,031 |
| Basic FFO per share available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests | $0.80 | $0.81 |
| Diluted FFO per share available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests | $0.80 | $0.79 |
1 The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“Nareit”) developed FFO as a relative non-GAAP financial measure of performance of an equity REIT in order to recognize that income-producing real estate historically has not depreciated on the basis determined under GAAP. FFO is defined by Nareit as net income, computed in accordance with GAAP, plus real estate depreciation and amortization, and excluding impairment charges on real estate assets and gains or losses from real estate dispositions. FFO does not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP and is not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs, which is disclosed in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the applicable periods. There are no material legal or functional restrictions on the use of FFO. FFO should not be considered as an alternative to net income, its most directly comparable GAAP measure, as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance, or as an alternative to cash flows as a measure of liquidity. Management considers FFO a meaningful supplemental measure of operating performance because it primarily excludes the assumption that the value of the real estate assets diminishes predictably over time (i.e. depreciation), which is contrary to what the Company believes occurs with its assets, and because industry analysts have accepted it as a performance measure. FFO may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other REITs.
2 Beginning March 5, 2021, fully diluted shares and units includes 1,416,071 limited partnership units held in escrow related to the contribution of Twinbrook Quarter. Half of the units held in escrow were released on October 18, 2021. The remaining units were released on October 18, 2023.
-30-
Acquisitions and Redevelopments
The Company may redevelop certain of the Current Portfolio Properties and may develop additional freestanding outparcels or expansions within certain of the Shopping Centers. Acquisition and development of properties are undertaken only after careful analysis and review, and management’s determination that such properties are expected to provide long-term earnings and cash flow growth. During the remainder of the year, any developments, expansions or acquisitions are expected to be funded with bank borrowings from the Credit Facility, construction financing, proceeds from the operation of the Company’s dividend reinvestment plan or other external capital resources available to the Company.
The Company has been selectively involved in acquisition, development, redevelopment and renovation activities. It continues to evaluate the acquisition of land parcels for retail and mixed-use development and acquisitions of operating properties for opportunities to enhance operating income and cash flow growth. The Company also continues to analyze redevelopment, renovation and expansion opportunities within the portfolio.
Portfolio Leasing Status
The following table sets forth average annualized base rent per square foot and average annualized effective rent per square foot for the Company’s commercial properties (“Commercial”), which includes all properties except for the residential properties (“Residential”), which includes apartments within The Waycroft, Clarendon Center and Park Van Ness properties. For purposes of this table, annualized effective rent is annualized base rent minus amortized tenant improvements and amortized leasing commissions.
| Average Commercial Rents per Square Foot | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three Months Ended March 31, · 2023 to 2024 Change | ||||
| 2024 | 2023 | Amount | Percent | |
| Base rent | $21.08 | $20.65 | $0.43 | 2.08% |
| Effective rent | $19.50 | $19.08 | $0.42 | 2.20% |
The following chart sets forth certain information regarding Commercial leases at our properties.
| Total Properties | Total Square Footage | Percent Leased | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ShoppingCenters | Mixed-Use | ShoppingCenters | Mixed-Use | ShoppingCenters | Mixed-Use | |
| March 31, 2024 | 50 | 7 | 7,878,088 | 1,136,885 | 95.6% | 87.1% |
| March 31, 2023 | 50 | 7 | 7,876,330 | 1,136,885 | 95.2% | 84.6% |
As of March 31, 2024, 94.6% of the Commercial portfolio was leased, compared to 93.9% as of March 31, 2023. On a same property basis, 94.6% of the Commercial portfolio was leased as of March 31, 2024 compared to 93.9% as of March 31, 2023. Included in the 94.6% of space leased as of March 31, 2024, is approximately 181,310 square feet of space, representing 2.0% of total Commercial square footage, that has not yet been occupied by the respective tenants. Collectively, these leases are expected to produce approximately $4.8 million of additional annualized base rent, an average of $26.55 per square foot, upon tenant occupancy and following any contractual rent concessions.
The Mixed-Use Commercial leasing percentage is composed of Commercial leases at office mixed-use properties and residential mixed-use properties. The leasing percentage at office mixed-use properties increased to 86.5% as of March 31, 2024 from 84.1% as of March 31, 2023. The retail leasing percentage at residential mixed-use properties increased to 97.0% as of March 31, 2024 from 91.2% as of March 31, 2023.
The following table shows selected data for leases executed in the indicated periods. The information is based on executed leases without adjustment for the timing of occupancy, tenant defaults, or landlord concessions. The base rent for an expiring lease is the annualized contractual base rent, on a cash basis, as of the expiration date of the lease. The base rent for a new or renewed lease is the annualized contractual base rent, on a cash basis, as of the expected rent commencement date. Because tenants that execute leases may not ultimately take possession of their space or pay all of their contractual rent, the changes presented in the table provide information only about trends in market rental rates. The actual changes in rental income received by the Company may be different.
-31-
| Commercial Property Leasing Activity · Average Base Rent per Square Foot | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three Months Ended March 31, · Square Feet · Numberof Leases · New/RenewedLeases · ExpiringLeases | ||||||||
| Shopping Centers · Mixed-Use · Shopping Centers · Mixed-Use · Shopping Centers · Mixed-Use · Shopping Centers · Mixed-Use | ||||||||
| 2024 | 234,443 | 17,697 | 67 | 4 | $26.57 | $28.21 | $23.67 | $24.29 |
| 2023 | 366,354 | 76,180 | 85 | 9 | 20.84 | 31.30 | 19.41 | 33.66 |
Additional information about the leasing activity during the three months ended March 31, 2024 is set forth below. The below information includes leases for space which had not been previously leased during the period of the Company’s ownership, either a result of acquisition or development.
| Commercial Property Leasing Activity | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| NewLeases | First Generation/Development Leases | RenewedLeases | |
| Number of leases | 24 | — | 47 |
| Square feet | 78,234 | — | 173,906 |
| Per square foot average annualized: | |||
| Base rent | $29.85 | $— | $25.26 |
| Tenant improvements | (4.27) | — | (0.10) |
| Leasing costs | (0.93) | — | — |
| Rent concessions | (0.47) | — | (0.11) |
| Effective rents | $24.18 | $— | $25.05 |
As of December 31, 2023, 713,271 square feet of Commercial space was subject to leases scheduled to expire in 2024. Of those leases, as of March 31, 2024, leases representing 561,273 square feet of Commercial space (a) are on a month-to-month basis or (b) have not yet renewed and are scheduled to expire over the next nine months. Below is information about existing and estimated market base rents per square foot for that space.
| Expiring Commercial Property Leases | Total |
|---|---|
| Square feet | 561,273 |
| Average base rent per square foot | $22.10 |
| Estimated market base rent per square foot | $22.30 |
As of March 31, 2024, the Residential portfolio was 98.7% leased compared to 98.2% as of March 31, 2023.
| Residential Property Leasing Activity · Average Rent per Square Foot | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Three Months Ended March 31, | Number of leases | New/Renewed Leases | Expiring Leases |
| 2024 | 181 | $3.65 | $3.59 |
| 2023 | 138 | 3.45 | 3.38 |
-32-
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.