SIMON PROPERTY GROUP INC. (SPG)
SIC breadcrumb: Finance, Insurance, And Real Estate > Holding And Other Investment Offices > SIC 6798 Real Estate Investment Trusts
SEC company page: https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=1063761. Latest filing source: 0001104659-26-019419.
Informational only - descriptive public-record data, not investment advice.
Selected Fundamentals
| Metric | Value | Unit | FY | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 6,364,505,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-02-25 |
| Net income | 5,364,120,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-02-25 |
| Assets | 40,606,466,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-02-25 |
Financials
Annual standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-02-25. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0001063761.json. Derived margins, ratios, and free cash flow are computed from the extracted annual SEC facts.
| Metric | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 5,435,229,000 | 5,527,336,000 | 5,645,288,000 | 5,755,189,000 | 4,607,503,000 | 5,116,789,000 | 5,291,447,000 | 5,658,836,000 | 5,963,798,000 | 6,364,505,000 | |||||
| Net income | 2,134,706,000 | 2,244,903,000 | 2,822,343,000 | 2,423,188,000 | 1,277,324,000 | 2,568,707,000 | 2,452,385,000 | 2,617,018,000 | 2,729,021,000 | 5,364,120,000 | |||||
| Operating income | 2,720,828,000 | 2,802,340,000 | 2,926,299,000 | 2,912,787,000 | 1,971,809,000 | 2,413,190,000 | 2,583,553,000 | 2,807,022,000 | 3,092,796,000 | 3,175,396,000 | |||||
| Diluted EPS | 1.05 | 2.10 | 3.48 | 4.72 | 4.24 | 6.84 | 6.52 | 6.98 | 7.26 | 14.17 | |||||
| Operating cash flow | 3,372,694,000 | 3,593,788,000 | 3,750,796,000 | 3,807,831,000 | 2,326,698,000 | 3,637,402,000 | 3,766,604,000 | 3,930,793,000 | 3,814,655,000 | 4,136,551,000 | |||||
| Capital expenditures | 798,465,000 | 732,100,000 | 781,909,000 | 876,011,000 | 484,119,000 | 527,935,000 | 650,024,000 | 793,283,000 | 755,584,000 | 934,346,000 | |||||
| Share buybacks | 255,267,000 | 407,002,000 | 354,108,000 | 359,773,000 | 152,589,000 | 180,387,000 | 140,593,000 | 226,826,000 | |||||||
| Assets | 31,103,578,000 | 32,257,638,000 | 30,686,223,000 | 31,231,630,000 | 34,786,846,000 | 33,777,379,000 | 33,011,274,000 | 34,283,495,000 | 32,405,691,000 | 40,606,466,000 | |||||
| Liabilities | 26,005,904,000 | 27,828,394,000 | 26,659,104,000 | 28,101,319,000 | 31,128,608,000 | 29,376,654,000 | 29,187,383,000 | 30,595,897,000 | 28,806,239,000 | 33,901,073,000 | |||||
| Stockholders' equity | 4,310,448,000 | 3,686,168,000 | 3,296,681,000 | 2,526,398,000 | 3,039,472,000 | 3,361,452,000 | 3,138,524,000 | 3,022,834,000 | 2,941,925,000 | 5,208,268,000 | |||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 560,059,000 | 1,482,309,000 | 514,335,000 | 669,373,000 | 1,011,613,000 | 533,936,000 | 621,628,000 | 1,168,991,000 | 1,400,345,000 | 823,147,000 | |||||
| Free cash flow | 2,574,229,000 | 2,861,688,000 | 2,968,887,000 | 2,931,820,000 | 1,842,579,000 | 3,109,467,000 | 3,116,580,000 | 3,137,510,000 | 3,059,071,000 | 3,202,205,000 |
Ratios
| Metric | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net margin | 39.28% | 40.61% | 49.99% | 42.10% | 27.72% | 50.20% | 46.35% | 46.25% | 45.76% | 84.28% | |||||
| Operating margin | 50.06% | 50.70% | 51.84% | 50.61% | 42.80% | 47.16% | 48.83% | 49.60% | 51.86% | 49.89% | |||||
| Return on equity | 49.52% | 60.90% | 85.61% | 95.91% | 42.02% | 76.42% | 78.14% | 86.57% | 92.76% | 102.99% | |||||
| Return on assets | 6.86% | 6.96% | 9.20% | 7.76% | 3.67% | 7.60% | 7.43% | 7.63% | 8.42% | 13.21% | |||||
| Liabilities / equity | 6.03 | 7.55 | 8.09 | 11.12 | 10.24 | 8.74 | 9.30 | 10.12 | 9.79 | 6.51 |
Financial Charts
Quarterly
Quarterly standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-05-11. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0001063761.json.
| Quarter | End Date | Revenue | Net Income | Diluted EPS | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-Q2 | 2022-06-30 | 1.51 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2022-Q3 | 2022-09-30 | 1.65 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q1 | 2023-03-31 | 1.38 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q2 | 2023-06-30 | 1,369,601,000 | 557,505,000 | 1.49 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2023-Q3 | 2023-09-30 | 1,410,948,000 | 680,762,000 | 1.82 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2023-Q4 | 2023-12-31 | 1,527,438,000 | 859,496,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2024-Q1 | 2024-03-31 | 1,442,590,000 | 841,155,000 | 2.25 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2024-Q2 | 2024-06-30 | 1,458,266,000 | 569,435,000 | 1.51 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2024-Q3 | 2024-09-30 | 1,480,710,000 | 546,671,000 | 1.46 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2024-Q4 | 2024-12-31 | 1,582,232,000 | 771,759,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2025-Q1 | 2025-03-31 | 1,473,012,000 | 477,860,000 | 1.27 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q2 | 2025-06-30 | 1,498,459,000 | 643,681,000 | 1.70 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q3 | 2025-09-30 | 1,601,572,000 | 702,696,000 | 1.86 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q4 | 2025-12-31 | 1,791,462,000 | 3,539,883,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2026-Q1 | 2026-03-31 | 1,757,093,000 | 568,535,000 | 1.48 | reported discrete quarter |
Quarterly Charts
Macro Cross-References
- CPIAUCSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in U.S. City Average
- UNRATE - Unemployment Rate
- FEDFUNDS - Federal Funds Effective Rate
- CES0500000003 - Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Total Private
- DFEDTARU - Federal Funds Target Range - Upper Limit
- DFEDTARL - Federal Funds Target Range - Lower Limit
- DGS3MO - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 3-Month Constant Maturity
- DGS2 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 2-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS10 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 10-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS30 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 30-Year Constant Maturity
- T10Y2Y - 10-Year Treasury Constant Maturity Minus 2-Year Treasury Constant Maturity
- CPILFESL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items Less Food and Energy
- CPIUFDSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Food
- CPIENGSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Energy
- CUSR0000SAH1 - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Shelter
- PCEPI - Personal Consumption Expenditures: Chain-type Price Index
- PCEPILFE - Personal Consumption Expenditures Excluding Food and Energy: Chain-type Price Index
- PPIACO - Producer Price Index by Commodity: All Commodities
- T10YIE - 10-Year Breakeven Inflation Rate
- U6RATE - Total Unemployed, Plus All Marginally Attached Workers Plus Total Employed Part Time for Economic Reasons
- PAYEMS - All Employees, Total Nonfarm
- CIVPART - Labor Force Participation Rate
- EMRATIO - Employment-Population Ratio
- UNEMPLOY - Unemployed
- CE16OV - Employment Level
- ICSA - Initial Claims
- JTSJOL - Job Openings: Total Nonfarm
- JTSQUR - Quits: Total Nonfarm
- GDPC1 - Real Gross Domestic Product
- A191RL1Q225SBEA - Real Gross Domestic Product: Percent Change from Preceding Period
- INDPRO - Industrial Production: Total Index
- TCU - Capacity Utilization: Total Index
- HOUST - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Started: Total Units
- PERMIT - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Authorized in Permit-Issuing Places: Total Units
- RSAFS - Advance Retail Sales: Retail Trade
- PCE - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- DSPIC96 - Real Disposable Personal Income
- PSAVERT - Personal Saving Rate
- M2SL - M2
- BOPGSTB - U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services: Balance
- MSPUS - Median Sales Price of Houses Sold for the United States
- HSN1F - New One Family Houses Sold: United States
- RHORUSQ156N - Homeownership Rate in the United States
- TTLCONS - Total Construction Spending: Total Construction in the United States
- RRVRUSQ156N - Rental Vacancy Rate in the United States
- TOTALSL - Total Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- REVOLSL - Revolving Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- DRCCLACBS - Delinquency Rate on Credit Card Loans, All Commercial Banks
- GDP - Gross Domestic Product
- GPDI - Gross Private Domestic Investment
- GCE - Government Consumption Expenditures and Gross Investment
- PCEC - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- NETEXP - Net Exports of Goods and Services
- GFDEBTN - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt
- GFDEGDQ188S - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt as Percent of Gross Domestic Product
- FYFSD - Federal Surplus or Deficit
- FGRECPT - Federal Government Current Receipts
- FGEXPND - Federal Government: Current Expenditures
- MANEMP - All Employees, Manufacturing
- USCONS - All Employees, Construction
- USTRADE - All Employees, Retail Trade
- USFIRE - All Employees, Financial Activities
- USGOVT - All Employees, Government
- AWHAETP - Average Weekly Hours of All Employees, Total Private
- DGORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Durable Goods
- NEWORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Nondefense Capital Goods Excluding Aircraft
- BUSINV - Total Business Inventories
- EXPGS - Exports of Goods and Services
- IMPGS - Imports of Goods and Services
- IR - Import Price Index (End Use): All Commodities
- PPIFIS - Producer Price Index by Commodity: Final Demand
Latest quarter (10-Q)
Latest 10-Q source: 0001104659-26-058640.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in this report.
Overview
Simon Property Group, Inc. is an Indiana corporation that operates as a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust, or REIT, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Internal Revenue Code. REITs will generally not be liable for U.S. federal corporate income taxes as long as they distribute not less than 100% of their REIT taxable income. Simon Property Group, L.P. is our majority-owned Indiana partnership subsidiary that owns directly or indirectly all of our real estate properties and other assets. Unless stated otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references to "Simon" mean Simon Property Group, Inc. and references to the "Operating Partnership" mean Simon Property Group, L.P. References to "we," "us" and "our" mean collectively Simon, the Operating Partnership and those entities/subsidiaries owned or controlled by Simon and/or the Operating Partnership. According to the amended and restated Operating Partnership's partnership agreement, the Operating Partnership is required to pay all expenses of Simon.
We own, develop and manage premier shopping, dining, entertainment and mixed-use destinations, which consist primarily of malls, Premium Outlets®, and The Mills®. As of March 31, 2026, we owned or held an interest in 212 income-producing properties in the United States, which consisted of 108 malls, 69 Premium Outlets, 16 Mills, six lifestyle centers, and 13 other retail properties in 38 states and Puerto Rico. Internationally, as of March 31, 2026, we had ownership in 42 properties primarily located in Asia, Europe, and Canada. As of March 31, 2026, we also owned a 20.7% equity stake in Klépierre SA, or Klépierre, a publicly traded, Paris-based real estate company which owns, or has an interest in, shopping centers located in 13 countries in Europe. We also have interests in investments in retail operations (such as Catalyst Brands LLC, or Catalyst); an e-commerce venture (Rue Gilt Groupe, or RGG, which operates shop.simon.com), and Jamestown (a global real estate investment and management company), collectively, our other platform investments.
Until October 31, 2025, we owned an 88% noncontrolling interest in The Taubman Realty Group, LLC, or TRG. As further discussed in Note 4 of the condensed notes to the consolidated financial statements, on October 31, 2025, we acquired the remaining 12% interest which we did not previously own, or the TRG Acquisition.
We generate the majority of our lease income from retail, dining, entertainment, and other tenants including consideration received from:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | fixed minimum lease consideration and fixed common area maintenance (CAM) reimbursements, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | variable lease consideration primarily based on tenants’ reported sales, as well as reimbursements for real estate taxes, utilities, marketing and certain other items. |
Revenues of our management company, after intercompany eliminations, consist primarily of management fees that are typically based upon the revenues of the property being managed.
We invest in real estate properties to maximize total financial return which includes both operating cash flows and capital appreciation. We seek growth in earnings, funds from operations, or FFO, and cash flows by enhancing the profitability and operation of our properties and investments. We seek to accomplish this growth through the following:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | attracting and retaining high quality tenants and utilizing economies of scale to reduce operating expenses, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | expanding and re-tenanting existing highly productive locations at competitive rental rates, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | selectively acquiring or increasing our interests in high quality real estate assets or portfolios of assets, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | generating consumer traffic in our retail properties through marketing initiatives and strategic corporate alliances, including creating mixed-use destinations, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | selling selective non-core assets. |
We also grow by generating supplemental revenues from the following activities:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | establishing our properties as leading market resource providers for retailers and other businesses and consumer-focused corporate alliances, including national marketing alliances, static and digital media initiatives, business development, sponsorship, and events, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | offering property operating services to our tenants and others, including waste handling and facility services, and the provision of energy services, |
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Table of Contents
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | selling or leasing land adjacent to our properties, commonly referred to as “outlots” or “outparcels,” and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | generating interest income on cash deposits and investments in loans, including those made to related entities. |
We focus on high quality real estate across the retail real estate spectrum. We expand or redevelop properties to enhance profitability and market share of existing assets when we believe the investment of our capital meets our risk-reward criteria. We selectively develop new properties in markets we believe are not adequately served by existing retail outlet properties.
We routinely review and evaluate acquisition opportunities based on their ability to enhance our portfolio. Our international strategy includes partnering with established real estate companies and financing international investments with local currency to minimize foreign exchange risk.
To support our growth, we employ a three-fold capital strategy:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | generate the capital necessary to fund growth, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | maintain sufficient flexibility to access capital in many forms, both public and private, including but not limited to, having in place the Operating Partnership’s $5.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility, or the Credit Facility, its $3.5 billion supplemental unsecured revolving credit facility, or the Supplemental Facility, and together, the Credit Facilities, and its global unsecured commercial paper note program, or the Commercial Paper program, of $2.0 billion, or the non-U.S. dollar equivalent thereof, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | manage our overall financial structure in a fashion that preserves our investment grade credit ratings. |
We consider FFO, Real Estate FFO, net operating income, or NOI, and portfolio NOI to be key measures of operating performance that are not specifically defined by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP. We use these measures internally to evaluate the operating performance of our portfolio and provide a basis for comparison with other real estate companies. Reconciliations of these measures to the most comparable GAAP measure are included below in this discussion.
Results Overview
Diluted earnings per share and diluted earnings per unit increased $0.21 during the first three months of 2026 to $1.48 from $1.27 for the same period last year. The increase in diluted earnings per share and diluted earnings per unit was primarily attributable to:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | improved operating performance and solid core business fundamentals in 2026 and the impact of our acquisition activity, as discussed below, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased lease income of $261.1 million, or $0.69 per diluted share/unit, of which $189.1 million, or $0.50 per diluted share/unit, relates to our acquisition activity, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | a non-cash gain of $64.3 million, or $0.17 per diluted share/unit, due to the exchange of 4,074,711 shares of Klépierre to settle the conversion of €110.3 million of the Operating Partnership’s exchangeable bonds in 2026, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | an unrealized, favorable change in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments and derivative instrument, net of $62.2 million, or $0.16 per diluted share/unit, which primarily relates to movements in the fair value of the exchange option within our Klépierre exchangeable bonds, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | a pre-tax loss in 2025 due to disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests of $24.0 million, or $0.06 per diluted share/unit, related to certain post-merger activities within Catalyst, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased other income of $16.6 million, or $0.04 per diluted share/unit, of which $16.1 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, relates to our acquisition activity, partially offset by, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased depreciation and amortization in 2026 of $130.8 million, or $0.34 per diluted share/unit, of which $121.2 million, or $0.32 per diluted share/unit, relates to our acquisition activity, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | decreased income from unconsolidated entities of $51.6 million, or $0.14 per diluted share/unit, the majority of which is due to unfavorable year-over-year operations from other platform investments, partially offset by improved operations and core fundamentals in our other unconsolidated entities, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased interest expense of $48.7 million, or $0.13 per diluted share/unit, of which $39.3 million, or $0.10 per diluted share/unit, relates to our acquisition activity, |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased general and administrative expenses of $41.7 million, or $0.11 per diluted share/unit, which includes $40.0 million of accelerated stock compensation expense recognized in the first quarter of 2026, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased property operating expenses of $33.9 million, or $0.09 per diluted share/unit, of which $24.6 million, or $0.06 per diluted share/unit, relates to our acquisition activity, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased real estate taxes of $28.5 million, or $0.07 per diluted share/unit, of which $21.2 million, or $0.06 per diluted share/unit, relates to our acquisition activity and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | a pre-tax loss in 2026 due to disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests of $6.4 million, or $0.02 per diluted share/unit, related to certain transaction related transition costs separately related to Catalyst and the TRG Acquisition. |
Portfolio NOI increased 6.7% for the three month period in 2026 over the prior year period primarily as a result of improved operations in our domestic and international portfolios and our acquisition activity. Average base minimum rent for U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets increased 5.2% to $61.99 psf as of March 31, 2026, from $58.92 psf as of March 31, 2025. Ending occupancy for our U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets increased 0.1% to 96.0% as of March 31, 2026, from 95.9% as of March 31, 2025.
Our effective overall borrowing rate at March 31, 2026 on our consolidated indebtedness increased 30
[Excerpt truncated for page length; source filing is linked above.]
Latest 10-K MD&A
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto that are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Overview
Simon Property Group, Inc. is an Indiana corporation that operates as a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust, or REIT, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Internal Revenue Code. REITs will generally not be liable for U.S. federal corporate income taxes as long as they distribute not less than 100% of their REIT taxable income. Simon Property Group, L.P. is our majority-owned Indiana partnership subsidiary that owns directly or indirectly all of our real estate properties and other assets. In this discussion, unless stated otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references to "Simon" mean Simon Property Group, Inc. and references to the "Operating Partnership" mean Simon Property Group, L.P. References to "we," "us" and "our" mean collectively Simon, the Operating Partnership and those entities/subsidiaries owned or controlled by Simon and/or the Operating Partnership. According to the amended and restated Operating Partnership's partnership agreement, the Operating Partnership is required to pay all expenses of Simon.
We own, develop and manage premier shopping, dining, entertainment and mixed-use destinations, which consist primarily of malls, Premium Outlets®, and The Mills®. As of December 31, 2025, we owned or held an interest in 212 income-producing properties in the United States, which consisted of 108 malls, 70 Premium Outlets, 16 Mills, six lifestyle centers, and 12 other retail properties in 38 states and Puerto Rico. In addition, we have redevelopment and expansion projects, including the addition of anchors, big box tenants, and restaurants, underway at several properties in North America, Europe and Asia. Internationally, as of December 31, 2025, we had ownership in 42 properties primarily located in Asia, Europe, and Canada. As of December 31, 2025, we also owned a 22.2% equity stake in Klépierre SA, or Klépierre, a publicly traded, Paris-based real estate company, which owns, or has an interest in, shopping centers located in 13 countries in Europe. We also have interests in investments in retail operations (such as Catalyst Brands LLC, or Catalyst); an e-commerce venture (Rue Gilt Groupe, or RGG, which operates shop.simon.com), and Jamestown (a global real estate investment and management company), collectively, our other platform investments.
As of December 31, 2024, and until October 31, 2025, we owned an 88% noncontrolling interest in The Taubman Realty Group, LLC, or TRG. As further discussed in Note 4 to the financial statements, on October 31, 2025, we acquired the remaining 12% interest which we did not previously own, or the TRG Acquisition.
We generate the majority of our lease income from retail, dining, entertainment, and other tenants including consideration received from:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | fixed minimum lease consideration and fixed common area maintenance (CAM) reimbursements, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | variable lease consideration primarily based on tenants’ reported sales, as well as reimbursements for real estate taxes, utilities, marketing and certain other items. |
Revenues of our management company, after intercompany eliminations, consist primarily of management fees that are typically based upon the revenues of the property being managed.
We invest in real estate properties to maximize total financial return which includes both operating cash flows and capital appreciation. We seek growth in earnings, funds from operations, or FFO, real estate FFO, and cash flows by enhancing the profitability and operation of our properties and investments. We seek to accomplish this growth through the following:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | attracting and retaining high quality tenants and utilizing economies of scale to reduce operating expenses, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | expanding and re-tenanting existing highly productive locations at competitive rental rates, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | selectively acquiring or increasing our interests in high quality real estate assets or portfolios of assets, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | generating consumer traffic in our retail properties through marketing initiatives and strategic corporate alliances, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | selling selective non-core assets. |
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We also grow by generating supplemental revenues from the following activities:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | establishing our properties as leading market resource providers for retailers and other businesses and consumer-focused corporate alliances, including national marketing alliances, static and digital media initiatives, business development, sponsorship, and events, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | offering property operating services to our tenants and others, including waste handling and facility services, and the provision of energy services, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | selling or leasing land adjacent to our properties, commonly referred to as “outlots” or “outparcels,” and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | generating interest income on cash deposits and investments in loans, including those made to related entities. |
We focus on high quality real estate across the retail real estate spectrum. We expand or redevelop properties to enhance profitability and market share of existing assets when we believe the investment of our capital meets our risk-reward criteria. We selectively develop new properties in markets we believe are not adequately served by existing retail properties.
We routinely review and evaluate acquisition opportunities based on their ability to enhance our portfolio. Our international strategy includes partnering with established real estate companies and financing international investments with local currency to minimize foreign exchange risk.
To support our growth, we employ a three-fold capital strategy:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | generate the capital necessary to fund growth, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | maintain sufficient flexibility to access capital in many forms, both public and private, including but not limited to, having in place, the Operating Partnership’s $5.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility, or the Credit Facility, its $3.5 billion supplemental unsecured revolving credit facility, or its Supplemental Facility, and together, the Credit Facilities and its global unsecured commercial paper note program, or the Commercial Paper program, of $2.0 billion, or the non-U.S. dollar equivalent thereof, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | manage our overall financial structure in a fashion that preserves our investment grade credit ratings. |
We consider FFO, Real Estate FFO, net operating income, or NOI, and portfolio NOI to be key measures of operating performance that are not specifically defined by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP. We use these measures internally to evaluate the operating performance of our portfolio and provide a basis for comparison with other real estate companies. Reconciliations of these measures to the most comparable GAAP measures are included below in this discussion.
Results Overview
Diluted earnings per share and diluted earnings per unit increased $6.91 during 2025 to $14.17 as compared to $7.26 in 2024. The increase in diluted earnings per share and diluted earnings per unit was primarily attributable to:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | improved operating performance and solid core business fundamentals in 2025, as discussed below, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | a non-cash gain of $2.9 billion, or $7.56 per diluted share/unit, related to the remeasurement of our previously held 88% noncontrolling equity interest in TRG to fair value as a result of the TRG Acquisition and a non-cash gain of $21.6 million, or $0.06 per diluted share/unit, during the fourth quarter of 2025 related to the disposition of our interest in one unconsolidated property, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased lease income in 2025 of $449.4 million, or $1.19 per diluted share/unit, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased income from unconsolidated entities of $296.8 million, or $0.79 per diluted share/unit, the majority of which is due to improved year-over-year operations from other platform investments and improved operations and core fundamentals in our other unconsolidated entities, partially offset by |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | a pre-tax gain during the first quarter of 2024 on the sale of all our remaining interests in Authentic Brands Group, or ABG, of $414.8 million, or $1.10 per diluted share/unit, and a non-cash pre-tax gain of $100.5 million, or $0.27 per diluted share/unit, during the fourth quarter of 2024 related to the acquisition by J.C. Penney of the retail operations of SPARC Group, partially offset by an other-than-temporary impairment charge of $57.0 million, or $0.15 per diluted share/unit, in the fourth quarter of 2024, representing our pre-development costs associated with an unconsolidated joint venture development project, |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | a net pre-tax loss in 2025 on the disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests of $86.1 million, or $0.23 per diluted share/unit, primarily due to certain restructuring activities within Catalyst and the reduction in carrying value of certain equity instruments, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased depreciation and amortization of $161.1 million, or $0.43 per diluted share/unit, primarily due to acquisition and development activity, the majority of which relates to the TRG Acquisition, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | an unrealized unfavorable change in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments and derivative instrument, net of $88.7 million, or $0.23 per diluted share/unit, which primarily relates to movements in the fair value of the exchange option within our Klépierre exchangeable bonds, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased interest expense of $69.0 million, or $0.18 per diluted share/unit, primarily due to new USD and EUR bond issuances and the increase in secured debt as a result of the TRG Acquisition, partially offset by USD and EUR bond payoffs, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | decreased other income of $59.9 million, or $0.16 per diluted share/unit, primarily due to decreased interest income of $56.6 million, or $0.15 per diluted share/unit, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased property operating expenses in 2025 of $51.2 million, or $0.14 per diluted share/unit primarily due to the consolidation of properties in 2025 through our acquisition activity, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased real estate taxes in 2025 of $42.5 million, or $0.11 per diluted share/unit, primarily due to the consolidation of properties in 2025 through acquisition activity and successful property tax appeals in 2024, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased home and regional office costs of $28.5 million, or $0.08 per diluted share/unit, primarily due to increased personnel and compensation costs, including adjustments to performance-based stock compensation accruals to reflect current results and our expectations of future performance, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased income and other tax expense of $12.5 million, or $0.03 per diluted share/unit, primarily due to transactional activity and favorable year-over-year results of operations from other platform investments. |
Portfolio NOI increased 4.7% in 2025 as compared to 2024. Average base minimum rent for U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets increased 4.7% to $60.97 psf as of December 31, 2025, from $58.26 psf as of December 31, 2024. Ending occupancy for our U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets decreased 0.1% to 96.4% as of December 31, 2025, from 96.5% as of December 31, 2024.
Our effective overall borrowing rate at December 31, 2025 on our consolidated indebtedness increased 25 basis points to 3.87% as compared to 3.62% at December 31, 2024. This increase was primarily due to an increase in the effective overall borrowing rate on the fixed rate debt of 25 basis points, due to increasing benchmark rates. The weighted average years to maturity of our consolidated indebtedness was 7.0 years and 8.1 years at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Our financing activity for the year ended December 31, 2025 included:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increasing our borrowings under the Operating Partnership’s global unsecured commercial paper program, or the Commercial Paper program by $355.0 million, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the fourth quarter of 2025, we exchanged 568,896 shares of Klépierre to settle the conversion of €15.4 million ($18.1 million U.S. dollar equivalent) of the Operating Partnership’s exchangeable bonds. See further discussion in Note 6. The balance of the exchangeable bonds is €734.6 million ($862.4 million U.S. dollar equivalent) as of December 31, 2025, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | on October 31, 2025, as part of the TRG Acquisition as discussed in Note 4, consolidated mortgage debt increased by $3.1 billion, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | on August 19, 2025, the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of $700 million of senior unsecured notes with a fixed interest rate of 4.375% and a maturity date of October 1, 2030, and $800 million of senior unsecured notes with a fixed interest rate of 5.125% and a maturity date of October 1, 2035. A portion of the proceeds was used to redeem, at par, its $1.1 billion 3.50% senior unsecured notes at maturity on September |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 1, 2025. Another portion of the proceeds was used to repay the €500 million outstanding under the Supplemental Facility on October 8, 2025. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | on May 12, 2025, the Operating Partnership drew €500 million under the Supplemental Facility, and proceeds were used to fund the redemption at par of the Operating Partnership’s €500 million notes maturing on May 13, 2025, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | on April 25, 2025, the Operating Partnership drew $155 million under the Credit Facility, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | on March 20, 2025, the Operating Partnership entered into a €350 million unsecured term loan with a maturity date of March 20, 2027, and swapped the interest rate to an all-in fixed rate of 2.5965% maturing on March 20, 2026. The proceeds of the term loan, along with cash on hand, were used to repay the then remaining €376 million outstanding under the Credit Facility, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | on March 13, 2025, the Operating Partnership repaid €18 million under the Credit Facility that had been outstanding on December 31, 2024, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | on January 29, 2025, the Operating Partnership drew €376 million under the Credit Facility, and used the proceeds to facilitate the acquisition of two Italian assets. |
Subsequent to 2025, on January 13, 2026, the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of $800 million of senior unsecured notes with a fixed interest rate of 4.30% and a maturity date of January 15, 2031. The proceeds were used to fund the redemption at par of the Operating Partnership’s $800 million notes maturing on January 15, 2026.
United States Portfolio Data
The portfolio data discussed in this overview includes the following key operating statistics: ending occupancy, and average base minimum rent per square foot. We include acquired properties in this data beginning in the year of acquisition and remove disposed properties in the year of disposition. For comparative information purposes, we separate the information related to The Mills from our other U.S. operations. We also do not include any information for properties located outside the United States.
The following table sets forth these key operating statistics for domestic properties:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | properties that are consolidated in our consolidated financial statements, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | properties we account for under the equity method of accounting as joint ventures, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | the foregoing two categories of properties on a total portfolio basis. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | %/Basis Point | | | | | %/Basis Point | | | |
| | | 2025 | | Change (1) | | 2024 | | Change (1) | | 2023 | |||
| U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ending Occupancy | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Consolidated | | | 96.4% | | -10 bps | | | 96.5% | | 80 bps | | | 95.7% |
| Unconsolidated | | | 96.5% | | -10 bps | | | 96.6% | | 50 bps | | | 96.1% |
| Total Portfolio | | | 96.4% | | -10 bps | | | 96.5% | | 70 bps | | | 95.8% |
| Average Base Minimum Rent per Square Foot | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Consolidated | | $ | 58.98 | | 4.2% | | $ | 56.60 | | 2.0% | | $ | 55.47 |
| Unconsolidated | | $ | 66.61 | | 5.5% | | $ | 63.12 | | 4.2% | | $ | 60.59 |
| Total Portfolio | | $ | 60.97 | | 4.7% | | $ | 58.26 | | 2.5% | | $ | 56.82 |
| The Mills: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ending Occupancy | | 99.2% | | 40 bps | | 98.8% | | 100 bps | | 97.8% | |||
| Average Base Minimum Rent per Square Foot | | $ | 41.24 | | 8.7% | | $ | 37.95 | | 4.3% | | $ | 36.38 |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | Percentages may not recalculate due to rounding. Percentage and basis point changes are representative of the change from the comparable prior period. |
Ending Occupancy Levels and Average Base Minimum Rent per Square Foot. Ending occupancy is the percentage of gross leasable area, or GLA, which is leased as of the last day of the reporting period. We include all company owned space except for mall anchors, mall majors, mall freestanding and mall outlots in the calculation. Base
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minimum rent per square foot is the average base minimum rent charge in effect for the reporting period for all tenants that would qualify to be included in ending occupancy.
Current Leasing Activities
During the twelve months ended December 31, 2025, we signed 1,112 new leases and 2,035 renewal leases (excluding recent acquisitions, mall anchors and majors, new development, redevelopment and leases with terms of one year or less) with a fixed minimum rent across our U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets portfolio, comprising approximately 11.4 million square feet, of which 8.8 million square feet related to consolidated properties. During the comparable period in 2024, we signed 1,149 new leases and 2,549 renewal leases with a fixed minimum rent, comprising approximately 13.5 million square feet, of which 10.4 million square feet related to consolidated properties. The average annual initial base minimum rent for new leases was $65.09 per square foot in 2025 and $66.61 per square foot in 2024 with an average tenant allowance on new leases of $63.92 per square foot and $60.33 per square foot, respectively.
Japan Data
The following are selected key operating statistics for our Premium Outlets in Japan. The information used to prepare these statistics has been supplied by the managing venture partner.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | December 31, | | %/basis point | | December 31, | | %/basis point | | December 31, | |||
| | | 2025 | | Change | | 2024 | | Change | | 2023 | |||
| Ending Occupancy | | | 99.9% | | +60 bps | | | 99.3% | | -40 bps | | | 99.7% |
| Average Base Minimum Rent per Square Foot | | ¥ | 5,581 | | 1.27% | | ¥ | 5,511 | | 0.31% | | ¥ | 5,494 |
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, requires management to use judgment in the application of accounting policies, including making estimates and assumptions. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. These judgments affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. If our judgment or interpretation of the facts and circumstances relating to various transactions had been different, it is possible that different accounting policies would have been applied resulting in a different presentation of our financial statements. From time to time, we reevaluate our estimates and assumptions. In the event estimates or assumptions prove to be different from actual results, adjustments are made in subsequent periods to reflect more current information. Below is a discussion of accounting policies that we consider critical in that they may require complex judgment in their application or require estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain. For a summary of our significant accounting policies, see Note 3 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | We, as a lessor, primarily under long-term leases, retain substantially all of the risks and benefits of ownership of the investment properties and account for our leases as operating leases. We accrue fixed lease income on a straight-line basis over the terms of the leases, when we believe substantially all lease income, including the related straight-line rent receivable, is probable of collection. Our assessment of collectability, primarily under long-term leases, incorporates available operational performance measures such as reported sales and the aging of billed amounts as well as other publicly available information with respect to our tenant’s financial condition, liquidity and capital resources. When a tenant seeks to reorganize its operations through bankruptcy proceedings, we assess the collectability of receivable balances including, among other things, the timing of a tenant’s bankruptcy filing and our expectations of the assumption by the tenant in bankruptcy proceeding of leases at the Company’s properties on substantially similar terms. In the event that we determine accrued receivables are not probable of collection, lease income will be recorded on a cash basis, with the corresponding tenant receivable and straight-line rent receivable charged as a direct write-off against lease income in the period of the change in our collectability determination. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | We review investment properties for impairment on a property-by-property basis to identify and evaluate events or changes in circumstances which indicate that the carrying value of investment properties may not be recoverable. These circumstances include, but are not limited to, changes in a property’s operational performance such as declining cash flows, occupancy or total reported sales per square foot, the Company’s intent and ability to hold the related asset, and, if applicable, the remaining time to maturity of underlying financing arrangements. We measure any impairment of investment property when the estimated undiscounted operating income before |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| depreciation and amortization during the anticipated holding period plus its residual value is less than the carrying value of the property. To the extent impairment has occurred, we charge to income the excess of carrying value of the property over our estimate of its fair value. We also review our investments, including investments in unconsolidated entities, to identify and evaluate whether events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of our investments may not be recoverable. We will record an impairment charge if we determine the fair value of the investments are less than their carrying value and such impairment is other-than-temporary. Our evaluation of changes in economic or operating conditions and whether an impairment is other-than-temporary may include developing estimates of fair value, forecasted cash flows or operating income before depreciation and amortization. We estimate undiscounted cash flows and fair value, if applicable, using observable and unobservable data such as operating income, hold periods, estimated capitalization rates, or relevant market multiples, leasing prospects and local market information and whether certain impairments are other-than-temporary. Changes in economic and operating conditions, including changes in the financial condition of our tenants, and changes to our intent and ability to hold the related asset, that occur subsequent to our review of recoverability of investment property and other investments could impact the assumptions used in that assessment and could result in future charges to earnings if assumptions regarding those investments differ from actual results. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | To maintain Simon’s status as a REIT, Simon must distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income in any given year and meet certain asset and income tests. We monitor our business and transactions that may potentially impact Simon’s REIT status. In the unlikely event that we fail to maintain Simon’s REIT status, and available relief provisions do not apply, Simon would be required to pay U.S. federal income taxes at regular corporate income tax rates during the period Simon did not qualify as a REIT. If Simon lost its REIT status, it could not elect to be taxed as a REIT for four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost unless its failure was due to reasonable cause and certain other conditions were met. As a result, failing to maintain REIT status would result in a significant increase in the income tax expense recorded and paid during those periods. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | In the period of a significant acquisition of real estate, we make estimates as part of our valuation of the purchase price of asset acquisitions (including the components of excess investment in joint ventures) and business combinations to the various components of the acquisition based upon the fair value of each component. The most significant components of our real estate valuations are typically the determination of fair value to the buildings as-if-vacant, land and market value of in-place leases. In the case of the fair value of buildings and fair value of land and other intangibles, our estimates of the values of these components will affect the amount of depreciation or amortization we record over the estimated useful life of the property acquired or the remaining lease term. In the case of the market value of in-place leases, we make our best estimates of the tenants’ ability to pay rents based upon the tenants’ operating performance at the property, including the competitive position of the property in its market as well as sales psf, rents psf, and overall occupancy cost for the tenants in place at the acquisition date. Our assumptions affect the amount of future revenue that we will recognize over the remaining lease term for the acquired in-place leases. |
Results of Operations
The following acquisitions, dispositions, and openings of consolidated properties affected our consolidated results in the comparative periods:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On November 17, 2025, we acquired a 100% interest in a retail property, Phillips Place, a 132,805 square foot center in Charlotte, North Carolina. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On October 31, 2025, we closed on the acquisition of the remaining 12% interest in TRG which we did not previously own. As a result of this acquisition, we obtained control of and consolidated TRG as of the acquisition date. TRG has an interest in 22 regional, super-regional, and outlet malls in the U.S. and Asia, 11 of which are now consolidated and 11 of which are accounted for under the equity method upon the acquisition. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On June 27, 2025, we acquired the remaining interest in the retail component and 100% of the parking component of Brickell City Centre, resulting in the consolidation of the retail component of this property. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On April 1, 2025, we acquired the remaining interest in Briarwood Mall from a joint venture partner, resulting in the consolidation of this property. |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On January 30, 2025, we acquired 100% interest in two luxury outlet destinations in Italy, The Mall Luxury Outlets Firenze, a 264,750 square foot center located in Leccio, nearby Florence, and The Mall Luxury Outlets Sanremo, a 122,300 square foot center located in Sanremo. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the fourth quarter of 2024, we acquired the remaining interest in Smith Haven Mall from a joint venture partner, resulting in the consolidation of this property. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the fourth quarter of 2024, we disposed of our interests in two consolidated retail properties. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On August 15, 2024, we opened Tulsa Premium Outlets, a 338,472 square foot center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We own 100% of this center. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On February 6, 2024, we acquired an additional interest in Miami International Mall from a joint venture partner, resulting in the consolidation of this property. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On April 27, 2023, we opened Paris-Giverny Designer Outlet, a 228,000 square foot center in Vernon, France. We own a 74% interest in this center. |
The following acquisitions, dispositions, and openings of noncontrolling interests in joint venture entities affected our income from unconsolidated entities in the comparative periods:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the fourth quarter of 2025, we disposed of one retail property. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On March 6, 2025, we opened Jakarta Premium Outlets, a 302,000 square foot center in Indonesia. We own a 50% interest in this center. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On December 19, 2024, J.C. Penney acquired the retail operations of SPARC Group and was renamed Catalyst Brands post transaction. As a result, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain of $100.5 million. After the transaction, we own a 31.3% noncontrolling interest in Catalyst. Additionally, we continue to hold a 33.3% noncontrolling interest in SPARC Holdings, the former owner of SPARC Group, which now primarily holds a 25% interest in Catalyst. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the fourth quarter of 2024, we acquired additional 4% ownership in TRG for approximately $266.7 million by issuing 1,572,500 units in the Operating Partnership, bringing our noncontrolling interest in TRG to 88% as of December 31, 2024. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the first quarter of 2024, we disposed of all of our remaining interest in ABG. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During 2023, ABG completed multiple capital transactions which resulted in the dilution of our ownership and multiple deemed disposals of a proportional interest of our investment. In addition, we sold a portion of our interest in ABG on November 29, 2023. These transactions reduced our ownership from 12.3% to 9.6% as of December 31, 2023. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the third quarter of 2023, we disposed of our interest in one unconsolidated retail property through foreclosure in satisfaction of its $114.8 million non-recourse loan. We recognized no gain or loss in connection with this disposal. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the third quarter of 2023, we acquired an additional 4% ownership in TRG for approximately $199.6 million by issuing 1,725,000 units in the Operating Partnership, bringing our noncontrolling ownership interest in TRG to 84%. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the third quarter of 2023, SPARC Group issued equity to a third party resulting in the dilution of our ownership to 33.3% and a deemed disposal of a proportional interest of our investment. As a result, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain on the deemed disposal of $145.8 million. |
Year Ended December 31, 2025 vs. Year Ended December 31, 2024
Lease income increased $449.4 million during 2025, primarily due to an increase in fixed minimum lease consideration, higher occupancy, and the property transactions noted above.
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Other income decreased $59.9 million, primarily due to a $56.6 million decrease in interest income, a net decrease in mixed use and franchise operations of $18.9 million and a $7.0 million decrease in lease settlements, partially offset by a $14.8 million increase in net other income primarily related to the property transactions noted above and a $7.8 million increase in land sale activity.
Property operating expense increased $51.2 million as a result of our acquisition and development activity.
Depreciation and amortization increased $161.1 million primarily due to our acquisition and development activity.
Real estate taxes increased $42.5 million primarily due to successful property tax appeals in 2024, the majority of which related to prior years, as well as our acquisition activity noted above.
Home and regional office costs increased $28.5 million and general and administrative increased $16.1 million, due to increased personnel and compensation costs, including adjustments to performance-based stock compensation accruals to reflect current results and our expectations of future performance.
Other expenses decreased $7.5 million primarily due to a net $25.3 million decrease in mixed use and franchise operations and a $5.5 million decrease in legal and other professional fees, partially offset by a $23.3 million increase in net other expenses primarily related to the property transactions.
Interest expense increased $69.0 million primarily related to an increase of $61.0 million due to new USD unsecured bond issuances in 2025 and 2024, an increase of $27.0 million related to the property transactions, and an increase of $8.8 million related to draws on the USD and Euro revolving credit facilities in 2025, partially offset by a $51.5 million decrease due to USD bond payoffs in 2025 and 2024.
A pre-tax non-cash net loss of $86.1 million was recorded during 2025, included in (Loss) gain due to disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net, primarily related to certain restructuring activities within Catalyst and the reduction in the carrying value of certain equity interests. During 2024, we sold all of our remaining interests in ABG for cash proceeds of $1.2 billion, resulting in a pre-tax gain of $414.8 million. Additionally, in 2024 we recorded a non-cash pre-tax gain of $100.5 million upon J.C. Penney’s acquisition of the retail operations of SPARC Group, an other-than-temporary impairment charge of $57.0 million, representing our pre-development costs associated with an unconsolidated joint venture development project, and a reduction in the carrying value of certain equity interests.
Income and other tax expense increased $12.5 million primarily due to improved year-over-year operations from other platform investments, partially offset by the tax impact from the gain on sale of our remaining interest in ABG during 2024 of $103.7 million, and the 2025 non-cash tax impact related to the restructuring activities within Catalyst noted above.
Income from unconsolidated entities increased $296.8 million primarily due to improved results of operations from our other platform investments and strong performance of our domestic and international joint venture properties.
We recorded net non-cash unrealized losses of $106.1 million in 2025 and $17.4 million in 2024 as a result of mark-to-market activity on publicly traded equity instruments and the change in fair value of a derivative instrument.
During 2025, we recorded a $2.9 billion gain related to the remeasurement of our previously held 88% noncontrolling equity interest in TRG to fair value as a result of the TRG Acquisition, recorded a $21.6 million non-cash gain on the disposition of one unconsolidated property, and a $2.8 million gain related to excess insurance proceeds, partially offset by a $4.0 million loss on the disposition of certain Klépierre assets. During 2024, we recorded a net loss of $75.8 million, which is primarily related to the disposition of two retail properties for a net loss of $69.8 million, an impairment on a joint venture investment of $19.3 million and a $4.1 million loss on the disposition of certain assets by Klépierre, partially offset by a gain from the disposition of a property held in the former TRG portfolio, our share of which was $10.6 million, and a $4.6 million gain on excess insurance proceeds.
Simon’s net income attributable to noncontrolling interests increased $378.4 million primarily related to an increase in the limited partners’ portion of the TRG Acquisition gain.
Year Ended December 31, 2024 vs. Year Ended December 31, 2023
Lease income increased $225.4 million, primarily due to an increase in fixed minimum lease consideration, higher occupancy, and the consolidation of two properties during 2024.
Other income increased $72.3 million, primarily due to a $76.4 million increase in interest income and a $13.6 million increase in land sale activity, partially offset by a decrease in franchise operations of $27.9 million.
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Property operating expense increased $40.4 million as a result of inflationary cost increases and the consolidation of two properties.
Real estate taxes decreased $33.1 million primarily due to successful property tax appeals, the majority of which relates to prior years.
Advertising and promotion expense increased $17.2 million primarily due to increased programming expenses.
Home and regional office costs increased $15.7 million due to increased personnel and compensation costs.
Other expenses decreased $38.2 million primarily due to a decrease in franchise operations.
Interest expense increased $51.1 million primarily related to an increase of $81.8 million due to new USD unsecured bond issuances, an increase of $35.0 million due to the Euro exchangeable bond issuance in 2023, an increase of $6.1 million on secured debt and the effect of the balance increase of the Credit Facility during 2023 of $1.4 million, partially offset by a decrease of $46.1 million due to USD unsecured bond payoffs during 2024 and 2023, and a decrease of $27.1 million due to a Supplemental Facility repayment during 2023.
Gain due to disposal, exchange or revaluation of equity interests, net, increased $89.1 million primarily due to an increase of $414.8 million as a result of selling our remaining interest in ABG during 2024, a non-cash pre-tax $100.5 million gain due to the acquisition by J.C. Penney of the retail operations of SPARC Group, offset by the non-cash pre-tax gains on the deemed disposal of a portion of our investment in ABG of $59.1 million and SPARC Group of $145.8 million and our share of the gain on the sale of a portion of our ABG interest of $157.1 million during 2023, the other-than-temporary impairment charge of $57.0 million in 2024 representing pre-development costs associated with an unconsolidated joint venture development project, and a reduction in the carrying value of certain equity investments of $7.0 million in 2024.
Income and other tax expense decreased $58.6 million primarily due to results of operations from our other platform investments and transactions within our TRS, partially offset by the aforementioned ABG, J.C. Penney, and SPARC Group transactions which increased tax expense by $37.8 million year-over-year.
Income from unconsolidated entities decreased $168.3 million primarily due to lower results of operations from our other platform investments, partially offset by strong results and improved performance by our joint venture properties.
We recorded net non-cash unrealized losses of $17.4 million in 2024 compared to net non-cash unrealized gains of $11.9 million in 2023, as a result of mark-to-market activity on publicly traded equity instruments and the change in fair value of a derivative instrument.
During 2024, we recorded a net loss of $75.8 million, which is primarily related to the disposition of two retail properties for a net loss of $69.8 million, an impairment on a joint venture investment of $19.3 million and a $4.1 million loss on the disposition of certain assets by Klépierre, partially offset by a gain from the disposition of a property held in our TRG portfolio, our share of which was $10.6 million and a $4.6 million gain on excess insurance proceeds. During 2023, we recorded an $11.2 million loss on the disposition of certain assets by Klépierre and an impairment on a joint venture property, our share of which was $8.6 million, partially offset by an $8.7 million gain on the disposition of certain assets by a joint venture investment and an $8.1 million gain on excess insurance proceeds.
Simon’s net income attributable to noncontrolling interests increased $24.2 million due to an increase in the net income of the Operating Partnership.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Because we own long-lived income-producing assets, our financing strategy relies primarily on long-term fixed rate debt. Floating rate debt comprised 1.1% of our total consolidated debt at December 31, 2025. We also enter into interest rate protection agreements from time to time to manage our interest rate risk. We derive most of our liquidity from positive net cash flow from operations and distributions of capital from unconsolidated entities that totaled $4.5 billion in the aggregate during 2025. The Credit Facilities and the Commercial Paper program provide alternative sources of liquidity as our cash needs vary from time to time. Borrowing capacity under these sources may be increased as discussed further below.
Our balance of cash and cash equivalents decreased $577.2 million during 2025 to $823.1 million as of December 31, 2025 as further discussed below.
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On December 31, 2025, we had an aggregate available borrowing capacity of approximately $7.7 billion under the Credit Facilities, net of letters of credit of $3.1 million. For the year ended December 31, 2025, the maximum aggregate outstanding balance under the Credit Facilities was $1.0 billion and the weighted average outstanding balance was $693.4 million. The weighted average interest rate was 4.30% for the year ended December 31, 2025.
Simon has historically had access to public equity markets and the Operating Partnership has historically had access to private and public, short and long-term unsecured debt markets and access to secured debt and private equity from institutional investors at the property level.
Our business model and Simon’s status as a REIT require us to regularly access the debt markets to raise funds for acquisition, development and redevelopment activity, and to refinance maturing debt. Simon may also, from time to time, access the equity capital markets to accomplish our business objectives. We believe we have sufficient cash on hand and availability under the Credit Facilities and the Commercial Paper program to address our debt maturities and capital needs through 2026.
Cash Flows
Our net cash flow from operating activities and distributions of capital from unconsolidated entities totaled $4.5 billion during 2025. In addition, we had net proceeds from our debt financing and repayment activities of $390.4 million in 2025. These activities are further discussed below under “Financing and Debt.” During 2025, we also:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | funded acquisition activity for aggregate cash consideration of $1.1 billion, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | recognized an increase in cash due to the acquisition and consolidation of property of $104.8 million, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | paid stockholder dividends and unitholder distributions totaling approximately $3.2 billion and preferred unit distributions totaling $4.5 million, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | funded consolidated capital expenditures of $934.3 million (including development and other costs of $22.2 million, redevelopment and expansion costs of $417.3 million, and tenant costs and other operational capital expenditures of $494.8 million), |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | funded the redemption of $7.3 million Operating Partnership units, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | funded the repurchase of $226.8 million of Simon’s common stock, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | funded investments in unconsolidated entities of $62.4 million, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | received proceeds from the sale of equity instruments of $96.2 million. |
In general, we anticipate that cash generated from operations will be sufficient to meet operating expenses, monthly debt service, recurring capital expenditures, and dividends to stockholders and/or distributions to partners necessary to maintain Simon’s REIT qualification on a long-term basis. In addition, we expect to be able to generate or obtain capital for nonrecurring capital expenditures, such as acquisitions, major building redevelopments and expansions, as well as for scheduled principal maturities on outstanding indebtedness, from the following, however a severe and prolonged disruption and instability in the global financial markets, including the debt and equity capital markets, may affect our ability to access necessary capital:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | excess cash generated from operating performance and working capital reserves, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | borrowings on the Credit Facilities and Commercial Paper program, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | additional secured or unsecured debt financing, or |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | additional equity raised in the public or private markets. |
We expect to generate positive cash flow from operations in 2026, and we consider these projected cash flows in our sources and uses of cash. These cash flows are principally derived from rents paid by our tenants. A significant deterioration in projected cash flows from operations, could cause us to increase our reliance on available funds from the Credit Facilities and Commercial Paper program, further curtail planned capital expenditures, or seek other additional sources of financing.
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Financing and Debt
Unsecured Debt
At December 31, 2025, our unsecured debt, excluding discounts and debt issuance costs, consisted of $19.1 billion of senior unsecured notes of the Operating Partnership, a €350 million ($410.9 million U.S. dollar equivalent) unsecured term loan, $460 million outstanding under the Credit Facility and $355 million outstanding under the Commercial Paper program.
The Credit Facility has an initial borrowing capacity of $5.0 billion, which may be increased in the form of additional commitments in the aggregate not to exceed $1.0 billion, for a total aggregate size of $6.0 billion, subject to obtaining additional lender commitments and satisfying certain customary conditions precedent. Borrowings may be denominated in U.S. dollars, Euro, Yen, Pounds, Sterling, Canadian dollars and Australian dollars. Borrowings in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are limited to 97% of the maximum revolving credit amount, as defined. The initial maturity date of the Credit Facility is June 30, 2027. The Credit Facility can be extended for two additional six-month periods to June 30, 2028, at our sole option, subject to satisfying certain customary conditions precedent.
Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest, at our election, at either (i) (x) for Term Benchmark Loans, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, the applicable Local Rate, the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, or the Adjusted TIBOR Rate, (y) for RFR Loans, if denominated in Sterling, SONIA plus a benchmark adjustment and if denominated in Dollars, Daily Simple SOFR plus a benchmark adjustment, or (z) for Daily SOFR Loans, the Adjusted Floating Overnight Daily SOFR Rate, in each case of clauses (x) through (z) above, plus a margin determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.650% and 1.400% or (ii) for loans denominated in U.S. Dollars only, the base rate (which rate is equal to the greatest of the prime rate, the federal funds effective rate plus 0.500% or Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for one month plus 1.000%) (the “Base Rate”), plus a margin determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.000% and 0.400%. The Credit Facility includes a facility fee determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.100% and 0.300% on the aggregate revolving commitments under the Credit Facility. Based upon our current credit ratings, the interest rate on the Credit Facility is SOFR plus 70.0 basis points, plus a spread adjustment to account for the transition from LIBOR to SOFR.
The Supplemental Facility has a borrowing capacity of $3.5 billion, which may be increased to $4.5 billion during its term subject to obtaining additional lender commitments and satisfying certain customary conditions precedent and provides for borrowings denominated in U.S. dollars, Euro, Yen, Pounds, Sterling, Canadian dollars and Australian dollars. Borrowings in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are limited to 100% of the maximum revolving credit amount, as defined. The initial maturity date of the Supplemental Facility is January 31, 2029 and can be extended for an additional year to January 31, 2030 at our sole option, subject to the continued compliance with the terms thereof.
Borrowings under the Supplemental Facility bear interest, at the Company’s election, at either (i) (x) for Term Benchmark Loans, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, the applicable Local Rate, the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, the Adjusted Term CORRA Rate, or the Adjusted TIBOR Rate, (y) for RFR Loans, if denominated in Sterling, SONIA plus a benchmark adjustment, if denominated in Dollars, Daily Simple SOFR plus a benchmark adjustment, and if denominated in Canadian Dollars, Daily Simple CORRA plus a benchmark adjustment or (z) for Daily SOFR Loans, the Adjusted Floating Overnight Daily SOFR Rate, in each case of clauses (x) through (z) above, plus a margin determined by the Company’s corporate credit rating of between 0.650% and 1.400% or (ii) for loans denominated in U.S. Dollars only, the base rate (which rate is equal to the greatest of the prime rate, the NYFRB Rate plus 0.500% or Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for one month plus 1.000%) (the “Base Rate”), plus a margin determined by the Company’s corporate credit rating of between 0.000% and 0.400%. The Supplemental Facility includes a facility fee determined by the Company’s corporate credit rating of between 0.100% and 0.300% on the aggregate revolving commitments under the Supplemental Facility. Based upon our current credit ratings, the interest rate on the Supplemental Facility is SOFR plus 70.0 basis points, plus a spread adjustment to account for the transition from LIBOR to SOFR.
On December 31, 2025 we had an aggregate available borrowing capacity of $7.7 billion under the Credit Facilities. The maximum aggregate outstanding balance under the Facilities during the year ended December 31, 2025 was $1.0 billion and the weighted average outstanding balance was $693.4 million. Letters of credit of $3.1 million were outstanding under the Facilities as of December 31, 2025.
The Operating Partnership also has available a Commercial Paper program of $2.0 billion, or the non-U.S. dollar equivalent thereof. The Operating Partnership may issue unsecured commercial paper notes, denominated in U.S. dollars, Euro and other currencies. Notes issued in non-U.S. currencies may be issued by one or more subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership and are guaranteed by the Operating Partnership. Notes will be sold under customary terms in the U.S. and Euro commercial paper note markets and rank (either by themselves or as a result of the guarantee described above) pari
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passu with the Operating Partnership's other unsecured senior indebtedness. The Commercial Paper program is supported by the Credit Facilities, and if necessary or appropriate, we may make one or more draws under either of the Credit Facilities to pay amounts outstanding from time to time on the Commercial Paper program. As of December 31, 2025, we had $355.0 million outstanding under the Commercial Paper program, fully comprised of U.S. dollar denominated notes with a weighted average interest rate of 4.04%. These borrowings have a weighted average maturity date of January 22, 2026 and reduced amounts otherwise available under the Credit Facilities.
Subsequent to 2025, on January 13, 2026, the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of $800 million of senior unsecured notes with a fixed interest rate of 4.30% and a maturity date of January 15, 2031. The proceeds were used to fund the redemption at par of the Operating Partnership’s $800 million notes maturing on January 15, 2026.
During the fourth quarter of 2025, we exchanged 568,896 shares of Klépierre to settle the conversion of €15.4 million ($18.1 million U.S. dollar equivalent) of the Operating Partnership’s exchangeable bonds. See further discussion in Note 6. The balance of the exchangeable bonds is €734.6 million ($862.4 million U.S. dollar equivalent) as of December 31, 2025.
On August 19, 2025, the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of $700 million of senior unsecured notes with a fixed interest rate of 4.375% and a maturity date of October 1, 2030, and $800 million of senior unsecured notes with a fixed interest rate of 5.125% and a maturity date of October 1, 2035. A portion of the proceeds were used to redeem, at par, its $1.1 billion 3.50% senior unsecured notes at maturity on September 1, 2025. Another portion of the proceeds were used to repay the €500 million outstanding under the Supplemental Facility on October 8, 2025.
On May 12, 2025, the Operating Partnership drew €500 million under the Supplemental Facility. The proceeds were used to fund the redemption at par of the Operating Partnerships €500 million notes maturing on May 13, 2025.
On April 25, 2025, the Operating Partnership drew $155 million under the Credit Facility.
On January 29, 2025, the Operating Partnership drew €376 million under the Credit Facility and used the proceeds to facilitate the acquisition of two Italian assets. On March 13, 2025, we repaid €18 million that had been outstanding under the Credit Facility at December 31, 2024. On March 20, 2025, the Operating Partnership entered into a €350 million unsecured term loan with a maturity date of March 20, 2027, and swapped the interest rate to an all-in fixed rate of 2.5965% which matures on March 20, 2026. The proceeds of the term loan, along with cash on hand, were used to repay the then remaining €376 million outstanding under the Credit Facility.
On October 1, 2024, the Operating Partnership completed the redemption, at par, of its $900 million 3.375% senior unsecured notes at maturity.
On September 26, 2024, the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of $1.0 billion senior unsecured notes with a fixed interest rate of 4.75% and a maturity date of September 26, 2034.
On September 13, 2024, the Operating Partnership completed the redemption, at par, of its $1.0 billion 2.00% senior unsecured notes at maturity.
On February 1, 2024, the Operating Partnership completed the redemption, at par, of its $600 million 3.75% senior unsecured notes at maturity.
Mortgage Debt
Total mortgage indebtedness was $8.2 billion and $5.0 billion at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. On October 31, 2025, as part of the TRG Acquisition, discussed in Note 4, consolidated mortgage debt increased $3.1 billion.
Covenants
Our unsecured debt agreements contain financial covenants and other non-financial covenants. If we were to fail to comply with these covenants, after the expiration of the applicable cure periods, the debt maturity could be accelerated or other remedies could be sought by the lender, including adjustments to the applicable interest rate. As of December 31, 2025, we were in compliance with all covenants of our unsecured debt.
At December 31, 2025, our consolidated subsidiaries were the borrowers under 41 non-recourse mortgage notes secured by mortgages on 44 properties and other assets, including two separate pools of cross-defaulted and cross-collateralized mortgages encumbering a total of five properties. Under these cross-default provisions, a default under any mortgage included in the cross-defaulted pool may constitute a default under all mortgages within that pool and may lead to acceleration of the indebtedness due on each property within the pool. Certain of our secured debt instruments contain financial and other non-financial covenants which are specific to the properties that serve as collateral for that debt.
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If the applicable borrower under these non-recourse mortgage notes were to fail to comply with these covenants, the lender could accelerate the debt and enforce its rights against their collateral. At December 31, 2025, the applicable borrowers under these non-recourse mortgage notes were in compliance with all covenants where non-compliance could individually or in the aggregate, giving effect to applicable cross-default provisions, have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.
Summary of Financing
Our consolidated debt, adjusted to reflect outstanding derivative instruments, and the effective weighted average interest rates as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | Effective | | | | | Effective | |
| | | Adjusted Balance | | Weighted | | Adjusted | | Weighted | |||
| | | as of | | Average | | Balance as of | | Average | |||
| Debt Subject to | | December 31, 2025 | Interest Rate(1) | | December 31, 2024 | Interest Rate(1) | | ||||
| Fixed Rate | | $ | 28,119,149 | 3.86% | | $ | 24,035,060 | 3.61% | | ||
| Variable Rate | | 311,026 | 4.58% | | 229,435 | 5.47% | | ||||
| | | $ | 28,430,175 | 3.87% | | $ | 24,264,495 | 3.62% | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | Effective weighted average interest rate excludes the impact of net discounts and debt issuance costs. |
Contractual Obligations and Off-balance Sheet Arrangements
In regards to long-term debt arrangements, the following table summarizes the material aspects of these future obligations on our consolidated indebtedness as of December 31, 2025, and subsequent years thereafter (dollars in thousands) assuming the obligations remain outstanding through initial maturities:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | 2026 | | 2027-2028 | | 2029-2030 | | After 2030 | | Total | ||||||
| Long Term Debt (1) | | $ | 5,905,606 | | $ | 6,233,424 | | $ | 4,597,895 | | $ | 11,858,614 | | $ | 28,595,539 | |
| Interest Payments (2) | | 995,161 | | 1,554,115 | | 1,197,891 | | 4,914,372 | | 8,661,539 | | |||||
| Lease Commitments (3) | | 51,853 | | 104,322 | | 104,758 | | 1,534,279 | | 1,795,212 | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | Represents principal maturities only and, therefore, excludes net discounts and debt issuance costs. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (2) | Variable rate interest payments are estimated based on the SOFR or other applicable rate at December 31, 2025. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (3) | Represents only the minimum non-cancellable lease period, excluding applicable lease extension and renewal options, unless reasonably certain of exercise. |
Our off-balance sheet arrangements consist primarily of our investments in joint ventures which are common in the real estate industry and are described in Note 6 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements. Our joint ventures typically fund their cash needs through secured non-recourse debt financings obtained by and in the name of the joint venture entity. The joint venture debt is secured by a first mortgage, is without recourse to the joint venture partners, and does not represent a liability of the partners, except to the extent the partners or their affiliates expressly guarantee the joint venture debt. As of December 31, 2025, the Operating Partnership guaranteed joint venture-related mortgage indebtedness of $118.8 million. Mortgages guaranteed by the Operating Partnership are secured by the property of the joint venture which could be sold in order to satisfy the outstanding obligation and which has an estimated fair value in excess of the guaranteed amount. We may elect to fund cash needs of a joint venture through equity contributions (generally on a basis proportionate to our ownership interests), advances or partner loans, although such fundings are not required contractually or otherwise.
Acquisitions and Dispositions
Buy-sell, marketing rights, and other exit mechanisms are common in real estate partnership agreements. Most of our partners are institutional investors who have a history of direct investment in retail real estate. We and our partners in our joint venture properties may initiate these provisions (subject to any applicable lock up or similar restrictions). If we determine it is in our best interests for us to purchase the joint venture interest and we believe we have adequate liquidity to execute the purchase without hindering our cash flows, then we may initiate these provisions or elect to buy our partner’s interest. If we decide to sell any of our joint venture interests, we expect to use the net proceeds to reduce outstanding indebtedness or to reinvest in development, redevelopment, or expansion opportunities.
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Acquisitions.
On November 17, 2025, we completed the acquisition of a 100% interest in a retail property, Phillips Place, located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The cash consideration including working capital was $143.8 million. The property is unencumbered.
On October 31, 2025, we closed on the acquisition of the remaining 12% interest in TRG which we did not previously own in exchange for approximately 5.06 million units in the Operating Partnership. As a result of this acquisition, we obtained control of and consolidated TRG as of the acquisition date. TRG had an interest in 22 regional, super-regional, and outlet malls in the U.S. and Asia, 11 of which are now consolidated and 11 of which are accounted for under the equity method upon the acquisition. This acquisition aligns with our strategy of owning high-quality assets, unlocking operational synergies and driving further innovation. Refer to Note 4 for additional information regarding the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.
On June 27, 2025, we acquired the remaining 75% interest in the retail component and 100% of the parking component of Brickell City Centre, resulting in the consolidation of the retail component which had previously been accounted for under the equity method. The cash consideration for this transaction, including working capital, was $497.7 million. Cash acquired was $24.0 million.
On April 1, 2025, we acquired the remaining interest in Briarwood Mall from a joint venture partner, resulting in the consolidation of this property. The cash consideration for this transaction, including working capital, was $9.2 million. Cash acquired was $14.7 million. The property is subject to a $165 million 3.29% fixed rate mortgage loan.
On January 30, 2025, we completed the acquisition of a 100% interest in two luxury outlet destinations in Italy, one in Leccio, nearby Florence, and the other in Sanremo, on the Italian riviera. The acquisition price was €350 million, subject to customary working capital adjustments.
During the fourth quarter of 2024, we acquired the remaining interest in Smith Haven Mall from a joint venture partner, resulting in the consolidation of this property. The cash consideration for this transaction was $56.1 million, which includes cash acquired of $35.8 million. The property was subject to a $160.8 million 8.10% variable rate mortgage loan. This mortgage loan was paid off prior to December 31, 2024.
On February 6, 2024 we acquired an additional interest in Miami International Mall from a joint venture partner, resulting in the consolidation of this property. The cash consideration for this transaction was de minimis. The property is subject to a $158.0 million 6.92% fixed rate mortgage loan.
Dispositions. We may continue to pursue the disposition of properties that no longer meet our strategic criteria or that are not a primary retail venue within their trade area.
During 2025, we disposed of our interest in one unconsolidated retail property in satisfaction of its $84.3 million non-recourse mortgage loan, resulting in a gain of $21.6 million.
During 2024, we disposed of our interests in two consolidated properties and one unconsolidated entity. The combined total proceeds from these transactions were $55.2 million, resulting in a net loss of $67.2 million.
During 2023, we disposed of our interest in one unconsolidated retail property through foreclosure in satisfaction of the $114.8 million non-recourse mortgage loan. We recognized no gain or loss in connection with this disposal.
Joint Venture Formation Activity and Other Investment Activity
During the fourth quarter of 2024, we acquired an additional 4% ownership in TRG for approximately $266.7 million by issuing 1,572,500 units in the Operating Partnership, bringing our noncontrolling ownership interest in TRG to 88%. In the third quarter of 2023, we acquired an additional 4% ownership in TRG for approximately $199.6 million by issuing 1,725,000 units in the Operating Partnership. Neither transaction included or resulted in any change to the rights and obligations or decision making authority of the members of the TRG partnership.
During the fourth quarter of 2024, J.C. Penney completed an all-equity transaction where it acquired the retail operations of SPARC Group, resulting in the recognition of a non-cash pre-tax gain by SPARC Holdings, our share of which, after eliminations, was $100.5 million, which is included in (Loss) gain due to disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. The combined business was renamed Catalyst post transaction. This non-cash investment activity is excluded from our consolidated statement of cash flows. In connection with this transaction, we recorded deferred taxes of $25.1 million, which is included in income and
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other tax expense in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, we own a 31.3% noncontrolling interest in Catalyst. Additionally, we continue to hold a 33.3% noncontrolling interest in SPARC Holdings, the former owner of SPARC Group, which now primarily holds a 25% interest in Catalyst.
During the third quarter of 2023, SPARC Group issued equity to a third party resulting in the dilution of our ownership to 33.3% and a deemed disposal of a proportional interest of our investment. As a result, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain on the deemed disposal of $145.8 million, which is included in (Loss) gain due to disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. This non-cash investing activity is excluded from our consolidated statement of cash flows. In connection with this transaction, we recorded deferred taxes of $36.9 million, which is included in income and other tax expense in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.
During the second quarter of 2024, we participated in the formation of a joint venture, Phoenix Retail, LLC, to acquire the Express Retail Company from the previous owner on June 21, 2024, in a bankruptcy proceeding, and operate Express and Bonobos direct-to-consumer business in the United States. There was no cash consideration transferred for our 39.4%, non-controlling interest and non-cash consideration was de minimis.
During the first quarter of 2024, we sold all of our remaining interest in ABG for cash proceeds of $1.2 billion, resulting in a pre-tax gain of $414.8 million, which is included in (Loss) gain due to disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net, in the consolidated statement of operations. In connection with this transaction, we recorded tax expense of $103.7 million, which is included in income and other expense in the consolidated statement of operations.
During the fourth quarter of 2023, we sold a portion of our interest in ABG, resulting in a pre-tax gain of $157.1 million, which is included in (Loss) gain due to disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net, in the consolidated statement of operations. In connection with this transaction, we recorded tax expense of $39.3 million which is included in income and other tax expense in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. Concurrently, ABG completed a capital transaction resulting in the dilution of our ownership to approximately 9.6% and a deemed disposal of a proportional interest of our investment. As a result, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain on the deemed disposal of $10.3 million, which is included in (Loss) gain due to disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. This non-cash investing activity is excluded from our consolidated statement of cash flows. In connection with this transaction, we recorded deferred taxes of $2.6 million, which is included in income and other tax expense in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.
During the third quarter of 2023, ABG completed a capital transaction resulting in the dilution of our ownership from approximately 11.8% to approximately 11.7% and a deemed disposal of a proportional interest of our investment. As a result, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain on the deemed disposal of $12.4 million, which is included in (Loss) gain due to disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. This non-cash investing activity is excluded from our consolidated statement of cash flows. In connection with this transaction, we recorded deferred taxes of $3.1 million, which is included in income and other tax expense in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.
During the second quarter of 2023, ABG completed a capital transaction resulting in a dilution of our ownership and a deemed disposal of a proportional interest of our investment. As a result, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain on the deemed disposal of $36.4 million, which is included in (Loss) gain due to disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. This non-cash investing activity is excluded from our consolidated statement of cash flows. In connection with this transaction, we recorded deferred taxes of $9.1 million, which is included in income and other tax expense in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.
Development Activity
We routinely incur costs related to construction for significant redevelopment and expansion projects at our properties. Redevelopment and expansion projects, including the addition of anchors, big box tenants, and restaurants are underway at several properties in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Construction continues on certain redevelopment and new development projects in the U.S. and internationally that are nearing completion. Our share of the costs of all new development, redevelopment and expansion projects currently under construction is approximately $1.5 billion. Simon’s share of remaining net cash funding required to complete the new development and redevelopment projects currently under construction is approximately $539 million. We expect to fund these capital projects with cash flows from operations. We seek a stabilized return on invested capital in the range of 8-10% for all of our new development, expansion and redevelopment projects.
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Summary of Capital Expenditures. The following table summarizes total capital expenditures on consolidated properties on a cash basis (in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | 2025 | | 2024 | | 2023 | ||||
| New Developments | | $ | 22 | | $ | 75 | | $ | 156 | |
| Redevelopments and Expansions | | 417 | | 321 | | 328 | | |||
| Tenant Allowances | | 242 | | 191 | | 209 | | |||
| Operational Capital Expenditures | | 253 | | 169 | | 100 | | |||
| Total | | $ | 934 | | $ | 756 | | $ | 793 | |
International Development Activity
We typically reinvest net cash flow from our international joint ventures to fund future international development activity. We believe this strategy mitigates some of the risk of our initial investment and our exposure to changes in foreign currencies. We have also funded most of our foreign investments with local currency-denominated borrowings that act as a natural hedge against fluctuations in exchange rates. Our consolidated net income exposure to changes in the volatility of the Euro, Yen, Peso, Won, and other foreign currencies is not material. We expect our share of estimated committed capital for international development projects to be completed with projected delivery in 2026 or 2027 is $4 million, primarily funded through reinvested joint venture cash flow and construction loans.
The following table describes recently completed and new development and expansion projects as well as our share of the estimated total cost as of December 31, 2025 (in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | Gross | | Our | | Our Share of | | Our Share of | | Projected/Actual | ||
| | | | | Leasable | | Ownership | | Projected Net Cost | | Projected Net Cost | | Opening | ||
| Property | | Location | | Area (sqft) | | Percentage | | (in Local Currency) | | (in USD) (1) | | Date | ||
| New Development Projects: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jakarta Premium Outlets | | Jakarta, Indonesia | | 302,000 | | 50% | | IDR | 931,782 | | $ | 55.8 | | Opened Mar. - 2025 |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | USD equivalent based upon December 31, 2025 foreign currency exchange rates. |
Dividends, Distributions and Stock Repurchase Program
Simon paid a common stock dividend of $2.20 per share in the fourth quarter of 2025 and $8.55 per share for the year ended December 31, 2025. The Operating Partnership paid distributions per unit for the same amounts. In 2024, Simon paid dividends of $2.10 and $8.10 per share for the three and twelve month periods ended December 31, 2024, respectively. The Operating Partnership paid distributions per unit for the same amounts. On February 2, 2026, Simon’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend for the first quarter of 2026 of $2.20 per share, payable on March 31, 2026 to shareholders of record on March 10, 2026. The distribution rate on units is equal to the dividend rate on common stock. In order to maintain its status as a REIT, Simon must pay a minimum amount of dividends. Simon’s future dividends and the Operating Partnership’s future distributions will be determined by Simon’s Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, based on actual and projected financial condition, liquidity and results of operations, cash available for dividends and limited partner distributions, cash reserves as deemed necessary for capital and operating expenditures, financing covenants, if any, and the amount required to maintain Simon’s status as a REIT.
On February 8, 2024, Simon’s Board of Directors authorized a common stock repurchase program under which Simon was permitted to purchase up to $2.0 billion of its common stock during the two-year period commencing February 8, 2024 and ending on February 15, 2026 in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions as market conditions warrant. During the year ended December 31, 2025, Simon purchased 1,246,190 shares at an average price of $182.02 per share. During the year ended December 31, 2024, no shares were repurchased under this plan.
On February 5, 2026, Simon’s Board of Directors authorized a new common stock repurchase program, which immediately replaced the existing repurchase plan. Under the plan, Simon may purchase up to $2.0 billion of its common stock during the period ending on February 29, 2028 in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions as market conditions warrant. As Simon repurchases shares under these programs, the Operating Partnership repurchases an equal number of units from Simon.
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Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this annual report on Form 10-K may be deemed "forward–looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in any forward–looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, the Company can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained, and it is possible that the Company's actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward–looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the intensely competitive market environment in the retail real estate industry and the retail industry, including e-commerce; the inability to renew leases and relet vacant space at existing properties on favorable terms; the inability to collect rent due to the bankruptcy or insolvency of tenants or otherwise; the potential loss of anchor stores or major tenants; an increase in vacant space at our properties; the loss of key management personnel; changes in economic and market conditions that may adversely affect the general retail environment, including but not limited to those caused by inflation, the impact of tariffs and global trade disruptions on us to the extent impacting our tenants, recessionary pressures, wars, escalating geopolitical tensions as a result of the war in Ukraine and the conflicts in the Middle East, and supply chain disruptions; the potential for violence, civil unrest, criminal activity or terrorist activities at our properties; the availability of comprehensive insurance coverage; security breaches that could compromise our information technology or infrastructure; changes in market rates of interest; our international activities subjecting us to risks that are different from or greater than those associated with our domestic operations, including changes in foreign exchange rates; the impact of our substantial indebtedness on our future operations, including covenants in the governing agreements that impose restrictions on us that may affect our ability to operate freely; any disruption in the financial markets that may adversely affect our ability to access capital for growth and satisfy our ongoing debt service requirements; any change in our credit rating; our continued ability to maintain our status as a REIT; changes in tax laws or regulations that result in adverse tax consequences; risks associated with the acquisition, development, redevelopment, expansion, leasing and management of properties; the inability to lease newly developed properties on favorable terms; risks relating to our joint venture properties, including guarantees of certain joint venture indebtedness; the effects of climate change; environmental liabilities; natural or other disasters; uncertainties regarding the impact of pandemics, epidemics or public health crises, and the associated governmental restrictions on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and liquidity; and general risks related to real estate investments, including the illiquidity of real estate investments. The Company discusses these and other risks and uncertainties under the heading "Risk Factors" in Part 1, Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company may update that discussion in subsequent other periodic reports, but except as required by law, the Company undertakes no duty or obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Industry practice is to evaluate real estate properties in part based on performance measures such as FFO, real estate FFO, diluted FFO per share, real estate FFO per share, NOI, beneficial interest of combined NOI and portfolio NOI. We believe that these non-GAAP measures are helpful to investors because they are widely recognized measures of the performance of REITs and provide a relevant basis for comparison among REITs. We also use these measures internally to measure the operating performance of our portfolio. We are providing different components of NOI, such as Portfolio NOI (a component of beneficial interest of combined NOI that relates to the operational performance of our global real estate portfolio), to provide investors with disaggregated information to further differentiate our global real estate portfolio performance from corporate and other platform investments.
We determine FFO based upon the definition set forth by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) Funds From Operations White Paper – 2018 Restatement. Our main business includes acquiring, owning, operating, developing, and redeveloping real estate in conjunction with the rental of real estate. Gains and losses of assets incidental to our main business are included in FFO. We determine FFO to be our share of consolidated net income computed in accordance with GAAP:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | excluding real estate related depreciation and amortization, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | excluding gains and losses from extraordinary items, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | excluding gains and losses from the acquisition of controlling interest, sale, disposal or property insurance recoveries of, or any impairment related to, depreciable retail operating properties, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | plus the allocable portion of FFO of unconsolidated joint ventures based upon economic ownership interest, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | all determined on a consistent basis in accordance with GAAP. |
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We determine real estate FFO utilizing the definition of FFO as stated above excluding the impact of operations from
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | other platform investments, net of tax, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | (loss) gain due to disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net of tax, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | unrealized gains or losses in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments and derivative instrument. |
You should understand that our computations of these non-GAAP measures might not be comparable to similar measures reported by other REITs and that these non-GAAP measures:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | do not represent cash flow from operations as defined by GAAP, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | should not be considered as an alternative to net income determined in accordance with GAAP as a measure of operating performance, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | are not an alternative to cash flows as a measure of liquidity. |
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The following schedule reconciles total FFO and real estate FFO to consolidated net income and, for Simon, diluted net income per share to diluted FFO per share and real estate FFO per share.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 2025 | | 2024 | | 2023 | |||
| | | | (in thousands) | |||||||
| Consolidated Net Income | | | $ | 5,364,120 | | $ | 2,729,021 | | $ | 2,617,018 |
| Adjustments to Arrive at FFO: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Depreciation and amortization from consolidated properties | | | 1,410,595 | | 1,250,440 | | 1,250,550 | |||
| Our share of depreciation and amortization from unconsolidated entities, including Klépierre, TRG and other corporate investments | | | 811,690 | | 848,188 | | 841,862 | |||
| (Gain) loss on acquisition of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net | | | (2,887,460) | | 75,818 | | 3,056 | |||
| Net (gain) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest holders in properties | | | (4,815) | | 1,641 | | 1,336 | |||
| Noncontrolling interests portion of depreciation and amortization | | | (26,322) | | (23,367) | | (22,719) | |||
| Preferred distributions and dividends | | | (4,503) | | (4,897) | | (5,237) | |||
| FFO of the Operating Partnership | | | $ | 4,663,305 | | $ | 4,876,844 | | $ | 4,685,866 |
| FFO allocable to limited partners | | | | 636,189 | | | 640,886 | | | 597,727 |
| Dilutive FFO allocable to common stockholders | | | $ | 4,027,116 | | $ | 4,235,958 | | $ | 4,088,139 |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| FFO of the Operating Partnership | | | | 4,663,305 | | | 4,876,844 | | | 4,685,866 |
| Loss (gain) due to disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net of tax | | | | 66,981 | | | (386,417) | | | (271,009) |
| Other platform investments, net of tax | | | | (24,590) | | | 88,902 | | | 6,166 |
| Unrealized losses (gains) in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments and derivative instrument, net | | | | 106,082 | | | 17,392 | | | (11,892) |
| Real Estate FFO | | | $ | 4,811,778 | | $ | 4,596,721 | | $ | 4,409,131 |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Diluted net income per share to diluted FFO per share reconciliation: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Diluted net income per share | | | $ | 14.17 | | $ | 7.26 | | $ | 6.98 |
| Depreciation and amortization from consolidated properties and our share of depreciation and amortization from unconsolidated entities, including Klépierre, TRG and other corporate investments, net of noncontrolling interests portion of depreciation and amortization | | | 5.81 | | 5.53 | | 5.52 | |||
| (Gain) loss on acquisition of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net | | | (7.64) | | 0.20 | | 0.01 | |||
| Diluted FFO per share | | | $ | 12.34 | | $ | 12.99 | | $ | 12.51 |
| Loss (gain) due to disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net of tax | | | | 0.18 | | | (1.03) | | $ | (0.72) |
| Other platform investments, net of tax | | | | (0.07) | | | 0.23 | | | 0.02 |
| Unrealized losses (gains) in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments and derivative instrument, net | | | | 0.28 | | | 0.05 | | | (0.03) |
| Real Estate FFO per share | | | $ | 12.73 | | $ | 12.24 | | $ | 11.78 |
| Basic and Diluted weighted average shares outstanding | | | 326,367 | | 326,097 | | 326,808 | |||
| Weighted average limited partnership units outstanding | | | 51,558 | | 49,338 | | 47,782 | |||
| Basic and Diluted weighted average shares and units outstanding | | | 377,925 | | 375,435 | | 374,590 |
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The following schedule reconciles consolidated net income to our beneficial share of NOI.
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | For the Year | ||||
| | | Ended December 31, | ||||
| | | 2025 | | 2024 | ||
| | | (in thousands) | ||||
| Reconciliation of NOI of consolidated entities: | | | | | | |
| Consolidated Net Income | | $ | 5,364,120 | | $ | 2,729,021 |
| Income and other tax expense | | 35,788 | | 23,262 | ||
| Loss (gain) due to disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net | | | 86,119 | | | (451,172) |
| Interest expense | | 974,835 | | 905,797 | ||
| Income from unconsolidated entities | | (504,088) | | (207,322) | ||
| Unrealized losses in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments and derivative instrument, net | | 106,082 | | 17,392 | ||
| (Gain) loss on acquisition of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net | | (2,887,460) | | 75,818 | ||
| Operating Income Before Other Items | | 3,175,396 | | 3,092,796 | ||
| Depreciation and amortization | | 1,426,423 | | 1,265,340 | ||
| Home and regional office costs | | | 251,748 | | | 223,277 |
| General and administrative | | | 60,888 | | | 44,743 |
| Other expenses (1) | | | 260 | | | 818 |
| NOI of consolidated entities | | $ | 4,914,715 | | $ | 4,626,974 |
| Less: Noncontrolling interest partners share of NOI | | | (43,016) | | | (32,605) |
| Beneficial NOI of consolidated entities | | $ | 4,871,699 | | $ | 4,594,369 |
| Reconciliation of NOI of unconsolidated entities: | | | | | | |
| Net Income | | $ | 917,853 | | $ | 707,246 |
| Interest expense | | 719,938 | | 711,402 | ||
| (Gain) loss on sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities, net | | (23,865) | | 36,536 | ||
| Operating Income Before Other Items | | 1,613,926 | | 1,455,184 | ||
| Depreciation and amortization | | 653,488 | | 636,218 | ||
| Other expenses (2) | | | — | | | 73,152 |
| NOI of unconsolidated entities | | $ | 2,267,414 | | $ | 2,164,554 |
| Less: Joint Venture partners share of NOI | | | (1,181,628) | | | (1,134,573) |
| Beneficial NOI of unconsolidated entities | | $ | 1,085,786 | | $ | 1,029,981 |
| Add: Beneficial interest of NOI from TRG (3) | | | 459,090 | | | 533,009 |
| Add: Beneficial interest of NOI from other platform investments and investments | | | 414,129 | | | 208,043 |
| Beneficial interest of Combined NOI | | $ | 6,830,704 | | $ | 6,365,402 |
| Less: Beneficial interest of Corporate and Other NOI Sources (4) | | 299,387 | | 313,566 | ||
| Less: Beneficial interest of NOI from other platform investments (5) | | | 150,336 | | | (42,094) |
| Less: Beneficial interest of NOI from Investments (6) | | | 263,793 | | | 250,049 |
| Beneficial interest of Portfolio NOI | | $ | 6,117,188 | | $ | 5,843,881 |
| Beneficial interest of Portfolio NOI Change | | | 4.7 | % | | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | Represents the write-off of pre-development costs in consolidated entities. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (2) | Represents the gross amount of write-offs at unconsolidated entities of pre-development costs, our share of which was $57.0 million, including costs that SPG has capitalized outside of the venture, for the year ended December 31, 2024. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (3) | Beneficial interest of NOI from TRG prior to the TRG Acquisition. |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (4) | Includes income components excluded from portfolio NOI and domestic property NOI (domestic lease termination income, interest income, land sale gains, straight line lease income, above/below market lease adjustments), Simon management company revenues, foreign exchange impact, and other assets. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (5) | Other platform investments include retail operations (Catalyst), an e-commerce company (Rue Gilt Groupe, or RGG), and a global real estate investment and management company (Jamestown). |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (6) | Includes our share of NOI of Klépierre (at constant currency) and other corporate investments. |
MD&A history
Prior-year 10-K MD&A spans are extracted from SEC filings with the same bounded parser used for the latest filing. The latest 10-K appears above; prior years are below.
FY 2024 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001558370-25-001271.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto that are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Overview
Simon Property Group, Inc. is a Delaware corporation that operates as a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust, or REIT, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Internal Revenue Code. REITs will generally not be liable for U.S. federal corporate income taxes as long as they distribute not less than 100% of their REIT taxable income. Simon Property Group, L.P. is our majority-owned Delaware partnership subsidiary that owns directly or indirectly all of our real estate properties and other assets. In this discussion, unless stated otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references to "Simon" mean Simon Property Group, Inc. and references to the "Operating Partnership" mean Simon Property Group, L.P. References to "we," "us" and "our" mean collectively Simon, the Operating Partnership and those entities/subsidiaries owned or controlled by Simon and/or the Operating Partnership. According to the amended and restated Operating Partnership's partnership agreement, the Operating Partnership is required to pay all expenses of Simon.
We own, develop and manage premier shopping, dining, entertainment and mixed-use destinations, which consist primarily of malls, Premium Outlets®, and The Mills®. As of December 31, 2024, we owned or held an interest in 194 income-producing properties in the United States, which consisted of 92 malls, 70 Premium Outlets, 14 Mills, six lifestyle centers, and 12 other retail properties in 37 states and Puerto Rico. We also own an 88% noncontrolling interest in The Taubman Realty Group, LLC, or TRG, which has an interest in 22 regional, super-regional, and outlet malls in the U.S. and Asia. In addition, we have redevelopment and expansion projects, including the addition of anchors, big box tenants, and restaurants, underway at several properties in the North America, Europe and Asia. Internationally, as of December 31, 2024, we had ownership in 35 Premium Outlets and Designer Outlet properties primarily located in Asia, Europe, and Canada. As of December 31, 2024, we also owned a 22.4% equity stake in Klépierre SA, or Klépierre, a publicly traded, Paris-based real estate company, which owns, or has an interest in, shopping centers located in 14 countries in Europe. We also have interests in investments in retail operations (such as Catalyst Brands LLC, or Catalyst); an e-commerce venture (Rue Gilt Groupe, or RGG, which operates shop.simon.com), and Jamestown (a global real estate investment and management company), collectively, our other platform investments.
We generate the majority of our lease income from retail, dining, entertainment, and other tenants including consideration received from:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | fixed minimum lease consideration and fixed common area maintenance (CAM) reimbursements, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | variable lease consideration primarily based on tenants’ reported sales, as well as reimbursements for real estate taxes, utilities, marketing and certain other items. |
Revenues of our management company, after intercompany eliminations, consist primarily of management fees that are typically based upon the revenues of the property being managed.
We invest in real estate properties to maximize total financial return which includes both operating cash flows and capital appreciation. We seek growth in earnings, funds from operations, or FFO, and cash flows by enhancing the profitability and operation of our properties and investments. We seek to accomplish this growth through the following:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | attracting and retaining high quality tenants and utilizing economies of scale to reduce operating expenses, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | expanding and re-tenanting existing highly productive locations at competitive rental rates, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | selectively acquiring or increasing our interests in high quality real estate assets or portfolios of assets, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | generating consumer traffic in our retail properties through marketing initiatives and strategic corporate alliances, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | selling selective non-core assets. |
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We also grow by generating supplemental revenues from the following activities:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | establishing our properties as leading market resource providers for retailers and other businesses and consumer-focused corporate alliances, including national marketing alliances, static and digital media initiatives, business development, sponsorship, and events, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | offering property operating services to our tenants and others, including waste handling and facility services, and the provision of energy services, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | selling or leasing land adjacent to our properties, commonly referred to as “outlots” or “outparcels,” and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | generating interest income on cash deposits and investments in loans, including those made to related entities. |
We focus on high quality real estate across the retail real estate spectrum. We expand or redevelop properties to enhance profitability and market share of existing assets when we believe the investment of our capital meets our risk-reward criteria. We selectively develop new properties in markets we believe are not adequately served by existing retail properties.
We routinely review and evaluate acquisition opportunities based on their ability to enhance our portfolio. Our international strategy includes partnering with established real estate companies and financing international investments with local currency to minimize foreign exchange risk.
To support our growth, we employ a three-fold capital strategy:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | generate the capital necessary to fund growth, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | maintain sufficient flexibility to access capital in many forms, both public and private, including but not limited to, having in place, the Operating Partnership’s $5.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility, or the Credit Facility, its $3.5 billion supplemental unsecured revolving credit facility, or its Supplemental Facility, together, the Credit Facilities and its global unsecured commercial paper note program, or the Commercial Paper program, of $2.0 billion, or the non-U.S. dollar equivalent thereof, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | manage our overall financial structure in a fashion that preserves our investment grade credit ratings. |
We consider FFO, Real Estate FFO, net operating income, or NOI, and portfolio NOI to be key measures of operating performance that are not specifically defined by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP. We use these measures internally to evaluate the operating performance of our portfolio and provide a basis for comparison with other real estate companies. Reconciliations of these measures to the most comparable GAAP measures are included below in this discussion.
Results Overview
Diluted earnings per share and diluted earnings per unit increased $0.28 during 2024 to $7.26 as compared to $6.98 in 2023. The increase in diluted earnings per share and diluted earnings per unit was primarily attributable to:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | improved operating performance and solid core business fundamentals in 2024, as discussed below, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased lease income in 2024 of $225.4 million, or $0.60 per diluted share/unit, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | a pre-tax gain during the first quarter of 2024 on the sale of all our remaining interests in Authentic Brands Group, or ABG, of $414.8 million, or $1.10 per diluted share/unit, and a non-cash pre-tax gain of $100.5 million, or $0.27 per diluted share/unit, during the fourth quarter of 2024 related to the acquisition by J.C. Penney of the retail operations of SPARC Group, partially offset by an other-than-temporary impairment charge of $57.0 million, or $0.15 per diluted share/unit, in the fourth quarter of 2024, representing our pre-development costs associated with an unconsolidated joint venture development project, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased other income of $72.3 million, or $0.19 per diluted share/unit, primarily due to increased interest income of $76.4 million, or $0.20 per diluted share/unit, and an increase in land sales of $13.6 million, or $0.03 per diluted share/unit, partially offset by a decrease in distributions and other income of $17.7 million, or $0.05 per diluted share/unit, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | decreased income and other tax expense of $58.6 million, or $0.16 per diluted share/unit, primarily due to transactional activity and unfavorable year-over-year results of operations from other platform investments, |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | decreased other expenses in 2024 of $38.2 million, or $0.10 per diluted share/unit, partially offset by |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | pre-tax gains in 2023 due to the disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests of $362.0 million, or $0.96 per diluted share/unit, of which, $204.9 million, or $0.55 per diluted share/unit, was non-cash, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | decreased income from unconsolidated entities of $168.3 million, or $0.45 per diluted share/unit, the majority of which is due to lower results of operations from other platform investments, partially offset by improved operations and core fundamentals in our other unconsolidated entities, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased interest expense of $51.1 million, or $0.14 per diluted share/unit, primarily due to new USD and EUR bond issuances as well as increases to rates on variable rate mortgages, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased property operating expenses in 2024 of $40.4 million, or $0.11 per diluted share/unit, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | an unrealized unfavorable change in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments and derivative instrument, net of $29.3 million, or $0.08 per diluted share/unit. |
Portfolio NOI increased 4.6% in 2024 as compared to 2023. Average base minimum rent for U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets increased 2.5% to $58.26 psf as of December 31, 2024, from $56.82 psf as of December 31, 2023. Ending occupancy for our U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets increased 0.7% to 96.5% as of December 31, 2024, from 95.8% as of December 31, 2023, primarily due to strong leasing demand.
Our effective overall borrowing rate at December 31, 2024 on our consolidated indebtedness increased 13 basis points to 3.62% as compared to 3.49% at December 31, 2023. This increase was primarily due to an increase in the effective overall borrowing rate on the fixed rate debt of 14 basis points, due to increasing benchmark rates on new USD and EUR bond issuances. The weighted average years to maturity of our consolidated indebtedness was 8.1 years at December 31, 2024 and 2023.
Our financing activity for the year ended December 31, 2024 included:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | completing, on October 1, 2024, the redemption at par of the Operating Partnerships $900 million 3.38% senior unsecure notes at maturity, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | the Operating Partnership completing, on September 26, 2024, the issuance of $1.0 billion senior unsecured notes with a fixed interest rate of 4.75% and a maturity date of September 26, 2034, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | amending, restating, and extending our Supplemental Facility on September 19, 2024, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | completing, on September 13, 2024, the redemption at par of the Operating Partnership’s $1.0 billion 2.00% senior unsecured notes at maturity, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | completing, on February 1, 2024, the redemption at par of the Operating Partnerships $600 million 3.75% senior unsecured notes at maturity. |
United States Portfolio Data
The portfolio data discussed in this overview includes the following key operating statistics: ending occupancy, and average base minimum rent per square foot. We include acquired properties in this data beginning in the year of acquisition and remove disposed properties in the year of disposition. For comparative information purposes, we separate the information related to The Mills and TRG from our other U.S. operations. We also do not include any information for properties located outside the United States.
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The following table sets forth these key operating statistics for domestic properties:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | properties that are consolidated in our consolidated financial statements, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | properties we account for under the equity method of accounting as joint ventures, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | the foregoing two categories of properties on a total portfolio basis. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | %/Basis Point | | | | | %/Basis Point | | | |
| | 2024 | Change (1) | 2023 | Change (1) | 2022 | ||||||||
| U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ending Occupancy | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Consolidated | | | 96.5% | | 80 bps | | | 95.7% | | 80 bps | | | 94.9% |
| Unconsolidated | | | 96.6% | | 50 bps | | | 96.1% | | 120 bps | | | 94.9% |
| Total Portfolio | | | 96.5% | | 70 bps | | | 95.8% | | 90 bps | | | 94.9% |
| Average Base Minimum Rent per Square Foot | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Consolidated | | $ | 56.60 | | 2.0% | | $ | 55.47 | | 2.8% | | $ | 53.95 |
| Unconsolidated | | $ | 63.12 | | 4.2% | | $ | 60.59 | | 3.8% | | $ | 58.36 |
| Total Portfolio | | $ | 58.26 | | 2.5% | | $ | 56.82 | | 3.1% | | $ | 55.13 |
| U.S. TRG: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ending Occupancy | | 94.9% | | -80 bps | | 95.7% | | 120 bps | | 94.5% | |||
| Average Base Minimum Rent per Square Foot | | $ | 68.06 | | 4.7% | | $ | 65.01 | | 5.3% | | $ | 61.76 |
| The Mills: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ending Occupancy | | 98.8% | | 100 bps | | 97.8% | | -40 bps | | 98.2% | |||
| Average Base Minimum Rent per Square Foot | | $ | 37.95 | | 4.3% | | $ | 36.38 | | 4.3% | | $ | 34.89 |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | Percentages may not recalculate due to rounding. Percentage and basis point changes are representative of the change from the comparable prior period. |
Ending Occupancy Levels and Average Base Minimum Rent per Square Foot. Ending occupancy is the percentage of gross leasable area, or GLA, which is leased as of the last day of the reporting period. We include all company owned space except for mall anchors, mall majors, mall freestanding and mall outlots in the calculation. Base minimum rent per square foot is the average base minimum rent charge in effect for the reporting period for all tenants that would qualify to be included in ending occupancy.
Current Leasing Activities
During the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, we signed 1,149 new leases and 2,549 renewal leases (excluding mall anchors and majors, new development, redevelopment and leases with terms of one year or less) with a fixed minimum rent across our U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets portfolio, comprising approximately 13.5 million square feet, of which 10.4 million square feet related to consolidated properties. During the comparable period in 2023, we signed 1,185 new leases and 1,841 renewal leases with a fixed minimum rent, comprising approximately 10.9 million square feet, of which 8.3 million square feet related to consolidated properties. The average annual initial base minimum rent for new leases was $66.61 per square foot in 2024 and $66.39 per square foot in 2023 with an average tenant allowance on new leases of $60.33 per square foot and $64.31 per square foot, respectively.
Japan Data
The following are selected key operating statistics for our Premium Outlets in Japan. The information used to prepare these statistics has been supplied by the managing venture partner.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | December 31, | %/basis point | December 31, | %/basis point | December 31, | ||||||||
| | | 2024 | | Change | | 2023 | | Change | | 2022 | |||
| Ending Occupancy | | | 99.3% | | -40 bps | | | 99.7% | | -10 bps | | | 99.8% |
| Average Base Minimum Rent per Square Foot | | ¥ | 5,511 | | 0.31% | | ¥ | 5,494 | | -4.93% | | ¥ | 5,779 |
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Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, requires management to use judgment in the application of accounting policies, including making estimates and assumptions. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. These judgments affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. If our judgment or interpretation of the facts and circumstances relating to various transactions had been different, it is possible that different accounting policies would have been applied resulting in a different presentation of our financial statements. From time to time, we reevaluate our estimates and assumptions. In the event estimates or assumptions prove to be different from actual results, adjustments are made in subsequent periods to reflect more current information. Below is a discussion of accounting policies that we consider critical in that they may require complex judgment in their application or require estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain. For a summary of our significant accounting policies, see Note 3 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | We, as a lessor, primarily under long-term leases, retain substantially all of the risks and benefits of ownership of the investment properties and account for our leases as operating leases. We accrue fixed lease income on a straight-line basis over the terms of the leases, when we believe substantially all lease income, including the related straight-line rent receivable, is probable of collection. Our assessment of collectability, primarily under long-term leases, incorporates available operational performance measures such as reported sales and the aging of billed amounts as well as other publicly available information with respect to our tenant’s financial condition, liquidity and capital resources. When a tenant seeks to reorganize its operations through bankruptcy proceedings, we assess the collectability of receivable balances including, among other things, the timing of a tenant’s bankruptcy filing and our expectations of the assumption by the tenant in bankruptcy proceeding of leases at the Company’s properties on substantially similar terms. In the event that we determine accrued receivables are not probable of collection, lease income will be recorded on a cash basis, with the corresponding tenant receivable and straight-line rent receivable charged as a direct write-off against lease income in the period of the change in our collectability determination. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | We review investment properties for impairment on a property-by-property basis to identify and evaluate events or changes in circumstances which indicate that the carrying value of investment properties may not be recoverable. These circumstances include, but are not limited to, changes in a property’s operational performance such as declining cash flows, occupancy or total reported sales per square foot, the Company’s intent and ability to hold the related asset, and, if applicable, the remaining time to maturity of underlying financing arrangements. We measure any impairment of investment property when the estimated undiscounted operating income before depreciation and amortization during the anticipated holding period plus its residual value is less than the carrying value of the property. To the extent impairment has occurred, we charge to income the excess of carrying value of the property over our estimate of its fair value. We also review our investments, including investments in unconsolidated entities, to identify and evaluate whether events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of our investments may not be recoverable. We will record an impairment charge if we determine the fair value of the investments are less than their carrying value and such impairment is other-than-temporary. Our evaluation of changes in economic or operating conditions and whether an impairment is other-than-temporary may include developing estimates of fair value, forecasted cash flows or operating income before depreciation and amortization. We estimate undiscounted cash flows and fair value, if applicable, using observable and unobservable data such as operating income, hold periods, estimated capitalization rates, or relevant market multiples, leasing prospects and local market information and whether certain impairments are other-than-temporary. Changes in economic and operating conditions, including changes in the financial condition of our tenants, and changes to our intent and ability to hold the related asset, that occur subsequent to our review of recoverability of investment property and other investments could impact the assumptions used in that assessment and could result in future charges to earnings if assumptions regarding those investments differ from actual results. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | To maintain Simon’s status as a REIT, Simon must distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income in any given year and meet certain asset and income tests. We monitor our business and transactions that may potentially impact Simon’s REIT status. In the unlikely event that we fail to maintain Simon’s REIT status, and available relief provisions do not apply, Simon would be required to pay U.S. federal income taxes at regular corporate income tax rates during the period Simon did not qualify as a REIT. If Simon lost its REIT status, it could not elect to be taxed as a REIT for four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost unless its failure was |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| due to reasonable cause and certain other conditions were met. As a result, failing to maintain REIT status would result in a significant increase in the income tax expense recorded and paid during those periods. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | In the period of a significant acquisition of real estate, we make estimates as part of our valuation of the purchase price of asset acquisitions (including the components of excess investment in joint ventures) to the various components of the acquisition based upon the relative fair value of each component. The most significant components of our real estate valuations are typically the determination of relative fair value to the buildings as-if-vacant, land and market value of in-place leases. In the case of the fair value of buildings and fair value of land and other intangibles, our estimates of the values of these components will affect the amount of depreciation or amortization we record over the estimated useful life of the property acquired or the remaining lease term. In the case of the market value of in-place leases, we make our best estimates of the tenants’ ability to pay rents based upon the tenants’ operating performance at the property, including the competitive position of the property in its market as well as sales psf, rents psf, and overall occupancy cost for the tenants in place at the acquisition date. Our assumptions affect the amount of future revenue that we will recognize over the remaining lease term for the acquired in-place leases. |
Results of Operations
The following acquisitions, dispositions, and openings of consolidated properties affected our consolidated results in the comparative periods:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the fourth quarter of 2024, we acquired the remaining interest in Smith Haven Mall from a joint venture partner, resulting in the consolidation of this property. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the fourth quarter of 2024, we disposed of our interests in two consolidated retail properties. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On August 15, 2024, we opened Tulsa Premium Outlets, a 338,472 square foot center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We own 100% of this center. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On February 6, 2024, we acquired an additional interest in Miami International Mall from a joint venture partner, resulting in the consolidation of this property. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On April 27, 2023, we opened Paris-Giverny Designer Outlet, a 228,000 square foot center in Vernon, France. We own a 74% interest in this center. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On June 17, 2022, we acquired an additional interest in Gloucester Premium Outlets from a joint venture partner, resulting in the consolidation of this property. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the second quarter of 2022, we disposed of one retail property. |
The following acquisitions, dispositions, and openings of noncontrolling interests in joint venture entities affected our income from unconsolidated entities in the comparative periods:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On December 19, 2024, J.C. Penney acquired the retail operations of SPARC Group and was renamed Catalyst Brands post transaction. As a result, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain of $100.5 million. After the transaction, we own a 31.3% noncontrolling interest in Catalyst. Additionally, we continue to hold a 33.3% noncontrolling interest in SPARC Holdings, the former owner of SPARC Group, which now primarily holds a 25% interest in Catalyst. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the fourth quarter of 2024, we acquired additional 4% ownership in TRG for approximately $266.7 million by issuing 1,572,500 units in the Operating Partnership, bringing our noncontrolling interest in TRG to 88%. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the first quarter of 2024, we disposed all of our remaining interest in ABG. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During 2023, ABG completed multiple capital transactions which resulted in the dilution of our ownership and multiple deemed disposals of a proportional interest of our investment. In addition, we sold a portion of our interest in ABG on November 29, 2023. These transactions reduced our ownership from 12.3% to 9.6% as of December 31, 2023. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the third quarter of 2023, we disposed of our interest in one unconsolidated retail property through foreclosure in satisfaction of its $114.8 million non-recourse loan. We recognized no gain or loss in connection with this disposal. |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the third quarter of 2023, we acquired an additional 4% ownership in TRG for approximately $199.6 million by issuing 1,725,000 units in the Operating Partnership, bringing our noncontrolling ownership interest in TRG to 84%. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the third quarter of 2023, SPARC Group issued equity to a third party resulting in the dilution of our ownership to 33.3% and a deemed disposal of a proportional interest of our investment. As a result, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain on the deemed disposal of $145.8 million. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the fourth quarter of 2022, we disposed of one retail property. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the fourth quarter of 2022, we sold to ABG all of our interests in the licensing venture of Eddie Bauer for additional interests in ABG. Our noncontrolling interest in ABG was approximately 12.3% after this transaction. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On December 19, 2022, we completed the acquisition of a 50% noncontrolling legal ownership interest in Jamestown, a global real estate investment and asset management company, as well as separate interests in certain real estate and working capital, for total cash consideration of $173.4 million. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On November 3, 2022, we opened Fukaya-Hanazono Premium Outlets, a 296,300 square foot center in Fukaya City, Japan. We own a 40% interest in this center. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the third quarter of 2022, we disposed of one retail property. |
For the purposes of the following comparisons between the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 and the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the above transactions are referred to as the property transactions. In the following discussions of our results of operations, “comparable” refers to properties we owned and operated in both years in the year to year comparisons.
Year Ended December 31, 2024 vs. Year Ended December 31, 2023
Lease income increased $225.4 million, primarily due to an increase in fixed minimum lease consideration, higher occupancy, and the consolidation of two properties during 2024.
Other income increased $72.3 million, primarily due to a $76.4 million increase in interest income and a $13.6 million increase in land sale activity, partially offset by a decrease in franchise operations of $27.9 million.
Property operating expense increased $40.4 million as a result of inflationary cost increases and the consolidation of two properties.
Real estate taxes decreased $33.1 million primarily due to successful property tax appeals, the majority of which relates to prior years.
Advertising and promotion expense increased $17.2 million primarily due to increased programming expenses.
Home and regional office costs increased $15.7 million due to increased personnel and compensation costs.
Other expenses decreased $38.2 million primarily due to a decrease in franchise operations.
Interest expense increased $51.1 million primarily related to an increase of $81.8 million due to new USD unsecured bond issuances, an increase of $35.0 million due to the Euro exchangeable bond issuance in 2023, an increase of $6.1 million on secured debt and the effect of the balance increase of the Credit Facility during 2023 of $1.4 million, partially offset by a decrease of $46.1 million due to USD unsecured bond payoffs during 2024 and 2023, and a decrease of $27.1 million due to the Supplemental Facility repayment during 2023.
Gain due to disposal, exchange or revaluation of equity interests, net, increased $89.1 million primarily due to an increase of $414.8 million as a result of selling our remaining interest in ABG during 2024, a non-cash pre-tax $100.5 million gain due to the acquisition by J.C. Penney of the retail operations of SPARC Group, offset by the non-cash pre-tax gains on the deemed disposal of a portion of our investment in ABG of $59.1 million and SPARC Group of $145.8 million and our share of the gain on the sale of a portion of our ABG interest of $157.1 million during 2023, the other-than-temporary impairment charge of $57.0 million in 2024 representing pre-development costs associated with an unconsolidated joint venture development project, and a reduction in the carrying value of certain equity investments of $7.0 million in 2024.
Income and other tax expense decreased $58.6 million primarily due to results of operations from our other platform investments and transactions within our TRS, partially offset by the aforementioned ABG, J.C. Penney, and SPARC Group transactions which increased tax expense of $37.8 million year-over-year.
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Income from unconsolidated entities decreased $168.3 million primarily due to lower results of operations from our other platform investments, partially offset by strong results and improved performance by our joint venture properties.
We recorded net non-cash unrealized losses of $17.4 million in 2024 compared to net non-cash unrealized gains of $11.9 million in 2023, as a result of mark-to-market activity on publicly traded equity instruments and the change in fair value of a derivative instrument.
During 2024, we recorded a net loss of $75.8 million, which is primarily related to the disposition of two retail properties for a net loss of $69.8 million, an impairment on a joint venture investment of $19.3 million and a $4.1 million loss on the disposition of certain assets by Klépierre, partially offset by a gain from the disposition of a property held in our TRG portfolio, our share of which was $10.6 million and a $4.6 million gain on excess insurance proceeds. During 2023, we recorded an $11.2 million loss on the disposition of certain assets by Klépierre and an impairment on a joint venture property, our share of which was $8.6 million, partially offset by an $8.7 million gain on the disposition of certain assets by a joint venture investment and an $8.1 million gain on excess insurance proceeds.
Simon’s net income attributable to noncontrolling interests increased $24.2 million due to an increase in the net income of the Operating Partnership.
Year Ended December 31, 2023 vs. Year Ended December 31, 2022
Lease income increased $259.2 million, due to an increase in fixed lease income of $286.7 million primarily due to an increase in fixed minimum lease consideration and higher occupancy, partially offset by a decrease in variable lease income based on tenant reported sales of $27.5 million.
Total other income increased $99.1 million, primarily due to a $56.6 million increase in interest income, a $52.0 million increase in mixed use and franchise operations income, a $13.1 million increase in dividend and distribution income and a $3.7 million increase in Simon Brand Ventures, fee and other income, partially offset by a $17.0 million decrease in lease settlement income and a $9.3 million decrease in land sale activity.
Home and regional office costs increased $23.0 million primarily due to increased personnel and compensation costs.
Other expense increased $35.6 million primarily due to increased mixed use and franchise operations expenses of $50.8 million, partially offset by the 2022 write-off of $13.4 million in development costs related to an international development project in Germany we no longer intended to pursue.
Interest expense increased $93.4 million primarily related to new USD bond issuances during 2023 of $69.5 million, activity with regards to the Credit Facilities of $24.5 million and $8.8 million from increased variable rates, partially offset by a USD bond payoff during 2023 of $14.7 million and a Euro bond payoff during 2022 of $9.8 million.
During 2023, SPARC Group issued equity to a third party resulting in the dilution of our ownership to 33.3% and a deemed disposal of a proportional interest of our investment. As a result, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain on the deemed disposal of $145.8 million. During 2023, ABG completed multiple capital transactions which resulted in the dilution of our ownership and multiple deemed disposals of a proportional interest of our investment. As a result, we recognized non-cash pre-tax gains on the deemed disposals of $59.1 million. During 2023, we also recorded our share of the gain on the sale of a portion of our ABG interests of $157.1 million. During 2022, we recorded a $159.0 million non-cash gain as a result of the sale to ABG of all of our interests in the Eddie Bauer licensing venture for additional interests in ABG, partially offset by a loss of $37.8 million on the revaluation or disposal of other investments.
Income and other tax expense decreased $1.6 million primarily related to the 2022 Eddie Bauer licensing transaction noted above of $39.7 million and an overall lower tax expense on our share of operating results from our other platform investments of approximately $27.2 million, partially offset by the tax impact of the SPARC and ABG transactions in 2023 noted above of $69.3 million.
Income from unconsolidated entities decreased $272.3 million primarily due to lower results of operations from our other platform investments.
During 2023, we recorded an $11.2 million loss on the disposition of certain assets by Klépierre and an impairment on a joint venture property, our share of which was $8.6 million, partially offset by an $8.7 million gain on the disposition of certain assets by a joint venture investment and an $8.1 million gain on excess insurance proceeds. During 2022, we recorded a $19.9 million gain on the disposition of one unconsolidated property, a $2.1 million gain related to excess insurance proceeds and a $1.3 million gain on the disposition of certain assets by Klépierre, partially offset by a $17.7 million loss primarily related to the disposition of one consolidated property.
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Simon’s net income attributable to noncontrolling interests increased $21.0 million due to an increase in the net income of the Operating Partnership.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Because we own long-lived income-producing assets, our financing strategy relies primarily on long-term fixed rate debt. Floating rate debt comprised 0.9% of our total consolidated debt at December 31, 2024. We also enter into interest rate protection agreements from time to time to manage our interest rate risk. We derive most of our liquidity from positive net cash flow from operations and distributions of capital from unconsolidated entities that totaled $4.1 billion in the aggregate during 2024. The Credit Facilities and the Commercial Paper program provide alternative sources of liquidity as our cash needs vary from time to time. Borrowing capacity under these sources may be increased as discussed further below.
Our balance of cash and cash equivalents increased $231.4 million during 2024 to $1.4 billion as of December 31, 2024 as further discussed below.
On December 31, 2024, we had an aggregate available borrowing capacity of approximately $8.2 billion under the Credit Facilities, net of letters of credit of $8.6 million. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the maximum aggregate outstanding balance under the Credit Facilities was $325.1 million and the weighted average outstanding balance was $311.1 million. The weighted average interest rate was 5.29% for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Simon has historically had access to public equity markets and the Operating Partnership has historically had access to private and public, short and long-term unsecured debt markets and access to secured debt and private equity from institutional investors at the property level.
Our business model and Simon’s status as a REIT require us to regularly access the debt markets to raise funds for acquisition, development and redevelopment activity, and to refinance maturing debt. Simon may also, from time to time, access the equity capital markets to accomplish our business objectives. We believe we have sufficient cash on hand and availability under the Credit Facilities and the Commercial Paper program to address our debt maturities and capital needs through 2025.
Cash Flows
Our net cash flow from operating activities and distributions of capital from unconsolidated entities totaled $4.1 billion during 2024. In addition, we had net repayments of debt from our debt financing and repayment activities of $1.9 billion in 2024. These activities are further discussed below under “Financing and Debt.” During 2024, we also:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | paid stockholder dividends and unitholder distributions totaling approximately $3.0 billion and preferred unit distributions totaling $4.9 million, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | funded consolidated capital expenditures of $755.6 million (including development and other costs of $75.3 million, redevelopment and expansion costs of $320.8 million, and tenant costs and other operational capital expenditures of $359.5 million), |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | funded the redemption of $42.3 million Operating Partnership units, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | funded investments in unconsolidated entities of $112.7 million, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | received net proceeds from the redemption of short-term investments of $1.0 billion, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | received proceeds from the sale of equity instruments of $1.2 billion. |
In general, we anticipate that cash generated from operations will be sufficient to meet operating expenses, monthly debt service, recurring capital expenditures, and dividends to stockholders and/or distributions to partners necessary to maintain Simon’s REIT qualification on a long-term basis. In addition, we expect to be able to generate or obtain capital for nonrecurring capital expenditures, such as acquisitions, major building redevelopments and expansions, as well as for scheduled principal maturities on outstanding indebtedness, from the following, however a severe and prolonged disruption and instability in the global financial markets, including the debt and equity capital markets, may affect our ability to access necessary capital:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | excess cash generated from operating performance and working capital reserves, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | borrowings on the Credit Facilities and Commercial Paper program, |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | additional secured or unsecured debt financing, or |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | additional equity raised in the public or private markets. |
We expect to generate positive cash flow from operations in 2025, and we consider these projected cash flows in our sources and uses of cash. These cash flows are principally derived from rents paid by our tenants. A significant deterioration in projected cash flows from operations, could cause us to increase our reliance on available funds from the Credit Facilities and Commercial Paper program, further curtail planned capital expenditures, or seek other additional sources of financing.
Financing and Debt
Unsecured Debt
At December 31, 2024, our unsecured debt consisted of $19.1 billion of senior unsecured notes of the Operating Partnership and $323.7 million outstanding under the Credit Facility.
The Credit Facility can be increased in the form of additional commitments in an aggregate not to exceed $1.0 billion, for a total aggregate size of $6.0 billion, subject to obtaining additional lender commitments and satisfying certain customary conditions precedent. Borrowings may be denominated in U.S. dollars, Euro, Yen, Pounds, Sterling, Canadian dollars and Australian dollars. Borrowings in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are limited to 97% of the maximum revolving credit amount, as defined. The initial maturity date of the Credit Facility is June 30, 2027. The Credit Facility can be extended for two additional six-month periods to June 30, 2028, at our sole option, subject to satisfying certain customary conditions precedent.
Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest, at our election, at either (i) (x) for Term Benchmark Loans, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, the applicable Local Rate, the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, or the Adjusted TIBOR Rate, (y) for RFR Loans, if denominated in Sterling, SONIA plus a benchmark adjustment and if denominated in Dollars, Daily Simple SOFR plus a benchmark adjustment, or (z) for Daily SOFR Loans, the Adjusted Floating Overnight Daily SOFR Rate, in each case of clauses (x) through (z) above, plus a margin determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.650% and 1.400% or (ii) for loans denominated in U.S. Dollars only, the base rate (which rate is equal to the greatest of the prime rate, the federal funds effective rate plus 0.500% or Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for one month plus 1.000%) (the “Base Rate”), plus a margin determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.000% and 0.400%. The Credit Facility includes a facility fee determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.100% and 0.300% on the aggregate revolving commitments under the Credit Facility. Based upon our current credit ratings, the interest rate on the Credit Facility is SOFR plus 72.5 basis points, plus a spread adjustment to account for the transition from LIBOR to SOFR.
The Supplemental Facility, has a borrowing capacity of $3.5 to $4.5 billion during its term subject to obtaining additional lender commitments and satisfying certain customary conditions precedent and provides for borrowings denominated in U.S. dollars, Euro, Yen, Pounds, Sterling, Canadian dollars and Australian dollars. Borrowings in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are limited to 100% of the maximum revolving credit amount, as defined. The initial maturity date of the Supplemental Facility is January 31, 2029 and can be extended for an additional year to January 31, 2030 at our sole option, subject to satisfying certain customary conditions precedent.
Borrowings under the Supplemental Facility bear interest, at the Company’s election, at either (i) (x) for Term Benchmark Loans, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, the applicable Local Rate, the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, the Adjusted Term CORRA Rate, or the Adjusted TIBOR Rate, (y) for RFR Loans, if denominated in Sterling, SONIA plus a benchmark adjustment, if denominated in Dollars, Daily Simple SOFR plus a benchmark adjustment, and if denominated in Canadian Dollars, Daily Simple CORRA plus a benchmark adjustment or (z) for Daily SOFR Loans, the Adjusted Floating Overnight Daily SOFR Rate, in each case of clauses (x) through (z) above, plus a margin determined by the Company’s corporate credit rating of between 0.650% and 1.400% or (ii) for loans denominated in U.S. Dollars only, the base rate (which rate is equal to the greatest of the prime rate, the NYFRB Rate plus 0.500% or Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for one month plus 1.000%) (the “Base Rate”), plus a margin determined by the Company’s corporate credit rating of between 0.000% and 0.400%. The Supplemental Facility includes a facility fee determined by the Company’s corporate credit rating of between 0.100% and 0.300% on the aggregate revolving commitments under the Supplemental Facility. Based upon our current credit ratings, the interest rate on the Supplemental Facility is SOFR plus 72.5 basis points, plus a spread adjustment to account for the transition from LIBOR to SOFR.
On December 31, 2024 we had an aggregate available borrowing capacity of $8.2 billion under the Credit Facilities. The maximum aggregate outstanding balance under the Facilities during the year ended December 31, 2024 was $325.1
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million and the weighted average outstanding balance was $311.1 million. Letters of credit of $8.6 million were outstanding under the Facilities as of December 31, 2024.
Under the Commercial Paper program, the Operating Partnership may issue unsecured commercial paper notes, denominated in U.S. dollars, Euro and other currencies. Notes issued in non-U.S. currencies may be issued by one or more subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership and are guaranteed by the Operating Partnership. Notes will be sold under customary terms in the U.S. and Euro commercial paper note markets and rank (either by themselves or as a result of the guarantee described above) pari passu with the Operating Partnership's other unsecured senior indebtedness. The Commercial Paper program is supported by the Credit Facilities, and if necessary or appropriate, we may make one or more draws under either of the Credit Facilities to pay amounts outstanding from time to time on the Commercial Paper program. On December 31, 2024, we had no outstanding balance under the Commercial Paper program. Borrowings under the Commercial Paper program reduce amounts otherwise available under the Credit Facilities.
On January 10, 2023, the Operating Partnership completed interest rate swap agreements with a combined notional value at €750.0 million to swap the interest rate of the Euro denominated borrowings outstanding under the Supplemental Facility to an all-in fixed rate of 3.81%. These interest rate swaps were terminated in connection with the repayment of these borrowings on November 14, 2023.
On March 8, 2023, the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of the following senior unsecured notes: $650 million with a fixed interest rate 5.50%, and $650 million with a fixed interest rate of 5.85%, with maturity dates of March 8, 2033 and March 8, 2053, respectively. The Operating Partnership used a portion of the net proceeds of the offering to fund the optional redemption of its $500 million floating rate notes due January 2024 on March 13, 2023.
On April 28, 2023 the Operating Partnership completed a borrowing of $180.0 million under the Credit Facility and subsequently unencumbered two properties.
On June 1, 2023, the Operating Partnership completed the redemption, at par, of its $600 million 2.75% notes at maturity.
On November 9, 2023, the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of the following senior unsecured notes: $500 million with a fixed interest rate of 6.25% and $500 million with a fixed interest rate of 6.65%, with maturity dates of January 15, 2034 and January 15, 2054, respectively. The proceeds were used to redeem, at par, its $600 million 3.75% notes at maturity on February 1, 2024.
On November 14, 2023, the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of €750.0 million senior unsecured bonds ($808.0 million U.S. dollar equivalent) with a maturity date of November 14, 2026 and a fixed interest rate of 3.50%. The bonds are exchangeable into shares of Klépierre at the option of the holder of the bond at an initial common price of €27.2092. We may elect to settle the exchange with cash instead of shares. The proceeds were used to repay €750.0 million ($815.4 million U.S. dollar equivalent) outstanding under the Supplemental Facility on November 17, 2023. The exchangeable option within the bonds has been determined to meet the criteria for bifurcation.
On February 1, 2024, the Operating Partnership completed the redemption, at par, of its $600 million 3.75% senior unsecured notes at maturity.
On September 13, 2024, the Operating Partnership completed the redemption, at par, of its $1.0 billion 2.00% senior unsecured notes at maturity.
On September 26, 2024, the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of $1.0 billion senior unsecured notes with a fixed interest rate of 4.75% and a maturity date of September 26, 2034.
On October 1, 2024, the Operating Partnership completed the redemption, at par, of its $900.0 million 3.38% senior unsecured notes at maturity.
Mortgage Debt
Total mortgage indebtedness was $5.0 billion and $5.2 billion at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Covenants
Our unsecured debt agreements contain financial covenants and other non-financial covenants. If we were to fail to comply with these covenants, after the expiration of the applicable cure periods, the debt maturity could be accelerated or other remedies could be sought by the lender, including adjustments to the applicable interest rate. As of December 31, 2024, we were in compliance with all covenants of our unsecured debt.
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At December 31, 2024, our consolidated subsidiaries were the borrowers under 35 non-recourse mortgage notes secured by mortgages on 38 properties and other assets, including two separate pools of cross-defaulted and cross-collateralized mortgages encumbering a total of five properties. Under these cross-default provisions, a default under any mortgage included in the cross-defaulted pool may constitute a default under all mortgages within that pool and may lead to acceleration of the indebtedness due on each property within the pool. Certain of our secured debt instruments contain financial and other non-financial covenants which are specific to the properties that serve as collateral for that debt. If the applicable borrower under these non-recourse mortgage notes were to fail to comply with these covenants, the lender could accelerate the debt and enforce its rights against their collateral. At December 31, 2024, the applicable borrowers under these non-recourse mortgage notes were in compliance with all covenants where non-compliance could individually or in the aggregate, giving effect to applicable cross-default provisions, have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.
Summary of Financing
Our consolidated debt, adjusted to reflect outstanding derivative instruments, and the effective weighted average interest rates as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | Effective | | | Effective | |||||
| | | Adjusted Balance | | Weighted | | Adjusted | | Weighted | |||
| | | as of | | Average | | Balance as of | | Average | |||
| Debt Subject to | | December 31, 2024 | Interest Rate(1) | | December 31, 2023 | Interest Rate(1) | | ||||
| Fixed Rate | | $ | 24,035,060 | 3.61% | | $ | 25,705,396 | 3.47% | | ||
| Variable Rate | | 229,435 | 5.47% | | 328,027 | 5.91% | | ||||
| | | $ | 24,264,495 | 3.62% | | $ | 26,033,423 | 3.49% | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | Effective weighted average interest rate excludes the impact of net discounts and debt issuance costs. |
Contractual Obligations and Off-balance Sheet Arrangements
In regards to long-term debt arrangements, the following table summarizes the material aspects of these future obligations on our consolidated indebtedness as of December 31, 2024, and subsequent years thereafter (dollars in thousands) assuming the obligations remain outstanding through initial maturities:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 2025 | 2026-2027 | 2028-2029 | After 2029 | Total | |||||||||||
| Long Term Debt (1) | | $ | 2,680,925 | | $ | 7,347,478 | | $ | 2,971,502 | | $ | 11,410,002 | | $ | 24,409,907 | |
| Interest Payments (2) | | 861,872 | | 1,301,214 | | 1,009,746 | | 5,103,252 | | 8,276,084 | | |||||
| Lease Commitments (3) | | 36,358 | | 72,773 | | 72,885 | | 923,037 | | 1,105,053 | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | Represents principal maturities only and, therefore, excludes net discounts and debt issuance costs. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (2) | Variable rate interest payments are estimated based on the SOFR or other applicable rate at December 31, 2024. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (3) | Represents only the minimum non-cancellable lease period, excluding applicable lease extension and renewal options, unless reasonably certain of exercise. |
Our off-balance sheet arrangements consist primarily of our investments in joint ventures which are common in the real estate industry and are described in Note 6 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements. Our joint ventures typically fund their cash needs through secured non-recourse debt financings obtained by and in the name of the joint venture entity. The joint venture debt is secured by a first mortgage, is without recourse to the joint venture partners, and does not represent a liability of the partners, except to the extent the partners or their affiliates expressly guarantee the joint venture debt. As of December 31, 2024, the Operating Partnership guaranteed joint venture-related mortgage indebtedness of $109.8 million. Mortgages guaranteed by the Operating Partnership are secured by the property of the joint venture which could be sold in order to satisfy the outstanding obligation and which has an estimated fair value in excess of the guaranteed amount. We may elect to fund cash needs of a joint venture through equity contributions (generally on a basis proportionate to our ownership interests), advances or partner loans, although such fundings are not required contractually or otherwise.
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Acquisitions and Dispositions
Buy-sell, marketing rights, and other exit mechanisms are common in real estate partnership agreements. Most of our partners are institutional investors who have a history of direct investment in retail real estate. We and our partners in our joint venture properties may initiate these provisions (subject to any applicable lock up or similar restrictions). If we determine it is in our best interests for us to purchase the joint venture interest and we believe we have adequate liquidity to execute the purchase without hindering our cash flows, then we may initiate these provisions or elect to buy our partner’s interest. If we decide to sell any of our joint venture interests, we expect to use the net proceeds to reduce outstanding indebtedness or to reinvest in development, redevelopment, or expansion opportunities.
Acquisitions.
On January 30, 2025, we completed the acquisition of a 100% interest in two luxury outlet destinations in Italy, one in Leccio, nearby Florence, and the other in Sanremo, on the Italian riviera. The acquisition price was €350.0 million, subject to customary working capital adjustments.
During the fourth quarter of 2024, we acquired the remaining interest in Smith Haven Mall from a joint venture partner, resulting in the consolidation of this property. The cash consideration for this transaction was $56.1 million, which includes cash acquired of $35.8 million. The property was subject to a $160.8 million 8.10% variable rate mortgage loan. This mortgage loan was paid off prior to December 31, 2024.
On February 6, 2024 we acquired an additional interest in Miami International Mall from a joint venture partner, resulting in the consolidation of this property. The cash consideration for this transaction was de minimis. The property is subject to a $158.0 million 6.92% fixed rate mortgage loan.
On June 17, 2022, we acquired an additional interest in Gloucester Premium Outlets from a joint venture partner for $14.0 million in cash consideration, including a pro-rata share of working capital, resulting in the consolidation of this property. The property is subject to an $85.7 million 3.29% variable rate mortgage loan. We accounted for this transaction as an asset acquisition and substantially all of our investment has been determined to relate to investment property.
Dispositions. We may continue to pursue the disposition of properties that no longer meet our strategic criteria or that are not a primary retail venue within their trade area.
During 2024, we disposed of our interests in two consolidated properties and one unconsolidated entity. The combined total proceeds from these transactions were $55.2 million, resulting in a net loss of $67.2 million.
During 2023, we disposed of our interest in one unconsolidated retail property through foreclosure in satisfaction of the $114.8 million non-recourse mortgage loan. We recognized no gain or loss in connection with this disposal.
During 2022, we disposed of our interest in one consolidated retail property. The proceeds from this transaction were $59.0 million, resulting in a loss of $15.6 million. We also recorded a non-cash gain of $19.9 million related to the disposition of one unconsolidated retail property in satisfaction of its $99.6 million non-recourse mortgage loan. These are included in (loss) gain on acquisition of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interest in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.
Joint Venture Formation Activity and Other Investment Activity
During the fourth quarter of 2024, J.C. Penney completed an all-equity transaction where it acquired the retail operations of SPARC Group, resulting in the recognition of a non-cash pre-tax gain by SPARC Holdings, our share of which, after eliminations, was $100.5 million, which is included in gain due to disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. The combined business was renamed Catalyst post transaction. This non-cash investment activity is excluded from our consolidated statement of cash flows. In connection with this transaction, we recorded deferred taxes of $25.1 million, which is included in income and other tax expense in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. As of December 31, 2024, we own a 31.3% noncontrolling interest in Catalyst. Additionally, we continue to hold a 33.3% noncontrolling interest in SPARC Holdings, the former owner of SPARC Group, which now primarily holds a 25% interest in Catalyst.
During the second quarter of 2024, we participated in the formation of a joint venture, Phoenix Retail, LLC, to acquire the Express Retail Company from the previous owner on June 21, 2024, in a bankruptcy proceeding, and operate Express
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and Bonobos direct-to-consumer business in the United States. There was no cash consideration transferred for our 39.4%, non-controlling interest and non-cash consideration was de minimis.
During the first quarter of 2024, we sold all of our remaining interest in ABG for cash proceeds of $1.2 billion, resulting in a pre-tax gain of $414.8 million, which is included in gain due to disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net, in the consolidated statement of operations. In connection with this transaction, we recorded tax expense of $103.7 million, which is included in income and other expense in the consolidated statement of operations.
During the fourth quarter of 2023, we sold a portion of our interest in ABG, resulting in a pre-tax gain of $157.1 million, which is included in gain due to disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net, in the consolidated statement of operations. In connection with this transaction, we recorded tax expense of $39.3 million which is included in income and other tax expense in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. Concurrently, ABG completed a capital transaction resulting in the dilution of our ownership to approximately 9.6% and a deemed disposal of a proportional interest of our investment. As a result, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain on the deemed disposal of $10.3 million, which is included in gain due to disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. This non-cash investing activity is excluded from our consolidated statement of cash flows. In connection with this transaction, we recorded deferred taxes of $2.6 million, which is included in income and other tax expense in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.
During the fourth quarter of 2024, we acquired an additional 4% ownership in TRG for approximately $266.7 million by issuing 1,572,500 units in the Operating Partnership, bringing our noncontrolling ownership interest in TRG to 88%. In the third quarter of 2023, we acquired an additional 4% ownership in TRG for approximately $199.6 million by issuing 1,725,000 units in the Operating Partnership. Neither transaction included or resulted in any change to the rights and obligations or decision making authority of the members of the TRG partnership.
During the third quarter of 2023, ABG completed a capital transaction resulting in the dilution of our ownership from approximately 11.8% to approximately 11.7% and a deemed disposal of a proportional interest of our investment. As a result, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain on the deemed disposal of $12.4 million, which is included in gain due to disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. This non-cash investing activity is excluded from our consolidated statement of cash flows. In connection with this transaction, we recorded deferred taxes of $3.1 million, which is included in income and other tax expense in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.
During the second quarter of 2023, ABG completed a capital transaction resulting in a dilution of our ownership and a deemed disposal of a proportional interest of our investment. As a result, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain on the deemed disposal of $36.4 million, which is included in gain due to disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. This non-cash investing activity is excluded from our consolidated statement of cash flows. In connection with this transaction, we recorded deferred taxes of $9.1 million, which is included in income and other tax expense in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.
During the third quarter of 2023, SPARC Group issued equity to a third party resulting in the dilution of our ownership to 33.3% and a deemed disposal of a proportional interest of our investment. As a result, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain on the deemed disposal of $145.8 million, which is included in gain due to disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. This non-cash investing activity is excluded from our consolidated statement of cash flows. In connection with this transaction, we recorded deferred taxes of $36.9 million, which is included in income and other tax expense in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.
On December 19, 2022, we completed the acquisition of a 50% noncontrolling legal ownership interest in Jamestown, a global real estate investment and asset management company, as well as separate interests in certain real estate and working capital, for total cash consideration of $173.4 million.
During the fourth quarter of 2022, we sold to ABG our interests in the licensing venture of Eddie Bauer for additional interests in ABG. As a result, in the fourth quarter of 2022, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain of $159.0 million, representing the difference between the fair value of the interests received and the $98.8 million carrying value of the intellectual property licensing venture less costs to sell. On July 1, 2021, we sold to ABG all of our interests in both the Forever 21 and Brooks Brothers licensing ventures for additional interests in ABG. As a result, in the third quarter of 2021, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain of $159.8 million, representing the difference between the fair value of the interests received and the $102.7 million carrying value of the intellectual property licensing ventures less costs to sell. On
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December 20, 2021, we sold a portion of our interest in ABG, resulting in a pre-tax gain of $18.8 million. In connection with this transaction, we recorded tax expense of $8.0 million which is included in income and other tax expense in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. Subsequently, we acquired additional interests in ABG for cash consideration of $100.0 million.
During the first quarter of 2022, SPARC Group acquired certain assets and operations of Reebok and entered into a long-term strategic partnership with ABG to become the core licensee and operating partner for Reebok in the United States.
Development Activity
We routinely incur costs related to construction for significant redevelopment and expansion projects at our properties. Redevelopment and expansion projects, including the addition of anchors, big box tenants, and restaurants are underway at several properties in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Construction continues on certain redevelopment and new development projects in the U.S. and internationally that are nearing completion. Our share of the costs of all new development, redevelopment and expansion projects currently under construction is approximately $1.3 billion. Simon’s share of remaining net cash funding required to complete the new development and redevelopment projects currently under construction is approximately $552 million. We expect to fund these capital projects with cash flows from operations. We seek a stabilized return on invested capital in the range of 8-10% for all of our new development, expansion and redevelopment projects.
Summary of Capital Expenditures. The following table summarizes total capital expenditures on consolidated properties on a cash basis (in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| New Developments | | $ | 75 | | $ | 156 | | $ | 108 | |
| Redevelopments and Expansions | | 321 | | 328 | | 283 | | |||
| Tenant Allowances | | 191 | | 209 | | 207 | | |||
| Operational Capital Expenditures | | 169 | | 100 | | 52 | | |||
| Total | | $ | 756 | | $ | 793 | | $ | 650 | |
International Development Activity
We typically reinvest net cash flow from our international joint ventures to fund future international development activity. We believe this strategy mitigates some of the risk of our initial investment and our exposure to changes in foreign currencies. We have also funded most of our foreign investments with local currency-denominated borrowings that act as a natural hedge against fluctuations in exchange rates. Our consolidated net income exposure to changes in the volatility of the Euro, Yen, Peso, Won, and other foreign currencies is not material. We expect our share of estimated committed capital for international development projects to be completed with projected delivery in 2025 or 2026 is $12 million, primarily funded through reinvested joint venture cash flow and construction loans.
The following table describes recently completed and new development and expansion projects as well as our share of the estimated total cost as of December 31, 2024 (in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | Gross | | Our | | Our Share of | | Our Share of | | Projected/Actual | ||
| | | | | Leasable | | Ownership | | Projected Net Cost | | Projected Net Cost | | Opening | ||
| Property | Location | Area (sqft) | Percentage | (in Local Currency) | (in USD) (1) | Date | ||||||||
| New Development Projects: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jakarta Premium Outlets | | Jakarta, Indonesia | | 300,000 | | 50% | | IDR | 931,782 | | $ | 57.5 | | Mar. - 2025 |
| Expansion: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Busan Premium Outlet Phase 2 | | Busan, South Korea | | 184,000 | | 50% | | KRW | 72,933 | | $ | 49.4 | | Opened Sep. - 2024 |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | USD equivalent based upon December 31, 2024 foreign currency exchange rates. |
Dividends, Distributions and Stock Repurchase Program
Simon paid a common stock dividend of $2.10 per share in the fourth quarter of 2024 and $8.10 per share for the year ended December 31, 2024. The Operating Partnership paid distributions per unit for the same amounts. In 2023, Simon paid dividends of $1.90 and $7.45 per share for the three and twelve month periods ended December 31, 2023,
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respectively. The Operating Partnership paid distributions per unit for the same amounts. On February 4, 2025, Simon’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend for the first quarter of 2025 of $2.10 per share, payable on March 31, 2025 to shareholders of record on March 10, 2025. The distribution rate on units is equal to the dividend rate on common stock. In order to maintain its status as a REIT, Simon must pay a minimum amount of dividends. Simon’s future dividends and the Operating Partnership’s future distributions will be determined by Simon’s Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, based on actual and projected financial condition, liquidity and results of operations, cash available for dividends and limited partner distributions, cash reserves as deemed necessary for capital and operating expenditures, financing covenants, if any, and the amount required to maintain Simon’s status as a REIT.
On May 9, 2022, Simon’s Board of Directors authorized a common stock repurchase plan commencing on May 16, 2022. Under the program, the Company could purchase up to $2.0 billion of its common stock during the two-year period ending May 16, 2024 in open market or privately negotiated transactions, at prices that the Company deemed appropriate and subject to market conditions, applicable law, and other factors deemed relevant in the Company’s sole discretion. During the year ended December 31, 2023, Simon purchased 1,273,733 shares at an average price of $110.38 per share. During the year ended December 31, 2022, Simon purchased 1,830,022 shares at an average price of $98.57 per share. As Simon repurchased shares under this program, the Operating Partnership repurchased an equal number of units from Simon.
On February 8, 2024, Simon’s Board of Directors authorized a new common stock repurchase program which immediately replaced the prior repurchase program, where the Company may purchase up to $2.0 billion of its common stock over the next 24 months. As of December 31, 2024, no shares had been purchased under the plan. As Simon repurchases shares under this program, the Operating Partnership repurchases an equal number of units from Simon.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this annual report on Form 10-K may be deemed "forward–looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in any forward–looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, the Company can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained, and it is possible that the Company's actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward–looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties, and other factors. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the intensely competitive market environment in the retail industry, including e-commerce; the inability to renew leases and relet vacant space at existing properties on favorable terms; the inability to collect rent due to the bankruptcy or insolvency of tenants or otherwise; the potential loss of anchor stores or major tenants; an increase in vacant space at our properties; the loss of key management personnel; changes in economic and market conditions that may adversely affect the general retail environment, including but not limited to those caused by inflation, recessionary pressures, wars, escalating geopolitical tensions as a result of the war in Ukraine and the conflicts in the Middle East, and supply chain disruptions; the potential for violence, civil unrest, criminal activity or terrorist activities at our properties; the availability of comprehensive insurance coverage; security breaches that could compromise our information technology or infrastructure; changes in market rates of interest; our international activities subjecting us to risks that are different from or greater than those associated with our domestic operations, including changes in foreign exchange rates; the impact of our substantial indebtedness on our future operations, including covenants in the governing agreements that impose restrictions on us that may affect our ability to operate freely; any disruption in the financial markets that may adversely affect our ability to access capital for growth and satisfy our ongoing debt service requirements; any change in our credit rating; our continued ability to maintain our status as a REIT; changes in tax laws or regulations that result in adverse tax consequences; risks associated with the acquisition, development, redevelopment, expansion, leasing and management of properties; the inability to lease newly developed properties on favorable terms; risks relating to our joint venture properties, including guarantees of certain joint venture indebtedness; reducing emissions of greenhouse gases; environmental liabilities; natural disasters; uncertainties regarding the impact of pandemics, epidemics or public health crises, and the associated governmental restrictions on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and liquidity; and general risks related to real estate investments, including the illiquidity of real estate investments. The Company discusses these and other risks and uncertainties under the heading "Risk Factors" in Part 1, Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company may update that discussion in subsequent other periodic reports, but except as required by law, the Company undertakes no duty or obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Industry practice is to evaluate real estate properties in part based on performance measures such as FFO, real estate FFO, diluted FFO per share, real estate FFO per share, NOI, beneficial interest of combined NOI and portfolio NOI. We believe that these non-GAAP measures are helpful to investors because they are widely recognized measures of the
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performance of REITs and provide a relevant basis for comparison among REITs. We also use these measures internally to measure the operating performance of our portfolio. We are providing different components of NOI, such as Portfolio NOI (a component of beneficial interest of combined NOI that relates to the operational performance of our global real estate portfolio), to provide investors with disaggregated information to further differentiate our global real estate portfolio performance from corporate and other platform investments.
We determine FFO based upon the definition set forth by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) Funds From Operations White Paper – 2018 Restatement. Our main business includes acquiring, owning, operating, developing, and redeveloping real estate in conjunction with the rental of real estate. Gains and losses of assets incidental to our main business are included in FFO. We determine FFO to be our share of consolidated net income computed in accordance with GAAP:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | excluding real estate related depreciation and amortization, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | excluding gains and losses from extraordinary items, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | excluding gains and losses from the acquisition of controlling interest, sale, disposal or property insurance recoveries of, or any impairment related to, depreciable retail operating properties, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | plus the allocable portion of FFO of unconsolidated joint ventures based upon economic ownership interest, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | all determined on a consistent basis in accordance with GAAP. |
We determine real estate FFO utilizing the definition of FFO as stated above excluding the impact of operations from
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | other platform investments, net of tax, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | gain due to disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net of tax, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | unrealized gains or losses in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments and derivative instrument. |
You should understand that our computations of these non-GAAP measures might not be comparable to similar measures reported by other REITs and that these non-GAAP measures:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | do not represent cash flow from operations as defined by GAAP, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | should not be considered as an alternative to net income determined in accordance with GAAP as a measure of operating performance, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | are not an alternative to cash flows as a measure of liquidity. |
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The following schedule reconciles total FFO and real estate FFO to consolidated net income and, for Simon, diluted net income per share to diluted FFO per share and real estate FFO per share.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
| | | | (in thousands) | |||||||
| Consolidated Net Income | | | $ | 2,729,021 | | $ | 2,617,018 | | $ | 2,452,385 |
| Adjustments to Arrive at FFO: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Depreciation and amortization from consolidated properties | | | 1,250,440 | | 1,250,550 | | 1,214,441 | |||
| Our share of depreciation and amortization from unconsolidated entities, including Klépierre, TRG and other corporate investments | | | 848,188 | | 841,862 | | 845,784 | |||
| Loss (gain) on acquisition of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net | | | 75,818 | | 3,056 | | (5,647) | |||
| Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest holders in properties | | | 1,641 | | 1,336 | | (2,738) | |||
| Noncontrolling interests portion of depreciation and amortization, gain on consolidation of properties, and gain on disposal of properties | | | (23,367) | | (22,719) | | (18,234) | |||
| Preferred distributions and dividends | | | (4,897) | | (5,237) | | (5,252) | |||
| FFO of the Operating Partnership | | | $ | 4,876,844 | | $ | 4,685,866 | | $ | 4,480,739 |
| FFO allocable to limited partners | | | | 640,886 | | | 597,727 | | | 564,946 |
| Dilutive FFO allocable to common stockholders | | | $ | 4,235,958 | | $ | 4,088,139 | | $ | 3,915,793 |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| FFO of the Operating Partnership | | | | 4,876,844 | | | 4,685,866 | | | 4,480,739 |
| Gain due to disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net of tax | | | | (386,417) | | | (271,009) | | | (88,314) |
| Other platform investments, net of tax | | | | 88,902 | | | 6,166 | | | (181,262) |
| Unrealized losses (gains) in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments and derivative instrument, net | | | | 17,392 | | | (11,892) | | | 61,204 |
| Real Estate FFO | | | $ | 4,596,721 | | $ | 4,409,131 | | $ | 4,272,367 |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Diluted net income per share to diluted FFO per share reconciliation: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Diluted net income per share | | | $ | 7.26 | | $ | 6.98 | | $ | 6.52 |
| Depreciation and amortization from consolidated properties and our share of depreciation and amortization from unconsolidated entities, including Klépierre, TRG and other corporate investments, net of noncontrolling interests portion of depreciation and amortization | | | 5.53 | | 5.52 | | 5.44 | |||
| Loss (gain) on acquisition of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net | | | 0.20 | | 0.01 | | (0.01) | |||
| Diluted FFO per share | | | $ | 12.99 | | $ | 12.51 | | $ | 11.95 |
| Gain due to disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net of tax | | | | (1.03) | | | (0.72) | | $ | (0.24) |
| Other platform investments, net of tax | | | | 0.23 | | | 0.02 | | | (0.48) |
| Unrealized losses (gains) in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments and derivative instrument, net | | | | 0.05 | | | (0.03) | | | 0.16 |
| Real Estate FFO per share | | | $ | 12.24 | | $ | 11.78 | | $ | 11.39 |
| Basic and Diluted weighted average shares outstanding | | | 326,097 | | 326,808 | | 327,817 | |||
| Weighted average limited partnership units outstanding | | | 49,338 | | 47,782 | | 47,295 | |||
| Basic and Diluted weighted average shares and units outstanding | | | 375,435 | | 374,590 | | 375,112 |
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The following schedule reconciles consolidated net income to our beneficial share of NOI.
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | For the Year | ||||
| | | Ended December 31, | ||||
| | 2024 | 2023 | ||||
| | | (in thousands) | ||||
| Reconciliation of NOI of consolidated entities: | | | | | ||
| Consolidated Net Income | | $ | 2,729,021 | | $ | 2,617,018 |
| Income and other tax expense | | 23,262 | | 81,874 | ||
| Gain due to disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net | | | (451,172) | | | (362,019) |
| Interest expense | | 905,797 | | 854,648 | ||
| Income from unconsolidated entities | | (207,322) | | (375,663) | ||
| Unrealized losses (gains) in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments and derivative instrument, net | | 17,392 | | (11,892) | ||
| Loss on acquisition of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net | | 75,818 | | 3,056 | ||
| Operating Income Before Other Items | | 3,092,796 | | 2,807,022 | ||
| Depreciation and amortization | | 1,265,340 | | 1,262,107 | ||
| Home and regional office costs | | | 223,277 | | | 207,618 |
| General and administrative | | | 44,743 | | | 38,513 |
| Other expenses (1) | | | 818 | | | 320 |
| NOI of consolidated entities | | $ | 4,626,974 | | $ | 4,315,580 |
| Less: Noncontrolling interest partners share of NOI | | | (32,605) | | | (30,918) |
| Beneficial NOI of consolidated entities | | $ | 4,594,369 | | $ | 4,284,662 |
| Reconciliation of NOI of unconsolidated entities: | | | | | | |
| Net Income | | $ | 707,246 | | $ | 853,986 |
| Interest expense | | 711,402 | | 685,193 | ||
| Loss (gain) on sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities, net | | 36,536 | | (20,529) | ||
| Operating Income Before Other Items | | 1,455,184 | | 1,518,650 | ||
| Depreciation and amortization | | 636,218 | | 656,089 | ||
| Other expenses (2) | | | 73,152 | | | 143 |
| NOI of unconsolidated entities | | $ | 2,164,554 | | $ | 2,174,882 |
| Less: Joint Venture partners share of NOI | | | (1,134,573) | | | (1,132,334) |
| Beneficial NOI of unconsolidated entities | | $ | 1,029,981 | | $ | 1,042,548 |
| Add: Beneficial interest of NOI from TRG | | | 533,009 | | | 503,858 |
| Add: Beneficial interest of NOI from other platform investments and investments | | | 208,043 | | | 399,341 |
| Beneficial interest of Combined NOI | | $ | 6,365,402 | | $ | 6,230,409 |
| Less: Beneficial interest of Corporate and Other NOI Sources (3) | | 319,090 | | 319,830 | ||
| Less: Beneficial interest of NOI from other platform investments (4) | | | (33,977) | | | 91,303 |
| Less: Beneficial interest of NOI from Investments (5) | | | 239,063 | | | 232,919 |
| Beneficial interest of Portfolio NOI | | $ | 5,841,226 | | $ | 5,586,357 |
| Beneficial interest of Portfolio NOI Change | | | 4.6 | % | | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | Represents the write-off of pre-development costs in consolidated entities. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (2) | Represents the gross amount of write-offs at unconsolidated entities of pre-development costs, our share of which was $57.0 million and $0.1 million, including costs that SPG has capitalized outside of the venture, for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (3) | Includes income components excluded from portfolio NOI and domestic property NOI (domestic lease termination income, interest income, land sale gains, straight line lease income, above/below market lease adjustments), Simon |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| management company revenues, foreign exchange impact, and other assets. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (4) | Other platform investments include retail operations (Catalyst), an e-commerce company (Rue Gilt Groupe, or RGG), and a global real estate investment and management company (Jamestown). |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (5) | Includes our share of NOI of Klépierre (at constant currency) and other corporate investments. |
FY 2023 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001558370-24-001532.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto that are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Overview
Simon Property Group, Inc. is a Delaware corporation that operates as a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust, or REIT, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Internal Revenue Code. REITs will generally not be liable for U.S. federal corporate income taxes as long as they distribute not less than 100% of their REIT taxable income. Simon Property Group, L.P. is our majority-owned Delaware partnership subsidiary that owns all of our real estate properties and other assets. In this discussion, unless stated otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references to "Simon" mean Simon Property Group, Inc. and references to the "Operating Partnership" mean Simon Property Group, L.P. References to "we," "us" and "our" mean collectively Simon, the Operating Partnership and those entities/subsidiaries owned or controlled by Simon and/or the Operating Partnership. According to the Operating Partnership's partnership agreement, the Operating Partnership is required to pay all expenses of Simon.
We own, develop and manage premier shopping, dining, entertainment and mixed-use destinations, which consist primarily of malls, Premium Outlets®, and The Mills®. As of December 31, 2023, we owned or held an interest in 195 income-producing properties in the United States, which consisted of 93 malls, 69 Premium Outlets, 14 Mills, six lifestyle centers, and 13 other retail properties in 37 states and Puerto Rico. We also own an 84% noncontrolling interest in The Taubman Realty Group, LLC, or TRG, which has an interest in 24 regional, super-regional, and outlet malls in the U.S. and Asia. In addition, we have redevelopment and expansion projects, including the addition of anchors, big box tenants, and restaurants, underway at several properties in the North America, Europe and Asia. Internationally, as of December 31, 2023, we had ownership in 35 Premium Outlets and Designer Outlet properties primarily located in Asia, Europe, and Canada. As of December 31, 2023, we also owned a 22.4% equity stake in Klépierre SA, or Klépierre, a publicly traded, Paris-based real estate company, which owns, or has an interest in, shopping centers located in 14 countries in Europe. We also own investments in retail operations (J.C. Penney and SPARC Group); an intellectual property and licensing venture (Authentic Brands Group, LLC, or ABG); an e-commerce venture (Rue Gilt Groupe, or RGG), and Jamestown (a global real estate investment and management company), collectively, our other platform investments.
We generate the majority of our lease income from retail, dining, entertainment, and other tenants including consideration received from:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | fixed minimum lease consideration and fixed common area maintenance (CAM) reimbursements, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | variable lease consideration primarily based on tenants’ sales, as well as reimbursements for real estate taxes, utilities, marketing and certain other items. |
Revenues of our management company, after intercompany eliminations, consist primarily of management fees that are typically based upon the revenues of the property being managed.
We invest in real estate properties to maximize total financial return which includes both operating cash flows and capital appreciation. We seek growth in earnings, funds from operations, or FFO, and cash flows by enhancing the profitability and operation of our properties and investments. We seek to accomplish this growth through the following:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | attracting and retaining high quality tenants and utilizing economies of scale to reduce operating expenses, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | expanding and re-tenanting existing highly productive locations at competitive rental rates, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | selectively acquiring or increasing our interests in high quality real estate assets or portfolios of assets, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | generating consumer traffic in our retail properties through marketing initiatives and strategic corporate alliances, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | selling selective non-core assets. |
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We also grow by generating supplemental revenues from the following activities:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | establishing our malls as leading market resource providers for retailers and other businesses and consumer-focused corporate alliances, including payment systems (such as handling fees relating to the sales of bank-issued prepaid cards), national marketing alliances, static and digital media initiatives, business development, sponsorship, and events, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | offering property operating services to our tenants and others, including waste handling and facility services, and the provision of energy services, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | selling or leasing land adjacent to our properties, commonly referred to as “outlots” or “outparcels,” and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | generating interest income on cash deposits and investments in loans, including those made to related entities. |
We focus on high quality real estate across the retail real estate spectrum. We expand or redevelop properties to enhance profitability and market share of existing assets when we believe the investment of our capital meets our risk-reward criteria. We selectively develop new properties in markets we believe are not adequately served by existing retail outlet properties.
We routinely review and evaluate acquisition opportunities based on their ability to enhance our portfolio. Our international strategy includes partnering with established real estate companies and financing international investments with local currency to minimize foreign exchange risk.
To support our growth, we employ a three-fold capital strategy:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | provide the capital necessary to fund growth, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | maintain sufficient flexibility to access capital in many forms, both public and private, including but not limited to, having in place, the Operating Partnership’s $5.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility, or the Credit Facility, its $3.5 billion supplemental unsecured revolving credit facility, or its Supplemental Facility, together, the Credit Facilities and its global unsecured commercial paper note program, or the Commercial Paper program, of $2.0 billion, or the non-U.S. dollar equivalent thereof, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | manage our overall financial structure in a fashion that preserves our investment grade credit ratings. |
We consider FFO, net operating income, or NOI, and portfolio NOI to be key measures of operating performance that are not specifically defined by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP. We use these measures internally to evaluate the operating performance of our portfolio and provide a basis for comparison with other real estate companies. Reconciliations of these measures to the most comparable GAAP measures are included below in this discussion.
Results Overview
Diluted earnings per share and diluted earnings per unit increased $0.46 during 2023 to $6.98 as compared to $6.52 in 2022. The increase in diluted earnings per share and diluted earnings per unit was primarily attributable to:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | improved operating performance and solid core business fundamentals in 2023, as discussed below, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | pre-tax gains in 2023 on the disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests of $362.0 million, or $0.97 per diluted share/unit, of which $204.9 million, or $0.55 per diluted share/unit, was non-cash, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased lease income in 2023 of $259.2 million, or $0.69 per diluted share/unit, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased other income of $99.1 million, or $0.26 per diluted share/unit, primarily due to a $59.5 million, or $0.16 per diluted share/unit, increase in distributions and other income and a $56.6 million, or $0.15 per diluted share/unit, increase in interest income, partially offset by a decrease in lease settlement income of $17.0 million, or $0.05 per diluted share/unit, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | an unrealized favorable change in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments and derivative instrument, net of $73.1 million, or $0.20 per diluted share/unit, partially offset by |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | decreased income from unconsolidated entities of $272.3 million, or $0.73 per diluted share/unit, the majority of which is due to unfavorable year-over-year operations from other platform investments, |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | a non-cash gain in 2022 on the disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net of $121.2 million, or $0.32 per diluted share/unit, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased interest expense in 2023 of $93.4 million, or $0.25 per diluted share/unit, primarily due to new USD and EUR bond issuances as well as increases to rates on variable rate mortgages, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased other expenses in 2023 of $35.6 million, or $0.10 per diluted share/unit, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased depreciation and amortization in 2023 of $34.7 million, or $0.09 per diluted share/unit, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased property operating expenses in 2023 of $25.2 million, or $0.07 per diluted share/unit. |
Portfolio NOI increased 4.9% in 2023 as compared to 2022. Average base minimum rent for U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets increased 3.1% to $56.82 psf as of December 31, 2023, from $55.13 psf as of December 31, 2022. Ending occupancy for our U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets increased 0.9% to 95.8% as of December 31, 2023, from 94.9% as of December 31, 2022, primarily due to strong leasing demand.
Our effective overall borrowing rate at December 31, 2023 on our consolidated indebtedness increased 27 basis points to 3.49% as compared to 3.22% at December 31, 2022. This increase was primarily due to an increase in the effective overall borrowing rate on variable rate debt of 198 basis points (5.91% at December 31, 2023 as compared to 3.93% at December 31, 2022) due to increasing benchmark rates, partially offset by a decrease in the amount of our variable rate debt and an increase in fixed rate debt. The weighted average years to maturity of our consolidated indebtedness was 8.1 years and 7.5 years at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Our financing activity for the year ended December 31, 2023 included:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | the Operating Partnership completing on November 14, 2023, the issuance of €750.0 million senior unsecured bonds ($808.0 million U.S. dollar equivalent) with a maturity date of November 14, 2026 and a fixed interest rate of 3.50%. The bonds are exchangeable into shares of Klépierre at the option of the holder of the bond at an initial common price of €27.2092. We may elect to settle the exchange with cash instead of shares. Proceeds were used to repay €750.0 million ($815.4 million U.S. dollar equivalent) outstanding under the Supplemental Facility on November 17, 2023. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | the Operating Partnership completing on November 9, 2023, the issuance of the following senior unsecured notes: $500 million with a fixed interest rate of 6.25% and $500 million with a fixed interest rate of 6.65%, with maturity dates of January 15, 2034 and January 15, 2054, respectively. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | borrowing $180.0 million under the Credit Facility and subsequently unencumbering two properties, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | completing, on June 1, 2023 the redemption at par of the Operating Partnership’s $600 million 2.75% notes at maturity, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | the Operating Partnership completing on March 8, 2023, the issuance of the following senior unsecured notes: $650 million with a fixed interest rate of 5.5% and $650 million with a fixed interest rate of 5.85%, with maturity dates of March 8, 2033 and March 8, 2053, respectively. A portion of the net proceeds were used to fund the optional redemption at par of the Operating Partnerships $500 million floating interest rate notes due January 2024 on March 13, 2023, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Amending, restating, extending, and increasing our existing $4.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility on March 14, 2023 with a new $5.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility. |
United States Portfolio Data
The portfolio data discussed in this overview includes the following key operating statistics: ending occupancy, and average base minimum rent per square foot. We include acquired properties in this data beginning in the year of acquisition and remove disposed properties in the year of disposition. For comparative information purposes, we separate the information related to The Mills and TRG from our other U.S. operations. We also do not include any information for properties located outside the United States.
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The following table sets forth these key operating statistics for the combined U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | properties that are consolidated in our consolidated financial statements, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | properties we account for under the equity method of accounting as joint ventures, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | the foregoing two categories of properties on a total portfolio basis. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | %/Basis Point | | | | | %/Basis Point | | | | |
| | 2023 | Change (1) | 2022 | Change (1) | 2021 | | ||||||||
| U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ending Occupancy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Consolidated | | | 95.7% | | 80 bps | | | 94.9% | | 140 bps | | | 93.5% | |
| Unconsolidated | | | 96.1% | | 120 bps | | | 94.9% | | 180 bps | | | 93.1% | |
| Total Portfolio | | | 95.8% | | 90 bps | | | 94.9% | | 150 bps | | | 93.4% | |
| Average Base Minimum Rent per Square Foot | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Consolidated | | $ | 55.47 | | 2.8% | | $ | 53.95 | | 2.6% | | $ | 52.59 | |
| Unconsolidated | | $ | 60.59 | | 3.8% | | $ | 58.36 | | 1.4% | | $ | 57.55 | |
| Total Portfolio | | $ | 56.82 | | 3.1% | | $ | 55.13 | | 2.3% | | $ | 53.91 | |
| U.S. TRG: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ending Occupancy | | 95.7% | | 120 bps | | 94.5% | | 330 bps | | 91.2% | | |||
| Average Base Minimum Rent per Square Foot | | $ | 65.01 | | 5.3% | | $ | 61.76 | | 5.2% | | $ | 58.69 | |
| The Mills: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ending Occupancy | | 97.8% | | -40 bps | | 98.2% | | 60 bps | | 97.6% | | |||
| Average Base Minimum Rent per Square Foot | | $ | 36.38 | | 4.3% | | $ | 34.89 | | 3.2% | | $ | 33.80 | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | Percentages may not recalculate due to rounding. Percentage and basis point changes are representative of the change from the comparable prior period. |
Ending Occupancy Levels and Average Base Minimum Rent per Square Foot. Ending occupancy is the percentage of gross leasable area, or GLA, which is leased as of the last day of the reporting period. We include all company owned space except for mall anchors, mall majors, mall freestanding and mall outlots in the calculation. Base minimum rent per square foot is the average base minimum rent charge in effect for the reporting period for all tenants that would qualify to be included in ending occupancy.
Current Leasing Activities
During the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, we signed 1,185 new leases and 1,841 renewal leases (excluding mall anchors and majors, new development, redevelopment and leases with terms of one year or less) with a fixed minimum rent across our U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets portfolio, comprising approximately 10.9 million square feet, of which 8.3 million square feet related to consolidated properties. During 2022, we signed 1,262 new leases and 1,517 renewal leases with a fixed minimum rent, comprising approximately 9.1 million square feet, of which 7.0 million square feet related to consolidated properties. The average annual initial base minimum rent for new leases was $66.39 per square foot in 2023 and $55.41 per square foot in 2022 with an average tenant allowance on new leases of $64.31 per square foot and $53.01 per square foot, respectively.
Japan Data
The following are selected key operating statistics for our Premium Outlets in Japan. The information used to prepare these statistics has been supplied by the managing venture partner.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | December 31, | %/basis point | December 31, | %/basis point | December 31, | ||||||||
| | | 2023 | | Change | | 2022 | | Change | | 2021 | |||
| Ending Occupancy | | | 99.7% | | -10 bps | | | 99.8% | | 0 bps | | | 99.8% |
| Average Base Minimum Rent per Square Foot | | ¥ | 5,494 | | -4.93% | | ¥ | 5,779 | | 4.90% | | ¥ | 5,509 |
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Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, requires management to use judgment in the application of accounting policies, including making estimates and assumptions. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. These judgments affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. If our judgment or interpretation of the facts and circumstances relating to various transactions had been different, it is possible that different accounting policies would have been applied resulting in a different presentation of our financial statements. From time to time, we reevaluate our estimates and assumptions. In the event estimates or assumptions prove to be different from actual results, adjustments are made in subsequent periods to reflect more current information. Below is a discussion of accounting policies that we consider critical in that they may require complex judgment in their application or require estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain. For a summary of our significant accounting policies, see Note 3 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | We, as a lessor, primarily under long-term leases, retain substantially all of the risks and benefits of ownership of the investment properties and account for our leases as operating leases. We accrue fixed lease income on a straight-line basis over the terms of the leases, when we believe substantially all lease income, including the related straight-line rent receivable, is probable of collection. Our assessment of collectability, primarily under long-term leases, incorporates available operational performance measures such as sales and the aging of billed amounts as well as other publicly available information with respect to our tenant’s financial condition, liquidity and capital resources. When a tenant seeks to reorganize its operations through bankruptcy proceedings, we assess the collectability of receivable balances including, among other things, the timing of a tenant’s bankruptcy filing and our expectations of the assumption by the tenant in bankruptcy proceeding of leases at the Company’s properties on substantially similar terms. In the event that we determine accrued receivables are not probable of collection, lease income will be recorded on a cash basis, with the corresponding tenant receivable and straight-line rent receivable charged as a direct write-off against lease income in the period of the change in our collectability determination. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | We review investment properties for impairment on a property-by-property basis to identify and evaluate events or changes in circumstances which indicate that the carrying value of investment properties may not be recoverable. These circumstances include, but are not limited to, changes in a property’s operational performance such as declining cash flows, occupancy or total sales per square foot, the Company’s intent and ability to hold the related asset, and, if applicable, the remaining time to maturity of underlying financing arrangements. We measure any impairment of investment property when the estimated undiscounted operating income before depreciation and amortization during the anticipated holding period plus its residual value is less than the carrying value of the property. To the extent impairment has occurred, we charge to income the excess of carrying value of the property over our estimate of its fair value. We also review our investments, including investments in unconsolidated entities, to identify and evaluate whether events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of our investments may not be recoverable. We will record an impairment charge if we determine the fair value of the investments are less than their carrying value and such impairment is other-than-temporary. Our evaluation of changes in economic or operating conditions and whether an impairment is other-than-temporary may include developing estimates of fair value, forecasted cash flows or operating income before depreciation and amortization. We estimate undiscounted cash flows and fair value using observable and unobservable data such as operating income, hold periods, estimated capitalization and discount rates, or relevant market multiples, leasing prospects and local market information and whether certain impairments are other-than-temporary. Changes in economic and operating conditions, including changes in the financial condition of our tenants, and changes to our intent and ability to hold the related asset, that occur subsequent to our review of recoverability of investment property and other investments could impact the assumptions used in that assessment and could result in future charges to earnings if assumptions regarding those investments differ from actual results. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | To maintain Simon’s status as a REIT, we must distribute at least 90% of REIT taxable income in any given year and meet certain asset and income tests. We monitor our business and transactions that may potentially impact Simon’s REIT status. In the unlikely event that we fail to maintain Simon’s REIT status, and available relief provisions do not apply, we would be required to pay U.S. federal income taxes at regular corporate income tax rates during the period Simon did not qualify as a REIT. If Simon lost its REIT status, it could not elect to be taxed as a REIT for four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost unless its failure was due |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| to reasonable cause and certain other conditions were met. As a result, failing to maintain REIT status would result in a significant increase in the income tax expense recorded and paid during those periods. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | In the period of a significant acquisition of real estate, we make estimates as part of our valuation of the purchase price of asset acquisitions (including the components of excess investment in joint ventures) to the various components of the acquisition based upon the relative fair value of each component. The most significant components of our real estate valuations are typically the determination of relative fair value to the buildings as-if-vacant, land and market value of in-place leases. In the case of the fair value of buildings and fair value of land and other intangibles, our estimates of the values of these components will affect the amount of depreciation or amortization we record over the estimated useful life of the property acquired or the remaining lease term. In the case of the market value of in-place leases, we make our best estimates of the tenants’ ability to pay rents based upon the tenants’ operating performance at the property, including the competitive position of the property in its market as well as sales psf, rents psf, and overall occupancy cost for the tenants in place at the acquisition date. Our assumptions affect the amount of future revenue that we will recognize over the remaining lease term for the acquired in-place leases. |
Results of Operations
The following acquisitions, dispositions, and openings of consolidated properties affected our consolidated results in the comparative periods:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On April 27, 2023, we opened Paris-Giverny Designer Outlet, a 228,000 square foot center in Vernon, France. We own a 74% interest in this center. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On June 17, 2022, we acquired an additional interest in Gloucester Premium Outlets from a joint venture, resulting in the consolidation of this property. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the second quarter of 2022, we disposed of one retail property. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During 2021, we disposed of three retail properties. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the first quarter of 2021, we consolidated one Designer Outlet property in Europe that had previously been accounted for under the equity method. |
The following acquisitions, dispositions, and openings of noncontrolling interests in joint venture entities affected our income from unconsolidated entities in the comparative periods:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During 2023, ABG completed multiple capital transactions which resulted in the dilution of our ownership and multiple deemed disposals of a proportional interest of our investment. In addition, we sold a portion of our interest in ABG on November 29, 2023. These transactions reduced our ownership from 12.3% to 9.6%. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the third quarter of 2023, we disposed of our interest in one unconsolidated retail property through foreclosure in satisfaction of its $114.8 million non-recourse loan. We recognized no gain or loss in connection with this disposal. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On September 7, 2023, we acquired an additional 4% ownership in TRG for approximately $199.6 million by issuing 1,725,000 units in the Operating Partnership, bringing our noncontrolling ownership interest in TRG to 84%. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the third quarter of 2023, SPARC Group issued equity to a third party resulting in the dilution of our ownership to 33.3% and a deemed disposal of a proportional interest of our investment. As a result, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain on the deemed disposal of $145.8 million. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the fourth quarter of 2022, we disposed of one retail property. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the fourth quarter of 2022, we sold to ABG all of our interests in the licensing venture of Eddie Bauer for additional interests in ABG. Our noncontrolling interest in ABG was approximately 12.3% after this transaction. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On December 19, 2022, we completed the acquisition of a 50% noncontrolling legal ownership interest in Jamestown, a global real estate investment and asset management company, as well as separate interests in certain real estate and working capital, for total cash consideration of $173.4 million. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On November 3, 2022, we opened Fukaya-Hanazono Premium Outlets, a 296,300 square foot center in Fukaya City, Japan. We own a 40% interest in this center. |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the third quarter of 2022, we disposed of one retail property. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the fourth quarter of 2021, we disposed of our noncontrolling interest in one retail property. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On December 20, 2021, we sold a portion of our interest in ABG for cash consideration of $65.5 million and purchased additional interests in ABG for cash consideration of $100.0 million. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On October 15, 2021, we opened Jeju Premium Outlets, a 92,000 square foot center in Jeju Province, South Korea. We own a 50% interest in this center. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On July 1, 2021, we sold to ABG all of our interests in the licensing ventures of Forever 21 and Brooks Brothers for additional interests in ABG. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On June 1, 2021, we and our partner, ABG, acquired the licensing rights of Eddie Bauer. Our noncontrolling interest in the licensing venture is 49% and was acquired for cash consideration of $100.8 million. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On April 12, 2021, we opened West Midlands Designer Outlet, a 197,000 square foot center in Cannock, United Kingdom. We own a 23.2% interest in this center. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | In the first quarter of 2021, we and our partner, ABG, both acquired additional 12.5% interests in the licensing and operations of Forever 21 for $56.3 million bringing our interest to 50%. Subsequently the Forever 21 operations were merged into SPARC Group. |
For the purposes of the following comparisons between the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 and the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the above transactions are referred to as the property transactions. In the following discussions of our results of operations, “comparable” refers to properties we owned and operated in both years in the year to year comparisons.
Year Ended December 31, 2023 vs. Year Ended December 31, 2022
Lease income increased $259.2 million, due to an increase in fixed lease income of $286.7 million primarily due to an increase in fixed minimum lease consideration and higher occupancy, partially offset by a decrease in variable lease income based on tenant sales of $27.5 million.
Total other income increased $99.1 million, primarily due to a $56.6 million increase in interest income, a $52.0 million increase in mixed use and franchise operations income, a $13.1 million increase in dividend and distribution income and a $3.7 million increase in Simon Brand Ventures, fee and other income, partially offset by a $17.0 million decrease in lease settlement income and a $9.3 million decrease in land sale activity.
Home and regional office costs increased $23.0 million primarily due to increased personnel and compensation costs.
Other expense increased $35.6 million primarily due to increased mixed use and franchise operations expenses of $50.8 million, partially offset by the 2022 write-off of $13.4 million in development costs related to an international development project in Germany we no longer intended to pursue.
Interest expense increased $93.4 million primarily related to new USD bond issuances during 2023 of $69.5 million, activity with regards to the Credit Facilities of $24.5 million and $8.8 million from increased variable rates, partially offset by a USD bond payoff during 2023 of $14.7 million and a Euro bond payoff during 2022 of $9.8 million.
During 2023, SPARC Group issued equity to a third party resulting in the dilution of our ownership to 33.3% and a deemed disposal of a proportional interest of our investment. As a result, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain on the deemed disposal of $145.8 million. During 2023, ABG completed multiple capital transactions which resulted in the dilution of our ownership and multiple deemed disposals of a proportional interest of our investment. As a result, we recognized non-cash pre-tax gains on the deemed disposals of $59.1 million. During 2023, we also recorded our share of the gain on the sale of a portion of our ABG interests of $157.1 million. During 2022, we recorded a $159.0 million non-cash gain as a result of the sale to ABG of all of our interests in the Eddie Bauer licensing venture for additional interests in ABG, partially offset by a loss of $37.8 million on the revaluation or disposal of other investments.
Income and other tax expense decreased $1.6 million primarily related to the 2022 Eddie Bauer licensing transaction noted above of $39.7 million and an overall lower tax expense on our share of operating results from our other platform investments of approximately $27.2 million, partially offset by the tax impact of the SPARC and ABG transactions in 2023 noted above of $69.3 million.
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Income from unconsolidated entities decreased $272.3 million primarily due to lower results of operations from our other platform investments.
During 2023, we recorded an $11.2 million loss on the disposition of certain assets by Klépierre and an impairment on a joint venture property, our share of which was $8.6 million, partially offset by an $8.7 million gain on the disposition of certain assets by a joint venture investment and an $8.1 million gain on excess insurance proceeds. During 2022, we recorded a $19.9 million gain on the disposition of one unconsolidated property, a $2.1 million gain related to excess insurance proceeds and a $1.3 million gain on the disposition of certain assets by Klépierre, partially offset by a $17.7 million loss primarily related to the disposition of one consolidated property.
Simon’s net income attributable to noncontrolling interests increased $21.0 million due to an increase in the net income of the Operating Partnership.
Year Ended December 31, 2022 vs. Year Ended December 31, 2021
Lease income increased $168.5 million, of which the property transactions accounted for a $23.2 million decrease. Comparable lease income increased $191.7 million, or 4.1%. Total lease income increased primarily due to an increase in fixed lease income of $156.6 million primarily due to an increase in fixed minimum lease consideration, higher occupancy, and an increase in variable lease income of $11.9 million primarily related to higher consideration based on tenant sales.
Total other income decreased $4.2 million, primarily due to a decrease in lease settlement income of $38.8 million, a $14.9 million gain from the sale of our interest in a multi-family residential property in 2021, and a $6.8 million non-cash dilution gain on a non-retail investment in 2021, partially offset by an $20.8 million increase in fee and other income, a $17.9 million increase related to Simon Brand Ventures and gift card revenues, a $9.8 million increase related to land sale activity and a $7.8 million increase in interest income.
Property operating expenses increased $48.4 million primarily due to the return to a more normalized operating environment following the peak of the COVID pandemic.
Other expense increased $11.7 million primarily due to an increase in legal fees and foreign currency revaluations.
Interest expense decreased $34.5 million primarily related to the early extinguishment of nine secured loans, the disposition of three retail properties, and the refinancing of two retail properties at lower interest rates in 2021, partially offset by the issuances of Euro and USD bonds and interest increases due to variable rates in 2022.
During 2021, we recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $51.8 million as a result of the early redemption of unsecured notes and the payoff of mortgages at nine properties.
During 2022, we recorded a $159.0 million non-cash gain as a result of the sale to ABG of all of our interests in the Eddie Bauer licensing venture for additional interests in ABG, partially offset by a loss of $37.8 million on the revaluation or disposal of other investments. During 2021, we recorded a non-cash gain of $159.8 million as a result of the sale to ABG of all of our interests in the licensing ventures of Forever 21 and Brooks Brothers for additional interests in ABG and a gain on the sale of a portion of our interest in ABG of $18.8 million, as discussed further in Note 6.
Income and other tax expense decreased $73.7 million due to the impact in 2021 on deferred tax expense as a result of the ABG transaction noted above, which had a non-cash tax impact of $55.9 million, offset by the impact in 2022 on deferred tax expense of the 2022 ABG transaction noted above, which had a non-cash tax impact of $39.7 million, and lower tax expense in 2022 on our share of operating results from our other platform investments.
Income from unconsolidated entities decreased $134.9 million primarily due to unfavorable results of operations year over year from our other platform investments of $216.1 million, as well as the reversal in 2021 of a previously established deferred tax liability at Klépierre resulting in a non-cash gain, of which our share was $118.4 million, partially offset by favorable year over year results of operations across the properties and TRG in 2022.
During 2022, we recorded a $19.9 million gain on the disposition of one unconsolidated property, a $2.1 million gain related to excess insurance proceeds and a $1.3 million gain on the disposition of certain assets by Klépierre, partially offset by a $17.7 million loss primarily related to the disposition of one consolidated property. During 2021, we recorded gains of $184.0 million related to the disposition of three consolidated properties, our interest in one unconsolidated property and the impact from the consolidation of one property that was previously unconsolidated, and gains of $21.2 million related to property insurance recoveries of previously depreciated assets.
Simon’s net income attributable to noncontrolling interests decreased $6.2 million due to a decrease in the net income of the Operating Partnership.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Because we own long-lived income-producing assets, our financing strategy relies primarily on long-term fixed rate debt. Floating rate debt comprised 1.1% of our total consolidated debt at December 31, 2023. We also enter into interest rate protection agreements from time to time to manage our interest rate risk. We derive most of our liquidity from positive net cash flow from operations and distributions of capital from unconsolidated entities that totaled $4.2 billion in the aggregate during 2023. The Credit Facilities and the Commercial Paper program provide alternative sources of liquidity as our cash needs vary from time to time. Borrowing capacity under these sources may be increased as discussed further below.
Our balance of cash and cash equivalents increased $547.4 million during 2023 to $1.2 billion as of December 31, 2023 as further discussed below.
On December 31, 2023, we had an aggregate available borrowing capacity of approximately $8.1 billion under the Facilities, net of letters of credit of $58.6 million. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the maximum aggregate outstanding balance under the Credit Facilities was $1.1 billion and the weighted average outstanding balance was $962.6 million. The weighted average interest rate was 4.36% for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Simon has historically had access to public equity markets and the Operating Partnership has historically had access to private and public, short and long-term unsecured debt markets and access to secured debt and private equity from institutional investors at the property level.
Our business model and Simon’s status as a REIT require us to regularly access the debt markets to raise funds for acquisition, development and redevelopment activity, and to refinance maturing debt. Simon may also, from time to time, access the equity capital markets to accomplish our business objectives. We believe we have sufficient cash on hand and availability under the Credit Facilities and the Commercial Paper program to address our debt maturities and capital needs through 2024.
Cash Flows
Our net cash flow from operating activities and distributions of capital from unconsolidated entities totaled $4.2 billion during 2023. In addition, we had net proceeds of debt from our debt financing and repayment activities of $971.3 million in 2023. These activities are further discussed below under “Financing and Debt.” During 2023, we also:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | paid stockholder dividends and unitholder distributions totaling approximately $2.8 billion and preferred unit distributions totaling $5.2 million, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | funded consolidated capital expenditures of $793.3 million (including development and other costs of $156.0 million, redevelopment and expansion costs of $328.8 million, and tenant costs and other operational capital expenditures of $308.5 million), |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | funded investments in unconsolidated entities of $84.0 million, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | funded the purchase of $1.0 billion of short-term investments, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | funded the repurchase of $140.6 million of Simon’s common stock, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | received proceeds from the sale of equity instruments of $304.1 million. |
In general, we anticipate that cash generated from operations will be sufficient to meet operating expenses, monthly debt service, recurring capital expenditures, and dividends to stockholders and/or distributions to partners necessary to maintain Simon’s REIT qualification on a long-term basis. In addition, we expect to be able to generate or obtain capital for nonrecurring capital expenditures, such as acquisitions, major building redevelopments and expansions, as well as for scheduled principal maturities on outstanding indebtedness, from the following, however a severe and prolonged disruption and instability in the global financial markets, including the debt and equity capital markets, may affect our ability to access necessary capital:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | excess cash generated from operating performance and working capital reserves, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | borrowings on the Credit Facilities and Commercial Paper program, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | additional secured or unsecured debt financing, or |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | additional equity raised in the public or private markets. |
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We expect to generate positive cash flow from operations in 2024, and we consider these projected cash flows in our sources and uses of cash. These cash flows are principally derived from rents paid by our tenants. A significant deterioration in projected cash flows from operations, could cause us to increase our reliance on available funds from the Credit Facilities and Commercial Paper program, further curtail planned capital expenditures, or seek other additional sources of financing.
Financing and Debt
Unsecured Debt
At December 31, 2023, our unsecured debt consisted of $20.7 billion of senior unsecured notes of the Operating Partnership, $305.0 million outstanding under the Credit Facility.
The Credit Facility can be increased in the form of additional commitments in an aggregate not to exceed $1.0 billion, for a total aggregate size of $6.0 billion, subject to obtaining additional lender commitments and satisfying certain customary conditions precedent. Borrowings may be denominated in U.S. dollars, Euro, Yen, Pounds, Sterling, Canadian dollars and Australian dollars. Borrowings in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are limited to 97% of the maximum revolving credit amount, as defined. The initial maturity date of the Credit Facility is June 30, 2027. The Credit Facility can be extended for two additional six-month periods to June 30, 2028, at our sole option, subject to satisfying certain customary conditions precedent.
Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest, at our election, at either (i) (x) for Term Benchmark Loans, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, the applicable Local Rate, the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, or the Adjusted TIBOR Rate, (y) for RFR Loans, if denominated in Sterling, SONIA plus a benchmark adjustment and if denominated in Dollars, Daily Simple SOFR plus a benchmark adjustment, or (z) for Daily SOFR Loans, the Adjusted Floating Overnight Daily SOFR Rate, in each case of clauses (x) through (z) above, plus a margin determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.650% and 1.400% or (ii) for loans denominated in U.S. Dollars only, the base rate (which rate is equal to the greatest of the prime rate, the federal funds effective rate plus 0.500% or Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for one month plus 1.000%) (the “Base Rate”), plus a margin determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.000% and 0.400%. The Credit Facility includes a facility fee determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.100% and 0.300% on the aggregate revolving commitments under the Credit Facility. Based upon our current credit ratings, the interest rate on the Credit Facility is SOFR plus 72.5 basis points, plus a spread adjustment to account for the transition from LIBOR to SOFR.
The Supplemental Facility, has a borrowing capacity of $3.5 to $4.5 billion during its term and provides for borrowings denominated in U.S. dollars, Euro, Yen, Pounds, Sterling, Canadian dollars and Australian dollars. Borrowings in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are limited to 100% of the maximum revolving credit amount, as defined. The initial maturity date of the Supplemental Facility is January 31, 2026 and can be extended for an additional year to January 31, 2027 at our sole option, subject to satisfying certain customary conditions precedent.
Borrowings under the Supplemental Facility bear interest, at our election, at either (i) (x) for Term Benchmark Loans, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, the applicable Local Rate, the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, or the Adjusted TIBOR Rate, (y) for RFR Loans, if denominated in Sterling, SONIA plus a benchmark adjustment and if denominated in Dollars, Daily Simple SOFR plus a benchmark adjustment, or (z) for Daily SOFR Loans, the Adjusted Floating Overnight Daily SOFR Rate, in each case of clauses (x) through (z) above, plus a margin determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.650% and 1.400% or (ii) for loans denominated in U.S. Dollars only, the base rate (which rate is equal to the greatest of the prime rate, the federal funds effective rate plus 0.500% or Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for one month plus 1.000%) (the “Base Rate”), plus a margin determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.000% and 0.400%. The Supplemental Facility includes a facility fee determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.100% and 0.300% on the aggregate revolving commitments under the Supplemental Facility. Based upon our current credit ratings, the interest rate on the Supplemental Facility is SOFR plus 72.5 basis points, plus a spread adjustment to account for the transition from LIBOR to SOFR.
On December 31, 2023 we had an aggregate available borrowing capacity of $8.1 billion under the Credit Facilities. The maximum aggregate outstanding balance under the Facilities during the year ended December 31, 2023 was $1.1 billion and the weighted average outstanding balance was $962.6 million. Letters of credit of $58.6 million were outstanding under the Facilities as of December 31, 2023.
Under the Commercial Paper program, the Operating Partnership may issue unsecured commercial paper notes, denominated in U.S. dollars, Euro and other currencies. Notes issued in non-U.S. currencies may be issued by one or more subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership and are guaranteed by the Operating Partnership. Notes will be sold under customary terms in the U.S. and Euro commercial paper note markets and rank (either by themselves or as a result of the guarantee described above) pari passu with the Operating Partnership's other unsecured senior indebtedness. The
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Commercial Paper program is supported by the Credit Facilities, and if necessary or appropriate, we may make one or more draws under either of the Credit Facilities to pay amounts outstanding from time to time on the Commercial Paper program. On December 31, 2023, we had no outstanding balance under the Commercial Paper program. Borrowings under the Commercial Paper program reduce amounts otherwise available under the Credit Facilities.
On January 11, 2022, the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of the following senior unsecured notes: $500 million with a floating interest rate of SOFR plus 43 basis points, and $700 million with a fixed interest rate of 2.650%, with maturity dates of January 11, 2024 and February 1, 2032, respectively. The proceeds were used to repay $1.05 billion outstanding under the Supplemental Facility on January 12, 2022.
On November 16, 2022, the Operating Partnership drew €750.0 million ($779.0 million U.S. dollar equivalent) under the Supplemental Facility and used the proceeds on November 17, 2022 to repay €750.0 million ($777.1 million U.S. dollar equivalent) of senior unsecured notes at maturity.
On January 10, 2023, the Operating Partnership completed interest rate swap agreements with a combined notional value at €750.0 million to swap the interest rate of the Euro denominated borrowings outstanding under the Supplemental Facility to an all-in fixed rate of 3.81%. These interest rate swaps were terminated in connection with the repayment of these borrowings on November 14, 2023.
On March 8, 2023, the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of the following senior unsecured notes: $650 million with a fixed interest rate 5.50%, and $650 million with a fixed interest rate of 5.85%, with maturity dates of March 8, 2033 and March 8, 2053, respectively. The Operating Partnership used a portion of the net proceeds of the offering to fund the optional redemption of its $500 million floating rate notes due January 2024 on March 13, 2023.
On April 28, 2023 the Operating Partnership completed a borrowing of $180.0 million under the Credit Facility and subsequently unencumbered two properties.
On June 1, 2023, the Operating Partnership completed the redemption, at par, of its $600 million 2.75% notes at maturity.
On November 9, 2023, the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of the following senior unsecured notes: $500 million with a fixed interest rate of 6.25% and $500 million with a fixed interest rate of 6.65%, with maturity dates of January 15, 2034 and January 15, 2054, respectively. The proceeds were used to redeem, at par, its $600 million 3.75% notes at maturity on February 1, 2024.
On November 14, 2023, the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of €750.0 million senior unsecured bonds ($808.0 million U.S. dollar equivalent) with a maturity date of November 14, 2026 and a fixed interest rate of 3.50%. The bonds are exchangeable into shares of Klépierre at the option of the holder of the bond at an initial common price of €27.2092. We may elect to settle the exchange with cash instead of shares. The proceeds were used to repay €750.0 million ($815.4 million U.S. dollar equivalent) outstanding under the Supplemental Facility on November 17, 2023. The exchangeable option within the bonds has been determined to meet the criteria for bifurcation.
Mortgage Debt
Total mortgage indebtedness was $5.2 billion and $5.5 billion at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Covenants
Our unsecured debt agreements contain financial covenants and other non-financial covenants. If we were to fail to comply with these covenants, after the expiration of the applicable cure periods, the debt maturity could be accelerated or other remedies could be sought by the lender, including adjustments to the applicable interest rate. As of December 31, 2023, we were in compliance with all covenants of our unsecured debt.
At December 31, 2023, our consolidated subsidiaries were the borrowers under 35 non-recourse mortgage notes secured by mortgages on 38 properties and other assets, including two separate pools of cross-defaulted and cross-collateralized mortgages encumbering a total of five properties. Under these cross-default provisions, a default under any mortgage included in the cross-defaulted pool may constitute a default under all mortgages within that pool and may lead to acceleration of the indebtedness due on each property within the pool. Certain of our secured debt instruments contain financial and other non-financial covenants which are specific to the properties that serve as collateral for that debt. If the applicable borrower under these non-recourse mortgage notes were to fail to comply with these covenants, the lender could accelerate the debt and enforce its rights against their collateral. At December 31, 2023, the applicable borrowers under these non-recourse mortgage notes were in compliance with all covenants where non-compliance could individually
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or in the aggregate, giving effect to applicable cross-default provisions, have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.
Summary of Financing
Our consolidated debt, adjusted to reflect outstanding derivative instruments, and the effective weighted average interest rates as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | Effective | | | Effective | |||||
| | | Adjusted Balance | | Weighted | | Adjusted | | Weighted | |||
| | | as of | | Average | | Balance as of | | Average | |||
| Debt Subject to | | December 31, 2023 | Interest Rate(1) | | December 31, 2022 | Interest Rate(1) | | ||||
| Fixed Rate | | $ | 25,705,396 | 3.47% | | $ | 22,673,703 | 3.15% | | ||
| Variable Rate | | 328,027 | 5.91% | | 2,286,583 | 3.93% | | ||||
| | | $ | 26,033,423 | 3.49% | | $ | 24,960,286 | 3.22% | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | Effective weighted average interest rate excludes the impact of net discounts and debt issuance costs. |
Contractual Obligations and Off-balance Sheet Arrangements
In regards to long-term debt arrangements, the following table summarizes the material aspects of these future obligations on our consolidated indebtedness as of December 31, 2023, and subsequent years thereafter (dollars in thousands) assuming the obligations remain outstanding through initial maturities:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 2024 | 2025-2026 | 2027-2028 | After 2028 | Total | |||||||||||
| Long Term Debt (1) | | $ | 2,946,165 | | $ | 7,399,732 | | $ | 3,620,285 | | $ | 12,220,079 | | $ | 26,186,261 | |
| Interest Payments (2) | | 889,753 | | 1,491,379 | | 1,030,652 | | 5,374,793 | | 8,786,577 | | |||||
| Lease Commitments (3) | | 33,822 | | 72,730 | | 72,828 | | 959,496 | | 1,138,876 | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | Represents principal maturities only and, therefore, excludes net discounts and debt issuance costs. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (2) | Variable rate interest payments are estimated based on the SOFR or other applicable rate at December 31, 2023. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (3) | Represents only the minimum non-cancellable lease period, excluding applicable lease extension and renewal options, unless reasonably certain of exercise. |
Our off-balance sheet arrangements consist primarily of our investments in joint ventures which are common in the real estate industry and are described in Note 6 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements. Our joint ventures typically fund their cash needs through secured non-recourse debt financings obtained by and in the name of the joint venture entity. The joint venture debt is secured by a first mortgage, is without recourse to the joint venture partners, and does not represent a liability of the partners, except to the extent the partners or their affiliates expressly guarantee the joint venture debt. As of December 31, 2023, the Operating Partnership guaranteed joint venture-related mortgage indebtedness of $139.2 million. Mortgages guaranteed by the Operating Partnership are secured by the property of the joint venture which could be sold in order to satisfy the outstanding obligation and which has an estimated fair value in excess of the guaranteed amount. We may elect to fund cash needs of a joint venture through equity contributions (generally on a basis proportionate to our ownership interests), advances or partner loans, although such fundings are not required contractually or otherwise.
Hurricane Impacts
During the year ended December 31, 2021, we recorded $2.1 million as business interruption income, which was recorded in other income in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we also recorded a $21.0 million gain related to property insurance recovery of previously depreciated assets. This amount was recorded in (loss) gain on acquisition of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net, in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.
Acquisitions and Dispositions
Buy-sell, marketing rights, and other exit mechanisms are common in real estate partnership agreements. Most of our partners are institutional investors who have a history of direct investment in retail real estate. We and our partners in
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our joint venture properties may initiate these provisions (subject to any applicable lock up or similar restrictions). If we determine it is in our best interests for us to purchase the joint venture interest and we believe we have adequate liquidity to execute the purchase without hindering our cash flows, then we may initiate these provisions or elect to buy our partner’s interest. If we decide to sell any of our joint venture interests, we expect to use the net proceeds to reduce outstanding indebtedness or to reinvest in development, redevelopment, or expansion opportunities.
Acquisitions.
On June 17, 2022, we acquired an additional interest in Gloucester Premium Outlets from a joint venture partner for $14.0 million in cash consideration, including a pro-rata share of working capital, resulting in the consolidation of this property. The property is subject to an $85.7 million 3.29% variable rate mortgage loan. We accounted for this transaction as an asset acquisition and substantially all of our investment has been determined to relate to investment property.
The Company sponsored, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, a special purpose acquisition corporation, or SPAC, named Simon Property Group Acquisition Holdings, Inc. On February 18, 2021 the SPAC announced the pricing of its initial public offering, which was consummated on February 23, 2021, and generated gross proceeds of $345.0 million. The SPAC was a consolidated VIE which was formed for the purpose of effecting a business combination and was targeting innovative businesses that operate within Simon’s “Live, Work, Play, Stay, Shop” ecosystem.
Dispositions. We may continue to pursue the disposition of properties that no longer meet our strategic criteria or that are not a primary retail venue within their trade area.
During 2023, we disposed of our interest in one unconsolidated retail property through foreclosure in satisfaction of the $114.8 million non-recourse mortgage loan. We recognized no gain or loss in connection with this disposal.
In December 2022, the SPAC was liquidated and dissolved. In connection with this event, we recorded a loss of $10.2 million, representing our sponsor investment in the SPAC.
During 2022, we disposed of our interest in one consolidated retail property. The proceeds from this transaction were $59.0 million, resulting in a loss of $15.6 million. We also recorded a non-cash gain of $19.9 million related to the disposition of one unconsolidated retail property in satisfaction of its $99.6 million non-recourse mortgage loan. These are included in (loss) gain on acquisition of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interest in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.
During 2021, we recorded net gains of $176.8 million primarily related to disposition activity which included the foreclosure of three consolidated retail properties in satisfaction of their respective $180.0 million, $120.9 million and $100.0 million non-recourse mortgage loans. We also disposed of our interest in an unconsolidated property resulting in a gain of $3.4 million.
Joint Venture Formation Activity and Other Investment Activity
During the fourth quarter of 2023, we sold a portion of our interest in ABG, resulting in a pre-tax gain of $157.1 million, which is included in gain on disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net, in the consolidated statement of operations. In connection with this transaction, we recorded tax expense of $39.3 million which is included in income and other tax expense in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. Concurrently, ABG completed a capital transaction resulting in the dilution of our ownership to approximately 9.6% and a deemed disposal of a proportional interest of our investment. As a result, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain on the deemed disposal of $10.3 million, which is included in gain on disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. This non-cash investing activity is excluded from our consolidated statement of cash flows. In connection with this transaction, we recorded deferred taxes of $2.6 million, which is included in income and other tax expense in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.
On September 7, 2023, we acquired an additional 4% ownership in TRG for approximately $199.6 million by issuing 1,725,000 units in the Operating Partnership, bringing our noncontrolling ownership interest in TRG to 84%.
During the third quarter of 2023, ABG completed a capital transaction resulting in the dilution of our ownership from approximately 11.8% to approximately 11.7% and a deemed disposal of a proportional interest of our investment. As a result, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain on the deemed disposal of $12.4 million, which is included in gain on disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. This non-cash investing activity is excluded from our consolidated statement of cash flows. In connection with this
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transaction, we recorded deferred taxes of $3.1 million, which is included in income and other tax expense in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.
During the second quarter of 2023, ABG completed a capital transaction resulting in a dilution of our ownership and a deemed disposal of a proportional interest of our investment. As a result, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain on the deemed disposal of $36.4 million, which is included in gain on disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. This non-cash investing activity is excluded from our consolidated statement of cash flows. In connection with this transaction, we recorded deferred taxes of $9.1 million, which is included in income and other tax expense in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.
During the third quarter of 2023, SPARC Group issued equity to a third party resulting in the dilution of our ownership to 33.3% and a deemed disposal of a proportional interest of our investment. As a result, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain on the deemed disposal of $145.8 million, which is included in gain on disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. This non-cash investing activity is excluded from our consolidated statement of cash flows. In connection with this transaction, we recorded deferred taxes of $36.9 million, which is included in income and other tax expense in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.
On December 19, 2022, we completed the acquisition of a 50% noncontrolling legal ownership interest in Jamestown, a global real estate investment and asset management company, as well as separate interests in certain real estate and working capital, for total cash consideration of $173.4 million.
During the fourth quarter of 2022, we sold to ABG our interests in the licensing venture of Eddie Bauer for additional interests in ABG. As a result, in the fourth quarter of 2022, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain of $159.0 million, representing the difference between the fair value of the interests received and the $98.8 million carrying value of the intellectual property licensing venture less costs to sell. On July 1, 2021, we sold to ABG all of our interests in both the Forever 21 and Brooks Brothers licensing ventures for additional interests in ABG. As a result, in the third quarter of 2021, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain of $159.8 million, representing the difference between the fair value of the interests received and the $102.7 million carrying value of the intellectual property licensing ventures less costs to sell. On December 20, 2021, we sold a portion of our interest in ABG, resulting in a pre-tax gain of $18.8 million. In connection with this transaction, we recorded tax expense of $8.0 million which is included in income and other tax expense in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. Subsequently, we acquired additional interests in ABG for cash consideration of $100.0 million.
During the first quarter of 2022, SPARC Group acquired certain assets and operations of Reebok and entered into a long-term strategic partnership with ABG to become the core licensee and operating partner for Reebok in the United States.
Development Activity
We routinely incur costs related to construction for significant redevelopment and expansion projects at our properties. Redevelopment and expansion projects, including the addition of anchors, big box tenants, and restaurants are underway at several properties in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Construction continues on certain redevelopment and new development projects in the U.S. and internationally that are nearing completion. Our share of the costs of all new development, redevelopment and expansion projects currently under construction is approximately $1,344 million. Simon’s share of remaining net cash funding required to complete the new development and redevelopment projects currently under construction is approximately $498 million. We expect to fund these capital projects with cash flows from operations. We seek a stabilized return on invested capital in the range of 7-10% for all of our new development, expansion and redevelopment projects.
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Summary of Capital Expenditures. The following table summarizes total capital expenditures on consolidated properties on a cash basis (in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
| New Developments | | $ | 156 | | $ | 108 | | $ | 96 | |
| Redevelopments and Expansions | | 328 | | 283 | | 300 | | |||
| Tenant Allowances | | 209 | | 207 | | 127 | | |||
| Operational Capital Expenditures | | 100 | | 52 | | 5 | | |||
| Total | | $ | 793 | | $ | 650 | | $ | 528 | |
International Development Activity
We typically reinvest net cash flow from our international joint ventures to fund future international development activity. We believe this strategy mitigates some of the risk of our initial investment and our exposure to changes in foreign currencies. We have also funded most of our foreign investments with local currency-denominated borrowings that act as a natural hedge against fluctuations in exchange rates. Our consolidated net income exposure to changes in the volatility of the Euro, Yen, Peso, Won, and other foreign currencies is not material. We expect our share of estimated committed capital for international development projects to be completed with projected delivery in 2024 or 2025 is $94 million, primarily funded through reinvested joint venture cash flow and construction loans.
The following table describes recently completed and new development and expansion projects as well as our share of the estimated total cost as of December 31, 2023 (in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | Gross | | Our | | Our Share of | | Our Share of | | Projected/Actual | ||
| | | | | Leasable | | Ownership | | Projected Net Cost | | Projected Net Cost | | Opening | ||
| Property | Location | Area (sqft) | Percentage | (in Local Currency) | (in USD) (1) | Date | ||||||||
| New Development Projects: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Paris-Giverny Designer Outlet | | Vernon, France | | 228,000 | | 74% | | EUR | 136.8 | | $ | 151.0 | | Opened Apr. - 2023 |
| Jakarta Premium Outlets | | Jakarta, Indonesia | | 300,000 | | 50% | | IDR | 931,782 | | $ | 60.5 | | Feb. - 2025 |
| Expansion: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Busan Premium Outlet Phase 2 | | Busan, South Korea | | 194,000 | | 50% | | KRW | 72,933 | | $ | 56.3 | | Oct. - 2024 |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | USD equivalent based upon December 31, 2023 foreign currency exchange rates. |
Dividends, Distributions and Stock Repurchase Program
Simon paid a common stock dividend of $1.90 per share in the fourth quarter of 2023 and $7.45 per share for the year ended December 31, 2023. The Operating Partnership paid distributions per unit for the same amounts. In 2022, Simon paid dividends of $1.80 and $6.90 per share for the three and twelve month periods ended December 31, 2022, respectively. The Operating Partnership paid distributions per unit for the same amounts. On February 5, 2024, Simon’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend for the first quarter of 2024 of $1.95 per share, payable on March 29, 2024 to shareholders of record on March 8, 2024. The distribution rate on units is equal to the dividend rate on common stock. In order to maintain its status as a REIT, Simon must pay a minimum amount of dividends. Simon’s future dividends and the Operating Partnership’s future distributions will be determined by Simon’s Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, based on actual and projected financial condition, liquidity and results of operations, cash available for dividends and limited partner distributions, cash reserves as deemed necessary for capital and operating expenditures, financing covenants, if any, and the amount required to maintain Simon’s status as a REIT.
On May 9, 2022, Simon’s Board of Directors authorized a common stock repurchase plan commencing on May 16, 2022, or the Repurchase Program. Under the program, the Company may purchase up to $2.0 billion of its common stock during the two-year period ending May 16, 2024 in open market or privately negotiated transactions, at prices that the Company deems appropriate and subject to market conditions, applicable law, and other factors deemed relevant in the Company’s sole discretion. On February 8, 2024, Simon’s Board of Directors authorized a new common stock repurchase program which replaces the existing Repurchase Program immediately where, the Company may purchase up to $2.0 billion of its common stock over the next 24 months. During the year ended December 31, 2023, Simon purchased 1,273,733 shares at an average price of $110.38 per share. During the year ended December 31, 2022, Simon purchased 1,830,022 shares at an average price of $98.57 per share. As Simon repurchases shares under this program, the Operating Partnership repurchases an equal number of units from Simon.
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Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this press release may be deemed "forward–looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in any forward–looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, the Company can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained, and it is possible that the Company's actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward–looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties, and other factors. Such factors include, but are not limited to: changes in economic and market conditions that may adversely affect the general retail environment, including but not limited to those caused by inflation, recessionary pressures, wars, escalating geopolitical tensions as a result of the war in Ukraine and the conflicts in the Middle East, and supply chain disruptions; the inability to renew leases and relet vacant space at existing properties on favorable terms; the potential loss of anchor stores or major tenants; the inability to collect rent due to the bankruptcy or insolvency of tenants or otherwise; an increase in vacant space at our properties; the potential for violence, civil unrest, criminal activity or terrorist activities at our properties; natural disasters; the availability of comprehensive insurance coverage; the intensely competitive market environment in the retail industry, including e-commerce; security breaches that could compromise our information technology or infrastructure; reducing emissions of greenhouse gases; environmental liabilities; our international activities subjecting us to risks that are different from or greater than those associated with our domestic operations, including changes in foreign exchange rates; our continued ability to maintain our status as a REIT; changes in tax laws or regulations that result in adverse tax consequences; risks associated with the acquisition, development, redevelopment, expansion, leasing and management of properties; the inability to lease newly developed properties on favorable terms; the loss of key management personnel; uncertainties regarding the impact of pandemics, epidemics or public health crises, and the associated governmental restrictions on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and liquidity; changes in market rates of interest; the impact of our substantial indebtedness on our future operations, including covenants in the governing agreements that impose restrictions on us that may affect our ability to operate freely; any disruption in the financial markets that may adversely affect our ability to access capital for growth and satisfy our ongoing debt service requirements; any change in our credit rating; risks relating to our joint venture properties, including guarantees of certain joint venture indebtedness; and general risks related to real estate investments, including the illiquidity of real estate investments. The Company discusses these and other risks and uncertainties under the heading "Risk Factors" in Part 1, Item 1A of the Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company may update that discussion in subsequent other periodic reports, but except as required by law, the Company undertakes no duty or obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Industry practice is to evaluate real estate properties in part based on performance measures such as FFO, diluted FFO per share, NOI, and portfolio NOI. We believe that these non-GAAP measures are helpful to investors because they are widely recognized measures of the performance of REITs and provide a relevant basis for comparison among REITs. We also use these measures internally to measure the operating performance of our portfolio.
We determine FFO based upon the definition set forth by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) Funds From Operations White Paper – 2018 Restatement. Our main business includes acquiring, owning, operating, developing, and redeveloping real estate in conjunction with the rental of real estate. Gains and losses of assets incidental to our main business are included in FFO. We determine FFO to be our share of consolidated net income computed in accordance with GAAP:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | excluding real estate related depreciation and amortization, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | excluding gains and losses from extraordinary items, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | excluding gains and losses from the sale, disposal or property insurance recoveries of, or any impairment related to, depreciable retail operating properties, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | plus the allocable portion of FFO of unconsolidated joint ventures based upon economic ownership interest, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | all determined on a consistent basis in accordance with GAAP. |
You should understand that our computations of these non-GAAP measures might not be comparable to similar measures reported by other REITs and that these non-GAAP measures:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | do not represent cash flow from operations as defined by GAAP, |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | should not be considered as an alternative to net income determined in accordance with GAAP as a measure of operating performance, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | are not an alternative to cash flows as a measure of liquidity. |
The following schedule reconciles total FFO to consolidated net income and, for Simon, diluted net income per share to diluted FFO per share.
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | | ||||||
| | | | (in thousands) | | |||||||
| Consolidated Net Income | | | $ | 2,617,018 | | $ | 2,452,385 | | $ | 2,568,707 | |
| Adjustments to Arrive at FFO: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Depreciation and amortization from consolidated properties | | | 1,250,550 | | 1,214,441 | | 1,254,039 | | |||
| Our share of depreciation and amortization from unconsolidated entities, including Klépierre, TRG and other corporate investments | | | 841,862 | | 845,784 | | 887,390 | | |||
| Loss (gain) on acquisition of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net | | | 3,056 | | (5,647) | | (206,855) | | |||
| Unrealized losses in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments, net, excluded from FFO (A) | | | | — | | | — | | | 3,177 | |
| Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest holders in properties | | | 1,336 | | (2,738) | | 6,053 | | |||
| Noncontrolling interests portion of depreciation and amortization, gain on consolidation of properties, and gain on disposal of properties | | | (22,719) | | (18,234) | | (20,295) | | |||
| Preferred distributions and dividends | | | (5,237) | | (5,252) | | (5,252) | | |||
| FFO of the Operating Partnership | | | $ | 4,685,866 | | $ | 4,480,739 | | $ | 4,486,964 | |
| FFO allocable to limited partners | | | | 597,727 | | | 564,946 | | | 564,407 | |
| Dilutive FFO allocable to common stockholders | | | $ | 4,088,139 | | $ | 3,915,793 | | $ | 3,922,557 | |
| Diluted net income per share to diluted FFO per share reconciliation: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Diluted net income per share | | | $ | 6.98 | | $ | 6.52 | | $ | 6.84 | |
| Depreciation and amortization from consolidated properties and our share of depreciation and amortization from unconsolidated entities, including Klépierre, TRG and other corporate investments, net of noncontrolling interests portion of depreciation and amortization | | | 5.52 | | 5.44 | | 5.64 | | |||
| Loss (gain) on acquisition of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net | | | 0.01 | | (0.01) | | (0.55) | | |||
| Unrealized losses in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments, net, excluded from FFO (A) | | | | — | | | — | | | 0.01 | |
| Diluted FFO per share | | | $ | 12.51 | | $ | 11.95 | | $ | 11.94 | |
| Basic and Diluted weighted average shares outstanding | | | 326,808 | | 327,817 | | 328,587 | | |||
| Weighted average limited partnership units outstanding | | | 47,782 | | 47,295 | | 47,280 | | |||
| Basic and Diluted weighted average shares and units outstanding | | | 374,590 | | 375,112 | | 375,867 | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (A) | Unrealized losses in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments, net, excluded from FFO relate to mark-to-market adjustments of retail real estate. Unrealized losses in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments, net, included in FFO relate to mark-to-market adjustments of non-retail real estate. |
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The following schedule reconciles consolidated net income to our beneficial share of NOI.
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | For the Year | ||||
| | | Ended December 31, | ||||
| | 2023 | 2022 | ||||
| | | (in thousands) | ||||
| Reconciliation of NOI of consolidated entities: | | | | | ||
| Consolidated Net Income | | $ | 2,617,018 | | $ | 2,452,385 |
| Income and other tax expense | | 81,874 | | 83,512 | ||
| Gain on disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net | | | (362,019) | | | (121,177) |
| Interest expense | | 854,648 | | 761,253 | ||
| Income from unconsolidated entities | | (375,663) | | (647,977) | ||
| Unrealized (gains) losses in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments and derivative instrument, net | | (11,892) | | 61,204 | ||
| Loss (gain) on acquisition of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net | | 3,056 | | (5,647) | ||
| Operating Income Before Other Items | | 2,807,022 | | 2,583,553 | ||
| Depreciation and amortization | | 1,262,107 | | 1,227,371 | ||
| Home and regional office costs | | | 207,618 | | | 184,592 |
| General and administrative | | | 38,513 | | | 34,971 |
| Other expenses (1) | | | 320 | | | 13,413 |
| NOI of consolidated entities | | $ | 4,315,580 | | $ | 4,043,900 |
| Less: Noncontrolling interest partners share of NOI | | | (30,918) | | | (27,685) |
| Beneficial NOI of consolidated entities | | $ | 4,284,662 | | $ | 4,016,215 |
| Reconciliation of NOI of unconsolidated entities: | | | | | | |
| Net Income | | $ | 853,986 | | $ | 807,435 |
| Interest expense | | 685,193 | | 599,245 | ||
| Gain on sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities, net | | (20,529) | | (50,336) | ||
| Operating Income Before Other Items | | 1,518,650 | | 1,356,344 | ||
| Depreciation and amortization | | 656,089 | | 666,762 | ||
| Other expenses (1) | | | 143 | | | 1,309 |
| NOI of unconsolidated entities | | $ | 2,174,882 | | $ | 2,024,415 |
| Less: Joint Venture partners share of NOI | | | (1,132,334) | | | (1,059,095) |
| Beneficial NOI of unconsolidated entities | | $ | 1,042,548 | | $ | 965,320 |
| Add: Beneficial interest of NOI from TRG | | | 503,858 | | | 474,214 |
| Add: Beneficial interest of NOI from Other Platform Investments and Investments | | | 399,341 | | | 604,750 |
| Beneficial interest of Combined NOI | | $ | 6,230,409 | | $ | 6,060,499 |
| Less: Beneficial interest of Corporate and Other NOI Sources (2) | | 287,231 | | 154,309 | ||
| Less: Beneficial interest of NOI from Other Platform Investments (3) | | | 138,686 | | | 355,019 |
| Less: Beneficial interest of NOI from Investments (4) | | | 233,562 | | | 238,695 |
| Beneficial interest of Portfolio NOI | | $ | 5,570,930 | | $ | 5,312,476 |
| Beneficial interest of Portfolio NOI Change | | | 4.9 | % | | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | Represents the write-off of pre-development costs, our beneficial interest of which was $0.3 million and $11.4 million with respect to consolidated entities and $0.1 million and $0.4 million with respect to our share of unconsolidated entities, for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (2) | Includes income components excluded from portfolio NOI and domestic property NOI (domestic lease termination income, interest income, land sale gains, straight line lease income, above/below market lease adjustments), Simon management company revenues, foreign exchange impact, and other assets. |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (3) | Other Platform Investments include J.C. Penney, SPARC Group, ABG, RGG, and Jamestown. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (4) | Includes our share of NOI of Klépierre (at constant currency) and other corporate investments. |
FY 2022 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001558370-23-001840.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto that are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Overview
Simon Property Group, Inc. is a Delaware corporation that operates as a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust, or REIT, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Internal Revenue Code. REITs will generally not be liable for U.S. federal corporate income taxes as long as they distribute not less than 100% of their REIT taxable income. Simon Property Group, L.P. is our majority-owned Delaware partnership subsidiary that owns all of our real estate properties and other assets. In this discussion, unless stated otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references to "Simon" mean Simon Property Group, Inc. and references to the "Operating Partnership" mean Simon Property Group, L.P. References to "we," "us" and "our" mean collectively Simon, the Operating Partnership and those entities/subsidiaries owned or controlled by Simon and/or the Operating Partnership. According to the Operating Partnership's partnership agreement, the Operating Partnership is required to pay all expenses of Simon.
We own, develop and manage premier shopping, dining, entertainment and mixed-use destinations, which consist primarily of malls, Premium Outlets®, and The Mills®. As of December 31, 2022, we owned or held an interest in 196 income-producing properties in the United States, which consisted of 94 malls, 69 Premium Outlets, 14 Mills, six lifestyle centers, and 13 other retail properties in 37 states and Puerto Rico. We also own an 80% noncontrolling interest in The Taubman Realty Group, LLC, or TRG, which has an interest in 24 regional, super-regional, and outlet malls in the U.S. and Asia. In addition, we have redevelopment and expansion projects, including the addition of anchors, big box tenants, and restaurants, underway at several properties in the North America, Europe and Asia. Internationally, as of December 31, 2022, we had ownership in 34 Premium Outlets and Designer Outlet properties primarily located in Asia, Europe, and Canada. As of December 31, 2022, we also owned a 22.4% equity stake in Klépierre SA, or Klépierre, a publicly traded, Paris-based real estate company, which owns, or has an interest in, shopping centers located in 14 countries in Europe.
We generate the majority of our lease income from retail, dining, entertainment, and other tenants including consideration received from:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | fixed minimum lease consideration and fixed common area maintenance (CAM) reimbursements, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | variable lease consideration primarily based on tenants’ sales, as well as reimbursements for real estate taxes, utilities, marketing and certain other items. |
Revenues of our management company, after intercompany eliminations, consist primarily of management fees that are typically based upon the revenues of the property being managed.
We invest in real estate properties to maximize total financial return which includes both operating cash flows and capital appreciation. We seek growth in earnings, funds from operations, or FFO, and cash flows by enhancing the profitability and operation of our properties and investments. We seek to accomplish this growth through the following:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | attracting and retaining high quality tenants and utilizing economies of scale to reduce operating expenses, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | expanding and re-tenanting existing highly productive locations at competitive rental rates, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
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| ● | selectively acquiring or increasing our interests in high quality real estate assets or portfolios of assets, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | generating consumer traffic in our retail properties through marketing initiatives and strategic corporate alliances, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
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| ● | selling selective non-core assets. |
We also grow by generating supplemental revenues from the following activities:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | establishing our malls as leading market resource providers for retailers and other businesses and consumer-focused corporate alliances, including payment systems (such as handling fees relating to the sales of bank-issued prepaid cards), national marketing alliances, static and digital media initiatives, business development, sponsorship, and events, |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | offering property operating services to our tenants and others, including waste handling and facility services, and the provision of energy services, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | selling or leasing land adjacent to our properties, commonly referred to as “outlots” or “outparcels,” and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | generating interest income on cash deposits and investments in loans, including those made to related entities. |
We focus on high quality real estate across the retail real estate spectrum. We expand or redevelop properties to enhance profitability and market share of existing assets when we believe the investment of our capital meets our risk-reward criteria. We selectively develop new properties in markets we believe are not adequately served by existing retail outlet properties.
We routinely review and evaluate acquisition opportunities based on their ability to enhance our portfolio. Our international strategy includes partnering with established real estate companies and financing international investments with local currency to minimize foreign exchange risk.
To support our growth, we employ a three-fold capital strategy:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | provide the capital necessary to fund growth, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | maintain sufficient flexibility to access capital in many forms, both public and private, including but not limited to, having in place, the Operating Partnership’s $4.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility, or the Credit Facility, its $3.5 billion supplemental unsecured revolving credit facility, or its Supplemental Facility, together, the Credit Facilities and its global unsecured commercial paper note program, or the Commercial Paper program, of $2.0 billion, or the non-U.S. dollar equivalent thereof, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | manage our overall financial structure in a fashion that preserves our investment grade credit ratings. |
We consider FFO, comparable FFO, net operating income, or NOI, and portfolio NOI to be key measures of operating performance that are not specifically defined by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP. We use these measures internally to evaluate the operating performance of our portfolio and provide a basis for comparison with other real estate companies. Reconciliations of these measures to the most comparable GAAP measures are included below in this discussion.
COVID-19
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the novel strain of coronavirus, or COVID-19, a global pandemic and recommended containment and mitigation measures worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic had a material negative impact on economic and market conditions around the world. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve and governments and other authorities, including where we own or hold interests in properties, have at times imposed measures intended to control its spread, including restrictions on freedom of movement, group gatherings and business operations such as travel bans, border closings, business closures, quarantines, stay-at-home, shelter-in-place orders, density limitations and social distancing measures. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and these measures, the Company has experienced and may continue to experience material impacts including changes in the ability to recognize revenue due to changes in our assessment of the probability of collection of lease income and asset impairment charges as a result of changing cash flows generated by our properties and investments. Due to certain restrictive governmental orders placed on us, our domestic portfolio lost approximately 13,500 shopping days in 2020, the majority of which occurred in the second quarter.
As we developed and implemented our response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions intended to prevent its spread on our business, our primary focus has been on the health and safety of our employees, our shoppers and the communities in which we serve. In the second quarter of 2020, in connection with the property closures, we implemented a series of actions to reduce costs and increase liquidity in light of the economic impacts of the pandemic, including:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | significantly reduced all non-essential corporate spending, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
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| ● | significantly reduced property operating expenses, including discretionary marketing spend, |
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|---|---|---|
| ● | implemented a temporary furlough of certain corporate and field employees due to the closure of the Company’s U.S. properties as a result of restrictive governmental orders; reduced certain corporate and field personnel and implemented a temporary freeze on company hiring efforts, and |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | suspended more than $1.0 billion of redevelopment and new development projects. |
As the economic environment has recovered from the pandemic, our operations have returned to more normalized pre-pandemic levels with respect to our operating expenses and capital spend.
Results Overview
Diluted earnings per share and diluted earnings per unit decreased $0.32 during 2022 to $6.52 as compared to $6.84 in 2021. The decrease in diluted earnings per share and diluted earnings per unit was primarily attributable to:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | a non-cash gain in 2021 on acquisitions and disposals of $203.4 million, or $0.54 per diluted share/unit, related to the disposition of our interest in three properties of $176.8 million, or $0.47 per diluted share/unit, a non-cash gain on the consolidation of one property of $3.7 million, or $0.01 per diluted share/unit, and net gains of $21.0 million, or $0.06 per diluted share/unit, related to property insurance recoveries of previously depreciated assets, primarily due to hurricane, flood and wind storm damage, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | a gain in 2021 on the disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests of $178.7 million, or $0.48 per diluted share/unit, of which $159.8 million, or $0.43 per diluted share/unit, was non-cash, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | decreased income from unconsolidated entities of $134.9 million, or $0.36 per diluted share/unit, the majority of which is due to unfavorable year-over-year operations from our other platform investments as well as the reversal of a previously established deferred tax liability at Klépierre in 2021 resulting in a non-cash gain, of which our share was $118.4 million, which is partially offset by improved operations and core fundamentals in our other unconsolidated entities and TRG, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | an unrealized unfavorable change in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments of $53.1 million, or $0.14 per diluted share/unit, partially offset by |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | a non-cash gain in 2022 on the disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net of $121.2 million, or $0.32 per diluted share/unit, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | decreased tax expense of $73.7 million, or $0.20 per diluted share/unit, primarily due to unfavorable year-over-year operations from other platform investments and a favorable $32.0 million tax impact created by the lower gain on disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests transactions noted above, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | decreased interest expense in 2022 of $34.5 million, or $0.09 per diluted share/unit, primarily due to the early extinguishment of nine secured loans in the fourth quarter of 2021, the disposition of three retail properties in 2021, and the refinancing of two retail properties at lower interest rates in 2021, partially offset by an increase in interest rates as further discussed below, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | a charge on early extinguishment of debt of $51.8 million, or $0.14 per diluted share/unit, in 2021, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | improved operating performance and solid core business fundamentals in 2022, as discussed below, and the impact of our acquisition, development and expansion activity. |
Portfolio NOI increased 5.7% in 2022 as compared to 2021. Average base minimum rent for U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets increased 2.3% to $55.13 psf as of December 31, 2022, from $53.91 psf as of December 31, 2021. Ending occupancy for our U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets increased 1.5% to 94.9% as of December 31, 2022, from 93.4% as of December 31, 2021, primarily due to leasing activity, partially offset by 2021 tenant bankruptcy activity.
Our effective overall borrowing rate at December 31, 2022 on our consolidated indebtedness increased 36 basis points to 3.22% as compared to 2.86% at December 31, 2021. This increase was primarily due to an increase in the effective overall borrowing rate on variable rate debt of 273 basis points (3.93% at December 31, 2022 as compared to 1.20% at December 31, 2021) offset by a decrease in the effective overall borrowing rate on fixed rate debt of 13 basis points (3.15% at December 31, 2022 as compared to 3.28% at December 31, 2021). The weighted average years to maturity of our consolidated indebtedness was 7.5 years and 7.8 years at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Our financing activity for the year ended December 31, 2022 included:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increasing our Euro denominated borrowings by €750.0 million ($779.0 million U.S. dollar equivalent as of the issuance date) under the Supplemental Facility, and using the proceeds to repay €750.0 million ($777.1 million U.S. dollar equivalent as of the payoff date) of senior unsecured notes at maturity, |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | decreasing our borrowings under the Operating Partnership’s global unsecured commercial paper note program, or the Commercial Paper program, by $500.0 million, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | completing on January 11, 2022, the issuance of the following senior unsecured notes: $500 million with a floating interest rate of SOFR plus 43 basis points and $700 million with a fixed interest rate of 2.650%, with maturity dates of January 11, 2024 and February 1, 2032, respectively. The proceeds were used to repay $1.05 billion outstanding under the Supplemental Facility, on January 12, 2022. |
United States Portfolio Data
The portfolio data discussed in this overview includes the following key operating statistics: ending occupancy, and average base minimum rent per square foot. We include acquired properties in this data beginning in the year of acquisition and remove disposed properties in the year of disposition. For comparative information purposes, we separate the information related to The Mills and TRG from our other U.S. operations. We also do not include any information for properties located outside the United States.
The following table sets forth these key operating statistics for the combined U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | properties that are consolidated in our consolidated financial statements, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | properties we account for under the equity method of accounting as joint ventures, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | the foregoing two categories of properties on a total portfolio basis. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | %/Basis Point | | | | | %/Basis Point | | | | |
| | 2022 | Change (1) | 2021 | Change (1) | 2020 | | ||||||||
| U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ending Occupancy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Consolidated | | | 94.9% | | 140 bps | | | 93.5% | | 200 bps | | | 91.5% | |
| Unconsolidated | | | 94.9% | | 180 bps | | | 93.1% | | 220 bps | | | 90.9% | |
| Total Portfolio | | | 94.9% | | 150 bps | | | 93.4% | | 210 bps | | | 91.3% | |
| Average Base Minimum Rent per Square Foot | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Consolidated | | $ | 53.95 | | 2.6% | | $ | 52.59 | | -2.6% | | $ | 53.98 | |
| Unconsolidated | | $ | 58.36 | | 1.4% | | $ | 57.55 | | -5.6% | | $ | 60.97 | |
| Total Portfolio | | $ | 55.13 | | 2.3% | | $ | 53.91 | | -3.4% | | $ | 55.80 | |
| U.S. TRG: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ending Occupancy | | 94.5% | | 330 bps | | 91.2% | | 60 bps | | 90.6% | | |||
| Average Base Minimum Rent per Square Foot | | $ | 61.76 | | 5.2% | | $ | 58.69 | | 5.3% | | $ | 55.75 | |
| The Mills: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ending Occupancy | | 98.2% | | 60 bps | | 97.6% | | 230 bps | | 95.3% | | |||
| Average Base Minimum Rent per Square Foot | | $ | 34.89 | | 3.2% | | $ | 33.80 | | 0.1% | | $ | 33.77 | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | Percentages may not recalculate due to rounding. Percentage and basis point changes are representative of the change from the comparable prior period. |
Ending Occupancy Levels and Average Base Minimum Rent per Square Foot. Ending occupancy is the percentage of gross leasable area, or GLA, which is leased as of the last day of the reporting period. We include all company owned space except for mall anchors, mall majors, mall freestanding and mall outlots in the calculation. Base minimum rent per square foot is the average base minimum rent charge in effect for the reporting period for all tenants that would qualify to be included in ending occupancy.
Current Leasing Activities
During the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, we signed 1,262 new leases and 1,517 renewal leases (excluding mall anchors and majors, new development, redevelopment and leases with terms of one year or less) with a fixed minimum rent across our U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets portfolio, comprising approximately 9.1 million square feet, of which 7.0 million square feet related to consolidated properties. During 2021, we signed 992 new leases and 1,460 renewal leases with a fixed minimum rent, comprising approximately 8.3 million square feet, of which 6.5 million square feet related to consolidated properties. The average annual initial base minimum rent for new leases was $55.41 per square foot in 2022 and $55.90 per square foot in 2021 with an average tenant allowance on new leases of $53.01 per square foot
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and $53.75 per square foot, respectively.
Japan Data
The following are selected key operating statistics for our Premium Outlets in Japan. The information used to prepare these statistics has been supplied by the managing venture partner.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | December 31, | %/basis point | December 31, | %/basis point | December 31, | ||||||||
| | | 2022 | | Change | | 2021 | | Change | | 2020 | |||
| Ending Occupancy | | | 99.8% | | 0 bps | | | 99.8% | | +30 bps | | | 99.5% |
| Average Base Minimum Rent per Square Foot | | ¥ | 5,779 | | 4.90% | | ¥ | 5,509 | | 1.14% | | ¥ | 5,447 |
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, requires management to use judgment in the application of accounting policies, including making estimates and assumptions. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. These judgments affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. If our judgment or interpretation of the facts and circumstances relating to various transactions had been different, it is possible that different accounting policies would have been applied resulting in a different presentation of our financial statements. From time to time, we reevaluate our estimates and assumptions. In the event estimates or assumptions prove to be different from actual results, adjustments are made in subsequent periods to reflect more current information. Below is a discussion of accounting policies that we consider critical in that they may require complex judgment in their application or require estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain. For a summary of our significant accounting policies, see Note 3 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | We, as a lessor, retain substantially all of the risks and benefits of ownership of the investment properties and account for our leases as operating leases. We accrue fixed lease income on a straight-line basis over the terms of the leases, when we believe substantially all lease income, including the related straight-line rent receivable, is probable of collection. Our assessment of collectability incorporates available operational performance measures such as sales and the aging of billed amounts as well as other publicly available information with respect to our tenant’s financial condition, liquidity and capital resources, including declines in such conditions due to, or amplified by, the COVID-19 pandemic. When a tenant seeks to reorganize its operations through bankruptcy proceedings, we assess the collectability of receivable balances including, among other things, the timing of a tenant’s bankruptcy filing and our expectations of the assumption by the tenant in bankruptcy proceeding of leases at the Company’s properties on substantially similar terms. In the event that we determine accrued receivables are not probable of collection, lease income will be recorded on a cash basis, with the corresponding tenant receivable and straight-line rent receivable charged as a direct write-off against lease income in the period of the change in our collectability determination. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | We review investment properties for impairment on a property-by-property basis to identify and evaluate events or changes in circumstances which indicate that the carrying value of investment properties may not be recoverable. These circumstances include, but are not limited to, changes in a property’s operational performance such as declining cash flows, occupancy or total sales per square foot, the Company’s intent and ability to hold the related asset, and, if applicable, the remaining time to maturity of underlying financing arrangements. We measure any impairment of investment property when the estimated undiscounted operating income before depreciation and amortization during the anticipated holding period plus its residual value is less than the carrying value of the property. To the extent impairment has occurred, we charge to income the excess of carrying value of the property over our estimate of its fair value. We also review our investments, including investments in unconsolidated entities, to identify and evaluate whether events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of our investments may not be recoverable. We will record an impairment charge if we determine the fair value of the investments are less than their carrying value and such impairment is other-than-temporary. Our evaluation of changes in economic or operating conditions and whether an impairment is other-than-temporary may include developing estimates of fair value, forecasted cash flows or operating income before depreciation and amortization. We estimate undiscounted cash flows and fair value using observable and unobservable data such as operating income, hold periods, estimated capitalization and discount rates, or |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| relevant market multiples, leasing prospects and local market information and whether certain impairments are other-than-temporary. Changes in economic and operating conditions, including changes in the financial condition of our tenants, and changes to our intent and ability to hold the related asset, that occur subsequent to our review of recoverability of investment property and other investments could impact the assumptions used in that assessment and could result in future charges to earnings if assumptions regarding those investments differ from actual results. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | To maintain Simon’s status as a REIT, we must distribute at least 90% of REIT taxable income in any given year and meet certain asset and income tests. We monitor our business and transactions that may potentially impact Simon’s REIT status. In the unlikely event that we fail to maintain Simon’s REIT status, and available relief provisions do not apply, we would be required to pay U.S. federal income taxes at regular corporate income tax rates during the period Simon did not qualify as a REIT. If Simon lost its REIT status, it could not elect to be taxed as a REIT for four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost unless its failure was due to reasonable cause and certain other conditions were met. As a result, failing to maintain REIT status would result in a significant increase in the income tax expense recorded and paid during those periods. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | In the period of a significant acquisition of real estate, we make estimates as part of our valuation of the purchase price of asset acquisitions (including the components of excess investment in joint ventures) to the various components of the acquisition based upon the relative fair value of each component. The most significant components of our real estate valuations are typically the determination of relative fair value to the buildings as-if-vacant, land and market value of in-place leases. In the case of the fair value of buildings and fair value of land and other intangibles, our estimates of the values of these components will affect the amount of depreciation or amortization we record over the estimated useful life of the property acquired or the remaining lease term. In the case of the market value of in-place leases, we make our best estimates of the tenants’ ability to pay rents based upon the tenants’ operating performance at the property, including the competitive position of the property in its market as well as sales psf, rents psf, and overall occupancy cost for the tenants in place at the acquisition date. Our assumptions affect the amount of future revenue that we will recognize over the remaining lease term for the acquired in-place leases. |
Results of Operations
The following acquisitions, dispositions, and openings of consolidated properties affected our consolidated results in the comparative periods:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On June 17, 2022, we acquired an additional interest in Gloucester Premium Outlets from a joint venture, resulting in the consolidation of this property. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the second quarter of 2022, we disposed of one retail property. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During 2021, we disposed of three retail properties. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the first quarter of 2021, we consolidated one Designer Outlet property in Europe that had previously been accounted for under the equity method. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the fourth quarter of 2020, we disposed of one consolidated retail property. |
The following acquisitions, dispositions, and openings of noncontrolling interests in joint venture entities affected our income from unconsolidated entities in the comparative periods:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the fourth quarter of 2022, we disposed of one retail property. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the fourth quarter of 2022, we sold to ABG all of our interests in the licensing venture of Eddie Bauer for additional interests in ABG. Our noncontrolling interest in ABG is approximately 12.3% after this transaction. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On December 19, 2022, we completed the acquisition of a 50% noncontrolling legal ownership interest in Jamestown, a global real estate investment and asset management company, as well as separate interests in certain real estate and working capital, for total cash consideration of $173.4 million. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On November 3, 2022, we opened Fukaya-Hanazono Premium Outlets, a 296,300 square foot center in Fukaya City, Japan. We own a 40% interest in this center. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the third quarter of 2022, we disposed of one retail property. |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the fourth quarter of 2021, we disposed of our noncontrolling interest in one retail property. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On December 20, 2021, we sold a portion of our interest in ABG for cash consideration of $65.5 million and purchased additional interests in ABG for cash consideration of $100.0 million. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On October 15, 2021, we opened Jeju Premium Outlets, a 92,000 square foot center in Jeju Province, South Korea. We own a 50% interest in this center. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On July 1, 2021, we sold to ABG all of our interests in the licensing ventures of Forever 21 and Brooks Brothers for additional interests in ABG. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On June 1, 2021, we and our partner, ABG, acquired the licensing rights of Eddie Bauer. Our noncontrolling interest in the licensing venture is 49% and was acquired for cash consideration of $100.8 million. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On April 12, 2021, we opened West Midlands Designer Outlet, a 197,000 square foot center in Cannock, United Kingdom. We own a 23.2% interest in this center. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | In the first quarter of 2021, we and our partner, ABG, both acquired additional 12.5% interests in the licensing and operations of Forever 21 for $56.3 million bringing our interest to 50%. Subsequently the Forever 21 operations were merged into SPARC Group. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On December 29, 2020, we completed the acquisition of an 80% ownership interest in TRG. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On December 7, 2020, we and a group of co-investors acquired certain assets and liabilities of J.C. Penney, a department store retailer, out of bankruptcy. Our interest in the venture is 41.67%. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On June 23, 2020, we opened Siam Premium Outlets, a 264,000 square foot center in Bangkok, Thailand. We own a 50% interest in this center. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On February 19, 2020 we and a group of co-investors acquired certain assets and liabilities of Forever 21, a retailer of apparel and accessories, out of bankruptcy. The interests were acquired through two separate joint ventures, a licensing venture and an operating venture. Our interest in each of the retail operations venture and in the licensing venture is 37.5%. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On February 13, 2020 through our European investee, we opened Malaga Designer Outlet, a 191,000 square foot center in Malaga, Spain. We own a 46% interest in this center. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | In January 2020, we acquired additional interests of 5.05% and 1.37% in SPARC Group, and ABG, respectively. |
For the purposes of the following comparisons between the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 and the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the above transactions are referred to as the property transactions. In the following discussions of our results of operations, “comparable” refers to properties we owned and operated in both years in the year to year comparisons.
Year Ended December 31, 2022 vs. Year Ended December 31, 2021
Lease income increased $168.5 million, of which the property transactions accounted for a $23.2 million decrease. Comparable lease income increased $191.7 million, or 4.1%. Total lease income increased primarily due to an increase in fixed lease income of $156.6 million primarily due to an increase in fixed minimum lease consideration, higher occupancy, and an increase in variable lease income of $11.9 million primarily related to higher consideration based on tenant sales.
Total other income decreased $4.2 million, primarily due to a decrease in lease settlement income of $38.8 million, a $14.9 million gain from the sale of our interest in a multi-family residential property in 2021, and a $6.8 million non-cash dilution gain on a non-retail investment in 2021, partially offset by an $20.8 million increase in fee and other income, a $17.9 million increase related to Simon Brand Ventures and gift card revenues, a $9.8 million increase related to land sale activity and a $7.8 million increase in interest income.
Property operating expenses increased $48.4 million primarily due to the return to a more normalized operating environment following the peak of the COVID pandemic.
Other expense increased $11.7 million primarily due to an increase in legal fees and foreign currency revaluations.
Interest expense decreased $34.5 million primarily related to the early extinguishment of nine secured loans, the disposition of three retail properties, and the refinancing of two retail properties at lower interest rates in 2021, partially
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offset by the issuances of Euro and USD bonds and interest increases due to variable rates in 2022.
During 2021, we recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $51.8 million as a result of the early redemption of unsecured notes and the payoff of mortgages at nine properties.
During 2022, we recorded a $159.0 million non-cash gain as a result of the sale to ABG of all of our interests in the Eddie Bauer licensing venture for additional interests in ABG, partially offset by a loss of $37.8 million on the revaluation or disposal of other investments. During 2021, we recorded a non-cash gain of $159.8 million as a result of the sale to ABG of all of our interests in the licensing ventures of Forever 21 and Brooks Brothers for additional interests in ABG and a gain on the sale of a portion of our interest in ABG of $18.8 million, as discussed further in Note 6.
Income and other tax expense decreased $73.7 million due to the impact in 2021 on deferred tax expense as a result of the ABG transaction noted above, which had a non-cash tax impact of $55.9 million, offset by the impact in 2022 on deferred tax expense of the 2022 ABG transaction noted above, which had a non-cash tax impact of $39.7 million, and lower tax expense in 2022 on our share of operating results from our other platform investments.
Income from unconsolidated entities decreased $134.9 million primarily due to unfavorable results of operations year over year from our other platform investments of $216.1 million, as well as the reversal in 2021 of a previously established deferred tax liability at Klépierre resulting in a non-cash gain, of which our share was $118.4 million, partially offset by favorable year over year results of operations across the properties and TRG in 2022.
During 2022, we recorded a $19.9 million gain on the disposition of one unconsolidated property, a $2.1 million gain related to excess insurance proceeds and a $1.3 million gain on the disposition of certain assets by Klépierre, partially offset by a $17.7 million loss primarily related to the disposition of one consolidated property. During 2021, we recorded gains of $184.0 million related to the disposition of three consolidated properties, our interest in one unconsolidated property and the impact from the consolidation of one property that was previously unconsolidated, and gains of $21.2 million related to property insurance recoveries of previously depreciated assets.
Simon’s net income attributable to noncontrolling interests decreased $6.2 million due to a decrease in the net income of the Operating Partnership.
Year Ended December 31, 2021 vs. Year Ended December 31, 2020
Lease income increased $434.4 million, of which the property transactions accounted for a $17.6 million decrease. Comparable lease income increased $452.0 million, or 10.6%. Total lease income increased primarily due to an increase in variable lease income of $603.8 million primarily related to higher consideration based on tenant sales and lower negative variable lease income due to abatements granted in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by decreases in fixed minimum lease and CAM consideration recorded on a straight-line basis of $169.4 million.
Total other income increased $65.3 million, primarily due to an increase in lease settlement income of $39.8 million, a $14.9 million gain on the sale of our interest in a multi-family residential property, an $11.5 million increase related to Simon Brand Ventures and gift card revenues, a $6.8 million increase from the non-cash dilution gain on a non-retail investment, and a $3.3 million net increase in dividend, interest and other income, partially offset by a $7.8 million decrease related to higher land and outparcel sale activity in 2020, and a $3.2 million decrease related to business interruption proceeds received in 2020.
Property operating expenses increased $66.6 million primarily due to the reopening of properties that had been closed during 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect of the restrictions intended to prevent its spread and cost reduction efforts, as previously discussed.
Repairs and maintenance expenses increased $15.5 million primarily due to the reopening of properties that had been closed during 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect of the restrictions intended to prevent its spread and cost reduction efforts, as previously discussed.
Advertising and promotion expenses increased $15.7 million primarily due to the reopening of properties that had been closed during 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect of the restrictions intended to prevent its spread and cost reduction efforts.
General and administrative expense increased $7.8 million primarily due to an increase in compensation.
Other expense increased $2.8 million primarily due to an increase in the write-off of development projects we are no longer intending to pursue, partially offset by a decrease related to legal fees.
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During 2021, we recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $51.8 million as a result of the early redemption of unsecured notes and the payoff of mortgages at nine properties.
During 2021, we recorded gains on sale or exchange of equity interests of $178.7 million as a result of the contribution to ABG of all of our interests in the licensing ventures of Forever 21 and Brooks Brothers in exchange for additional interests in ABG and the sale of a portion of our interest in ABG, as discussed further in Note 6.
Income and other tax (expense) benefit increased $161.8 million due to increased deferred tax expense as a result of the ABG transactions noted above which had a non-cash tax impact of $55.9 million and $92.1 million related to strong operating performance of our other platform investments as well as earnings from our acquisition of an interest in certain retailers throughout 2020.
Income from unconsolidated entities increased $563.0 million primarily due to favorable results of operations from our other platform investments, including earnings from our acquisition of an interest in J.C. Penney in the later part of 2020, and international investments which included the reversal of a previously established deferred tax liability at Klépierre resulting in a non-cash gain, of which our share was $118.4 million, partially offset by amortization of our excess investment in TRG.
During 2021, we recorded gains of $184.0 million related to the disposition of three consolidated properties, our interest in one unconsolidated property and the impact from the consolidation of one property that was previously unconsolidated, and gains of $21.2 million related to property insurance recoveries of previously depreciated assets. During 2020, we recorded $125.6 million of impairment charges related to one consolidated property, an other-than-temporary impairment on our equity investment in three joint venture properties, an other-than-temporary impairment to reduce an investment to its estimated fair value, and a $4.3 million loss, net, related to the impairment and disposition of certain assets by Klépierre, partially offset by a $12.3 million gain on the disposal of our interest in one consolidated property, a $1.9 million excess gain on insurance proceeds related to our two properties in Puerto Rico and a $1.0 million gain related to the disposition of a shopping center by one of our joint venture investments.
Simon’s net income attributable to noncontrolling interests increased $154.3 million due to an increase in the net income of the Operating Partnership.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Because we own long-lived income-producing assets, our financing strategy relies primarily on long-term fixed rate debt. Floating rate debt comprised 9.0% of our total consolidated debt at December 31, 2022. We also enter into interest rate protection agreements from time to time to manage our interest rate risk. We derive most of our liquidity from positive net cash flow from operations and distributions of capital from unconsolidated entities that totaled $4.2 billion in the aggregate during 2022. The Credit Facilities and the Commercial Paper program provide alternative sources of liquidity as our cash needs vary from time to time. Borrowing capacity under these sources may be increased as discussed further below.
Our balance of cash and cash equivalents increased $87.7 million during 2022 to $621.6 million as of December 31, 2022 as further discussed below.
On December 31, 2022, we had an aggregate available borrowing capacity of approximately $6.6 billion under the Facilities, net of outstanding borrowings of $927.8 million and letters of credit of $10.0 million. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the maximum aggregate outstanding balance under the Credit Facilities was $1.2 billion and the weighted average outstanding balance was $260.7 million. The weighted average interest rate was 2.15% for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Simon has historically had access to public equity markets and the Operating Partnership has historically had access to private and public, short and long-term unsecured debt markets and access to secured debt and private equity from institutional investors at the property level.
Our business model and Simon’s status as a REIT require us to regularly access the debt markets to raise funds for acquisition, development and redevelopment activity, and to refinance maturing debt. Simon may also, from time to time, access the equity capital markets to accomplish our business objectives. We believe we have sufficient cash on hand and availability under the Credit Facilities and the Commercial Paper program to address our debt maturities and capital needs through 2023.
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Cash Flows
Our net cash flow from operating activities and distributions of capital from unconsolidated entities totaled $4.2 billion during 2022. In addition, we had net repayments of debt from our debt financing and repayment activities of $0.3 billion in 2022. These activities are further discussed below under “Financing and Debt.” During 2022, we also:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | funded the acquisition of a noncontrolling interest in Jamestown for cash consideration of $173.4 million, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | paid stockholder dividends and unitholder distributions totaling approximately $2.6 billion and preferred unit distributions totaling $5.3 million, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | funded consolidated capital expenditures of $650.0 million (including development and other costs of $108.2 million, redevelopment and expansion costs of $282.5 million, and tenant costs and other operational capital expenditures of $259.3 million), |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | funded investments in unconsolidated entities of $235.8 million, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | funded the repurchase of $180.4 million of Simon’s common stock. |
In general, we anticipate that cash generated from operations will be sufficient to meet operating expenses, monthly debt service, recurring capital expenditures, and dividends to stockholders and/or distributions to partners necessary to maintain Simon’s REIT qualification on a long-term basis. In addition, we expect to be able to generate or obtain capital for nonrecurring capital expenditures, such as acquisitions, major building redevelopments and expansions, as well as for scheduled principal maturities on outstanding indebtedness, from the following, however a severe and prolonged disruption and instability in the global financial markets, including the debt and equity capital markets, may affect our ability to access necessary capital:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | excess cash generated from operating performance and working capital reserves, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | borrowings on the Credit Facilities and Commercial Paper program, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | additional secured or unsecured debt financing, or |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | additional equity raised in the public or private markets. |
We expect to generate positive cash flow from operations in 2023, and we consider these projected cash flows in our sources and uses of cash. These cash flows are principally derived from rents paid by our tenants. A significant deterioration in projected cash flows from operations, could cause us to increase our reliance on available funds from the Credit Facilities and Commercial Paper program, further curtail planned capital expenditures, or seek other additional sources of financing.
Financing and Debt
Unsecured Debt
At December 31, 2022, our unsecured debt consisted of $18.6 billion of senior unsecured notes of the Operating Partnership, $125.0 million outstanding under the Credit Facility, and $802.8 million (U.S. dollar equivalent) of Euro-denominated borrowings outstanding under the Supplemental Facility.
The Credit Facility also included an additional single, delayed-draw $2.0 billion term loan facility, or Term Facility, or together with the Credit Facility and the Supplemental Facility, the Credit Facilities, which the Operating Partnership drew on December 15, 2020, and repaid in 2021.
The Credit Facility can be increased in the form of additional commitments in an aggregate not to exceed $1.0 billion, for a total aggregate size of $5.0 billion, subject to obtaining additional lender commitments and satisfying certain customary conditions precedent. Borrowings may be denominated in U.S. dollars, Euro, Yen, Pounds, Sterling, Canadian dollars and Australian dollars. Borrowings in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are limited to 95% of the maximum revolving credit amount, as defined. The initial maturity date of the Credit Facility is June 30, 2024. The Credit Facility can be extended for two additional six-month periods to June 30, 2025, at our sole option, subject to satisfying certain customary conditions precedent.
Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest, at our election, at either (i) (x) for Term Benchmark Loans, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, the applicable Local Rate, the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, or the Adjusted TIBOR Rate, (y) for
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RFR Loans, if denominated in Sterling, SONIA plus a benchmark adjustment and if denominated in Dollars, Daily Simple SOFR plus a benchmark adjustment, or (z) for Daily SOFR Loans, the Adjusted Floating Overnight Daily SOFR Rate, in each case of clauses (x) through (z) above, plus a margin determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.650% and 1.400% or (ii) for loans denominated in U.S. Dollars only, the base rate (which rate is equal to the greatest of the prime rate, the federal funds effective rate plus 0.500% or Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for one month plus 1.000%) (the “Base Rate”), plus a margin determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.000% and 0.400%. The Credit Facility includes a facility fee determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.100% and 0.300% on the aggregate revolving commitments under the Credit Facility. Based upon our current credit ratings, the interest rate on the Credit Facility is SOFR plus 72.5 basis points, plus a spread adjustment to account for the transition from LIBOR to SOFR.
The Supplemental Facility’s borrowing capacity of $3.5 billion may be increased to $4.5 billion during its term and provides for borrowings denominated in U.S. dollars, Euro, Yen, Pounds, Sterling, Canadian dollars and Australian dollars. Borrowings in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are limited to 100% of the maximum revolving credit amount, as defined. The initial maturity date of the Supplemental Facility is January 31, 2026 and can be extended for an additional year to January 31, 2027 at our sole option, subject to satisfying certain customary conditions precedent.
Borrowings under the Supplemental Facility bear interest, at our election, at either (i) (x) for Term Benchmark Loans, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, the applicable Local Rate, the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, or the Adjusted TIBOR Rate, (y) for RFR Loans, if denominated in Sterling, SONIA plus a benchmark adjustment and if denominated in Dollars, Daily Simple SOFR plus a benchmark adjustment, or (z) for Daily SOFR Loans, the Adjusted Floating Overnight Daily SOFR Rate, in each case of clauses (x) through (z) above, plus a margin determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.650% and 1.400% or (ii) for loans denominated in U.S. Dollars only, the base rate (which rate is equal to the greatest of the prime rate, the federal funds effective rate plus 0.500% or Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for one month plus 1.000%) (the “Base Rate”), plus a margin determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.000% and 0.400%. The Supplemental Facility includes a facility fee determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.100% and 0.300% on the aggregate revolving commitments under the Supplemental Facility. Based upon our current credit ratings, the interest rate on the Supplemental Facility is SOFR plus 72.5 basis points, plus a spread adjustment to account for the transition from LIBOR to SOFR.
On December 31, 2022 we had an aggregate available borrowing capacity of $6.6 billion under the Facilities. The maximum aggregate outstanding balance under the Facilities during the year ended December 31, 2022 was $1.2 billion and the weighted average outstanding balance was $260.7 million. Letters of credit of $10.0 million were outstanding under the Facilities as of December 31, 2022.
The Operating Partnership also has available a Commercial Paper program of $2.0 billion, or the non-U.S. dollar equivalent thereof. The Operating Partnership may issue unsecured commercial paper notes, denominated in U.S. dollars, Euro and other currencies. Notes issued in non-U.S. currencies may be issued by one or more subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership and are guaranteed by the Operating Partnership. Notes will be sold under customary terms in the U.S. and Euro commercial paper note markets and rank (either by themselves or as a result of the guarantee described above) pari passu with the Operating Partnership's other unsecured senior indebtedness. The Commercial Paper program is supported by the Credit Facilities, and if necessary or appropriate, we may make one or more draws under either of the Credit Facilities to pay amounts outstanding from time to time on the Commercial Paper program. On December 31, 2022, we had no outstanding balance under the Commercial Paper program. Borrowings under the Commercial Paper program reduce amounts otherwise available under the Credit Facilities.
On January 21, 2021 the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of the following senior unsecured notes: $800 million with a fixed interest rate of 1.750%, and $700 million with a fixed interest rate of 2.20%, with maturity dates of February 2028 and 2031, respectively.
On January 27, 2021 the Operating Partnership completed the planned optional redemption of its $550 million 2.50% notes due on July 15, 2021, including the make-whole amount. Further, on February 2, 2021 the Operating Partnership repaid $750 million under the Term Facility.
On March 19, 2021, the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of €750 million ($893.0 million U.S. dollar equivalent as of the issuance date) of senior unsecured notes at a fixed rate of 1.125% with a maturity date of March 19, 2033, the proceeds of which were used on March 23, 2021 to repay the remaining $1.25 billion under the Term Facility reducing it to zero.
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On August 18, 2021, the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of the following senior unsecured notes: $550 million with a fixed interest rate of 1.375%, and $700 million with a fixed interest rate of 2.250%, with maturity dates of January 15, 2027, and 2032, respectively.
In the third quarter of 2021, the Operating Partnership completed the optional redemption of all of its outstanding $550 million 2.350% notes due on January 30, 2022, $600 million 2.625% notes due on June 15, 2022, and $500 million 2.750% notes due on February 1, 2023. We recorded a $28.6 million loss on extinguishment of debt as a result on the optional redemptions.
On December 14, 2021, the Operating Partnership drew $1.05 billion under the Supplemental Facility, the proceeds of which funded the early extinguishment of 9 mortgages with a principal balance of $1.16 billion. We recorded a $20.3 million loss on extinguishment of debt as a result of this transaction.
On January 11, 2022, the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of the following senior unsecured notes: $500 million with a floating interest rate of SOFR plus 43 basis points, and $700 million with a fixed interest rate of 2.650%, with maturity dates of January 11, 2024 and February 1, 2032, respectively. The proceeds were used to repay $1.05 billion outstanding under the Supplemental Facility on January 12, 2022.
On November 16, 2022, the Operating Partnership drew €750.0 million ($779.0 million U.S. dollar equivalent) under the Supplemental Facility and used the proceeds on November 17, 2022 to repay €750.0 million ($777.1 million U.S. dollar equivalent) of senior unsecured notes at maturity.
Subsequent to December 31, 2022, the Operating Partnership completed interest rate swap agreements with a combined notional value at €750.0 million to swap the interest rate of the Euro denominated borrowings outstanding under the Supplemental Facility to an all-in fixed rate of 3.81%. This interest rate swap matures on January 17, 2024.
Mortgage Debt
Total mortgage indebtedness was $5.5 billion and $5.4 billion at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Covenants
Our unsecured debt agreements contain financial covenants and other non-financial covenants. If we were to fail to comply with these covenants, after the expiration of the applicable cure periods, the debt maturity could be accelerated or other remedies could be sought by the lender, including adjustments to the applicable interest rate. As of December 31, 2022, we were in compliance with all covenants of our unsecured debt.
At December 31, 2022, our consolidated subsidiaries were the borrowers under 38 non-recourse mortgage notes secured by mortgages on 41 properties and other assets, including two separate pools of cross-defaulted and cross-collateralized mortgages encumbering a total of five properties. Under these cross-default provisions, a default under any mortgage included in the cross-defaulted pool may constitute a default under all mortgages within that pool and may lead to acceleration of the indebtedness due on each property within the pool. Certain of our secured debt instruments contain financial and other non-financial covenants which are specific to the properties that serve as collateral for that debt. If the applicable borrower under these non-recourse mortgage notes were to fail to comply with these covenants, the lender could accelerate the debt and enforce its rights against their collateral. At December 31, 2022, the applicable borrowers under these non-recourse mortgage notes were in compliance with all covenants where non-compliance could individually or in the aggregate, giving effect to applicable cross-default provisions, have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.
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Summary of Financing
Our consolidated debt, adjusted to reflect outstanding derivative instruments, and the effective weighted average interest rates as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | Effective | | | Effective | |||||
| | | Adjusted Balance | | Weighted | | Adjusted | | Weighted | |||
| | | as of | | Average | | Balance as of | | Average | |||
| Debt Subject to | | December 31, 2022 | Interest Rate(1) | | December 31, 2021 | Interest Rate(1) | | ||||
| Fixed Rate | | $ | 22,673,703 | 3.15% | | $ | 23,364,566 | 2.99% | | ||
| Variable Rate | | 2,286,583 | 3.93% | | 1,956,456 | 1.22% | | ||||
| | | $ | 24,960,286 | 3.22% | | $ | 25,321,022 | 2.86% | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | Effective weighted average interest rate excludes the impact of net discounts and debt issuance costs. |
Contractual Obligations and Off-balance Sheet Arrangements
In regards to long-term debt arrangements, the following table summarizes the material aspects of these future obligations on our consolidated indebtedness as of December 31, 2022, and subsequent years thereafter (dollars in thousands) assuming the obligations remain outstanding through initial maturities:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 2023 | 2024-2025 | 2026-2027 | After 2027 | Total | |||||||||||
| Long Term Debt (1) | | $ | 1,342,656 | | $ | 5,988,390 | | $ | 7,202,582 | | $ | 10,501,408 | | $ | 25,035,036 | |
| Interest Payments (2) | | 803,119 | | 1,343,300 | | 870,646 | | 3,527,289 | | 6,544,353 | | |||||
| Consolidated Capital Expenditure Commitments (3) | | 192,707 | | — | | — | | — | | 192,707 | | |||||
| Lease Commitments (4) | | 33,163 | | 61,443 | | 61,510 | | 828,521 | | 984,637 | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | Represents principal maturities only and, therefore, excludes net discounts and debt issuance costs. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (2) | Variable rate interest payments are estimated based on the LIBOR or other applicable rate at December 31, 2022. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (3) | Represents contractual commitments for capital projects and services at December 31, 2022. Our share of estimated 2023 development, redevelopment and expansion activity is further discussed below under “Development Activity”. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (4) | Represents only the minimum non-cancellable lease period, excluding applicable lease extension and renewal options, unless reasonably certain of exercise. |
Our off-balance sheet arrangements consist primarily of our investments in joint ventures which are common in the real estate industry and are described in Note 6 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements. Our joint ventures typically fund their cash needs through secured non-recourse debt financings obtained by and in the name of the joint venture entity. The joint venture debt is secured by a first mortgage, is without recourse to the joint venture partners, and does not represent a liability of the partners, except to the extent the partners or their affiliates expressly guarantee the joint venture debt. As of December 31, 2022, the Operating Partnership guaranteed joint venture-related mortgage indebtedness of $128.0 million. Mortgages guaranteed by the Operating Partnership are secured by the property of the joint venture which could be sold in order to satisfy the outstanding obligation and which has an estimated fair value in excess of the guaranteed amount. We may elect to fund cash needs of a joint venture through equity contributions (generally on a basis proportionate to our ownership interests), advances or partner loans, although such fundings are not required contractually or otherwise.
Hurricane Impacts
As discussed further in Note 10 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements, during the third quarter of 2017, two of our wholly-owned properties located in Puerto Rico sustained significant property damage and business interruption as a result of Hurricane Maria.
Since the date of the loss, we have received $84.0 million of insurance proceeds from third-party carriers related to the two properties located in Puerto Rico, of which $48.3 million was used for property restoration and remediation and to reduce the insurance recovery receivable. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, we recorded $2.1 million
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and $5.2 million, respectively, as business interruption income, which was recorded in other income in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.
During the third quarter of 2020, one of our properties located in Texas experienced property damage and business interruption as a result of Hurricane Hanna. We wrote-off assets of approximately $9.6 million, and recorded an insurance recovery receivable, and have received $14.0 million of insurance proceeds from third-party carriers. The proceeds were used for property restoration and remediation and reduced the insurance recovery receivable. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we recorded a $3.5 million gain related to property insurance recovery of previously depreciated assets. This amount was recorded in gain (loss) on acquisition of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net.
During the third quarter of 2020, one of our properties located in Louisiana experienced property damage and business interruption as a result of Hurricane Laura. We wrote-off assets of approximately $11.1 million and recorded an insurance recovery receivable, and have received $27.5 million of insurance proceeds from third-party carriers. The proceeds were used for property restoration and remediation and reduced the insurance recovery receivable. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we recorded a $17.5 million gain related to property insurance recovery of previously depreciated assets. This amount was recorded in gain (loss) on acquisition of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net.
Acquisitions and Dispositions
Buy-sell, marketing rights, and other exit mechanisms are common in real estate partnership agreements. Most of our partners are institutional investors who have a history of direct investment in retail real estate. We and our partners in our joint venture properties may initiate these provisions (subject to any applicable lock up or similar restrictions). If we determine it is in our best interests for us to purchase the joint venture interest and we believe we have adequate liquidity to execute the purchase without hindering our cash flows, then we may initiate these provisions or elect to buy our partner’s interest. If we decide to sell any of our joint venture interests, we expect to use the net proceeds to reduce outstanding indebtedness or to reinvest in development, redevelopment, or expansion opportunities.
Acquisitions. On June 17, 2022, we acquired an additional interest in Gloucester Premium Outlets from a joint venture partner for $14.0 million in cash consideration, including a pro-rata share of working capital, resulting in the consolidation of this property. The property is subject to an $85.7 million 3.29% variable rate mortgage loan. We accounted for this transaction as an asset acquisition and substantially all of our investment has been determined to relate to investment property.
The Company sponsored, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, a special purpose acquisition corporation, or SPAC, named Simon Property Group Acquisition Holdings, Inc. On February 18, 2021 the SPAC announced the pricing of its initial public offering, which was consummated on February 23, 2021, generating gross proceeds of $345.0 million. The SPAC was a consolidated VIE which was formed for the purpose of effecting a business combination and was targeting innovative businesses that operate within Simon’s “Live, Work, Play, Stay, Shop” ecosystem.
In January 2020, we acquired additional interests of 5.05% and 1.37% in SPARC Group and ABG, respectively, for $6.7 million and $33.5 million, respectively. During the third quarter of 2020, SPARC acquired certain assets and operations of Brooks Brothers and Lucky Brands out of bankruptcy. At September 30, 2020, our noncontrolling equity method interests in the operations venture of SPARC Group and in ABG were 50.0% and 6.8%, respectively.
Dispositions. We may continue to pursue the disposition of properties that no longer meet our strategic criteria or that are not a primary retail venue within their trade area.
In December 2022, the SPAC was liquidated and dissolved. In connection with this event, we recorded a loss of $10.2 million, representing our sponsor investment in the SPAC.
During 2022, we disposed of our interest in one consolidated retail property. The proceeds from this transaction were $59.0 million, resulting in a loss of $15.6 million. We also recorded a non-cash gain of $19.9 million related to the disposition of one unconsolidated retail property in satisfaction of its $99.6 million non-recourse mortgage loan. These are included in a gain on acquisitions of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interest in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.
During 2021, we recorded net gains of $176.8 million primarily related to disposition activity which included the foreclosure of three consolidated retail properties in satisfaction of their respective $180.0 million, $120.9 million and $100.0
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million non-recourse mortgage loans. We also disposed of our interest in an unconsolidated property resulting in a gain of $3.4 million.
Joint Venture Formation Activity and Other Investment Activity
On December 19, 2022, we completed the acquisition of a 50% noncontrolling legal ownership interest in Jamestown, a global real estate investment and asset management company, as well as separate interests in certain real estate and working capital, for total cash consideration of $173.4 million.
During the fourth quarter of 2022, we sold to ABG our interests in the licensing venture of Eddie Bauer for additional interests in ABG. As a result, in the fourth quarter of 2022, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain of $159.0 million, representing the difference between the fair value of the interests received and the $98.8 million carrying value of the intellectual property licensing venture less costs to sell. On July 1, 2021, we sold to ABG all of our interests in both the Forever 21 and Brooks Brothers licensing ventures for additional interests in ABG. As a result, in the third quarter of 2021, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain of $159.8 million, representing the difference between the fair value of the interests received and the $102.7 million carrying value of the intellectual property licensing ventures less costs to sell. On December 20, 2021, we sold a portion of our interest in ABG, resulting in a pre-tax gain of $18.8 million. In connection with this transaction, we recorded tax expense of $8.0 million which is included in income and other tax (expense) benefit in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. Subsequently, we acquired additional interests in ABG for cash consideration of $100.0 million. At December 31, 2022, our interest in ABG was approximately 12.3%.
During the first quarter of 2022, SPARC Group acquired certain assets and operations of Reebok and entered into a long-term strategic partnership with ABG to become the core licensee and operating partner for Reebok in the United States.
On June 1, 2021, we and our partner, ABG, acquired the intellectual property of Eddie Bauer. Our noncontrolling interest in the licensing venture is 49% and was acquired for cash consideration of $100.8 million.
In the first quarter of 2021, we and our partner, ABG, each acquired additional 12.5% interests in the licensing and operations of Forever 21, our share of which was $56.3 million, bringing our interest to 50%. Subsequently the Forever 21 operations were merged into SPARC Group.
On December 29, 2020, we completed the acquisition of an 80% ownership interest in TRG, which has an ownership interest in 24 regional, super-regional, and outlet malls in the U.S. and Asia. Under the terms of the transaction, we, through the Operating Partnership, acquired all of Taubman Centers, Inc. common stock for $43.00 per share in cash. Total consideration for the acquisition, including the redemption of Taubman’s $192.5 million 6.5% Series J Cumulative Preferred Shares and its $170.0 million 6.25% Series K Cumulative Preferred Shares, and the issuance of 955,705 Operating Partnership units, was approximately $3.5 billion. Our investment includes the 6.38% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units for $362.5 million issued to us.
On December 7, 2020, we and a group of co-investors acquired certain assets and liabilities of J.C. Penney, a department store retailer, out of bankruptcy. Our noncontrolling interest in the venture is 41.67% and was acquired for cash consideration of $125.0 million.
On February 19, 2020, we and a group of co-investors acquired certain assets and liabilities of Forever 21, a retailer of apparel and accessories, out of bankruptcy. The interests were acquired through two separate joint ventures, a licensing venture and an operating venture. Our noncontrolling interest in each of the retail operations venture and in the licensing venture is 37.5%. Our aggregate investment in the ventures was $67.6 million. In connection with the acquisition of our interest, the Forever 21 joint venture recorded a non-cash bargain purchase gain of which our share of $35.0 million pre-tax is included in income from unconsolidated entities in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.
During 2020, we disposed of our interest in one consolidated retail property. A portion of the gross proceeds on this transaction of $33.4 million was used to partially repay a cross-collateralized mortgage. Our share of the $12.3 million gain is included in (loss) gain on sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.
Development Activity
We routinely incur costs related to construction for significant redevelopment and expansion projects at our properties. Redevelopment and expansion projects, including the addition of anchors, big box tenants, and restaurants are underway at several properties in North America, Europe, and Asia.
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Construction continues on certain redevelopment and new development projects in the U.S. and internationally that are nearing completion. Our share of the costs of all new development, redevelopment and expansion projects currently under construction is approximately $980 million. Simon’s share of remaining net cash funding required to complete the new development and redevelopment projects currently under construction is approximately $239 million. We expect to fund these capital projects with cash flows from operations. We seek a stabilized return on invested capital in the range of 7-10% for all of our new development, expansion and redevelopment projects.
Summary of Capital Expenditures. The following table summarizes total capital expenditures on consolidated properties on a cash basis (in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
| New Developments | | $ | 108 | | $ | 96 | | $ | 27 | |
| Redevelopments and Expansions | | 283 | | 300 | | 399 | | |||
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tenant Allowances | | 207 | | 127 | | 53 | | |||
| Operational Capital Expenditures | | 52 | | 5 | | 5 | | |||
| Total | | $ | 650 | | $ | 528 | | $ | 484 | |
International Development Activity
We typically reinvest net cash flow from our international joint ventures to fund future international development activity. We believe this strategy mitigates some of the risk of our initial investment and our exposure to changes in foreign currencies. We have also funded most of our foreign investments with local currency-denominated borrowings that act as a natural hedge against fluctuations in exchange rates. Our consolidated net income exposure to changes in the volatility of the Euro, Yen, Peso, Won, and other foreign currencies is not material. We expect our share of estimated committed capital for international development projects to be completed with projected delivery in 2023 or 2024 is $199 million, primarily funded through reinvested joint venture cash flow and construction loans.
The following table describes recently completed and new development and expansion projects as well as our share of the estimated total cost as of December 31, 2022 (in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | Gross | | Our | | Our Share of | | Our Share of | | Projected/Actual | ||
| | | | | Leasable | | Ownership | | Projected Net Cost | | Projected Net Cost | | Opening | ||
| Property | Location | Area (sqft) | Percentage | (in Local Currency) | (in USD) (1) | Date | ||||||||
| New Development Projects: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fukaya-Hanazono Premium Outlets | | Fukaya City, Japan | | 296,300 | | 40% | | JPY | 6,153 | | $ | 46.9 | | Opened Oct. - 2022 |
| Paris-Giverny Designer Outlet | | Vernon (Normandy), France | | 228,000 | | 74% | | EUR | 128.9 | | $ | 137.9 | | Apr. - 2023 |
| Expansion: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Busan Premium Outlet Phase 2 | | Busan, South Korea | | 194,000 | | 50% | | KRW | 72,933 | | $ | 57.8 | | Oct. - 2024 |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | USD equivalent based upon December 31, 2022 foreign currency exchange rates. |
Dividends, Distributions and Stock Repurchase Program
Simon paid a common stock dividend of $1.80 per share in the fourth quarter of 2022 and $6.90 per share for the year ended December 31, 2022. The Operating Partnership paid distributions per unit for the same amounts. In 2021, Simon paid dividends of $1.65 and $7.15 per share for the three and twelve month periods ended December 31, 2021, respectively. The Operating Partnership paid distributions per unit for the same amounts. On February 6, 2023, Simon’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend for the first quarter of 2023 of $1.80 per share, payable on March 31, 2023 to shareholders of record on March 10, 2023. The distribution rate on units is equal to the dividend rate on common stock. In order to maintain its status as a REIT, Simon must pay a minimum amount of dividends. Simon’s future dividends and the Operating Partnership’s future distributions will be determined by Simon’s Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, based on actual and projected financial condition, liquidity and results of operations, cash available for dividends and limited partner distributions, cash reserves as deemed necessary for capital and operating expenditures, financing covenants, if any, and the amount required to maintain Simon’s status as a REIT.
On May 9, 2022, Simon's Board of Directors authorized a common stock repurchase plan. Under the plan, Simon may repurchase up to $2.0 billion of its common stock during the two-year period commencing on May 16, 2022 and ending
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on May 16, 2024 in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions as market conditions warrant. During the year ended December 31, 2022, Simon purchased 1,830,022 shares at an average price of $98.57 per share. As Simon repurchases shares under this program, the Operating Partnership repurchases an equal number of units from Simon.
On February 11, 2019, Simon's Board of Directors authorized a common stock repurchase plan. Under the plan, Simon was authorized to repurchase up to $2.0 billion of its common stock during the two-year period ending February 11, 2021 in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions as market conditions warranted. During the year ended December 31, 2020, Simon purchased 1,245,654 shares at an average price of $122.50 per share. As Simon repurchased shares under this program, the Operating Partnership repurchased an equal number of units from Simon.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this press release may be deemed "forward–looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in any forward–looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, the Company can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained, and it is possible that the Company's actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward–looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties, and other factors. Such factors include, but are not limited to: changes in economic and market conditions that may adversely affect the general retail environment, including but not limited to those caused by inflation, recessionary pressures, wars, such as in Ukraine, and supply chain disruptions; the inability to renew leases and relet vacant space at existing properties on favorable terms; the potential loss of anchor stores or major tenants; the inability to collect rent due to the bankruptcy or insolvency of tenants or otherwise; an increase in vacant space at our properties; the potential for violence, civil unrest, criminal activity or terrorist activities at our properties; natural disasters; the availability of comprehensive insurance coverage; the intensely competitive market environment in the retail industry, including e-commerce; security breaches that could compromise our information technology or infrastructure; the increased focus on ESG metrics and reporting; environmental liabilities; our international activities subjecting us to risks that are different from or greater than those associated with our domestic operations, including changes in foreign exchange rates; our continued ability to maintain our status as a REIT; changes in tax laws or regulations that result in adverse tax consequences; risks associated with the acquisition, development, redevelopment, expansion, leasing and management of properties; the inability to lease newly developed properties on favorable terms; the loss of key management personnel; uncertainties regarding the impact of pandemics, epidemics or public health crises, and the associated governmental restrictions on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and liquidity; changes in market rates of interest; the impact of our substantial indebtedness on our future operations, including covenants in the governing agreements that impose restrictions on us that may affect our ability to operate freely; any disruption in the financial markets that may adversely affect our ability to access capital for growth and satisfy our ongoing debt service requirements; any change in our credit rating; risks relating to our joint venture properties, including guarantees of certain joint venture indebtedness; and general risks related to real estate investments, including the illiquidity of real estate investments. The Company discusses these and other risks and uncertainties under the heading "Risk Factors" in Part 1, Item 1A of the Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company may update that discussion in subsequent other periodic reports, but except as required by law, the Company undertakes no duty or obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Industry practice is to evaluate real estate properties in part based on performance measures such as FFO, comparable FFO, diluted FFO per share, NOI, and portfolio NOI. We believe that these non-GAAP measures are helpful to investors because they are widely recognized measures of the performance of REITs and provide a relevant basis for comparison among REITs. We also use these measures internally to measure the operating performance of our portfolio.
We determine FFO based upon the definition set forth by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) Funds From Operations White Paper – 2018 Restatement. Our main business includes acquiring, owning, operating, developing, and redeveloping real estate in conjunction with the rental of real estate. Gains and losses of assets incidental to our main business are included in FFO. We determine FFO to be our share of consolidated net income computed in accordance with GAAP:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | excluding real estate related depreciation and amortization, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | excluding gains and losses from extraordinary items, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | excluding gains and losses from the sale, disposal or property insurance recoveries of, or any impairment related to, depreciable retail operating properties, |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | plus the allocable portion of FFO of unconsolidated joint ventures based upon economic ownership interest, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | all determined on a consistent basis in accordance with GAAP. |
You should understand that our computations of these non-GAAP measures might not be comparable to similar measures reported by other REITs and that these non-GAAP measures:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | do not represent cash flow from operations as defined by GAAP, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | should not be considered as an alternative to net income determined in accordance with GAAP as a measure of operating performance, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | are not an alternative to cash flows as a measure of liquidity. |
The following schedule reconciles total FFO and comparable FFO to consolidated net income and, for Simon, diluted net income per share to diluted FFO per share.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | | ||||||
| | | (in thousands) | | |||||||
| Consolidated Net Income | | $ | 2,452,385 | | $ | 2,568,707 | | $ | 1,277,324 | |
| Adjustments to Arrive at FFO: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Depreciation and amortization from consolidated properties | | 1,214,441 | | 1,254,039 | | 1,308,419 | | |||
| Our share of depreciation and amortization from unconsolidated entities, including Klépierre, TRG and other corporate investments (A) | | 845,784 | | 887,390 | | 536,133 | | |||
| (Gain) loss on acquisition of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net | | (5,647) | | (206,855) | | 114,960 | | |||
| Unrealized losses in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments, net, excluded from FFO (B) | | | — | | | 3,177 | | | 19,632 | |
| Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest holders in properties | | (2,738) | | 6,053 | | 4,378 | | |||
| Noncontrolling interests portion of depreciation and amortization, gain on consolidation of properties, and gain on disposal of properties | | (18,234) | | (20,295) | | (18,631) | | |||
| Preferred distributions and dividends | | (5,252) | | (5,252) | | (5,252) | | |||
| FFO of the Operating Partnership | | $ | 4,480,739 | | $ | 4,486,964 | | $ | 3,236,963 | |
| Unrealized losses in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments, net, included in FFO (B) | | | 61,204 | | | 4,918 | | $ | — | |
| Non-cash gain related to the reversal of a deferred tax liability within an international investment | | | — | | | (118,428) | | | — | |
| Gain on disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net (after tax) | | | (88,314) | | | (122,763) | | | — | |
| Debt related charges | | | — | | | 51,841 | | | — | |
| Comparable FFO of the Operating Partnership | | $ | 4,453,629 | | $ | 4,302,532 | | $ | 3,236,963 | |
| FFO allocable to limited partners | | | 564,946 | | | 564,407 | | | 424,063 | |
| Dilutive FFO allocable to common stockholders | | $ | 3,915,793 | | $ | 3,922,557 | | $ | 2,812,900 | |
| Diluted net income per share to diluted FFO per share reconciliation: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Diluted net income per share | | $ | 6.52 | | $ | 6.84 | | $ | 3.59 | |
| Depreciation and amortization from consolidated properties and our share of depreciation and amortization from unconsolidated entities, including Klépierre, TRG and other corporate investments, net of noncontrolling interests portion of depreciation and amortization (A) | | 5.44 | | 5.64 | | 5.14 | | |||
| (Gain) loss on acquisition of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net | | (0.01) | | (0.55) | | 0.32 | | |||
| Unrealized losses in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments, net, excluded from FFO (B) | | | — | | | 0.01 | | | 0.06 | |
| Diluted FFO per share | | $ | 11.95 | | $ | 11.94 | | $ | 9.11 | |
| Unrealized losses in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments, net, included in FFO (B) | | | 0.16 | | | 0.01 | | $ | — | |
| Non-cash gain related to the reversal of a deferred tax liability within an international investment | | | — | | | (0.32) | | | — | |
| Gain on disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net (after tax) | | | (0.24) | | | (0.33) | | | — | |
| Debt related charges | | | — | | | 0.14 | | | — | |
| Comparable FFO per share | | $ | 11.87 | | $ | 11.44 | | $ | 9.11 | |
| Basic and Diluted weighted average shares outstanding | | 327,817 | | 328,587 | | 308,738 | | |||
| Weighted average limited partnership units outstanding | | 47,295 | | 47,280 | | 46,544 | | |||
| Basic and Diluted weighted average shares and units outstanding | | 375,112 | | 375,867 | | 355,282 | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (A) | The twelve months ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 include amortization of our excess investment in TRG of $195.3 million and $201.7 million, respectively. The three months ended December 31, 2021 includes $56.6 million of additional amortization expense related to the nine months ended September 30, 2021 as a result of the finalization of purchase accounting. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (B) | Unrealized losses in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments, net, excluded from FFO relate to mark-to-market adjustments of retail real estate. Unrealized losses in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments, net, included in FFO relate to mark-to-market adjustments of non-retail real estate. |
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The following schedule reconciles consolidated net income to our beneficial share of NOI.
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | For the Year | ||||
| | | Ended December 31, | ||||
| | 2022 | 2021 | ||||
| | | (in thousands) | ||||
| Reconciliation of NOI of consolidated entities: | | | | | ||
| Consolidated Net Income | | $ | 2,452,385 | | $ | 2,568,707 |
| Income and other tax expense | | 83,512 | | 157,199 | ||
| Gain on disposal, exchange, or revaluation of equity interests, net | | | (121,177) | | | (178,672) |
| Interest expense | | 761,253 | | 795,712 | ||
| Income from unconsolidated entities | | (647,977) | | (782,837) | ||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | | | -- | | | 51,841 |
| Unrealized losses in fair value of publicly traded equity instruments, net | | 61,204 | | 8,095 | ||
| Gain on acquisition of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net | | (5,647) | | (206,855) | ||
| Operating Income Before Other Items | | 2,583,553 | | 2,413,190 | ||
| Depreciation and amortization | | 1,227,371 | | 1,262,715 | ||
| Home and regional office costs | | | 184,592 | | | 184,660 |
| General and administrative | | | 34,971 | | | 30,339 |
| Other expenses (1) | | | 13,413 | | | 19,811 |
| NOI of consolidated entities | | $ | 4,043,900 | | $ | 3,910,715 |
| Less: Noncontrolling interest partners share of NOI | | | (27,685) | | | (20,720) |
| Beneficial NOI of consolidated entities | | $ | 4,016,215 | | $ | 3,889,995 |
| Reconciliation of NOI of unconsolidated entities: | | | | | | |
| Net Income | | $ | 807,435 | | $ | 668,061 |
| Interest expense | | 599,245 | | 605,591 | ||
| Gain on sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities, net | | (50,336) | | (34,814) | ||
| Operating Income Before Other Items | | 1,356,344 | | 1,238,838 | ||
| Depreciation and amortization | | 666,762 | | 686,790 | ||
| Other expenses (1) | | | 1,309 | | | 26,013 |
| NOI of unconsolidated entities | | $ | 2,024,415 | | $ | 1,951,641 |
| Less: Joint Venture partners share of NOI | | | (1,059,095) | | | (1,021,839) |
| Beneficial NOI of unconsolidated entities | | $ | 965,320 | | $ | 929,802 |
| Add: Beneficial interest of NOI from TRG | | | 474,214 | | | 430,965 |
| Add: Beneficial interest of NOI from Other Platform Investments and Investments | | | 604,750 | | | 743,213 |
| Beneficial interest of Combined NOI | | $ | 6,060,499 | | $ | 5,993,975 |
| Less: Beneficial interest of Corporate and Other NOI Sources (2) | | 138,315 | | 230,046 | ||
| Less: Beneficial interest of NOI from Other Platform Investments (3) | | | 355,019 | | | 533,299 |
| Less: Beneficial interest of NOI from Investments (4) | | | 230,984 | | | 182,422 |
| Beneficial interest of Portfolio NOI | | $ | 5,336,181 | | $ | 5,048,208 |
| Beneficial interest of Portfolio NOI Change | | | 5.7 | % | | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | Represents the write-off of pre-development costs, our beneficial interest of which was $11.4 million and $18.3 million with respect to consolidated entities and $0.4 million and $13.0 million with respect to our share of unconsolidated entities, for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (2) | Includes income components excluded from portfolio NOI and domestic property NOI (domestic lease termination income, interest income, land sale gains, straight line lease income, above/below market lease adjustments), Simon management company revenues, foreign exchange impact, and other assets. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (3) | Other Platform Investments include J.C. Penney, SPARC, ABG, and RGG. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (4) | Includes our share of NOI of Klépierre (at constant currency) and other corporate investments. |
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FY 2021 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001558370-22-001845.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto that are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Overview
Simon Property Group, Inc. is a Delaware corporation that operates as a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust, or REIT, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Internal Revenue Code. REITs will generally not be liable for U.S. federal corporate income taxes as long as they distribute not less than 100% of their REIT taxable income. Simon Property Group, L.P. is our majority-owned Delaware partnership subsidiary that owns all of our real estate properties and other assets. In this discussion, unless stated otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references to "Simon" mean Simon Property Group, Inc. and references to the "Operating Partnership" mean Simon Property Group, L.P. References to "we," "us" and "our" mean collectively Simon, the Operating Partnership and those entities/subsidiaries owned or controlled by Simon and/or the Operating Partnership. According to the Operating Partnership's partnership agreement, the Operating Partnership is required to pay all expenses of Simon.
We own, develop and manage premier shopping, dining, entertainment and mixed-use destinations, which consist primarily of malls, Premium Outlets®, and The Mills®. As of December 31, 2021, we owned or held an interest in 199 income-producing properties in the United States, which consisted of 95 malls, 69 Premium Outlets, 14 Mills, six lifestyle centers, and 15 other retail properties in 37 states and Puerto Rico. We also own an 80% noncontrolling interest in The Taubman Realty Group, LLC, or TRG, which has an interest in 24 regional, super-regional, and outlet malls in the U.S. and Asia. In addition, we have redevelopment and expansion projects, including the addition of anchors, big box tenants, and restaurants, underway at several properties in the North America, Europe and Asia. Internationally, as of December 31, 2021, we had ownership in 33 Premium Outlets and Designer Outlet properties primarily located in Asia, Europe, and Canada. We also have two international outlet properties under development. As of December 31, 2021, we also owned a 22.4% equity stake in Klépierre SA, or Klépierre, a publicly traded, Paris-based real estate company, which owns, or has an interest in, shopping centers located in 14 countries in Europe.
We generate the majority of our lease income from retail, dining, entertainment, and other tenants including consideration received from:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | fixed minimum lease consideration and fixed common area maintenance (CAM) reimbursements, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | variable lease consideration primarily based on tenants’ sales, as well as reimbursements for real estate taxes, utilities, marketing and certain other items. |
Revenues of our management company, after intercompany eliminations, consist primarily of management fees that are typically based upon the revenues of the property being managed.
We invest in real estate properties to maximize total financial return which includes both operating cash flows and capital appreciation. We seek growth in earnings, funds from operations, or FFO, and cash flows by enhancing the profitability and operation of our properties and investments. We seek to accomplish this growth through the following:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | attracting and retaining high quality tenants and utilizing economies of scale to reduce operating expenses, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | expanding and re-tenanting existing highly productive locations at competitive rental rates, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | selectively acquiring or increasing our interests in high quality real estate assets or portfolios of assets, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | generating consumer traffic in our retail properties through marketing initiatives and strategic corporate alliances, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | selling selective non-core assets. |
We also grow by generating supplemental revenues from the following activities:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | establishing our malls as leading market resource providers for retailers and other businesses and consumer-focused corporate alliances, including payment systems (such as handling fees relating to the sales of bank-issued prepaid cards), national marketing alliances, static and digital media initiatives, business development, sponsorship, and events, |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | offering property operating services to our tenants and others, including waste handling and facility services, and the provision of energy services, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | selling or leasing land adjacent to our properties, commonly referred to as “outlots” or “outparcels,” and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | generating interest income on cash deposits and investments in loans, including those made to related entities. |
We focus on high quality real estate across the retail real estate spectrum. We expand or redevelop properties to enhance profitability and market share of existing assets when we believe the investment of our capital meets our risk-reward criteria. We selectively develop new properties in markets we believe are not adequately served by existing retail outlet properties.
We routinely review and evaluate acquisition opportunities based on their ability to enhance our portfolio. Our international strategy includes partnering with established real estate companies and financing international investments with local currency to minimize foreign exchange risk.
To support our growth, we employ a three-fold capital strategy:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | provide the capital necessary to fund growth, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | maintain sufficient flexibility to access capital in many forms, both public and private, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | manage our overall financial structure in a fashion that preserves our investment grade credit ratings. |
We consider FFO, net operating income, or NOI, and portfolio NOI to be key measures of operating performance that are not specifically defined by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP. We use these measures internally to evaluate the operating performance of our portfolio and provide a basis for comparison with other real estate companies. Reconciliations of these measures to the most comparable GAAP measure are included below in this discussion.
COVID-19
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the novel strain of coronavirus, or COVID-19, a global pandemic and recommended containment and mitigation measures worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a material negative impact on economic and market conditions around the world, and, notwithstanding the fact that vaccines are being administered in the United States and elsewhere, the pandemic continues to adversely impact economic activity in retail real estate. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve and governments and other authorities, including where we own or hold interests in properties, have imposed at times measures intended to control its spread, including restrictions on freedom of movement, group gatherings and business operations such as travel bans, border closings, business closures, quarantines, stay-at-home, shelter-in-place orders, capacity limitations and social distancing measures. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and these periodic measures, the Company has experienced material impacts including changes in the ability to recognize revenue due to changes in our assessment of the probability of collection of lease income and asset impairment charges as a result of changing cash flows generated by our properties and investments. Due to certain restrictive governmental orders placed on us, our domestic portfolio lost approximately 13,500 shopping days in 2020, the majority of which occurred in the second quarter.
As we developed and implemented our response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions intended to prevent its spread on our business, our primary focus has been on the health and safety of our employees, our shoppers and the communities in which we serve. In the second quarter of 2020, in connection with the property closures, we implemented a series of actions to reduce costs and increase liquidity in light of the economic impacts of the pandemic, including:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | significantly reduced all non-essential corporate spending, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | significantly reduced property operating expenses, including discretionary marketing spend, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | implemented a temporary furlough of certain corporate and field employees due to the closure of the Company’s U.S. properties as a result of restrictive governmental orders; reduced certain corporate and field personnel and implemented a temporary freeze on company hiring efforts, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | suspended more than $1.0 billion of redevelopment and new development projects. |
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Results Overview
Diluted earnings per share and diluted earnings per unit increased $3.25 during 2021 to $6.84 as compared to $3.59 in 2020. The increase in diluted earnings per share and diluted earnings per unit was primarily attributable to:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | improved operating performance and solid core business fundamentals in 2021 and the impact of our acquisition, development and expansion activity, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased income from unconsolidated entities of $563.0 million, or $1.50 per diluted share/unit, primarily due to favorable results of operations from our other platform investments, including earnings from our acquisition of an interest in J.C. Penney in the later part of 2020, and international investments which included the reversal of a previously established deferred tax liability at Klépierre resulting in a non-cash gain, of which our share was $118.4 million, partially offset by amortization of our excess investment in TRG, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased other income of $65.3 million, or $0.17 per diluted share/unit, primarily due to an increase in lease settlement income of $39.8 million, or $0.11 per diluted share/unit, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | a non-cash gain in 2021 on acquisitions and disposals of $203.4 million, or $0.54 per diluted share/unit, related to the disposition of our interest in three properties of $176.8 million, or $0.47 per diluted share/unit, a non-cash gain on the consolidation of one property of $3.7 million, or $0.01 per diluted share/unit, and net gains of $21.0 million, or $0.06 per diluted share/unit, related to property insurance recoveries of previously depreciated assets, primarily due to hurricane, flood and wind storm damage, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | a net loss in 2020 of $115.0 million, or $0.32 per diluted share/unit, primarily related to impairment charges related to Klépierre, an unconsolidated investment, one consolidated property, and three joint venture properties, partially offset by gains from disposition activity, of $14.9 million, or $0.04 per diluted share/unit, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | a non-cash gain in 2021 on the exchange of equity interests of $159.8 million, or $0.43 per diluted share/unit, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | a gain in 2021 on the sale of equity interests of $18.8 million, or $0.05 per diluted share/unit, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | an unrealized favorable change in fair value of equity instruments of $11.5 million, or $0.03 per diluted share/unit, partially offset by |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased tax expense of $161.8 million, or $0.43 per diluted share/unit, primarily due to favorable year-over-year operations from other platform investments and a $55.9 million tax impact created by the gain on sale or exchange of equity interests transactions noted above, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | increased interest expense in 2021 of $11.3 million, or $0.03 per diluted share/unit, due to Term Loan borrowings, which were subsequently replaced by notes issuances to fund our investment in TRG, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | a charge on early extinguishment of debt of $51.8 million, or $0.14 per diluted share/unit, in 2021. |
Portfolio NOI increased 22.3% in 2021 as compared to 2020. Average base minimum rent for U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets decreased 3.4% to $53.91 psf as of December 31, 2021, from $55.80 psf as of December 31, 2020. Ending occupancy for our U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets increased 2.1% to 93.4% as of December 31, 2021, from 91.3% as of December 31, 2020, primarily due to leasing activity, partially offset by 2020 tenant bankruptcy activity.
Our effective overall borrowing rate at December 31, 2021 on our consolidated indebtedness decreased 12 basis points to 2.86% as compared to 2.98% at December 31, 2020. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in the effective overall borrowing rate on variable rate debt of 11 basis points (1.20% at December 31, 2021 as compared to 1.31% at December 31, 2020) and a decrease in the effective overall borrowing rate on fixed rate debt of 22 basis points (3.28% at December 31, 2021 as compared to 3.50% at December 31, 2020). The weighted average years to maturity of our consolidated indebtedness was 7.8 years and 7.3 years at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Our financing activity for the year ended December 31, 2021 included:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | borrowing $1.05 billion under the Operating Partnership’s $3.5 billion unsecured revolving credit facility, or Supplemental Facility, and using a portion of the proceeds to remove the encumbrances with respect to approximately $1.16 billion aggregate principal amount of mortgage loans, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | decreasing our borrowings under the Operating Partnership’s global unsecured commercial paper note program, or the Commercial Paper program, by $123.0 million, |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | completing, on January 21, 2021, the issuance by the Operating Partnership of the following senior unsecured notes: $800 million with a fixed interest rate of 1.75%, $700 million with a fixed interest rate of 2.20%, with maturity dates of February 2028 and 2031, respectively. Proceeds from the unsecured notes offering funded the optional redemption at par of the Operating Partnership’s $550 million 2.50% notes due July 15, 2021, including the make-whole amount on January 27, 2021 and repaid $750.0 million of the indebtedness under the Operating Partnership’s $2.0 billion delayed-draw term loan facility, or Term Facility, which was a feature of, and in addition to, the Operating Partnership’s $4.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility, or Credit Facility, and together with the Supplemental Facility, the Credit Facilities, as discussed below, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | completing, on March 19, 2021, the issuance of €750 million ($893.0 million U.S. dollar equivalent as of the issuance date) of senior unsecured notes at a fixed rate of 1.125% with a maturity date of March 19, 2033. Proceeds from the unsecured notes offering funded the repayment of the remaining indebtedness under the Term Facility, as discussed below, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | repaying, on March 23, 2021, the remaining $1.25 billion outstanding under the Term Facility, reducing the Term Facility balance to zero, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | completing, on August 18, 2021, the issuance by the Operating Partnership of the following senior unsecured notes: $550 million with a fixed interest rate of 1.375% and $700 million with a fixed interest rate of 2.250%, with maturity dates of January 2027 and 2032, respectively. Proceeds from the unsecured notes offering, along with cash on hand, funded the optional redemption, including make-whole amounts, of the following senior unsecured notes: Operating Partnership’s $550 million 2.350% notes due January 30, 2022 and $600 million 2.625% notes due June 15, 2022, in each case on August 25, 2021, and $500 million 2.750% notes due February 1, 2023, on September 9, 2021. |
Subsequently on January 11, 2022, the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of the following senior unsecured notes: $500 million with a floating interest rate of SOFR plus 43 basis points and $700 million with a fixed interest rate of 2.650%, with maturity dates of January 2024 and February 2032, respectively. The Operating Partnership used the net proceeds of the offering to repay $1.05 billion outstanding under the Supplemental Facility and for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of other indebtedness.
United States Portfolio Data
The portfolio data discussed in this overview includes the following key operating statistics: ending occupancy, and average base minimum rent per square foot. We include acquired properties in this data beginning in the year of acquisition and remove disposed properties in the year of disposition. For comparative information purposes, we separate the information related to The Mills from our other U.S. operations. We also do not include any information for properties located outside the United States or properties included in TRG.
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The following table sets forth these key operating statistics for the combined U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | properties that are consolidated in our consolidated financial statements, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | properties we account for under the equity method of accounting as joint ventures, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | the foregoing two categories of properties on a total portfolio basis. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | %/Basis Point | | | | | %/Basis Point | | | | |
| | 2021 | | Change (1) | | 2020 | | Change (1) | | 2019 | |||||
| U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ending Occupancy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Consolidated | | | 93.5 | % | 200 | bps | | 91.5 | % | -380 | bps | | 95.3 | % |
| Unconsolidated | | | 93.1 | % | 220 | bps | | 90.9 | % | -360 | bps | | 94.5 | % |
| Total Portfolio | | | 93.4 | % | 210 | bps | | 91.3 | % | -380 | bps | | 95.1 | % |
| Average Base Minimum Rent per Square Foot | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Consolidated | | $ | 52.59 | | (2.6) | % | $ | 53.98 | | 1.7 | % | $ | 53.06 | |
| Unconsolidated | | $ | 57.55 | | (5.6) | % | $ | 60.97 | | 3.8 | % | $ | 58.71 | |
| Total Portfolio | | $ | 53.91 | | (3.4) | % | $ | 55.80 | | 2.2 | % | $ | 54.59 | |
| The Mills: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ending Occupancy | | 97.6 | % | 230 | bps | 95.3 | % | -170 | bps | 97.0 | % | |||
| Average Base Minimum Rent per Square Foot | | $ | 33.80 | | 0.1 | % | $ | 33.77 | | 2.1 | % | $ | 33.09 | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | Percentages may not recalculate due to rounding. Percentage and basis point changes are representative of the change from the comparable prior period. |
Ending Occupancy Levels and Average Base Minimum Rent per Square Foot. Ending occupancy is the percentage of gross leasable area, or GLA, which is leased as of the last day of the reporting period. We include all company owned space except for mall anchors, mall majors, mall freestanding and mall outlots in the calculation. Base minimum rent per square foot is the average base minimum rent charge in effect for the reporting period for all tenants that would qualify to be included in ending occupancy.
Total Reported Sales per Square Foot. Given all of our U.S. retail properties were closed for a portion of the prior year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are not presenting reported retail tenant sales per square foot as we do not believe the trends for the period are indicative of future operating trends.
Current Leasing Activities
During the twelve months ended December 31, 2021, we signed 992 new leases and 1,460 renewal leases (excluding mall anchors and majors, new development, redevelopment and leases with terms of one year or less) with a fixed minimum rent across our U.S. Malls and Premium Outlets portfolio, comprising approximately 8.3 million square feet, of which 6.5 million square feet related to consolidated properties. During 2020, we signed 460 new leases and 1,175 renewal leases with a fixed minimum rent, comprising approximately 6.1 million square feet, of which 4.8 million square feet related to consolidated properties. The average annual initial base minimum rent for new leases was $55.90 per square foot in 2021 and $53.97 per square foot in 2020 with an average tenant allowance on new leases of $53.75 per square foot and $51.01 per square foot, respectively.
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Japan Data
The following are selected key operating statistics for our Premium Outlets in Japan. The information used to prepare these statistics has been supplied by the managing venture partner.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | December 31, | %/basis point | December 31, | %/basis point | December 31, | ||||||||
| | 2021 | | Change | | 2020 | | Change | | 2019 | ||||
| Ending Occupancy | | 99.8% | | +30 bps | | | 99.5% | | +0 bps | | | 99.5% | |
| Average Base Minimum Rent per Square Foot | ¥ | 5,509 | | 1.14% | | ¥ | 5,447 | | 3.38% | | ¥ | 5,269 | |
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, requires management to use judgment in the application of accounting policies, including making estimates and assumptions. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. These judgments affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. If our judgment or interpretation of the facts and circumstances relating to various transactions had been different, it is possible that different accounting policies would have been applied resulting in a different presentation of our financial statements. From time to time, we reevaluate our estimates and assumptions. In the event estimates or assumptions prove to be different from actual results, adjustments are made in subsequent periods to reflect more current information. Below is a discussion of accounting policies that we consider critical in that they may require complex judgment in their application or require estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain. For a summary of our significant accounting policies, see Note 3 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | We, as a lessor, retain substantially all of the risks and benefits of ownership of the investment properties and account for our leases as operating leases. We accrue fixed lease income on a straight-line basis over the terms of the leases, when we believe substantially all lease income, including the related straight-line rent receivable, is probable of collection. Our assessment of collectability incorporates available operational performance measures such as sales and the aging of billed amounts as well as other publicly available information with respect to our tenant’s financial condition, liquidity and capital resources, including declines in such conditions due to, or amplified by, the COVID-19 pandemic. When a tenant seeks to reorganize its operations through bankruptcy proceedings, we assess the collectability of receivable balances including, among other things, the timing of a tenant’s bankruptcy filing and our expectations of the assumption by the tenant in bankruptcy proceeding of leases at the Company’s properties on substantially similar terms. In the event that we determine accrued receivables are not probable of collection, lease income will be recorded on a cash basis, with the corresponding tenant receivable and straight-line rent receivable charged as a direct write-off against lease income in the period of the change in our collectability determination. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | We review investment properties for impairment on a property-by-property basis to identify and evaluate events or changes in circumstances which indicate that the carrying value of investment properties may not be recoverable. These circumstances include, but are not limited to, changes in a property’s operational performance such as declining cash flows, occupancy or total sales per square foot, the Company’s intent and ability to hold the related asset, and, if applicable, the remaining time to maturity of underlying financing arrangements. We measure any impairment of investment property when the estimated undiscounted operating income before depreciation and amortization during the anticipated holding period plus its residual value is less than the carrying value of the property. To the extent impairment has occurred, we charge to income the excess of carrying value of the property over our estimate of its fair value. We also review our investments, including investments in unconsolidated entities, to identify and evaluate whether events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of our investments may not be recoverable. We will record an impairment charge if we determine the fair value of the investments are less than their carrying value and such impairment is other-than-temporary. Our evaluation of changes in economic or operating conditions and whether an impairment is other-than-temporary may include developing estimates of fair value, forecasted cash flows or operating income before depreciation and amortization. We estimate undiscounted cash flows and fair value using observable and unobservable data such as operating income, hold periods, estimated capitalization and discount rates, or relevant market multiples, leasing prospects and local market information and whether certain impairments are other-than-temporary. Changes in economic and operating conditions, including changes in the financial condition of our tenants, and changes to our intent and ability to hold the related asset, that occur subsequent to our review |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| of recoverability of investment property and other investments could impact the assumptions used in that assessment and could result in future charges to earnings if assumptions regarding those investments differ from actual results. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | To maintain Simon’s status as a REIT, we must distribute at least 90% of REIT taxable income in any given year and meet certain asset and income tests. We monitor our business and transactions that may potentially impact Simon’s REIT status. In the unlikely event that we fail to maintain Simon’s REIT status, and available relief provisions do not apply, we would be required to pay U.S. federal income taxes at regular corporate income tax rates during the period Simon did not qualify as a REIT. If Simon lost its REIT status, it could not elect to be taxed as a REIT for four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost unless its failure was due to reasonable cause and certain other conditions were met. As a result, failing to maintain REIT status would result in a significant increase in the income tax expense recorded and paid during those periods. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | In the period of a significant acquisition of real estate, we make estimates as part of our valuation of the purchase price of asset acquisitions (including the components of excess investment in joint ventures) to the various components of the acquisition based upon the relative fair value of each component. The most significant components of our real estate valuations are typically the determination of relative fair value to the buildings as-if-vacant, land and market value of in-place leases. In the case of the fair value of buildings and fair value of land and other intangibles, our estimates of the values of these components will affect the amount of depreciation or amortization we record over the estimated useful life of the property acquired or the remaining lease term. In the case of the market value of in-place leases, we make our best estimates of the tenants’ ability to pay rents based upon the tenants’ operating performance at the property, including the competitive position of the property in its market as well as sales psf, rents psf, and overall occupancy cost for the tenants in place at the acquisition date. Our assumptions affect the amount of future revenue that we will recognize over the remaining lease term for the acquired in-place leases. |
Results of Operations
In addition to the activity discussed above in the “Results Overview” section, the following acquisitions, dispositions, and openings of consolidated properties affected our consolidated results in the comparative periods:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During 2021, we disposed of three retail properties. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the first quarter of 2021, we consolidated one Designer Outlet property in Europe that had previously been accounted for under the equity method. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the fourth quarter of 2020, we disposed of one consolidated retail property. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On September 19, 2019, we acquired the remaining 50% interest in a hotel adjacent to one of our properties from our joint venture partner. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the third quarter of 2019, we disposed of two retail properties. |
In addition to the activities discussed above and in “Results Overview”, the following acquisitions, dispositions, and openings of noncontrolling interests in joint venture entities affected our income from unconsolidated entities in the comparative periods:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | During the fourth quarter of 2021, we disposed of our noncontrolling interest in one retail property. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On December 20, 2021, we sold a portion of our interest in ABG for cash consideration of $65.5 million and purchased additional interests in ABG for cash consideration of $100.0 million. Our noncontrolling interest in ABG is approximately 10.4%. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On October 15, 2021, we opened Jeju Premium Outlet, a 92,000 square foot center in Jeju Province, South Korea. We own 50% interest in this center. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On July 1, 2021, we contributed to ABG all of our interests in the licensing ventures of Forever 21 and Brooks Brothers for additional interests in ABG. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On June 1, 2021, we and our partner, ABG, acquired the licensing rights of Eddie Bauer. Our non-controlling interest in the licensing venture is 49% and was acquired for cash consideration of $100.8 million. |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On April 12, 2021, we opened West Midlands Designer Outlet, a 197,000 square foot center in Cannock, United Kingdom. We own 23.2% interest in this center. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | In the first quarter of 2021, we and our partner, ABG, both acquired additional 12.5% interests in the licensing and operations of Forever 21 for $56.3 million bringing our interest to 50%. Subsequently the Forever 21 operations were merged into SPARC Group. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On December 29, 2020, we completed the acquisition of an 80% ownership interest in TRG. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On December 7, 2020, we and a group of co-investors acquired certain assets and liabilities of J.C. Penney, a department store retailer, out of bankruptcy. Our interest in the venture is 41.67%. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On June 23, 2020, we opened Siam Premium Outlets, a 264,000 square foot center in Bangkok, Thailand. We own a 50% interest in this center. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On February 19, 2020 we and a group of co-investors acquired certain assets and liabilities of Forever 21, a retailer of apparel and accessories, out of bankruptcy. The interests were acquired through two separate joint ventures, a licensing venture and an operating venture. Our interest in each of the retail operations venture and in the licensing venture is 37.5%. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On February 13, 2020 through our European investee, we opened Malaga Designer Outlets, a 191,000 square foot center in Malaga, Spain. We own a 46% interest in this center. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | In January 2020, we acquired additional interests of 5.05% and 1.37% in SPARC Group, formerly known as Aeropostale and Authentic Brands Groups, LLC, or ABG, respectively. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On October 16, 2019 we acquired a 45% interest in Rue Gilt Groupe, or RGG, to create a new multi-platform venture dedicated to digital value shopping. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | On May 22, 2019, we and our partner opened Premium Outlets Querétaro, a 274,800 square foot center in Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico. We own a 50% interest in this center. |
For the purposes of the following comparisons between the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 and the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the above transactions are referred to as the property transactions. In the following discussions of our results of operations, “comparable” refers to properties we owned and operated in both years in the year to year comparisons.
Year Ended December 31, 2021 vs. Year Ended December 31, 2020
Lease income increased $434.4 million, of which the property transactions accounted for a $17.6 million decrease. Comparable lease income increased $452.0 million, or 10.6%. Total lease income increased primarily due to an increase in variable lease income of $603.8 million primarily related to higher consideration based on tenant sales and lower negative variable lease income due to abatements granted in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by decreases in fixed minimum lease and CAM consideration recorded on a straight-line basis of $169.4 million.
Total other income increased $65.3 million, primarily due to an increase in lease settlement income of $39.8 million, a $14.9 million gain on the sale of our interest in a multi-family residential property, an $11.5 million increase related to Simon Brand Ventures and gift card revenues, a $6.8 million increase from the non-cash dilution gain on a non-retail investment, and a $3.3 million net increase in dividend, interest and other income, partially offset by a $7.8 million decrease related to higher land and outparcel sale activity in 2020, and a $3.2 million decrease related to business interruption proceeds received in 2020.
Property operating expenses increased $66.6 million primarily due to the reopening of properties that had been closed during 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect of the restrictions intended to prevent its spread and cost reduction efforts, as previously discussed.
Repairs and maintenance expenses increased $15.5 million primarily due to the reopening of properties that had been closed during 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect of the restrictions intended to prevent its spread and cost reduction efforts, as previously discussed.
Advertising and promotion expenses increased $15.7 million primarily due to the reopening of properties that had been closed during 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect of the restrictions intended to prevent its spread and cost reduction efforts.
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General and administrative expense increased $7.8 million primarily due to an increase in executive compensation.
Other expense increased $2.8 million primarily due to an increase in the write-off of development projects we are no longer intending to pursue, partially offset by a decrease related to legal fees.
During 2021, we recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $51.8 million as a result of the early redemption of unsecured notes and the payoff of mortgages at nine properties.
During 2021, we recorded gains on sale or exchange of equity interests of $178.7 million as a result of the contribution to ABG of all of our interests in the licensing ventures of Forever 21 and Brooks Brothers in exchange for additional interests in ABG and the sale of a portion of our interest in ABG, as discussed further in footnote 6.
Income and other tax (expense) benefit increased $161.8 million due to increased deferred tax expense as a result of the ABG transactions noted above which had a non-cash tax impact of $55.9 million and $92.1 million related to strong operating performance of our other platform investments as well as earnings from our acquisition of an interest in certain retailers throughout 2020.
Income from unconsolidated entities increased $563.0 million primarily due to favorable results of operations from our other platform investments, including earnings from our acquisition of an interest in J.C. Penney in the later part of 2020, and international investments which included the reversal of a previously established deferred tax liability at Klépierre resulting in a non-cash gain, of which our share was $118.4 million, partially offset by amortization of our excess investment in TRG.
During 2021, we recorded gains of $184.0 million related to the disposition of three consolidated properties, our interest in one unconsolidated property and the impact from the consolidation of one property that was previously unconsolidated, and gains of $21.2 million related to property insurance recoveries of previously depreciated assets. During 2020, we recorded $125.6 million of impairment charges related to one consolidated property, an other-than-temporary impairment on our equity investment in three joint venture properties, an other-than-temporary impairment to reduce an investment to its estimated fair value, and a $4.3 million loss, net, related to the impairment and disposition of certain assets by Klépierre, partially offset by a $12.3 million gain on the disposal of our interest in one consolidated property, a $1.9 million excess gain on insurance proceeds related to our two properties in Puerto Rico and a $1.0 million gain related to the disposition of a shopping center by one of our joint venture investments.
Simon’s net income attributable to noncontrolling interests increased $154.3 million due to an increase in the net income of the Operating Partnership.
Year Ended December 31, 2020 vs. Year Ended December 31, 2019
Lease income decreased $941.4 million, of which the property transactions accounted for $3.9 million of the decrease. Comparable lease income decreased $937.5 million, or 17.9%. Total lease income decreased primarily due to decreases in fixed minimum lease and CAM consideration recorded on a straight-line basis of $422.0 million and reduced variable lease income of $519.4 million, primarily related to lower consideration based on tenant sales and negative variable lease income due to abatements as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Total other income decreased $190.2 million, primarily due to a $75.7 million decrease related to Simon Brand Venture and gift card revenues, a $68.0 million decrease related to a gain on settlement with our former insurance broker in 2019, a $16.2 million gain on the 2019 sale of our interest in a multi-family residential property, a $10.9 million decrease in distributions from investments, a $9.1 million decrease in interest income and lower business interruption insurance proceeds received in connection with our two Puerto Rico properties as a result of hurricane damages of $5.2 million, partially offset by a $6.2 million gain on a partial sale and mark-to-market adjustment of our retained interest in a non-retail investment and a $4.1 million gain related to the sale of outparcels.
Property operating expenses decreased $104.0 million primarily due to the closure of properties as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and governmental restrictions intended to prevent its spread and cost reduction efforts, as previously discussed.
Repairs and maintenance expenses decreased $19.6 million primarily due to the closure of properties as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and governmental restrictions intended to prevent its spread and cost reduction efforts, as previously discussed.
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Advertising and promotion decreased $51.7 million primarily due to the closure of properties as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and governmental restrictions intended to prevent its spread and cost reduction efforts, as previously discussed.
General and administrative expense decreased $12.3 million due to lower executive compensation.
Other expense increased $32.7 million primarily related to an increase in legal fees and expenses.
During 2019, we recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $116.3 million as a result of the early redemption of senior unsecured notes.
Income and other tax expense changed by $34.7 million primarily as a result of a higher tax benefit due to larger losses on our share of operating results in the retail operations venture of SPARC Group as compared to 2019, and reduced withholding and income taxes related to certain of our international investments, partially offset by tax expense from a bargain purchase gain recorded as a result of the acquisition of our interest in Forever 21.
Income from unconsolidated entities decreased $224.5 million primarily due to unfavorable year-over-year domestic and international property operations, as well as results of operations from our other platform investments, both of which were impacted by COVID-19 disruption, partially offset by a $35.0 million pre-tax non-cash bargain purchase gain recorded as a result of the acquisition of our interest in Forever 21 and a gain from the sale of a non-retail asset, of which our share was $17.8 million.
During 2020, we recorded $125.6 million of impairment charges related to one consolidated property, an other-than-temporary impairment on our equity investment in three joint venture properties, an other-than-temporary impairment to reduce an investment to its estimated fair value, and a $4.3 million loss, net, related to the impairment and disposition of certain assets by Klépierre, partially offset by a $12.3 million gain on the disposal of our interest in one consolidated property, a $1.9 million excess gain on insurance proceeds related to our two properties in Puerto Rico and a $1.0 million gain related to the disposition of a shopping center by one of our joint venture investments. During 2019, we recorded net gains of $62.1 million primarily related to Klépierre’s disposition of certain shopping centers, offset by a $47.2 million impairment charge related to an unconsolidated investment.
Simon’s net income attributable to noncontrolling interests decreased $156.8 million due to a decrease in the net income of the Operating Partnership.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Because we own long-lived income-producing assets, our financing strategy relies primarily on long-term fixed rate debt. Floating rate debt comprised only 7.6% of our total consolidated debt at December 31, 2021. We also enter into interest rate protection agreements from time to time to manage our interest rate risk. We derive most of our liquidity from positive net cash flow from operations and distributions of capital from unconsolidated entities that totaled $3.9 billion in the aggregate during 2021. The Credit Facilities and the Commercial Paper program provide alternative sources of liquidity as our cash needs vary from time to time. Borrowing capacity under these sources may be increased as discussed further below.
Our balance of cash and cash equivalents decreased $477.7 million during 2021 to $533.9 million as of December 31, 2021 as further discussed below.
On December 31, 2021, we had an aggregate available borrowing capacity of approximately $5.8 billion under the Facilities, net of outstanding borrowings of $1.18 billion, amounts outstanding under the Commercial Paper program of $500.0 million and letters of credit of $11.8 million. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the maximum aggregate outstanding balance under the Credit Facilities was $2.1 billion and the weighted average outstanding balance was $519.9 million. The weighted average interest rate was 0.85% for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Simon has historically had access to public equity markets and the Operating Partnership has historically had access to private and public, short and long-term unsecured debt markets and access to secured debt and private equity from institutional investors at the property level.
Our business model and Simon’s status as a REIT require us to regularly access the debt markets to raise funds for acquisition, development and redevelopment activity, and to refinance maturing debt. Simon may also, from time to time, access the equity capital markets to accomplish our business objectives. We believe we have sufficient cash on hand and availability under the Credit Facilities and the Commercial Paper program to address our debt maturities and capital needs through 2022.
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Cash Flows
Our net cash flow from operating activities and distributions of capital from unconsolidated entities totaled $3.9 billion during 2021. In addition, we had net repayments of debt from our debt financing and repayment activities of $0.8 billion in 2021. These activities are further discussed below under “Financing and Debt.” During 2021, we also:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | funded the acquisition of the licensing venture of Eddie Bauer, acquired additional interests in the licensing and operations of Forever 21 and acquired additional interest in ABG, the aggregate cash portion of which was $257.1 million, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | paid stockholder dividends and unitholder distributions totaling approximately $2.7 billion and preferred unit distributions totaling $5.3 million, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | funded consolidated capital expenditures of $527.9 million (including development and other costs of $96.3 million, redevelopment and expansion costs of $299.8 million, and tenant costs and other operational capital expenditures of $131.8 million), |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | funded investments in unconsolidated entities of $56.9 million, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | funded investments in equity instruments of $33.6 million, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | received proceeds from the sale of equity instruments of $65.5 million. |
In general, we anticipate that cash generated from operations will be sufficient to meet operating expenses, monthly debt service, recurring capital expenditures, and dividends to stockholders and/or distributions to partners necessary to maintain Simon’s REIT qualification on a long-term basis. At this time, we do not expect the impact of COVID-19 to impact our ability to fund these needs for the foreseeable future; however its ultimate impact is difficult to predict. In addition, we expect to be able to generate or obtain capital for nonrecurring capital expenditures, such as acquisitions, major building redevelopments and expansions, as well as for scheduled principal maturities on outstanding indebtedness, from the following, however a severe and prolonged disruption and instability in the global financial markets, including the debt and equity capital markets, may affect our ability to access necessary capital:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | excess cash generated from operating performance and working capital reserves, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | borrowings on the Credit Facilities and Commercial Paper program, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | additional secured or unsecured debt financing, or |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | additional equity raised in the public or private markets. |
We expect to generate positive cash flow from operations in 2022, and we consider these projected cash flows in our sources and uses of cash. These cash flows are principally derived from rents paid by our tenants. A significant deterioration in projected cash flows from operations, including one due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions intended to restrict its spread, could cause us to increase our reliance on available funds from the Credit Facilities and Commercial Paper program, further curtail planned capital expenditures, or seek other additional sources of financing.
Financing and Debt
Unsecured Debt
At December 31, 2021, our unsecured debt consisted of $18.4 billion of senior unsecured notes of the Operating Partnership, $125.0 million outstanding under the Credit Facility, $1.05 billion outstanding under the Supplemental Facility and $500.0 million outstanding under the Commercial Paper program.
The Credit Facility also included an additional single, delayed-draw $2.0 billion term loan facility, or Term Facility, or together with the Credit Facility and the Supplemental Facility, the Facilities, which the Operating Partnership drew on December 15, 2020, which was recorded in 2021.
In November 2021, we amended our Credit Facility to transition the borrowing rates from LIBOR to successor benchmark indexes. The Credit Facility can be increased in the form of additional commitments in an aggregate not to exceed $1.0 billion, for a total aggregate size of $5.0 billion, subject to obtaining additional lender commitments and satisfying certain customary conditions precedent. Borrowings may be denominated in U.S. dollars, Euro, Yen, Pounds, Sterling, Canadian dollars and Australian dollars. Borrowings in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are limited to 95% of
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the maximum revolving credit amount, as defined. The initial maturity date of the Credit Facility is June 30, 2024. The Credit Facility can be extended for two additional six-month periods to June 30, 2025, at our sole option, subject to satisfying certain customary conditions precedent.
Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest, at our election, at either (i) (x) for Term Benchmark Loans, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, the applicable Local Rate, the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, or the Adjusted TIBOR Rate, (y) for RFR Loans, if denominated in Sterling, SONIA plus a benchmark adjustment and if denominated in Dollars, Daily Simple SOFR plus a benchmark adjustment, or (z) for Daily SOFR Loans, the Adjusted Floating Overnight Daily SOFR Rate, in each case of clauses (x) through (z) above, plus a margin determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.650% and 1.400% or (ii) for loans denominated in U.S. Dollars only, the base rate (which rate is equal to the greatest of the prime rate, the federal funds effective rate plus 0.500% or Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for one month plus 1.000%) (the “Base Rate”), plus a margin determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.000% and 0.400%. The Credit Facility includes a facility fee determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.100% and 0.300% on the aggregate revolving commitments under the Credit Facility. Based upon our current credit ratings, the interest rate on the Credit Facility is SOFR plus 72.5 basis points, plus a spread adjustment to account for the transition from LIBOR to SOFR.
In October 2021, we amended, restated, and extended the Supplemental Facility. The Supplemental Facility’s initial borrowing capacity of $3.5 billion may be increased to $4.5 billion during its term and provides for borrowings denominated in U.S. dollars, Euro, Yen, Pounds, Sterling, Canadian dollars and Australian dollars. Borrowings in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are limited to 100% of the maximum revolving credit amount, as defined. The initial maturity date of the Supplemental Facility is January 31, 2026 and can be extended for an additional year to January 31, 2027 at our sole option, subject to satisfying certain customary conditions precedent.
Borrowings under the Supplemental Facility bear interest, at our election, at either (i) (x) for Term Benchmark Loans, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, the applicable Local Rate, the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, or the Adjusted TIBOR Rate, (y) for RFR Loans, if denominated in Sterling, SONIA plus a benchmark adjustment and if denominated in Dollars, Daily Simple SOFR plus a benchmark adjustment, or (z) for Daily SOFR Loans, the Adjusted Floating Overnight Daily SOFR Rate, in each case of clauses (x) through (z) above, plus a margin determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.650% and 1.400% or (ii) for loans denominated in U.S. Dollars only, the base rate (which rate is equal to the greatest of the prime rate, the federal funds effective rate plus 0.500% or Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for one month plus 1.000%) (the “Base Rate”), plus a margin determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.000% and 0.400%. The Supplemental Facility includes a facility fee determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.100% and 0.300% on the aggregate revolving commitments under the Supplemental Facility. Based upon our current credit ratings, the interest rate on the Supplemental Facility is SOFR plus 72.5 basis points, plus a spread adjustment to account for the transition from LIBOR to SOFR.
On December 31, 2021, we had an aggregate available borrowing capacity of $5.8 billion under the Facilities. The maximum aggregate outstanding balance under the Facilities during the year ended December 31, 2021 was $2.1 billion and the weighted average outstanding balance was $519.9 million. Letters of credit of $11.8 million were outstanding under the Facilities as of December 31, 2021.
The Operating Partnership also has available a Commercial Paper program of $2.0 billion, or the non-U.S. dollar equivalent thereof. The Operating Partnership may issue unsecured commercial paper notes, denominated in U.S. dollars, Euro and other currencies. Notes issued in non-U.S. currencies may be issued by one or more subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership and are guaranteed by the Operating Partnership. Notes will be sold under customary terms in the U.S. and Euro commercial paper note markets and rank (either by themselves or as a result of the guarantee described above) pari passu with the Operating Partnership's other unsecured senior indebtedness. The Commercial Paper program is supported by the Credit Facilities, and if necessary or appropriate, we may make one or more draws under either of the Credit Facilities to pay amounts outstanding from time to time on the Commercial Paper program. On December 31, 2021, we had $500.0 million outstanding under the Commercial Paper program, fully comprised of U.S. dollar denominated notes with a weighted average interest rate of 0.22%. These borrowings have a weighted average maturity date of January 23, 2022 and reduce amounts otherwise available under the Credit Facilities.
On July 9, 2020, the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of the following senior unsecured notes: $500.0 million with a fixed interest rate of 3.50%, $750 million with a fixed interest rate of 2.650%, and $750 million with a fixed interest rate of 3.80%, with maturity dates of September 2025 (the “2025” Notes”), June 2030, and June 2050, respectively. The 2025 Notes were issued as additional notes under an indenture pursuant to which the Operating Partnership previously issued $600 million principal amount of 3.50% senior notes due September 2025 on August 17, 2015. Proceeds from the unsecured notes offering funded the optional redemption at par of senior unsecured notes in July and August 2020, as discussed below, and repaid a portion of the indebtedness under the Facilities.
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On July 10, 2020 the Operating Partnership repaid $1.75 billion under the Credit Facility and $750.0 million under the Supplemental Facility.
On July 22, 2020, the Operating Partnership completed the optional redemption at par of its $500 million 2.50% notes due September 1, 2020.
On August 6, 2020 the Operating Partnership completed the optional redemption at par of its €375 million 2.375% notes due October 2, 2020.
On January 21, 2021 the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of the following senior unsecured notes: $800 million with a fixed interest rate of 1.750%, and $700 million with a fixed interest rate of 2.20%, with maturity dates of February 2028 and 2031, respectively.
On January 27, 2021 the Operating Partnership completed the planned optional redemption of its $550 million 2.50% notes due on July 15, 2021, including the make-whole amount. Further, on February 2, 2021 the Operating Partnership repaid $750 million under the Term Facility.
On March 19, 2021, the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of €750 million ($893.0 million U.S. dollar equivalent as of the issuance date) of senior unsecured notes at a fixed rate of 1.125% with a maturity date of March 19, 2033, the proceeds of which were used on March 23, 2021 to repay the remaining $1.25 billion under the Term Facility reducing it to zero.
On August 18, 2021, the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of the following senior unsecured notes: $550 million with a fixed interest rate of 1.375%, and $700 million with a fixed interest rate of 2.250%, with maturity dates of January 15, 2027, and 2032, respectively.
In the third quarter of 2021, the Operating Partnership completed the optional redemption of all of its outstanding $550 million 2.350% notes due on January 30, 2022, $600 million 2.625% notes due on June 15, 2022, and $500 million 2.750% notes due on February 1, 2023. We recorded a $28.6 million loss on extinguishment of debt as a result on the optional redemptions.
On December 14, 2021, the Operating Partnership drew $1.05 billion under the Supplemental Facility, the proceeds of which funded the early extinguishment of nine mortgages with a principal balance of $1.16 billion. We recorded a $20.3 million loss on extinguishment of debt as a result of this transaction.
On January 11, 2022, the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of the following senior unsecured notes: $500 million with a floating interest rate of SOFR plus 43 basis points, and $700 million with a fixed interest rate of 2.650%, with maturity dates of January 11, 2024 and February 1, 2032, respectively. The proceeds were used to repay $1.05 billion outstanding under the Supplemental Facility on January 12, 2022.
Mortgage Debt
Total consolidated mortgage indebtedness, which is typically secured by the underlying assets and non-recourse to the Operating Partnership, was $5.4 billion and $7.0 billion at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Covenants
Our unsecured debt agreements contain financial covenants and other non-financial covenants. If we were to fail to comply with these covenants, after the expiration of the applicable cure periods, the debt maturity could be accelerated or other remedies could be sought by the lender, including adjustments to the applicable interest rate. As of December 31, 2021, we were in compliance with all covenants of our unsecured debt.
At December 31, 2021, our consolidated subsidiaries were the borrowers under 36 non-recourse mortgage notes secured by mortgages on 39 properties and other assets, including two separate pools of cross-defaulted and cross-collateralized mortgages encumbering a total of five properties. Under these cross-default provisions, a default under any mortgage included in the cross-defaulted pool may constitute a default under all mortgages within that pool and may lead to acceleration of the indebtedness due on each property within the pool. Certain of our secured debt instruments contain financial and other non-financial covenants which are specific to the properties that serve as collateral for that debt. If the applicable borrower under these non-recourse mortgage notes were to fail to comply with these covenants, the lender could accelerate the debt and enforce its rights against their collateral. At December 31, 2021, the applicable borrowers under these non-recourse mortgage notes were in compliance with all covenants where non-compliance could individually
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or in the aggregate, giving effect to applicable cross-default provisions, have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.
Summary of Financing
Our consolidated debt, adjusted to reflect outstanding derivative instruments, and the effective weighted average interest rates as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | Effective | | | Effective | |||||
| | | Adjusted Balance | | Weighted | | Adjusted | | Weighted | |||
| | | as of | | Average | | Balance as of | | Average | |||
| Debt Subject to | | December 31, 2021 | Interest Rate(1) | | December 31, 2020 | Interest Rate(1) | | ||||
| Fixed Rate | | $ | 23,364,566 | 2.99% | | $ | 23,477,498 | 3.50% | | ||
| Variable Rate | | 1,956,456 | 1.22% | | 3,245,863 | 1.31% | | ||||
| | | $ | 25,321,022 | 2.86% | | $ | 26,723,361 | 2.98% | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | Effective weighted average interest rate excludes the impact of net discounts and debt issuance costs. |
Contractual Obligations and Off-balance Sheet Arrangements
In regards to long-term debt arrangements, the following table summarizes the material aspects of these future obligations on our consolidated indebtedness as of December 31, 2021, and subsequent years thereafter (dollars in thousands) assuming the obligations remain outstanding through initial maturities:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 2022 | 2023-2024 | 2025-2026 | After 2026 | Total | |||||||||||
| Long Term Debt (1) (2) | | $ | 1,898,889 | | $ | 4,059,530 | | $ | 6,589,689 | | $ | 12,861,700 | | $ | 25,409,808 | |
| Interest Payments (3) | | 718,712 | | 1,308,849 | | 977,571 | | 3,771,163 | | 6,776,295 | | |||||
| Consolidated Capital Expenditure Commitments (3) | | 236,318 | | — | | — | | — | | 236,318 | | |||||
| Lease Commitments (4) | | 32,838 | | 66,093 | | 66,262 | | 855,079 | | 1,020,272 | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | Represents principal maturities only and, therefore, excludes net discounts and debt issuance costs. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (2) | Variable rate interest payments are estimated based on the LIBOR or other applicable rate at December 31, 2021. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (3) | Represents contractual commitments for capital projects and services at December 31, 2021. Our share of estimated 2022 development, redevelopment and expansion activity is further discussed below under “Development Activity”. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (4) | Represents only the minimum non-cancellable lease period, excluding applicable lease extension and renewal options, unless reasonably certain of exercise. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (5) | The amount due in 2022 includes $500.0 million in Global Commercial Paper. |
Our off-balance sheet arrangements consist primarily of our investments in joint ventures which are common in the real estate industry and are described in Note 6 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements. Our joint ventures typically fund their cash needs through secured non-recourse debt financings obtained by and in the name of the joint venture entity. The joint venture debt is secured by a first mortgage, is without recourse to the joint venture partners, and does not represent a liability of the partners, except to the extent the partners or their affiliates expressly guarantee the joint venture debt. As of December 31, 2021, the Operating Partnership guaranteed joint venture-related mortgage indebtedness of $209.9 million. Mortgages guaranteed by the Operating Partnership are secured by the property of the joint venture which could be sold in order to satisfy the outstanding obligation and which has an estimated fair value in excess of the guaranteed amount. We may elect to fund cash needs of a joint venture through equity contributions (generally on a basis proportionate to our ownership interests), advances or partner loans, although such fundings are not required contractually or otherwise.
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Hurricane Impacts
As discussed further in Note 10 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements, during the third quarter of 2017, two of our wholly-owned properties located in Puerto Rico sustained significant property damage and business interruption as a result of Hurricane Maria.
Since the date of the loss, we have received $84.0 million of insurance proceeds from third-party carriers related to the two properties located in Puerto Rico, of which $48.3 million was used for property restoration and remediation and to reduce the insurance recovery receivable. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, we recorded $2.1 million and $5.2 million, respectively, as business interruption income, which was recorded in other income in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.
During the third quarter of 2020, one of our properties located in Texas experienced property damage and business interruption as a result of Hurricane Hanna. We wrote-off assets of approximately $9.6 million, and recorded an insurance recovery receivable, and have received $14.0 million of insurance proceeds from third-party carriers. The proceeds were used for property restoration and remediation and reduced the insurance recovery receivable. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we recorded a $3.5 million gain related to property insurance recovery of previously depreciated assets. This amount was recorded in gain (loss) on acquisition of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net.
During the third quarter of 2020, one of our properties located in Louisiana experienced property damage and business interruption as a result of Hurricane Laura. We wrote-off assets of approximately $11.1 million and recorded an insurance recovery receivable, and have received $27.5 million of insurance proceeds from third-party carriers. The proceeds were used for property restoration and remediation and reduced the insurance recovery receivable. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we recorded a $17.5 million gain related to property insurance recovery of previously depreciated assets. This amount was recorded in gain (loss) on acquisition of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net.
Acquisitions and Dispositions
Buy-sell, marketing rights, and other exit mechanisms are common in real estate partnership agreements. Most of our partners are institutional investors who have a history of direct investment in retail real estate. We and our partners in our joint venture properties may initiate these provisions (subject to any applicable lock up or similar restrictions). If we determine it is in our best interests for us to purchase the joint venture interest and we believe we have adequate liquidity to execute the purchase without hindering our cash flows, then we may initiate these provisions or elect to buy our partner’s interest. If we decide to sell any of our joint venture interests, we expect to use the net proceeds to reduce outstanding indebtedness or to reinvest in development, redevelopment, or expansion opportunities.
Acquisitions. The Company sponsored, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, a special purpose acquisition corporation, or SPAC, named Simon Property Group Acquisition Holdings, Inc. On February 18, 2021 the SPAC announced the pricing of its initial public offering, which was consummated on February 23, 2021, generating gross proceeds of $345.0 million. The SPAC is a consolidated VIE which was formed for the purpose of effecting a business combination and is targeting innovative businesses that operate within Simon’s “Live, Work, Play, Stay, Shop” ecosystem.
On July 1, 2021, we contributed to ABG all of our interests in both the Forever 21 and Brooks Brothers licensing ventures in exchange for additional interests in ABG. As a result, in the third quarter of 2021, we recognized a non-cash gain of $159.8 million representing the difference between fair value of the interests received and the carrying value of our interests in the licensing ventures, less costs to sell. On December 20, 2021, we sold a portion of our interest in ABG, resulting in a pre-tax gain of $18.8 million. In connection with this transaction, we recorded taxes of $8.0 million. Subsequently we acquired additional interests in ABG for tax consideration of $100.0 million. At December 31, 2021, our noncontrolling interest in ABG was approximately 10.4%.
In the first quarter of 2021, we and our partner, ABG, each acquired additional 12.5% interests in the licensing and operations of Forever 21, our share of which was $56.3 million, bringing our interest to 50%. Subsequently the Forever 21 operations were merged into SPARC Group.
In January 2020, we acquired additional interests of 5.05% and 1.37% in SPARC Group and ABG, respectively, for $6.7 million and $33.5 million, respectively. During the third quarter of 2020, SPARC acquired certain assets and operations of Brooks Brothers and Lucky Brands out of bankruptcy. At September 30, 2020, our noncontrolling equity method interests in the operations venture of SPARC Group and in ABG were 50.0% and 6.8%, respectively.
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On September 19, 2019, we acquired the remaining 50% interest in a hotel adjacent to one of our properties from our joint venture partner for cash consideration of $12.8 million. As of closing, the property was subject to a $21.5 million, 4.02% variable rate mortgage.
Dispositions. We may continue to pursue the disposition of properties that no longer meet our strategic criteria or that are not a primary retail venue within their trade area.
During 2021, we recorded net gains of $176.8 million primarily related to disposition activity which included the foreclosure of three consolidated retail properties in satisfaction of their respective $180.0 million, $120.9 million and $100.0 million non-recourse mortgage loans. We also disposed of our interest in an unconsolidated property resulting in a gain of $3.4 million.
During 2020, we disposed of our interest in one consolidated retail property. A portion of the gross proceeds on this transaction of $33.4 million was used to partially repay a cross-collateralized mortgage. Our share of the $12.3 million gain is included in (loss) gain on sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.
During 2019, we disposed of our interests in one multi-family residential investment. Our share of the gross proceeds on this transaction was $17.9 million. Our share of the gain of $16.2 million is included in other income in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. We also recorded net gains of $62.1 million, primarily related to Klépierre’s disposition of its interests in certain shopping centers, of which our share was $58.6 million, as discussed in Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements.
Joint Venture Formation Activity
On June 1, 2021, we and our partner, ABG, acquired the intellectual property of Eddie Bauer. Our non-controlling interest in the licensing venture is 49% and was acquired for cash consideration of $100.8 million.
On December 29, 2020, we completed the acquisition of an 80% ownership interest in TRG, which has an ownership interest in 24 regional, super-regional, and outlet malls in the U.S. and Asia. Under the terms of the transaction, we, through the Operating Partnership, acquired all of Taubman Centers, Inc. common stock for $43.00 per share in cash. Total consideration for the acquisition, including the redemption of Taubman’s $192.5 million 6.5% Series J Cumulative Preferred Shares and its $170.0 million 6.25% Series K Cumulative Preferred Shares, and the issuance of 955,705 Operating Partnership units, was approximately $3.5 billion. Our investment includes the 6.38% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units for $362.5 million issued to us.
On December 7, 2020, we and a group of co-investors acquired certain assets and liabilities of J.C. Penney, a department store retailer, out of bankruptcy. Our noncontrolling interest in the venture is 41.67% and was acquired for cash consideration of $125.0 million.
On February 19, 2020, we and a group of co-investors acquired certain assets and liabilities of Forever 21, a retailer of apparel and accessories, out of bankruptcy. The interests were acquired through two separate joint ventures, a licensing venture and an operating venture. Our noncontrolling interest in each of the retail operations venture and in the licensing venture is 37.5%. Our aggregate investment in the ventures was $67.6 million. In connection with the acquisition of our interest, the Forever 21 joint venture recorded a non-cash bargain purchase gain of which our share of $35.0 million pre-tax is included in income from unconsolidated entities in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.
Development Activity
We routinely incur costs related to construction for significant redevelopment and expansion projects at our properties. Redevelopment and expansion projects, including the addition of anchors, big box tenants, and restaurants are underway at several properties in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Construction continues on certain redevelopment and new development projects in the U.S. and internationally that are nearing completion. Our share of the costs of all new development, redevelopment and expansion projects currently under construction is approximately $944 million. Simon’s share of remaining net cash funding required to complete the new development and redevelopment projects currently under construction is approximately $263 million. We expect to fund these capital projects with cash flows from operations. We seek a stabilized return on invested capital in the range of 7-10% for all of our new development, expansion and redevelopment projects.
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Summary of Capital Expenditures. The following table summarizes total capital expenditures on consolidated properties on a cash basis (in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||
| New Developments | | $ | 96 | | $ | 27 | | $ | 73 | |
| Redevelopments and Expansions | | 300 | | 399 | | 498 | | |||
| Tenant Allowances | | 127 | | 53 | | 162 | | |||
| Operational Capital Expenditures | | 5 | | 5 | | 143 | | |||
| Total | | $ | 528 | | $ | 484 | | $ | 876 | |
International Development Activity
We typically reinvest net cash flow from our international joint ventures to fund future international development activity. We believe this strategy mitigates some of the risk of our initial investment and our exposure to changes in foreign currencies. We have also funded most of our foreign investments with local currency-denominated borrowings that act as a natural hedge against fluctuations in exchange rates. Our consolidated net income exposure to changes in the volatility of the Euro, Yen, Peso, Won, and other foreign currencies is not material. We expect our share of estimated committed capital for international development projects to be completed with projected delivery in 2022 or 2023 is $172 million, primarily funded through reinvested joint venture cash flow and construction loans.
The following table describes recently completed and new development and expansion projects as well as our share of the estimated total cost as of December 31, 2021 (in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | Gross | | Our | | Our Share of | | Our Share of | | Projected/Actual | ||
| | | | | Leasable | | Ownership | | Projected Net Cost | | Projected Net Cost | | Opening | ||
| Property | Location | Area (sqft) | Percentage | (in Local Currency) | (in USD) (1) | Date | ||||||||
| New Development Projects: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| West Midlands Designer Outlet | | Cannock (West Midlands), England | | 197,000 | | 23% | | GBP | 31.2 | | $ | 42.2 | | Opened Apr. - 2021 |
| Jeju Premium Outlets | | Jeju Province, South Korea | | 92,000 | | 50% | | KRW | 12,328 | | $ | 10.4 | | Opened Oct. - 2021 |
| Fukaya-Hanazono Premium Outlets | | Fukaya City, Japan | | 292,500 | | 40% | | JPY | 6,153 | | $ | 53.5 | | Oct. - 2022 |
| Paris-Giverny Designer Outlet | | Vernon (Normandy), France | | 220,000 | | 74% | | EUR | 119.5 | | $ | 135.6 | | Jan. - 2023 |
| Expansions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| La Reggia Designer Outlet Phase 3 | | Marcianise (Naples), Italy | | 56,000 | | 92% | | EUR | 18.8 | | $ | 21.3 | | Opened Oct. - 2021 |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | USD equivalent based upon December 31, 2021 foreign currency exchange rates. |
Dividends, Distributions and Stock Repurchase Program
Simon paid a common stock dividend of $1.65 per share in the fourth quarter of 2021 and $7.15 per share for the year ended December 31, 2021. The Operating Partnership paid distributions per unit for the same amounts. In 2020, Simon paid dividends of $1.30 and $4.70 per share for the three and twelve month periods ended December 31, 2020, respectively. The Operating Partnership paid distributions per unit for the same amounts. On February 7, 2022, Simon’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend for the first quarter of 2022 of $1.65 per share, payable on March 31, 2022 to shareholders of record on March 10, 2022. The distribution rate on units is equal to the dividend rate on common stock. In order to maintain its status as a REIT, Simon must pay a minimum amount of dividends. Simon’s future dividends and the Operating Partnership’s future distributions will be determined by Simon’s Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, based on actual and projected financial condition, liquidity and results of operations, cash available for dividends and limited partner distributions, cash reserves as deemed necessary for capital and operating expenditures, financing covenants, if any, and the amount required to maintain Simon’s status as a REIT.
On February 13, 2017, Simon’s Board of Directors authorized a two-year extension of the previously authorized $2.0 billion common stock repurchase plan through March 31, 2019. On February 11, 2019, Simon's Board of Directors authorized a new common stock repurchase plan. Under the plan, Simon was authorized to repurchase up to $2.0 billion of its common stock during the two-year period ending February 11, 2021 in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions as market conditions warranted. The Repurchase Program was not extended. During the year ended
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December 31, 2020, Simon purchased 1,245,654 shares at an average price of $122.50 per share. During the year ended December 31, 2019, Simon purchased 2,247,074 shares at an average price of $160.11 per share, of which 46,377 shares at an average price of $164.49 were purchased as part of the previous program. As Simon repurchased shares under these programs, the Operating Partnership repurchased an equal number of units from Simon.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this section or elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K may be deemed "forward–looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although we believe the expectations reflected in any forward–looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained, and it is possible that our actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward–looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such factors include, but are not limited to: uncertainties regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and governmental restrictions intended to prevent its spread on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and liquidity and our ability to access the capital markets, satisfy our debt service obligations and make distributions to our stockholders; changes in economic and market conditions that may adversely affect the general retail environment; the potential loss of anchor stores or major tenants; the inability to collect rent due to the bankruptcy or insolvency of tenants or otherwise; the intensely competitive market environment in the retail industry, including e-commerce; an increase in vacant space at our properties; the inability to lease newly developed properties and renew leases and relet space at existing properties on favorable terms; our international activities subjecting us to risks that are different from or greater than those associated with our domestic operations, including changes in foreign exchange rates; risks associated with the acquisition, development, redevelopment, expansion, leasing and management of properties; general risks related to real estate investments, including the illiquidity of real estate investments; the impact of our substantial indebtedness on our future operations, including covenants in the governing agreements that impose restrictions on us that may affect our ability to operate freely; any disruption in the financial markets that may adversely affect our ability to access capital for growth and satisfy our ongoing debt service requirements; any change in our credit rating; changes in market rates of interest; the transition of LIBOR to an alternative reference rate; our continued ability to maintain our status as a REIT; changes in tax laws or regulations that result in adverse tax consequences; risks relating to our joint venture properties, including guarantees of certain joint venture indebtedness; environmental liabilities; natural disasters; the availability of comprehensive insurance coverage; the potential for terrorist activities; security breaches that could compromise our information technology or infrastructure; and the loss of key management personnel; and. We discussed these and other risks and uncertainties under the heading "Risk Factors" in Part 1, Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We may update that discussion in subsequent other periodic reports, but except as required by law, we undertake no duty or obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Industry practice is to evaluate real estate properties in part based on performance measures such as FFO, diluted FFO per share, NOI, and portfolio NOI. We believe that these non-GAAP measures are helpful to investors because they are widely recognized measures of the performance of REITs and provide a relevant basis for comparison among REITs. We also use these measures internally to measure the operating performance of our portfolio.
We determine FFO based upon the definition set forth by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) Funds From Operations White Paper – 2018 Restatement. Our main business includes acquiring, owning, operating, developing, and redeveloping real estate in conjunction with the rental of real estate. Gains and losses of assets incidental to our main business are included in FFO. We determine FFO to be our share of consolidated net income computed in accordance with GAAP:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | excluding real estate related depreciation and amortization, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | excluding gains and losses from extraordinary items, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | excluding gains and losses from the sale, disposal or property insurance recoveries of, or any impairment related to, depreciable retail operating properties, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | plus the allocable portion of FFO of unconsolidated joint ventures based upon economic ownership interest, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | all determined on a consistent basis in accordance with GAAP. |
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You should understand that our computations of these non-GAAP measures might not be comparable to similar measures reported by other REITs and that these non-GAAP measures:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | do not represent cash flow from operations as defined by GAAP, |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | should not be considered as an alternative to net income determined in accordance with GAAP as a measure of operating performance, and |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ● | are not an alternative to cash flows as a measure of liquidity. |
The following schedule reconciles total FFO to consolidated net income and, for Simon, diluted net income per share to diluted FFO per share.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | ||||
| | | (in thousands) | | |||||||
| Funds from Operations (A) | | $ | 4,486,964 | | $ | 3,236,963 | | $ | 4,272,271 | |
| Change in FFO from prior period | | 38.6 | % | (24.2) | % | (1.2) | % | |||
| Consolidated Net Income | | $ | 2,568,707 | | $ | 1,277,324 | | $ | 2,423,188 | |
| Adjustments to Arrive at FFO: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Depreciation and amortization from consolidated properties | | 1,254,039 | | 1,308,419 | | 1,329,843 | | |||
| Our share of depreciation and amortization from unconsolidated entities, including Klépierre, TRG and other corporate investments (B) | | 887,390 | | 536,133 | | 551,596 | | |||
| (Gain) loss on acquisition of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net | | (206,855) | | 114,960 | | (14,883) | | |||
| Unrealized losses in fair value of equity instruments | | | 3,177 | | | 19,632 | | | 8,212 | |
| Net loss (gain) attributable to noncontrolling interest holders in properties | | 6,053 | | 4,378 | | (991) | | |||
| Noncontrolling interests portion of depreciation and amortization and gain on consolidation of properties | | (20,295) | | (18,631) | | (19,442) | | |||
| Preferred distributions and dividends | | (5,252) | | (5,252) | | (5,252) | | |||
| FFO of the Operating Partnership (A) | | $ | 4,486,964 | | $ | 3,236,963 | | $ | 4,272,271 | |
| FFO allocable to limited partners | | 564,407 | | 424,063 | | 563,342 | | |||
| Dilutive FFO allocable to common stockholders (A) | | $ | 3,922,557 | | $ | 2,812,900 | | $ | 3,708,929 | |
| Diluted net income per share to diluted FFO per share reconciliation: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Diluted net income per share | | $ | 6.84 | | $ | 3.59 | | $ | 6.81 | |
| Depreciation and amortization from consolidated properties and our share of depreciation and amortization from unconsolidated entities, including Klépierre, TRG and other corporate investments, net of noncontrolling interests portion of depreciation and amortization (B) | | 5.64 | | 5.14 | | 5.25 | | |||
| (Gain) loss on acquisition of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net | | (0.55) | | 0.32 | | (0.04) | | |||
| Unrealized losses in fair value of equity instruments | | | 0.01 | | | 0.06 | | | 0.02 | |
| Diluted FFO per share (A) | | $ | 11.94 | | $ | 9.11 | | $ | 12.04 | |
| Basic and Diluted weighted average shares outstanding | | 328,587 | | 308,738 | | 307,950 | | |||
| Weighted average limited partnership units outstanding | | 47,280 | | 46,544 | | 46,774 | | |||
| Basic and Diluted weighted average shares and units outstanding | | 375,867 | | 355,282 | | 354,724 | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (A) | Includes FFO of the Operating Partnership related to a loss on extinguishment of debt of $116.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Includes Diluted FFO per share/unit related to a loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.33 for the year ended December 31, 2019. Includes Diluted FFO allocable to common stockholders related to a loss on extinguishment of debt of $100.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (B) | The twelve months ended December 31, 2021 include amortization of our excess investment in TRG of $201.7 million, which includes $56.6 million of additional amortization expense related to the nine months ended September 30, 2021 as a result of the finalization of purchase accounting. |
The following schedule reconciles consolidated net income to our beneficial share of NOI.
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | For the Year | ||||
| | | Ended December 31, | ||||
| | 2021 | 2020 | ||||
| | | (in thousands) | ||||
| Reconciliation of NOI of consolidated entities: | | | | | ||
| Consolidated Net Income | | $ | 2,568,707 | | $ | 1,277,324 |
| Income and other tax expense (benefit) | | 157,199 | | (4,637) | ||
| Gain on sale or exchange of equity interests | | | (178,672) | | | |
| Interest expense | | 795,712 | | 784,400 | ||
| Income from unconsolidated entities | | (782,837) | | (219,870) | ||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | | | 51,841 | | | -- |
| Unrealized losses in fair value of equity instruments | | 8,095 | | 19,632 | ||
| (Gain) loss on acquisition of controlling interest, sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net | | (206,855) | | 114,960 | ||
| Operating Income Before Other Items | | 2,413,190 | | 1,971,809 | ||
| Depreciation and amortization | | 1,262,715 | | 1,318,008 | ||
| Home and regional office costs | | | 184,660 | | | 171,668 |
| General and administrative | | | 30,339 | | | 22,572 |
| Other expenses (1) | | | 19,811 | | | -- |
| NOI of consolidated entities | | $ | 3,910,715 | | $ | 3,484,057 |
| Less: Noncontrolling interest partners share of NOI | | | (20,720) | | | (19,745) |
| Beneficial NOI of consolidated entities | | $ | 3,889,995 | | $ | 3,464,312 |
| Reconciliation of NOI of unconsolidated entities: | | | | | | |
| Net Income | | $ | 668,061 | | $ | 453,816 |
| Interest expense | | 605,591 | | 616,332 | ||
| Gain on sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities, net | | (34,814) | | — | ||
| Operating Income Before Other Items | | 1,238,838 | | 1,070,148 | ||
| Depreciation and amortization | | 686,790 | | 692,424 | ||
| Other expenses (1) | | | 26,013 | | | — |
| NOI of unconsolidated entities | | $ | 1,951,641 | | $ | 1,762,572 |
| Less: Joint Venture partners share of NOI | | | (1,021,839) | | | (921,147) |
| Beneficial NOI of unconsolidated entities | | $ | 929,802 | | $ | 841,425 |
| Add: NOI from TRG | | | 430,965 | | | — |
| Add: NOI from Other Platform Investments and Investments | | | 743,213 | | | 253,093 |
| Beneficial interest of Combined NOI | | $ | 5,993,975 | | $ | 4,558,830 |
| Less: Corporate and Other NOI Sources (2) | | 172,844 | | 178,009 | ||
| Less: NOI from Other Platform Investments | | | 533,299 | | | 21,507 |
| Less: NOI from Investments (3) | | | 203,223 | | | 201,240 |
| Portfolio NOI | | $ | 5,084,609 | | $ | 4,158,074 |
| Portfolio NOI Change | | | 22.3 | % | | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (1) | Represents the write-off of pre-development costs, our beneficial interest of which was $18.3 million with respect to consolidated entities and $13.0 million with respect to our share of unconsolidated entities, for the year ended December 31, 2021. |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (2) | Includes income components excluded from portfolio NOI and domestic property NOI (domestic lease termination income, interest income, land sale gains, straight line lease income, above/below market lease adjustments), unrealized and realized gains/losses on non-real estate related equity instruments, Simon management company revenues, and other assets. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| (3) | Includes our share of NOI of Klépierre (at constant currency) and other corporate investments. |