LTC PROPERTIES INC (LTC) FY 2023 MD&A

Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Executive Overview

Business and Investment Strategy

We are a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) that invests in seniors housing and health care properties through sale-leasebacks, financing leases, mortgage financing, joint ventures and structured finance solutions including preferred equity and mezzanine lending. We seek to create, sustain and enhance stockholder equity value and provide current income for distribution to stockholders through real estate investments in seniors housing and health care properties managed by experienced operators. Our primary seniors housing and health care property classifications include skilled nursing facilities (“SNF”), assisted living facilities (“ALF”), independent living facilities (“ILF”), memory care communities (“MC”) and combinations thereof. We also invest in other (“OTH”) types of properties, such as land parcels, projects under development (“UDP”) and behavioral health care hospitals. To meet these objectives, we attempt to invest in properties that provide opportunity for additional value and current returns to our stockholders and diversify our investment portfolio by geographic location, operator, property classification and form of investment.

We conduct and manage our business as one operating segment for internal reporting and internal decision-making purposes. For purposes of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and other presentations, we generally include ALF, ILF, and MC in the ALF property classification. We have been operating since August 1992.

The following graph summarizes our gross investments as of December 31, 2023:

Substantially all of our revenues and sources of cash flows from operations are derived from operating lease rentals, interest earned on outstanding loans receivable and income from investments in unconsolidated joint ventures. Our investments in owned properties, financing leases, mortgage loans, mezzanine loans and preferred equity investments represent our primary source of liquidity to fund distributions and are dependent upon the performance of the operators on their lease and loan obligations and the rates earned thereon. To the extent that the operators experience operating difficulties and are unable to generate sufficient cash to make payments to us, there could be a material adverse impact on our consolidated results of operations, liquidity and/or financial condition. To mitigate this risk, we monitor our investments through a variety of methods determined by property type and operator. Our monitoring process includes periodic review of financial statements for each facility, periodic review of operator credit, scheduled property inspections and review of covenant compliance.

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In addition to our monitoring and research efforts, we also structure our investments to help mitigate payment risk. Some operating leases, financing leases and loans are credit enhanced by guaranties and/or letters of credit. In addition, operating leases are typically structured as master leases and loans are generally cross-defaulted and cross-collateralized with other loans, operating leases or agreements between us and the operator and its affiliates.

Depending upon the availability and cost of external capital, we anticipate making additional investments in health care related properties. New investments are generally funded from cash on hand, temporary borrowings under our unsecured revolving line of credit and internally generated cash flows. Our investments generate internal cash from rent and interest receipts and principal payments on mortgage loans receivable. Permanent financing for future investments, which replaces funds drawn under our unsecured revolving line of credit, is expected to be provided through a combination of public and private offerings of debt and equity securities and secured and unsecured debt financing. The timing, source and amount of cash flows provided by financing activities and used in investing activities are sensitive to the capital markets’ environment, especially to changes in interest rates. Changes in the capital markets’ environment may impact the availability of cost-effective capital.

We believe our business model has enabled and will continue to enable us to maintain the integrity of our property investments, including in response to financial difficulties that may be experienced by operators. Traditionally, we have taken a conservative approach to managing our business, choosing to maintain liquidity and exercise patience until favorable investment opportunities arise.

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Portfolio Overview

The following tables summarize our real estate investment portfolio as of December 31, 2023 (dollar amounts in thousands):

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As of December 31, 2023, we had $1.7 billion in carrying value of net investments, consisting of $1.0 billion or 56.7% invested in owned and leased properties, $196.0 million or 11.3% invested in properties we own accounted for as

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financing receivables, $477.3 million or 27.4% invested in mortgage loans secured by first mortgages, $60.5 million or 3.5% in notes receivable and $19.3 million or 1.1% in unconsolidated joint ventures.

Rental income, income from financing receivables and interest income from mortgage loans represented 64.6%, 7.7% and 24.2%, respectively, of Total revenues on the Consolidated Statements of Income for the year ended December 31, 2023. In most instances, our lease structure, which pertains to owned properties and those properties we own accounted for as financing receivables, contains fixed annual rental escalations and/or annual rental escalations that are contingent upon changes in the Consumer Price Index. Certain leases have annual rental escalations that are contingent upon changes in the gross operating revenues of the property. This revenue is not recognized until the appropriate contingencies have been resolved.

For the year ended December 31, 2023, we recognized a $2.1 million straight-line rental adjustment reflecting higher cash rent received than recorded as rental income and $0.8 million in amortization and write-off of lease incentives. For the remaining leases in place at December 31, 2023, assuming no modification or replacement of existing leases and no new leased investments are added to our portfolio, except for the potential subsequent lease extensions and the leases reported below under Update on Certain Operators, we currently expect that the non-cash straight-line rent portion of rental income will increase from negative $2.1 million in 2023 to negative $2.5 million for projected annual 2024. The negative non-cash straight-line portion of rental income represents higher cash rent projected to be received than recorded as rental income. Our cash rental income is projected to increase from $130.2 million in 2023 to $131.7 million for projected annual 2024. At December 31, 2023, the straight-line rent receivable balance on the consolidated balance sheet was $19.6 million.

Many of our existing leases contain renewal options that, if exercised, could result in the amount of rent payable upon renewal being greater or less than that currently being paid.

Terminated Lease

During 2023, Brookdale Senior Living Communities, Inc. (“Brookdale”) elected not to exercise its renewal option under a master lease that matured on December 31, 2023. See Update on Certain Operators below for discussion regarding the Brookdale portfolio.

Lease Renewals and Extensions

Subsequent to December 31, 2023, a master lease covering 11 skilled nursing centers that was scheduled to mature in January 2024 was renewed for seven months extending the maturity to August 2024. The master lease was renewed at the current annualized rent of $8.0 million, or $4.7 million for seven months in 2024. The centers have a total of 1,444 beds and are located in Texas.

Transitioned Portfolios

During 2023, we transitioned a portfolio of eight assisted living communities with 500 units in Illinois, Ohio

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and Michigan to Encore Senior Living (“Encore”). We agreed to provide assistance in the second quarter of 2023 to the former operator of this portfolio and as part of transition, we received repayment of $1.2 million of deferred rent which represents $0.9 million of April and May 2023 deferred rent and $0.3 million of unrecorded deferred rent provided in 2022. Cash rent under the new two-year lease with Encore is based on mutually agreed upon fair market rent.

Subsequent to December 31, 2023, we transitioned two assisted living communities, which are located in Georgia and South Carolina with a total of 159 units, to an operator new to LTC. The new two-year master lease commenced on January 1, 2024, and provides two one-year extension periods. Cash rent is zero for the first six months. Thereafter, cash rent is based on mutually agreed upon fair market rent.

Some of our lease agreements provide purchase options allowing the lessees to purchase the properties they currently lease from us. See Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS— Note 5. Real Estate Investments. Owned Properties for a table that includes information about purchase options included in our lease agreements.

Update on Certain Operators

Anthem Memory Care

Anthem Memory Care (“Anthem”) operates 11 memory care communities under a master lease and was placed in default in 2017 resulting from Anthem’s partial payment of its minimum rent. However, we did not enforce our rights and remedies pertaining to the event of default, under the stipulation that Anthem achieves sufficient performance and pays agreed upon rent. Anthem increased their rent payment every year between 2017 and 2021. During the second and third quarter of 2022, we agreed to a certain temporary rent reduction totaling $1.5 million. During the fourth quarter of 2022, we received payment of Anthem’s $1.5 million temporary rent reduction and a return to Anthem’s previously agreed upon rent of $0.9 million per month. Anthem paid us the agreed upon annual cash rent of $10.8 million in 2022 and 2023. During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Anthem master lease was amended to set 2024 rent at $10.8 million.

During the first quarter of 2023, we transitioned a 60-unit memory care community located in Ohio to Anthem under a new two-year lease. Under the new two-year lease, no rent was paid through May 2023 after which cash rent is based on mutually agreed upon fair market rent. We received $105,000 from Anthem under this lease and expect to receive $240,000 during 2024.

Brookdale Senior Living Communities, Inc

As discussed above, Brookdale elected not to exercise its renewal option under a master lease that matured on December 31, 2023. The 35-property assisted living portfolio was apportioned as follows:

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Prestige Healthcare

Prestige Healthcare (“Prestige”) operates 22 skilled nursing centers located in Michigan secured under four mortgage loans and two skilled nursing centers located in South Carolina under a master lease. Prestige is our largest operator based upon revenues and assets representing 16.6% of our total revenues and 14.3% of our total assets as of December 31, 2023. During the second quarter of 2023, we agreed to defer up to $1.5 million, or up to $0.3 million per month for May through September 2023, in interest payments due on one of Prestige’s mortgage loans secured by 15 skilled nursing centers in Michigan. We deferred $0.6 million and $0.9 million in interest payments during the second and third quarter of 2023, respectively.

During the fourth quarter of 2023, we amended the mortgage loan with Prestige which was subject to the previously agreed upon interest deferral. Effective January 1, 2024, the minimum mortgage interest payment due to us is based on an annual current pay rate of 8.5% on the outstanding loan balance of $183.3 million. The current contractual interest rate on the loan of 10.8% remains unchanged. The amendment also provides us the right to draw on Prestige’s security to pay the difference between the contractual rate and current pay rate. We received all 2023 contractual interest of $19.5 million due from Prestige after applying $3.4 million of its security. Full contractual interest has been paid on the loan through February 2024 and we expect to receive full contractual cash interest through 2025. Subsequent to December 31, 2023, Prestige increased the security from its receipt of retro-active Medicaid funds. Accordingly, we currently hold security of $4.0 million. Additional retro-active Medicaid payments received by Prestige in 2024 will be remitted to us as security.

Other Operators

During the year ended December 31, 2023, we provided $2.6 million of abated rent to the same operator for which we have been providing assistance. During 2023, we received $0.3 million of rental income and expect to receive the same $0.3 million in 2024.

During the third quarter of 2022, a portfolio of 12 assisted living communities was temporarily transitioned to an existing operator under a two-year master lease. The temporary transition allowed us to find a more permanent solution for the portfolio as follows:

In conjunction with the ongoing negotiations related to this portfolio, during the fourth quarter of 2023, we wrote-off a $3.6 million note receivable related to this master lease. Further, we recorded an impairment loss of $3.3 million to reduce the carrying value of seven of the Texas communities which were being negotiated for sale. As of December 31, 2023, these communities did not meet the criteria to be classified as held-for-sale.

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2023 Transactions Overview

The following tables summarizes our transactions in 2023 (dollar amounts in thousand):

Investment in Owned Properties

During 2023, we entered into a $54.1 million joint venture (“JV”) and contributed $45.0 million into the JV that purchased an independent living, assisted living and memory care campus in Ohio. Under the JV agreement, the seller, our JV partner, has the option to purchase the campus between the third and fourth lease years for LTC’s allocation of the JV investment plus an IRR of 9.75%. The campus was leased to Encore under a 10-year term with an initial yield of 8.25% on LTC’s allocation of the JV investment. We committed to fund $2.1 million of lease incentives under the Encore lease of which $1.5 million was funded during 2023.

Investment in Improvement Projects

Sold Properties

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Financing Receivables

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Investment in Mortgage Loans

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Investment in Notes Receivable

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Key Performance Indicators, Trends and Uncertainties

We utilize several key performance indicators to evaluate the various aspects of our business. These indicators are discussed below and relate to concentration risk and credit strength. Management uses these key performance indicators to facilitate internal and external comparisons to our historical operating results in making operating decisions and for budget planning purposes.

Concentration Risk. We evaluate by gross real estate investment our concentration risk in terms of asset mix, real estate investment mix, operator mix and geographic mix. Concentration risk is valuable to understand what portion of our real estate investments could be at risk if certain sectors were to experience downturns. Asset mix measures the

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portion of our real estate investments that are real property or mortgage loans. Investment mix measures the portion of our investments that relate to our various property types. Operator mix measures the portion of our real estate investments that relate to our top five operators. Geographic mix measures the portion of our real estate investment that relate to our top five states.

The following table reflects our recent historical trends of concentration risk (gross investment, in thousands):

Credit Strength. We measure our credit strength both in terms of leverage ratios and coverage ratios. Our leverage ratios include debt to gross asset value and debt to market capitalization. The leverage ratios indicate how much of our Consolidated Balance Sheet capitalization is related to long-term obligations. Our coverage ratios include interest coverage ratio and fixed charge coverage ratio. The coverage ratios indicate our ability to service interest and fixed charges (interest). The coverage ratios are based on earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for real estate (“EBITDAre”) as defined by National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”). EBITDAre is calculated as net income available to common stockholders (computed in accordance with GAAP) excluding (i) interest expense, (ii) income tax expense, (iii) real estate depreciation and amortization, (iv) impairment write-downs of depreciable real estate, (v) gains or losses on the sale of depreciable real estate, and (vi) adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. Adjusted EBITDAre is calculated as EBITDAre adjusted for non-recurring items. Leverage ratios and coverage ratios are widely used by investors, analysts and rating agencies in the valuation, comparison, rating and investment recommendations of companies. The following table reflects the recent historical trends for our credit strength measures:

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Balance Sheet Metrics

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We evaluate our key performance indicators in conjunction with current expectations to determine if historical trends are indicative of future results. Our expected results may not be achieved and actual results may differ materially from our expectations. This may be a result of various factors, including, but not limited to:

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Management regularly monitors the economic and other factors listed above. We develop strategic and tactical plans designed to improve performance and maximize our competitive position. Our ability to achieve our financial objectives is dependent upon our ability to effectively execute these plans and to appropriately respond to emerging economic and company-specific trends.

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Operating Results

Year ended December 31, 2023 compared to year ended December 31, 2022 (in thousands):

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Year ended December 31, 2022 compared to year ended December 31, 2021 (in thousands):

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Funds From Operations

Funds from Operations (“FFO”) attributable to common stockholders, basic FFO attributable to common stockholders per share and diluted FFO attributable to common stockholders per share are supplemental measures of a REIT’s financial performance that are not defined by GAAP. Real estate values historically rise and fall with market conditions, but cost accounting for real estate assets in accordance with GAAP assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. We believe that by excluding the effect of historical cost depreciation, which may be of limited relevance in evaluating current performance, FFO facilitates comparisons of operating performance between periods.

We use FFO as a supplemental performance measurement of our cash flow generated by operations. FFO does not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP, and is not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs and should not be considered an alternative to net income available to common stockholders.

We calculate and report FFO in accordance with the definition and interpretive guidelines issued by NAREIT. FFO, as defined by NAREIT, means net income available to common stockholders (computed in accordance with GAAP) excluding gains or losses on the sale of real estate and impairment write-downs of depreciable real estate plus real estate depreciation and amortization, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. Our calculation of FFO may not be comparable to FFO reported by other REITs that do not define the term in accordance with the current NAREIT definition or that have a different interpretation of the current NAREIT definition from us; therefore, caution should be exercised when comparing our FFO to that of other REITs.

The following table reconciles net income available to common stockholders to FFO attributable to common stockholders (unaudited, amounts in thousands, except per share amounts):

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our accounting policies are more fully described under Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Footnote 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. As discussed in Footnote 2, the preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Listed below are those policies and estimates that we believe are critical and require the use of significant judgement in their application.

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Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Assets that are classified as held-for-use are periodically evaluated for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset may be impaired or the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable through future undiscounted cash flows. Where indicators of impairment exist, the estimation required in the undiscounted future cash flow assumption includes management’s probability-weighting of various scenarios such as modifying the lease with the existing operator, identifying a replacement operator or sale of the real property investment. In addition, the undiscounted future cash flows include management’s assumptions of rental revenues, net operating income, capitalization rates and expected hold periods. In determining fair value, we use current appraisals or other third-party opinions of value and other estimates of fair value such as estimated discounted future cash flows.

Collectability of operator obligations

We assess the collectability of substantially all our lease payments through maturity. If collectability is not probable, all or a portion of our straight-line rent receivables and other lease receivables may be written-off. In order to assess our lease payments for collectability, we make assumptions that include evaluating lessee’s payment history, the financial strength of the lessee, future market conditions and contractual rents, and timing of expected payments. Our ability to accurately predict collectability of substantially all of our lease payments impacts the timing of straight-line rent and other lease receivable write-offs, if any. While we believe our assumptions are reasonable, changes in these assumptions may have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Purchase Price Allocation

We make estimates as part of our allocation of the purchase price of acquisitions to the various components of the acquisition based upon the fair value of each component. In determining fair value, we use current appraisals or other third-party opinions of value. The most significant components of our allocations are typically the allocation of fair value to land and buildings and, for certain of our acquisitions, in-place leases and other intangible assets. In the case of the fair value of buildings and the allocation of value to land and other intangibles, the estimates of the values of these components will affect the amount of depreciation and amortization we record over the estimated useful life of the property acquired or the remaining lease term. We evaluate each purchase transaction to determine whether the acquired assets meet the definition of an asset acquisition or a business combination. Transaction costs related to acquisitions that are not deemed to be business combinations are included in the cost basis of the acquired assets, while transaction costs related to acquisitions that are deemed to be business combinations are expensed as incurred.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Sources and Uses of Cash

As of December 31, 2023, we had a total of $20.3 million of cash and cash equivalents, $97.8 million available under our unsecured revolving line of credit and the potential ability to access the capital markets through the issuance of $76.0 million of common stock under our Equity Distribution Agreements. Furthermore, we have the ability to access the capital markets through the issuance of debt and/or equity securities under an automatic shelf registration statement.

We believe that our current cash balance, cash flow from operations available for distribution or reinvestment, our borrowing capacity and our potential ability to access the capital markets are sufficient to provide for payment of our current operating costs, meet debt obligations and pay common dividends at least sufficient to maintain our REIT status and repay borrowings at, or prior to, their maturity. The timing, source and amount of cash flows used by financing and investing activities are sensitive to the capital markets’ environment, especially to changes in interest rates. In addition, the slow recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and inflationary pressure have adversely affected and are expected to continue to adversely affect our operators’ business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition which could, in turn, adversely affect our financial position.

The operating results of the properties will be impacted by various factors over which the operators/owners may have no control. Those factors include, without limitation, the health of the economy, inflation pressures, employee availability and cost, changes in supply of or demand for competing seniors housing and health care facilities, ability to

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hire and maintain qualified staff, ability to control rising operating costs, and the potential for significant reforms in the health care industry, and the ongoing impact of COVID-19 and related occupancy challenges faced by our industry. In addition, our future growth in net income and cash flow may be adversely impacted by various proposals for changes in the governmental regulations and financing of the health care industry or the impact of any other infectious disease and epidemic outbreaks. We cannot presently predict what impact these potential events may have, if any. We believe that adequate provision has been made for the possibility of loans proving uncollectable but we will continually evaluate the financial status of the operations of the seniors housing and health care properties. In addition, we will monitor our borrowers and the underlying collateral for mortgage loans and will make future revisions to the provision, if considered necessary.

Depending on our borrowing capacity, compliance with financial covenants, ability to access the capital markets, and the payment of dividends may be negatively impacted. We continuously evaluate the availability of cost-effective capital and believe we have sufficient liquidity for our current dividend, corporate expenses and additional capital investments in 2024.

Our investments, principally our investments in owned properties, financing leases and mortgage loans, are subject to the possibility of loss of their carrying values as a result of changes in market prices, interest rates and inflationary expectations. The effects on interest rates may affect our costs of financing our operations and the fair market value of our financial assets. Generally, our leases have agreed upon annual increases and our loans have predetermined increases in interest rates. Inasmuch as we may initially fund some of our investments with variable interest rate debt, we would be at risk of net interest margin deterioration if medium and long-term rates were to increase.

Our primary sources of cash include rent and interest receipts, borrowings under our unsecured credit facility, public and private issuance of debt and equity securities, proceeds from investment dispositions and principal payments on loans receivable. Our primary uses of cash include dividend distributions, debt service payments (including principal and interest), real property investments (including acquisitions, capital expenditures and construction advances), loan advances and general and administrative expenses. These sources and uses of cash are reflected in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as summarized below (in thousands):

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Debt Obligations

Unsecured Credit Facility. We have an unsecured credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) that provides for an aggregate commitment of the lenders of up to $500.0 million comprising of a $400.0 million revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Line of Credit”) and two $50.0 million term loans (the “Term Loans”). The Credit Agreement permits us to request increases to the Revolving Line of Credit and Term Loans commitments up to a total of $1.0 billion. The Term Loans mature on November 19, 2025 and November 19, 2026. The Revolving Line of Credit had a maturity date of November 19, 2025 and provided a one-year extension option at our discretion, subject to customary conditions. During the fourth quarter of 2022, we entered into the First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement to replace LIBOR with SOFR, plus a credit spread adjustment of 10 basis points (“Adjusted SOFR”), as the reference rate for purpose of calculating interest under the agreement. Other material terms of the Credit Agreement remained unchanged. Further, subsequent to December 31, 2023, we entered into a Second Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Amended Credit Agreement”) to accelerate the one-year extension option notice to January 4, 2024. Concurrently, we exercised our option to extend the maturity date of the Credit Agreement, as amended to November 19, 2026.

Based on our leverage at December 31, 2023, the Revolving Line of Credit provides for interest annually at Adjusted SOFR plus 115 points and a facility fee of 20 basis point and the Term Loans provide for interest annually at Adjusted SOFR plus 135 points.

Interest Rate Swap Agreement. In connection with entering into the Term Loans as discussed above, we entered into two receive variable/pay fixed interest rate swap agreements (“Interest Rate Swaps”) with maturities of November 19, 2025 and November 19, 2026, respectively, that will effectively lock-in the forecasted interest payments on the Term Loan borrowings over the four and five year terms of the loans. The Interest Rate Swaps are considered cash flow hedges and are recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value, with changes in the fair value of these instruments recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. In connection with entering into the First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement discussed above, we entered into amendments to our Interest Rate Swaps to account for SOFR as the updated reference rate in the First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. During 2023, we recorded a $2.6 million decrease in fair value of Interest Rate Swaps.

Senior Unsecured Notes. We have senior unsecured notes held by institutional investors with interest rates ranging from 3.66% to 5.03%. The senior unsecured notes mature between 2024 and 2033.

The debt obligations by component as of December 31, 2023 are as follows (dollar amounts in thousands):

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Our debt borrowings and repayments during the year ended December 31, 2023, are as follows (in thousands):

Equity

Non-controlling Interests. We have entered into partnerships to develop and/or own real estate. Given that our limited members do not have substantive kick-out rights, liquidation rights, or participation rights, we have concluded that the partnerships are VIEs. Since we exercise power over and receive benefits from the VIEs, we are considered the primary beneficiary. Accordingly, we consolidate the VIEs and record the non-controlling interests at cost. As of December 31, 2023, we have the following consolidated VIEs (in thousands):

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At December 31, 2023, we had 43,021,593 shares of common stock outstanding, equity on our balance sheet totaled $916.3 million and our equity securities had a market value of $1.4 billion. During the year ended December 31, 2023, we declared and paid $94.8 million of cash dividends.

Common Stock. We have separate equity distribution agreements (collectively, “Equity Distribution Agreements”) to offer and sell, from time to time, up to $200.0 million in aggregate offering price of our common shares. The Equity Distribution Agreements provide for sales of common shares to be made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions, which may include block trades, or transactions that are deemed to be “at the market” offerings. During the year ended December 31, 2023, we sold 1,658,400 shares of common stock for $53.7 million in net proceeds under our Equity Distribution Agreements. In conjunction with the sale of common stock, we incurred $0.8 million costs associated with this agreement which have been recorded in additional paid in capital as a reduction of proceeds received. At December 31, 2023, we had $76.0 million available under our equity distribution agreement. Subsequent to December 31, 2023, we sold 91,100 shares of common stock for $2.9 million in net proceeds under our Equity Distribution Agreements. Accordingly, we have $73.1 million available under our Equity Distribution Agreements.

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During 2023, we acquired 43,933 shares of common stock held by employees who tendered owned shares to satisfy tax withholding obligations. Subsequent to December 31, 2023, we declared a monthly cash dividend of $0.19 per share on our common stock for the months of January, February and March 2024, payable on January 31, February 29 and March 29, 2024, respectively, to stockholders of record on January 23, February 21, and March 21, 2024, respectively.

Stock Based Compensation Plans. During 2021, we adopted, and our shareholders approved the 2021 Equity Participation Plan (the “2021 Plan”) which replaces the 2015 Equity Participation Plan (the “2015 Plan”). Under the 2021 Plan, 1,900,000 shares of common stock have been authorized and reserved for awards, less one share for every one share that was subject to an award granted under the 2015 Plan after December 31, 2020 and prior to adoption. In addition, any shares that are not issued under outstanding awards under the 2015 Plan because the shares were forfeited or cancelled after December 31, 2020 will be added to and again be available for awards under the 2021 Plan. Under the 2021 Plan, the shares were authorized and reserved for awards to officers, employees, non-employee directors and consultants. The terms of the awards granted under the 2021 Plan and the 2015 Plan are set by our compensation committee at its discretion.

Restricted Stock and Performance-based Stock Units. During 2023, we granted 232,887 shares of restricted common stock and performance-based stock units under the 2021 Plan as follows:

At December 31, 2023, the remaining compensation expense to be recognized related to the future service period of unvested outstanding restricted common stock and performance-based stock units are as follows (dollar amounts in thousands):

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Stock Options. We did not issue any stock options during the year ended December 31, 2023. At December 31, 2023, we have 5,000 stock options outstanding and exercisable.

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Material Cash Requirements

We monitor our contractual obligations and commitments detailed above to ensure funds are available to meet obligations when due. The following table represents our long-term contractual obligations (scheduled principal payments and amounts due at maturity) as of December 31, 2023, excluding the effects of interest and debt issue costs (in thousands):

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The following table represents our projected interest expense based on current interest rates as of year-end, excluding capitalized interest, amortization of debt issue costs and bank fees, as of December 31, 2023 (in thousands):

Also, see Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS— Note 11. Commitments and Contingencies within our consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding our contractual commitments.

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