Phillips Edison Company Inc

Previous wording

In addition, unconsolidated joint venture arrangements may decrease our ability to manage risk and implicate additional risks, such as: (i) potentially inferior financial capacity, diverging business goals and strategies and the need for our venture partners’ continued cooperation; (ii) the joint venture partners might become bankrupt, suffer a deterioration in their creditworthiness, or fail to fund their share of required capital contributions; (iii) our inability to take actions with respect to the unconsolidated joint ventures’ activities that we believe are favorable to us if our institutional joint venture partners do not agree; (iv) our inability to control the legal entities that have title to the real estate associated with the joint ventures; (v) our lenders may not be easily able to sell our joint venture assets and investments or may view them less favorably as collateral, which could negatively affect our liquidity and capital resources; (vi) our institutional joint venture partners can take actions that we may not be able to anticipate or prevent, which could result in negative impacts on our debt and equity; and (vii) our institutional joint venture partners’ business decisions or other actions or omissions may result in harm to our reputation or adversely affect the value of our investments.

Current wording

In addition, unconsolidated joint venture arrangements may decrease our ability to manage risk and implicate additional risks, such as: (i) potentially inferior financial capacity, diverging business goals and strategies and the need for our venture partners’ continued cooperation; (ii) the joint venture partners might become bankrupt, suffer a deterioration in their creditworthiness, or fail to fund their share of required capital contributions; (iii) our inability to take actions with respect to the unconsolidated joint ventures’ activities that we believe are favorable to us if our institutional joint venture partners do not agree; (iv) our inability to control the legal entities that have title to the real estate associated with the joint ventures; (v) our institutional joint venture partners can take actions that we may not be able to anticipate or prevent, which could result in negative impacts on our investment in the joint venture; and (vi) our institutional joint venture partners’ business decisions or other actions or omissions may result in harm to our reputation or adversely affect the value of our investments.

Previous wording

Our portfolio is predominantly comprised of omni-channel neighborhood grocery-anchored shopping centers, and during the year ended December 31, 2023, our holdings in Florida and California accounted for 12.2% and 10.9%, respectively, of our ABR (including our wholly-owned portfolio as well as the prorated portion of shopping centers owned through our joint ventures). Therefore, our performance is subject to risks associated with owning and operating neighborhood omni-channel grocery-anchored shopping centers, and may be further subject to additional risk as a result of the geographic concentration noted above. Such risks include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in national, regional, and local economic climates or demographics; (ii) competition from other available shopping centers and e-commerce, and the attractiveness of our shopping centers to our Neighbors; (iii) increased competition for real estate assets targeted by our investment strategies; (iv) adverse local conditions, such as oversupply or reduction in demand for similar shopping centers in an area and changes in real estate zoning laws that may reduce the desirability of real estate in an area; (v) vacancies, changes in market rental rates, and the need to periodically repair, renovate, and re-lease space; (vi) ongoing disruption and/or consolidation in the retail sector; (vii) increases in operating costs, due to inflation or otherwise, including common area expenses, utilities, insurance, and real estate taxes, which are relatively inflexible and generally do not decrease if revenue or occupancy decreases; (viii) increases in the costs to repair, renovate, and re-lease space; (ix) changes in interest rates and the availability of financing, which may render the sale or refinance of a property or loan difficult or unattractive; (x) earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, droughts, wildfires, or other weather and climate-related events and natural disasters, civil unrest, terrorist acts, or acts of war, which may result in uninsured or underinsured losses; (xi) epidemics, pandemics, or other widespread outbreaks or resulting public fear that disrupt the businesses of our Neighbors causing them to fail to pay rent on time or at all; and (xii) changes in laws and governmental regulations, including those governing usage, zoning, the environment, and taxes. Such risks also include, but are not limited to, those that could impact the financial stability of our Neighbors, including their ability to pay rent and expense reimbursements, such as supply chain disruptions and constraints, inflationary pressures throughout the supply chain, labor shortages and inflationary pressures on wages, increases in retail theft, and other risks and uncertainties described elsewhere in this "Risk Factors" section. These and other factors could adversely affect our financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations.

Current wording

Our portfolio is predominantly comprised of omni-channel neighborhood grocery-anchored shopping centers, and during the year ended December 31, 2024, our holdings in Florida, California, and Texas accounted for 12.2%, 10.6%, and 10.1%, respectively, of our ABR (including our wholly-owned portfolio as well as the prorated portion of shopping centers owned through our joint ventures). Therefore, our performance is subject to risks associated with owning and operating neighborhood omni-channel grocery-anchored shopping centers, and may be further subject to additional risk as a result of the geographic concentration noted above. Such risks include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in national, regional, and local economic climates or demographics; (ii) competition from other available shopping centers and e-commerce, and the attractiveness of our shopping centers to our Neighbors; (iii) increased competition for real estate assets targeted by our investment strategies; (iv) adverse local conditions, such as oversupply or reduction in demand for similar shopping centers in an area and changes in real estate zoning laws that may reduce the desirability of real estate in an area; (v) vacancies, changes in market rental rates, and the need to periodically repair, renovate, and re-lease space; (vi) ongoing disruption and/or consolidation in the retail sector; (vii) increases in operating costs, due to inflation or otherwise, including common area expenses, utilities, insurance, and real estate taxes, which are relatively inflexible and generally do not decrease if revenue or occupancy decreases; (viii) increases in the costs to repair, renovate, and re-lease space; (ix) changes in interest rates and the availability of financing, which may render the sale or refinance of a property or loan difficult or unattractive; (x) earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, droughts, wildfires, or other weather and climate-related events and natural disasters, civil unrest, terrorist acts, or acts of war, which may result in uninsured or underinsured losses; (xi) epidemics, pandemics, or other widespread outbreaks or resulting public fear that disrupt the businesses of our Neighbors causing them to fail to pay rent on time or at all; and (xii) changes in laws and governmental regulations, including those governing usage, zoning, the environment, and taxes. Such risks also include, but are not limited to, those that could impact the financial stability of our Neighbors, including their ability to pay rent and expense reimbursements, such as supply chain disruptions and constraints, inflationary pressures throughout the supply chain, labor shortages and inflationary pressures on wages, increases in retail theft, and other risks and uncertainties described elsewhere in this "Risk Factors" section. These and other factors could adversely affect our financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations.

Previous wording

Our business, and the businesses of our Neighbors, could be materially and adversely affected by the risks, or the public perception of the risks, related to a pandemic, epidemic, or other health crisis, like the COVID-19 pandemic, especially if there is a negative impact to customers’ willingness or ability to frequent our Neighbors’ businesses.

Current wording

Our business, and the businesses of our Neighbors, could be materially and adversely affected by the risks, or the public perception of the risks, related to a pandemic, epidemic, or other health crisis, especially if there is a negative impact to customers’ willingness or ability to frequent our Neighbors’ businesses.

Previous wording

An increased focus on metrics and reporting related to ESG factors may impose additional costs and expose us to new risks.

Current wording

Increased scrutiny on metrics and reporting related to Environmental, Social and Governance factors may impose additional costs and expose us to new risks.

Previous wording

Investors and other stakeholders have become more focused on understanding how companies address a variety of ESG factors. When evaluating investment decisions, many investors and shareholders look not only at company ESG disclosures, but also to ESG rating systems that have been developed by third-party groups to allow comparisons between companies. Although we participate in a number of these ratings systems, and generally score relatively well in those in which we do participate, we do not participate in, and would not necessarily score as well in, all of the available rating systems. Further, the criteria used in these ratings systems may change frequently, and we cannot guarantee that we will be able to score well as criteria change. We supplement our participation in ratings systems with corporate disclosure of our ESG activities, but many investors and other stakeholders may look for disclosures that we do not provide. In addition, the SEC is currently evaluating rulemaking that is likely to impose additional ESG disclosure and other requirements on us. Failure to participate in certain of the third-party ratings systems, failure to score well in those ratings systems, failure to provide certain ESG disclosures, or unfavorable comparisons in these areas to other companies, could result in reputational harm when investors or others compare us against similar companies in our industry, could result in investor engagement on our ESG initiatives and disclosures or increased costs relating to ESG initiatives, and could cause certain investors to be unwilling to invest in our stock, which could adversely impact our ability to raise capital.

Current wording

Investors and other stakeholders are often focused on understanding how companies address a variety of Corporate Responsibility factors. When evaluating investment decisions, many investors and shareholders look not only at company Corporate Responsibility disclosures, but also to rating systems that have been developed by third-party groups to allow comparisons between companies. Although we participate in a number of these ratings systems, and generally score relatively well in those in which we do participate, we do not participate in, and would not necessarily score as well in, all of the available rating systems. Further, the criteria used in these ratings systems may change frequently, and we cannot guarantee that we will be able to score well as criteria change. We supplement our participation in ratings systems with corporate disclosure of our Corporate Responsibility activities, but many investors and other stakeholders may look for disclosures that we do not provide. Additionally, the regulatory environment may create conflicting pressures as policymakers in some jurisdictions advocate for laws to constrain consideration of Corporate Responsibility matters in certain circumstances. Additional actions may be taken by both proponents and opponents of Corporate Responsibility matters. Failure to participate in certain of the third-party ratings systems, failure to score well in those ratings systems, failure to provide certain Corporate Responsibility disclosures, failure to successfully navigate competing policymaker and stakeholder expectations on Corporate

Previous wording

We have obtained, and may continue to obtain, lines of credit, and other long-term financing that are secured by our shopping centers and other assets. On December 31, 2023, we had indebtedness of $2.0 billion comprised of $1.5 billion in unsecured debt, $0.4 billion in outstanding secured loan facilities, and $0.1 billion in mortgage loans and finance lease obligations. In connection with executing our business strategies, we expect to evaluate additional acquisitions and strategic investments, and we may elect to finance these endeavors by incurring additional indebtedness. We may also incur mortgage debt on shopping centers that we already own in order to obtain funds to acquire additional shopping centers or make other capital investments. In addition, we may borrow as necessary or advisable to ensure that we maintain our qualification as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, including borrowings to satisfy the REIT requirement that we distribute at least 90% of our annual REIT taxable income to our stockholders (computed without regard to the dividends-paid deduction and excluding net capital gain). However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to obtain any such borrowings on satisfactory terms. Additionally, if we have insufficient income to service any recourse debt obligations, our lenders could institute proceedings against us to foreclose upon our assets.

Current wording

We have obtained, and may continue to obtain, lines of credit, and other long-term financing that are secured by our shopping centers and other assets. On December 31, 2024, we had indebtedness of $2.1 billion comprised of $1.7 billion in unsecured debt, $0.4 billion in outstanding secured loan facilities, and $0.1 billion in mortgage loans and finance lease obligations. In connection with executing our business strategies, we expect to evaluate additional acquisitions and strategic investments, and we may elect to finance these endeavors by incurring additional indebtedness. We may also incur mortgage debt on shopping centers that we already own in order to obtain funds to acquire additional shopping centers or make other capital investments. In addition, we may borrow as necessary or advisable to ensure that we maintain our qualification as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, including borrowings to satisfy the REIT requirement that we distribute at least 90% of our annual REIT taxable income to our stockholders (computed without regard to the dividends-paid deduction and excluding net capital gain). However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to obtain any such borrowings on satisfactory terms. Additionally, if we have insufficient income to service any recourse debt obligations, our lenders could institute proceedings against us to foreclose upon our assets.

Previous wording

If we mortgage a property and there is a shortfall between the cash flows from that property and the cash flows needed to service mortgage debt on that property, then the amount of cash available for distributions to stockholders may be reduced. In addition, incurring mortgage debt increases the risk of loss of a property because defaults on indebtedness secured by a property may result in lenders initiating foreclosure actions. If any mortgages contain cross-collateralization or cross-default provisions, a default on a single property could affect multiple shopping centers. Additionally, we may give full or partial guarantees to lenders of mortgage debt on behalf of the entities that own our shopping centers. When we give a guaranty on behalf of an entity that owns one of our shopping centers, we will be responsible to the lender for satisfaction of the debt if it is not paid by such entity. Currently, we are a limited guarantor on a mortgage loan for our unconsolidated joint venture. Our guarantee is limited to being the non-recourse carveout guarantor and the environmental indemnitor.

Current wording

If we mortgage a property and there is a shortfall between the cash flows from that property and the cash flows needed to service mortgage debt on that property, then the amount of cash available for distributions to stockholders may be reduced. In addition, incurring mortgage debt increases the risk of loss of a property because defaults on indebtedness secured by a property may result in lenders initiating foreclosure actions. If any mortgages contain cross-collateralization or cross-default provisions, a default on a single property could affect multiple shopping centers. Additionally, we may give full or partial guarantees to lenders of mortgage debt on behalf of the entities that own our shopping centers. When we give a guaranty on behalf of an entity that owns one of our shopping centers, we will be responsible to the lender for satisfaction of the debt if it is not paid by such entity. Currently, we are a limited guarantor on mortgage loans for certain of our unconsolidated joint ventures. Our guarantee is limited to being the non-recourse carveout guarantor and the environmental indemnitor.

Previous wording

Although a significant amount of our outstanding debt has fixed interest rates, we borrow funds at variable interest rates under our credit facilities and term loans. As of December 31, 2023, 22.4% of our outstanding debt was variable rate debt. Increases in interest rates would increase our interest expense on any variable rate debt to the extent we have not hedged our exposure to changes in interest rates. In addition, increases in interest rates will affect the terms under which we refinance our existing debt as it matures, to the extent we have not hedged our exposure to changes in interest rates, resulting in higher interest rates and increased interest expense. Either of these events would reduce our future earnings and cash flows, which may adversely affect our ability to service our debt and meet our other obligations and also may reduce the amount we are able to distribute to stockholders.

Current wording

Although a significant amount of our outstanding debt has fixed interest rates, we borrow funds at variable interest rates under our credit facilities and term loans. As of December 31, 2024, 7.0% of our outstanding debt was variable rate debt. Increases in interest rates would increase our interest expense on any variable rate debt to the extent we have not hedged our exposure to changes in interest rates. In addition, increases in interest rates will affect the terms under which we refinance our existing debt as it matures, to the extent we have not hedged our exposure to changes in interest rates, resulting in higher interest rates and increased interest expense. Either of these events would reduce our future earnings and cash flows, which may adversely affect our ability to service our debt and meet our other obligations and also may reduce the amount we are able to distribute to stockholders.

Previous wording

The Operating Partnership’s limited partnership agreement grants certain rights and protections to the limited partners, including granting them the right to vote in connection with a change of control transaction. Any such change of control transaction is required to be approved by holders of ownership units of the Operating Partnership (“OP units”) (including our Company and its subsidiaries) at the same level of approval as required for approval by holders of shares of our common stock. For purposes of any such vote, we will be deemed to vote the OP units held by us and our subsidiaries in proportion to the manner in which all of our outstanding shares of common stock were voted at a stockholders meeting relating to such transaction. As of December 31, 2023, we would have directly or indirectly controlled approximately 89.3% of the OP units. Furthermore, as of December 31, 2023, Mr. Edison had voting control over approximately 6.9% of the OP units (considering OP units owned by us), and therefore could have influence over votes on change of control transactions.

Current wording

The Operating Partnership’s limited partnership agreement grants certain rights and protections to the limited partners, including granting them the right to vote in connection with a change of control transaction. Any such change of control transaction is required to be approved by holders of ownership units of the Operating Partnership (“OP units”) (including our Company and its subsidiaries) at the same level of approval as required for approval by holders of shares of our common stock. For purposes of any such vote, we will be deemed to vote the OP units held by us and our subsidiaries in proportion to the manner in which all of our outstanding shares of common stock were voted at a stockholders meeting relating to such transaction. As of December 31, 2024, we would have directly or indirectly controlled approximately 90.6% of the OP units.

Previous wording

We and the Operating Partnership entered into a tax protection agreement on October 4, 2017 (the “2017 TPA”) with, among others, Mr. Edison, and certain entities controlled by him at the closing of a transaction in May 2017 pursuant to which we internalized our management structure through the acquisition of certain real estate assets and the third-party investment management business of Phillips Edison Limited Partnership (“PELP”) in exchange for OP units and cash. Pursuant to the 2017 TPA, if the Operating Partnership: (i) sells, exchanges, transfers, or otherwise disposes of certain shopping centers in a taxable transaction, or undertakes any taxable merger, combination, consolidation or similar transaction (including a transfer of all or substantially all assets), for a period of ten years commencing on October 4, 2017; or (ii) fails, prior to the expiration of such period, to maintain certain minimum levels of indebtedness that would be allocable to each protected partner for tax purposes or, under certain circumstances, fails to offer such protected partners the opportunity to guarantee certain types of the Operating Partnership’s indebtedness, then the Operating Partnership will indemnify each affected protected partner, including Mr. Edison, against certain resulting tax liabilities. Our tax indemnification obligations include a tax gross-up. As of December 31, 2023, 28 of our 281 wholly-owned shopping centers, four outparcels, and the land under which one of our properties is located, comprising approximately 10.5% of our ABR, are subject to the protection described in clause (i) above, and the potential “make-whole amount” on the estimated aggregate amount of built-in gain subject to such protection is approximately $122.7 million.

Current wording

We and the Operating Partnership entered into a tax protection agreement on October 4, 2017 (the “2017 TPA”) with, among others, Mr. Edison, and certain entities controlled by him at the closing of a transaction in May 2017 pursuant to which we internalized our management structure through the acquisition of certain real estate assets and the third-party investment management business of Phillips Edison Limited Partnership (“PELP”) in exchange for OP units and cash. Pursuant to the 2017 TPA, if the Operating Partnership: (i) sells, exchanges, transfers, or otherwise disposes of certain shopping centers in a taxable transaction, or undertakes any taxable merger, combination, consolidation or similar transaction (including a transfer of all or substantially all assets), for a period of ten years commencing on October 4, 2017; or (ii) fails, prior to the expiration of such period, to maintain certain minimum levels of indebtedness that would be allocable to each protected partner for tax purposes or, under certain circumstances, fails to offer such protected partners the opportunity to guarantee certain types of the Operating Partnership’s indebtedness, then the Operating Partnership will indemnify each affected protected partner, including Mr. Edison, against certain resulting tax liabilities. Our tax indemnification obligations include a tax gross-up. As of December 31, 2024, 28 of our 294 wholly-owned shopping centers, four outparcels, and the land under which one of our properties is located, comprising approximately 10.2% of our ABR, are subject to the protection described in clause (i) above, and the potential “make-whole amount” on the estimated aggregate amount of built-in gain subject to such protection is approximately $117.9 million.

Previous wording

We and the Operating Partnership entered into an additional tax protection agreement (the “2021 TPA”) on July 19, 2021 with Mr. Edison, Mr. Murphy, and Mr. Myers, which will become effective upon the expiration of the 2017 TPA. The 2021 TPA generally has the following terms: (i) the 2021 TPA will severally provide to Mr. Edison, Mr. Murphy, and Mr. Myers the same protection provided under the 2017 TPA until 2031, so long as (a) Mr. Edison, Mr. Murphy, or Mr. Myers (or their permitted transferees), as applicable, individually owns at least 65% of the OP units owned by him as of the date of the execution of the 2021 TPA and (b) in the case of Mr. Murphy or Mr. Myers, Mr. Edison individually owns at least 65% of the OP units owned by him as of the date of the execution of the 2021 TPA; and (ii) the 2021 TPA will provide that following the expiration of the four-year tax protection period under the 2021 TPA, for so long as Mr. Edison holds at least $5.0 million in value of OP units, (a) Mr. Edison will have the opportunity to guarantee debt of the Operating Partnership or enter into a “deficit restoration” obligation, and (b) the Operating Partnership will provide reasonable notice to Mr. Edison before effecting a significant transaction reasonably likely to result in the recognition of more than one-third of the built-in gain allocated to Mr. Edison that is protected under the 2017 TPA as of the date that the 2021 TPA is executed, and will consider in good faith any proposal made by Mr. Edison relating to structuring such transaction in a manner to avoid or mitigate adverse tax consequences to him.

Current wording

We and the Operating Partnership entered into an additional tax protection agreement (the “2021 TPA”) on July 19, 2021 with Mr. Edison, Devin I. Murphy, and Mr. Myers, which will become effective upon the expiration of the 2017 TPA. The 2021 TPA generally has the following terms: (i) the 2021 TPA will severally provide to Mr. Edison, Mr. Murphy, and Mr. Myers the same protection provided under the 2017 TPA until 2031, so long as (a) Mr. Edison, Mr. Murphy, or Mr. Myers (or their permitted transferees), as applicable, individually owns at least 65% of the OP units owned by him as of the date of the execution of the 2021 TPA and (b) in the case of Mr. Murphy or Mr. Myers, Mr. Edison individually owns at least 65% of the OP units owned by him as of the date of the execution of the 2021 TPA; and (ii) the 2021 TPA will provide that following the expiration of the four-year tax protection period under the 2021 TPA, for so long as Mr. Edison holds at least $5.0 million in value of OP units, (a) Mr. Edison will have the opportunity to guarantee debt of the Operating Partnership or enter into a “deficit restoration” obligation, and (b) the Operating Partnership will provide reasonable notice to Mr. Edison before effecting a significant transaction reasonably likely to result in the recognition of more than one-third of the built-in gain allocated to Mr. Edison that is protected under the 2017 TPA as of the date that the 2021 TPA is executed, and will consider in good faith any proposal made by Mr. Edison relating to structuring such transaction in a manner to avoid or mitigate adverse tax consequences to him.

Previous wording

In October 2021, we issued $350 million aggregate principal amount of 2.625% senior notes, and in the future, we may attempt to increase our capital resources by offering additional debt or equity securities (or causing our operating partnership to issue debt or equity securities), including medium term notes, senior or subordinated notes, and additional classes of preferred or common stock. Holders of debt securities or shares of preferred stock, as well as lenders with respect to other borrowings, will generally be entitled to receive interest payments or distributions, both current and in connection with any liquidation or sale, prior to the holders of our common stock. Additionally, any convertible or exchangeable securities that we issue in the future may have rights, preferences, and privileges more favorable than those of our common stock and may result in dilution to owners of our common stock. We are not required to offer any such additional debt or equity securities to existing common stockholders on a preemptive basis. Therefore, offerings of common stock or other equity securities may dilute the holdings of our existing stockholders. Future offerings of debt or equity securities, or the perception that such offerings may occur, may reduce the market price of our common stock and/or the distributions that we pay with respect to our common stock. Because we may generally issue any such debt or equity securities in the future without obtaining the consent of our stockholders, you will bear the risk of our future offerings reducing the market price of our common stock and diluting your proportionate ownership.

Current wording

In the future, we may attempt to increase our capital resources by offering additional debt or equity securities (or causing our operating partnership to issue debt or equity securities), including medium term notes, senior or subordinated notes, and additional classes of preferred or common stock. Holders of debt securities or shares of preferred stock, as well as lenders with respect to other borrowings, will generally be entitled to receive interest payments or distributions, both current and in connection with any liquidation or sale, prior to the holders of our common stock. Additionally, any convertible or exchangeable securities that we issue in the future may have rights, preferences, and privileges more favorable than those of our common stock and may result in dilution to owners of our common stock. We are not required to offer any such additional debt or equity securities to existing common stockholders on a preemptive basis. Therefore, offerings of common stock or other equity securities may dilute the holdings of our existing stockholders. Future offerings of debt or equity securities, or the perception that such offerings may occur, may reduce the market price of our common stock and/or the distributions that we pay with respect to our common stock. Because we may generally issue any such debt or equity securities in the future without obtaining the consent of our stockholders, you will bear the risk of our future offerings reducing the market price of our common stock and diluting your proportionate ownership.