Washington Prime Group Reports Second Quarter 2014 Results and Announces Dividend

BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Washington Prime Group (NYSE:WPG) today reported results for the quarter ended June 30, 2014.

On May 28, 2014, Simon Property Group (Simon) spun off 98 shopping centers to form Washington Prime Group (the Company). The Company is well positioned with several competitive advantages, including a well-diversified portfolio with a track record of stable operating performance and a strong foundation from which to grow cash flow, one of the lowest levered balance sheets among its peer group and the flexibility to act as an acquirer, developer and redeveloper of shopping centers regardless of format.  The Company intends to leverage its expertise across the entire shopping center sector to increase value for its shareholders. 

CEO Mark Ordan commented, "While we just began two months ago, we are excited by our potential growth opportunities both within the portfolio and through acquisitions. We will discuss these opportunities further on our first regular quarterly earnings call in November."

Results for the Second Quarter

Same property net operating income ("NOI") for the second quarter of 2014 increased 3.1 percent from the second quarter of 2013. Ending occupancy for the portfolio rose 90 basis points to 92.4 percent from the second quarter of 2013.

Funds from Operations ("FFO") was $41.3 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, compared to $87.5 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, in the prior year period. Results for the second quarter of 2014 include $39.9 million or $0.21 per diluted share of transaction expenses and costs related to the spin off from Simon on May 28 and increased interest expense of $8.9 million or $0.05 per diluted share associated with the new capital structure.

Net income attributable to common stockholders for the second quarter was $69.8 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, compared to $34.3 million, or $0.22 per diluted share in the prior year period. Also included in net income for the second quarter of 2014 are additional gains of $91.3 million or $0.49 per diluted share from acquisitions of controlling property interests and sales of property interests.

Results for the Six Months

Year-to-date same property NOI increased 0.9 percent over the first six months of 2013.  

FFO for the six months ending June 30, 2014 was $129.7 million or $0.69 per diluted share; for the same period in the prior year FFO was $175.7 million or $0.94 per diluted share. Year-to-date results include $39.9 million or $0.21 per diluted share of transaction expenses and costs related to the spin off from Simon on May 28 and increased interest expense of $9.1 million or $0.05 per diluted share associated with the new capital structure.

For the six months ended June 30, 2014, net income attributable to common shareholders was $104.2 million or $0.67 per diluted share compared to $80.5 million or $0.52 per diluted share for the same period in the prior year. Increased gains on acquisitions of controlling property interests and sales of property interests of $77.4 million or $0.41 per diluted share are included in the results for the six months ended June 30, 2014.  

Dividends

Washington Prime's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per common share, payable on September 15, 2014, to shareholders of record on August 27, 2014, with an ex-dividend date of August 25, 2014. 

Investment Activity

Acquisitions and Dispositions

Since completing the spin-off on May 28, 2014, Washington Prime has increased its interest in eight previously unconsolidated properties for an aggregate price of approximately $326 million including approximately $141 million of debt. On June 20, the Company acquired its partner's 50 percent interest in Clay Terrace, a 577,000 square foot lifestyle center located in Carmel, Indiana, in exchange for partnership units. On June 18, the Company acquired a partner's interest in a portfolio of seven open-air shopping centers, consisting of four centers located in Florida, and one each in Indiana, Connecticut and Virginia. All eight properties are now consolidated post acquisition.

Additionally, on June 23, Washington Prime sold New Castle Plaza, a wholly owned strip center in New Castle, Indiana. Subsequent to quarter end, the Company sold Highland Lakes Center, an open-air center in Orlando, FL, for approximately $21.5 million for an estimated gain of approximately $9.1 million.

Redevelopment

Washington Prime currently has approximately 15 projects totaling more than $100 million under redevelopment.  Additionally, the Company's pipeline includes six projects in the approval stages totaling approximately $125 million as well as another five to eight projects already targeted for redevelopment over the next three years.  

Additionally, the Company has commenced redevelopment activities at Jefferson Valley Mall, a 556,000 square foot mall located in the New York City area.  The estimated cost of the redevelopment is approximately $44 million and includes the addition of a major sporting goods store.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes FFO and NOI, including same property NOI 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. FFO and same property NOI growth are financial performance measures widely used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of REITs. These measures should not be considered as alternatives to net income (determined in accordance with GAAP) as indicators of financial performance and are not alternatives to cash flow from operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP) as a measure of liquidity. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as they do not include all items of income and expense that affect operations, and accordingly, should always be considered as supplemental to financial results presented in accordance with GAAP. Computation of these non-GAAP measures may differ in certain respects from the methodology utilized by other REITs and, therefore, may not be comparable to such other REITs. Investors are cautioned that items excluded from these measures are significant components in understanding and addressing financial performance.

For a reconciliation of these measures and other information, please refer to the attached tables.

Regulation Fair Disclosure ("FD")

We routinely post important information online on our investor relations website, investors.washingtonprime.com. We use this website, press releases, SEC filings, 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.

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 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: the Company's ability to meet debt service requirements, the availability and terms of financing, changes in the Company's credit rating, changes in market rates of interest, the ability to hedge interest rate and currency risk, risks associated with the acquisition, development, expansion, leasing and management of properties, general risks related to retail real estate, the liquidity of real estate investments, environmental liabilities, international, national, regional and local economic conditions, changes in market rental rates, trends in the retail industry, relationships with anchor tenants, the inability to collect rent due to the bankruptcy or insolvency of tenants or otherwise, risks relating to joint venture properties, costs of common area maintenance, the intensely competitive market environment in the retail industry, insurance costs and coverage, terrorist activities, changes in economic and market conditions and maintenance of our status as a real estate investment trust. The Company discusses these and other risks and uncertainties under the heading "Risk Factors" in our quarterly reports filed with the SEC. 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 unless required by law.

About Washington Prime Group

Washington Prime Group (NYSE: WPG) is a retail REIT that owns and manages more than 95 shopping centers totaling more than 50 million square feet diversified by size, geography and tenancy.  Washington Prime combines a national real estate portfolio with an investment grade balance sheet.  The Company plans to leverage its expertise across the entire shopping center sector to increase cash flow through rigorous management of existing assets as well as select development and acquisitions of new assets with franchise value.  For more information visit washingtonprime.com.   

Contact: 
Barbara M Pooley
SVP, Finance & Administration
Washington Prime Group
1-240-630-0005

SOURCE Washington Prime Group