10-Q: Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
Published on May 11, 2020
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020
OR
For the transition period from to
Commission file number: 001-37351
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
|
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
|
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
(720 ) 630-2600
(Registrant's telephone number including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading symbols | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
☒ | Accelerated Filer | ☐ | ||||||||||||
Non-accelerated Filer | ☐ | Smaller Reporting Company | ||||||||||||
Emerging Growth Company |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ☐ No ☒
As of May 8, 2020, 68,143,770 common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share, were outstanding.
NATIONAL STORAGE AFFILIATES TRUST | ||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS | ||||||||
FORM 10-Q | ||||||||
Page | ||||||||
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION | ||||||||
ITEM 1. | Financial Statements | |||||||
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 (Unaudited) | ||||||||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 (Unaudited) | ||||||||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 (Unaudited) | ||||||||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 (Unaudited) | ||||||||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 (Unaudited) | ||||||||
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) | ||||||||
ITEM 2. | Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | |||||||
ITEM 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | |||||||
ITEM 4. | Controls and Procedures | |||||||
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION | ||||||||
ITEM 1. | Legal Proceedings | |||||||
ITEM 1A. | Risk Factors | |||||||
ITEM 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds | |||||||
ITEM 3. | Defaults Upon Senior Securities | |||||||
ITEM 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures | |||||||
ITEM 5. | Other Information | |||||||
ITEM 6. | Exhibits | |||||||
Signatures |
3
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. Financial Statements
NATIONAL STORAGE AFFILIATES TRUST
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
March 31, | December 31, | ||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
ASSETS | |||||||||||
Real estate | |||||||||||
Self storage properties | $ | $ | |||||||||
Less accumulated depreciation | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Self storage properties, net |
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Cash and cash equivalents | |||||||||||
Restricted cash | |||||||||||
Debt issuance costs, net | |||||||||||
Investment in unconsolidated real estate ventures | |||||||||||
Other assets, net | |||||||||||
Operating lease right-of-use assets | |||||||||||
Total assets | $ | $ | |||||||||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | |||||||||||
Liabilities | |||||||||||
Debt financing | $ | $ | |||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | |||||||||||
Interest rate swap liabilities | |||||||||||
Operating lease liabilities | |||||||||||
Deferred revenue | |||||||||||
Total liabilities | |||||||||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11) |
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Equity | |||||||||||
Preferred shares of beneficial interest, par value $ |
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Common shares of beneficial interest, par value $ |
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Additional paid-in capital | |||||||||||
Distributions in excess of earnings | ( |
( |
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Accumulated other comprehensive loss | ( |
( |
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Total shareholders' equity | |||||||||||
Noncontrolling interests | |||||||||||
Total equity | |||||||||||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | $ |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
NATIONAL STORAGE AFFILIATES TRUST
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
REVENUE | |||||||||||
Rental revenue | $ | $ | |||||||||
Other property-related revenue | |||||||||||
Management fees and other revenue | |||||||||||
Total revenue | |||||||||||
OPERATING EXPENSES | |||||||||||
Property operating expenses | |||||||||||
General and administrative expenses | |||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | |||||||||||
Other | |||||||||||
Total operating expenses | |||||||||||
OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME | |||||||||||
Interest expense | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Equity in losses of unconsolidated real estate ventures |
( |
( |
|||||||||
Acquisition costs | ( |
( |
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Non-operating expense | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Other expense | ( |
( |
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Income before income taxes | |||||||||||
Income tax expense | ( |
( |
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Net income | |||||||||||
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests |
( |
( |
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Net income attributable to National Storage Affiliates Trust |
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Distributions to preferred shareholders |
( |
( |
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Net income attributable to common shareholders |
$ | $ | |||||||||
Earnings (loss) per share - basic and diluted | $ | $ | |||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted |
|||||||||||
Dividends declared per common share | $ | $ |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
NATIONAL STORAGE AFFILIATES TRUST
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31, |
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2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
Net income | $ | $ | |||||||||
Other comprehensive (loss) income | |||||||||||
Unrealized loss on derivative contracts | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Reclassification of other comprehensive loss (income) to interest expense |
( |
||||||||||
Other comprehensive (loss) income |
( |
( |
|||||||||
Comprehensive (loss) income | ( |
||||||||||
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests |
( |
||||||||||
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to National Storage Affiliates Trust |
$ | ( |
$ |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
6
NATIONAL STORAGE AFFILIATES TRUST
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(dollars in thousands, except share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional | Distributions | Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred Shares | Common Shares | Paid-in | In Excess Of | Comprehensive | Noncontrolling | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number | Amount | Number | Amount | Capital | Earnings | (Loss) Income | Interests | Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balances, December 31, 2018 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
OP equity issued for property acquisitions: |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Series A-1 preferred units, OP units and subordinated performance units, net of offering costs |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Redemptions of OP units |
— | — | — | ( |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Effect of changes in ownership for consolidated entities |
— | — | — | — | ( |
— | ( |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity-based compensation expense |
— | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of LTIP units for acquisition expenses |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of restricted common shares |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vesting and forfeitures of restricted common shares, net |
— | — | ( |
— | ( |
— | — | — | ( |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reduction in receivables from partners of the operating partnership |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred share dividends |
— | — | — | — | — | ( |
— | — | ( |
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Common share dividends |
— | — | — | — | — | ( |
— | — | ( |
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Distributions to noncontrolling interests |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( |
( |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income |
— | — | — | — | — | — | ( |
( |
( |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income |
— | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balances, March 31, 2019 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
7
NATIONAL STORAGE AFFILIATES TRUST
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(dollars in thousands, except share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional | Distributions | Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred Shares | Common Shares | Paid-in | In Excess Of | Comprehensive | Noncontrolling | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number | Amount | Number | Amount | Capital | Earnings | (Loss) Income | Interests | Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balances, December 31, 2019 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
$ | ( |
$ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
OP equity issued for property acquisitions: |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
OP units and subordinated performance units, net of offering costs |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LTIP units |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Redemptions of OP units |
— | — | — | ( |
( |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common shares, net of offering costs |
— | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Merger and internalization of PRO, net of issuance costs |
— | — | — | ( |
( |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Redemption of Series A-1 preferred units |
— | — | — | — | — | ( |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Effect of changes in ownership for consolidated entities |
— | — | — | — | — | ( |
( |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity-based compensation expense |
— | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of LTIP units for acquisition expenses |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of restricted common shares |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vesting and forfeitures of restricted common shares, net |
— | — | ( |
— | ( |
— | — | — | ( |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred share dividends |
— | — | — | — | — | ( |
— | — | ( |
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Common share dividends |
— | — | — | — | — | ( |
— | — | ( |
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Distributions to noncontrolling interests |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( |
( |
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Other comprehensive loss |
— | — | — | — | — | — | ( |
( |
( |
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Net income |
— | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balances, March 31, 2020 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
$ | ( |
$ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
8
NATIONAL STORAGE AFFILIATES TRUST
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31, |
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2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
OPERATING ACTIVITIES | |||||||||||
Net income | $ | $ | |||||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: |
|||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | |||||||||||
Amortization of debt issuance costs | |||||||||||
Amortization of debt discount and premium, net | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Mark-to-market changes in value on equity securities | |||||||||||
Equity-based compensation expense | |||||||||||
Equity in losses of unconsolidated real estate ventures |
|||||||||||
Distributions from unconsolidated real estate ventures |
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Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects of self storage property acquisitions: |
|||||||||||
Other assets | ( |
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Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | |||||||||||
Deferred revenue | ( |
( |
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Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities | |||||||||||
INVESTING ACTIVITIES | |||||||||||
Acquisition of self storage properties | ( |
( |
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Capital expenditures | ( |
( |
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Investments in and advances to unconsolidated real estate ventures | ( |
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Distributions from unconsolidated real estate ventures | |||||||||||
Deposits and advances for self storage property and other acquisitions | ( |
( |
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Proceeds from sale of equity securities |
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Expenditures for corporate furniture, equipment and other | ( |
( |
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Net Cash Used In Investing Activities | ( |
( |
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FINANCING ACTIVITIES | |||||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of common shares | |||||||||||
Borrowings under debt financings | |||||||||||
Receipts for OP unit subscriptions | |||||||||||
Principal payments under debt financings | ( |
( |
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Payment of dividends to common shareholders | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Distributions to preferred shareholders | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Distributions to noncontrolling interests | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Debt issuance costs | ( |
||||||||||
Equity offering costs | ( |
||||||||||
Net Cash Provided By Financing Activities | |||||||||||
(Decrease) Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash | ( |
||||||||||
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH | |||||||||||
Beginning of period | |||||||||||
End of period | $ | $ |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
9
NATIONAL STORAGE AFFILIATES TRUST
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Supplemental Cash Flow and Noncash Information | |||||||||||
Cash paid for interest |
$ | $ | |||||||||
Operating lease right-of-use assets on balance sheet due to implementation of leases standard |
— | ||||||||||
Operating lease liabilities on balance sheet due to implementation of leases standard |
— | ||||||||||
Merger and internalization of PRO: |
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Redemptions and conversions of partnership interests |
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Issuance of common shares for management platform |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
10
NATIONAL STORAGE AFFILIATES TRUST
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2020
(Unaudited)
1. ORGANIZATION AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS
National Storage Affiliates Trust was organized in the state of Maryland on May 16, 2013 and is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust focused on the self storage sector. As used herein, "NSA," the "Company," "we," "our," and "us" refers to National Storage Affiliates Trust and its consolidated subsidiaries, except where the context indicates otherwise. The Company has elected and believes that it has qualified to be taxed as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes ("REIT") commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2015.
Through its controlling interest as the sole general partner of NSA OP, LP (its "operating partnership"), a Delaware limited partnership formed on February 13, 2013, the Company is focused on the ownership, operation, and acquisition of self storage properties located within the top 100 metropolitan statistical areas throughout the United States. Pursuant to the Agreement of Limited Partnership (as amended, the "LP Agreement") of its operating partnership, the Company's operating partnership is authorized to issue preferred units, Class A Units ("OP units"), different series of Class B Units ("subordinated performance units"), and Long-Term Incentive Plan Units ("LTIP units"). The Company also owns certain of its self storage properties through other consolidated limited partnership subsidiaries of its operating partnership, which the Company refers to as "DownREIT partnerships." The DownREIT partnerships issue equity ownership interests that are intended to be economically equivalent to the Company's OP units ("DownREIT OP units") and subordinated performance units ("DownREIT subordinated performance units").
The Company owned 603 consolidated self storage properties in 29 states and Puerto Rico with approximately 36.2 million rentable square feet in approximately 288,000 storage units as of March 31, 2020. These properties are managed with local operational focus and expertise by the Company and its participating regional operators ("PROs"). These PROs are Kevin Howard Real Estate Inc., d/b/a Northwest Self Storage and its controlled affiliates ("Northwest"), Optivest Properties LLC and its controlled affiliates ("Optivest"), Guardian Storage Centers LLC and its controlled affiliates ("Guardian"), Move It Self Storage and its controlled affiliates ("Move It"), Arizona Mini Storage Management Company d/b/a Storage Solutions and its controlled affiliates ("Storage Solutions"), Hide-Away Storage Services, Inc. and its controlled affiliates ("Hide-Away"), an affiliate of Shader Brothers Corporation d/b/a Personal Mini Storage ("Personal Mini"), Southern Storage Management Systems, Inc. d/b/a Southern Self Storage ("Southern") and affiliates of Investment Real Estate Management, LLC d/b/a Moove In Self Storage of York, Pennsylvania ("Moove In").
On March 31, 2020, the Company closed on the mergers of its largest PRO, SecurCare Self Storage, Inc. and its controlled affiliates ("SecurCare"), and DLAN Corporation ("DLAN") with and into wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company. As a result of the mergers, SecurCare's property management platform and related intellectual property were internalized by the Company, and the Company no longer pays any supervisory and administrative fees or reimbursements to SecurCare. In addition, distributions on the series of subordinated performance units related to SecurCare's managed portfolio were discontinued. As part of the internalization, most of SecurCare's employees and other key persons were offered employment by the Company and continue managing SecurCare's portfolio of properties under the brand SecurCare as members of the Company's existing property management platform.
As of March 31, 2020, the Company also managed through its property management platform an additional portfolio of 177 properties owned by the Company's unconsolidated real estate ventures. These properties contain approximately 12.7 million rentable square feet, configured in approximately 104,000 storage units and located across 21 states. The Company owns a 25 % equity interest in each of its unconsolidated real estate ventures.
As of March 31, 2020, in total, the Company operated and held ownership interests in 780 self storage properties located across 35 states and Puerto Rico with approximately 48.9 million rentable square feet in approximately 392,000 storage units.
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are presented on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") regarding interim financial reporting. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures required by GAAP for
11
As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company's operating partnership was the primary beneficiary of, and therefore consolidated, 21 DownREIT partnerships that are considered VIEs, which owned 34 self storage properties. The net book value of the real estate owned by these VIEs was $231.1 million and $233.1 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. For certain DownREIT partnerships which are subject to fixed rate mortgages payable, the carrying value of such fixed rate mortgages payable held by these VIEs was $135.9 million and $136.4 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The creditors of the consolidated VIEs do not have recourse to the Company's general credit.
Reclassifications
Certain amounts in the condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. Such reclassifications do not impact the Company's previously reported financial position or net income (loss).
Revenue Recognition
Other property-related revenue
Other property-related revenue primarily consists of ancillary revenues such as tenant insurance and/or tenant warranty protection-related access fees and sales of storage supplies which are recognized in the period earned.
The Company and certain of the Company’s PROs have tenant insurance- and/or tenant warranty protection plan-related arrangements with insurance companies and the Company’s tenants. During the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company recognized $2.6 million and $2.1 million, respectively, of tenant insurance and tenant warranty protection plan revenues.
The Company sells boxes, packing supplies, locks and other retail merchandise at its properties. During the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company recognized retail sales of $0.4 million and $0.4 million, respectively.
12
Management fees and other revenue
Management fees and other revenue consist of property management fees, platform fees, call center fees, acquisition fees, and a portion of tenant warranty protection or tenant insurance proceeds that the Company earns for managing and operating its unconsolidated real estate ventures.
With respect to both the 2018 Joint Venture and the 2016 Joint Venture (as each is defined in Note 5), the Company provides supervisory and administrative property management services, centralized call center services, and technology platform and revenue management services to the properties in the unconsolidated real estate ventures. The property management fees are equal to 6 % of monthly gross revenues and net sales revenues from the assets of the unconsolidated real estate ventures, and the platform fees are equal to $1,250 per month per unconsolidated real estate venture property. With respect to the 2016 Joint Venture only, the call center fees are equal to 1 % of each of monthly gross revenues and net sales revenues from the 2016 Joint Venture properties. During the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company recognized property management fees, call center fees and platform fees of $3.2 million and $3.2 million, respectively.
For acquisition fees, the Company provides sourcing, underwriting and administration services to the unconsolidated real estate ventures. The 2016 Joint Venture paid the Company a $4.1 million acquisition fee equal to 0.65 % of the gross capitalization (including debt and equity) of the original 66 -property 2016 Joint Venture portfolio (the "Initial 2016 JV Portfolio") in 2016, at the time of the Initial 2016 JV Portfolio acquisition. The 2018 Joint Venture paid the Company a $4.0 million acquisition fee related to the initial acquisition of properties by the 2018 Joint Venture (the "Initial 2018 JV Portfolio") in 2018, at the time of the Initial 2018 JV Portfolio acquisition. These fees are refundable to the unconsolidated real estate ventures, on a prorated basis, if the Company is removed as the managing member during the initial year life of the unconsolidated real estate ventures and as such, the Company's performance obligation for these acquisition fees are satisfied over a year period. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had deferred revenue related to the acquisition fees of $2.4 million and $2.8 million, respectively.
The Company also earns acquisition fees for properties acquired by the unconsolidated real estate ventures subsequent to the Initial 2016 JV Portfolio and the Initial 2018 JV Portfolio. These fees are based on a percentage of the gross capitalization of the acquired assets determined by the members of the 2016 Joint Venture and the 2018 Joint Venture, and are generally earned when the unconsolidated real estate ventures obtain title and control of an acquired property. During the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company recognized acquisition fees of $0.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively.
An affiliate of the Company facilitates tenant warranty protection or tenant insurance programs for tenants of the properties in the unconsolidated real estate ventures in exchange for 50 % of all proceeds from such programs at each unconsolidated real estate venture property. During the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company recognized $1.6 million and $1.2 million, respectively, of revenue related to these activities.
Investments in Unconsolidated Real Estate Ventures
The Company’s investments in its unconsolidated real estate ventures are recorded under the equity method of accounting in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. Under the equity method, the Company’s investments in unconsolidated real estate ventures are stated at cost and adjusted for the Company’s share of net earnings or losses and reduced by distributions. Equity in earnings (losses) is recognized based on the Company’s ownership interest in the earnings (losses) of the unconsolidated real estate ventures. The Company follows the "nature of the distribution approach" for classification of distributions from its unconsolidated real estate ventures in its condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. Under this approach, distributions are reported on the basis of the nature of the activity or activities that generated the distributions as either a return on investment, which are classified as operating cash flows, or a return of investment (e.g., proceeds from the unconsolidated real estate ventures' sale of assets) which are reported as investing cash flows.
13
Noncontrolling Interests
All of the limited partner equity interests ("OP equity") in the operating partnership not held by the Company are reflected as noncontrolling interests. Noncontrolling interests also include ownership interests in DownREIT partnerships held by entities other than the operating partnership or its subsidiaries. In the condensed consolidated statements of operations, the Company allocates net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests to arrive at net income (loss) attributable to National Storage Affiliates Trust.
For transactions that result in changes to the Company's ownership interest in its operating partnership, the carrying amount of noncontrolling interests is adjusted to reflect such changes. The difference between the fair value of the consideration received or paid and the amount by which the noncontrolling interest is adjusted is reflected as an adjustment to additional paid-in capital on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Allocation of Net Income (Loss)
The distribution rights and priorities set forth in the operating partnership's LP Agreement differ from what is reflected by the underlying percentage ownership interests of the unitholders. Accordingly, the Company allocates GAAP income (loss) utilizing the hypothetical liquidation at book value ("HLBV") method, in which the Company allocates income or loss based on the change in each unitholders’ claim on the net assets of its operating partnership at period end after adjusting for any distributions or contributions made during such period. The HLBV method is commonly applied to equity investments where cash distribution percentages vary at different points in time and are not directly linked to an equity holder’s ownership percentage.
The HLBV method is a balance sheet-focused approach to income (loss) allocation. A calculation is prepared at each balance sheet date to determine the amount that unitholders would receive if the operating partnership were to liquidate all of its assets (at GAAP net book value) and distribute the resulting proceeds to its creditors and unitholders based on the contractually defined liquidation priorities. The difference between the calculated liquidation distribution amounts at the beginning and the end of the reporting period, after adjusting for capital contributions and distributions, is used to derive each unitholder's share of the income (loss) for the period. Due to the stated liquidation priorities and because the HLBV method incorporates non-cash items such as depreciation expense, in any given period, income or loss may be allocated disproportionately to unitholders as compared to their respective ownership percentage in the operating partnership, and net income (loss) attributable to National Storage Affiliates Trust could be more or less net income than actual cash distributions received and more or less income or loss than what may be received in the event of an actual liquidation. Additionally, the HLBV method could result in net income (or net loss) attributable to National Storage Affiliates Trust during a period when the Company reports consolidated net loss (or net income), or net income (or net loss) attributable to National Storage Affiliates Trust in excess of the Company's consolidated net income (or net loss). The computations of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share may be materially affected by these disproportionate income (loss) allocations, resulting in volatile fluctuations of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share.
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Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848). ASU 2020-04 contains practical expedients for reference rate reform related activities that impact debt, leases, derivatives and other contracts. The guidance in ASU 2020-04 is optional and may be elected over time as reference rate reform activities occur. During three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company elected to apply the hedge accounting expedients related to probability and the assessments of effectiveness for future LIBOR-indexed cash flows to assume that the index upon which future hedged transactions will be based matches the index on the corresponding derivatives. Application of these expedients preserves the presentation of derivatives consistent with past presentation. The Company continues to evaluate the impact of the guidance and may apply other elections as applicable as additional changes in the market occur. See Note 12 for additional detail about the Company's derivatives.
3. SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
Shareholders' Equity
Internalization and Acquisition of PRO
As discussed in Note 1 and further below, on March 31, 2020, the Company closed on the previously announced mergers of SecurCare and DLAN with and into wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company. In connection with the mergers, the Company issued 8,105,192 common shares to the owners of SecurCare and DLAN, which represented a 1 % discount to an aggregate of 8,187,052 OP units that each of SecurCare and DLAN owned or was entitled to receive immediately prior to the mergers (after rounding up to the next whole number of common shares). Of the total number of common shares issued to the owners of SecurCare, 4,063,571 common shares were issued to Arlen Nordhagen, the Company's executive chairman and former chief executive officer, who owned approximately 53 % of SecurCare's outstanding shares, and 1,858,737 common shares were issued to David Cramer, the Company's chief operating officer, who owned approximately 24 % of SecurCare's outstanding shares. In connection with the mergers and the issuance of the Company's common shares to Mr. Nordhagen and Mr. Cramer, the Company formed a special committee of independent and disinterested trustees (the "Special Committee") to evaluate the merits and terms of the proposed transaction. In analyzing the proposed transaction, the Special Committee engaged an independent third party financial advisor to assist the Special Committee in analyzing and assessing the transaction, and to opine on the fairness to the Company of the consideration to be paid by the Company in the mergers. The Special Committee approved and recommended that the Company's board of trustees approve the proposed transaction. The transaction was approved unanimously by the disinterested trustees of the Company's board of trustees on February 19, 2020.
At the Market ("ATM") Program
On February 27, 2019, the Company entered into a sales agreement with certain sales agents, pursuant to which the Company may sell from time to time up to $250.0 million of the Company's common of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share ("common shares") and 6.000 % Series A cumulative redeemable preferred shares of beneficial interest ("Series A preferred shares") in sales deemed to be "at the market" offerings. The sales agreement contemplates that, in addition to the issuance and sale by the Company of offered shares to or through the sale agents, the Company may enter into separate forward sale agreements with any forward purchaser. Forward sale agreements, if any, will include only the Company's common shares and will not include any Series A preferred shares. If the Company enters into a forward sale agreement with any forward purchaser, such forward purchaser will attempt to borrow from third parties and sell, through the related agent, acting as sales agent for such forward purchaser (each, a "forward seller"), offered shares, in an amount equal to the offered shares subject to such forward sale agreement, to hedge such forward purchaser’s exposure under such forward sale agreement. The Company may offer the common shares and Series A preferred shares through the agents, as the Company's sales agents, or, as applicable, as forward seller, or directly to the agents or forward sellers, acting as principals, by means of, among
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others, ordinary brokers’ transactions on the NYSE or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at negotiated prices.
During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company sold 125,000 of its common shares through the ATM program at an average offering price of $36.18 per share, resulting in net proceeds to the Company of approximately $4.2 million, after deducting compensation payable by the Company to such agents and offering expenses.
Noncontrolling Interests
All of the OP equity in the Company's operating partnership not held by the Company are reflected as noncontrolling interests. Noncontrolling interests also include ownership interests in DownREIT partnerships held by entities other than the Company's operating partnership. NSA is the general partner of its operating partnership and is authorized to cause its operating partnership to issue additional partner interests, including OP units and subordinated performance units, at such prices and on such other terms as it determines in its sole discretion.
As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, units reflecting noncontrolling interests consisted of the following:
March 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||
Series A-1 preferred units | |||||||||||
OP units | |||||||||||
Subordinated performance units | |||||||||||
LTIP units | |||||||||||
DownREIT units | |||||||||||
DownREIT OP units | |||||||||||
DownREIT subordinated performance units | |||||||||||
Total |
Series A-1 Preferred Units
The 6.000 % Series A-1 Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units ("Series A-1 preferred units") rank senior to OP units and subordinated performance units in the Company's operating partnership with respect to distributions and liquidation. The Series A-1 preferred units have a stated value of $25.00 per unit and receive distributions at an annual rate of 6.000 %. These distributions are cumulative. The Series A-1 preferred units are redeemable at the option of the holder after the first anniversary of the date of issuance, which redemption obligations may be satisfied at the Company’s option in cash in an amount equal to the market value of an equivalent number of the Series A preferred shares or the issuance of Series A preferred shares on a one -for-one basis, subject to adjustments. The Series A preferred shares are redeemable by the Company for a cash redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus accrued but unpaid dividends. The decrease in Series A-1 preferred units outstanding from December 31, 2019 to March 31, 2020 was due to the redemption of 5,600 Series A-1 preferred units for Series A preferred shares.
OP Units and DownREIT OP units
OP units in the Company's operating partnership are redeemable for cash or, at the Company's option, exchangeable for the Company's common shares on a one -for-one basis, and DownREIT OP units are redeemable for cash or, at the Company's option, exchangeable for OP units in its operating partnership on a one -for-one basis, subject to certain adjustments in each case. The holders of OP units are generally not entitled to elect redemption until one year after the issuance of the OP units. The holders of DownREIT OP units are generally not entitled to elect redemption until five years after the date of the contributor's initial contribution.
The decrease in OP units outstanding from December 31, 2019 to March 31, 2020 was due to the redemption of 118,961 OP units for common shares and the exchange of 368,500 DownREIT OP units in redemption of an equivalent number of outstanding OP units, which were subsequently retired by the operating partnership, offset by the following: 445,701 OP units issued upon the conversion of 332,738 subordinated performance units (as discussed further below), 181,981 OP units issued in connection with the acquisition of self storage properties and 133,637 LTIP units which were converted into an equivalent number of OP units. In addition, in connection with the completion of the SecurCare and DLAN mergers, the Company's operating partnership retired 710,462 OP Units.
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The increase in DownREIT OP units outstanding from December 31, 2019 to March 31, 2020 was due to the exchange of 368,500 DownREIT OP units held by the operating partnership in redemption of an equivalent number of outstanding OP Units, which were subsequently retired by the operating partnership, and the issuance of 115,888 DownREIT OP units related to the conversion of 34,511 DownREIT subordinated performance units (as discussed further below) partially offset by the contribution of 407,731 DownREIT OP units (which were previously included in the above table because they were not held by the Company) to the operating partnership in connection with the SecurCare and DLAN mergers.
Subordinated Performance Units and DownREIT Subordinated Performance Units
Subordinated performance units may also, under certain circumstances, be convertible into OP units which are exchangeable for common shares as described above, and DownREIT subordinated performance units may, under certain circumstances, be exchangeable for subordinated performance units on a one -for-one basis. Subordinated performance units are only convertible into OP units after a year lock-out period and then generally (i) at the holder’s election only upon the achievement of certain performance thresholds relating to the properties to which such subordinated performance units relate or (ii) at the Company's election upon a retirement event of a PRO that holds such subordinated performance units or upon certain qualifying terminations. The holders of DownREIT subordinated performance units are generally not entitled to elect redemption until at least five years after the date of the contributor's initial contribution.
Following such lock-out period, a holder of subordinated performance units in the Company's operating partnership may elect a voluntary conversion one time each year on or prior to December 1st to convert a pre-determined portion of such subordinated performance units into OP units in the Company's operating partnership, with such conversion effective January 1st of the following year, with each subordinated performance unit being converted into the number of OP units determined by dividing the average cash available for distribution, or CAD, per unit on the series of specific subordinated performance units over the one-year period prior to conversion by 110 % of the CAD per unit on the OP units determined over the same period. CAD per unit on the series of specific subordinated performance units and OP units is determined by the Company based generally upon the application of the provisions of the LP Agreement applicable to the distributions of operating cash flow and capital transactions proceeds.
The decrease in subordinated performance units outstanding from December 31, 2019 to March 31, 2020 was due to the retirement of 2,001,441 subordinated performance units in connection with the SecurCare merger and the voluntary conversion of 332,738 subordinated performance units into 445,701 OP units, partially offset by the issuance of 13,105 subordinated performance units for co-investment by one of the Company's PROs in connection with the acquisition of a self storage property.
The decrease in DownREIT subordinated performance units outstanding from December 31, 2019 to March 31, 2020 was due to the conversion of 34,511 DownREIT subordinated performance units into 115,888 DownREIT OP units.
LTIP Units
LTIP units are a special class of partnership interest in the Company's operating partnership that allow the holder to participate in the ordinary and liquidating distributions received by holders of the OP units (subject to the achievement of specified levels of profitability by the Company's operating partnership or the achievement of certain events). LTIP units may also, under certain circumstances, be convertible into OP units on a one -for-one basis, which are then exchangeable for common shares as described above.
The increase in LTIP units outstanding from December 31, 2019 to March 31, 2020 was due to the conversion of 133,637 LTIP units into an equivalent number of OP units partially offset by the issuance of 154,806 compensatory LTIP units to employees, trustees and consultants, net of forfeitures.
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4. SELF STORAGE PROPERTIES
Self storage properties are summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):
March 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||
Land | $ | $ | |||||||||
Buildings and improvements | |||||||||||
Furniture and equipment | |||||||||||
Total self storage properties | |||||||||||
Less accumulated depreciation | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Self storage properties, net | $ | $ |
5. INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED REAL ESTATE VENTURES
2018 Joint Venture
As of March 31, 2020, the Company's unconsolidated real estate venture, formed in September 2018 with an affiliate of Heitman America Real Estate REIT LLC (the "2018 Joint Venture"), owned and operated a portfolio of 103 self storage properties containing approximately 7.8 million rentable square feet, configured in approximately 64,000 storage units and located across 17 states.
2016 Joint Venture
As of March 31, 2020, the Company's unconsolidated real estate venture, formed in September 2016 with a state pension fund advised by Heitman Capital Management LLC (the "2016 Joint Venture"), owned and operated a portfolio of 74 properties containing approximately 4.9 million rentable square feet, configured in approximately 40,000 storage units and located across 13 states.
The 2016 Joint Venture acquired two self storage properties for $12.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020. The 2016 Joint Venture financed these acquisitions with capital contributions from the 2016 Joint Venture members, of which the Company contributed $3.1 million for its 25 % proportionate share.
The following table presents the combined condensed financial position of the Company's unconsolidated real estate ventures as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 (in thousands):
March 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||
ASSETS | |||||||||||
Self storage properties, net | $ | $ | |||||||||
Other assets | |||||||||||
Total assets | $ | $ | |||||||||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | |||||||||||
Debt financing | $ | $ | |||||||||
Other liabilities | |||||||||||
Equity | |||||||||||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | $ | |||||||||
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The following tables present the combined condensed operating information of the Company's unconsolidated real estate ventures for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands):
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
Total revenue | $ | $ | |||||||||
Property operating expenses | |||||||||||
Net operating income | |||||||||||
Supervisory, administrative and other expenses | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Interest expense | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Loss on sale of self storage properties | ( |
||||||||||
Acquisition and other expenses | ( |
( |
|||||||||
Net loss | $ | ( |
$ | ( |
|||||||
6. ACQUISITIONS
Self Storage Property Acquisitions
The Company acquired 36 self storage properties with an estimated fair value of $222.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020. Of these acquisitions, one self storage property with an estimated fair value of $7.7 million was acquired by the Company from a PRO. The 36 self storage property acquisitions were accounted for as asset acquisitions and accordingly, $2.9 million of transaction costs related to the acquisitions were capitalized as part of the basis of the acquired properties. The Company recognized the estimated fair value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities on the respective dates of such acquisitions. The Company allocated the total purchase price to the estimated fair value of tangible and intangible assets acquired, and liabilities assumed. The Company allocated a portion of the purchase price to identifiable intangible assets consisting of customer in-place leases which were recorded at estimated fair value of $4.6 million, resulting in a total fair value of $218.2 million allocated to real estate.
The following table summarizes the investment in self storage property acquisitions completed by the Company during the three months ended March 31, 2020 (dollars in thousands):
Acquisitions Closed During the Three Months Ended: | Number of Properties | Summary of Investment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and Acquisition Costs |
Value of OP Equity(1)
|
Other Liabilities | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March 31, 2020 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Value of OP equity represents the fair value of LTIP units, OP units and subordinated performance units.
Acquisition of PRO Management Company
As discussed in Note 1 and Note 3, on March 31, 2020, the Company closed on the previously announced mergers of SecurCare and DLAN with and into wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company. The mergers were accounted for as a business combination whereby the Company acquired additional interests in its operating partnership and DownREIT partnerships. Accordingly, this portion of the transaction was accounted for as a change in ownership of a consolidated subsidiary, resulting in a reduction to noncontrolling interests equal to the net book value of the acquired subsidiary interests.
In connection with the mergers, SecurCare's property management platform and related intellectual property were internalized by the Company. Under the terms of the Company's facilities portfolio management agreement with SecurCare, in connection with a retirement event leading to the internalization of SecurCare's property management platform, SecurCare was entitled to receive OP units in exchange for its property management platform and related intellectual property based on a contractual formula. Using this formula, the Company determined that SecurCare was entitled to receive an equivalent of 348,020 OP units totaling $10.3 million, based on the acquisition date closing price of the Company's common shares. The Company allocated the total purchase price to the estimated fair value of tangible and intangible assets acquired, and liabilities assumed. The Company allocated a
19
portion of the purchase price to tangible fixed assets of $0.1 million and intangible assets consisting of a management contract with an estimated fair value of $4.6 million and the SecurCare trade name with an estimated fair value of $3.2 million. The excess of the aggregate consideration paid over the identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed, equal to $2.4 million, was allocated to goodwill. The tangible and intangible assets related to the internalization are reported in other assets, net in the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets.
The Company’s fair value measurements were based, in part, on valuations prepared by an independent valuation firm and the allocation of the purchase price required a significant amount of judgment. The Company measured the fair value of the management contract asset based on discounted future cash flows expected under the management contract from a market participant perspective. The management contract asset will be charged to amortization expense on a straight-line basis over 15 years, which represents the time period over which the majority of value was attributed in the Company’s discounted cash flow model. The Company measured the fair value of the trade name, which has an indefinite life and is not amortized, using the relief from royalty method.
The allocation of the purchase price requires judgment and was based on our valuations, estimates and assumptions of the acquisition date fair value of the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. While the preliminary allocation of the purchase price is substantially complete the valuation of intangibles is still being finalized.
7. OTHER ASSETS
Other assets consist of the following (dollars in thousands):
March 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||
Customer in-place leases, net of accumulated amortization of $ |
$ | $ | |||||||||
Receivables: | |||||||||||
Trade, net | |||||||||||
PROs and other affiliates | |||||||||||
Receivables from unconsolidated real estate ventures | |||||||||||
Property acquisition and other deposits | |||||||||||
Interest rate swaps | |||||||||||
Equity securities | |||||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other | |||||||||||
Corporate furniture, equipment and other, net | |||||||||||
Trade names | |||||||||||
Management contracts, net of accumulated amortization of $ |
|||||||||||
Tenant reinsurance intangible, net of accumulated amortization of $ |
|||||||||||
Goodwill | |||||||||||
Total | $ | $ |
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8. DEBT FINANCING
The Company's outstanding debt as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 is summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):
Interest Rate(1)
|
March 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||
Credit Facility: |
|||||||||||||||||
Revolving line of credit | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
Term loan A | |||||||||||||||||
Term loan B | |||||||||||||||||
Term loan C | |||||||||||||||||
Term loan D | |||||||||||||||||
2023 Term loan facility | |||||||||||||||||
2028 Term loan facility | |||||||||||||||||
2029 Term loan facility | |||||||||||||||||
2029 Senior Unsecured Notes | |||||||||||||||||
2031 Senior Unsecured Notes | |||||||||||||||||
Fixed rate mortgages payable | |||||||||||||||||
Total principal | |||||||||||||||||
Unamortized debt issuance costs and debt premium, net |
( |
( |
|||||||||||||||
Total debt | $ | $ |
(1)Represents the effective interest rate as of March 31, 2020. Effective interest rate incorporates the stated rate plus the impact of interest rate cash flow hedges and discount and premium amortization, if applicable. For the revolving line of credit, the effective interest rate excludes fees for unused borrowings.
As of March 31, 2020, the Company's unsecured credit facility provided for total borrowings of $1.275 billion (the "credit facility"). The credit facility consists of the following components: (i) a revolving line of credit (the "Revolver") which provides for a total borrowing commitment up to $500.0 million, under which the Company may borrow, repay and re-borrow amounts, (ii) a $125.0 million tranche A term loan facility (the "Term Loan A"), (iii) a $250.0 million tranche B term loan facility (the "Term Loan B"), (iv) a $225.0 million tranche C term loan facility (the "Term Loan C"), and (v) a $175.0 million tranche D term loan facility (the "Term Loan D"). As of March 31, 2020, the Company had an expansion option under the credit facility, which, if exercised in full, would provide for a total credit facility of $1.750 billion.
As of March 31, 2020, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling $5.7 million and would have had the capacity to borrow remaining Revolver commitments of $294.3 million while remaining in compliance with the credit facility's financial covenants. At March 31, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all such covenants.
For a summary of the Company's financial covenants and additional detail regarding the Company's credit facility, 2023 Term Loan Facility, 2028 Term Loan Facility, 2029 Term Loan Facility, 2029 Senior Unsecured Notes, 2031 Senior Unsecured Notes and fixed rate mortgages payable, please see Note 8 to the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC.
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Future Debt Obligations
Based on existing debt agreements in effect as of March 31, 2020, the scheduled principal and maturity payments for the Company's outstanding borrowings are presented in the table below (in thousands):
Year Ending December 31, | Scheduled Principal and Maturity Payments | Amortization of Premium and Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs | Total | |||||||||||||||||
Remainder of 2020 | $ | $ | ( |
$ | ||||||||||||||||
2021 | ( |
|||||||||||||||||||
2022 | ( |
|||||||||||||||||||
2023 | ( |
|||||||||||||||||||
2024 | ( |
|||||||||||||||||||
2025 | ( |
|||||||||||||||||||
Thereafter | ||||||||||||||||||||
$ | $ | ( |
$ |
9. EARNINGS PER SHARE
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands, except per share amounts):
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
Earnings (loss) per common share - basic and diluted |
|||||||||||
Numerator | |||||||||||
Net income | $ | $ | |||||||||
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests |
( |
( |
|||||||||
Net income attributable to National Storage Affiliates Trust |
|||||||||||
Distributions to preferred shareholders |
( |
( |
|||||||||
Distributed and undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities |
( |
( |
|||||||||
Net income attributable to common shareholders - basic and diluted |
$ | $ | |||||||||
Denominator |
|||||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted |
|||||||||||
Earnings (loss) per share - basic and diluted | $ | $ | |||||||||
As discussed in Note 2, the Company allocates GAAP income (loss) utilizing the HLBV method, in which the Company allocates income or loss based on the change in each unitholders' claim on the net assets of its operating partnership at period end after adjusting for any distributions or contributions made during such period. Due to the stated liquidation priorities and because the HLBV method incorporates non-cash items such as depreciation expense, in any given period, income or loss may be allocated disproportionately to National Storage Affiliates Trust and noncontrolling interests, resulting in volatile fluctuations of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share.
Outstanding equity interests of the Company's operating partnership and DownREIT partnerships are considered potential common shares for purposes of calculating diluted earnings (loss) per share as the unitholders may, through the exercise of redemption rights, obtain common shares, subject to various restrictions. Basic earnings per share is calculated based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the
22
period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by further adjusting for the dilutive impact using the treasury stock method for unvested LTIP units subject to a service condition outstanding during the period and the if-converted method for any convertible securities outstanding during the period.
Generally, following certain lock-out periods, OP units in the Company's operating partnership are redeemable for cash or, at the Company's option, exchangeable for common shares on a one -for-one basis, subject to certain adjustments and DownREIT OP units are redeemable for cash or, at the Company's option, exchangeable for OP units in its operating partnership on a one -for-one basis, subject to certain adjustments in each case.
LTIP units may also, under certain circumstances, be convertible into OP units on a one -for-one basis, which are then exchangeable for common shares as described above. Certain LTIP units vested prior to or upon the completion of the Company's initial public offering and certain LTIP units have vested upon the satisfaction of a service condition or will vest upon the satisfaction of future service and market conditions. Vested LTIP units and unvested LTIP units that vest based on a service or market condition are allocated income or loss in a similar manner as OP units. Unvested LTIP units subject to a service or market condition are evaluated for dilution using the treasury stock method. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, 380,943 unvested LTIP units that vest based on a service or market condition are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings (loss) per share as they are not dilutive to earnings (loss) per share. In addition, certain LTIP units vest upon the future acquisition of properties sourced by PROs or the completion of expansion projects. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, 252,894 unvested LTIP units that vest upon the future acquisition of properties, or the completion of expansion projects, are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings (loss) per share because the contingency for the units to vest has not been attained as of the end of the reported periods.
Subordinated performance units may also, under certain circumstances, be convertible into OP units which are exchangeable for common shares as described above, and DownREIT subordinated performance units may, under certain circumstances, be exchangeable for subordinated performance units on a one -for-one basis. Subordinated performance units are only convertible into OP units, after a year lock-out period and then generally (i) at the holder’s election only upon the achievement of certain performance thresholds relating to the properties to which such subordinated performance units relate or (ii) at the Company's election upon a retirement event of a PRO that holds such subordinated performance units or upon certain qualifying terminations. Although subordinated performance units may only be convertible after a year lock-out period, the Company assumes a hypothetical conversion of each subordinated performance unit (including each DownREIT subordinated performance unit) into OP units (with subsequently assumed redemption into common shares) for the purposes of calculating diluted weighted average common shares. This hypothetical conversion is calculated using historical financial information, and as a result, is not necessarily indicative of the results of operations, cash flows or financial position of the Company upon expiration of the -year lock out period on conversions.
For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, potential common shares totaling 51.1 million and 54.6 million, respectively, related to OP units, DownREIT OP units, subordinated performance units, DownREIT subordinated performance units and vested LTIP units have been excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings (loss) per share as they are not dilutive to earnings (loss) per share.
Participating securities, which consist of unvested restricted common shares, receive dividends equal to those received by common shares. The effect of participating securities for the periods presented above is calculated using the two-class method of allocating distributed and undistributed earnings.
10. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Supervisory and Administrative Fees
For the self storage properties that are managed by the PROs, the Company has entered into asset management agreements with the PROs to provide leasing, operating, supervisory and administrative services. The asset management agreements generally provide for fees ranging from 5 % to 6 % of gross revenue for the managed self storage properties. During the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company incurred $5.3 million and $4.7 million, respectively, for supervisory and administrative fees to the PROs. Such fees are included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.
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Payroll Services
For the self storage properties that are managed by the PROs, the employees responsible for operations are employees of the PROs who charge the Company for the costs associated with the respective employees. For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company incurred $8.8 million and $7.8 million, respectively, for payroll and related costs reimbursable to these PROs. Such costs are included in property operating expenses in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Due Diligence Costs
During the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company incurred $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively, of expenses payable to certain PROs related to self storage property acquisitions sourced by the PROs. These expenses, which are based on the volume of transactions sourced by the PROs, are intended to reimburse the PROs for due diligence costs incurred in the sourcing and underwriting process. These due diligence costs are capitalized as part of the basis of the acquired self storage properties.
Self Storage Property Acquisitions
During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company acquired one self storage property for $7.5 million from an entity that was partially owned by Arlen Nordhagen, the Company's executive chairman and former chief executive officer, and David Cramer, the Company's chief operating officer. Of the total consideration paid, Mr. Nordhagen's and Mr. Cramer's interest was approximately 58,376 OP Units with a value of $1.5 million and 29,689 OP Units with a value $0.7 million, respectively.
11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
24
12. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Recurring Fair Value Measurements
The Company sometimes limits its exposure to interest rate fluctuations by entering into interest rate swap agreements. The interest rate swap agreements moderate the Company's exposure to interest rate risk by effectively converting the interest on variable rate debt to a fixed rate. The Company measures its interest rate swap derivatives at fair value on a recurring basis. The changes in the fair value of derivatives designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and are subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged transaction affects earnings.
Information regarding the Company's interest rate swaps measured at fair value, which are classified within Level 2 of the GAAP fair value hierarchy, is presented below (dollars in thousands):
Fair value at December 31, 2018 | $ | ||||
Gains on interest rate swaps reclassified into interest expense from accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income |
( |
||||
Unrealized losses on interest rate swaps included in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income |
( |
||||
Fair value at March 31, 2019 | $ | ||||
Fair value at December 31, 2019 | $ | ( |
|||
Losses on interest rate swaps reclassified into interest expense from accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income |
|||||
Unrealized losses on interest rate swaps included in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income |
( |
||||
Fair value at March 31, 2020 | $ | ( |
As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had outstanding interest rate swaps with aggregate notional amounts of $1,125.0 million and $1,125.0 million, respectively, designated as cash flow hedges. As of March 31, 2020, the Company's swaps had a weighted average remaining term of approximately 4.0 years. The fair value of these swaps are presented as interest rate swap liabilities in the Company's balance sheets, and the Company recognizes any changes in the fair value as an adjustment of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within equity. If the forward rates at March 31, 2020 remain constant, the Company estimates that during the next 12 months, the Company would reclassify into earnings approximately $17.5 million of the unrealized losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). If market interest rates increase above the 1.90 % weighted average fixed rate under these interest rate swaps, the Company will benefit from net cash payments due from its counterparties to the interest rate swaps.
There were no transfers between levels of the three-tier fair value measurement hierarchy during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019. For financial assets and liabilities that utilize Level 2 inputs, the Company utilizes both direct and indirect observable price quotes, including LIBOR yield curves. The Company uses valuation techniques for Level 2 financial assets and liabilities which include LIBOR yield curves at the reporting date as well as assessing counterparty credit risk. Counterparties to these contracts are highly rated financial institutions. Although the Company has determined that the majority of the inputs used to value its derivatives fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the credit valuation adjustments associated with the Company's derivatives utilize Level 3 inputs, such as estimates of current credit spreads, to evaluate the likelihood of default by the Company and the counterparties. As of March 31, 2020, the Company determined that the effect of credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of its derivative positions are not significant to the overall valuation of its derivatives. Therefore, the Company has determined that its derivative valuations are appropriately classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
Fair Value Disclosures
The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, trade receivables, and accounts payable and accrued liabilities reflected in the balance sheets at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, approximate fair value due to the short term nature of these financial assets and liabilities. The carrying value of variable rate debt financing reflected in the balance sheets at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 approximates fair value as the changes in
25
13. LEASES
The Company determines if a contractual arrangement is a lease at inception. As a lessee, the Company has non-cancelable lease agreements for real estate and its corporate office space that are classified as operating leases. The Company's operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use ("ROU") assets and operating lease liabilities in its condensed consolidated balance sheets. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As the Company's operating leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company used its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the discount rate for the present value of the lease payments. To the extent that the lease agreements provide for fixed increases throughout the term of the lease, the Company recognizes lease expense on a straight-line basis over the expected lease terms.
Real Estate Leasehold Interests
The Company has eight properties that are subject to non-cancelable leasehold interest agreements with remaining lease terms ranging from 14 to 72 years, inclusive of extension options that the Company anticipates exercising. Rent expense under these leasehold interest agreements is included in property operating expenses in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations and amounted to $0.4 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Office Leases
The Company has entered into non-cancelable lease agreements for its corporate office space with remaining lease terms ranging from nine years . Rent expense related to these office leases is included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations and amounted to $0.1 million and $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. to
The weighted-average remaining lease term and the weighted-average discount rate for the Company's operating leases as of March 31, 2020 are as follows:
March 31, 2020 | ||||||||
Weighted-average remaining lease term | ||||||||
Real estate leasehold interests | ||||||||
Office leases | ||||||||
Weighted-average remaining discount rate | ||||||||
Real estate leasehold interests | % | |||||||
Office leases | % |
26
As of March 31, 2020, the future minimum lease payments under the Company's operating leases, for which the Company is a lessee, are as follows (in thousands):
Year Ending December 31, | Real Estate Leasehold Interests | Office Leases | Total | |||||||||||||||||
Remainder of 2020 | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||
2025 through 2092 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total lease payments | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
Less imputed interest | ( |
( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | $ | $ |
As of December 31, 2019, the future minimum lease payments under the Company's operating leases, for which the Company is a lessee, are as follows (in thousands):
Year Ending December 31, | Real Estate Leasehold Interests | Office Leases | Total | |||||||||||||||||
2020 | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||
2025 through 2092 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total lease payments | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
Less imputed interest | ( |
( |
( |
|||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | $ | $ |
14. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
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ITEM 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Forward-Looking Statements
We make forward-looking statements in this report that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans and objectives. When we use the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "continue," "intend," "should," "may," or similar expressions, we intend to identify forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements contained in this report reflect our current views about future events and are subject to numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and changes in circumstances that may cause our actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. One of the most significant factors is the ongoing and potential impact of the current outbreak of COVID-19 on the economy, the self storage industry and the broader financial markets, which may have a significant negative impact on the Company's financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. The Company is unable to predict whether the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will trigger a further economic slowdown or a recession and to what extent the Company will experience disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the second quarter or thereafter. The current outbreak of COVID-19 has also impacted, and is likely to continue to impact, directly or indirectly, many of the other important factors below and the risks described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC on February 26, 2020 (the "Annual Report"), the risk factor set forth in this quarterly report under Item 1A below, and the Company's subsequent filings under the Exchange Act.
Statements regarding the following subjects, among others, may be forward-looking:
•market trends in our industry, interest rates, the debt and lending markets or the general economy;
•our business and investment strategy;
•the acquisition of properties, including those under contract, and the ability of our acquisitions to achieve underwritten capitalization rates and our ability to execute on our acquisition pipeline;
•the timing of acquisitions;
•the internalization of retiring PROs into the Company;
•our relationships with, and our ability and timing to attract additional, PROs;
•our ability to effectively align the interests of our PROs with us and our shareholders;
•the integration of our PROs and their managed portfolios into the Company, including into our financial and operational reporting infrastructure and internal control framework;
•our operating performance and projected operating results, including our ability to achieve market rents and occupancy levels, reduce operating expenditures and increase the sale of ancillary products and services;
•our ability to access additional off-market acquisitions;
•actions and initiatives of the U.S. federal, state and local government and changes to U.S. federal, state and local government policies and the execution and impact of these actions, initiatives and policies;
•the state of the U.S. economy generally or in specific geographic regions, states, territories or municipalities;
•economic trends and economic recoveries;
•our ability to obtain and maintain financing arrangements on favorable terms;
•general volatility of the securities markets in which we participate;
•the negative impacts from the continued spread of COVID-19 on the economy, the self storage industry, the broader financial markets, the Company's financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and the ability of the Company's tenants to pay rent;
•changes in the value of our assets;
•projected capital expenditures;
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•the impact of technology on our products, operations, and business;
•the implementation of our technology and best practices programs (including our ability to effectively implement our integrated Internet marketing strategy);
•changes in interest rates and the degree to which our hedging strategies may or may not protect us from interest rate volatility;
•impact of and changes in governmental regulations, tax law and rates, accounting guidance and similar matters;
•our ability to continue to qualify and maintain our qualification as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
•availability of qualified personnel;
•the timing of conversions of subordinated performance units in our operating partnership and subsidiaries of our operating partnership into OP units in our operating partnership, the conversion ratio in effect at such time and the impact of such convertibility on our diluted earnings (loss) per share;
•the risks of investing through joint ventures, including whether the anticipated benefits from a joint venture are realized or may take longer to realize than expected;
•estimates relating to our ability to make distributions to our shareholders in the future; and
•our understanding of our competition.
The forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future performance, taking into account all information currently available to us. Forward-looking statements are not predictions of future events. These beliefs, assumptions, and expectations can change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to us. Readers should carefully review our financial statements and the notes thereto, as well as the sections entitled "Business," "Risk Factors," "Properties," and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," described in the Company's Annual Report , and the other documents we file from time to time with the SEC. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations may vary materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made. New risks and uncertainties arise over time, and it is not possible for us to predict those events or how they may affect us. In addition, we cannot assess the impact of each factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we are not obligated to, and do not intend to, update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Overview
National Storage Affiliates Trust is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust organized in the state of Maryland on May 16, 2013. We have elected and we believe that we have qualified to be taxed as a REIT commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2015. We serve as the sole general partner of our operating partnership, a Delaware limited partnership formed on February 13, 2013 to conduct our business, which is focused on the ownership, operation, and acquisition of self storage properties located within the top 100 metropolitan statistical areas throughout the United States.
Our executive chairman of the board of trustees and former chief executive officer, Arlen D. Nordhagen, co-founded SecurCare Self Storage, Inc. in 1988 to invest in and manage self storage properties. While growing SecurCare to over 150 self storage properties, Mr. Nordhagen recognized a market opportunity for a differentiated public self storage REIT that would leverage the benefits of national scale by integrating multiple experienced regional self storage operators with local operational focus and expertise. We believe that his vision, which is the foundation of the Company, aligns the interests of our participating regional operators ("PROs"), with those of our public shareholders by allowing our PROs to participate alongside our shareholders in our financial performance and the performance of our PROs' managed portfolios. This structure offers our PROs a unique opportunity to serve as regional property managers for their managed portfolios and directly participate in the potential upside of those properties while simultaneously diversifying their investment to include a broader portfolio of self storage properties.
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COVID-19
We are closely monitoring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all aspects of our business. The outbreak of COVID-19 in many countries, including the United States, has adversely impacted economic activity. The effect of the outbreak has been rapidly evolving and, as cases of COVID-19 have continued to be identified, most states and municipalities have reacted by instituting quarantines, mandating business and school closures, requiring restrictions on travel, "shelter-in-place" and/or "stay-at-home" orders, and imposing restrictions on the types of businesses that may continue to operate. These containment measures generally do not apply to businesses, like ours, which are designated as "essential," but may apply to certain of our tenants, employees, vendors, lenders and joint venture partners.
As of the date of this report, our stores continue to operate and we are in compliance with federal, state and local COVID-19 guidelines and mandates. In response to the pandemic, we have increased the level and frequency of cleaning and sanitation of our self storage facilities and enacted recommended social distancing guidelines. Our stores have operated, and some stores continue to operate, with a locked office, and on-site customer interaction is handled through a window, over the telephone, or in other ways intended to minimize physical contact. Many of our stores feature online rental capabilities whereby a customer can complete the entire rental process online and receive an access code to the storage facility. For the remainder of our stores that do not yet benefit from the online rental feature, the combination of call center and email communication eliminates the need for any physical contact between customers and employees.
While our results of operations were not significantly impacted by the pandemic during the three months ended March 31, 2020, we have experienced a slowdown in overall business activity, including lower move-in and move-out volume. There are state and local restrictions on price increases, auctions and late fee assessments, and we have temporarily suspended rental increases for in-place tenants. Specifically, our April 2020 same store portfolio (as defined below) operations were affected as follows:
•Same store move-in volume decreased approximately 28%, compared to the same period in 2019;
•Same store move-out volume decreased approximately 28%, compared to the same period in 2019.
•Same store period-end occupancy was 87.1% as of April 30, 2020, which was unchanged compared to March 31, 2020 and a decrease of approximately 140 basis points compared to April 30, 2019.
We have taken proactive measures to maintain the strength of our business and manage the impact of COVID-19 on our operations and liquidity, including the following:
•We have closely monitored our liquidity position. As of April 30, 2020, we had the capacity to borrow remaining Revolver commitments of approximately $300 million with less than $40 million of debt maturing through 2022, and we have determined that it is not necessary to enhance our liquidity position through further borrowings at this time;
•We are being diligent to manage operating expenses, including store-level personnel costs, marketing and repairs and maintenance expenses. We have also incurred lower corporate travel costs compared to expectations at the beginning of the year.
•We remain committed to acquiring properties at appropriate risk-adjusted returns. We expect in the near-term there may be a lower volume of acquisition transactions in the self storage sector generally due to uncertainty from the pandemic. We believe our acquisition opportunities through our captive pipeline and relationship-based third-party deals sourced by our PROs will continue to be a differentiating factor for us to prudently deploy capital, including through the issuance of OP equity.
The above discussion is intended to provide shareholders with certain information regarding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and management’s efforts to respond to those impacts. We are unable to predict the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business for the balance of the second quarter of 2020 and thereafter. We will continue to monitor its effects and will adjust our operations as necessary. As a result of the rapid development, fluidity and uncertainty surrounding this situation, we expect that such information will change, potentially significantly, going forward and may not be indicative of the actual impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the second quarter of 2020 and future periods. See "Risk Factors" under Item 1A.
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Our Structure
Our structure promotes operator accountability as subordinated performance units issued to our PROs in exchange for the contribution of their properties are entitled to distributions only after those properties satisfy minimum performance thresholds. In the event of a material reduction in operating cash flow, distributions on our subordinated performance units will be reduced before or disproportionately to distributions on our common shares held by our common shareholders. In addition, we expect our PROs will generally co-invest subordinated equity in the form of subordinated performance units in each acquisition that they source, and the value of these subordinated performance units will fluctuate with the performance of their managed portfolios. Therefore, our PROs are incentivized to select acquisitions that are expected to exceed minimum performance thresholds, thereby increasing the value of their subordinated equity stake. We expect that our shareholders will benefit from the higher levels of property performance that our PROs are incentivized to deliver.
Our PROs
The Company had nine PROs as of March 31, 2020: Northwest, Optivest, Guardian, Move It, Storage Solutions, Hide Away, Personal Mini, Southern and Moove In. As discussed in Note 1 in Item 1, on March 31, 2020, we closed on the merger and internalization of the management platform of SecurCare, which prior to the merger and internalization was our largest PRO. As part of the internalization, we offered employment to most of SecurCare's employees, including its key persons, to continue managing SecurCare's managed portfolio under the brand SecurCare as members of our existing property management platform. As a result of the merger, we will no longer pay any fees or reimbursements to SecurCare and distributions on the series of subordinated performance units related to SecurCare's managed portfolio were discontinued.
We seek to further expand our platform by continuing to recruit additional established self storage operators, while integrating our operations through the implementation of centralized initiatives, including management information systems, revenue enhancement, and cost optimization programs. Our national platform allows us to capture cost savings by eliminating redundancies and utilizing economies of scale across the property management platforms of our PROs while also providing greater access to lower-cost capital.
Our Consolidated Properties
We seek to own properties that are well located in high quality sub-markets with highly accessible street access and attractive supply and demand characteristics, providing our properties with strong and stable cash flows that are less sensitive to the fluctuations of the general economy. Many of these markets have multiple barriers to entry against increased supply, including zoning restrictions against new construction and new construction costs that we believe are higher than our properties' fair market value.
As of March 31, 2020, we owned a geographically diversified portfolio of 603 self storage properties, located in 29 states and Puerto Rico, comprising approximately 36.2 million rentable square feet, configured in approximately 288,000 storage units. Of these properties, 266 were acquired by us from our PROs, 336 were acquired from third-party sellers and one was acquired from the 2016 Joint Venture.
During the three months ended March 31, 2020, we acquired 36 self storage properties for $222.8 million, comprising approximately 1.8 million rentable square feet, configured in approximately 13,600 storage units. Of these acquisitions, one was acquired from a PRO and 35 were acquired from third-party sellers.
Our Unconsolidated Real Estate Ventures
We seek to opportunistically partner with institutional funds and other institutional investors to acquire attractive portfolios utilizing a promoted return structure. We believe there is significant opportunity for continued external growth by partnering with institutional investors seeking to deploy capital in the self storage industry.
2018 Joint Venture
As of March 31, 2020, our 2018 Joint Venture, in which we have a 25% interest, owned and operated a portfolio of 103 properties containing approximately 7.8 million rentable square feet, configured in approximately 64,000 storage units and located across 17 states.
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2016 Joint Venture
As of March 31, 2020, our 2016 Joint Venture, in which we have a 25% ownership interest, owned and operated a portfolio of 74 properties containing approximately 4.9 million rentable square feet, configured in approximately 40,000 storage units and located across 13 states.
During the three months ended March 31, 2020, our 2016 Joint Venture acquired two self storage properties containing less than 0.1 million rentable square feet, configured in approximately 500 storage units and located in one state.
Our Property Management Platform
Through our property management platform, we direct, manage and control the day-to-day operations and affairs of certain consolidated properties and our unconsolidated real estate ventures. As of March 31, 2020, our property management platform managed and controlled 265 of our consolidated properties and 177 of our unconsolidated real estate venture properties.
We earn certain customary fees for managing and operating the properties in the unconsolidated real estate ventures and we facilitate tenant insurance and/or tenant warranty protection programs for tenants at these properties in exchange for half of all proceeds from such programs.
Results of Operations
When reviewing our results of operations it is important to consider the timing of acquisition activity. We acquired 36 self storage properties during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 69 self storage properties during the year ended December 31, 2019. As a result of these and other factors, we do not believe that our historical results of operations discussed and analyzed below are comparable or necessarily indicative of our future results of operations or cash flows.
To help analyze the operating performance of our self storage properties, we also discuss and analyze operating results relating to our same store portfolio. Our same store portfolio is defined as those properties owned and operated since the first day of the earliest year presented, excluding any properties sold, expected to be sold or subject to significant changes such as expansions or casualty events which cause the portfolio's year-over-year operating results to no longer be comparable. As of March 31, 2020, our same store portfolio consisted of 500 consolidated self storage properties.
The following discussion and analysis of the results of our operations and financial condition should be read in conjunction with the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1. Certain figures, such as interest rates and other percentages, included in this section have been rounded for ease of presentation. Percentage figures included in this section have not in all cases been calculated on the basis of such rounded figures but on the basis of such amounts prior to rounding. For this reason, percentage amounts in this section may vary slightly from those obtained by performing the same calculations using the figures in our condensed consolidated financial statements or in the associated text. Certain other amounts that appear in this section may similarly not sum due to rounding.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
Net income was $15.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $12.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, an increase of $2.9 million. The increase was primarily due to an increase in net operating income ("NOI") resulting from an additional 73 self storage properties acquired between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020 and same store NOI growth partially offset by increases in depreciation and amortization and interest expense. For a description of NOI, see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures – NOI".
The following table illustrates the changes in rental revenue, other property-related revenue, management fees and other revenue, property operating expenses, and other expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019 (dollars in thousands):
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Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | Change | |||||||||||||||
Rental revenue | |||||||||||||||||
Same store portfolio |
$ | 81,609 | $ | 79,338 | $ | 2,271 | |||||||||||
Non-same store portfolio |
13,793 | 3,517 | 10,276 | ||||||||||||||
Total rental revenue |
95,402 | 82,855 | 12,547 | ||||||||||||||
Other property-related revenue | |||||||||||||||||
Same store portfolio |
2,907 | 2,680 | 227 | ||||||||||||||
Non-same store portfolio |
464 | 144 | 320 | ||||||||||||||
Total other property-related revenue |
3,371 | 2,824 | 547 | ||||||||||||||
Property operating expenses | |||||||||||||||||
Same store portfolio |
25,738 | 25,219 | 519 | ||||||||||||||
Non-same store portfolio |
4,854 | 1,238 | 3,616 | ||||||||||||||
Total property operating expenses |
30,592 | 26,457 | 4,135 | ||||||||||||||
Net operating income | |||||||||||||||||
Same store portfolio |
58,778 | 56,799 | 1,979 | ||||||||||||||
Non-same store portfolio |
9,403 | 2,423 | 6,980 | ||||||||||||||
Total net operating income |
68,181 | 59,222 | 8,959 | ||||||||||||||
Management fees and other revenue | 5,449 | 4,893 | 556 | ||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses | (11,094) | (10,380) | (714) | ||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | (29,105) | (24,349) | (4,756) | ||||||||||||||
Other | (389) | (386) | (3) | ||||||||||||||
Other (expense) income | |||||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (15,628) | (13,211) | (2,417) | ||||||||||||||
Equity in losses of unconsolidated real estate ventures |
(340) | (2,102) | 1,762 | ||||||||||||||
Acquisition costs | (833) | (157) | (676) | ||||||||||||||
Non-operating expense | (192) | (98) | (94) | ||||||||||||||
Other expense |
(16,993) | (15,568) | (1,425) | ||||||||||||||
Income before income taxes |
16,049 | 13,432 | 2,617 | ||||||||||||||
Income tax expense |
(286) | (492) | 206 | ||||||||||||||
Net income |
15,763 | 12,940 | 2,823 | ||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (9,115) | (5,529) | (3,586) | ||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to National Storage Affiliates Trust |
6,648 | 7,411 | (763) | ||||||||||||||
Distributions to preferred shareholders | (3,273) | (2,588) | (685) | ||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to common shareholders |
$ | 3,375 | $ | 4,823 | $ | (1,448) |
Total Revenue
Our total revenue increased by $13.7 million, or 15.1%, for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019. This increase was primarily attributable to incremental revenue from 73 self storage properties acquired between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020, regular rental increases for in-place tenants, partially offset by a decrease in total portfolio average occupancy from 87.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 to 86.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2020. Average occupancy is calculated based on the average of the month-end occupancy immediately preceding the period presented and the month-end occupancies included in the respective period presented.
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Rental Revenue
Rental revenue increased by $12.5 million, or 15.1%, for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase in rental revenue was due to a $10.3 million increase in non-same store rental revenue which was primarily attributable to incremental rental revenue of $6.1 million from 37 self storage properties acquired between April 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019, and $3.2 million from 36 self storage properties acquired during the three months ended March 31, 2020. Same store portfolio rental revenues increased $2.3 million, or 2.9%, due to a 3.0% increase, from $11.98 to $12.34, in annualized same store rental revenue (including fees and net of any discounts and uncollectible customer amounts) divided by average occupied square feet ("average annualized rental revenue per occupied square foot"), driven primarily by increased contractual lease rates for in-place tenants and fees partially offset by a decrease in average occupancy from 87.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 to 87.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
Other Property-Related Revenue
Other property-related revenue represents ancillary income from our self storage properties, such as tenant insurance-related access fees and sales of storage supplies. Other property-related revenue increased by $0.5 million, or 19.4%, for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019. This increase primarily resulted from a $0.3 million increase in non-same store other property-related revenue which was primarily attributable to incremental other property-related revenue of $0.2 million from 37 self storage properties acquired between April 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019, and $0.1 million from 36 self storage properties acquired during the three months ended March 31, 2020.
Management Fees and Other Revenue
Management fees and other revenue, which are primarily related to managing and operating the unconsolidated real estate ventures, were $5.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $4.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, an increase of $0.5 million. This increase was primarily attributable to incremental tenant insurance fees and dividends from an investment in a tenant reinsurance company made during the three months ended June 30, 2019.
Property Operating Expenses
Property operating expenses were $30.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $26.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, an increase of $4.1 million, or 15.6%. The increase in property operating expenses primarily resulted from a $3.6 million increase in non-same store property operating expenses that was primarily attributable to incremental property operating expenses of $2.0 million from 37 self storage properties acquired between April 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019, and $1.3 million from 36 self storage properties acquired during the three months ended March 31, 2020.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses increased $0.7 million, or 6.9%, for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019. This increase was primarily attributable to increases in supervisory and administrative fees charged by our PROs of $0.7 million resulting from incremental fees related to the 73 self storage properties we acquired between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization increased $4.8 million, or 19.5%, for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019. This increase was primarily attributable to incremental depreciation expense related to the 73 self storage properties we acquired between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020 and an increase in amortization of customer in-place leases from $2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 to $2.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased $2.4 million, or 18.3%, for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase in interest expense was primarily attributable to additional borrowings consisting of $155.0 million of additional term loan borrowings under the Company's credit facility in July 2019, $100.0 million of borrowings under the 2029 Term Loan Facility in April 2019 and the issuance of the $150.0 million Senior Unsecured Notes in a private placement to certain accredited investors in August 2019. The
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increase in interest expense from these additional borrowings was partially offset by lower outstanding borrowings under the Revolver.
Equity In (Losses) Earnings Of Unconsolidated Real Estate Ventures
Equity in (losses) earnings of unconsolidated real estate ventures represents our share of losses and earnings incurred through our 25% ownership interests in the 2018 Joint Venture and the 2016 Joint Venture. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, we recorded $0.3 million of equity in losses from our unconsolidated real estate ventures compared to $2.1 million of losses for the three months ended March 31, 2019. This was primarily the result of incremental losses from our 2018 Joint Venture during the three months ended March 31, 2019 driven by real estate depreciation and amortization of customer in-place leases following the acquisition of the Initial 2018 Joint Venture portfolio in September 2018.
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
As discussed in Note 2 in Item 1, we allocate GAAP income (loss) utilizing the HLBV method, in which we allocate income or loss based on the change in each unitholders' claim on the net assets of our operating partnership at period end after adjusting for any distributions or contributions made during such period.
Due to the stated liquidation priorities and because the HLBV method incorporates non-cash items such as depreciation expense, in any given period, income or loss may be allocated disproportionately to noncontrolling interests. Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests was $9.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $5.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
FFO and Core FFO
Funds from operations, or FFO, is a widely used performance measure for real estate companies and is provided here as a supplemental measure of our operating performance. The December 2018 Nareit Funds From Operations White Paper - 2018 Restatement, which we refer to as the White Paper, defines FFO as net income (as determined under GAAP), excluding: real estate depreciation and amortization, gains and losses from the sale of certain real estate assets, gains and losses from change in control, mark-to-market changes in value recognized on equity securities, impairment write-downs of certain real estate assets and impairment of investments in entities when it is directly attributable to decreases in the value of depreciable real estate held by the entity and after items to record unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures on the same basis. Distributions declared on subordinated performance units and DownREIT subordinated performance units represent our allocation of FFO to noncontrolling interests held by subordinated performance unitholders and DownREIT subordinated performance unitholders. For purposes of calculating FFO attributable to common shareholders, OP unitholders, and LTIP unitholders, we exclude distributions declared on subordinated performance units, DownREIT subordinated performance units, preferred shares and preferred units. We define Core FFO as FFO, as further adjusted to eliminate the impact of certain items that we do not consider indicative of our core operating performance. These further adjustments consist of acquisition costs, organizational and offering costs, gains on debt forgiveness, gains (losses) on early extinguishment of debt, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures.
Management uses FFO and Core FFO as key performance indicators in evaluating the operations of our properties. Given the nature of our business as a real estate owner and operator, we consider FFO and Core FFO as key supplemental measures of our operating performance that are not specifically defined by GAAP. We believe that FFO and Core FFO are useful to management and investors as a starting point in measuring our operational performance because FFO and Core FFO exclude various items included in net income (loss) that do not relate to or are not indicative of our operating performance such as gains (or losses) from sales of self storage properties and depreciation, which can make periodic and peer analyses of operating performance more difficult. Our computation of FFO and Core FFO may not be comparable to FFO reported by other REITs or real estate companies.
FFO and Core FFO should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP, such as total revenues, operating income and net income (loss). FFO and Core FFO do not represent cash generated from operating activities determined in accordance with GAAP and are not a measure of liquidity or an indicator of our ability to make cash distributions. We believe that to further understand our performance, FFO and Core FFO should be compared with our reported net income (loss) and considered in addition to cash flows computed in accordance with GAAP, as presented in our consolidated financial statements.
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The following table presents a reconciliation of net income (loss) to FFO and Core FFO for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands, except per share and unit amounts):
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
Net income | $ | 15,763 | $ | 12,940 | |||||||
Add (subtract): | |||||||||||
Real estate depreciation and amortization | 28,764 | 24,027 | |||||||||
Company's share of unconsolidated real estate venture real estate depreciation and amortization |
3,787 | 5,457 | |||||||||
Mark-to-market changes in value on equity securities |
142 | — | |||||||||
Company's share of unconsolidated real estate venture loss on sale of properties |
— | 202 | |||||||||
Distributions to preferred shareholders and unitholders |
(3,514) | (2,753) | |||||||||
FFO attributable to subordinated performance unitholders(1)
|
(8,664) | (7,293) | |||||||||
FFO attributable to common shareholders, OP unitholders, and LTIP unitholders |
36,278 | 32,580 | |||||||||
Add: | |||||||||||
Acquisition costs | 833 | 157 | |||||||||
Core FFO attributable to common shareholders, OP unitholders, and LTIP unitholders |
$ | 37,111 | $ | 32,737 | |||||||
Weighted average shares and units outstanding - FFO and Core FFO:(2)
|
|||||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic | 59,798 | 56,655 | |||||||||
Weighted average restricted common shares outstanding |
23 | 30 | |||||||||
Weighted average OP units outstanding |
30,709 | 29,948 | |||||||||
Weighted average DownREIT OP unit equivalents outstanding |
1,849 | 1,848 | |||||||||
Weighted average LTIP units outstanding |
617 | 747 | |||||||||
Total weighted average shares and units outstanding - FFO and Core FFO |
92,996 | 89,228 | |||||||||
FFO per share and unit | $ | 0.39 | $ | 0.37 | |||||||
Core FFO per share and unit | $ | 0.40 | $ | 0.37 |
(1) Amounts represent distributions declared for subordinated performance unitholders and DownREIT subordinated performance unitholders for the periods presented. |
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(2) NSA combines OP units and DownREIT OP units with common shares because, after the applicable lock-out periods, OP units in the Company's operating partnership are redeemable for cash or, at NSA's option, exchangeable for common shares on a one-for-one basis and DownREIT OP units are also redeemable for cash or, at NSA's option, exchangeable for OP units in our operating partnership on a one-for-one basis, subject to certain adjustments in each case. Subordinated performance units, DownREIT subordinated performance units, and LTIP units may also, under certain circumstances, be convertible into or exchangeable for common shares (or other units that are convertible into or exchangeable for common shares). See footnote(1) in the following table for additional discussion of subordinated performance units, DownREIT subordinated performance units, and LTIP units in the calculation of FFO and Core FFO per share and unit.
|
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The following table presents a reconciliation of earnings (loss) per share - diluted to FFO and Core FFO per share and unit for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
Earnings (loss) per share - diluted | $ | 0.06 | $ | 0.08 | |||||||
Impact of the difference in weighted average number of shares(1)
|
(0.02) | (0.03) | |||||||||
Impact of GAAP accounting for noncontrolling interests, two-class method and treasury stock method(2)
|
0.09 | 0.07 | |||||||||
Add real estate depreciation and amortization | 0.31 | 0.27 | |||||||||
Add Company's share of unconsolidated venture real estate depreciation and amortization |
0.04 | 0.06 | |||||||||
FFO attributable to subordinated performance unitholders |
(0.09) | (0.08) | |||||||||
FFO per share and unit |
0.39 | 0.37 | |||||||||
Add acquisition costs |
0.01 | — | |||||||||
Core FFO per share and unit |
$ | 0.40 | $ | 0.37 | |||||||
(1) Adjustment accounts for the difference between the weighted average number of shares used to calculate diluted earnings per share and the weighted average number of shares used to calculate FFO and Core FFO per share and unit. Diluted earnings per share is calculated using the two-class method for the company's restricted common shares and the treasury stock method for certain unvested LTIP units, and assumes the conversion of vested LTIP units into OP units on a one-for-one basis and the hypothetical conversion of subordinated performance units, and DownREIT subordinated performance units into OP units, even though such units may only be convertible into OP units (i) after a lock-out period and (ii) upon certain events or conditions. For additional information about the conversion of subordinated performance units, DownREIT subordinated performance units and LTIP units into OP units, see Note 9 in Item 1. The computation of weighted average shares and units for FFO and Core FFO per share and unit includes all restricted common shares and LTIP units that participate in distributions and excludes all subordinated performance units and DownREIT subordinated performance units because their effect has been accounted for through the allocation of FFO to the related unitholders based on distributions declared. |
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(2) Represents the effect of adjusting the numerator to consolidated net income (loss) prior to GAAP allocations for noncontrolling interests, after deducting preferred share and unit distributions, and before the application of the two-class method and treasury stock method, as described in footnote(1).
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NOI
Net operating income, or NOI, represents rental revenue plus other property-related revenue less property operating expenses. NOI is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP.
We believe NOI is useful to investors in evaluating our operating performance because:
•NOI is one of the primary measures used by our management and our PROs to evaluate the economic productivity of our properties, including our ability to lease our properties, increase pricing and occupancy and control our property operating expenses;
•NOI is widely used in the real estate industry and the self storage industry to measure the performance and value of real estate assets without regard to various items included in net income that do not relate to or are not indicative of operating performance, such as depreciation and amortization, which can vary depending upon accounting methods, the book value of assets, and the impact of our capital structure; and
•We believe NOI helps our investors to meaningfully compare the results of our operating performance from period to period by removing the impact of our capital structure (primarily interest expense on our outstanding indebtedness) and depreciation of the cost basis of our assets from our operating results.
There are material limitations to using a non-GAAP measure such as NOI, including the difficulty associated with comparing results among more than one company and the inability to analyze certain significant items, including depreciation and interest expense, that directly affect our net income (loss). We compensate for these limitations by considering the economic effect of the excluded expense items independently as well as in connection with our analysis of net income (loss). NOI should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP, such as total revenues and net income (loss).
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The following table presents a reconciliation of net income (loss) to NOI for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 (dollars in thousands):
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
Net income | $ | 15,763 | $ | 12,940 | |||||||
(Subtract) Add: | |||||||||||
Management fees and other revenue | (5,449) | (4,893) | |||||||||
General and administrative expenses | 11,094 | 10,380 | |||||||||
Other | 389 | 386 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 29,105 | 24,349 | |||||||||
Interest expense | 15,628 | 13,211 | |||||||||
Equity in losses of unconsolidated real estate ventures |
340 | 2,102 | |||||||||
Acquisition costs | 833 | 157 | |||||||||
Income tax expense | 286 | 492 | |||||||||
Non-operating expense | 192 | 98 | |||||||||
Net Operating Income |
$ | 68,181 | $ | 59,222 |
Our consolidated NOI shown in the table above does not include our proportionate share of NOI for our unconsolidated real estate ventures. For additional information about our 2018 Joint Venture and 2016 Joint Venture see Note 5 to the condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
We define EBITDA as net income (loss), as determined under GAAP, plus interest expense, loss on early extinguishment of debt, income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense and the Company's share of unconsolidated real estate venture depreciation and amortization. We define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA plus acquisition costs, organizational and offering expenses, equity-based compensation expense, losses on sale of properties and impairment of long-lived assets, minus gains on sale of properties and debt forgiveness, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. These further adjustments eliminate the impact of items that we do not consider indicative of our core operating performance. In evaluating EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments in this presentation. Our presentation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items.
We present EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA because we believe they assist investors and analysts in comparing our performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have limitations as an analytical tool. Some of these limitations are:
•EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect our cash expenditures, or future requirements, for capital expenditures, contractual commitments or working capital needs;
•EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect the significant interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our debts;
•although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements;
•Adjusted EBITDA excludes equity-based compensation expense, which is and will remain a key element of our overall long-term incentive compensation package, although we exclude it as an expense when evaluating our ongoing operating performance for a particular period;
•EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect the impact of certain cash charges resulting from matters we consider not to be indicative of our ongoing operations; and
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•other companies in our industry may calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA differently than we do, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures.
We compensate for these limitations by considering the economic effect of the excluded expense items independently as well as in connection with our analysis of net income (loss). EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP, such as total revenues and net income (loss).
The following table presents a reconciliation of net income (loss) to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 (dollars in thousands):
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
Net income | $ | 15,763 | $ | 12,940 | |||||||
Add: | |||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 29,105 | 24,349 | |||||||||
Company's share of unconsolidated real estate venture depreciation and amortization |
3,787 | 5,457 | |||||||||
Interest expense | 15,628 | 13,211 | |||||||||
Income tax expense | 286 | 492 | |||||||||
EBITDA |
64,569 | 56,449 | |||||||||
Add: | |||||||||||
Acquisition costs | 833 | 157 | |||||||||
Company's share of unconsolidated real estate venture loss on sale of properties |
— | 202 | |||||||||
Equity-based compensation expense | 774 | 1,112 | |||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ | 66,176 | $ | 57,920 | |||||||
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity Overview
Liquidity is the ability to meet present and future financial obligations. Our primary source of liquidity is cash flow from our operations. Additional sources are proceeds from equity and debt offerings, and debt financings including borrowings under the credit facility, 2023 Term Loan Facility, 2028 Term Loan Facility and 2029 Term Loan Facility.
Our short-term liquidity requirements consist primarily of property operating expenses, property acquisitions, capital expenditures, general and administrative expenses and principal and interest on our outstanding indebtedness. A further short-term liquidity requirement relates to distributions to our common and preferred shareholders and holders of preferred units, OP units, LTIP units, subordinated performance units, DownREIT OP units and DownREIT subordinated performance units. We expect to fund short-term liquidity requirements from our operating cash flow, cash on hand and borrowings under our credit facility.
Our long-term liquidity needs consist primarily of the repayment of debt, property acquisitions, and capital expenditures. We acquire properties through the use of cash, preferred units, OP units and subordinated performance units in our operating partnership or DownREIT partnerships. We expect to meet our long-term liquidity requirements with operating cash flow, cash on hand, secured and unsecured indebtedness, and the issuance of equity and debt securities.
The availability of credit and its related effect on the overall economy may affect our liquidity and future financing activities, both through changes in interest rates and access to financing. Currently, interest rates are low compared to historical levels. Our ability to access capital on favorable terms as well as to use cash from operations to continue to meet our liquidity needs, all of which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, could be affected by various risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe that, as a publicly-traded REIT, we will have access to multiple sources of capital to fund our long-term liquidity
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requirements, including the incurrence of additional debt and the issuance of debt and additional equity securities. However, we cannot assure you that this will be the case.
Cash Flows
At March 31, 2020, we had $18.7 million in cash and cash equivalents and $4.0 million of restricted cash, a decrease in cash and cash equivalents of $1.9 million and an increase in restricted cash of $0.3 million from December 31, 2019. Restricted cash primarily consists of escrowed funds deposited with financial institutions for real estate taxes, insurance, and other reserves for capital improvements in accordance with our loan agreements. The following discussion relates to changes in cash due to operating, investing, and financing activities, which are presented in our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows included in Item 1 of this report.
Operating Activities
Cash provided by our operating activities was $50.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $46.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, an increase of $4.3 million. Our operating cash flow increased primarily due to the 37 self storage properties that were acquired between April 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019 that generated cash flow for the entire three months ended March 31, 2020, and an additional 36 self storage properties acquired during the three months ended March 31, 2020. Because these 73 self storage properties were acquired after March 31, 2019, our operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2019 were not impacted by them. The increase in our operating cash flows was partially offset by higher cash payments for interest expense.
Investing Activities
Cash used in investing activities was $211.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $143.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The primary uses of cash for the three months ended March 31, 2020 were for our acquisition of 36 self storage properties for cash consideration of $210.0 million, capital expenditures of $4.9 million, investments in our 2016 Joint Venture of $3.1 million, expenditures for corporate furniture, equipment and other of $0.2 million and deposits for potential acquisitions of $0.5 million partially offset by $7.6 million of proceeds from the sale of equity securities. The primary uses of cash for the three months ended March 31, 2019 were for our acquisition of 32 self storage properties for cash consideration of $139.6 million, capital expenditures of $4.2 million and deposits for potential acquisitions of $0.8 million, partially offset by distributions received from our 2016 Joint Venture of $1.0 million.
Capital expenditures totaled $4.9 million and $4.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. We generally fund post-acquisition capital additions from cash provided by operating activities.
We categorize our capital expenditures broadly into three primary categories:
•recurring capital expenditures, which represent the portion of capital expenditures that are deemed to replace the consumed portion of acquired capital assets and extend their useful life;
•value enhancing capital expenditures, which represent the portion of capital expenditures that are made to enhance the revenue and value of an asset from its original purchase condition; and
•acquisitions capital expenditures, which represent the portion of capital expenditures capitalized during the current period that were identified and underwritten prior to a property's acquisition.
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A summary of the capital expenditures for these categories, along with a reconciliation of the total for these categories to the capital expenditures reported in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, are presented below (dollars in thousands):
Three Months Ended March 31, |
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2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
Recurring capital expenditures | $ | 1,677 | $ | 2,159 | |||||||
Value enhancing capital expenditures | 897 | 945 | |||||||||
Acquisitions capital expenditures | 2,331 | 1,993 | |||||||||
Total capital expenditures | 4,905 | 5,097 | |||||||||
Change in accrued capital spending | 4 | (889) | |||||||||
Capital expenditures per statement of cash flows | $ | 4,909 | $ | 4,208 | |||||||
Financing Activities
Cash provided by our financing activities was $158.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $100.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. Our sources of financing cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2020 primarily consisted of $244.0 million of borrowings under our Revolver and $4.2 million of proceeds from the issuance of common shares. Our primary uses of financing cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2020 were for principal payments on existing debt of $46.6 million (which included $44.0 million of principal repayments under the Revolver and $2.6 million of fixed rate mortgage principal payments), distributions to noncontrolling interests of $19.8 million, distributions to common shareholders of $19.7 million and distributions to preferred shareholders of $3.3 million. Our sources of financing cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2019 primarily consisted of $188.5 million of borrowings under our credit facility. Our primary uses of financing cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2019 were for principal payments on existing debt of $51.8 million (which included $50.5 million of principal repayments under the Revolver and $1.3 million of scheduled fixed rate mortgage principal payments), distributions to noncontrolling interests of $17.0 million, distributions to common shareholders of $17.0 million and distributions to preferred shareholders of $2.6 million.
Credit Facility and Term Loan Facilities
As of March 31, 2020, our credit facility provided for total borrowings of $1.275 billion, consisting of five components: (i) a Revolver which provides for a total borrowing commitment up to $500.0 million, whereby we may borrow, repay and re-borrow amounts under the Revolver, (ii) a $125.0 million Term Loan A, (iii) a $250.0 million Term Loan B, (iv) a $225.0 million Term Loan C and (v) a $175.0 million Term Loan D. The Revolver matures in January 2024; provided that we may elect to extend the maturity to July 2024 by paying an extension fee of 0.075% of the total borrowing commitment thereunder at the time of extension and meeting other customary conditions with respect to compliance. The Term Loan A matures in January 2023, the Term Loan B matures in July 2024, the Term Loan C matures in January 2025 and the Term Loan D matures in July 2026. The Revolver, Term Loan A, Term Loan B, Term Loan C and Term Loan D are not subject to any scheduled reduction or amortization payments prior to maturity. As of March 31, 2020, we have an expansion option under the credit facility, which, if exercised in full, would provide for a total credit facility of $1.750 billion. As of March 31, 2020, we would have had the capacity to borrow remaining Revolver commitments of $294.3 million while remaining in compliance with the credit facility's financial covenants.
We have a 2023 Term Loan Facility that matures in June 2023 and is separate from the credit facility in an aggregate amount of $175.0 million. As of March 31, 2020 the entire amount was outstanding under the 2023 Term Loan Facility with an effective interest rate of 2.83%. We have an expansion option under the 2023 Term Loan Facility, which, if exercised in full, would provide for total borrowings in an aggregate amount of $400.0 million.
We have a 2028 Term Loan Facility that matures in December 2028 and is separate from the credit facility and 2023 Term Loan Facility in an aggregate amount of $75.0 million. As of March 31, 2020 the entire amount was outstanding under the 2028 Term Loan Facility with an effective interest rate of 4.62%. We have an expansion
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option under the 2028 Term Loan Facility, which, if exercised in full, would provide for total borrowings in an aggregate amount up to $125.0 million.
We have a 2029 Term Loan Facility that matures in April 2029 and is separate from the credit facility, 2023 Term Loan Facility and 2028 Term Loan Facility in an aggregate amount of $100.0 million. As of March 31, 2020 the entire amount was outstanding under the 2029 Term Loan Facility with an effective interest rate of 4.27%.
2029 And 2031 Senior Unsecured Notes
On August 30, 2019, our operating partnership issued $100.0 million of 3.98% senior unsecured notes due August 30, 2029 and $50.0 million of 4.08% senior unsecured notes due August 30, 2031 in a private placement to certain accredited investors.
Equity Transactions
Issuance of Common Shares and Series A Preferred Shares
As discussed in Note 3 in Item 1, on March 31, 2020, we closed on the mergers of SecurCare and DLAN with and into wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company. In connection with the mergers, we issued 8,105,192 common shares to the former owners of SecurCare and DLAN.
During the three months ended March 31, 2020, we sold 125,000 of our common shares through at the market offerings. The common shares were sold at an average offering price of $36.18 per share, resulting in net proceeds to us of approximately $4.2 million after deducting compensation payable by us to such agents and offering expenses.
During the three months ended March 31, 2020, after receiving notices of redemption from certain OP unitholders, we elected to issue 118,961 common shares to such holders in exchange for 118,961 OP units in satisfaction of the operating partnership's redemption obligations.
During the three months ended March 31, 2020, after receiving notices of redemption from certain Series A-1 preferred unitholders, we elected to issue 5,600 Series A preferred shares to such holders in exchange for 5,600 Series A-1 preferred units in satisfaction of the operating partnership's redemption obligations.
Issuance of OP Equity
In connection with the 36 properties acquired during the three months ended March 31, 2020, we issued $7.2 million of OP equity (consisting of 181,981 OP units, 28,892 LTIP units and 13,105 subordinated performance units). In addition, we issued 28,894 LTIP units to consultants that will vest upon the completion of expansion projects.
As discussed in Note 3 in Item 1, during the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company issued 445,701 OP units issued upon the conversion of 332,738 subordinated performance units and 133,637 OP units upon the conversion of an equivalent number of LTIP units.
Dividends and Distributions
On February 20, 2020 our board of trustees declared a cash dividend and distribution, respectively, of $0.33 per common share and OP unit to shareholders and OP unitholders of record as of March 13, 2020. On February 20, 2020, our board of trustees also declared cash distributions of $0.375 per Series A Preferred Share and Series A-1 Preferred Unit to shareholders and unitholders of record as of March 13, 2020. On March 12, 2020, our board of trustees declared cash distributions of $8.7 million, in aggregate, to subordinated performance unitholders of record as of March 13, 2020. Such dividends and distributions were paid on March 31, 2020.
Cash Distributions from our Operating Partnership
Under the LP Agreement of our operating partnership, to the extent that we, as the general partner of our operating partnership, determine to make distributions to the partners of our operating partnership out of the operating cash flow or capital transaction proceeds generated by a real property portfolio managed by one of our PROs, the holders of the series of subordinated performance units that relate to such portfolio are entitled to share in such distributions. Under the LP Agreement of our operating partnership, operating cash flow with respect to a portfolio of properties managed by one of our PROs is generally an amount determined by us, as general partner of our operating partnership, equal to the excess of property revenues over property related expenses from that portfolio. In general, property revenue from the portfolio includes:
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(i)all receipts, including rents and other operating revenues;
(ii)any incentive, financing, break-up and other fees paid to us by third parties;
(iii)amounts released from previously set aside reserves; and
(iv)any other amounts received by us, which we allocate to the particular portfolio of properties.
In general, property-related expenses include all direct expenses related to the operation of the properties in that portfolio, including real property taxes, insurance, property-level general and administrative expenses, employee costs, utilities, property marketing expense, property maintenance and property reserves and other expenses incurred at the property level. In addition, other expenses incurred by our operating partnership will also be allocated by us, as general partner, to the property portfolio and will be included in the property-related expenses of that portfolio. Examples of such other expenses include:
(i)corporate-level general and administrative expenses;
(ii)out-of-pocket costs, expenses and fees of our operating partnership, whether or not capitalized;
(iii)the costs and expenses of organizing and operating our operating partnership;
(iv)amounts paid or due in respect of any loan or other indebtedness of our operating partnership during such period;
(v)extraordinary expenses of our operating partnership not previously or otherwise deducted under item (ii) above;
(vi)any third-party costs and expenses associated with identifying, analyzing, and presenting a proposed property to us and/or our operating partnership; and
(vii)reserves to meet anticipated operating expenditures, debt service or other liabilities, as determined by us.
To the extent that we, as the general partner of our operating partnership, determine to make distributions to the partners of our operating partnership out of the operating cash flow of a real property portfolio managed by one of our PROs, operating cash flow from a property portfolio is required to be allocated to OP unitholders and to the holders of series of subordinated performance units that relate to such property portfolio as follows:
First, an amount is allocated to OP unitholders in order to provide OP unitholders (together with any prior allocations of capital transaction proceeds) with a cumulative preferred allocation on the unreturned capital contributions attributed to the OP units in respect of such property portfolio. The preferred allocation for all of our existing portfolios is 6%. As of March 31, 2020, our operating partnership had an aggregate of $1,711.6 million of unreturned capital contributions with respect to common shareholders and OP unitholders, with respect to the various property portfolios.
Second, an amount is allocated to the holders of the series of subordinated performance units relating to such property portfolio in order to provide such holders with an allocation (together with prior distributions of capital transaction proceeds) on their unreturned capital contributions. Although the subordinated allocation for the subordinated performance units is non-cumulative from period to period, if the operating cash flow from a property portfolio related to a series of subordinated performance units is sufficient, in the judgment of the general partner (with the approval of a majority of our independent trustees), to fund distributions to the holders of such series of subordinated performance units, but we, as the general partner of our operating partnership, decline to make distributions to such holders, the amount available but not paid as distributions will be added to the subordinated allocation corresponding to such series of subordinated performance units. The subordinated allocation for the outstanding subordinated performance units is 6%. As of March 31, 2020, an aggregate of $116.9 million of unreturned capital contributions has been allocated to the various series of subordinated performance units.
Thereafter, any additional operating cash flow is allocated to OP unitholders and the applicable series of subordinated performance units equally.
Following the allocation described above, we as the general partner of our operating partnership, will generally cause our operating partnership to distribute the amounts allocated to the relevant series of subordinated performance units to the holders of such series of subordinated performance units. We, as the general partner, may cause our operating partnership to distribute the amounts allocated to OP unitholders or may cause our operating partnership to retain such amounts to be used by our operating partnership for any purpose. Any operating cash flow
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that is attributable to amounts retained by our operating partnership pursuant to the preceding sentence will generally be available to be allocated as an additional capital contribution to the various property portfolios.
The foregoing description of the allocation of operating cash flow between the OP unitholders and subordinated performance unitholders is used for purposes of determining distributions to holders of subordinated performance units but does not necessarily represent the operating cash flow that will be distributed to OP unitholders (or paid as dividends to holders of our common shares). Any distribution of operating cash flow allocated to the OP unitholders will be made at our discretion (and paid as dividends to holders of our common shares at the discretion of our board of trustees).
Under the LP Agreement of our operating partnership, capital transactions are transactions that are outside the ordinary course of our operating partnership's business, involve the sale, exchange, other disposition, or refinancing of any property, and are designated as capital transactions by us, as the general partner. To the extent the general partner determines to distribute capital transaction proceeds, the proceeds from capital transactions involving a particular property portfolio are required to be allocated to OP unitholders and to the series of subordinated performance units that relate to such property portfolio as follows:
First, an amount determined by us, as the general partner, of such capital transaction proceeds is allocated to OP unitholders in order to provide OP unitholders (together with any prior allocations of operating cash flow) with a cumulative preferred allocation on the unreturned capital contributions attributed to the OP unitholders in respect of such property portfolio that relate to such capital transaction plus an additional amount equal to such unreturned capital contributions.
Second, an amount determined by us, as the general partner, is allocated to the holders of the series of subordinated performance units relating to such property portfolio in order to provide such holders with a non-cumulative subordinated allocation on the unreturned capital contributions made by such holders in respect of such property portfolio that relate to such capital transaction plus an additional amount equal to such unreturned capital contributions.
The preferred allocation and subordinated allocation with respect to capital transaction proceeds for each portfolio is equal to the preferred allocation and subordinated allocation for distributions of operating cash flow with respect to that portfolio.
Thereafter, any additional capital transaction proceeds are allocated to OP unitholders and the applicable series of subordinated performance units equally.
Following the allocation described above, we, as the general partner of our operating partnership, will generally cause our operating partnership to distribute the amounts allocated to the relevant series of subordinated performance units to the holders of such series of subordinated performance units. We, as general partner of our operating partnership, may cause our operating partnership to distribute the amounts allocated to the OP unitholders or may cause our operating partnership to retain such amounts to be used by our operating partnership for any purpose. Any capital transaction proceeds that are attributable to amounts retained by our operating partnership pursuant to the preceding sentence will generally be available to be allocated as an additional capital contribution to the various property portfolios.
The foregoing allocation of capital transaction proceeds between the OP unitholders and subordinated performance unitholders is used for purposes of determining distributions to holders of subordinated performance units but does not necessarily represent the capital transaction proceeds that will be distributed to OP unitholders (or paid as dividends to holders of our common shares). Any distribution of capital transaction proceeds allocated to the OP unitholders will be made at our discretion (and paid as dividends to holders of our common shares at the discretion of our board of trustees).
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Allocation of Capital Contributions
We, as the general partner of our operating partnership, in our discretion, have the right to increase or decrease, as appropriate, the amount of capital contributions allocated to our operating partnership in general and to each series of subordinated performance units to reflect capital expenditures made by our operating partnership in respect of each portfolio, the sale or refinancing of all or a portion of the properties comprising the portfolio, the distribution of capital transaction proceeds by our operating partnership, the retention by our operating partnership of cash for working capital purposes and other events impacting the amount of capital contributions allocated to the holders. In addition, to avoid conflicts of interests, any decision by us to increase or decrease allocations of capital contributions must also be approved by a majority of our independent trustees.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Except as disclosed in the notes to our financial statements, as of March 31, 2020, we did not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purposes entities, which typically are established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. Further, except as disclosed in the notes to our financial statements, as of March 31, 2020, we have not guaranteed any obligations of unconsolidated entities, nor made any commitments to provide funding to any such entities, that creates any material exposure to any financing, liquidity, market or credit risk.
Seasonality
The self storage business is subject to minor seasonal fluctuations. A greater portion of revenues and profits are realized from May through September. Historically, our highest level of occupancy has typically been in July, while our lowest level of occupancy has typically been in February. Results for any quarter may not be indicative of the results that may be achieved for the full fiscal year.
ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Market risk refers to the risk of loss from adverse changes in market prices and interest rates. Our future income, cash flows, and fair values of financial instruments are dependent upon prevailing market interest rates. The primary market risk to which we believe we are exposed is interest rate risk. Interest rate risk is highly sensitive to many factors, including governmental monetary and tax policies, domestic and international economic and political considerations, and other factors beyond our control. We use interest rate swaps to moderate our exposure to interest rate risk by effectively converting the interest on variable rate debt to a fixed rate. We make limited use of other derivative financial instruments and we do not use them for trading or other speculative purposes.
As of March 31, 2020, we had $200.0 million of debt subject to variable interest rates (excluding variable-rate debt subject to interest rate swaps). If one-month LIBOR were to increase or decrease by 100 basis points, the increase or decrease in interest expense on the variable-rate debt (excluding variable-rate debt subject to interest rate swaps) would decrease or increase future earnings and cash flows by approximately $2.0 million annually.
Interest rate risk amounts were determined by considering the impact of hypothetical interest rates on our financial instruments. These analyses do not consider the effect of any change in overall economic activity that could occur. Further, in the event of a change of that magnitude, we may take actions to further mitigate our exposure to the change. However, due to the uncertainty of the specific actions that would be taken and their possible effects, these analyses assume no changes in our financial structure.
ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company's management, with the participation of the Company's chief executive officer and chief financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report, are effective.
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Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the three months ended March 31, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute assurance that it will detect or uncover failures within the Company to disclose material information otherwise required to be set forth in our periodic reports.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. Legal Proceedings
We are not currently subject to any legal proceedings that we consider to be material.
ITEM 1A. Risk Factors
For a discussion of the Company's potential risks and uncertainties, see the information below and in the Company's Annual Report under the heading Item 1A. "Risk Factors" beginning on page 15, which is accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
The current outbreak of COVID-19 or the future outbreak of any other highly infectious or contagious diseases, could adversely impact or cause significant disruption to our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. The spread of the COVID-19 outbreak has disrupted, and is likely to further cause severe disruptions in, the economy and financial markets and create widespread business continuity and viability issues.
The potential impact and duration of COVID-19 or another pandemic could have significant repercussions across the economy and financial markets, and could trigger a period of economic slowdown or recessions. The outbreak of COVID-19 in many countries continues to adversely impact economic activity and has contributed to significant volatility and negative pressure in financial markets. The impact of the outbreak has been rapidly evolving and, as cases of the virus have continued to increase around the world, many countries, including the United States, have reacted by instituting, among other things, quarantines and restrictions on travel.
Most states and municipalities, including where we have our headquarters (Colorado) and in regions of the United States where our properties and tenants are located, have also reacted by instituting quarantines, mandating business and school closures, requiring restrictions on travel, "shelter in place" or "stay-at-home" orders, and imposing restrictions on the types of business that may continue to operate. Although many of these jurisdictions, including Colorado, are gradually relaxing a number of these restrictions, many of these restrictions are still in place in regions where our properties are located.
As a result, the COVID-19 pandemic, or a future pandemic, could adversely impact our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows due to, among other factors:
•reduced economic activity that may severely impact the Company's tenants and may cause a portion of our tenants to be unable to meet their obligations to us in full, or at all, or to otherwise seek modifications of such obligations, which could increase uncollectible receivables and cause subsequent reductions in revenue;
•reduced economic activity could result in a prolonged recession, which could negatively impact consumer discretionary spending, which could reduce move-in volumes at our stores or limit our ability to minimize exposure to uncollectible receivables;
•governmental or health and safety requirements or recommendations could compel a complete or partial closure of, or other operational issues at, one or more of our properties or prohibit us from charging late fees, conducting auctions and increasing prices;
•any of the above factors, or a combination thereof, could cause the Company to recognize impairment in value of its tangible or intangible assets;
•a general decline in business activity and demand for property acquisitions, expansions, and the addition of new PROs and/or joint venture partners could adversely affect our ability or desire to grow our portfolio of properties;
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•interrupted availability of personnel, including our executive officers, other employees and the employees of our PROs, and an inability of us or our PROs to recruit, attract and retain additional skilled personnel to manage our business and/or properties;
•the potential negative impact on the health of our or our PROs' personnel, particularly if a significant number of them are impacted, could result in a deterioration in our ability to ensure business continuity during this disruption;
•the inability of other third-party vendors we rely on to conduct our business to operate effectively and continue to support our business and operations, including vendors that provide IT services, legal and accounting services, or other operational support services;
•difficulty accessing debt and equity capital on attractive terms, or at all, and severe disruption or instability in the financial markets or a deterioration in credit and financing conditions may affect our access to capital necessary to fund business operations, potential acquisitions, or other growth opportunities or address maturing liabilities on a timely basis; and
•the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including potential decreases in cash from operations resulting therefrom, could negatively impact our future compliance with the financial covenants in our credit facility and other debt agreements and result in a default and potential acceleration of indebtedness, which could negatively impact our ability to make additional borrowings under our revolving credit facility and pay dividends.
The rapid development and fluidity of the circumstances resulting from this pandemic preclude any prediction as to the ultimate adverse impact of COVID-19. Nevertheless, COVID-19 and the current financial, economic and capital markets environment, and future developments in these and other areas present material uncertainty and risk with respect to our performance, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and our tenant's ability to pay rent.
The factors described above, as well as additional factors that the Company may not currently be aware of, could materially negatively impact the Company’s ability to collect rent and could lead to termination of leases by tenants, tenant bankruptcies, decreases in demand for storage space at the Company’s properties, difficulties in accessing capital, impairment of the Company’s tangible or intangible assets and other impacts that could materially and adversely affect the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
To the extent the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affects our business and financial results, it may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in the Risk Factors section in the Annual Report, such as those relating to economic or other conditions in the markets in which we do business, changes in interest rates, demand for self storage space generally, illiquidity of real estate investments, our ability to obtain debt financing, our dependence on external sources of capital and our ability to pay dividends.
ITEM 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company, in its capacity as general partner of its operating partnership, caused the operating partnership to issue 118,961 common shares to satisfy redemption requests from certain limited partners.
On January 23, 2020, the operating partnership issued 57,786 LTIP units to unrelated third parties and affiliates of Southern Storage Management Systems, Inc. d/b/a Southern Self Storage, one of the Company's existing PROs, as partial consideration for the acquisition, expansion, and ongoing management of a portfolio of 29 self storage properties.
On April 24, 2020, the operating partnership issued 54,111 OP units to NWSS Silverton Road Storage LLC, an affiliate of J. Timothy Warren, a trustee of the Company, as consideration for the acquisition of one self storage property.
The LTIP units issued by the operating partnership, after achieving parity with OP Units, are eligible to be converted into OP Units on a one-for-one basis upon the satisfaction of conditions set forth in the LP Agreement and in the LTIP award agreements pursuant to which the LTIP units were issued.
Following a specified lock up period after the date of issuance set forth above, the OP units issued by the operating partnership may be redeemed from time to time by holders for a cash amount per OP unit equal to the market value of an equivalent number of common shares. The Company has the right, but not the obligation, to assume and satisfy the redemption obligation of the operating partnership described above by issuing one common share in exchange for each OP unit tendered for redemption.
The Company has elected to report early the private placement of its common shares that may occur if the Company elects to assume the redemption obligation of the operating partnership as described above in the event that OP units are in the future tendered for redemption.
As of May 8, 2020, other than those OP units held by the Company, after reflecting the transactions described herein, 32,411,982 OP units of its operating partnership were outstanding (including 797,810 outstanding LTIP units in the operating partnership and 1,924,918 outstanding OP units ("DownREIT OP units") in certain consolidated subsidiaries of the operating partnership, which are convertible into, or exchangeable for, OP units on a one-for-basis, subject to certain conditions).
These issuances were exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Use of Proceeds
Not applicable.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
During the three months ended March 31, 2020, certain of our employees surrendered common shares owned by them to satisfy their statutory minimum federal and state tax obligations associated with the vesting of restricted shares issued to them. The table below summarizes all of our repurchases of common shares during the quarter ended March 31, 2020:
Period | Total number of shares purchased | - | Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs | Maximum numbers of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs | ||||||||||||||||||||||
January 1 - January 31, 2020 | 2,766 | (1) |
n/a | n/a | ||||||||||||||||||||||
February 1 - February 29, 2020 | — | n/a | n/a | |||||||||||||||||||||||
March 1 - March 31, 2020 | — | n/a | n/a |
(1) The number of shares purchased represents restricted common shares surrendered by certain of our employees to satisfy their statutory minimum federal and state tax obligations associated with the vesting of restricted common shares issued to them. The price paid per share was $33.62 and is based on the closing price of our common shares as of January 1, 2020, the date of withholding. |
ITEM 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Not applicable.
ITEM 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. Other Information
Not applicable.
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ITEM 6. Exhibits | |||||
The following exhibits are filed with this report: |
|||||
Exhibit Number | Exhibit Description | ||||
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101.INS* | XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. | ||||
101.SCH* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema | ||||
101.CAL* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase | ||||
101.DEF* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase | ||||
101.LAB* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase | ||||
101.PRE* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase | ||||
104* | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) | ||||
* | Filed herewith. | ||||
** | Furnished herewith. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements 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.
National Storage Affiliates Trust | |||||
By: | /s/ TAMARA D. FISCHER | ||||
Tamara D. Fischer | |||||
president and chief executive officer | |||||
(principal executive officer) | |||||
By: | /s/ BRANDON S. TOGASHI | ||||
Brandon S. Togashi | |||||
chief financial officer | |||||
(principal accounting and financial officer) |
Date: May 11, 2020
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