Howard Hughes Holdings Inc

OVERVIEW

Seaport Entertainment Spinoff On July 31, 2024, the spinoff of Seaport Entertainment Group Inc. and its subsidiaries (Seaport Entertainment or SEG) was completed. SEG included Howard Hughes Holdings, Inc.’s (HHH or the Company) entertainment-related assets in New York and Las Vegas, including the Seaport in Lower Manhattan, the Las Vegas Aviators Triple-A Minor League Baseball team and the Las Vegas Ballpark, as well as the Company’s ownership stake in Jean-Georges Restaurants and other partnerships, and an interest in and to 80% of the air rights above the Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas.

Under the terms of the separation, each stockholder who held HHH common stock as of the close of business on July 29, 2024, the record date for the distribution, received one share of SEG common stock for every nine shares of HHH common stock held as of the close of business on such date. SEG common stock began trading on the NYSE American stock exchange on August 1, 2024, under the symbol “SEG”.

As the spinoff of SEG represents a strategic shift in the Company’s operations, the results of SEG are presented as discontinued operations for all periods throughout this Annual Report. See Note 2 -Discontinued Operationsin the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 of this Annual Report for additional information.

Pershing Square Proposals In August 2024, Pershing Square announced its intent to evaluate the possibility of various potential alternatives with respect to its investment in the Company, including a possible transaction in which it (either alone or together with one or more potential co-investors) might acquire all or substantially all of the shares of common stock in the Company not owned by Pershing Square and its affiliates, and in connection therewith take the Company private. Following this announcement, our board of directors formed a committee (Special Committee), composed of independent directors to review any proposal by Pershing Square.

Following the August 2024 announcement, Pershing Square has engaged in additional communications with the Special Committee, including, as previously disclosed, submitting the January 13 Pershing Square Proposal, pursuant to which Pershing Square would acquire additional shares of the Company’s common stock in a merger transaction between the Company and a newly formed merger subsidiary of Pershing Square Holdco, L.P., upon the consummation of which Pershing Square would own a majority of the Company’s common stock. On February 18, 2025, Pershing Square announced that it had withdrawn the January 13 Pershing Square Proposal and submitted the February 18 Pershing Square Proposal, under which it would purchase from the Company $900 million of the Company’s Common Stock for $90 per share. Pershing Square currently beneficially owns approximately 37.4% of the Company's common stock. Should the transaction contemplated by the February 18 Pershing Square Proposal be consummated, Pershing Square’s beneficial ownership would increase to 48.0%.

There can be no assurance that the Company will pursue this proposed transaction or any proposed modification thereof that Pershing Square submits, or any other strategic outcome, and HHH does not intend to comment further on this matter unless and until further disclosure is determined to be appropriate or necessary. The Special Committee is currently evaluating these matters to determine the appropriate course of action and process.

General Overview Please refer to Item 1. Business for a general discussion of our business strategy, competitive strengths, and a general description of the assets contained in our three business segments and Item 2. Propertiesfor details regarding the asset type, size, location, and key metrics about our various properties. Changes for monetary amounts between periods presented are calculated based on the amounts in thousands of dollars stated in our consolidated financial statements and then rounded to the nearest million. Therefore, certain changes may not recalculate based on the amounts rounded to the nearest million.

We are primarily focused on creating stockholder value by increasing our per-share net asset value. Often, the nature of our business results in short-term volatility in our net income due to the timing of Master Planned Communities (MPC) land sales, recognition of condominium revenue, and operating business pre-opening expenses.

2024 Results During 2024, we maintained positive momentum and delivered solid financial results which met or exceeded our 2024 guidance expectations within each of our core businesses. This strong performance is a testament to our premier communities and best-in-class assets, further highlighting the strength of our unique business model.

In our MPCs, we experienced heightened demand and home builder interest for new land parcels. As a result, MPC earnings before taxes (EBT) increased 2% year-over-year, driven by a new full-year record number of residential acres sold and record average price per acre.

In Operating Assets, we delivered another full-year net operating income (NOI) record, outpacing 2023 results by 7%, excluding dispositions. This growth was led by strong leasing velocity at our newest multifamily developments, as well as record NOI at our office properties due to strong lease-up activity and abatement expirations in The Woodlands and Summerlin. In 2024, the Company executed 473,000 square feet of new or expanded office leases, including 323,000 square feet in The Woodlands, 91,000 square feet in Downtown Columbia, and 59,000 square feet in Summerlin.

In Strategic Developments, Ward Village had another strong year, closing all 349 units at Victoria Place and generating $778.6 million of condominium revenues. Presales activity for our under construction condominiums progressed, with 111 condominium units contracted in Hawai’i and Texas in 2024, including 78 units at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, 18 units at Kalae, and 15 units at The Park Ward Village. These projects were 96% pre-sold at year end and represent more than $2.2 billion of future contracted revenue that will be recognized as these projects are completed. We also initiated presales for The Launiu, which contracted 283 units and was 58.4% pre-sold at year end. Construction on The Launiu is expected to begin in 2025.

2025 Outlook Proceeding into 2025, we maintain a positive long-term outlook for our businesses. Across our MPCs, we see strong demand for our unmatched landbank, world-class portfolio of operating assets, and premier condominium developments.

MPC EBT is projected to be strong in 2025 and aided by continued tight supply of existing homes on the market and low inventories of vacant developed lots in our MPCs. As a result, we anticipate solid new home sales in Summerlin, Bridgeland, and The Woodlands Hills and continued strong homebuilder demand for residential land throughout 2025. Residential land sales are expected to occur throughout the year, but the second and third quarters will likely see a higher concentration of superpad sales in Summerlin. Overall, MPC EBT is expected to be up 5% to 10% year-over-year.

Operating Assets NOI, including the contribution from unconsolidated ventures, is projected to benefit from continued growth in multifamily driven by increased occupancy at new multifamily developments. Office is also expected to improve year-over-year due to strong leasing momentum and expiring rent abatements across the portfolio. This improvement will likely be partially offset by lower occupancy at various properties in Downtown Columbia, some tenant turnover in The Woodlands, and initial operating losses from our newest office developments. Retail is expected to see a modest reduction in NOI during 2025, primarily due to non-recurring collections of tenant reserves in Ward Village during 2024 and the impact of some tenant upgrades and turnover in Downtown Summerlin as this property reaches its 10-year anniversary. Overall, Operating Assets NOI is expected to be flat to up 4% year-over-year.

Condominium sales revenues are projected to be approximately $375 million in 2025, and driven entirely by the closing of units at Ulana, which is 100% pre-sold and expected to be completed in the fourth quarter. As Ulana is a workforce housing tower, the Company does not expect to recognize any gross profit from the project. Our next condominium tower, The Park Ward Village, is already 96.7% pre-sold, and is expected to contribute meaningful revenues and gross profit in 2026.

2024 Highlights

Overall

–Net income from continuing operations increased to $285.2 million in 2024, compared to net income of $83.4 million in the prior year. The year-over-year increase was primarily attributed to condominium closings at Victoria Place, the receipt of insurance proceeds following the execution of a settlement agreement related tothe construction defect claims at Waiea, and an increase in residential acres sold in Summerlin.

–We continue to maintain a strong liquidity position with $596.1 million of cash and cash equivalents, $317.0 million of undrawn capacity on our Secured Bridgeland Notes, and $1.2 billion of undrawn lender commitment available to be drawn for property development, and limited near-term debt maturities.

Operating Assets

–Operating Assets EBT decreased $1.4 million, with a loss of $28.5 million in 2024, compared to a loss of $27.1 million in the prior year.

–Operating Assets NOI was $245.5 million in 2024, a $14.9 million increase compared to $230.6 million in the prior year.

–Office NOI increased $6.4 million, primarily due to strong leasing activity and abatement expirations at various properties in The Woodlands and Summerlin, most notably at 9950 Woodloch Forest and 1700 Pavilion, partially offset by decreases related to lower occupancy at 1725 Hughes Landing and certain properties in Downtown Columbia, as well as initial operating losses at Meridian in Summerlin.

–Retail NOI increased $4.2 million primarily due to the collection of previously reserved accounts receivable in Ward Village as well as improved occupancy in the ground floor retail at Juniper and Marlow in Downtown Columbia and Kō'ula in Ward Village.

–Multifamily NOI increased $6.0 million primarily due to continued lease-up at our newer properties, Marlow in Downtown Columbia, Starling at Bridgeland, and Tanager Echo in Summerlin, partially offset by winter-weather-related insurance recoveries in 2023.

–In 2024, the Company completed the sale of four non-core ground leases and a medical office building in The Woodlands, and a retail property in Bridgeland for total proceeds of $51.6 million, and a combined gain on sale of $22.9 million.

MPC

–MPC EBT totaled income of $349.1 million in 2024, a $7.7 million increase compared to income of $341.4 million in the prior year.

–The increase in EBT was primarily due to higher superpad land sales and price per acre in Summerlin, partially offset by lower equity earnings at The Summit, lower commercial land sales in Bridgeland, and lower residential and commercial land sales in The Woodlands.

Strategic Developments

–Strategic Developments EBT totaled income of $282.8 million in 2024, a $300.1 million increase compared to a loss of $17.3 million in the prior year.

–The increase in EBT was primarily due to a $203.8 million increase in profits from condominium sales and an $89.8 million increase in other income due to the receipt of insurance proceeds following the execution of a settlement agreement related tothe construction defect claims at Waiea in the current year. The increase in profits from condominium sales was the result ofclosing on all 349 units at Victoria Place during the current year, compared to closing on 31 units at ‘A‘ali‘i and 16 units at Kō'ula during the prior year.

–We began pre-sales at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, The Woodlands in March 2024. As of December 31, 2024, we had pre-sold 78 units, representing 70.3% of available units. Construction began on The Ritz-Carlton Residences in October 2024.

–As of December 31, 2024, 95.5% of the units at our four towers under construction, The Park Ward Village, Ulana Ward Village, Kalae, and The Ritz-Carlton Condominiums, are under contract.

–In 2024, we placed five properties in service, including the second and third phases of Wingspan, a single family build to rent property in Bridgeland; 10285 Lakefront Medical Office, an office property in Columbia; Meridian, an office property in Summerlin; Summerlin Grocery Anchored Center, a retail property in Summerlin; and Village Green at Bridgeland Central, a retail property in Bridgeland. These properties represent 189 multifamily units and approximately 328,000 square feet of retail and office space.

–In 2024, we began construction on four properties, including Kalae, a condominium property in Ward Village; The Ritz-Carlton Condominiums, a condominium property in The Woodlands; One Bridgeland Green, an office property in Bridgeland; and Grogan’s Mill Retail, a retail property in The Woodlands. These properties represent 440 condominium units and approximately 96,000 square feet of retail and office space.

Corporate

–Net expenses related to Corporate income, expenses, and other items increased $104.6 million compared to the prior-year period primarily due to a $53.8 million increase in income tax expense and a $48.7 million loss on sale of Municipal Utility District (MUD) receivables.

Capital and Financing Activities

–In 2024, our financing activity included draws on existing mortgages of $417.0 million, new borrowings of $176.5 million (excluding undrawn amounts on new construction loans), refinancings of $168.0 million, and repayments of $454.8 million. In addition, we repaid $192.0 million on the Secured Bridgeland Notes using the proceeds from the sale of MUD receivables. In the fourth quarter of 2024, we expanded the borrowing capacity of these notes from $475.0 million to $600.0 million and extended the maturity to 2029. For additional information, refer to Note 8 -Mortgages, Notes, and Loans Payable, Net in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 of this Annual Report.