CBL & ASSOCIATES PROPERTIES INC

Same-center Net Operating Income

NOI is a supplemental non-GAAP measure of the operating performance of our shopping centers and other properties. We define NOI as property operating revenues (rental revenues and other income) less property operating expenses (property operating, real estate taxes and maintenance and repairs).

We compute NOI based on the Operating Partnership's pro rata share of both consolidated and unconsolidated properties. We believe that presenting NOI and same-center NOI (described below) based on our Operating Partnership’s pro rata share of both consolidated and unconsolidated properties is useful since we conduct substantially all our business through our Operating Partnership and, therefore, it reflects the performance of the properties in absolute terms regardless of the ratio of ownership interests of our common shareholders and the noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership. Our definition of NOI may be different than that used by other companies, and accordingly, our calculation of NOI may not be comparable to that of other companies.

Since NOI includes only those revenues and expenses related to the operations of our shopping center properties, we believe that same-center NOI provides a measure that reflects trends in occupancy rates, rental rates, sales at our properties and operating costs and the impact of those trends on our results of operations. Our calculation of same-center NOI excludes lease termination income, straight-line rent adjustments, amortization of above and below market lease intangibles and write-offs of landlord inducement assets in order to enhance the comparability of results from one period to another.

We include a property in our same-center pool when we have owned all or a portion of the property since January 1 of the preceding calendar year and it has been in operation for both the entire preceding calendar year and current year-to-date period. New properties are excluded from same-center NOI until they meet these criteria. Properties excluded from the same-center pool that would otherwise meet these criteria are categorized as excluded properties. We exclude properties which are under major redevelopment or are being considered for repositioning, and where we are working or intend to work with the lender on a restructure of the terms of the loan secured by the property or convey the secured property to the lender (“Excluded Properties”). As of March 31, 2024, Alamance Crossing East, Harford Mall and WestGate Mall were classified as Excluded Properties.

Due to the exclusions noted above, same-center NOI should only be used as a supplemental measure of our performance and not as an alternative to GAAP operating income (loss) or net income (loss).

A reconciliation of our same-center NOI to net (loss) income for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 is as follows (in thousands):

(1)

Adjustments are based on our Operating Partnership's pro rata ownership share, including our share of unconsolidated affiliates and excluding noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated properties.

Same-center NOI increased 3.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the prior-year period. The $3.8 million increase for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 primarily consisted of a $3.0 million decrease in revenues offset by a $6.8 million decrease in operating expenses. Rental revenues were $2.8 million lower primarily due to an unfavorable variance in the estimate for uncollectable revenues in the current-year period as compared to the prior-year period, as well as lower tenant reimbursements and percentage rents. Property operating expenses decreased in the current-year period primarily due to lower real estate taxes related to reduced assessments and refunds received from successful appeals at certain properties and lower janitorial and security costs.

Operational Review

The shopping center business is, to some extent, seasonal in nature with tenants typically achieving the highest levels of sales during the fourth quarter due to the holiday season, which generally results in higher percentage rents in the fourth quarter. Additionally, malls, lifestyle centers and outlet centers earn a large portion of their rents from short-term tenants during the holiday period. Thus, occupancy levels and revenue production are generally the highest in the fourth quarter of each year. Results of operations realized in any one quarter may not be indicative of the results likely to be experienced over the course of the fiscal year.

We derive the majority of our revenues from the malls, lifestyle centers and outlet centers. The sources of our revenues by property type were as follows:

Inline and Adjacent Freestanding Tenant Store Sales

Inline and adjacent freestanding tenant store sales include reporting mall, lifestyle center and outlet center tenants of 10,000 square feet or less and exclude license agreements, which are retail leases that are temporary or short-term in nature and generally last more than three months but less than twelve months. The following is a comparison of our same-center tenant sales per square foot for mall, lifestyle center and outlet center tenants of 10,000 square feet or less (Excluded Properties are not included in sales metrics):

Occupancy

Our portfolio occupancy is summarized in the following table (Excluded Properties are not included in occupancy metrics):

Leasing

The following is a summary of the total square feet of leases signed in the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023:

Average annual base rents per square foot are based on contractual rents in effect as of March 31, 2024 and 2023, including the impact of any rent concessions. Average annual base rents per square foot for comparable small shop space of less than 10,000 square feet were as follows for each property type:

(1)

Excluded Properties are not included.

Results from new and renewal leasing of comparable small shop space of less than 10,000 square feet during the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 for spaces that were previously occupied, based on the contractual terms of the related leases inclusive of the impact of any rent concessions, are as follows:

(1)

Average gross rent does not incorporate allowable future increases for recoverable common area expenses.

(2)

Includes malls, lifestyle centers, outlet centers, open-air centers and other.

New and renewal leasing activity of comparable small shop space of less than 10,000 square feet based on the lease commencement date is as follows:

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of March 31, 2024, we had $295.3 million available in unrestricted cash and U.S. Treasury securities. Our total pro rata share of debt, excluding unamortized deferred financing costs and debt discounts, at March 31, 2024 was $2,618.1 million, which includes two unconsolidated property loans totaling $69.8 million that are in receivership. We had $47.9 million in restricted cash at March 31, 2024 related to cash held in escrow accounts for insurance, real estate taxes, capital expenditures and tenant allowances as required by the terms of certain mortgage notes payable, as well as amounts related to cash management agreements with lenders of certain property-level mortgage indebtedness, which are designated for debt service and operating expense obligations. We also had restricted cash of $19.0 million related to the properties that secure the corporate term loan and the open-air centers and outparcels loan of which we may receive a portion via distributions semiannually and quarterly in accordance with the provisions of the term loan and the open-air centers and outparcels loan, respectively.

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, we continued to reinvest the cash from maturing U.S. Treasury securities into new U.S. Treasury securities. We designated our U.S. Treasury securities as available-for-sale. In February 2024, we redeemed U.S. Treasury securities and used the proceeds to pay off the $15.2 million loan secured by Brookfield Square Anchor Redevelopment. As of March 31, 2024, our U.S. Treasury securities have maturities through September 2024. Subsequent to March 31, 2024, we redeemed and purchased additional U.S. Treasury securities. See Note 14 for more information.

We paid a common stock dividend of $0.40 per share in the first quarter of 2024.

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, we sold an anchor parcel and an outparcel which generated approximately $7.7 million in gross proceeds at our share.

Subsequent to March 31, 2024, the Company exercised the first one-year extension option on the loan secured by Fayette Mall. See Note 14.

Our total share of consolidated, unconsolidated and other outstanding debt, excluding debt discounts and deferred financing costs, maturing during 2024, assuming all extension options are elected, is $102.6 million, and our total share of consolidated, unconsolidated and other outstanding debt, excluding debt discounts and deferred financing costs, that matured prior to 2024, which remains outstanding at March 31, 2024, is $69.8 million, consisting of two property loans that are in receivership.

Cash Flows - Operating, Investing and Financing Activities

There was $127.3 million of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as of March 31, 2024, an increase of $32.3 million from March 31, 2023. Of this amount, $60.3 million was unrestricted cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2024. Also, at March 31, 2024, we had $235.0 million in U.S. Treasuries with maturities through September 2024.

Our net cash flows are summarized as follows (in thousands):

Cash Provided By Operating Activities

Cash provided by operating activities decreased primarily due to lower tenant reimbursements and percentage rents, as well as higher interest expense resulting from rising variable interest rates. Tenant reimbursements were lower due to the accrual of credits to tenants at certain properties related to reduced assessments and refunds received from successful appeals of real estate taxes at certain properties. The decline in percentage rents corresponds to the decline in tenant sales as compared to the prior-year period.

Cash Provided By Investing Activities

Cash provided by investing activities slightly decreased primarily due to a lower amount of net redemptions of U.S. Treasury securities and a lower amount of distributions from unconsolidated affiliates during the current-year period as compared to the prior-year period. The decrease was partially offset by an increase in proceeds from sales of real estate assets and a lower amount of investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates during the current-year period as compared to the prior-year period.

Cash Used In Financing Activities

Cash used in financing activities decreased primarily due to the payment of a first quarter 2023 special dividend that was declared during the fourth quarter of 2022. The decrease was partially offset by an increase in principal payments and repurchases of common stock during the current-year period as compared to the prior-year period.

Debt

The following tables summarize debt based on our pro rata ownership share, including our pro rata share of unconsolidated affiliates and excluding noncontrolling investors’ share of consolidated properties. Prior to consideration of unamortized deferred financing costs or debt discounts, of our $2,618.1 million outstanding debt at March 31, 2024, $2,566.1 million constituted non-recourse debt obligations and $52.0 million constituted recourse debt obligations. We believe the tables below provide investors and lenders a clearer understanding of our total debt obligations and liquidity (in thousands):

(1)

Represents the outstanding loan balances for Alamance Crossing East and WestGate Mall which were deconsolidated due to a loss of control when the properties were placed into receivership in connection with the foreclosure process.

(2)

Weighted-average interest rate excludes amortization of deferred financing costs.

(3)

The interest rate is a fixed 6.95% for half of the outstanding loan balance, with the other half of the loan bearing a variable interest rate based on the 30-day SOFR plus 4.10%. The Operating Partnership has an interest rate swap on a notional amount of $32,000 related to the variable portion of the loan to effectively fix the interest rate at 7.3975%.

(4)

In conjunction with fresh start accounting, we estimated the fair value of our mortgage notes and recognized debt discounts upon emergence from bankruptcy on November 1, 2021. The debt discounts are accreted over the term of the respective debt using the effective interest method.

The weighted-average remaining term of our total share of consolidated and unconsolidated debt, excluding debt discounts and deferred financing costs, was 2.2 years and 2.4 years at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The weighted-average remaining term of our pro rata share of fixed-rate debt, excluding debt discounts and deferred financing costs, was 2.5 years and 2.7 years at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, our total share of consolidated and unconsolidated variable-rate debt, excluding debt discounts and deferred financing costs, represented 40.0% and 40.4%, respectively, of our total pro rata share of debt, excluding debt discounts and deferred financing costs.

See Note 7 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for information concerning activity related to unconsolidated affiliates.

Equity

We paid a common stock dividend of $0.40 per share in the first quarter of 2024. The decision to declare and pay dividends on any outstanding shares of our common stock, as well as the timing, amount and composition of any such future dividends, will be at the sole discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our earnings, taxable income, FFO, liquidity, financial condition, capital requirements, contractual prohibitions or other limitations under our then-current indebtedness, the annual distribution requirements under the REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, Delaware law and such other factors as our board of directors deems relevant. Any dividends payable will be determined by our board of directors based upon the circumstances at the time of declaration. Our actual results of operations will be affected by a number of factors, including the revenues received from our properties, our operating expenses, interest expense, capital expenditures and the ability of the anchors and tenants at our properties to meet their obligations for payment of rents and tenant reimbursements.

Capital Expenditures

The following table, which excludes expenditures for developments, redevelopments and expansions, summarizes our capital expenditures, including our share of unconsolidated affiliates' capital expenditures, for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 (in thousands):

(1)

Tenant allowances primarily relate to new leases. Tenant allowances related to renewal leases were not material for the periods presented.

Annual capital expenditures budgets are prepared for each of our properties that are intended to provide for all necessary recurring and non-recurring capital expenditures. We believe that property operating cash flows, which include reimbursements from tenants for certain expenses, and readily available cash on hand will provide the necessary funding for these expenditures.

Developments

Properties Under Development at March 31, 2024

(Dollars in thousands)

(1)

Total Cost is presented net of reimbursements to be received.

(2)

Cost to Date does not reflect reimbursements until they are received.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Unconsolidated Affiliates

We have ownership interests in 26 unconsolidated affiliates as of March 31, 2024 that are described in Note 7 to the condensed consolidated financial statements. The unconsolidated affiliates are accounted for using the equity method of accounting and are reflected in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as investments in unconsolidated affiliates.

The following are circumstances when we may consider entering into a joint venture with a third party:

•

Third parties may approach us with opportunities in which they have obtained land and performed some pre-development activities, but they may not have sufficient access to the capital resources or the development and leasing expertise to bring the project to fruition. We enter into such arrangements when we determine such a project is viable and we can achieve a satisfactory return on our investment. We typically earn development fees from the joint venture and provide management and leasing services to the property for a fee once the property is placed in operation.

•

We determine that we may have the opportunity to capitalize on the value we have created in a property by selling an interest in the property to a third party. This provides us with an additional source of capital that can be used to develop or acquire additional real estate assets that we believe will provide greater potential for growth. When we retain an interest in an asset rather than selling a 100% interest, it is typically because this allows us to continue to manage the property, which provides us the ability to earn fees for management, leasing, development and financing services provided to the joint venture.

•

We also pursue opportunities to contribute available land at our properties into joint venture partnerships for development of primarily non-retail uses such as hotels, office, self-storage and multifamily. We typically partner with developers who have expertise in the non-retail property types.

Guarantees

We may guarantee the debt of a joint venture primarily because it allows the joint venture to obtain funding at a lower cost than could be obtained otherwise. This results in a higher return for the joint venture on its investment, and a higher return on our investment in the joint venture. We may receive a fee from the joint venture for providing the guaranty. Additionally, when we issue a guaranty, the terms of the joint venture agreement typically provide that we may receive indemnification from the joint venture or have the ability to increase our ownership interest.

See Note 11 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for information related to our guarantees of unconsolidated affiliates' debt as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

Critical Accounting Policies

Our discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on our condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the financial statements and disclosures. Some of these estimates and assumptions require application of difficult, subjective, and/or complex judgment about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain and that may change in subsequent periods. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 contains a discussion of our critical accounting policies and estimates in the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section. There have been no material changes to these policies and estimates during the three months ended March 31, 2024. Our significant accounting policies are disclosed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Non-GAAP Measure