CBL & Associates Properties Reports Second Quarter 2013 Results

CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (NYSE:CBL):

• FFO per diluted share, as adjusted, increased 3.8% to $0.55 for the second quarter of 2013, compared with $0.53 for the prior-year period.
• Same-center NOI increased 1.8% in the second quarter 2013 over the prior-year period, excluding lease termination fees and a one-time bankruptcy settlement included in the prior-year period.
• Portfolio occupancy at June 30, 2013, increased 70 basis points to 93.0% from 92.3% for the prior-year period.
• Average gross rent per square foot for stabilized mall leases signed in the second quarter of 2013 increased 12.1% over the prior gross rent per square foot.
• Same-store sales increased 3.2% to $356 per square foot for mall tenants 10,000 square feet or less for stabilized malls for the rolling twelve months ended June 30, 2013, compared with the prior-year period.

CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (NYSE:CBL) announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2013. A description of each non-GAAP financial measure and the related reconciliation to the comparable GAAP measure is located at the end of this news release.

“Favorable operating trends within our portfolio continued this quarter and have our Company well positioned for a strong second half of the year,” commented Stephen Lebovitz, CBL’s president and chief executive officer. “Occupancy, leasing and FFO performance were healthy, with positive NOI growth in-line with our guidance. At 97% leased and committed, the recent grand opening of The Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta was a huge success, attracting overflowing crowds. This quarter's announcement of the acquisition of the Sears stores for redevelopment at two of our most productive malls and the commencement of construction of The Outlet Shoppes at Louisville are exciting growth opportunities as we look ahead to next year.

“Our hard work to improve the balance sheet has already resulted in the achievement of a second investment grade rating from Fitch (BBB- with stable outlook) in addition to the previously announced rating from Moody’s (Baa3). The Westfield Preferred is on track for redemption by the end of September, funded in part by over $240 million in equity generated from our ATM program and asset sales earlier this year. In addition, the closing of a new $400 million unsecured term loan this month provides additional capital to increase availability on our unsecured lines to fund new growth opportunities and retire secured loans as they mature.”

FFO, as adjusted, excludes nonrecurring items, impacting second quarter 2013 results. Nonrecurring items include a loss on extinguishment of debt of $9.1 million, primarily related to the prepayment of a loan secured by Mid Rivers Mall in St. Charles, MO, and a gain on investment of $2.4 million resulting from payment of a note receivable related to CBL’s investment in China that was previously written-down.

FFO allocable to common shareholders, as adjusted, for the second quarter of 2013 was $90,801,000, or $0.55 per diluted share, compared with $79,950,000, or $0.53 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2012. FFO of the operating partnership, as adjusted, for the second quarter of 2013 was $106,900,000, compared with $100,782,000, for the second quarter of 2012.

Net income attributable to common shareholders for the second quarter of 2013 was $501,000, or $0.00 per diluted share, compared with net income of $18,797,000, or $0.12 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2012. In addition to the nonrecurring items impacting FFO, net income in the second quarter of 2013 was impacted by a loss on impairment of real estate of $21.0 million primarily related to the write-down of the book value of Citadel Mall in Charleston, SC, to current fair value.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Portfolio same-center net operating income (“NOI”), in the prior-year periods included a $1.5 million bankruptcy settlement. Excluding this one-time item and lease termination fees, same-center NOI increased 1.8% for the three months and 1.4% for the six months ended June 30, 2013, over the prior-year periods. Portfolio same-center NOI, excluding lease termination fees, for the quarter ended June 30, 2013, increased 1.0% compared with an increase of 2.7% for the prior-year period. Same-center NOI, excluding lease terminations fees, for the six months ended June 30, 2013, increased 1.0% compared with an increase of 1.7% for the prior-year period.
• Average gross rent per square foot on stabilized mall leases signed during the second quarter of 2013 for tenants 10,000 square feet or less increased 12.1% over the prior gross rent per square foot.
• Same-store sales per square foot for mall tenants 10,000 square feet or less for stabilized malls for the rolling twelve months ended June 30, 2013, increased 3.2% to $356 per square foot compared with $345 per square foot in the prior-year period.
• The Company’s share of consolidated and unconsolidated variable rate debt of $1,214,826,000, as of June 30, 2013, represented 11.9% of the total market capitalization for the Company, compared with 9.6% as of June 30, 2012, and 22.8% of the Company's share of total consolidated and unconsolidated debt, compared with 17.2% as of June 30, 2012.
• Debt-to-total market capitalization was 52.1% as of June 30, 2013, compared with 55.9% as of June 30, 2012.
• The ratio of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) to interest expense was 2.82 times for the second quarter of 2013, compared with 2.58 times for the second quarter of 2012.

PORTFOLIO OCCUPANCY

ACQUISITION ACTIVITY

In April, CBL completed the acquisition of the remaining 51% interest in Kirkwood Mall in Bismarck, ND. CBL had previously acquired a 49% non-controlling interest in Kirkwood Mall in December 2012. In conjunction with the acquisition of the remaining interest, CBL assumed the $40.4 million non-recourse loan secured by the property, which bears a fixed interest rate of 5.75% and matures in April 2018.

During the second quarter, CBL acquired two Sears locations at Fayette Mall in Lexington, KY, and CoolSprings Galleria in Nashville, TN. CBL plans to redevelop both buildings into additional stores and restaurants. Sears will continue to operate in both locations until closing dates have been finalized.

FINANCING ACTIVITY

During the second quarter 2013, CBL retired the $71.7 million loan secured by South County Center in St. Louis, MO, with an interest rate of 4.96% and a scheduled maturity date of October 2013, as well as the $88.4 million loan secured by Mid Rivers Mall in St. Charles, MO, with an interest rate of 5.88% and a scheduled maturity date in May 2021. CBL recorded a $9.1 million loss on extinguishment of debt, primarily related to a prepayment fee on the Mid Rivers Mall loan, which was included in second quarter income from continuing operations and FFO. Subsequent to the second quarter, CBL retired a $16.0 million construction loan secured by Alamance Crossing West.

In July, CBL closed on a $400 million unsecured term loan with a term of five years. Based on the Company’s current credit rating, the loan has a floating interest rate of 150 basis points over LIBOR.

CREDIT RATING

In May, CBL announced that the Company was assigned a Baa3 issuer rating from Moody’s Investors Service.

In July, CBL announced that the Company was assigned a BBB- Issuer Default Rating with a stable outlook and a BBB- Senior Unsecured Note rating from Fitch Ratings.

CAPITAL MARKETS ACTIVITY

During the second quarter of 2013, CBL sold 5.75 million common shares, at a weighted average price of $25.83 per share, under its At-The-Market (“ATM”) equity offering program, generating net proceeds of $147.4 million. Year-to-date, CBL has sold 8.4 million shares generating net proceeds of $209.6 million through the ATM program. The net proceeds generated from the ATM program were used to reduce outstanding balances under the Company’s unsecured credit facilities.

OUTLOOK AND GUIDANCE

Based on second quarter results, including the effect of new shares issued under the ATM program, and CBL’s current outlook, the Company is affirming 2013 FFO guidance in the range of $2.18 - $2.26 per share, after adjusting for the net impact of one-time items included in the second quarter 2013 results. Full-year guidance assumes same-center NOI growth in a range of 1.0% - 3.0%, $2.0 million to $4.0 million of outparcel sales and a 25-50 basis point increase in year-end occupancy. The guidance also assumes the pay-off of the Westfield Preferred Units in September using the Company’s unsecured lines of credit and cash on hand. The guidance excludes the impact of any future unannounced transactions. The Company expects to update its annual guidance after each quarter's results.

INVESTOR CONFERENCE CALL AND SIMULCAST

CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. will conduct a conference call at 11:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, August 1, 2013, to discuss its second quarter results. The number to call for this interactive teleconference is (800) 736-4594 or (212) 231-2901. A replay of the conference call will be available through August 8, 2013, by dialing (800) 633-8284 or (402) 977-9140 and entering the confirmation number, 21646864. A transcript of the Company's prepared remarks will be furnished on a Form 8-K following the conference call.

To receive the CBL & Associates Properties, Inc., second quarter earnings release and supplemental information please visit our website at cblproperties.com or contact Investor Relations at 423-490-8312.

The Company will also provide an online web simulcast and rebroadcast of its 2013 second quarter earnings release conference call. The live broadcast of the quarterly conference call will be available online at cblproperties.com on Thursday, August 1, 2013, beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET. The online replay will follow shortly after the call and continue through August 8, 2013.

CBL is one of the largest and most active owners and developers of malls and shopping centers in the United States. CBL owns, holds interests in or manages 159 properties, including 96 regional malls/open-air centers. The properties are located in 31 states and total 92.0 million square feet including 9.3 million square feet of non-owned shopping centers managed for third parties. Headquartered in Chattanooga, TN, CBL has regional offices in Boston (Waltham), MA, Dallas (Irving), TX, and St. Louis, MO. Additional information can be found at cblproperties.com.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Funds From Operations

FFO is a widely used measure of the operating performance of real estate companies that supplements net income (loss) determined in accordance with GAAP. The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) defines FFO as net income (loss) (computed in accordance with GAAP) excluding gains or losses on sales of depreciable operating properties and impairment losses of depreciable properties, plus depreciation and amortization, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures and noncontrolling interests. Adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures and noncontrolling interests are calculated on the same basis. We define FFO allocable to common shareholders as defined above by NAREIT less dividends on preferred stock. The Company’s method of calculating FFO allocable to its common shareholders may be different from methods used by other REITs and, accordingly, may not be comparable to such other REITs.

The Company believes that FFO provides an additional indicator of the operating performance of its properties without giving effect to real estate depreciation and amortization, which assumes the value of real estate assets declines predictably over time. Since values of well-maintained real estate assets have historically risen with market conditions, the Company believes that FFO enhances investors’ understanding of its operating performance. The use of FFO as an indicator of financial performance is influenced not only by the operations of the Company’s properties and interest rates, but also by its capital structure. The Company presents both FFO of its operating partnership and FFO allocable to its common shareholders, as it believes that both are useful performance measures. The Company believes FFO of its operating partnership is a useful performance measure since it conducts substantially all of its business through its operating partnership and, therefore, it reflects the performance of the properties in absolute terms regardless of the ratio of ownership interests of the Company’s common shareholders and the noncontrolling interest in the operating partnership. The Company believes FFO allocable to its common shareholders is a useful performance measure because it is the performance measure that is most directly comparable to net income (loss) attributable to its common shareholders.

In the reconciliation of net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders to FFO allocable to its common shareholders, located in this earnings release, the Company makes an adjustment to add back noncontrolling interest in income (loss) of its operating partnership in order to arrive at FFO of its operating partnership. The Company then applies a percentage to FFO of its operating partnership to arrive at FFO allocable to its common shareholders. The percentage is computed by taking the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period and dividing it by the sum of the weighted average number of common shares and the weighted average number of operating partnership units outstanding during the period.

FFO does not represent cash flows from operations as defined by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, is not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund all cash flow needs and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) for purposes of evaluating the Company’s operating performance or to cash flow as a measure of liquidity.

As described above, during the second quarter 2013, the Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $9.1 million and gain on investment of $2.4 million. Considering the significance and nature of these items, the Company believes that it is important to identify their impact on its FFO measures for a reader to have a complete understanding of the Company’s results of operations. Therefore, the Company has also presented adjusted FFO measures excluding these items.

Same-Center Net Operating Income

NOI is a supplemental measure of the operating performance of the Company's shopping centers. The Company defines NOI as operating revenues (rental revenues, tenant reimbursements and other income) less property operating expenses (property operating, real estate taxes and maintenance and repairs).

Similar to FFO, the Company computes NOI based on its pro rata share of both consolidated and unconsolidated properties. The Company's definition of NOI may be different than that used by other companies and, accordingly, the Company's NOI may not be comparable to that of other companies. A reconciliation of same-center NOI to net income is located at the end of this earnings release.

Since NOI includes only those revenues and expenses related to the operations of its shopping center properties, the Company believes that same-center NOI provides a measure that reflects trends in occupancy rates, rental rates and operating costs and the impact of those trends on the Company's results of operations. Additionally, there are instances when tenants terminate their leases prior to the scheduled expiration date and pay the Company one-time, lump-sum termination fees. These one-time lease termination fees may distort same-center NOI trends and may result in same-center NOI that is not indicative of the ongoing operations of the Company's shopping center properties. Therefore, the Company believes that presenting same-center NOI, excluding lease termination fees, is useful to investors.

Pro Rata Share of Debt

The Company presents debt based on its pro rata ownership share (including the Company's pro rata share of unconsolidated affiliates and excluding noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated properties) because it believes this provides investors a clearer understanding of the Company's total debt obligations which affect the Company's liquidity. A reconciliation of the Company's pro rata share of debt to the amount of debt on the Company's consolidated balance sheet is located at the end of this earnings release.

Information included herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Such statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy and some of which might not even be anticipated. Future events and actual events, financial and otherwise, may differ materially from the events and results discussed in the forward-looking statements. The reader is directed to the Company's various filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included therein, for a discussion of such risks and uncertainties.