Simon, a real estate investment trust engaged in the ownership of premier shopping, dining, entertainment and mixed-use destinations, today reported results for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by COVID-19 and we salute all of the individuals on the front lines fighting the pandemic,” said David Simon, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. “The Simon team is meeting these unprecedented challenges with unwavering commitment to the safety of our employees, shoppers, retailers and the communities we serve. We have successfully navigated challenging times throughout our company’s history, and we will endure and gain strength as we weather this disruption. The resilience of our people, our innovative business approach and our strong balance sheet with ample liquidity will serve us well.”
“Business was off to a good start in January and February, with shopper traffic, tenant demand, reported retailer sales and other underlying portfolio fundamentals trending at or above our expectations,” said Simon. “In March, we quickly pivoted to address the rapid spread of COVID-19, temporarily closing U.S. properties, reducing operating costs and increasing financial resources. We are beginning to reopen properties and are encouraged by the consumer response thus far.”
Results for the Quarter
Business Update – COVID-19
As we developed and implemented our response to the impact of COVID-19 on our business, our primary focus has been on the health and safety of our employees, our shoppers and the communities in which we serve. We implemented a series of actions to reduce costs and increase liquidity in light of the impacts of the pandemic, including:
In addition, we launched “Simon Supports Communities” to assist charitable organizations, hospitals and local communities impacted by COVID-19. The program deploys Simon’s physical, digital and social media assets to help nonprofit organizations make a difference. Initiatives underway include utilizing parking lots at Simon centers for drive-through COVID-19 testing in local communities; hosting food banks; and deploying our network of over 200 websites and social media channels to support the American Red Cross “Sleeves Up” campaign aimed at boosting depleted blood supplies.
Reopening of Simon’s Retail Properties
As of May 11, the Company has reopened 77 of its U.S. retail properties in markets where local and state orders have been lifted and retail restrictions have been eased. As part of the reopening process, the Company published its comprehensive “COVID-19 Exposure Control Policy”, developed in conjunction with a team of leading experts in the fields of Epidemiology and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), in order to provide a high level of safety standards at its properties.
In addition, as of May 11, twelve of Simon’s Designer and international Premium Outlets properties have reopened.
Development Activity
The Company has suspended or eliminated more than $1.0 billion of capital for new and redevelopment projects. The Company will re-evaluate all suspended projects over time. Construction continues on certain redevelopment and new development projects in the U.S. and internationally that are nearing completion. Simon’s share of remaining required cash funding for these projects that are currently scheduled to be completed in 2020 or 2021 is approximately $160 million.
Capital Markets and Balance Sheet Liquidity
During the quarter, the Company took certain steps to increase financial flexibility.
As previously announced in March, the Company amended and extended its $4.0 billion senior unsecured multi-currency revolving credit facility with a $6.0 billion senior unsecured credit facility comprised of a $4.0 billion multi-currency revolving credit facility and a $2.0 billion delayed draw term loan facility. Subject to additional commitments, the revolving credit facilities can be increased by $1.0 billion, for an aggregate up to $7.0 billion. The revolving facility initially matures on June 30, 2024, and the term facility initially matures on June 30, 2022.
As of March 31, 2020, Simon had approximately $8.7 billion of liquidity consisting of $4.1 billion of cash on hand, including its share of joint venture cash, and $4.6 billion of available capacity under its revolving credit facilities and term loan, net of outstanding U.S. and Euro commercial paper.
Dividends
Simon’s Board of Directors will declare a common stock dividend for the second quarter before the end of June. Simon intends to maintain a common stock dividend paid in cash and expects to distribute at least 100% of its REIT taxable income.
Simon’s Board of Directors declared the quarterly dividend on its 8 3/8% Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock of $1.046875 per share, payable on June 30, 2020 to shareholders of record on June 16, 2020.
Withdrawal of 2020 Financial Guidance
Given the evolving nature of COVID-19 and the global economic disruption it has caused, it is not currently possible to predict with certainty the pandemic’s impact on the rest of the year’s financial results. As such, the Company is withdrawing its full-year 2020 guidance for estimated net income attributable to common stockholders per diluted share, estimated FFO per diluted share and comparable property NOI growth, which were provided on February 4, 2020.
Conference Call
Simon will hold a conference call to discuss the quarterly financial results today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday, May 11, 2020. A live webcast of the conference call will be accessible in listen-only mode at investors.simon.com. An audio replay of the conference call will be available until May 18, 2020. To access the audio replay, dial 1-855-859-2056 (international 404-537-3406) passcode 6984058.
Supplemental Materials and Website
Supplemental information on our first quarter 2020 performance is available at investors.simon.com. This information has also been furnished to the SEC in a current report on Form 8-K.
We routinely post important information online on our investor relations website, investors.simon.com. We use this website, press releases, SEC filings, quarterly conference calls, presentations and webcasts to disclose material, non-public information in accordance with Regulation FD. We encourage members of the investment community to monitor these distribution channels for material disclosures. Any information accessed through our website is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this document.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release includes FFO, FFO per share, portfolio net operating income growth and comparable property net operating income growth, which are financial performance measures not defined by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are included in this press release and in Simon’s supplemental information for the quarter. FFO and comparable property net operating income growth are financial performance measures widely used in the REIT industry. Our definitions of these non-GAAP measures may not be the same as similar measures reported by other REITs.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this press release may be deemed “forward‑looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in any forward‑looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, the Company can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained, and it is possible that the Company’s actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward‑looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such factors include, but are not limited to: uncertainties regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions intended to prevent its spread on our tenants’ businesses, financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and liquidity and our ability to access the capital markets, satisfy our debt service obligations and make distributions to our stockholders; the inability to collect rent due to the bankruptcy or insolvency of tenants or otherwise; changes in economic and market conditions that may adversely affect the general retail environment; the intensely competitive market environment in the retail industry; changes to applicable laws or regulations or the interpretation thereof; risks associated with the acquisition, development, redevelopment, expansion, leasing and management of properties; the inability to lease newly developed properties and renew leases and relet space at existing properties on favorable terms; the potential loss of anchor stores or major tenants; decreases in market rental rates; the impact of our substantial indebtedness on our future operations; any disruption in the financial markets that may adversely affect our ability to access capital for growth and satisfy our ongoing debt service requirements; any change in our credit rating; changes in market rates of interest and foreign exchange rates for foreign currencies; general risks related to real estate investments, including the illiquidity of real estate investments; security breaches that could compromise our information technology or infrastructure; risks relating to our joint venture properties; our continued ability to maintain our status as a REIT; changes in tax laws or regulations that result in adverse tax consequences; changes in the value of our investments in foreign entities; our ability to hedge interest rate and currency risk; changes in insurance costs; the availability of comprehensive insurance coverage; risks related to international activities, including, without limitation, the impact, if any, of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union; natural disasters; the potential for terrorist activities; environmental liabilities; the loss of key management personnel; and the transition of LIBOR to an alternative reference rate. The Company discusses these and other risks and uncertainties under the heading “Risk Factors” in its annual and quarterly periodic reports filed with the SEC. The Company may update that discussion in subsequent other periodic reports, but except as required by law, the Company undertakes no duty or obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.
About Simon
Simon is a global leader in the ownership of premier shopping, dining, entertainment and mixed-use destinations and an S&P 100 company (Simon Property Group. Our properties across North America, Europe and Asia provide community gathering places for millions of people every day and generate billions in annual sales. For more information, visit simon.com.