Yahoo! Finance Search - Finance Home - Yahoo! - Help
EDGAR
Online

Quotes & Info
Enter Symbol(s):
e.g. YHOO, ^DJI
Symbol Lookup | Financial Search
MAC > SEC Filings for MAC > Form 10-Q on 6-Nov-2009All Recent SEC Filings

Show all filings for MACERICH CO | Request a Trial to NEW EDGAR Online Pro

Form 10-Q for MACERICH CO


6-Nov-2009

Quarterly Report


Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

IMPORTANT INFORMATION RELATED TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of The Macerich Company (the "Company") contains or incorporates statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Any statements that do not relate to historical or current facts or matters are forward-looking statements. You can identify some of the forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking words, such as "may," "will," "could," "should," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "projects," "predicts," "plans," "believes," "seeks," and "estimates" and variations of these words and similar expressions. Statements concerning current conditions may also be forward-looking if they imply a continuation of current conditions. Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places in this Form 10-Q and include statements regarding, among other matters:

º •
º expectations regarding the Company's growth;

º •
º the Company's beliefs regarding its acquisition, redevelopment, development, leasing and operational activities and opportunities, including the performance of its retailers;

º •
º the Company's acquisition, disposition and other strategies;

º •
º regulatory matters pertaining to compliance with governmental regulations;

º •
º the Company's capital expenditure plans and expectations for obtaining capital for expenditures;

º •
º the Company's expectations regarding its financial condition or results of operations; and

º •
º the Company's expectations for refinancing its indebtedness and entering into joint venture arrangements.

Stockholders are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company or the industry to differ materially from the Company's future results, performance or achievements, or those of the industry, expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. You are urged to carefully review the disclosures the Company makes concerning risks and other factors that may affect our business and operating results, including those made in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as well as our other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which disclosures are incorporated herein by reference. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this document. The Company does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update any forward-looking information to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, unless required by law to do so.

Management's Overview and Summary

The Company is involved in the acquisition, ownership, development, redevelopment, management and leasing of regional and community shopping centers located throughout the United States. The Company is the sole general partner of, and owns a majority of the ownership interests in, The Macerich Partnership, L.P. ("Operating Partnership"). As of September 30, 2009, the Operating Partnership owned or had an ownership interest in 72 regional shopping centers and 19 community shopping centers totaling approximately 76 million square feet of gross leasable area. These 91 regional and community shopping centers are referred to hereinafter as the "Centers", unless the context otherwise requires. The Company is a self-administered and self-managed REIT and conducts all of its operations through the Operating Partnership and the Company's Management Companies.

The following discussion is based primarily on the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008. It compares the results


Table of Contents

of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2009 to the results of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and the results of operations and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 to the results of operations and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. This information should be read in conjunction with the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations has been updated to reflect the adjustment of the consolidated statements of operations and cash flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 for the adoption of new accounting pronouncements (see Note 21-Cumulative Effect of Adoption of Accounting Principles of the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements).

Acquisitions and Dispositions:

On January 1, 2008, a subsidiary of the Operating Partnership, at the election of the holders, redeemed its 3.4 million Class A participating convertible preferred units ("PCPUs"). As a result of the redemption, the Company received the 16.32% noncontrolling interest in the portion of the Wilmorite portfolio acquired on April 25, 2005 that included Danbury Fair Mall, Freehold Raceway Mall, Great Northern Mall, Rotterdam Square, Shoppingtown Mall, Towne Mall, Tysons Corner Center and Wilton Mall, collectively referred to as the "Non-Rochester Properties," for total consideration of $224.4 million, in exchange for the Company's ownership interest in the portion of the Wilmorite portfolio that consisted of Eastview Mall, Eastview Commons, Greece Ridge Center, Marketplace Mall and Pittsford Plaza, collectively referred to as the "Rochester Properties," including approximately $18.0 million in cash held at those properties. Included in the redemption consideration was the assumption of the remaining 16.32% interest in the indebtedness of the Non-Rochester Properties, which had an estimated fair value of $106.0 million. In addition, the Company also received additional consideration of $11.8 million, in the form of a note, for certain working capital adjustments, extraordinary capital expenditures, leasing commissions, tenant allowances, and decreases in indebtedness during the Company's period of ownership of the Rochester Properties. The Company recognized a gain of $99.1 million on the exchange based on the difference between the fair value of the additional interest acquired in the Non-Rochester Properties and the carrying value of the Rochester Properties, net of noncontrolling interest. This exchange is referred to herein as the "Rochester Redemption."

On January 10, 2008, the Company, in a 50/50 joint venture, acquired The Shops at North Bridge, a 680,933 square foot urban shopping center in Chicago, Illinois, for a total purchase price of $515.0 million. The Company's share of the purchase price was funded by the assumption of a pro rata share of the $205.0 million fixed rate mortgage on the Center and by borrowings under the Company's line of credit.

On January 31, 2008, the Company purchased a ground leasehold interest in a freestanding Mervyn's store located in Hayward, California. The purchase price of $13.2 million was funded by cash and borrowings under the Company's line of credit.

On February 29, 2008, the Company purchased a fee simple interest in a freestanding Mervyn's store located in Monrovia, California. The purchase price of $19.3 million was funded by cash and borrowings under the Company's line of credit.

On May 20, 2008, the Company purchased a fee simple interest in a 161,350 square foot Boscov's department store at Deptford Mall in Deptford, New Jersey. The total purchase price of $23.5 million was funded by the assumption of the existing $15.2 million mortgage note on the property and by borrowings under the Company's line of credit. The Boscov's store is referred to herein as the "2008 Acquisition Property."


Table of Contents

On June 11, 2008, the Company became a 50% owner in a joint venture that acquired One Scottsdale, which plans to develop a mixed-use property in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Company's share of the purchase price was $52.5 million, which was funded by borrowings under the Company's line of credit.

Mervyn's:

In July 2008, Mervyn's filed for bankruptcy protection and announced in October its plans to liquidate all merchandise, auction its store leases and wind down its business. The Company had 45 former Mervyn's stores in its portfolio. The Company owned the ground leasehold and/or fee simple interest in 44 of those stores and the remaining store was owned by a third party but is located at one of the Centers. In connection with the acquisition of the Mervyn's portfolio (See Note 16-Acquisitions of the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements), the Company recorded intangible assets of $110.7 million and intangible liabilities of $59.0 million.

In September 2008, the Company recorded a write-down of $5.2 million due to the anticipated rejection of six of the Company's leases by Mervyn's. In addition, the Company terminated its former plan to sell the 29 Mervyn's stores located at shopping centers not owned or managed by the Company. (See Note 17-Discontinued Operations of the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements). The Company's decision was based on current conditions in the credit market and the assumption that a better return could be obtained by holding and operating the assets. As a result of the change in plans to sell, the Company recorded a loss of $5.3 million in order to adjust the carrying value of these assets for depreciation expense that otherwise would have been recognized had these assets been continuously classified as held and used.

In December 2008, Kohl's and Forever 21 assumed a total of 23 of the Mervyn's leases and the remaining 22 leases were rejected by Mervyn's under the bankruptcy laws. As a result, the Company wrote off the unamortized intangible assets and liabilities related to the rejected and unassumed leases in December 2008. The Company wrote off $27.7 million of unamortized intangible assets related to lease in place values, leasing commissions and legal costs to depreciation and amortization. Unamortized intangible assets of $14.9 million relating to above market leases and unamortized intangible liabilities of $24.5 million relating to below market leases were written off to minimum rents.

On December 19, 2008, the Company sold a fee and/or ground leasehold interest in three freestanding Mervyn's department stores to Pacific Premier Retail Trust, one of the Company's joint ventures, for $43.4 million, resulting in a gain on sale of assets of $1.5 million. The Company's pro rata share of the proceeds was used to pay down the Company's line of credit.

In June 2009, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $26.0 million, as it relates to the fee and/or ground leasehold interests in five former Mervyn's stores due to the anticipated loss on the sale of these properties in July 2009. The Company subsequently sold the properties during the third quarter for $52.7 million in total proceeds, resulting in an additional $0.4 million loss related to transaction costs. The Company used the proceeds from the sales to pay down the Company's term loan and for general corporate purposes.

On September 29, 2009, the Company sold a leasehold interest in a former Mervyn's store for $4.5 million, resulting in a gain on sale of $4.2 million. The Company used the proceeds from the sale to pay down the Company's line of credit and for general corporate purposes.

The Mervyn's stores acquired in 2007 and 2008 are referred to herein as the "Mervyn's Properties."

Other Transactions:

On July 30, 2009, the Company sold a 49% ownership interest in Queens Center to a third party for approximately $152.7 million, resulting in a gain on sale of assets of $153.9 million. The Company


Table of Contents

used the proceeds from the sale of the ownership interest in the property to pay down the Term Loan and for general corporate purposes. As of the date of the sale, the Company has accounted for the operations of Queens Center under the equity method of accounting.

On September 3, 2009, the Company formed a joint venture with a third party, whereby the Company sold a 75% interest in FlatIron Crossing and received approximately $123.8 million in cash proceeds for the overall transaction. The Company used the proceeds from the sale of the ownership interest in the property to pay down the term loan and for general corporate purposes. As part of this transaction, the Company issued three warrants for an aggregate of 1,250,000 shares of common stock of the Company. (See Note 15-Stockholders' Equity in the Company's Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). As of the date of the sale, the Company has accounted for the operations of FlatIron Crossing under the equity method of accounting.

Queens Center and FlatIron Crossing are referred herein as the "Joint Venture Centers."

On September 30, 2009, the Company formed a joint venture with a third party, whereby the third party acquired a 49.9% interest in Freehold Raceway Mall and Chandler Fashion Center. The Company received approximately $174.6 million in cash proceeds for the overall transaction. The Company used the proceeds from this transaction to pay down the Company's line of credit and for general corporate purposes. As part of this transaction, the Company issued a warrant for an aggregate of 935,358 shares of common stock of the Company. (See Note 15-Stockholders' Equity in the Company's Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). The transaction has been accounted for as a profit-sharing arrangement, and accordingly the assets, liabilities and operations of the properties remain on the books of the Company and a co-venture obligation has been established for the amount of $168.2 million representing the net cash proceeds received from Heitman less costs allocated to the warrant.

Inflation:

In the last three years, inflation has not had a significant impact on the Company because of a relatively low inflation rate. Most of the leases at the Centers have rent adjustments periodically through the lease term. These rent increases are either in fixed increments or based on using an annual multiple of increases in the Consumer Price Index ("CPI"). In addition, about 6%-13% of the leases expire each year, which enables the Company to replace existing leases with new leases at higher base rents if the rents of the existing leases are below the then existing market rate. Additionally, historically the majority of the leases required the tenants to pay their pro rata share of operating expenses. In January 2005, the Company began entering into leases that require tenants to pay a stated amount for operating expenses, generally excluding property taxes, regardless of the expenses actually incurred at any Center. This change shifts the burden of cost control to the Company.

Seasonality:

The shopping center industry is seasonal in nature, particularly in the fourth quarter during the holiday season when retailer occupancy and retail sales are typically at their highest levels. In addition, shopping malls achieve a substantial portion of their specialty (temporary retailer) rents during the holiday season and the majority of percentage rent is recognized in the fourth quarter. As a result of the above, earnings are generally higher in the fourth quarter.

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.


Table of Contents

Some of these estimates and assumptions include judgments on revenue recognition, estimates for common area maintenance and real estate tax accruals, provisions for uncollectible accounts, impairment of long-lived assets, the allocation of purchase price between tangible and intangible assets, and estimates for environmental matters. The Company's significant accounting policies are described in more detail in Note 2-Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. However, the following policies are deemed to be critical.

Revenue Recognition:

Minimum rental revenues are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the related lease. The difference between the amount of rent due in a year and the amount recorded as rental income is referred to as the "straight line rent adjustment." Currently, 53% of the mall and freestanding leases contain provisions for CPI rent increases periodically throughout the term of the lease. The Company believes that using an annual multiple of CPI increases, rather than fixed contractual rent increases, results in revenue recognition that more closely matches the cash revenue from each lease and will provide more consistent rent growth throughout the term of the leases. Percentage rents are recognized when the tenants' specified sales targets have been met. Estimated recoveries from certain tenants for their pro rata share of real estate taxes, insurance and other shopping center operating expenses are recognized as revenues in the period the applicable expenses are incurred. Other tenants pay a fixed rate and these tenant recoveries' revenues are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the related leases.

Property:

The costs of land and buildings under development include specifically identifiable costs. The capitalized costs include pre-construction costs essential to the development of the property, development costs, construction costs, interest costs, real estate taxes, salaries and related costs and other costs incurred during the period of development. Capitalized costs are allocated to the specific components of a project that are benefited. The Company considers a construction project as completed and held available for occupancy and ceases capitalization of costs when the areas under development have been substantially completed.

Maintenance and repair expenses are charged to operations as incurred. Costs for major replacements and betterments, which includes HVAC equipment, roofs, parking lots, etc., are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Gains and losses are recognized upon disposal or retirement of the related assets and are reflected in earnings.

Property is recorded at cost and is depreciated using a straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:

                    Buildings and improvements   5 - 40 years
                    Tenant improvements          5 - 7 years
                    Equipment and furnishings    5 - 7 years

Accounting for Acquisitions:

The Company first determines the value of the land and buildings utilizing an "as if vacant" methodology. The Company then assigns a fair value to any debt assumed at acquisition. The balance of the purchase price is allocated to tenant improvements and identifiable intangible assets or liabilities. Tenant improvements represent the tangible assets associated with the existing leases valued on a fair market value basis at the acquisition date prorated over the remaining lease terms. The tenant improvements are classified as an asset under real estate investments and are depreciated over the remaining lease terms. Identifiable intangible assets and liabilities relate to the value of in-place operating leases which come in three forms: (i) leasing commissions and legal costs, which represent


Table of Contents

the value associated with "cost avoidance" of acquiring in-place leases, such as lease commissions paid under terms generally experienced in the Company's markets; (ii) value of in-place leases, which represents the estimated loss of revenue and of costs incurred for the period required to lease the "assumed vacant" property to the occupancy level when purchased; and (iii) above- or below-market value of in-place leases, which represents the difference between the contractual rents and market rents at the time of the acquisition, discounted for tenant credit risks. Leasing commissions and legal costs are recorded in deferred charges and other assets and are amortized over the remaining lease terms. The value of in-place leases are recorded in deferred charges and other assets and amortized over the remaining lease terms plus an estimate of renewal of the acquired leases. Above- or below-market leases are classified in deferred charges and other assets or in other accrued liabilities, depending on whether the contractual terms are above or below market, and the asset or liability is amortized to minimum rents over the remaining terms of the leases.

When the Company acquires a real estate property, the Company allocates the purchase price to the components of these acquisitions using relative fair values computed using its estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions impact the amount of costs allocated between various components as well as the amount of costs assigned to individual properties in multiple property acquisitions. These allocations also impact depreciation expense and gains or losses recorded on future sales of properties.

Asset Impairment:

The Company assesses whether there has been impairment in the value of its long-lived assets by considering factors such as expected future operating income, trends and prospects, as well as the effects of demand, competition and other economic factors. Such factors include the tenant's ability to perform their duties and pay rent under the terms of the leases. The Company may recognize impairment losses if the cash flows are not sufficient to cover its investment. Such a loss would be determined as the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of a center.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments:

The fair value hierarchy distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity and the reporting entity's own assumptions about market participant assumptions.

Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs may include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, as well as inputs that are observable for the asset or liability (other than quoted prices), such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which are typically based on an entity's own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity. In instances where the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company's assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.

The Company calculates the fair value of financial instruments and includes this additional information in the notes to consolidated financial statements when the fair value is different than the carrying value of those financial instruments. When the fair value reasonably approximates the carrying value, no additional disclosure is made.


Table of Contents

Deferred Charges:

Costs relating to obtaining tenant leases are deferred and amortized over the initial term of the agreement using the straight-line method. Costs relating to financing of shopping center properties are deferred and amortized over the life of the related loan using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method. In-place lease values are amortized over the remaining lease term plus an estimate of the renewal term. Leasing commissions and legal costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the individual remaining lease years. The ranges of the terms of the agreements are as follows:

Deferred lease costs                               1 - 15 years
Deferred financing costs                           1 - 15 years
In-place lease values                              Remaining lease term plus an
                                                   estimate for renewal
Leasing commissions and legal costs                5 - 10 years

Results of Operations

Many of the variations in the results of operations, discussed below, occurred due to the transactions described above, including the 2008 Acquisition Property, the Mervyn's Properties, the Redevelopment Centers and the Joint Venture Centers. For the comparison of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, the "Same Centers" include all consolidated Centers, excluding the 2008 Acquisition Property, the Mervyn's Properties, the Joint Venture Centers and the Redevelopment Centers.

The "Redevelopment Centers" include The Oaks, Northgate Mall, Santa Monica Place and Shoppingtown Mall.

Unconsolidated joint ventures are reflected using the equity method of accounting. The Company's pro rata share of the results from these Centers is reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as equity in income from unconsolidated joint ventures.

Comparison of Three Months Ended September 30, 2009 and 2008

Revenues:

Minimum and percentage rents (collectively referred to as "rental revenue") decreased by $11.8 million, or 8.7%, from 2008 to 2009. The decrease in rental revenue is attributed to a decrease of $11.0 million from the Joint Venture Centers, $3.8 million from the Mervyn's Properties and $1.1 million from the Same Centers, offset in part by an increase of $4.1 million from the Redevelopment Centers. The decrease in rental revenues from the Mervyn's Properties is due to the rejection of the leases by Mervyn's in 2008 offset in part by the assumption of 23 of the leases by Kohl's or Forever 21 in December 2008. The Company is currently seeking replacement tenants for the vacant Mervyn's spaces. If these spaces are not leased, this trend will continue throughout 2009.

Rental revenue includes the amortization of above- and below-market leases, the amortization of straight-line rents and lease termination income. The amortization of above- and below-market leases decreased from $3.0 million in . . .

  Add MAC to Portfolio     Set Alert         Email to a Friend  
Get SEC Filings for Another Symbol: Symbol Lookup
Quotes & Info for MAC - All Recent SEC Filings
Sign Up for a Free Trial to the NEW EDGAR Online Pro
Detailed SEC, Financial, Ownership and Offering Data on over 12,000 U.S. Public Companies.
Actionable and easy-to-use with searching, alerting, downloading and more.
Request a Trial      Sign Up Now


Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service
SEC Filing data and information provided by EDGAR Online, Inc. (1-800-416-6651). All information provided "as is" for informational purposes only, not intended for trading purposes or advice. Neither Yahoo! nor any of independent providers is liable for any informational errors, incompleteness, or delays, or for any actions taken in reliance on information contained herein. By accessing the Yahoo! site, you agree not to redistribute the information found therein.