Item 1. Business
General
Saul Centers, Inc. (“Saul Centers”) was incorporated under the Maryland General Corporation Law on June 10, 1993. Saul Centers operates as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Company is required to annually distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income (excluding net capital gains) to its stockholders and meet certain organizational and other requirements. Saul Centers has made and intends to continue to make regular quarterly distributions to its stockholders. Saul Centers, together with its wholly owned subsidiaries and the limited partnerships of which Saul Centers or one of its subsidiaries is the sole general partner, are referred to collectively as the “Company.” B. Francis Saul II serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President of Saul Centers.
The Company’s primary strategy is to continue to focus on diversification of its assets through development of transit-centric, residential mixed-use projects in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The Company’s operating strategy also includes improvement of the operating performance and internal growth of its Shopping Centers and will supplement its development of residential mixed-used projects with selective redevelopment and renovations of its core Shopping Centers.
Saul Centers was formed to continue and expand the shopping center business previously owned and conducted by the B. F. Saul Real Estate Investment Trust (the "Saul Trust"), the B. F. Saul Company and certain other affiliated entities, each of which is controlled by B. Francis Saul II and his family members (collectively, the "Saul Organization”). On August 26, 1993, members of the Saul Organization transferred to Saul Holdings Limited Partnership, a newly formed Maryland limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), and two newly formed subsidiary limited partnerships (the “Subsidiary Partnerships,” and collectively with the Operating Partnership, the “Partnerships”), shopping center and mixed-use properties, and the management functions related to the transferred properties. Since its formation, the Company has developed and purchased additional properties.
As of December 31, 2019, the Company’s properties (the “Current Portfolio Properties”) consisted of 50 shopping center properties (the “Shopping Centers”), six mixed-use properties, which are comprised of office, retail and multi-family residential uses (the “Mixed-Use Properties”) and four (non-operating) development properties.
Organizational Structure
The Company conducts its business through the Operating Partnership and/or directly or indirectly owned subsidiaries. The following diagram depicts the Company’s organizational structure and beneficial ownership of the common and preferred stock of Saul Centers calculated pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act as of December 31, 2019.
(1)
The Saul Organization’s ownership percentage in Saul Centers reported above does not include units of limited partnership interest of the Operating Partnership held by the Saul Organization. In general, most units are convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock on a one-for-one basis. However, not all of the units may be convertible into the Company’s common stock because (i) the articles of incorporation limit beneficial and constructive ownership (defined by reference to various Code provisions) to 39.9% in value of the Company’s issued and outstanding common and preferred equity securities, which comprise the ownership limit and (ii) the convertibility of some of the outstanding units is subject to approval of the Company’s stockholders.
Management of the Current Portfolio Properties
The Operating Partnership manages the Current Portfolio Properties and will manage any subsequently acquired or developed properties. The management of the properties includes performing property management, leasing, design, renovation, development and accounting duties for each property. The Operating Partnership provides each property with a fully integrated property management capability, with approximately 67 full-time equivalent employees at its headquarters office and 49 employees at its properties and with an extensive and mature
network of relationships with tenants and potential tenants as well as with members of the brokerage and property owners’ communities. The Company currently does not, and does not intend to, retain third party managers or provide management services to third parties.
The Company augments its property management capabilities by sharing with the Saul Organization certain ancillary functions, at cost, such as information technology and payroll services, benefits administration and in-house legal services. The Company also shares insurance administration expenses on a pro rata basis with the Saul Organization. Management believes that these arrangements result in lower costs than could be obtained by contracting with third parties. These arrangements permit the Company to capture greater economies of scale in purchasing from third party vendors than would otherwise be available to the Company alone and to capture internal economies of scale by avoiding payments representing profits with respect to functions provided internally. The terms of all sharing arrangements with the Saul Organization, including payments related thereto, are specified in a written agreement and are reviewed annually by the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.
The Company subleases its corporate headquarters space from the Saul Organization at the Company’s share of the cost. A discussion of the lease terms is provided in Note 7, Long Term Lease Obligations, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Principal Offices
The principal offices of the Company are located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1500E, Bethesda, Maryland 20814-6522, and the Company’s telephone number is (301) 986-6200. The Company’s internet web address is www.saulcenters.com. Information contained on the Company’s website is not part of this report. The Company makes available free of charge on its website its annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as soon as reasonably practicable after the reports are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). We intend to comply with the requirements of Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding amendments to and waivers under the code of business conduct and ethics applicable to our Chief Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer by providing such information on our website within four days after effecting any amendment to, or granting any waiver under, that code, and we will maintain such information on our website for at least twelve months. Alternatively, you may access these reports at the SEC’s website: www.sec.gov.
Policies with Respect to Certain Activities
The following is a discussion of the Company’s operating strategy and certain of its investment, financing and other policies. These strategies and policies have been determined by the Board of Directors and, in general, may be amended or revised from time to time by the Board of Directors without a vote of the Company’s stockholders.
Operating Strategy
The Company’s primary strategy is to continue to focus on diversification of its assets through development of transit-centric, residential mixed-use projects in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The Company’s operating strategy also includes improvement of the operating performance and internal growth of its Shopping Centers and will supplement its development of residential mixed-used projects with selective redevelopment and renovations of its core Shopping Centers.
The Company’s primary operating strategy is to focus on the management and development of (i) transit-centric, primarily residential mixed-use properties to achieve both cash flow growth and capital appreciation and (ii) community and neighborhood shopping center business. Community and neighborhood shopping centers typically provide reliable cash flow and steady long-term growth potential. Management actively manages its property portfolio by engaging in strategic leasing activities, tenant selection, lease negotiation and shopping center expansion and reconfiguration. The Company seeks to optimize its retail tenant mix by selecting tenants for its Shopping Centers and Mixed-Use Properties that provide a broad spectrum of goods and services, consistent with the role of community and neighborhood shopping centers as the source for day-to-day necessities.
Management believes that such a synergistic tenanting approach results in increased cash flow from existing tenants by providing the Shopping Centers with consistent traffic and a desirable mix of shoppers, resulting in increased sales and, therefore, increased cash flows.
Management believes there is potential for long term growth in cash flow as existing leases for space in the Shopping Centers and Mixed-Use Properties expire and are renewed, or newly available or vacant space is leased. The Company intends to renegotiate leases where possible and seek new tenants for available space in order to optimize the mix of uses to improve foot traffic through the Shopping Centers. As leases expire, management expects to revise rental rates, lease terms and conditions, relocate existing tenants, reconfigure tenant spaces and introduce new tenants with the goals of increasing occupancy, improving overall retail sales, and ultimately increasing cash flow as economic conditions improve. In those circumstances in which leases are not otherwise expiring, management selectively attempts to increase cash flow through a variety of means, or in connection with renovations or relocations, recapturing leases with below market rents and re-leasing at market rates, as well as replacing financially troubled tenants. When possible, management also will seek to include scheduled increases in base rent, as well as percentage rental provisions, in its leases.
It is management’s intention to hold properties for long-term investment and to place strong emphasis on regular maintenance, periodic renovation and capital improvement. Management believes that characteristics such as cleanliness, lighting and security are particularly important in community and neighborhood shopping centers, which are frequently visited by shoppers during hours outside of the normal work-day. Management believes that the Shopping Centers and Mixed-Use Properties generally are attractive and well maintained. The Shopping Centers and Mixed-Use Properties will undergo expansion, renovation, reconfiguration and modernization from time to time when management believes that such action is warranted by opportunities or changes in the competitive environment of a property. The Company will continue its practice of expanding existing properties by undertaking new construction on outparcels suitable for development as free standing retail or office facilities.
Investment in Real Estate
The Company’s primary strategy is to continue to focus on diversification of its assets through development of transit-centric, residential mixed-use projects in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Construction of The Waycroft, a project with 491 apartment units and 60,000 square feet of retail space, is nearing substantial completion on North Glebe Road, within two blocks of the Ballston Metro Station, in Arlington, Virginia. The Company also has a development pipeline of zoned sites, either in its portfolio (some of which are currently shopping center operating properties) or under contract, for development of up to 3,700 apartment units and 975,000 square feet of retail and office space. All such sites are located adjacent to red line Metro stations in Montgomery County, Maryland.
The Company’s operating strategy also includes improvement of the operating performance and internal growth of its Shopping Centers and will supplement its development of residential mixed-used projects with selective redevelopment and renovations of its core Shopping Centers. It intends to selectively add free-standing pad site buildings within its Shopping Center portfolio, and replace underperforming tenants with tenants that generate strong traffic, generally anchor stores such as supermarkets, drug stores and fitness centers, as evidenced by the coming additions of a 69,000 square foot Giant Food at Seven Corners and a 36,000 square foot LA Fitness at Broadlands Village. Exclusive of four pads under development within Ashbrook Marketplace, the Company currently has signed leases or leases under negotiation for 12 pad sites within its core portfolio. The pad sites are expected to be completed and operational by late 2021.
In recent years, there has been a limited amount of quality properties for sale and pricing of those properties has escalated. Accordingly, management believes acquisition opportunities for investment in existing and new shopping center and mixed-use properties in the near future is uncertain. Nevertheless, because of the Company’s conservative capital structure, including its cash and capacity under its revolving credit facility, management believes that the Company is positioned to take advantage of additional investment opportunities as attractive properties are identified and market conditions improve. (See “Item 1. Business - Capital Policies”.) It is management’s view that several of the sub-markets in which the Company operates have, or are expected to have in the future, attractive supply/demand characteristics. The Company will continue to evaluate acquisition, development and redevelopment as integral parts of its overall business plan.
In evaluating a particular redevelopment, renovation, acquisition, or development, management will consider a variety of factors, including: (i) the location, size and accessibility of the property, with an emphasis on the Washington, D.C./Baltimore metropolitan area; (ii) the demographic characteristics of the community, as well as the local real estate market, including potential for growth and potential regulatory impediments to development; (iii) the purchase price; (iv) the non-financial terms of the transaction; (v) the “fit” of the property with the Company’s existing portfolio; (vi) the potential for, and current extent of, any environmental problems; (vii) the current and historical occupancy rates of the property or any comparable or competing properties in the same market; (viii) the quality of construction and design and the current physical condition of the property; (ix) the financial and other characteristics of existing tenants and the terms of existing leases; and (x) the potential for capital appreciation.
Although it is management’s present intention to concentrate future acquisition and development activities on transit-centric, primarily residential mixed-use properties in the Washington, D.C./Baltimore metropolitan area, the Company may, in the future, also acquire other types of real estate in other areas of the country as opportunities present themselves. The Company plans to continue to diversify in terms of property types, locations, size and market, and it does not set any limit on the amount or percentage of assets that may be invested in any one property or any one geographic area.
The Company intends to engage in such future investment and development activities in a manner that enables the Company to qualify and maintain its status as a REIT for federal income tax purposes and that will not cause the Company to be regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Equity investments in acquired properties may be subject to existing mortgage financings and other indebtedness or to new indebtedness which may be incurred in connection with acquiring or refinancing these investments.
Investments in Real Estate Mortgages
While the Company’s current portfolio and business objectives emphasize equity investments in transit centric, residential mixed-use properties, neighborhood shopping centers, and other mixed-use properties, the Company may, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, invest in mortgages, participating or convertible mortgages, deeds of trust and other types of real estate interests consistent with its qualification as a REIT. The Company does not presently invest, nor does it intend to invest, in real estate mortgages.
Investments in Securities of or Interests in Persons Engaged in Real Estate Activities and Other Issues
Subject to the requirements to maintain REIT qualification, the Company may invest in securities of other REITs, other entities engaged in real estate activities or securities of other issuers, including for the purpose of exercising control over such entities. The Company does not presently invest, nor does it intend to invest, in any securities of other REITs.
Dispositions
The Company may elect to dispose of properties if, based upon management’s periodic review of the Company’s portfolio, the Board of Directors determines that such action would be in the best interest of the Company’s stockholders.
Capital Policies
The Company has established a debt capitalization policy relative to asset value, which is computed by reference to the aggregate annualized cash flow from the properties in the Company’s portfolio rather than relative to book value. The Company has used a measure tied to cash flow because it believes that the book value of its portfolio properties, which is the depreciated historical cost of the properties, does not accurately reflect the Company’s ability to incur indebtedness. Asset value, however, is somewhat more variable than book value, and may not at all times reflect the fair market value of the underlying properties. As a general policy, the Company intends to maintain a ratio of its total debt to total asset 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. Given the
Company’s current debt level, it is management’s belief that the ratio of the Company’s debt to total asset value is below 50% as of December 31, 2019.
The organizational documents of the Company do not limit the absolute amount or percentage of indebtedness that it may incur. The Board of Directors may, from time to time, reevaluate the Company’s debt capitalization policy in light of current economic conditions, relative costs of capital, market values of the Company property portfolio, opportunities for acquisition, development or expansion, and such other factors as the Board of Directors then deems relevant. The Board of Directors may modify the Company’s debt capitalization policy based on such a reevaluation, without shareholder approval, and may increase or decrease the Company’s debt to total asset ratio above or below 50% or may waive the policy for certain periods of time, subject to maintaining compliance with financial covenants contained within existing debt agreements. The Company selectively refinances or renegotiates the terms of its outstanding debt in order to extend maturities and obtain generally more favorable loan terms, whenever management determines the financing environment is favorable.
The Company intends to finance future acquisitions and developments and to make debt repayments by utilizing the sources of capital then deemed to be most advantageous. Such sources may include undistributed operating cash flow, secured or unsecured bank and institutional borrowings, proceeds from the Company’s Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, proceeds from the sale of properties and private and public offerings of debt or equity securities. Borrowings may be at the Operating Partnership or Subsidiary Partnerships’ level and securities offerings may include (subject to certain limitations) the issuance of Operating Partnership interests convertible into common stock or other equity securities.
Other Policies
The Company has the authority to offer equity or debt securities in exchange for property and to repurchase or otherwise acquire its common stock or other securities in the open market or otherwise, and may engage in such activities in the future. The Company expects, but is not obligated, to issue common stock to holders of units of the Operating Partnership upon exercise of their redemption rights. The Company has not engaged in trading, underwriting or agency distribution or sale of securities of other issuers other than the Operating Partnership and does not intend to do so. The Company has not made any loans to third parties, although the Company may in the future make loans to third parties. In addition, the Company has policies relating to related party transactions discussed in “Item 1A.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
RISK FACTORS
Carefully consider the following risks and all of the other information set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto. If any of the events or developments described below were actually to occur, the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected.
In this section, unless the context indicates otherwise, the terms “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Saul Centers, Inc., and its subsidiaries, including the Operating Partnership.
Financial and economic conditions may have an adverse impact on us, our tenants’ businesses and our results of operations.
Our business may be affected by market and economic challenges experienced by the U.S. economy or real estate industry as a whole, by the local economic conditions in the markets in which our properties are located, including
the impact of high unemployment, volatility in the public equity and debt markets, and international economic conditions. A prolonged deterioration of economic and other market conditions, could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or real estate values, as well as the financial condition of our tenants and lenders, which may expose us to increased risks of default by these parties.
Potential consequences of a prolonged deterioration of economic and other market conditions include:
•
the financial condition of our tenants, many of which operate in the retail industry, may be adversely affected, which may result in tenant defaults under their leases due to bankruptcy, lack of liquidity, operational failures or for other reasons;
•
the ability to borrow on terms and conditions that we find acceptable, or at all, may be limited, which could reduce our ability to pursue acquisition and development opportunities and refinance existing debt, reduce our returns from acquisition and development activities and increase our future interest expense;
•
reduced values of our properties may limit our ability to dispose of assets at attractive prices and may reduce the ability to refinance loans; and
•
one or more lenders under our credit facility could fail and we may not be able to replace the financing commitment of any such lenders on favorable terms, or at all.
Revenue from our properties may be reduced or limited if the retail operations of our tenants are not successful.
Adverse changes in consumer spending or consumer preferences for particular goods, services or store based retailing could severely impact our tenants’ ability to pay rent. Revenue from our properties depends primarily on the ability of our tenants to pay the full amount of rent due under their leases on a timely basis. The amount of rent we receive from our tenants generally will depend in part on the success of our tenants’ retail operations, making us vulnerable to general economic downturns and other conditions affecting the retail industry. Some tenants may terminate their occupancy due to an inability to operate profitably for an extended period of time, impacting the Company’s ability to maintain occupancy levels.
Any reduction in our tenants’ ability to pay base rent or percentage rent may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Small business tenants and anchor retailers which lease space in the Company’s properties may experience a deterioration in their sales or other revenue, or experience a constraint on the availability of credit necessary to fund operations, which in turn may adversely impact those tenants’ ability to pay contractual base rents and operating expense recoveries. 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. Decreasing sales revenue by retail tenants could adversely impact the Company’s receipt of percentage rents required to be paid by tenants under certain leases.
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 operations.
Our ability to increase our net income depends on the success and continued presence of our shopping center “anchor” tenants and other significant 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. Our largest shopping center anchor tenant is Giant Food, which accounted for 4.7% of our total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2019. The closing of one or more anchor stores prior to the expiration of the lease of that store or the termination of a lease by one or more of a property’s anchor tenants 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. This could reduce our net income.
We may experience difficulty or delay in renewing leases or leasing vacant 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, leases for space in our properties may not be renewed, the space and other vacant 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 previous lease terms. Constraints on the availability of credit to office and retail tenants, necessary to purchase and install improvements, fixtures and equipment, and fund start-up business expenses, could impact the Company’s ability to procure new tenants for spaces currently vacant in existing operating properties or properties under development. As a result, our results of operations and our net income could be reduced.
We have substantial relationships with members of the Saul Organization whose interests could conflict with the interests of other stockholders.
Influence of Officers, Directors and Significant Stockholders.
Three of our executive officers, Mr. B. F. Saul II, our Executive Vice President of Real Estate, Todd Pearson, and our Executive Vice President-Chief Legal and Administrative Officer, Christine Nicolaides Kearns, are members of the Saul Organization, and persons associated with the Saul Organization constitute five of the eleven members of our Board of Directors. In addition, as of December 31, 2019, Mr. B. F. Saul II had the potential to exercise control over 10,135,509 shares of our common stock representing 43.8% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock. Mr. B. F. Saul II also beneficially owned, as of December 31, 2019, 7,886,916 units of the Operating Partnership. In general, these units are convertible into shares of our common stock on a one-for-one basis. The ownership limitation set forth in our articles of incorporation is 39.9% in value of our issued and outstanding equity securities (which includes both common and preferred stock). As of December 31, 2019, Mr. B. F. Saul II and members of the Saul Organization owned common stock representing approximately 37.8% in value of all our issued and outstanding equity securities. Members of the Saul Organization are permitted under our articles of incorporation to convert Operating Partnership units into shares of common stock or acquire additional shares of common stock until the Saul Organization’s actual ownership of common stock reaches 39.9% in value of our equity securities. As of December 31, 2019, approximately 925,000 of the 7,886,916 units of the Operating Partnership would have been permitted to convert into additional shares of common stock, and would have resulted in Mr. B. F. Saul II and members of the Saul Organization owning common stock representing approximately 39.9% in value of all our issued and outstanding equity securities.
As a result of these relationships, members of the Saul Organization will be in a position to exercise significant influence over our affairs, which influence might not be consistent with the interests of some, or a majority, of our stockholders. Except as discussed below, we do not have any written policies or procedures for the review, approval or ratification of transactions with related persons.
Management Time.
Our Chief Executive Officer and President, Executive Vice President of Real Estate, Executive Vice President-Chief Legal and Administrative Officer and Senior Vice President-Chief Accounting Officer are also officers of various entities of the Saul Organization. Although we believe that these officers spend sufficient management time to meet their responsibilities as our officers, the amount of management time devoted to us will depend on our specific circumstances at any given point in time. As a result, in a given period, these officers may spend less than a majority of their management time on our matters. Over extended periods of time, we believe that our Chief Executive Officer and President will spend less than a majority of his management time on Company matters, while our Executive Vice President of Real Estate, Executive Vice President-Chief Legal and Administrative Officer and Senior Vice President-Chief Accounting Officer may or may not spend less than a majority of their time on our matters.
Exclusivity and Right of First Refusal Agreements.
We will acquire, develop, own and manage shopping center properties and will own and manage other commercial properties, and, subject to certain exclusivity agreements and rights of first refusal to which we are a party, the Saul Organization will continue to develop, acquire, own and manage commercial properties and own land suitable for development as, among other things, shopping centers and other commercial properties. Therefore, conflicts could develop in the allocation of acquisition and development opportunities with respect to commercial properties other than shopping centers and with respect to development sites, as well as potential tenants and other matters, between us and the Saul Organization. The agreement relating to exclusivity and the right of first refusal between us and the Saul Organization generally requires the Saul Organization to conduct its shopping center business exclusively through us and to grant us a right of first refusal to purchase commercial properties and development sites in certain market areas that become available to the Saul Organization. The Saul Organization has granted the right of first refusal to us, acting through our independent directors, in order to minimize potential conflicts with respect to commercial properties and development sites. We and the Saul Organization have entered into this agreement in order to minimize conflicts with respect to shopping centers and certain of our commercial properties.
We own real estate assets in the Twinbrook area of Rockville, Maryland, which are adjacent to real estate assets owned by the Saul Trust, a member of the Saul Organization. We have entered into an agreement with the Saul Trust, which originally expired on December 31, 2015, and which was extended to December 31, 2016, to share, on a pro rata basis, third-party predevelopment costs related to the planning of the future development of the adjacent sites. On December 8, 2016, we entered into a replacement agreement with the Saul Trust which extended the expiration date to December 31, 2017 and provides for automatic twelve month renewals unless either party provides notice of termination. Conflicts with respect to payments and allocations of costs may arise under the agreement.
On November 5, 2019, the Company entered into the Contribution Agreement to acquire from the Saul Trust, the Contributed Property. In exchange for the Contributed Property, the Company will issue to the Saul Trust 1,416,071 OP Units at an agreed upon value of $56.00 per OP Unit, representing an aggregate value of $79.3 million for the Contributed Property. Deed to the Contributed Property and the OP Units have been placed in escrow until certain conditions of the Contribution Agreement are satisfied.
Shared Services.
We share with the Saul Organization certain ancillary functions, such as computer and payroll services, benefits administration and in-house legal services. The terms of all sharing arrangements, including payments related thereto, are reviewed periodically by our Audit Committee, which is comprised solely of independent directors. Included in our general and administrative expenses or capitalized to specific development projects, for the year ended December 31, 2019, are charges totaling $8.4 million, net, related to such shared services, which included rental payments for the Company’s headquarters lease, which were billed by the Saul Organization. Although we believe that the amounts allocated to us for such shared services represent a fair allocation between us and the Saul Organization, we have not obtained a third party appraisal of the value of these services.
The B. F. Saul Insurance Agency of Maryland, Inc., a subsidiary of the B. F. Saul Company and a member of the Saul Organization, is a general insurance agency that receives commissions and counter-signature fees in connection with our insurance program. Such commissions and fees amounted to approximately $399,600 for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Related Party Rents.
We sublease space for our corporate headquarters from a member of the Saul Organization, the building of which is owned by another member of the Saul Organization. The lease commenced in March 2002 and expires in February 2022. The Company and the Saul Organization entered into a Shared Services Agreement whereby each party pays a portion of the total rental payments based on a percentage proportionate to the number of employees employed by each party. The Company’s rent expense for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $806,500. Although the Company believes that this lease has terms comparable to what would have been obtained from a third party landlord, it did not seek bid proposals from any independent third parties when entering into its new corporate headquarters lease.
Conflicts Based on Individual Tax Considerations.
The tax basis of members of the Saul Organization in our portfolio properties which were contributed to certain partnerships at the time of our initial public offering in 1993 was substantially less than the fair market value thereof at the time of their contribution. In the event of our disposition of such properties, a disproportionately large share of the gain for federal income tax purposes would be allocated to members of the Saul Organization. In addition, future reductions of the level of our debt, or future releases of the guarantees or indemnities with respect thereto by members of the Saul Organization, would cause members of the Saul Organization to be considered, for federal income tax purposes, to have received constructive distributions. Depending on the overall level of debt and other factors, these distributions could be in excess of the Saul Organization’s bases in their Partnership units, in which case such excess constructive distributions would be taxable.
Consequently, it is in the interests of the Saul Organization that we continue to hold the contributed portfolio properties, that a portion of our debt remains outstanding or is refinanced and that the Saul Organization guarantees and indemnities remain in place, in order to defer the taxable gain to members of the Saul Organization. Therefore, the Saul Organization may seek to cause us to retain the contributed portfolio properties, and to refrain from reducing our debt or releasing the Saul Organization guarantees and indemnities, even when such action may not be in the interests of some, or a majority, of our stockholders. In order to minimize these conflicts, decisions as to sales of the portfolio properties, or any refinancing, repayment or release of guarantees and indemnities with respect to our debt, will be made by the independent directors.
Ability to Block Certain Actions.
Under applicable law and the limited partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership, consent of the limited partners is required to permit certain actions, including the sale of all or substantially all of the Operating Partnership’s assets. Therefore, members of the Saul Organization, through their status as limited partners in the Operating Partnership, could prevent the taking of any such actions, even if they were in the interests of some, or a majority, of our stockholders.
Loss of our key management could adversely affect performance and the value of our common shares.
We are dependent on the efforts of our key management. Although we believe qualified replacements could be found for any departures of key executives, the loss of their services could adversely affect our performance and the value of our common stock.
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, 2019, we had approximately $1.1 billion of debt outstanding, $938.4 million of which was long-term fixed-rate debt secured by 34 of our properties and $162.5 million of which was variable-rate debt due under our credit facility.
We currently have a general policy of limiting our borrowings to 50 percent of asset value, i.e., the value of our portfolio, as determined by our Board of Directors by reference to the aggregate annualized cash flow from our portfolio. Our organizational documents contain no limitation on the amount or percentage of indebtedness which we may incur. Therefore, the Board of Directors could alter or eliminate the current limitation on borrowing at any time. If our debt capitalization policy were changed, we could increase our leverage, resulting in an increase in debt service that could adversely affect our operating cash flow and our ability to make expected distributions to stockholders, and in an increased risk of default on our obligations.
We have established our debt capitalization policy relative to asset value, which is computed by reference to the aggregate annualized cash flow from the properties in our portfolio rather than relative to book value. We have used a measure tied to cash flow because we believe that the book value of our portfolio properties, which is the depreciated historical cost of the properties, does not accurately reflect our ability to borrow. Asset value, however, is somewhat more variable than book value, and may not at all times reflect the fair market value of the underlying properties.
The amount of our debt outstanding from time to time could have important consequences to our stockholders. 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 and other appropriate business opportunities that may arise in the future;
•
limit our ability to obtain any additional financing we may need in the future for working capital, debt refinancing, capital expenditures, acquisitions, development or other general corporate purposes;
•
make it difficult to satisfy our debt service requirements;
•
limit our ability to make distributions on our outstanding common and preferred stock;
•
require us to dedicate increased amounts of our cash flow from operations to payments 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, which may place us at a disadvantage compared to competitors with less debt or debt with less restrictive terms; and
•
limit our ability to obtain any additional financing we may need in the future for working capital, debt refinancing, capital expenditures, acquisitions, development or other general corporate purposes.
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 described in this section. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow from our business in the future to service our debt or meet our other cash needs, 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. Our ability to refinance, sell assets or obtain additional financing may not be possible on terms that we would find acceptable.
We are obligated to comply with financial and other covenants in our debt that could restrict our operating activities, and the failure to comply could result in defaults that accelerate the payment under our debt.
Our secured debt generally contains customary covenants, including, among others, provisions:
•
relating to the maintenance of the property securing the debt;
•
restricting our ability to assign or further encumber the properties securing the debt; and
•
restricting our ability to enter into certain new leases or to amend or modify certain existing leases without obtaining consent of the lenders.
Our unsecured debt generally contains various restrictive covenants. The covenants in our unsecured debt include, among others, provisions restricting our ability to:
•
incur additional unsecured debt;
•
guarantee additional debt;
•
make certain distributions, investments and other restricted payments, including distribution payments on our outstanding stock;
•
create certain liens;
•
increase our overall secured and unsecured borrowing beyond certain levels; and
•
consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets.
Our ability to meet some of the covenants in our debt, including covenants related to the condition of the property or payment of real estate taxes, may be dependent on the performance by our tenants under their leases.
In addition, our credit facility requires us and our subsidiaries to satisfy financial covenants. The material financial covenants require us, 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 December 31, 2019, we were in compliance with all such 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. Some of our debt arrangements 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 covenant 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.
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 credit or analyst ratings;
•our financial condition and performance;
•market perception of our business compared to other REITs; and
•market perception of REITs, in general, compared to other investment alternatives.
The phase-out of LIBOR could affect interest rates under our variable rate debt and interest rate swap arrangements.
LIBOR is used as a reference rate for our revolving credit facility, certain mortgage payables, and in our interest rate swap arrangements. On July 27, 2017, the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority announced it intends to stop compelling banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. It is unclear if LIBOR will cease to exist at that time, if a new method of calculating LIBOR will be established, or if an alternative reference rate will be established. The Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York organized the Alternative Reference Rates Committee which identified the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) as its preferred alternative to U.S. dollar LIBOR in derivatives and other financial contracts. We are not able to predict when LIBOR will cease to be available or if SOFR, or another alternative rate reference rate, attains market traction as a LIBOR replacement. If LIBOR ceases to exist, we will need to agree upon a benchmark replacement index with the bank, and as such the interest rate on our revolving credit facility and certain mortgage payables may change. The new rate may not be as favorable as those in effect prior to any LIBOR phase-out. Furthermore, the transition process may result in delays in funding, higher interest expense, additional expenses, and increased volatility in markets for instruments that currently rely on LIBOR, all of which could negatively impact our cash flow.
Our development activities are inherently risky.
The ground-up development of improvements on real property, which is different from the renovation and redevelopment of existing improvements, presents substantial risks. 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 completion subjects us to greater risks due to fluctuation in the general economy;
•
failure or inability to obtain construction or permanent financing on favorable terms;
•
expenditure of money and time on projects that may never be completed;
•
inability to achieve projected rental rates or anticipated pace of lease-up;
•
higher-than-estimated construction costs, including labor and material costs; and
•
possible delay in completion of the project because of a number of factors, including weather, labor disruptions, construction delays or delays in receipt of zoning or other regulatory approvals, or acts of God (such as fires, earthquakes or floods).
Developments, redevelopments and acquisitions may fail to perform as expected.
Our investment strategy includes the redevelopment and acquisition of community and neighborhood shopping centers that are anchored by supermarkets, drugstores or high volume, value-oriented retailers that provide consumer necessities. 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, and, 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 new developments or acquisitions into our existing operations successfully;
•
properties we redevelop or acquire may fail to achieve the occupancy or rental rates 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; and
•
our investigation of a property or building prior to our acquisition, and any representations we may receive from the seller, 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 includes the redevelopment of properties we already own and the acquisition of additional properties. Because we are required to distribute to our stockholders at least 90% of our taxable income each year to continue to qualify as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, for federal income tax purposes, in addition to our undistributed operating cash flow, we rely upon the availability of debt or equity capital to fund our growth, which financing may or may not be available on favorable terms or at all. The debt could include mortgage loans from third parties or the sale of debt securities. Equity capital could include our common stock or preferred stock. Additional financing, refinancing or other capital may not 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 general state of the capital markets, the market’s perception of our growth potential, our ability to pay dividends, and our current and potential future earnings. Depending on the outcome of these factors, we could experience delay or difficulty in implementing our growth strategy on satisfactory terms, or be unable to implement this strategy.
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 revenue sufficient to meet our operating expenses, including debt service and capital expenditures, our cash flow and ability to pay distributions to our stockholders will be adversely affected. As a real estate company, we are susceptible to the following real estate industry risks:
•
economic downturns in the areas where our properties are located;
•
adverse changes in local real estate market conditions, such as 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 energy costs and other operating expenses;
•
costs associated with the need to periodically repair, renovate and re-lease space; and
•
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 revenue from one or more properties, although real estate taxes typically do not increase upon a reduction in such revenue.
Geographic concentration of our portfolio may make us particularly susceptible to adverse economic developments in the real estate markets of those areas.
Approximately 85% of our property operating income is generated by properties in the metropolitan Washington, DC/Baltimore area. As a result, our financial condition, operating results and ability to make distributions could be materially and adversely impacted by significant adverse economic changes affecting the real estate markets in that area. In turn, our common stock is subject to greater risk vis-a-vis other enterprises whose portfolio contains greater geographic diversity.
Adverse trends in the retail and office real estate sectors.
Tenants at our retail properties face continual competition in attracting customers from Internet shopping, retailers at other shopping centers, catalogue companies, online merchants, television shopping networks, warehouse stores, large discounters, outlet malls, wholesale clubs, direct mail and telemarketers. Such competition could have a material adverse effect on our ability to lease space in our retail properties and on the rents we can charge or the concessions we can grant. This in turn could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows, and could affect the realizable value of our assets upon sale. Further, as new technologies emerge, the relationships among customers, retailers, and shopping centers are evolving rapidly and it is critical we adapt to such new technologies and relationships on a timely basis. We may be unable to adapt quickly and effectively, which could adversely impact our financial performance.
Some businesses are rapidly evolving to make employee telecommuting, flexible work schedules, open workplaces and teleconferencing increasingly common. These practices enable businesses to reduce their space requirements. A continuation of the movement towards these practices could over time erode the overall demand for office space and, in turn, place downward pressure on occupancy, rental rates and property valuations, each of which could have an adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, cash flows and ability to make distributions to our stockholders.
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 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 investment. 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 develop 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 that property until the property is fully leased.
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 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 shopping center 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 may reduce percentage rents payable to us and may 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 stockholders.
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. 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 stockholders.
Our insurance coverage on our properties may be inadequate.
We carry comprehensive insurance on all of our properties, including insurance for liability, earthquake, fire, flood, terrorism and rental loss. These policies contain coverage limitations. We believe this coverage is of the type and amount customarily obtained for or by an owner of real property assets. We intend to obtain similar insurance coverage on subsequently acquired properties.
As a consequence of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and other significant losses incurred by the insurance industry, the availability of insurance coverage has decreased and the prices for insurance have increased. 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. Material losses in excess of insurance proceeds may occur in the future. 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. Events such as these could adversely affect our results of operations and our ability to meet our obligations, including distributions to our stockholders.
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 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 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.
Natural disasters and climate change could have an adverse impact on our cash flow and operating results.
Climate change may add to the unpredictability and frequency of natural disasters and severe weather conditions and create additional uncertainty as to future trends and exposures. Certain of our operations are located in areas that are subject to natural disasters and severe weather conditions such as hurricanes, droughts, snow storms, floods and fires. The impact of climate change or the occurrence of natural disasters can delay new development projects, increase investment costs to repair or replace damaged properties, increase operating costs, create additional investment costs to make improvements to existing properties to comply with climate change regulations, increase future property insurance costs, and negatively impact the tenant demand for space. If insurance is unavailable to us or is unavailable on
acceptable terms, or if our insurance is not adequate to cover business interruption or losses from these events, our earnings, liquidity or capital resources could be adversely affected.
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (the “ADA”) could require us to take remedial steps with respect to newly acquired properties.
The properties, as commercial facilities, are required to comply with Title III of the ADA. Investigation of a property may reveal non-compliance with the ADA. The requirements of the ADA, or of other federal, state or local laws, also may change in the future and restrict further renovations of our properties with respect to access for disabled persons. Future compliance with the ADA may require expensive changes to the properties.
The revenue 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 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 revenue 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, and currently intend to operate in a manner that will allow us to continue to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes under the Code. However, the IRS could successfully assert that we are not qualified as such. In addition, we may not remain qualified as a REIT in the future. Qualification as a REIT involves the application of highly technical and complex Code provisions. The complexity of these provisions and of the applicable income tax regulations that have been issued under the Code by the United States Department of Treasury is greater in the case of a REIT that holds its assets in partnership form. 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 other income. Satisfying this requirement could be difficult, for example, if defaults by tenants were to reduce the amount of income from qualifying rents. Also, we must make annual distributions to stockholders of at least 90% of our net taxable income (excluding capital gains). 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 dividend distributions to stockholders in computing taxable income;
•
we would be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates;
•
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 and for distribution to our stockholders for each year in which we failed to qualify; and
•
we would no longer be required by law to make any distributions to our stockholders.
We believe that the Operating Partnership is treated as a partnership, and not as a corporation, for federal income tax purposes. If the IRS were to challenge successfully the status of the Operating Partnership as a partnership for federal income tax purposes:
•
the Operating Partnership would be taxed as a corporation;
•
we would cease to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes; and
•
the amount of cash available for distribution to our stockholders would be substantially reduced.
We may be required to incur additional debt to qualify as a REIT.
As a REIT, we must make annual distributions to stockholders of at least 90% of our REIT taxable income. We are subject to income tax on amounts of undistributed REIT 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 stockholders to comply with the Code’s 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 or debt service requirements may reduce available cash but not taxable income.
In these circumstances, we might have to borrow funds on unfavorable terms and even if our management believes the market conditions make borrowing financially unattractive.
U.S. federal tax reform legislation now and in the future could affect REITs, both positively and negatively, in ways that are difficult to anticipate.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “2017 Tax Act”), signed into law on December 22, 2017, represents sweeping tax reform legislation that makes significant changes to corporate and individual tax rates and the calculation of taxes. While we currently do not expect the 2017 Tax Act will have a significant direct impact on us, it may impact us indirectly as our tenants and the jurisdictions in which we do business, as well as the overall investment thesis for REITs, may be impacted both positively and negatively in ways that are difficult to predict. Additionally, the overall impact of the 2017 Tax Act depends on future interpretations and regulations that may be issued by federal tax authorities, as well as changes in state and local taxation in response to the 2017 Tax Act, and it is possible that such future interpretations, regulations and other changes could adversely impact us.
To maintain our status as a REIT, we limit the amount of shares any one stockholder 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, actually or constructively, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code). To protect our REIT status, our articles of incorporation restrict beneficial and constructive ownership (defined by reference to various Code provisions) to no more than 2.5% in value of our issued and outstanding equity securities by any single stockholder with the exception of members of the Saul Organization, who are restricted to beneficial and constructive ownership of no more than 39.9% in value of our issued and outstanding equity securities.
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 2.5% or 39.9% in value of our issued and outstanding equity securities, by an individual or entity could cause that individual or entity (or another) to own constructively more than 2.5% or 39.9% in value of the outstanding 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 respective ownership limit.
As of December 31, 2019, Mr. B. F. Saul II and members of the Saul Organization owned common stock representing approximately 37.8% in value of all our issued and outstanding equity securities. In addition, members of the Saul Organization beneficially owned Operating Partnership units that are, in general, convertible into our common stock on a one-for-one basis. Members of the Saul Organization are permitted under our articles of incorporation to convert Operating Partnership units into shares of common stock or acquire additional shares of common stock until the Saul Organization’s actual ownership of common stock reaches 39.9% in value of our equity securities.
The Board of Directors may waive these restrictions on a case-by-case basis. The Board has authorized the Company to grant waivers to look-through entities, such as mutual funds, in which shares of equity stock owned by the entity are treated as owned proportionally by individuals who are the beneficial owners of the entity. Even though these entities may own stock in excess of the 2.5% ownership limit, no individual beneficially or constructively would own more than 2.5%. The Board of Directors has agreed to waive the ownership limit with respect to certain mutual funds and similar investors. In addition, the Board of Directors has agreed to waive the ownership limit with respect to certain bank
pledgees of shares of our common stock and units issued by the Operating Partnership and held by members of the Saul Organization.
The ownership restrictions may delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change of our control that might involve a premium price for our equity stock or otherwise be in the stockholders’ 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 stock at historical rates or to increase our common stock dividend rate 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.
If we do not maintain or increase the dividend rate on our common stock, it could have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock and other securities. Payment of dividends on our common stock may be subject to payment in full of the dividends on any preferred stock or depositary shares and payment of interest on any debt securities we may offer.
Certain tax and anti-takeover provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws may inhibit a change of our control.
Certain provisions contained in our articles of incorporation and bylaws and the Maryland General Corporation Law 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 stockholders from receiving a premium for their stock over then-prevailing market prices. These provisions include:
•
the REIT ownership limit described above;
•
authorization of the issuance of our preferred stock with powers, preferences or rights to be determined by the Board of Directors;
•
a staggered, fixed-size Board of Directors consisting of three classes of directors;
•
special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by the Chairman of the Board, the president, by a majority of the directors or by stockholders possessing no less than 25% of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting;
•
the Board of Directors, without a stockholder vote, can classify or reclassify unissued shares of preferred stock;
•
a member of the Board of Directors may be removed only for cause upon the affirmative vote of 75% of the Board of Directors or 75% of the then-outstanding capital stock;
•
advance notice requirements for proposals to be presented at stockholder meetings; and
•
the terms of our articles of incorporation regarding business combinations and control share acquisitions.
Cybersecurity risks and cyber incidents could adversely affect our business, disrupt operations and expose us to liabilities to tenants, employees, capital providers and other third parties.
We use information technology and other computer resources to carry out important operational activities and to maintain our business records. As part of our normal business activities, we collect and store certain personal identifying and confidential information relating to our tenants, employees, vendors and suppliers, and maintain operational and financial information related to our business. We have implemented systems and processes intended to address ongoing and evolving cybersecurity risks, secure our information technology, applications and computer systems, and prevent unauthorized access to or loss of sensitive, confidential and personal data. Although we and our service providers employ what we believe are adequate security, disaster recovery and other preventative and corrective measures, our security measures, taken as a whole, may not be sufficient for all possible situations and may be vulnerable to, among other things, hacking, employee error, system error, and faulty password management.
Our ability to conduct our business may be impaired if our information technology resources, including our websites or e-mail systems, are compromised, degraded, damaged or fail, whether due to a virus or other harmful circumstance, intentional penetration or disruption of our information technology resources by a third party, natural disaster, hardware or software corruption or failure or error or poor product or vendor/developer selection (including a failure of security controls incorporated into or applied to such hardware or software), telecommunications system failure, service provider error or failure, intentional or unintentional personnel actions, or lost connectivity to our networked resources. A significant and extended disruption could damage our reputation and cause us to lose tenants and revenues; result in the unintended and/or unauthorized public disclosure or the misappropriation of proprietary, personal identifying and confidential information; and require us to incur significant expenses to address and remediate or otherwise resolve these kinds of issues. The release of confidential information may also lead to litigation or other proceedings against us by affected individuals, business partners and/or regulators, and the outcome of such proceedings, which could include losses, penalties, fines, injunctions, expenses and charges recorded against our earnings and cause us reputational harm, could have a material and adverse effect on our business and consolidated financial statements. In addition, the costs of maintaining adequate protection against data security threats, based on considerations of their evolution, increasing sophistication, pervasiveness and frequency and/or government-mandated standards or obligations regarding protective efforts, could be material to our consolidated financial statements in a particular period or over various periods.
We may amend or revise our business policies without your approval.
Our Board of Directors may amend or revise our operating policies without stockholder 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 Directors or those committees or officers to whom the Board of Directors has delegated that authority. The Board of Directors 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.
Item 1B.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
We have received no written comments from the Securities and Exchange Commission staff regarding our periodic or current reports in the 180 days preceding December 31, 2019 that remain unresolved.
Item 2.
Item 2. Properties
Overview
As of December 31, 2019, the Company is the owner, developer and operator of a real estate portfolio composed of 56 operating properties, totaling approximately 9.3 million square feet of gross leasable area (“GLA”), and four development parcels. The properties are located primarily in the Washington, D.C./Baltimore, Maryland metropolitan area. The operating property portfolio is composed of 50 neighborhood and community Shopping Centers, and six predominantly Mixed-Use Properties totaling approximately 7.8 million and 1.5 million square feet of GLA, respectively. No single property accounted for more than 6.5% of the total gross leasable area. A majority of the Shopping Centers are anchored by several major tenants and offer primarily day-to-day necessities and services. Thirty-three of the Shopping Centers were anchored by a grocery store. One tenant, Giant Food (4.7%), a tenant at ten Shopping Centers, individually accounted for 2.5% or more of the Company’s total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2019.
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 (all properties except for the Clarendon Center and Park Van Ness apartments). For purposes of this table, annualized effective rent is annualized base rent minus amortized tenant improvements and amortized leasing commissions.
The Company expects to hold its properties as long-term investments and it has no maximum period for retention of any investment. It plans to selectively acquire additional income-producing properties and to expand, renovate, and improve its properties when circumstances warrant. See “Item 1. Business-Operating Strategies” and “Business-Capital Policies.”
The Shopping Centers
Community and neighborhood shopping centers typically are anchored by one or more grocery stores, discount department stores or drug stores. These anchors offer day-to-day necessities rather than apparel and luxury goods and, therefore, generate consistent local traffic. By contrast, regional malls generally are larger and typically are anchored by one or more full-service department stores.
In general, the Shopping Centers are seasoned community and neighborhood shopping centers located in well established, highly developed, densely populated, middle and upper income areas. The 2019 average estimated population within a one- and three-mile radius of the Shopping Centers is approximately 15,800 and 97,400, respectively. The 2019 average household income within a one- and three-mile radius of the Shopping Centers is approximately $125,500 and $129,400, respectively, compared to a national average of $87,400. Because the Shopping Centers generally are located in highly developed areas, management believes that there is little likelihood that significant numbers of competing centers will be developed in the future.
The Shopping Center properties range in size from approximately 19,000 to 573,500 square feet of GLA, with six in excess of 300,000 square feet, and average approximately 157,100 square feet. A majority of the Shopping Centers are anchored by several major tenants and other tenants offering primarily day-to-day necessities and services. Thirty-three of the Shopping Centers are anchored by a grocery store.
Lease Expirations of Shopping Center Properties
The following table sets forth, by year of expiration, the aggregate amount of base rent and leasable area for leases in place at the Shopping Centers that the Company owned as of December 31, 2019, for each of the next ten years beginning with 2020, assuming that none of the tenants exercise renewal options and excluding an aggregate of 351,862 square feet of unleased space, which represented 4.5% of the GLA of the Shopping Centers as of December 31, 2019.
Lease Expirations of Shopping Center Properties
(1)
Calculated using annualized contractual base rent payable as of December 31, 2019 for the expiring GLA, excluding expenses payable by or reimbursable from tenants.
The Mixed-Use Properties
All of the Mixed-Use Properties are located in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and contain an aggregate GLA of approximately 1.5 million square feet, comprised of 1.0 million and 0.1 million square feet of office and retail space, respectively, and 515 apartments. The Mixed-Use Properties represent three distinct styles of facilities, are located in differing commercial environments with distinctive demographic characteristics, and are geographically removed from one another. Accordingly, management believes that the Washington, D.C. area Mixed-Use Properties compete for tenants in different commercial and geographic sub-markets of the metropolitan Washington, D.C. market and do not compete with one another.
Lease Expirations of Mixed-Use Properties
The following table sets forth, by year of expiration, the aggregate amount of base rent and leasable area for commercial leases in place at the Mixed-Use Properties that the Company owned as of December 31, 2019, for each of the next ten years beginning with 2020, assuming that none of the tenants exercise renewal options and excluding an aggregate of 90,485 square feet of unleased office and retail space, which represented 8.4% of the GLA of the commercial space within the Mixed-Use Properties as of December 31, 2019.
Commercial Lease Expirations of Mixed-Use Properties
(1)
Calculated using annualized contractual base rent payable as of December 31, 2019, for the expiring GLA, excluding expenses payable by or reimbursable from tenants.
As of December 31, 2019, the Company had 496 apartment leases, 402 of which will expire in 2020 and 94 of which will expire in 2021. Annual base rent due under these leases is $10.3 million and $1.0 million for the years ending December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively.
Current Portfolio Properties
The following table sets forth, at the dates indicated, certain information regarding the Current Portfolio Properties:
(1)
Percentage leased is a percentage of rentable square feet leased for commercial space and a percentage of units leased for apartments. Includes only operating properties owned as of December 31, 2019. As such, prior year totals do not agree to prior year tables.
(2)
Total percentage leased is for commercial space only.
(3)
Prior year leased percentages for Total Shopping Centers, Total Mixed-Use Properties and Total Portfolio have been recalculated to exclude the impact of properties sold or removed from service and, therefore, the percentages reported in this table may be different than the percentages previously reported.
Item 3.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
In the normal course of business, the Company is involved in litigation, including litigation arising out of the collection of rents, the enforcement or defense of the priority of its security interests, and the continued development and marketing of certain of its real estate properties. In the opinion of management, litigation that is currently pending should not have a material adverse impact on the financial condition or future operations of the Company.
Item 4.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 5.
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market Information
Shares of Saul Centers common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BFS.”
Holders
The approximate number of holders of record of the common stock was 128 as of February 20, 2020. Many of our shares of common stock are held by brokers and institutions on behalf of stockholders, we are unable to estimate the total number of stockholders represented by these record holders.
Dividends and Distributions
Under the Code, REITs are subject to numerous organizational and operating requirements, including the requirement to distribute at least 90% of REIT taxable income. The Company distributed more than the required amount in 2019 and 2018. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, No. 13, “Distributions.” The Company may or may not elect to distribute in excess of 90% of REIT taxable income in future years.
The Company’s estimate of cash flow available for distributions is believed to be based on reasonable assumptions and represents a reasonable basis for setting distributions. However, the actual results of operations of the Company will be affected by a variety of factors, including but not limited to actual rental revenue, operating expenses of the Company, interest expense, general economic conditions, federal, state and local taxes (if any), unanticipated capital expenditures, the adequacy of reserves and preferred dividends. While the Company intends to continue paying regular quarterly distributions, any future payments will be determined solely by the Board of Directors and will depend on a number of factors, including cash flow of the Company, its financial condition and capital requirements, the annual distribution amounts required to maintain its status as a REIT under the Code, and such other factors as the Board of Directors deems relevant. We are obligated to pay regular quarterly distributions to holders of depositary shares, prior to distributions on the common stock.
Acquisition of Equity Securities by the Saul Organization
Through participation in the Company’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan, during the quarter ended December 31, 2019, (a) B. Francis Saul II, the Company’s Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and President (b) his spouse, (c) the Saul Trust and B. F. Saul Company, for each of which Mr. B. F. Saul II serves as either President or Chairman, and (d) B. F. Saul Property Company, Avenel Executive Park Phase II, LLC, SHLP Unit Acquisition Corp. and Dearborn, LLC, which are wholly-owned subsidiaries of either B. F. Saul Company or the Saul Trust, acquired an aggregate of 65,293 shares of common stock and 13,747 limited partnership units at an average price of $53.00 per share/unit, in respect of the October 31, 2019 dividend distribution. Such limited partnership units were issued in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933.
No shares were acquired pursuant to a publicly announced plan or program.
Performance Graph
Rules promulgated under the Exchange Act require the Company to present a graph comparing the cumulative total stockholder return on its Common Stock with the cumulative total stockholder return of (i) a broad equity market index, and (ii) a published industry index or peer group. The following graph compares the cumulative total stockholder return of the Company’s common stock, based on the market price of the common stock and assuming reinvestment of dividends, with the Financial Times Stock Exchange Group National Association of Real Estate Investment Trust Equity Index (“FTSE NAREIT Equity”), the S&P 500 Index (“S&P 500”) and the Russell 2000 Index (“Russell 2000”). The graph assumes the investment of $100 on December 31, 2014.
Item 6.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
The selected financial data of the Company contained herein has been derived from the consolidated financial statements of the Company. The data should be read in conjunction with “Item 7.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) begins with the Company’s primary business strategy to give the reader an overview of the goals of the Company’s business. This is followed by a discussion of the critical accounting policies that the Company believes are important to understanding the assumptions and judgments incorporated in the Company’s reported financial results. The next section, beginning on page 37, discusses the Company’s results of operations for the past two years. Beginning on page 42, the Company provides an analysis of its liquidity and capital resources, including discussions of its cash flows, debt arrangements, sources of capital and financial commitments. Finally, on page 46, the Company discusses funds from operations, or FFO, which is a non-GAAP financial measure of performance of an equity REIT used by the REIT industry.
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with "Item 6. Selected Financial Data," and the Consolidated Financial Statements and related footnotes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We make statements in this section that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. For a complete discussion of forward-looking statements, see the section in this report entitled "Forward-Looking Statements." Certain risks may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the following discussion. For a discussion of such risk factors, see "Item 1A. Risk Factors."
Overview
The Company’s primary strategy is to continue to focus on diversification of its assets through development of transit-centric, residential mixed-use projects in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The Company’s operating strategy also includes improvement of the operating performance and internal growth of its Shopping Centers and will supplement its development of residential mixed-used projects with selective redevelopment and renovations of its core Shopping Centers.
The Company’s primary strategy is to continue to focus on diversification of its assets through development of transit-centric, residential mixed-use projects in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Construction of The Waycroft, a project with 491 apartment units and 60,000 square feet of retail space, is nearing substantial completion on North Glebe Road, within two blocks of the Ballston Metro Station, in Arlington, Virginia. The Company also has a development pipeline of zoned sites, either in its portfolio (some of which are currently shopping center operating properties) or under contract, for development of up to 3,700 apartment units and 975,000 square feet of retail and office space. All such sites are located adjacent to red line Metro stations in Montgomery County, Maryland.
The Company’s operating strategy also includes improvement of the operating performance and internal growth of its Shopping Centers and will supplement its development of residential mixed-used projects with selective redevelopment and renovations of its core Shopping Centers. It intends to selectively add free-standing pad site buildings within its Shopping Center portfolio, and replace underperforming tenants with tenants that generate strong traffic, generally anchor stores such as supermarkets, drug stores and fitness centers, as evidenced by the coming additions of a 69,000 square foot Giant Food at Seven Corners and a 36,000 square foot LA Fitness at Broadlands Village. Exclusive of four pads under development within Ashbrook Marketplace, the Company currently has signed leases or leases under negotiation for 12 pad sites within its core portfolio. The pad sites are expected to be completed and operational by late 2021.
In recent years, there has been a limited amount of quality properties for sale and pricing of those properties has escalated. Accordingly, management believes acquisition opportunities for investment in existing and new shopping center and mixed-use properties in the near future is uncertain. Nevertheless, because of the Company’s conservative capital structure, including its cash and capacity under its revolving credit facility, management believes that the Company is positioned to take advantage of additional investment opportunities as attractive properties are identified and market conditions improve. (See “Item 1. Business - Capital Policies”.) It is management’s view that several of the sub-markets in which the Company operates have, or are expected to have in the future, attractive supply/demand characteristics. The Company will continue to evaluate acquisition, development and redevelopment as integral parts of its overall business plan.
Economic conditions within the local Washington, DC metropolitan area have remained relatively stable. Issues facing the Federal government relating to taxation, spending and interest rate policy will likely continue to impact the office, retail and residential real estate markets over the coming years. Because the majority of the Company’s property operating income is produced by our Shopping Centers, we continually monitor the implications of government policy changes, as well as shifts in consumer demand between on-line and in-store shopping, on future shopping center construction and retailer store expansion plans. Based on our observations, we continue to adapt our marketing and merchandising strategies in a way to maximize our future performance. The Company's commercial leasing percentage, on a comparable property basis, which excludes the impact of properties not in operation for the entirety of the comparable periods, decreased to 95.1% at December 31, 2019, from 95.7% at December 31, 2018.
The Company maintains a ratio of total debt to total asset value of under 50%, which allows the Company to obtain additional secured borrowings if necessary. As of December 31, 2019, amortizing fixed-rate mortgage debt with staggered maturities from 2020 to 2035 represented approximately 85.2% of the Company’s notes payable, thus minimizing refinancing risk. The Company’s variable-rate debt consists of $162.5 million outstanding under the credit facility. As of December 31, 2019, the Company has loan availability of approximately $237.3 million under its $325.0 million revolving credit facility.
Although it is management’s present intention to concentrate future acquisition and development activities on transit-centric, primarily residential mixed-use properties in the Washington, D.C./Baltimore metropolitan area, the Company may, in the future, also acquire other types of real estate in other areas of the country as opportunities present themselves. The Company plans to continue to diversify in terms of property types, locations, size and market, and it does not set any limit on the amount or percentage of assets that may be invested in any one property or any one geographic area.
Critical Accounting Policies
The Company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), which requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reporting of financial position and results of operations. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report. The Company has identified the following policies that, due to estimates and assumptions inherent in those policies, involve a relatively high degree of judgment and complexity.
Real Estate Investments
Real estate investment properties are stated at historic cost less depreciation. Although the Company intends to own its real estate investment properties over a long term, from time to time it will evaluate its market position, market conditions, and other factors and may elect to sell properties that do not conform to the Company’s investment profile. Management believes that the Company’s real estate assets have generally appreciated in value since their acquisition or development and, accordingly, the aggregate current value exceeds their aggregate net book value and also exceeds the value of the Company’s liabilities as reported in the financial statements. Because the financial statements are prepared in conformity with GAAP, they do not report the current value of the Company’s real estate investment properties.
If there is an event or change in circumstance that indicates a potential impairment in the value of a real estate investment property, the Company prepares an analysis to determine whether the carrying value of the real estate investment property exceeds its estimated fair value. The Company considers both quantitative and qualitative factors in identifying impairment indicators including recurring operating losses, significant decreases in occupancy, and significant adverse changes in market conditions, legal factors and business climate. If impairment indicators are present, the Company compares the projected cash flows of the property over its remaining useful life, on an undiscounted basis, to the carrying value of that property. The Company assesses its undiscounted projected cash flows based upon estimated capitalization rates, historic operating results and market conditions that may affect the property. If the carrying value is greater than the undiscounted projected cash flows, the Company would recognize an impairment loss equivalent to an amount required to adjust the carrying amount to its then estimated fair value. The fair value of any property is sensitive to the actual results of any of the aforementioned estimated factors, either individually or taken as a whole. Should the actual results differ from management’s projections, the valuation could be negatively or positively affected.
Legal Contingencies
The Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business, which are generally covered by insurance. While the resolution of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company believes the final outcome of current matters will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position or the results of operations. Upon determination that a loss is probable to occur, the estimated amount of the loss is recorded in the financial statements. Both the amount of the loss and the point at which its occurrence is considered probable can be difficult to determine.
Results of Operations
The following is a discussion of the components of revenue and expense for the entire Company. This section generally discusses 2019 and 2018 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2019 and 2018. Discussions of 2017 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2018 and 2017 that are not included in this Form 10-K can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”
Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 filed on February 26, 2019.
Base rent includes $(1.4) million and $(0.9) million, for the years 2019 and 2018, respectively, to recognize base rent on a straight-line basis. In addition, base rent includes $1.4 million and $1.5 million for the years 2019 and 2018, respectively, to recognize income from the amortization of in-place leases.
Total revenue increased 1.9% in 2019 compared to 2018 as described below.
Base rent
The $1.0 million increase in base rent in 2019 compared to 2018 was attributable to (a) a 110,187 square foot increase in leased space ($2.2 million) and (b) higher residential base rent ($0.7 million), partially offset by (c) a $0.22 per square foot decrease in base rent ($1.8 million).
Expense recoveries
Expense recovery income increased $1.0 million in 2019 compared to 2018 primarily due to an increase in recoverable property operating expenses, largely repairs and maintenance and snow removal.
Credit losses on operating lease receivables
Credit losses increased $0.5 million in 2019 compared to 2018 primarily due to two office tenants.
Other revenue
Other revenue increased $2.7 million in 2019 compared to 2018 primarily due to higher lease termination fees.
Total expenses increased 1.4% in 2019 compared to 2018 as described below.
Property operating expenses
Property operating expenses increased $1.7 million in 2019 compared to 2018 primarily due to (a) higher repairs and maintenance expenses throughout the portfolio ($0.3 million), (b) higher snow removal costs ($0.3 million), and (c) initial direct costs related to leasing activities that, in accordance with ASU 2016-02, are no longer capitalized ($0.7 million).
Real estate taxes
Real estate taxes increased $0.6 million in 2019 compared to 2018 primarily due to increased tax assessments at 601 Pennsylvania Avenue and Clarendon Center ($0.4 million).
Interest expense, net and amortization of deferred debt costs
Interest expense and amortization of deferred debt costs decreased by $2.9 million in 2019 compared to 2018 primarily due to increased capitalized interest ($5.3 million), partially offset by higher interest incurred due to higher outstanding debt balances ($2.4 million).
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization of deferred leasing costs increased by $0.5 million in 2019 compared to 2018 primarily due to the write off of the remaining assets at 7316 Wisconsin Avenue when the property was moved to development ($0.6 million).
General and administrative
General and administrative costs increased $2.3 million in 2019 compared to 2018 primarily due to higher compensation and benefits expense related to leasing activities that, in accordance with ASU 2016-02, are no longer capitalized ($1.5 million).
Same property revenue and same property operating income
Same property revenue and same property operating income are non-GAAP financial measures of performance and improve the comparability of these measures by excluding the results of properties which were not in operation for the entirety of the comparable reporting periods.
We define same property revenue as total revenue minus the revenue of properties not in operation for the entirety of the comparable reporting periods, and we define same property operating income as net income plus (a) interest expense, net and amortization of deferred debt costs, (b) depreciation and amortization of deferred leasing costs, (c) general and administrative expenses, and (d) change in fair value of derivatives, minus (e) gains on sale of property and (f) the operating income of properties which were not in operation for the entirety of the comparable periods.
Other REITs may use different methodologies for calculating same property revenue and same property operating income. Accordingly, our same property revenue and same property operating income may not be comparable to those of other REITs.
Same property revenue and same property operating income are used by management to evaluate and compare the operating performance of our properties, and to determine trends in earnings, because these measures are not affected by the cost of our funding, the impact of depreciation and amortization expenses, gains or losses from the acquisition and sale of operating real estate assets, general and administrative expenses or other gains and losses that relate to ownership of our properties. We believe the exclusion of these items from revenue and operating income is useful because the resulting measures capture the actual revenue generated and actual expenses incurred by operating our properties.
Same property revenue and same property operating income are measures of the operating performance of our properties but do not measure our performance as a whole. Such measures are therefore not substitutes for total revenue, net income or operating income as computed in accordance with GAAP.
The tables below provide reconciliations of property revenue and property operating income under GAAP to same property revenue and same property operating income for the indicated periods. The same property results include 49 Shopping Centers and six Mixed-Use properties for each period.
Same property revenue
The $4.1 million increase in same property revenue for 2019 compared to 2018 was primarily due to (a) higher other revenue ($2.4 million), (b) a 63,023 square foot increase in leased space ($1.3 million), and (c) higher expense recovery income ($1.0 million), partially offset by (d) an $0.11 per square foot decrease in base rent ($0.9 million).
Same property operating income
Same property operating income increased $2.1 million for 2019 compared to 2018 due primarily to
(a) higher other revenue ($2.4 million) and (b) a 63,023 square foot increase in leased space ($1.3 million), partially offset by (c) an $0.11 per square foot decrease in base rent ($0.9 million) and (d) initial direct costs related to leasing activities that, in accordance with ASU 2016-02, are no longer capitalized ($0.7 million).
Impact of Inflation
Inflation has remained relatively low during 2019 and 2018. The impact of rising operating expenses due to inflation on the operating performance of the Company’s portfolio would have been mitigated by terms in substantially all of the Company’s leases, which contain provisions designed to increase revenues to offset the adverse impact of inflation on the Company’s results of operations. These provisions include upward periodic adjustments in base rent due from tenants, usually based on a stipulated increase, and, to a lesser extent, on the change in the consumer price index, commonly referred to as the CPI.
In addition, substantially all of the Company’s properties are leased to tenants under long-term leases, which provide for reimbursement of operating expenses by tenants. These leases tend to reduce the Company’s exposure to rising property expenses due to inflation. Inflation and increased costs may have an adverse impact on the Company’s tenants if increases in their operating expenses exceed increases in their revenue.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash and cash equivalents were $13.9 million and $14.6 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The changes in cash and cash equivalents during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 were attributable to operating, investing and financing activities, as described below.
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 $7.0 million increase in cash used in investing activities is primarily due to (a) development expenditures, primarily related to The Waycroft ($37.5 million) and (b) increased additions to real estate investments throughout the portfolio ($9.0 million) partially offset by (c) lower acquisitions of real estate investments ($40.8 million).
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities represents (a) cash received from loan proceeds and issuance of common stock, preferred stock and limited partnership units minus (b) 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. 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.
Long-term liquidity requirements consist primarily of obligations under our long-term debt and dividends paid to our preferred shareholders. We anticipate that long-term liquidity requirements will also include amounts required for property acquisitions and developments. The Company is developing a primarily residential project with street-level retail at 750 N. Glebe Road in Arlington, Virginia. The total cost of the project, including acquisition of land, is expected to be approximately $275.0 million. The Company had incurred costs totaling $255.4 million as of December 31, 2019. The remaining cost will be funded by a $157.0 million construction-to-permanent loan. 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 coming year, developments, expansions or acquisitions (if any) are expected to be funded with available cash, bank borrowings from the Company’s credit line, construction and permanent financing, proceeds from the operation of the Company’s dividend reinvestment plan 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, and securities offerings may include (subject to certain limitations) the issuance of additional limited partnership interests in the Operating Partnership which can be converted into shares of Saul Centers common stock. The availability and terms of any such financing will depend upon market and other conditions.
Management believes that the Company’s capital resources, which at December 31, 2019 included cash balances of approximately $13.9 million and borrowing availability of approximately $237.3 million on its unsecured revolving credit facility, will be sufficient to meet its liquidity needs for the foreseeable future.
Contractual Payment Obligations
As of December 31, 2019, the Company had unfunded contractual payment obligations of approximately $116.1 million, excluding operating obligations, due within the next 12 months. The table below shows the total contractual payment obligations as of December 31, 2019.
(1)
See Note 7 to Consolidated Financial Statements. Corporate Headquarters Lease amounts represent an allocation to the Company based upon employees’ time dedicated to the Company’s business as specified in the Shared Services Agreement. Future amounts are subject to change as the number of employees employed by each of the parties to the lease fluctuates.
Dividend Reinvestments
In December 1995, the Company established a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”) to allow 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 Plan 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 Plan are paid by the Company. The Company issued 425,956 and 566,435 shares under the Plan at a weighted average discounted price of $52.27 and $50.31 per share during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company issued 60,936 and 107,433 limited partnership units under the Plan at a weighted average price of $52.99 and $50.56 per unit during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company also credited 4,506 and 6,493 shares to directors pursuant to the reinvestment of dividends specified by the Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan at a weighted average discounted price of $52.28 and $50.28 per share, during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Capital Strategy and Financing Activity
As a general policy, the Company intends to maintain a ratio of its total debt to total asset 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 the properties’ 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 December 31, 2019.
The organizational documents of the Company do not limit the absolute amount or percentage of indebtedness that it may incur. The Board of Directors may, from time to time, reevaluate the Company’s debt capitalization policy in light of current economic conditions, relative costs of capital, market values of the Company property portfolio, opportunities for acquisition, development or expansion, and such other factors as the Board of Directors then deems relevant. The Board of Directors may modify the Company’s debt capitalization policy based on such a reevaluation without shareholder approval and may increase or decrease the Company’s debt to total asset ratio above or below 50% or may waive the policy for certain periods of time. The Company continues to refinance or renegotiate the terms of its outstanding debt in order to extend maturities and obtain generally more favorable loan terms, whenever management determines the financing environment is favorable.
The Company's financing activity is described within note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The following is a summary of notes payable as of December 31, 2019 and 2018.
*
Interest rate and scheduled maturity data presented as of December 31, 2019. Totals computed using weighted averages.
At December 31, 2019, the Company had a $400.0 million credit facility comprised of a $325.0 million revolving facility and a $75.0 million term loan. As of December 31, 2019, the applicable spread for borrowings is 135 basis points under the revolving credit facility and 130 basis points under the term loan. Saul Centers and certain consolidated subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership have guaranteed the payment obligations of the Operating Partnership under the credit facility. Letters of credit may be issued under the revolving credit facility. As of December 31, 2019, based on the value of the Company’s unencumbered properties, approximately $237.3 million was available under the revolving credit facility, $87.5 million was outstanding and approximately $185,000 was committed for letters of credit.
The Company’s credit facility requires the Company and its subsidiaries to maintain certain financial covenants, which are summarized below. As of December 31, 2019, the Company was in compliance with all such covenants:
•
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 December 31, 2019, the Company was in compliance with all such covenants.
On September 17, 2019, Saul Centers sold, in an underwritten public offering, 4.0 million depositary shares, each representing 1/100th of a share of 6.000% Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the “Series E Stock”), providing net cash proceeds of approximately $96.8 million. The depositary shares may be redeemed in whole or in part, on or after September 17, 2024, at the $25.00 liquidation preference, plus accrued but unpaid dividends to but not including the redemption date. The depositary shares pay an annual dividend of $1.50 per share, equivalent to 6.000% of the $25.00 liquidation preference. The Series E Stock has no stated maturity, is not subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption and is not convertible into any other securities of the Company except in connection with certain changes in control or delisting events. Investors in the depositary shares generally have no voting rights, but will have limited voting rights if the Company fails to pay dividends for six or more quarters (whether or not declared or consecutive) and in certain other events. On September 23, 2019, Saul Centers sold, as a result of the exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option, an additional 0.4 million depositary shares of Series E Stock, providing net cash proceeds of approximately $9.5 million. On October 17, 2019, the Company used the proceeds from the Series E Stock offering to redeem the outstanding 4.2 million depositary shares of its Series C Stock, including all accumulated and unpaid distributions to, but not including the redemption date. In the fourth quarter, approximately $3.2 million of costs associated with the redemption were charged against Net income available to common stockholders.
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.
Funds From Operations
In 2019, the Company reported Funds From Operations ("FFO")1 available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests of $95.1 million, a 1.3% increase from 2018 FFO available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests of $93.8 million. The following table presents a reconciliation from net income to FFO available to common stockholders and noncontrolling interests for the periods indicated:
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 depreciable real estate assets and gains or losses from property 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 we believe occurs with our 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.
Acquisitions and Redevelopments
Management anticipates that during the coming year, the Company will complete its development activities at The Waycroft, 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 coming year, any developments, expansions or acquisitions are expected to be funded with bank borrowings from the Company’s credit line, 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.
In September 2018, the Company purchased for $35.5 million, plus $0.7 million of acquisition costs, an office building and the underlying ground located at 7316 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda, Maryland. In December
2018, the Company purchased for $4.5 million, including acquisition costs, an interest in an adjacent parcel of land and retail building. The purchase price was funded through the Company's revolving credit facility. The Company has completed development plans for the combined property for the development of up to 366 apartment units and 10,300 square feet of retail space. In July 2019, the Montgomery County Planning Commission unanimously approved the Company's site plan. Design and construction documents are being prepared and a site plan amendment has been submitted incorporating final design parameters. Additional approvals from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and the Maryland Transit Administration are in process and are expected to be received by the fourth quarter of 2020. The Company has executed lease termination agreements with the final office tenants and, effective September 1, 2019, the asset was removed from service and transferred to construction in progress.
The Company, as contract purchaser, has filed with the City of Rockville a site plan for Phase I of the Twinbrook Quarter development and is conducting community hearings and awaiting design review committee comments on its plan. The plan includes an 80,000 square foot Wegmans grocery store, 29,000 square feet of retail shop space, 460 residential units and 237,000 square feet of office space. The phasing of these improvements and the timing of construction will depend on removal of contingencies, final site plan approval, building permit approval and market conditions. The total development potential of this 8.1 acre site, when combined with the Company’s adjacent 10.3 acre site, totals 1,865 residential units, 473,000 square feet of retail space, and 431,000 square feet of office space.
Portfolio Leasing Status
The following chart sets forth certain information regarding commercial leases at our properties for the periods indicated. This section generally discusses 2019 and 2018 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2019 and 2018. Discussions of 2017 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2018 and 2017 that are not included in this Form 10-K can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 filed on February 26, 2019.
The residential components of Clarendon Center and Park Van Ness were 95.5% and 97.0% leased, respectively, at December 31, 2019. The residential components of Clarendon Center and Park Van Ness were 99.6% and 97.0% leased, respectively, at December 31, 2018. On a same property basis, which excludes the impact of properties not in operation for the entirety of the comparable periods, the Shopping Center leasing percentage decreased to 95.6% from 96.0% and the Mixed-Use leasing percentage decreased to 91.6% from 93.6%. The overall portfolio leasing percentage, on a comparative same property basis, decreased to 95.1% at December 31, 2019 from 95.7% at December 31, 2018.
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.
Certain of the Company’s operating properties are planned for redevelopment, including its properties at Twinbrook and White Flint. Prior to the commencement of redevelopment, the Company continues to operate the properties. However, in order to provide the greatest amount of flexibility, the Company generally enters into leases with shorter terms at these “pre-development” properties. The shorter-term leases require less capital, but also yield lower rents. The impact of these leases with shorter terms and lower rents can impact the averages shown for all leasing activity. During 2019, the Company entered into six new or renewed leases, for 53,400 square feet of retail space, at pre-development properties that have shorter terms and lower rents than typical market conditions would suggest. Excluding these leases, the base rent on the 249 new or renewed leases on a same space basis would have been $18.26 per square foot compared to $18.10 per square foot for expiring leases.
Additional information about commercial leasing activity during the three months ended December 31, 2019, 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 as a result of acquisition or development.
During 2019, the Company entered into 431 new or renewed apartment leases. The monthly rent per square foot for these leases increased to $3.53 from $3.45. During 2018, the Company entered into 465 new or renewed apartment leases. The monthly rent per square foot for these leases was unchanged at $3.44.
As of December 31, 2019, 746,234 square feet of Commercial space was subject to leases scheduled to expire in 2020. Below is information about existing and estimated market base rents per square foot for that space.
Item 7A.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The Company is exposed to certain financial market risks, the most predominant being fluctuations in interest rates. Interest rate fluctuations are monitored by management as an integral part of the Company’s overall risk management program, which recognizes the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to reduce the potentially adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.
The Company may, where appropriate, employ derivative instruments, such as interest rate swaps, to mitigate the risk of interest rate fluctuations. The Company does not enter into derivatives or other financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. On June 29, 2010, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement with a $45.6 million notional amount to manage the interest rate risk associated with $45.6 million of variable-rate mortgage debt. The swap agreement was terminated on November 21, 2019, and the Company incurred a $0.4 million charge to change in fair value of derivatives.
The Company is exposed to interest rate fluctuations which will affect the amount of interest expense of its variable rate debt and the fair value of its fixed rate debt. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had variable rate indebtedness totaling $162.5 million. If the interest rates on the Company’s variable rate debt instruments outstanding at December 31, 2019 had been one percent higher, our annual interest expense relating to these debt instruments would have increased by $1.6 million, based on those balances. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had fixed-rate indebtedness totaling $938.4 million with a weighted average interest rate of 5.04%. If interest rates on the Company’s fixed-rate debt instruments at December 31, 2019 had been one percent higher, the fair value of those debt instruments on that date would have decreased by approximately $51.7 million.
Item 8.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries are included in this report on the pages indicated, and are incorporated herein by reference:
Item 9.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Quarterly Assessment.
The Company carried out an assessment as of December 31, 2019 of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures and its internal control over financial reporting. This assessment was done under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Company’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President, its Executive Vice President-Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, and its Senior Vice President-Chief Accounting Officer as appropriate. Rules adopted by the SEC require that the Company present the conclusions of the Company’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President, and its Executive Vice President-Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer about the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and the conclusions of the Company’s management about the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
CEO and CFO Certifications.
Included as Exhibits 31 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K are forms of “Certification” of the Company’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, and its Executive Vice President-Chief Financial
Officer and Treasurer. The forms of Certification are required in accordance with Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. This section of the 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 and Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act, such as this Annual Report on Form 10-K, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures are also designed to provide reasonable assurance that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, its Executive Vice President-Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, and its Senior Vice President-Chief Accounting Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of the Company’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, its Executive Vice President-Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, and its Senior Vice President-Chief Accounting Officer, and effected by the Company’s Board of Directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U. S. GAAP and includes those policies and procedures that:
•
pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the Company’s assets;
•
provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U. S. GAAP, and that the Company’s receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management or the Company’s Board of Directors; and
•
provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial statements.
Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls.
Management, including the Company’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, its Executive Vice President-Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, and its Senior Vice President-Chief Accounting Officer, does not expect that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no assessment of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company 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 management’s 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, 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 Assessments.
The assessment by the Company’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, its Executive Vice President-Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, and its Senior Vice President-Chief Accounting Officer of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and the assessment by the Company’s management of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting included a review of procedures and discussions with the Company’s Disclosure Committee and others in the Company. In the course of the assessments, management sought to identify data errors, control problems or acts of fraud and to confirm that appropriate corrective action, including process improvements, were being undertaken. Management used the criteria issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013 Framework) to assess the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting is done on a quarterly basis so that the conclusions concerning the effectiveness of disclosure controls can be reported in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is also evaluated on an ongoing basis by management, other personnel in the Company’s accounting department and the Company’s internal audit function. The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is audited by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. We consider the results of these various assessment activities as we monitor the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting and when deciding to make modifications as necessary. Management’s intent in this regard is that the disclosure controls and procedures and the internal control over financial reporting will be maintained and updated (including improvements and corrections) as conditions warrant.
Assessment of Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Based upon the assessments, the Company’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, its Executive Vice President-Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, and its Senior Vice President-Chief Accounting Officer have concluded that, as of December 31, 2019, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
Assessment of Effectiveness of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Management used the criteria issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013 Framework) to assess the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Based upon the assessments, the Company’s management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2019, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective. The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm has issued a report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, which appears on page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.
During the three months ended December 31, 2019, there was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B.
Item 9B. Other Information
None.
PART III
Item 10.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information this Item requires is incorporated by reference to the information under the captions “The Board of Directors,” “Corporate Governance - Ethical Conduct Policy and Senior Financial Officer Code of Ethics,” “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports,” “Corporate Governance - Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee - Selection of Director Nominees,” and “Corporate Governance - Audit Committee” of the Company’s Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC for its annual stockholders’ meeting to be held on April 24, 2020 (the “Proxy Statement”).
Item 11.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information this Item requires is incorporated by reference to the information under the captions “Corporate Governance - Compensation of Directors,” “Report of the Compensation Committee,” and “Executive Compensation” of the Proxy Statement.
Item 12.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters
The information this Item requires is incorporated by reference to the information under the captions “Equity Compensation Plan Information” and “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” of the Proxy Statement.
Item 13.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence
The information this Item requires is incorporated by reference to the information under the captions “Certain Relationships and Transactions” and “Corporate Governance - Board of Directors” of the Proxy Statement.
Item 14.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The information this Item requires is incorporated by reference to the information contained in the Proxy Statement under the caption “Audit Committee Report - 2019 and 2018 Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fee Summary” of the Proxy Statement.
PART IV
Item 15.
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(e)
Specimen certificate representing the 6.125% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, filed as Exhibit 4.4 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed January 23, 2018 is hereby incorporated by reference.
(f)
Deposit Agreement, dated September 17, 2019, among the Company, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Depositary, and the holders of depositary receipts, filed as Exhibit 4.1 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed September 17, 2019 is hereby incorporated by reference.
(g)
Specimen certificate representing the 6.000% Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, filed as Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed September 17, 2019 is hereby incorporated by reference.
(h)
Description of Registrant's Securities
10.
(a)
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Saul Holdings Limited Partnership filed as Exhibit No. 10.1 to Registration Statement No. 33-64562 is hereby incorporated by reference. The First Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Saul Holdings Limited Partnership, the Second Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Saul Holdings Limited Partnership, and the Third Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Saul Holdings Limited Partnership filed as Exhibit 10.(a) of the 1995 Annual Report of the Company on Form 10-K is hereby incorporated by reference. The Fourth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Saul Holdings Limited Partnership filed as Exhibit 10.(a) of the March 31, 1997 Quarterly Report of the Company is hereby incorporated by reference. The Fifth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Saul Holdings Limited Partnership filed as Exhibit 4.(c) to Registration Statement No. 333-41436, is hereby incorporated by reference. The Sixth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Saul Holdings Limited Partnership filed as Exhibit 10.(a) of the September 30, 2003 Quarterly Report of the Company on Form 10-Q is hereby incorporated by reference. The Seventh Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Saul Holdings Limited Partnership filed as Exhibit 10.(a) of the December 31, 2003 Annual Report of the Company on Form 10-K is hereby incorporated by reference. The Eighth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Saul Holdings Limited Partnership filed as Exhibit 10.(a) of the December 31, 2007 Annual Report of the Company on Form 10-K is hereby incorporated by reference. The Ninth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Saul Holdings Limited Partnership filed as Exhibit 10.(a) of the March 31, 2008 Quarterly Report of the Company on Form 10-Q is hereby incorporated by reference. The Tenth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Saul Holdings Limited Partnership filed as Exhibit 10.(a) of the March 31, 2008 Quarterly Report of the Company on Form 10-Q is hereby incorporated by reference. The Eleventh Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Saul Holdings Limited Partnership filed as Exhibit 10.(a) of the September 30, 2011 Quarterly Report of the Company on Form 10-Q is hereby incorporated by reference. The Twelfth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Saul Holdings Limited Partnership filed as Exhibit 10.1 of the Current Report of the Company on Form 8-K dated February 12, 2013 is hereby incorporated by reference. The Thirteenth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Saul Holdings Limited Partnership filed as Exhibit 10.1 of the Current Report of the Company on Form 8-K dated November 12, 2014, is hereby incorporated by reference. The Fourteenth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Saul Holdings Limited Partnership, filed as Exhibit 10.1 of the Current Report of the Company on Form 8-K dated January 23, 2018, is hereby incorporated by reference. The Fifteenth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Saul Holdings Limited Partnership, filed as Exhibit 10.1 of the Current Report of the Company on Form 8-K dated May 14, 2018, is hereby incorporated by reference. The Sixteenth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Saul Holdings Limited Partnership, filed as Exhibit 10.1 of the Current Report of the Company on Form 8-K dated September 17, 2019, is hereby incorporated by reference.
(b)
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Saul Subsidiary I Limited Partnership and Amendment No. 1 thereto filed as Exhibit 10.2 to Registration Statement No. 33-64562 are hereby incorporated by reference. The Second Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Saul Subsidiary I Limited Partnership, the Third Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Saul Subsidiary I Limited Partnership and the Fourth Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Saul Subsidiary I Limited Partnership as filed as Exhibit 10.(b) of the 1997 Annual Report of the Company on Form 10-K are hereby incorporated by reference.
* - Management Contract of Compensatory Plan or Agreement
** - In accordance with Item 601(b)(32) of Regulation S-K, this Exhibit is not deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. Such certifications will not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the registrant specifically incorporates it by reference.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
Not applicable.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SAUL CENTERS, INC.
(Registrant)
Date:
February 27, 2020
/s/ B. Francis Saul II
B. Francis Saul II
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President
(Principal Executive Officer)
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Report has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated. Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints each of B. Francis Saul II and Scott V. Schneider as his attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him 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 substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Financial Statements
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Saul Centers, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Saul Centers, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, equity and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the related notes and the schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a)2(b) (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 27, 2020, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
Critical audit matters are matters arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. We determined that there are no critical audit matters.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
McLean, Virginia
February 27, 2020
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2018.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the stockholders and the Board of Directors of Saul Centers, Inc.
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Saul Centers, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company has maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019, of the Company and our report dated February 27, 2020, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s 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 Assessment of Effectiveness of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. 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.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s 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 company’s 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 company’s 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.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
McLean, Virginia
February 27, 2020
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Saul Centers, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, equity and cash flows of Saul Centers, Inc. (the Company) for the year ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes and financial statement schedule for the year ended December 31, 2017 listed in the Index at Item 15(a)2(b) (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated results of the Company at December 31, 2017, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We served as the Company’s auditor from 2002 to 2018.
Tysons, Virginia
February 27, 2018
Saul Centers, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
The Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
Saul Centers, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
The Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
Saul Centers, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
The Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
The Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
Saul Centers, Inc.
(1) The 2018 acquisition of real estate and proceeds from the issuance of partnership units each excludes $8,776 in connection with the acquisition of Ashbrook Marketplace in exchange for limited partnership units.
(2) Proceeds from sale of property in 2017 excludes $1,275 of seller financing in connection with the sale of the Company's Great Eastern property, which were received in 2018 plus accrued interest of $51.
The Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
SAUL CENTERS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
1.
ORGANIZATION, BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Saul Centers, Inc. (“Saul Centers”) was incorporated under the Maryland General Corporation Law on June 10, 1993. Saul Centers operates as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Company is required to annually distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income (excluding net capital gains) to its stockholders and meet certain organizational and other requirements. Saul Centers has made and intends to continue to make regular quarterly distributions to its stockholders. Saul Centers, together with its wholly owned subsidiaries and the limited partnerships of which Saul Centers or one of its subsidiaries is the sole general partner, are referred to collectively as the “Company.” B. Francis Saul II serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President of Saul Centers.
Saul Centers was formed to continue and expand the shopping center business previously owned and conducted by the B. F. Saul Real Estate Investment Trust (the "Saul Trust"), the B. F. Saul Company and certain other affiliated entities, each of which is controlled by B. Francis Saul II and his family members (collectively, the “Saul Organization”). On August 26, 1993, members of the Saul Organization transferred to Saul Holdings Limited Partnership, a newly formed Maryland limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), and two newly formed subsidiary limited partnerships (the “Subsidiary Partnerships,” and collectively with the Operating Partnership, the “Partnerships”), Shopping Centers and Mixed-Used Properties, and the management functions related to the transferred properties. Since its formation, the Company has developed and purchased additional properties.
The Company, which conducts all of its activities through its subsidiaries, the Operating Partnership and Subsidiary Partnerships, engages in the ownership, operation, management, leasing, acquisition, renovation, expansion, development and financing of community and neighborhood shopping centers and mixed-used properties, primarily in the Washington, DC/Baltimore metropolitan area.
Because the properties are located primarily in the Washington, DC/Baltimore metropolitan area, a disproportionate economic downturn in the local economy would have a greater negative impact on our overall financial performance than on the overall financial performance of a company with a portfolio that is more geographically diverse. A majority of the Shopping Centers are anchored by several major tenants. As of December 31, 2019, 33 of the Shopping Centers were anchored by a grocery store and offer primarily day-to-day necessities and services. One retail tenant, Giant Food (4.7%), a tenant at ten Shopping Centers, individually accounted for 2.5% or more of the Company’s total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2019.
As of December 31, 2019, the Current Portfolio Properties consisted of 50 Shopping Centers, six Mixed-Use Properties, and four (non-operating) development properties.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of Saul Centers and its subsidiaries, including the Operating Partnership and Subsidiary Partnerships, which are majority owned by Saul Centers. Substantially all assets and liabilities of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, are comprised of the assets and liabilities of the Operating Partnership. The debt arrangements which are subject to recourse are described in Note 5. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
The Operating Partnership is a variable interest entity ("VIE") of the Company because the limited partners do not have substantive kick-out or participating rights. The Company is the primary beneficiary of the Operating Partnership because it has the power to direct the activities of the Operating Partnership and the rights to absorb 74.6% of the net income of the Operating Partnership. Because the Operating Partnership was already consolidated into the financial statements of the Company, the identification of it as a VIE has no impact on the consolidated financial statements of the Company.
SAUL CENTERS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. The most significant estimates and assumptions relate to impairment of real estate properties. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Real Estate Investment Properties
Real estate investment properties are stated at historic cost less depreciation. Although the Company intends to own its real estate investment properties over a long term, from time to time it will evaluate its market position, market conditions, and other factors and may elect to sell properties that do not conform to the Company’s investment profile. Management believes that the Company’s real estate assets have generally appreciated in value since their acquisition or development and, accordingly, the aggregate current value exceeds their aggregate net book value and also exceeds the value of the Company’s liabilities as reported in the financial statements. Because the financial statements are prepared in conformity with GAAP, they do not report the current value of the Company’s real estate investment properties.
If there is an event or change in circumstance that indicates a potential impairment in the value of a real estate investment property, the Company prepares an analysis to determine whether the carrying value of the real estate investment property exceeds its estimated fair value. The Company considers both quantitative and qualitative factors including recurring operating losses, significant decreases in occupancy, and significant adverse changes in legal factors and business climate. If impairment indicators are present, the Company compares the projected cash flows of the property over its remaining useful life, on an undiscounted basis, to the carrying value of that property. The Company assesses its undiscounted projected cash flows based upon estimated capitalization rates, historic operating results and market conditions that may affect the property. If the carrying value is greater than the undiscounted projected cash flows, the Company would recognize an impairment loss equivalent to an amount required to adjust the carrying amount to its then estimated fair value. The fair value of any property is sensitive to the actual results of any of the aforementioned estimated factors, either individually or taken as a whole. Should the actual results differ from management’s projections, the valuation could be negatively or positively affected. The Company did not recognize an impairment loss on any of its real estate in 2019, 2018, or 2017.
Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method and estimated useful lives of generally between 35 and 50 years for base buildings, or a shorter period if management determines that the building has a shorter useful life, and up to 20 years for certain other improvements that extend the useful lives. Leasehold improvements expenditures are capitalized when certain criteria are met, including when the Company supervises construction and will own the improvements. Tenant improvements are amortized, over the shorter of the lives of the related leases or the useful life of the improvement, using the straight-line method. Depreciation expense, which is included in Depreciation and amortization of deferred leasing costs in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, was $40.5 million, $39.8 million, and $40.2 million, respectively. Repairs and maintenance expense totaled $12.5 million, $11.9 million, and $11.6 million for 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively, and is included in property operating expenses in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Assets Held for Sale
The Company considers properties to be assets held for sale when all of the following criteria are met:
•
management commits to a plan to sell a property;
•
it is unlikely that the disposal plan will be significantly modified or discontinued;
•
the property is available for immediate sale in its present condition;
•
actions required to complete the sale of the property have been initiated;
SAUL CENTERS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
•
sale of the property is probable and the Company expects the completed sale will occur within one year; and
•
the property is actively being marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable given its current market value.
The Company must make a determination as to the point in time that it is probable that a sale will be consummated, which generally occurs when an executed sales contract has no contingencies and the prospective buyer has significant funds at risk to ensure performance. Upon designation as an asset held for sale, the Company records the carrying value of each property at the lower of its carrying value or its estimated fair value, less estimated costs to sell, and ceases depreciation. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company had no assets designated as held for sale.
Revenue Recognition
Rental and interest income are accrued as earned. Recognition of rental income commences when control of the space has been given to the tenant. When rental payments due under leases vary from a straight-line basis because of free rent periods or stepped increases, income is recognized on a straight-line basis. Expense recoveries represent a portion of property operating expenses billed to the tenants, including common area maintenance, real estate taxes and other recoverable costs. Expense recoveries are recognized in the period in which the expenses are incurred. Rental income based on a tenant’s revenue (“percentage rent”) is accrued when a tenant reports sales that exceed a specified breakpoint, pursuant to the terms of their respective leases.
Accounts Receivable, Accrued Income, and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Accounts receivable primarily represent amounts currently due from tenants in accordance with the terms of their respective leases. Lease related receivables are reduced for credit losses. Such losses are recognized as a reduction of rental revenue in the consolidated statements of operations.
Receivables are reviewed monthly and reserves are established with a charge to current period operations when, in the opinion of management, collection of the receivable is doubtful. Accounts receivable in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are shown net of an allowance for doubtful accounts of $0.4 million and $0.6 million, at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
In addition to rents due currently, accounts receivable also includes $42.1 million and $43.3 million, at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, net of allowance for doubtful accounts totaling $30,000 and $58,500, respectively, representing minimum rental income accrued on a straight-line basis to be paid by tenants over the remaining term of their respective leases.
Deferred Leasing Costs
Deferred leasing costs consist of commissions paid to third-party leasing agents, internal direct costs such as employee compensation and payroll-related fringe benefits directly related to time spent performing leasing-related activities for successful commercial leases and amounts attributed to in place leases associated with acquired properties and are amortized, using the straight-line method, over the term of the lease or the remaining term of an acquired lease. Leasing related activities include evaluating the prospective tenant’s financial condition, evaluating and recording guarantees, collateral and other security arrangements, negotiating lease terms, preparing lease documents and closing the transaction. Unamortized deferred costs are charged to expense if the applicable lease is terminated prior to expiration of the initial lease term. Collectively, deferred leasing costs totaled $24.1 million and $28.1 million, net of accumulated amortization of approximately $41.6 million and $37.7 million, as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Amortization expense, which is included in Depreciation and amortization of deferred leasing costs in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, totaled approximately $5.8 million, $6.1 million, and $5.5 million, for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.
SAUL CENTERS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include short-term investments. Short-term investments include money market accounts and other investments which generally mature within three months, measured from the acquisition date, and/or are readily convertible to cash. Substantially all of the Company’s cash balances at December 31, 2019 are held in non-interest bearing accounts at various banks. From time to time the Company may maintain deposits with financial institutions in amounts in excess of federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses on such deposits and believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk on those deposits.
Deferred Income
Deferred income consists of payments received from tenants prior to the time they are earned and recognized by the Company as revenue, including tenant prepayment of rent for future periods, real estate taxes when the taxing jurisdiction has a fiscal year differing from the calendar year reimbursements specified in the lease agreement and tenant construction work provided by the Company. In addition, deferred income includes the fair value of certain below market leases.
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company may, when appropriate, employ derivative instruments, such as interest-rate swaps, to mitigate the risk of interest rate fluctuations. The Company does not enter into derivative or other financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. Derivative financial instruments are carried at fair value as either assets or liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. For those derivative instruments that qualify, the Company may designate the hedging instrument, based upon the exposure being hedged, as a fair value hedge or a cash flow hedge. Derivative instruments that are designated as a hedge are evaluated to ensure they continue to qualify for hedge accounting. The effective portion of any gain or loss on the hedge instruments is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and recognized in earnings within the same line item associated with the forecasted transaction in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Any ineffective portion of the change in fair value of a derivative instrument is immediately recognized in earnings. For derivative instruments that do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting, or that qualify and are not designated, changes in fair value are immediately recognized in earnings.
Income Taxes
The Company made an election to be treated, and intends to continue operating so as to qualify, as a REIT under the Code, commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 1993. A REIT generally will not be subject to federal income taxation, provided that distributions to its stockholders equal or exceed its REIT taxable income and complies with certain other requirements. Therefore, no provision has been made for federal income taxes in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
As of December 31, 2019, the Company had no material unrecognized tax benefits and there exist no potentially significant unrecognized tax benefits which are reasonably expected to occur within the next twelve months. The Company recognizes penalties and interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, as general and administrative expense. No penalties and interest have been accrued in years 2019, 2018, and 2017. The tax basis of the Company’s real estate investments was approximately $1.33 billion and $1.35 billion as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state, and local tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2016.
Legal Contingencies
The Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business, which are generally covered by insurance. Upon determination that a loss is probable to occur and can be reasonably estimated, the estimated amount of the loss is recorded in the financial statements.
SAUL CENTERS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (‘‘FASB’’) issued Accounting Standards Update (‘‘ASU’’) 2016-02, ‘‘Leases’’ (“ASU 2016-02”). ASU 2016-02 amends the existing accounting standards for lease accounting, including requiring lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheets and making targeted changes to lessor accounting. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, interim periods within those years, and requires a modified retrospective transition approach for all leases existing at the date of initial application, with an option to use certain practical expedients for those existing leases. Upon adoption of ASU 2016-02 effective January 1, 2019, we elected the practical expedient for all leases with respect to lease identification, lease classification, and initial direct costs. We made a policy election not to separate lease and nonlease components and have accounted for each lease component and the related nonlease components together as a single component. There have been no significant changes to our lessor accounting for operating leases as a result of ASU 2016-02.
We lease Shopping Centers and Mixed-Use Properties to lessees in exchange for monthly payments that cover rent, and where applicable, reimbursement for property taxes, insurance, and certain property operating expenses. Our leases were determined to be operating leases and generally range in term from one to 15 years.
Some of our leases have termination options and/or extension options. Termination options allow the lessee to terminate the lease prior to the end of the lease term, provided certain conditions are met. Termination options generally require advance notification from the lessee and payment of a termination fee. Termination fees are recognized as revenue over the modified lease term. Extension options are subject to terms and conditions stated in the lease.
On January 1, 2019, a right of use asset and corresponding lease liability related to our headquarters lease were recorded in other assets and other liabilities, respectively. The lease expires on February 28, 2022, with one option to renew for an additional five years. The right of use asset and corresponding lease liability totaled $1.6 million and $1.6 million, respectively, at December 31, 2019.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, "Financial Instruments-Credit Losses" ("ASU 2016-13"). ASU 2016-13 replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of information to support credit loss estimates. ASU 2016-13 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those years. Management has determined that the adoption of ASU 2016-13 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures because the vast majority of the Company's receivables relate to operating leases which are accounted for under ASC 842.
In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, “Derivatives and Hedging” (“ASU 2017-12”). ASU 2017-12 amends financial reporting for hedging activities to better align that reporting with risk management activities. ASU 2017-12 expands and refines hedge accounting for both financial and nonfinancial risk components and aligns the recognition and presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the hedged item in the financial statements. Effective with the adoption of ASU 2017-12 on January 1, 2019, changes in the fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap related to changes in the cash flow of the hedged item are reported as a component of interest expense and amortization of deferred debt costs in the Statements of Operations.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior years to conform to the presentation used for year ended December 31, 2019.
SAUL CENTERS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
3.
REAL ESTATE
Construction in Progress
Construction in progress includes land, preconstruction and development costs of active projects. Preconstruction costs include legal, zoning and permitting costs and other project carrying costs incurred prior to the commencement of construction. Development costs include direct construction costs and indirect costs incurred subsequent to the start of construction such as architectural, engineering, construction management and carrying costs consisting of interest, real estate taxes and insurance. The following table shows the components of construction in progress.
Acquisitions
Burtonsville Town Square
In January 2017, the Company purchased for $76.4 million, including acquisition costs, Burtonsville Town Square located in Burtonsville, Maryland.
Olney Shopping Center
In March 2017, the Company purchased for $3.1 million, including acquisition costs, the land underlying Olney Shopping Center. The land was previously leased by the Company with an annual rent of approximately $56,000. The purchase price was funded by the revolving credit facility.
Ashbrook Marketplace
In May 2018, the Company acquired from the Saul Trust, in exchange for 176,680 limited partnership units, approximately 13.7 acres of land located at the intersection of Ashburn Village Boulevard and Russell Branch Parkway in Loudoun County, Virginia. Based on the closing price of the Company's common stock, the land and the limited partnership units were recorded at a value of $8.8 million. Acquisition costs related to the transaction totaled approximately $0.2 million.
7316 Wisconsin Avenue
In September 2018, the Company purchased for $35.5 million, plus $0.7 million of acquisition costs, an office building and the underlying ground located at 7316 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda, Maryland. In December 2018, the Company purchased for $4.5 million, including acquisition costs, an interest in an adjacent parcel of land and retail building. The purchase price was funded through the Company's credit facility. The Company has executed lease termination agreements with the final two office tenants and, effective September 1, 2019, the asset was removed from service and transferred to construction in progress at its carrying value of $42.6 million.
SAUL CENTERS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Allocation of Purchase Price of Real Estate Acquired
The Company allocates the purchase price of real estate investment properties to various components, such as land, buildings and intangibles related to in-place leases and customer relationships, based on their relative fair values.
During 2018, the Company acquired properties that had an aggregate cost of $49.5 million, including acquisition costs. The purchase price was allocated to assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their relative fair values as shown in the following table.
During 2017, the Company purchased one property, Burtonsville Town Square, at a cost of $76.4 million, including acquisition costs. Of the total acquisition cost, $28.4 million was allocated to land, $45.8 million was allocated to buildings, $2.2 million was allocated to in-place leases, $0.6 million was allocated to above-market rent, and $(0.6) million was allocated to below-market rent, based on their relative fair values.
The gross carrying amount of lease intangible assets included in deferred leasing costs as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $11.7 million and $12.5 million, respectively, and accumulated amortization was $8.5 million and $8.1 million, respectively. Amortization expense totaled $0.9 million, $1.3 million and $1.1 million, for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. The gross carrying amount of below market lease intangible liabilities included in deferred income as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $24.1 million and $24.8 million, respectively, and accumulated amortization was $13.9 million and $13.1 million, respectively. Accretion income totaled $1.5 million, $1.7 million, and $1.7 million, for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. The gross carrying amount of above market lease intangible assets included in accounts receivable as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $0.6 million and $0.8 million, respectively, and accumulated amortization was $108,300 and $143,900, respectively. Amortization expense totaled $109,600, $110,500 and $31,600, for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The remaining weighted-average amortization period as of December 31, 2019 is 4.5 years, 7.6 years, and 5.3 years for lease acquisition costs, above market leases and below market leases, respectively.
As of December 31, 2019, scheduled amortization of intangible assets and deferred income related to in place leases is as follows:
SAUL CENTERS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
4.
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS - HOLDERS OF CONVERTIBLE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP UNITS IN THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP
Saul Centers is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, owning a 74.6% common interest as of December 31, 2019. Noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership is comprised of limited partnership units owned by the Saul Organization. Noncontrolling interest reflected on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets is increased for earnings allocated to limited partnership interests and distributions reinvested in additional units, and is decreased for limited partner distributions. Noncontrolling interest reflected on the consolidated statements of operations represents earnings allocated to limited partnership interests held by the Saul Organization.
The Saul Organization holds a 25.4% limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership represented by 7,886,916 limited partnership units, as of December 31, 2019. The units are convertible into shares of Saul Centers’ common stock, at the option of the unit holder, on a one-for-one basis provided that, in accordance with the Saul Centers, Inc. Articles of Incorporation, the rights may not be exercised at any time that the Saul Organization beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate more than 39.9% of the value of the outstanding common stock and preferred stock of Saul Centers (the “Equity Securities”). As of December 31, 2019, approximately 925,000 units were eligible for conversion.
The impact of the Saul Organization’s 25.4% limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership is reflected as Noncontrolling Interests in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Fully converted partnership units and diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, were 30.9 million, 30.2 million, and 29.5 million, respectively.
5.
MORTGAGE NOTES PAYABLE, REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY, INTEREST EXPENSE AND AMORTIZATION OF DEFERRED DEBT COSTS
At December 31, 2019, the principal amount of outstanding debt totaled $1.1 billion, of which $938.4 million was fixed rate debt and $162.5 million was variable rate debt. The principal amount of the Company’s outstanding debt totaled $1.0 billion at December 31, 2018, of which $910.2 million was fixed rate debt and $122.0 million was variable rate debt.
At December 31, 2019, the Company had a $400.0 million unsecured credit facility, which can be used for working capital, property acquisitions or development projects, of which $325.0 million is a revolving credit facility and $75.0 million is a term loan. The revolving credit facility matures on January 26, 2022, and may be extended by the Company for one additional year subject to the Company’s satisfaction of certain conditions. The term loan matures on January 26, 2023, and may not be extended. Saul Centers and certain consolidated subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership have guaranteed the payment obligations of the Operating Partnership under the credit facility. Letters of credit may be issued under the revolving credit facility. On December 31, 2019, based on the value of the Company's unencumbered properties, approximately $237.3 million was available under the revolving credit facility, $87.5 million was outstanding and approximately $185,000 was committed for letters of credit. Interest at a rate equal to the sum of one-month LIBOR and a margin that is based on the Company’s leverage ratio and which can range from 135 basis points to 195 basis points under the revolving facility and from 130 basis points to 190 basis points under the term loan. As of December 31, 2019, the margin was 135 basis points under the revolving facility and 130 basis points under the term loan.
Saul Centers is a guarantor of the credit facility, of which the Operating Partnership is the borrower. The Operating Partnership is the guarantor of (a) a portion of the Park Van Ness mortgage (approximately $6.7 million of the $68.1 million outstanding balance at December 31, 2019, which guarantee will be reduced to (i) $3.3 million on October 1, 2020 and (ii) zero on October 1, 2021), (b) a portion of the Kentlands Square II mortgage (approximately $8.5 million of the $34.0 million outstanding balance at December 31, 2019), (c) a portion of the Broadlands mortgage (approximately $3.9 million of the $31.2 million outstanding balance at December 31, 2019), and (d) a portion of the Avenel Business Park mortgage (approximately $6.3 million of the $26.3 million outstanding balance at December 31, 2019). All other notes payable are non-recourse.
On January 18, 2017, the Company closed on a 15-year, non-recourse $40.0 million mortgage loan secured by Burtonsville Town Square. The loan matures in 2032, bears interest at a fixed rate of 3.39%, requires
SAUL CENTERS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
monthly principal and interest payments of $197,900 based on a 25-year amortization schedule and requires a final payment of $20.3 million at maturity.
On August 14, 2017, the Company closed on a $157.0 million construction-to-permanent loan, the proceeds of which will be used to partially fund The Waycroft development project. The loan matures in 2035, bears interest at a fixed rate of 4.67%, requires interest only payments, which will be funded by the loan, until conversion to permanent. The conversion is expected in the fourth quarter of 2021, and thereafter, monthly principal and interest payments of $887,900 based on a 25-year amortization schedule will be required.
Effective September 1, 2017, the Company's $71.6 million construction-to-permanent loan, which is fully drawn and secured by Park Van Ness, converted to permanent financing. The loan matures in 2032, bears interest at a fixed rate of 4.88%, requires monthly principal and interest payments of $413,460 based on a 25-year amortization schedule and requires a final payment of $39.6 million at maturity.
On November 20, 2017, the Company closed on a 15-year, non-recourse $60.0 million mortgage loan secured by Washington Square. The loan matures in 2032, bears interest at a fixed rate of 3.75%, requires monthly principal and interest payments of $308,500 based on a 25-year amortization schedule and requires a final payment of $31.1 million. Proceeds were used to repay the remaining balance of approximately $28.1 million on the existing mortgage and reduce the outstanding balance of the revolving credit facility.
On October 3, 2018, the Company closed on a 15-year , non-recourse $32.0 million mortgage loan secured by Broadlands Village. The loan matures in 2033, bears interest at a fixed-rate of 4.41%, requires monthly principal and interest payments of $176,200 based on a 25-year amortization schedule and requires a final payment of $17.3 million at maturity. Proceeds were used to repay the remaining principal balance of approximately $15.2 million on the existing mortgage, the remaining balance of approximately $7.3 million on the existing mortgage collateralized by the Glen, the remaining balance of approximately $6.1 million on the existing mortgage collateralized by Kentlands Square I, and reduce the outstanding balance of the revolving credit facility.
On December 18, 2018, the Company closed on a 15-year, non-recourse $22.9 million mortgage loan secured by The Glen. The loan matures in 2034, bears interest at a fixed-rate of 4.69%, requires monthly principal and interest payments of $129,800 based on a 25-year amortization schedule and requires a final payment of $12.5 million at maturity.
On January 4, 2019, the Company repaid in full the remaining principal balance of $12.7 million of the mortgage loan secured by Countryside Marketplace, which was scheduled to mature in July 2019.
On January 10, 2019, the Company closed on a 15-year, non-recourse $22.1 million mortgage loan secured by Olde Forte Village. The loan matures in 2034, bears interest at a fixed-rate of 4.65%, requires monthly principal and interest payments of $124,700 based on a 25-year amortization schedule and requires a final payment of $12.1 million. Proceeds were partially used to repay in full the existing mortgage secured by Olde Forte Village, which was scheduled to mature in May 2019.
On June 3, 2019, the Company repaid in full the remaining principal balance of $12.4 million of the mortgage loan secured by Briggs Chaney Marketplace, which was scheduled to mature in September 2019.
On November 12, 2019, the Company closed on a 15-year, non-recourse $28.5 million mortgage loan secured by Shops at Monocacy. The loan matures in 2034, bears interest at a fixed-rate of 4.14%, requires monthly principal and interest payments of $152,600 based on a 25-year amortization schedule and requires a final payment of $15.1 million. Proceeds were partially used to repay in full the existing mortgage secured by Shops at Monocacy, which was scheduled to mature in January 2020.
On November 21, 2019, the Company repaid in full the remaining principal balance of $35.6 million of the mortgage loan secured by Thruway, which was scheduled to mature in July 2020. The Company’s corresponding swap agreement was terminated on the same day.
The carrying value of the properties collateralizing the mortgage notes payable totaled $1.1 billion and $1.1 billion, as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company’s credit facility requires the Company
SAUL CENTERS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
and its subsidiaries to maintain certain financial covenants, which are summarized below. The Company was in compliance as of December 31, 2019.
•
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 2.0 x 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).
Mortgage notes payable at December 31, 2019 and 2018, totaling $41.0 million and $51.0 million, respectively, are guaranteed by members of the Saul Organization. As of December 31, 2019, the scheduled maturities of all debt including scheduled principal amortization for years ended December 31 are as follows:
(a) Includes $87.5 million outstanding under the revolving facility.
Deferred Debt Costs
Deferred debt costs consist of fees and costs incurred to obtain long-term financing, construction financing and the revolving line of credit. These fees and costs are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the respective loans or agreements, which approximates the effective interest method. Deferred debt costs totaled $9.7 million and $10.3 million, net of accumulated amortization of $7.5 million and $7.3 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and are reflected as a reduction of the related debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The components of interest expense are set forth below.
Deferred debt costs capitalized during the years ending December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 totaled $1.0 million, $3.2 million and $2.6 million, respectively.
SAUL CENTERS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
6.
LEASE AGREEMENTS
Lease income includes primarily base rent arising from noncancelable leases. Base rent (including straight-line rent) for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, amounted to $185.7 million, $184.7 million, and $181.1 million, respectively. Future contractual payments under noncancelable leases for years ended December 31 (which exclude the effect of straight-line rents), are as follows:
The majority of the leases provide for rental increases based on fixed annual increases or increases in the Consumer Price Index and expense recoveries based on increases in operating expenses. The expense recoveries generally are payable in equal installments throughout the year based on estimates, with adjustments made in the succeeding year. Expense recoveries for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, amounted to $36.5 million, $35.5 million, and $35.3 million, respectively. In addition, certain retail leases provide for percentage rent based on sales in excess of the minimum specified in the tenant’s lease. Percentage rent amounted to $0.9 million, $1.0 million, and $1.5 million, for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.
7.
LONG-TERM LEASE OBLIGATIONS
At December 31, 2018 and 2019, no properties are subject to noncancelable long-term leases which apply to underlying land.
Flagship Center consists of two developed out parcels that are part of a larger adjacent community shopping center formerly owned by the Saul Organization and sold to an affiliate of a tenant in 1991. The Company has a 90-year ground leasehold interest which commenced in September 1991 with a minimum rent of one dollar per year. Countryside shopping center was acquired in February 2004. Because of certain land use considerations, approximately 3.4% of the underlying land is held under a 99-year ground lease. The lease requires the Company to pay minimum rent of one dollar per year as well as its pro-rata share of the real estate taxes.
The Company’s corporate headquarters space is leased by a member of the Saul Organization. The lease commenced in March 2002, and expires in February 2022. The Company and the Saul Organization entered into a Shared Services Agreement whereby each party pays an allocation of total rental payments based on a percentage proportionate to the number of employees employed by each party. The Company’s rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017 was $806,500, $779,800, and $774,700, respectively. Expenses arising from the lease are included in general and administrative expense (see Note 9 - Related Party Transactions).
8.
EQUITY AND NONCONTROLLING INTEREST
The Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017 reflect noncontrolling interest of $12.5 million, $12.5 million, and $12.4 million, respectively, representing the Saul Organization’s share of the net income for the year.
SAUL CENTERS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
At December 31, 2019, the Company had outstanding 3.0 million depositary shares, each representing 1/100th of a share of 6.125% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the "Series D Stock"). The depositary shares may be redeemed at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, on or after January 23, 2023, at the $25.00 liquidation preference, plus accrued but unpaid dividends to but not including the redemption date. The depositary shares pay an annual dividend of $1.53125 per share, equivalent to 6.125% of the $25.00 liquidation preference. The Series D Stock has no stated maturity, is not subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption and is not convertible into any other securities of the Company except in connection with certain changes in control or delisting events. Investors in the depositary shares generally have no voting rights, but will have limited voting rights if the Company fails to pay dividends for six or more quarters (whether or not declared or consecutive) and in certain other events.
On September 17, 2019, Saul Centers sold, in an underwritten public offering, 4.0 million depositary shares, each representing 1/100th of a share of 6.000% Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the “Series E Stock”), providing net cash proceeds of approximately $96.8 million. The depositary shares may be redeemed in whole or in part, on or after September 17, 2024, at the $25.00 liquidation preference, plus accrued but unpaid dividends to but not including the redemption date. The depositary shares pay an annual dividend of $1.50 per share, equivalent to 6.000% of the $25.00 liquidation preference. The Series E Stock has no stated maturity, is not subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption and is not convertible into any other securities of the Company except in connection with certain changes in control or delisting events. Investors in the depositary shares generally have no voting rights, but will have limited voting rights if the Company fails to pay dividends for six or more quarters (whether or not declared or consecutive) and in certain other events. On September 23, 2019, Saul Centers sold, as a result of the exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option, an additional 0.4 million depositary shares of Series E Stock, providing net cash proceeds of approximately $9.5 million.
At December 31, 2018, the Company had outstanding 4.2 million depositary shares, each representing 1/100th of a share of 6.875% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the “Series C Stock”). The depositary shares are redeemable at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, at the $25.00 liquidation preference plus accrued but unpaid dividends. The depositary shares pay an annual dividend of $1.71875 per share, equivalent to 6.875% of the $25.00 liquidation preference. The Series C Stock has no stated maturity, is not subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption and is not convertible into any other securities of the Company except in connection with certain changes of control or delisting events. Investors in the depositary shares generally have no voting rights, but will have limited voting rights if the Company fails to pay dividends for six or more quarters (whether or not declared or consecutive) and in certain other events. In September 2019, the Company announced the redemption of all outstanding depositary shares representing interests in its Series C Stock. The depositary shares were redeemed on October 17, 2019 at $25.00 per depositary share, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the redemption date, for an aggregate redemption price of $25.07638 per depositary share. In the fourth quarter, costs associated with the redemption were charged against Net income available to common stockholders. After the redemption date, dividends on the depositary shares representing interests in the Series C Stock ceased to accrue.
SAUL CENTERS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Per Share Data
Per share data for net income (basic and diluted) is computed using weighted average shares of common stock. Convertible limited partnership units and employee stock options are the Company’s potentially dilutive securities. For all periods presented, the convertible limited partnership units are anti-dilutive. The treasury stock method was used to measure the effect of the dilution.
9.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, the Executive Vice President of Real Estate, the Executive Vice President-Chief Legal and Administrative Officer and the Senior Vice President-Chief Accounting Officer of the Company are also officers of various members of the Saul Organization and their management time is shared with the Saul Organization. Their annual compensation is fixed by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, with the exception of the Senior Vice President-Chief Accounting Officer whose share of annual compensation allocated to the Company is determined by the shared services agreement (described below).
The Company participates in a multiemployer 401K plan with entities in the Saul Organization which covers those full-time employees who meet the requirements as specified in the plan. Company contributions, which are included in general and administrative expense or property operating expenses in the consolidated statements of operations, at the discretionary amount of up to six percent of the employee’s cash compensation, subject to certain limits, were $322,200, $345,900, and $349,500, for 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. All amounts deferred by employees and contributed by the Company are fully vested.
The Company also participates in a multiemployer nonqualified deferred compensation plan with entities in the Saul Organization which covers those full-time employees who meet the requirements as specified in the plan. According to the plan, which can be modified or discontinued at any time, participating employees defer 2% of their compensation in excess of a specified amount. For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, the Company contributed three times the amount deferred by employees. The Company’s expense, included in general and administrative expense, totaled $345,200, $282,500, and $228,500, for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. All amounts deferred by employees and the Company are fully vested. The cumulative unfunded liability under this plan was $3.1 million and $2.7 million, at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and is included in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
The Company has entered into a shared services agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Saul Organization that provides for the sharing of certain personnel and ancillary functions such as computer hardware, software, and support services and certain direct and indirect administrative personnel. The method for determining the cost of the shared services is provided for in the Agreement and is based upon head count, estimates of usage or estimates of time incurred, as applicable. Senior management has determined that the final allocations of shared costs are reasonable. The terms of the Agreement and the payments made thereunder are reviewed annually by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, which consists entirely of independent directors. Net billings by the Saul Organization for the Company’s share of these ancillary costs and expenses for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, which included rental expense for the Company’s headquarters lease (see Note 7. Long Term Lease Obligations), totaled $8.4 million, $8.4 million, and $8.1 million, respectively. The amounts are expensed
SAUL CENTERS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
when incurred and are primarily reported as general and administrative expenses or capitalized to specific development projects in these consolidated financial statements. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities included $918,700 and $933,400, respectively, representing billings due to the Saul Organization for the Company’s share of these ancillary costs and expenses.
The Company has entered into a shared third-party predevelopment cost agreement with the Saul Trust (the “Predevelopment Agreement”). The Predevelopment Agreement, which expired on December 31, 2015 and was extended to December 31, 2016, relates to the sharing of third-party predevelopment costs incurred in connection with the planning of the future redevelopment of certain adjacent real estate assets in the Twinbrook area of Rockville, Maryland. On December 8, 2016, the Company entered into a replacement agreement with the Saul Trust which extended the expiration date to December 31, 2017 and provides for automatic twelve month renewals unless either party provides notice of termination. The costs will be shared on a pro rata basis based on the acreage owned by each entity and neither party is obligated to advance funds to the other.
On November 5, 2019, the Company entered into an agreement (the "Contribution Agreement") to acquire from the Saul Trust, approximately 6.8 acres of land and its leasehold interest in approximately 1.3 acres of contiguous land, together in each case with the improvements located thereon, located at the Twinbrook Metro Station in Rockville, Maryland (the “Contributed Property”). In exchange for the Contributed Property, the Company will issue to the Saul Trust 1,416,071 limited partnership units in the Operating Partnership (“OP Units”) at an agreed upon value of $56.00 per OP Unit, representing an aggregate value of $79.3 million for the Contributed Property. Deed to the Contributed Property and the OP Units have been placed in escrow until certain conditions of the Contribution Agreement are satisfied.
The B. F. Saul Insurance Agency of Maryland, Inc., a subsidiary of the B. F. Saul Company and a member of the Saul Organization, is a general insurance agency that receives commissions and counter-signature fees in connection with the Company’s insurance program. Such commissions and fees amounted to approximately $399,600, $407,900, and $288,400, for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.
In August 2016, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire from the Saul Trust, approximately 13.7 acres of land located at the intersection of Ashburn Village Boulevard and Russell Branch Parkway in Ashburn, Virginia. The transaction closed on May 9, 2018, and the Company issued 176,680 limited partnership units to the Saul Trust. The Company intends to construct a shopping center and, upon stabilization, may be obligated to issue additional limited partnership units to the Saul Trust.
10.
STOCK OPTION PLAN
Stock Based Employee Compensation, Deferred Compensation and Stock Plan for Directors
In 2004, the Company established a stock incentive plan (the "Plan"), as amended. Under the Plan, options were granted at an exercise price not less than the market value of the common stock on the date of grant and expire ten years from the date of grant. Officer options vest ratably over four years following the grant and are charged to expense using the straight-line method over the vesting period. Director options vest immediately and are charged to expense as of the date of grant.
The Company uses the fair value method to value and account for employee stock options. The fair value of options granted is determined at the time of each award using the Black-Scholes model, a widely used method for valuing stock-based employee compensation, and the following assumptions: (1) Expected Volatility determined using the most recent trading history of the Company’s common stock (month-end closing prices) corresponding to the average expected term of the options; (2) Average Expected Term of the options is based on prior exercise history, scheduled vesting and the expiration date; (3) Expected Dividend Yield determined by management after considering the Company’s current and historic dividend yield rates, the Company’s yield in relation to other retail REITs and the Company’s market yield at the grant date; and (4) a Risk-free Interest Rate based upon the market yields of US Treasury obligations with maturities corresponding to the average expected term of the options at the grant date. The Company amortizes the value of options granted ratably over the vesting period and includes the amounts as compensation expense in general and administrative expenses.
SAUL CENTERS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Pursuant to the Plan, the Compensation Committee established a Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors for the benefit of the Company’s directors and their beneficiaries, which replaced a previous Deferred Compensation and Stock Plan for Directors. Annually, directors are given the ability to make an election to defer all or part of their fees and have the option to have their fees paid in cash, in shares of common stock or in a combination of cash and shares of common stock upon separation from the Board. If a director elects to their have fees paid in stock, fees earned during a calendar quarter are aggregated and divided by the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the first trading day of the following quarter to determine the number of shares to be credited to the director. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2019, 6,822 shares were credited to director's deferred fee accounts and 7,058 shares were issued. As of December 31, 2019, the director's deferred fee accounts comprise 114,408 shares.
The Compensation Committee has also approved an annual award of shares of the Company’s common stock as additional compensation to each director serving on the Board of Directors as of the record date for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The shares are awarded as of each Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and their issuance may not be deferred.
At the annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders in 2004, the stockholders approved the adoption of the 2004 stock plan for the purpose of attracting and retaining executive officers, directors and other key personnel. The 2004 stock plan was subsequently amended by the Company’s stockholders at the 2008 Annual Meeting, further amended at the 2013 Annual Meeting, and further amended at the 2019 Annual Meeting (the “Amended 2004 Plan”). The Amended 2004 Plan, which terminates in 2029, provides for grants of options to purchase up to 3,400,000 shares of common stock. The Amended 2004 Plan authorizes the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors to grant options at an exercise price which may not be less than the market value of the common stock on the date the option is granted.
Effective May 5, 2017, the Compensation Committee granted options to purchase 232,500 shares (21,492 incentive stock options and 211,008 nonqualified stock options) to 20 Company officers and 11 Company Directors (the “2017 options”), which expire on May 4, 2027. The officers’ 2017 Options vest 25% per year over four years and are subject to early expiration upon termination of employment. The directors’ 2017 Options were immediately exercisable. The exercise price of $59.41 per share was the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of award. Using the Black-Scholes model, the Company determined the total fair value of the 2017 Options to be $1.4 million, of which $1.2 million and $165,600 were assigned to the officer options and director options, respectively. Because the directors’ options vested immediately, the entire $165,600 was expensed as of the date of grant. The expense for the officers’ options is being recognized as compensation expense monthly during the four years the options vest.
Effective May 11, 2018, the Compensation Committee granted options to purchase 245,000 shares (25,914 incentive stock options and 219,086 nonqualified stock options) to 22 Company officers and 11 Company Directors (the “2018 options”), which expire on May 10, 2028. The officers’ 2018 Options vest 25% per year over four years and are subject to early expiration upon termination of employment. The directors’ 2018 Options were immediately exercisable. The exercise price of $49.46 per share was the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of award. Using the Black-Scholes model, the Company determined the total fair value of the 2018 Options to be $1.4 million, of which $1.2 million and $169,400 were assigned to the officer options and director options, respectively. Because the directors’ options vested immediately, the entire $169,400 was expensed as of the date of grant. The expense for the officers’ options is being recognized as compensation expense monthly during the four years the options vest.
Effective May 3, 2019, the Compensation Committee granted options to purchase 260,000 shares (34,651 incentive stock options and 225,349 nonqualified stock options) to 23 Company officers and 11 Company Directors (the “2019 options”), which expire on May 2, 2029. The officers’ 2019 Options vest 25% per year over four years and are subject to early expiration upon termination of employment. The directors’ 2018 Options were immediately exercisable. The exercise price of $55.71 per share was the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of award. Using the Black-Scholes model, the Company determined the total fair value of the 2019 Options to be $1.9 million, of which $1.7 million and $226,600 were assigned to the officer options and director options, respectively. Because the directors’ options vested immediately, the entire $226,600 was expensed
SAUL CENTERS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
as of the date of grant. The expense for the officers’ options is being recognized as compensation expense monthly during the four years the options vest.
The following table summarizes the assumptions used in the valuation of the 2017, 2018, and 2019 option grants. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2019, stock option expense totaling $1.6 million was included in general and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of December 31, 2019, the estimated future expense related to unvested stock options was $2.6 million.
The table below summarizes the option activity for the years 2019, 2018, and 2017:
The intrinsic value of options exercised in 2019, 2018, and 2017, was $0.6 million, $0.5 million and $2.2 million, respectively. The intrinsic value of options outstanding and exercisable at year end 2019 was $2.5 million and $2.0 million, respectively. The intrinsic value measures the difference between the options’ exercise price and the closing share price quoted by the New York Stock Exchange as of the date of measurement. The date of exercise was the measurement date for shares exercised during the period. At December 31, 2019, the final trading day of calendar 2019, the closing price of $52.78 per share was used for the calculation of aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and exercisable at that date. The weighted average remaining contractual life of the Company’s exercisable and outstanding options at December 31, 2019 are 5.9 and 7.0 years, respectively.
11. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses and floating rate debt are reasonable estimates of their fair value. The aggregate fair value of the notes payable with fixed-rate payment terms was determined using Level 3 data in a discounted cash flow approach, which is based upon management’s estimate of borrowing rates and loan terms currently available to the Company for fixed rate financing, and assuming long term interest rates of approximately 3.55% and 4.40%, would be approximately $957.4 million and $927.0 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, compared to the
SAUL CENTERS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
principal balance of $938.4 million and $910.2 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. A change in any of the significant inputs may lead to a change in the Company’s fair value measurement of its debt.
Effective June 30, 2011, the Company determined that one of its interest-rate swap arrangements was a highly effective hedge of the cash flows under one of its variable-rate mortgage loans and designated the swap as a cash flow hedge of that mortgage. The swap was carried at fair value with changes in fair value recognized either in income or comprehensive income depending on the effectiveness of the swap. The swap was terminated on November 21, 2019.
12. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Neither the Company nor the Current Portfolio Properties are subject to any material litigation, nor, to management’s knowledge, is any material litigation currently threatened against the Company, other than routine litigation and administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. Management believes that these items, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse impact on the Company or the Current Portfolio Properties.
13. DISTRIBUTIONS
In December 1995, the Company established a Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”), to allow its 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 Plan 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 Plan are paid by the Company. The Operating Partnership also maintains a similar dividend reinvestment plan that mirrors the Plan, which allows holders of limited partnership interests the opportunity to buy either additional limited partnership units or common stock shares of the Company.
The Company paid common stock distributions of $2.12 per share in 2019, $2.08 per share in 2018, and $2.04 per share in 2017, Series C preferred stock dividends of $1.80, $1.72, and $1.72, respectively, per depositary share during each of 2019, 2018, and 2017, Series D preferred stock dividends of $1.53 and $1.05, respectively, per depositary share in 2019 and 2018, and Series E preferred stock dividends of $0.06 per depositary share in 2019. Of the common stock dividends paid, $2.00 per share, $1.61 per share, and $1.70 per share, represented ordinary dividend income in 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively, and $0.12 per share, $0.47 per share, and $0.34 per share represented return of capital to the shareholders in 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. All of the preferred stock dividends paid were considered ordinary dividend income.
SAUL CENTERS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The following summarizes distributions paid during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, and includes activity in the Plan as well as limited partnership units issued from the reinvestment of unit distributions:
In December 2019, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized a distribution of $0.53 per common share payable in January 2020 to holders of record on January 17, 2020. As a result, $12.3 million was paid to common shareholders on January 31, 2020. Also, $4.2 million was paid to limited partnership unitholders on January 31, 2020 ($0.53 per Operating Partnership unit). The Board of Directors authorized preferred stock dividends of (a) $0.3750 per Series E depositary share and (b) $0.3828 per Series D depositary share to holders of record on January 2, 2020. As a result, $2.8 million was paid to preferred shareholders on January 15, 2020. These amounts are reflected as a reduction of stockholders’ equity in the case of common stock and preferred stock dividends and noncontrolling interests deductions in the case of limited partner distributions and are included in dividends and distributions payable in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
14.
INTERIM RESULTS (Unaudited)
The following summary presents the results of operations of the Company for the quarterly periods of calendar years 2019 and 2018.
SAUL CENTERS, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
15.
BUSINESS SEGMENTS
The Company has two reportable business segments: Shopping Centers and Mixed-Use Properties. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies (see Note 2). The Company evaluates performance based upon income and cash flows from real estate for the combined properties in each segment. All of our properties within each segment generate similar types of revenues and expenses related to tenant rent, reimbursements and operating expenses. Although services are provided to a range of tenants, the types of services provided to them are similar within each segment. The properties in each portfolio have similar economic characteristics and the nature of the products and services provided to our tenants and the method to distribute such services are consistent throughout the portfolio. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year information to conform to the 2019 presentation.
16.
Subsequent Events
The Company has reviewed operating activities for the period subsequent to December 31, 2019 and prior to the date that financial statements are issued, February 27, 2020, and determined there are no subsequent events that are required to be disclosed.
Schedule III
(1)
Includes the North and South Blocks and Residential
Schedule III
SAUL CENTERS, INC.
Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation
December 31, 2019
Depreciation and amortization related to the real estate investments reflected in the statements of operations is calculated over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:
Base building
Generally 35 - 50 years or a shorter period if management determines that
the building has a shorter useful life.
Building components
Up to 20 years
Tenant improvements
The shorter of the term of the lease or the useful life
of the improvements
The aggregate remaining net basis of the real estate investments for federal income tax purposes was approximately $1.33 billion at December 31, 2019. Depreciation and amortization are provided on the declining balance and straight-line methods over the estimated useful lives of the assets.
The changes in total real estate investments and related accumulated depreciation for each of the years in the three year period ended December 31, 2019 are summarized as follows: