These terms and conditions govern your use of the website alphaminr.com and its related
services.
These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) are a binding contract between you and Alphaminr,
(“Alphaminr”, “we”, “us” and “service”). You must agree to and accept the Terms. These Terms
include the provisions in this document as well as those in the Privacy Policy. These terms may
be modified at any time.
Subscription
Your subscription will be on a month to month basis and automatically renew every month. You may
terminate your subscription at any time through your account.
Fees
We will provide you with advance notice of any change in fees.
Usage
You represent that you are of legal age to form a binding contract. You are responsible for any
activity associated with your account. The account can be logged in at only one computer at a
time.
The Services are intended for your own individual use. You shall only use the Services in a
manner that complies with all laws. You may not use any automated software, spider or system to
scrape data from Alphaminr.
Limitation of Liability
Alphaminr is not a financial advisor and does not provide financial advice of any kind. The
service is provided “As is”. The materials and information accessible through the Service are
solely for informational purposes. While we strive to provide good information and data, we make
no guarantee or warranty as to its accuracy.
TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL ALPHAMINR BE LIABLE TO
YOU FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR INVESTMENT LOSSES, LOSS OF DATA, OR ACCURACY
OF DATA, OR FOR ANY AMOUNT, IN THE AGGREGATE, IN EXCESS OF THE GREATER OF (1) FIFTY DOLLARS OR
(2) THE AMOUNTS PAID BY YOU TO ALPHAMINR IN THE SIX MONTH PERIOD PRECEDING THIS APPLICABLE
CLAIM. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL OR
CERTAIN OTHER DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION AND EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid under any applicable law, such provision
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions herein.
Privacy Policy
This privacy policy describes how we (“Alphaminr”) collect, use, share and protect your personal
information when we provide our service (“Service”). This Privacy Policy explains how
information is collected about you either directly or indirectly. By using our service, you
acknowledge the terms of this Privacy Notice. If you do not agree to the terms of this Privacy
Policy, please do not use our Service. You should contact us if you have questions about it. We
may modify this Privacy Policy periodically.
Personal Information
When you register for our Service, we collect information from you such as your name, email
address and credit card information.
Usage
Like many other websites we use “cookies”, which are small text files that are stored on your
computer or other device that record your preferences and actions, including how you use the
website. You can set your browser or device to refuse all cookies or to alert you when a cookie
is being sent. If you delete your cookies, if you opt-out from cookies, some Services may not
function properly. We collect information when you use our Service. This includes which pages
you visit.
Sharing of Personal Information
We use Google Analytics and we use Stripe for payment processing. We will not share the
information we collect with third parties for promotional purposes.
We may share personal information with law enforcement as required or permitted by law.
☒
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended
June 30, 2022
OR
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from
to
Commission file number
001-35713
WHEELER REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Maryland
45-2681082
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
2529 Virginia Beach Blvd.
Virginia Beach
,
Virginia
23452
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
(
757
)
627-9088
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
N/A
(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
WHLR
Nasdaq
Capital Market
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
WHLRP
Nasdaq
Capital Market
Series D Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock
WHLRD
Nasdaq
Capital Market
7.00% Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes due 2031
WHLRL
Nasdaq
Capital Market
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes
ý
No
¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes
ý
No
¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes
☐
No
ý
As of August 5, 2022, there were
9,792,713
common shares, $0.01 par value per share, outstanding.
Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except par value and share data)
June 30, 2022
December 31, 2021
(unaudited)
ASSETS:
Investment properties, net
$
383,153
$
386,730
Cash and cash equivalents
24,606
22,898
Restricted cash
21,946
17,521
Rents and other tenant receivables, net
8,447
9,233
Assets held for sale
419
2,047
Above market lease intangibles, net
1,933
2,424
Operating lease right-of-use assets
12,307
12,455
Deferred costs and other assets, net
14,439
11,973
Total Assets
$
467,250
$
465,281
LIABILITIES:
Loans payable, net
$
338,663
$
333,283
Liabilities associated with assets held for sale
—
3,381
Below market lease intangibles, net
2,950
3,397
Derivative liabilities
6,653
4,776
Operating lease liabilities
12,956
13,040
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
12,207
11,054
Total Liabilities
373,429
368,931
Series D Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (
no
par value,
6,000,000
shares authorized,
3,152,392
shares issued and outstanding; $
109.21
million and $
104.97
million aggregate liquidation value, respectively)
97,033
92,548
EQUITY:
Series A Preferred Stock (
no
par value,
4,500
shares authorized,
562
shares issued and outstanding)
453
453
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (
no
par value,
5,000,000
authorized,
2,301,337
and
1,872,448
shares issued and outstanding, respectively; $
57.53
million and $
46.81
million aggregate liquidation preference, respectively)
43,242
41,189
Common Stock ($
0.01
par value,
200,000,000
shares authorized
9,792,713
and
9,720,532
shares issued and outstanding, respectively)
98
97
Additional paid-in capital
234,947
234,229
Accumulated deficit
(
283,267
)
(
274,107
)
Total Stockholders’ (Deficit) Equity
(
4,527
)
1,861
Noncontrolling interests
1,315
1,941
Total (Deficit) Equity
(
3,212
)
3,802
Total Liabilities and Equity
$
467,250
$
465,281
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
1.
Organization and Basis of Presentation and Consolidation
Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. (the “Trust,” the “REIT,” the “Company,” "we," "our" or "us") is a Maryland corporation formed on June 23, 2011. The Trust serves as the general partner of Wheeler REIT, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”), which was formed as a Virginia limited partnership on April 5, 2012. At June 30, 2022, the Trust owned
99.04
% of the Operating Partnership. As of June 30, 2022, the Trust, through the Operating Partnership, owned and operated
fifty-seven
centers and
four
undeveloped properties in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Accordingly, the use of the word “Company” refers to the Trust and its consolidated subsidiaries, except where the context otherwise requires.
The Trust through the Operating Partnership owns Wheeler Interests (“WI”) and Wheeler Real Estate, LLC (“WRE”) (collectively the “Operating Companies”). The Operating Companies are Taxable REIT Subsidiaries (“TRS”) to accommodate serving the Non-REIT Properties since applicable REIT regulations consider the income derived from these services to be “bad” income subject to taxation. The regulations allow for costs incurred by the Company commensurate with the services performed for the Non-REIT Properties to be allocated to a TRS.
The condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the “Form 10-Q”) are unaudited and the results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for future periods or the year. However, amounts presented in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2021 are derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as of that date, but do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for complete financial statements. The Company prepared the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP for interim financial statements. The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to reflect a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented, and all such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. All material balances and transactions between the consolidated entities of the Company have been eliminated. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's 2021 Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 (the “2021 Form 10-K”).
2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Tenant Receivables
Tenant receivables include base rents, tenant reimbursements and receivables attributable to recording rents on a straight-line basis. The Company determines an allowance for the uncollectible portion of accrued rents and accounts receivable based upon customer credit-worthiness (including expected recovery of a claim with respect to any tenants in bankruptcy), historical bad debt levels, and current economic trends. The Company considers a receivable past due once it becomes delinquent per the terms of the lease. The Company’s standard lease form considers a rent charge past due after
five days
. A past due receivable triggers certain events such as notices, fees and other allowable and required actions per the lease.
As of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company’s allowance for uncollectible tenant receivables totaled $
531
thousand and $
633
thousand, respectively.
Revenue Recognition
Lease Contract Revenue
The Company has
two
classes of underlying assets relating to rental revenue activity, retail and office space. The Company retains substantially all of the risks and benefits of ownership of these underlying assets and accounts for these leases as operating leases. The Company combines lease and nonlease components in lease contracts, which includes combining base rent and tenant reimbursement revenue.
Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Unaudited)
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
The Company accrues minimum rents on a straight-line basis over the terms of the respective leases which results in an unbilled rent asset or deferred rent liability being recorded on the balance sheet. At June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were $
6.01
million and $
5.77
million, respectively, in unbilled rent which is included in "rents and other tenant receivables, net."
The below table disaggregates the Company’s revenue by type of service (in thousands, unaudited):
Three Months Ended
June 30,
Six Months Ended
June 30,
2022
2021
2022
2021
Minimum rent
$
11,914
$
11,332
$
23,800
$
22,662
Tenant reimbursements - variable lease revenue
3,275
3,333
6,580
6,426
Percentage rent - variable lease revenue
116
157
233
286
Straight-line rents
156
385
233
608
Lease termination fees
32
125
107
129
Other
123
75
213
143
Total
15,616
15,407
31,166
30,254
Credit (losses) recoveries on operating lease receivables
(
137
)
83
(
190
)
(
36
)
Total
$
15,479
$
15,490
$
30,976
$
30,218
Use of Estimates
The Company has made estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and revenues and expenses during the reported periods. The Company’s actual results could differ from these estimates.
Corporate General and Administrative Expense
Corporate general & administrative expenses consist of the following (in thousands, unaudited):
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended
June 30,
2022
2021
2022
2021
Professional fees
$
565
$
652
$
972
$
1,416
Corporate administration
468
392
914
772
Compensation and benefits
376
338
691
575
Advertising costs for leasing activities
165
21
210
41
Other
99
204
150
385
Total
$
1,673
$
1,607
$
2,937
$
3,189
Other Expense
Other expense represents expenses which are non-operating in nature. Other expenses were $
0
and $
691
thousand for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, which consist of legal settlement costs. There we
re
no
other expenses for
the three and six months ended June 30, 2021.
Noncontrolling Interests
Noncontrolling interests is the portion of equity in the Operating Partnership not attributable to the Trust. The ownership interests not held by the parent are considered noncontrolling interests. Accordingly, noncontrolling interests have been reported in equity on the condensed consolidated balance sheets but separate from the Company’s equity. On the condensed consolidated statements of operations, the subsidiaries are reported at the consolidated amount, including both the
Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Unaudited)
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
amount attributable to the Company and noncontrolling interests. Condensed consolidated statements of (deficit) equity include beginning balances, activity for the period and ending balances for stockholders' equity, noncontrolling interests and total equity.
The noncontrolling interest of the Operating Partnership common unit holders is calculated by multiplying the noncontrolling interest ownership percentage at the balance sheet date by the Operating Partnership’s net assets (total assets less total liabilities). The noncontrolling interest percentage is calculated at any point in time by dividing the number of units not owned by the Company by the total number of units outstanding. The noncontrolling interest ownership percentage will change as additional units are issued or as units are exchanged for the Company’s $
0.01
par value per share common stock (“Common Stock”). In accordance with GAAP, any changes in the value from period to period are charged to additional paid-in capital.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued ASU 2016-13, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments." This update enhances the methodology of measuring expected credit losses to include the use of forward-looking information to better calculate credit loss estimates. The guidance will apply to most financial assets measured at amortized cost and certain other instruments, such as accounts receivable and loans. The guidance will require that the Company estimate the lifetime expected credit loss with respect to these receivables and record allowances that, when deducted from the balance of the receivables, represent the net amounts expected to be collected. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and for interim reporting periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2022, however the Company is early adopting as of January 1, 2022. In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-19 to clarify that operating lease receivables, including straight-line rent receivables, recorded by lessors are explicitly excluded from the scope of Topic 326. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standard-setting bodies are not currently applicable to the Company or are not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Reclassifications
The Company has reclassified certain prior period amounts in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements in order to be consistent with the current period presentation. On November 3, 2021, common stockholders of the Company voted to amend the Company’s Charter to remove the cumulative dividend rights of the Series A Preferred and Series B Preferred.
As a result the condensed consolidated statements of operations were adjusted as shown below:
Three Months Ended June 30, 2021
Six Months Ended June 30, 2021
As Previously Reported
Adjustment of Series A Preferred and Series B Preferred undeclared Dividends
As Adjusted
As Previously Reported
Adjustment of Series A Preferred and Series B Preferred undeclared Dividends
As Adjusted
Preferred Stock dividends - undeclared
$
(
3,251
)
$
1,062
$
(
2,189
)
$
(
6,592
)
$
2,130
$
(
4,462
)
Net Loss Attributable to Wheeler REIT Common Stockholders
$
(
5,667
)
$
1,062
$
(
4,605
)
$
(
8,668
)
$
2,130
$
(
6,538
)
(Loss) per share, Basic and Diluted
$
(
0.58
)
$
0.11
$
(
0.47
)
$
(
0.89
)
$
0.22
$
(
0.67
)
No other reclassifications had an effect on net income, total assets, total liabilities or equity.
3.
Real Estate
Investment properties consist of the following
(in thousands, unaudited):
Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Unaudited)
3. Real Estate (continued)
June 30, 2022
December 31, 2021
Land and land improvements
$
95,864
$
96,752
Buildings and improvements
359,106
357,606
Investment properties at cost
454,970
454,358
Less accumulated depreciation
(
71,817
)
(
67,628
)
Investment properties, net
$
383,153
$
386,730
The Company’s depreciation expense on investment properties was $
2.79
million and $
5.58
million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively. The Company’s depreciation expense on investment properties was $
2.70
million and $
5.39
million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively.
A significant portion of the Company’s land, buildings and improvements serve as collateral for its mortgage loans. Accordingly, restrictions exist as to the encumbered property’s transferability, use and other common rights typically associated with property ownership.
Assets Held for Sale and Dispositions
At June 30, 2022, assets held for sale included Harbor Pointe Associates, LLC, as the Company has committed to a plan to sell the entity, which holds an approximate
5
acre land parcel ("Harbor Pointe Land Parcel"). At December 31, 2021, assets held for sale included Walnut Hill Plaza.
Impairment expenses on assets held for sale are a result of reducing the carrying value for the amount that exceeded the property's fair value less estimated selling costs. The valuation assumptions are based on the three-level valuation hierarchy for fair value measurement and represent Level 2 inputs. Impairment expense was $
100
thousand and $
760
thousand for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, resulting from reducing the carrying value of Harbor Pointe Land Parcel. Impairment expense was $
2.20
million and $
2.20
million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, resulting from reducing the carrying value of Columbia Fire Station.
Assets held for sale and associated liabilities consisted of the following
(in thousands, unaudited):
June 30, 2022
December 31, 2021
Investment properties, net
$
419
$
1,824
Rents and other tenant receivables, net
—
18
Deferred costs and other assets, net
—
205
Total assets held for sale
$
419
$
2,047
June 30, 2022
December 31, 2021
Loans payable
$
—
$
3,145
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
—
236
Total liabilities associated with assets held for sale
$
—
$
3,381
The following properties were sold during the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 (in thousands, unaudited):
Disposal Date
Property
Contract Price
Gain (loss)
Net Proceeds
January 11, 2022
Walnut Hill Plaza
$
1,986
$
(
15
)
$
1,786
March 25, 2021
Berkley Shopping Center and Berkley Land Parcel (
0.75
acres)
4,150
176
3,937
4.
Deferred Costs and Other Assets, Net
Deferred costs and other assets, net of accumulated amortization are as follows
(in thousands, unaudited):
Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Unaudited)
June 30, 2022
December 31, 2021
Leases in place, net
$
6,398
$
7,519
Lease origination costs, net
1,647
1,474
Ground lease sandwich interest, net
1,530
1,667
Tenant relationships, net
673
853
Legal and marketing costs, net
11
14
Acquisition costs
2,109
—
Prepaid expenses
1,507
413
Other
564
33
Total deferred costs and other assets, net
$
14,439
$
11,973
The acquisition costs consist of professional fees incurred associated with the pending acquisition of Cedar Realty Trust, Inc (“Cedar”).
As of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company’s intangible accumulated amortization totaled $
60.71
million and $
62.94
million, respectively. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company’s intangible amortization expense totaled $
833
thousand and $
1.66
million, respectively. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company’s intangible amortization expense totaled $
941
thousand and $
1.97
million, respectively.
Future amortization of leases in place, lease origination costs, ground lease sandwich interest, tenant relationships, and legal and marketing costs is as follows (in thousands, unaudited):
Leases In
Place, net
Lease
Origination
Costs, net
Ground Lease Sandwich Interest, net
Tenant
Relationships, net
Legal &
Marketing
Costs, net
Total
For the remaining six months ending December 31, 2022
Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Unaudited)
5. Loans Payable
Convertible Notes
During the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, interest related to the Convertible Notes was $
578
thousand and $
1.16
million, paid with
432,994
shares of Series B Preferred, which when adjusted for the VWAP discount represents interest expense of $
2.10
million for the six months ended June 30, 2022.
Walnut Hill Plaza Payoff
In conjunction with the Walnut Hill Plaza sale the Company made a $
1.79
million principal paydown on the Walnut Hill Plaza loan. On February 17, 2022 the Company paid the remaining loan balance of $
1.34
million in full after the sale of Walnut Hill Plaza, as detailed in Note 3.
Guggenheim Loan Agreement
On June 17, 2022, the Company entered into a term loan agreement (the “Guggenheim Loan Agreement”) with Guggenheim Real Estate, LLC., for $
75.00
million at a fixed rate of
4.25
% with interest-only payments due monthly. Commencing on August 10, 2027, until the maturity date of July 10, 2032, monthly principal and interest payments will be made
based on a
30-year
amortization schedule calculated based on the principal amount as of that time
. The Guggenheim Loan Agreement proceeds were used to refinance
eleven
loans including $
1.46
million in defeasance.
Debt Maturity
The Company’s scheduled principal repayments on indebtedness as of June 30, 2022, including assets held for sale, are as follows (in thousands, unaudited):
For the remaining six months ended December 31, 2022
$
2,207
December 31, 2023
47,774
December 31, 2024
39,512
December 31, 2025
85,483
December 31, 2026
23,531
December 31, 2027
9,313
Thereafter
143,057
Total principal repayments and debt maturities
$
350,877
6.
Derivative Liabilities
Warrants to purchase shares of common stock outstanding at June 30, 2022 are as follows:
Warrants
Exercise Price
Expiration Date
496,415
$
3.120
12/22/2023
510,204
$
3.430
3/12/2026
424,242
$
4.125
3/12/2026
127,273
$
6.875
3/12/2026
Fair Value of Warrants
The Company utilized the Monte Carlo simulation model to calculate the fair value of the Powerscourt Warrant and Wilmington Warrant (collectively, the "Warrant Agreements"). Significant observable
and unobservable inputs include stock price, conversion price, risk-free rate, term, likelihood of an event of contractual conversion and expected volatility. The Monte Carlo simulation is a Level 3 valuation technique because it requires the development of significant internal assumptions in addition to observable market indicators.
The Warrant Agreements contain terms and features that give rise to derivative liability classification.
15
Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Unaudited)
6. Derivative Liabilities
In measuring the warrant liabilities, the Company used the following inputs in its Monte Carlo model.
June 30, 2022
December 31, 2021
Common Stock price
$
2.54
$
1.94
Weighted average contractual term to maturity
3.0
years
3.5
years
Range of expected market volatility %
76.46
% -
89.47
%
70.12
% -
81.00
%
Range of risk free interest rate
2.86
% -
3.00
%
0.72
% -
1.16
%
Fair Value of Conversion Features Related to Convertible Notes
The Company identified certain embedded derivatives related to the conversion features of the Convertible Notes. In accordance with ASC 815-40,
Derivatives and Hedging Activities
, the embedded conversion options contained within the Convertible Notes were accounted for as derivative liabilities at the date of issuance and shall be adjusted to fair value through each reporting date. The Company utilized a multinomial lattice model to calculate the fair value of the embedded derivatives. Significant observable
and unobservable inputs include, conversion price, stock price, dividend rate, expected volatility, risk-free rate and term. The
multinomial lattice model
is a Level 3 valuation technique because it requires the development of significant internal assumptions in addition to observable market indicators.
In measuring the embedded derivative liability, the Company used the following inputs in its multinomial lattice model:
June 30, 2022
December 31, 2021
Conversion price
$
6.25
$
6.25
Common Stock price
$
2.54
$
1.94
Contractual term to maturity
9.5
years
10.1
years
Expected market volatility %
80.00
%
80.00
%
Risk-free interest rate
2.97
%
1.51
%
Traded WHLRL price, % of par
116.00
%
113.96
%
The following table sets forth a summary of the changes in fair value of the Company's derivative liabilities, which include both the warrant liabilities and embedded derivative liability (in thousands, unaudited):
Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Unaudited)
7.
Rentals under Operating Leases
Future minimum rents to be received under noncancelable tenant operating leases, excluding rents on assets held for sale properties, for each of the six months ending December 31, 2022 and each of the next five years and thereafter, excluding tenant reimbursements and percentage rent based on tenant sales volume, as of June 30, 2022 are as follows (in thousands, unaudited):
For the remaining six months ended December 31, 2022
$
24,136
December 31, 2023
45,911
December 31, 2024
39,186
December 31, 2025
31,939
December 31, 2026
23,876
December 31, 2027
16,701
Thereafter
42,931
Total minimum rents
$
224,680
8.
Equity and Mezzanine Equity
Series A Preferred Stock
At June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had
562
shares without par value of Series A Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred”) issued and outstanding and a $
1,000
liquidation preference per share, or $
562
thousand in aggregate.
Series B Preferred Stock
At June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had
2,301,337
and
1,872,448
shares, issued and outstanding, respectively, and
5,000,000
authorized shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, without par value (“Series B Preferred”) with a $
25.00
liquidation preference per share, or $
57.53
million and $
46.81
million in aggregate, respectively.
Series D Preferred Stock - Redeemable Preferred Stock
At June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had
3,152,392
issued and outstanding, and
6,000,000
authorized shares of Series D Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, without par value ("Series D Preferred") with a $
25.00
liquidation preference per share, and a liquidation value of $
109.21
million and $
104.97
million in aggregate, respectively.
The changes in the carrying value of the Series D Preferred for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 are as follows (in thousands, unaudited):
Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Unaudited)
8. Equity and Mezzanine Equity (continued)
Series D Preferred
Balance December 31, 2021
$
92,548
Accretion of Preferred Stock discount
125
Undeclared dividends
2,118
Balance March 31, 2022
94,791
Accretion of Preferred Stock discount
124
Undeclared dividends
2,118
Balance June 30, 2022
$
97,033
Series D Preferred
Balance December 31, 2020
$
95,563
Accretion of Preferred Stock discount
140
Undeclared dividends
2,111
Redemption of Preferred Stock
(
10,493
)
Balance March 31, 2021
87,321
Accretion of Preferred Stock discount
125
Undeclared dividends
2,042
Redemption of Preferred Stock
(
2,882
)
Balance June 30, 2021
$
86,606
Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share for the Company’s common stockholders is calculated by dividing income (loss) from continuing operations, excluding amounts attributable to preferred stockholders and the net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, by the Company’s weighted-average shares of Common Stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing the net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders, excluding amounts attributable to preferred stockholders and the net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, by the weighted-average number of common shares including any dilutive shares.
The following table summarizes the potential dilution of conversion of common units, Series B Preferred, Series D Preferred, warrants and Convertible Notes into the Company's Common Stock. These have been excluded from the Company’s diluted earnings per share calculation because their inclusion would be antidilutive.
June 30, 2022
Outstanding shares
Potential Dilutive Shares
Common units
145,723
145,723
Series B Preferred Stock
2,301,337
1,438,336
Series D Preferred Stock
3,152,392
6,439,132
Warrants to purchase Common Stock
—
1,558,134
Convertible Notes
—
25,078,898
Dividends
The following table summarizes the Series D Preferred dividends (unaudited, in thousands except for per share amounts):
Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Unaudited)
8. Equity and Mezzanine Equity (continued)
Series D Preferred
Record Date/Arrears Date
Arrears
Per Share
For the three months ended June 30, 2022
$
2,118
$
0.67
For the six months ended June 30, 2022
$
4,236
$
1.34
For the three months ended June 30, 2021
$
2,042
$
0.67
For the six months ended June 30, 2021
$
4,153
$
1.34
The total cumulative dividends in arrears for Series D Preferred (per share $
9.64
) as of June 30, 2022 is $
30.40
million. There were
no
dividends declared to holders of Common Stock during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021.
9.
Lease Commitments
The Company has ground leases and leases its corporate headquarters; both are accounted for as operating leases. Most leases include
one
or more options to renew, with renewal terms that can extend the lease term from
5
to
50
years. As of June 30, 2022 and 2021, the weighted average remaining lease term of our leases is
30
and
31
years, respectively. Rent expense under the operating lease agreements were $
264
thousand and $
528
thousand for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively. The rent expense was $
267
thousand and $
532
thousand for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively.
Supplemental information related to leases is as follows (in thousands, unaudited):
Three Months Ended
June 30
Six Months Ended
June 30
2022
2021
2022
2021
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities
$
226
$
226
$
452
$
451
Undiscounted cash flows of our scheduled obligations for future minimum lease payments due under the operating leases, including applicable automatic extension options and options reasonably certain of being exercised, as of June 30, 2022 and a reconciliation of those cash flows to the operating lease liabilities at June 30, 2022 are as follows (in thousands, unaudited):
For the remaining six months ended December 31, 2022
$
453
December 31, 2023
907
December 31, 2024
909
December 31, 2025
913
December 31, 2026
943
December 31, 2027
946
Thereafter
21,897
Total minimum lease payments
(1)
26,968
Discount
(
14,012
)
Operating lease liabilities
$
12,956
(1) Operating lease payments include $
7.54
million related to options to extend lease terms that are reasonably certain of being exercised
.
Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Unaudited)
10. Commitments and Contingencies (continued)
The Company carries comprehensive liability, fire, extended coverage, business interruption and rental loss insurance covering all of the properties in its portfolio under an insurance policy, in addition to other coverages, such as trademark and pollution coverage that may be appropriate for certain of its properties. Additionally, the Company carries a directors’, officers’, entity and employment practices liability insurance policy that covers such claims made against the Company and its directors and officers. The Company believes the policy specifications and insured limits are appropriate and adequate for its properties given the relative risk of loss, the cost of the coverage and industry practice; however, its insurance coverage may not be sufficient to fully cover its losses.
Concentration of Credit Risk
The Company is subject to risks incidental to the ownership and operation of commercial real estate. These risks include, among others, the risks normally associated with changes in the general economic climate, trends in the retail industry, creditworthiness of tenants, competition for tenants and customers, changes in tax laws, interest rates, the availability of financing and potential liability under environmental and other laws.
The Company’s portfolio of properties is dependent upon regional and local economic conditions and is geographically concentrated in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, which markets represent approximately
61
%,
35
% and
4
% respectively, of the total annualized base rent of the properties in its portfolio as of June 30, 2022. The Company’s geographic concentration may cause it to be more susceptible to adverse developments in those markets than if it owned a more geographically diverse portfolio. Additionally, the Company’s retail shopping center properties depend on anchor stores or major tenants to attract shoppers and could be adversely affected by the loss of, or a store closure by, one or more of these tenants.
Regulatory and Environmental
As the owner of the buildings on our properties, the Company could face liability for the presence of hazardous materials (e.g., asbestos or lead) or other adverse conditions (e.g., poor indoor air quality) in its buildings. Environmental laws govern the presence, maintenance, and removal of hazardous materials in buildings, and if the Company does not comply with such laws, it could face fines for such noncompliance. Also, the Company could be liable to third parties (e.g., occupants of the buildings) for damages related to exposure to hazardous materials or adverse conditions in its buildings, and the Company could incur material expenses with respect to abatement or remediation of hazardous materials or other adverse conditions in its buildings. In addition, some of the Company’s tenants routinely handle and use hazardous or regulated substances and wastes as part of their operations at our properties, which are subject to regulation. Such environmental and health and safety laws and regulations could subject the Company or its tenants to liability resulting from these activities. Environmental liabilities could affect a tenant’s ability to make rental payments to the Company, and changes in laws could increase the potential liability for noncompliance. This may result in significant unanticipated expenditures or may otherwise materially and adversely affect the Company’s operations. The Company is not aware of any material contingent liabilities, regulatory matters or environmental matters that may exist.
Litigation
The Company is involved in various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of its business, including, but not limited to commercial disputes. The Company believes that such litigation, claims and administrative proceedings will not have a material adverse impact on its financial position or its results of operations. The Company records a liability when it considers the loss probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. In addition, the below legal proceedings are in process:
David Kelly v. Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc.,
Circuit Court for the City of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Former CEO David Kelly filed suit on May 28, 2020, alleging breach of his employment contract. On March 15, 2022, the Court granted Mr. Kelly $
340
thousand with interest thereon at a rate of
6
% per annum from the date of termination, April 13, 2020, until paid, plus attorneys' fees and costs in the amount of $
311
thousand. On March 31, 2022, $
691
thousand was paid to Mr. Kelly. The Company has now fulfilled its obligations pursuant to the Court’s Order in this case.
JCP Investment Partnership LP, et al v. Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc.,
United States District Court for the District of Maryland. On March 22, 2021, JCP Investment Partnership, LP, a Texas limited partnership and
Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Unaudited)
10. Commitments and Contingencies (continued)
stockholder of the Company, JCP Investment Partners, LP, a Texas limited partnership and stockholder of the Company, JCP Investment Holdings, LLC, a Texas limited liability company and stockholder of the Company, and JCP Investment Management, LLC, a Texas limited liability company and stockholder of the Company (collectively, the “JCP Plaintiffs”), filed suit against the Company and certain current and former directors and former officers of the Company (the “Individual Defendants”). The complaint alleges that the Company amended provisions of its Articles Supplementary in 2018 governing the issuance of the Company’s Series D Preferred in violation of Maryland corporate law and without obtaining the consent of preferred stockholders and, therefore, the court should declare the Company’s said amendment invalid, enjoin further purportedly unauthorized amendments, and either compel the Company to redeem the JCP Plaintiffs' stock or enter judgment for monetary damages the JCP Plaintiffs purportedly sustained based on the Company’s alleged breach of its contractual duties to redeem the JCP Plaintiffs’ Series D Preferred. The complaint also alleges certain violations of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, and alleges that the Individual Defendants violated Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act. The JCP Plaintiffs are each purportedly a holder of the Company’s Series D Preferred. The complaint seeks damages, interest, attorneys’ fees, other costs and expenses, and such other relief as the court may deem just and equitable. The Company has filed an answer to the complaint denying any liability. The Individual Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the complaint, which was denied. The JCP Plaintiffs filed a Motion For Partial Summary Judgment, as to which the Company and the Individual Defendants filed oppositions.
The Judge denied the JCP Plaintiffs' Motion and ordered the parties to prepare a joint discovery schedule.
The Judge also ordered the parties to engage in mediation with a Magistrate Judge. That mediation is scheduled for August 30, 2022. At this juncture, the outcome of the litigation is uncertain.
Steamboat Capital Partners Master Fund, LP and Steamboat Capital Partners II, LP v. Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc.,
Steamboat Capital Partners Master Fund, LP and Steamboat Capital Partners II, LP v. Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc., Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Maryland. On October 25, 2021, Steamboat Capital Partners Master Fund, LP, a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership and stockholder of the Company, and Steamboat Capital Partners II, LP, a Delaware limited partnership and stockholder of the Company, filed a putative class action on behalf of holders of the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock.
The complaint alleges that the Company's rights offering of convertible debt to the Company's common stockholders, and the notes issued pursuant to the rights offering, breached the provisions of the Company's governing documents and violated the rights of the holders of the Series B Preferred and Series D Preferred with respect to accumulated and unpaid dividends. Plaintiffs seek relief as follows: require the Company to pay all dividends accrued, as of the date of the rights offering, on the Series B Preferred and Series D Preferred, and prohibit the Company from paying interest on the notes held by the Company's common stockholders (upon exercise of the rights) until all accrued dividends on the Series B Preferred and Series D Preferred are paid. Plaintiffs also seek a declaration that the rights offering by the Company to its common stockholders, which resulted in the issuance of notes, when accrued Series B Preferred dividends and Series D Preferred dividends had not been fully paid, breached the provisions of the Company's governing documents. In addition, the complaint contends that the Company's amendment of its charter to remove the cumulative nature of dividends from the Series B Preferred cannot be applied retroactively.
A trial date is set for May 2023. The parties have each filed potentially dispositive motions upon which the court has yet to rule. At this juncture, the outcome of the litigation is uncertain.
In Re: Cedar Realty Trust, Inc. Preferred Shareholder Litigation
, Case No.: 1:22-cv-1103, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland (formerly captioned
David Sydney, et. al. v. Cedar Realty Trust, Inc., Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. et al
.). On April 8, 2022, several purported holders of preferred stock of Cedar Realty Trust, Inc. (“Cedar”) filed a putative class action in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland against Cedar, Cedar’s Board of Directors, and the Company arising out of transactions that include the pending acquisition of Cedar by the Company. The defendants removed the case to federal court. The complaint, as amended on May 6, 2022, includes allegations of breach of contract against Cedar with respect to the articles supplementary governing the terms of Cedar’s preferred stock and breach of fiduciary duty against the members of Cedar’s Board of Directors. The plaintiffs allege that Cedar breached their liquidation and conversion rights as set forth in Cedar’s articles supplementary, and that the members of Cedar’s Board of Directors acted in bad faith and breached their fiduciary duty in structuring the transactions that include the merger. The complaint further alleges that the Company tortiously interfered with Cedar’s contract with the owners of Cedar’s preferred stock and aided and abetted the alleged breach of fiduciary duty by Cedar’s Board of Directors. The amended complaint seeks damages in an unspecified amount. Following a hearing, the Court on June 22, 2022, denied plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction enjoining the
Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(Unaudited)
10. Commitments and Contingencies (continued)
merger. By Order dated July 11, 2022, the Court consolidated this case formerly captioned
David Sydney, et. al. v. Cedar Realty Trust, Inc., Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. et al
with another putative class action brought by a preferred Cedar stockholder (with both cases to use the caption
In Re: Cedar Realty Trust, Inc. Preferred Shareholder Litigation
), and set August 24, 2022 for the plaintiffs to file a consolidated amended complaint. At this juncture, the outcome of the litigation is uncertain.
Harbor Pointe Tax Increment Financing
On September 1, 2011, the Grove Economic Development Authority issued the Grove Economic Development Authority Tax Increment Revenue Note, Taxable Series 2011 in the amount of $
2.42
million, bearing a variable interest rate of
2.29
%, not to exceed
14
% and payable in
50
semi-annual installments. The proceeds of the bonds were to provide funding for the construction of public infrastructure and other site improvements and to be repaid by incremental additional property taxes generated by development. Harbor Pointe Associates, LLC, then owned by an affiliate of former CEO, Jon Wheeler, entered into an Economic Development Agreement with the Grove Economic Development Authority for this infrastructure development and in the event the ad valorem taxes were insufficient to cover annual debt service, Harbor Pointe Associates, LLC would reimburse the Grove Economic Development Authority (the “Harbor Pointe Agreement”). In 2014, Harbor Pointe Associates, LLC was acquired by the Company.
The total debt service shortfall over the life of the bond is uncertain as it is based on ad valorem taxes, assessed property values, property tax rates, LIBOR and future potential development ranging until 2036. The Company’s future total principal obligation under the Harbor Pointe Agreement will be no more than $
2.11
million, the principal amount of the bonds, as of June 30, 2022. In addition, the Company may have an interest obligation on the note based on the principal balance and LIBOR rates in effect at future payment dates. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 the Company did
no
t fund any debt service shortfalls. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 the Company funded $
0
and $
44
thousand, respectively, in debt service shortfalls.
No
amounts have been accrued for this as of June 30, 2022 as a reasonable estimate of future debt service shortfalls cannot be determined based on variables noted above.
11.
Subsequent Events
JANAF Loan Agreement
On July 6, 2022, the Company entered into a loan agreement (the “JANAF Loan Agreement”) with CITI Real Estate Funding Inc. for $
60.00
million at a fixed interest rate of
5.31
% with interest-only payments through maturity, July 6, 2032.
The JANAF Loan Agreement proceeds were used to refinance
three
loans including $
1.16
million in defeasance.
22
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You should read the following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in this Form 10-Q, along with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto, and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in our 2021 Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. For more detailed information regarding the basis of presentation for the following information, you should read the notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q.
When used in this discussion and elsewhere in this Form 10-Q, the words “believes,” “should,” “estimates,” “expects,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and in Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but are the intent, belief or current expectations of our management based on its knowledge and understanding of our business and industry. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, are difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements.
Important factors that we think could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in
the forward-looking statement are summarized below:
•
the ongoing adverse effect and the ultimate duration of the COVID-19 pandemic,and federal, state, and/or local regulatory guidelines and private business actions to control it, on the Company’s financial condition, operating results and cash flows, the Company’s tenants and their customers, the use of and demand for retail space, the real estate market in which the Company operates, the U.S. economy, the global economy and the financial markets;
•
the level of rental revenue we achieve from our assets and our ability to collect rents;
•
the state of the U.S. economy generally, or specifically in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast where our properties are geographically concentrated;
•
consumer spending and confidence trends;
•
tenant bankruptcies;
•
availability, terms and deployment of capital;
•
general volatility of the capital markets and the market price of our common and preferred stock;
•
the degree and nature of our competition;
•
changes in governmental regulations, accounting rules, tax rates and similar matters;
•
litigation risks;
•
lease-up risks;
•
increases in the Company’s financing and other costs as a result of changes in interest rates and other factors, including the discontinuation of the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”);
•
changes in our ability to obtain and maintain financing;
•
damage to the Company’s properties from catastrophic weather and other natural events, and the physical effects of climate change;
•
information technology security breaches;
•
the Company’s ability and willingness to maintain its qualification as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) in light of economic, market, legal, tax and other considerations;
•
the impact of e-commerce on our tenants’ business; and
•
inability to generate sufficient cash flows due to market conditions, competition, uninsured losses, changes in tax or other applicable laws.
We caution that the foregoing list of factors is not all-inclusive. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly
changing environment. New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all such factors, nor
can it assess the impact of all such factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause
actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties,
investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. All subsequent written
and oral forward-looking statements concerning us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by
23
the cautionary statements above. We caution not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. We do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
Company Overview
The Company, a Maryland corporation, is a fully integrated, self-managed commercial real estate investment trust that owns, leases and operates income-producing retail properties with a primary focus on grocery-anchored centers.
As of June 30, 2022, the Trust, through the Operating Partnership, owned and operated fifty-seven retail shopping centers and four undeveloped properties in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Recent Trends and Activities
Pending Acquisition of Cedar Realty Trust
On March 2, 2022, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended, the “Merger Agreement”) with Cedar Realty Trust, Inc. (“Cedar”), Cedar Realty Trust Partnership, L.P., (“Cedar OP”), WHLR Merger Sub Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and WHLR OP Merger Sub LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Merger Sub I (“Merger Sub II”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to acquire Cedar, including 19 of its shopping center assets, in an all-cash merger transaction consisting, in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, of a payment to Cedar common shareholders of merger consideration of $9.48 per common share (the “Cedar Acquisition”). Concurrent with the payment of the merger consideration, Cedar common shareholders will receive from Cedar by way of a special dividend $19.52 per common share resulting from prior sales of various Cedar assets. The Cedar Acquisition is expected to close on or about August 22, 2022, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger
Agreement, Merger Sub II will merge with and into Cedar OP (the “Partnership Merger”), with Cedar OP being the surviving partnership (the “Surviving Partnership”) in such merger, and, immediately following the Partnership Merger, Merger Sub I will merge with and into Cedar (the “REIT Merger” and, together with the Partnership Merger, the “Mergers”), with Cedar being the surviving company (the “Surviving Company”) in the REIT Merger.
Upon completion of and by virtue of the Mergers, the issued and outstanding shares of Cedar’s common stock, par value $0.06 per share (“Cedar Common Stock”), and the issued and outstanding common units of Cedar OP held by persons other than Cedar (“Third Party Cedar OP Units”), will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive an aggregate of $130.00 million of cash merger consideration (the “Aggregate Merger Consideration”), without interest.
Following the REIT Merger, the Cedar Common Stock will be held by the Company and will no longer be publicly traded. Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Cedar’s currently outstanding 7.25% Series B Preferred Stock and 6.50% Series C Preferred Stock (collectively, the “Cedar Preferred Stock”) will remain outstanding as shares of preferred stock in the Surviving Company following the Mergers. Both classes of Cedar Preferred Stock are expected to remain listed on the New York Stock Exchange following closing of the Mergers, and the Surviving Company is expected to continue to be an independent filer of periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Exchange Act. This post-closing structure whereby the Cedar Preferred Stock will remain outstanding preferred securities of an independent public reporting entity that holds a portfolio of income-producing assets is intended to provide for the Surviving Company to pay all required dividends
on the Cedar Preferred Stock in accordance with the articles supplementary governing the terms of the Cedar Preferred Stock and applicable law.
The Cedar Acquisition has been approved by the boards of directors of each of the Company and Cedar, and by Cedar’s common stockholders.
In connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, WHLR has obtained a debt financing commitment from KeyBank National Association (the “Lender”) in an amount of up to $130.00 million. The Lender’s commitment to provide debt financing (the “Debt Financing”) for the Cedar Acquisition consists of a bridge loan on the terms, and subject to the conditions set forth in a debt commitment letter, dated as of March 2, 2022, and delivered to WHLR concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement (the “Debt Commitment Letter”).
24
The obligations of the Lender to provide the Debt Financing under the Debt Commitment Letter are subject to a number of customary conditions, including the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement, the delivery of specified due diligence items, the receipt of executed loan documentation, the payment of certain fees, and the absence of any material adverse change in the business, financial condition, assets or results of operations of Cedar or Cedar OP that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect. The Debt Financing will be secured by first mortgage liens on substantially all of the properties owned by certain subsidiaries of Cedar OP.
The Cedar Acquisition is expected to increase the Company’s presence in the Northeast, and create a total operating portfolio of 76 shopping centers (the majority of which will be grocery-anchored), consisting of approximately 8.2 million square feet of gross leasable area.
The amounts presented herein for the six months ended June 30, 2022, are solely the Company’s stand-alone results of operations and therefore do not include Cedar’s results of operations for these periods.
Dispositions
Disposal Date
Property
Contract Price
Gain (loss)
Net Proceeds
(in thousands, unaudited)
January 11, 2022
Walnut Hill Plaza - Petersburg, VA
$
1,986
$
(15)
$
1,786
In conjunction with the Walnut Hill Plaza sale the Company made a $1.79 million principal paydown on the Walnut Hill Plaza loan and on February 17, 2022, the Company paid the remaining loan balance of $1.34 million.
Assets Held for Sale
At June 30, 2022, assets held for sale included Harbor Pointe Associates, LLC as the Company had committed to a plan to sell the entity. At December 31 2021, assets held for sale included Walnut Hill Plaza.
Interest Payment of Convertible Notes
On June 30, 2022, the Company issued a total of 432,994 shares of Series B Preferred in payment of interest on the Convertible Notes.
Guggenheim Loan Agreement
On June 17, 2022, the Company entered into a term loan agreement (the “Guggenheim Loan Agreement”) with Guggenheim Real Estate, LLC., for $75.00 million at a fixed rate of 4.25% with interest-only payments due monthly. Commencing on August 10, 2027, until the maturity date of July 10, 2032, monthly principal and interest payments will be made
based on a 30-year amortization schedule calculated based on the principal amount as of that time.
The Guggenheim Loan Agreement is collateralized by twenty-two properties and loan proceeds were used to refinance eleven loans including $1.46 million in defeasance.
New Leases, Leasing Renewals and Expirations
The following table presents selected lease activity statistics for our properties:
25
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2022
2021
2022
2021
Renewals
(1)
:
Leases renewed with rate increase (sq feet)
149,860
34,629
216,208
179,802
Leases renewed with rate decrease (sq feet)
6,161
29,550
11,489
54,423
Leases renewed with no rate change (sq feet)
54,322
42,394
74,651
60,353
Total leases renewed (sq feet)
210,343
106,573
302,348
294,578
Leases renewed with rate increase (count)
24
15
44
42
Leases renewed with rate decrease (count)
3
4
5
9
Leases renewed with no rate change (count)
6
7
18
15
Total leases renewed (count)
33
26
67
66
Option exercised (count)
5
4
7
8
Weighted average on rate increases (per sq foot)
$
1.29
$
0.91
$
1.25
$
0.73
Weighted average on rate decreases (per sq foot)
$
(3.75)
$
(3.09)
$
(3.00)
$
(2.20)
Weighted average rate on all renewals (per sq foot)
$
0.81
$
(0.56)
$
0.78
$
0.04
Weighted average change over prior rates
8.80
%
(5.37)
%
7.73
%
0.39
%
New Leases
(1) (2)
:
New leases (sq feet)
29,271
113,865
98,190
226,459
New leases (count)
15
18
38
37
Weighted average rate (per sq foot)
$
13.05
$
8.30
$
13.08
$
8.27
Gross Leasable Area ("GLA") expiring during the next 6 months, including month-to-month leases
2.70
%
2.87
%
2.70
%
2.87
%
(1) Lease data presented is based on average rate per square foot over the renewed or new lease term.
(2) The Company does not include ground leases entered into for the purposes of new lease sq feet and weighted average rate (per sq foot) on new leases.
26
Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 Compared to the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021
Results of Operations
The following table presents a comparison of the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
Three Months Ended Changes
Six Months Ended Changes
2022
2021
2022
2021
Change
% Change
Change
% Change
PROPERTY DATA:
Number of properties owned and leased at period end (1)
57
59
57
59
(2)
(3.39)
%
(2)
(3.39)
%
Aggregate gross leasable area at period end (1)
5,391,432
5,511,881
5,391,432
5,511,881
(120,449)
(2.19)
%
(120,449)
(2.19)
%
Ending leased rate at period end (1)
95.7
%
91.9
%
95.7
%
91.9
%
3.8
%
4.13
%
3.8
%
4.13
%
FINANCIAL DATA:
Rental revenues
$
15,324
$
15,290
$
30,656
$
29,946
$
34
0.22
%
$
710
2.37
%
Other revenues
155
200
320
272
(45)
(22.50)
%
48
17.65
%
Total Revenue
15,479
15,490
30,976
30,218
(11)
(0.07)
%
758
2.51
%
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Property operations
4,732
4,660
9,982
9,544
72
1.55
%
438
4.59
%
Depreciation and amortization
3,625
3,639
7,241
7,355
(14)
(0.38)
%
(114)
(1.55)
%
Impairment of assets held for sale
100
2,200
760
2,200
(2,100)
(95.45)
%
(1,440)
(65.45)
%
Corporate general & administrative
1,673
1,607
2,937
3,189
66
4.11
%
(252)
(7.90)
%
Total Operating Expenses
10,130
12,106
20,920
22,288
(1,976)
(16.32)
%
(1,368)
(6.14)
%
(Loss) gain on disposal of properties
—
—
(15)
176
—
—
%
(191)
(108.52)
%
Operating Income
5,349
3,384
10,041
8,106
1,965
58.07
%
1,935
23.87
%
Interest income
14
—
27
—
14
100.00
%
27
100.00
%
Interest expense
(7,501)
(5,215)
(12,129)
(14,176)
(2,286)
(43.84)
%
2,047
14.44
%
Net changes in fair value of derivative liabilities
2,085
(1,234)
(1,877)
(1,581)
3,319
268.96
%
(296)
(18.72)
%
Other income
—
—
—
552
—
—
%
(552)
(100.00)
%
Other expense
—
—
(691)
—
—
—
%
(691)
(100.00)
%
Net Loss Before Income Taxes
(53)
(3,065)
(4,629)
(7,099)
3,012
98.27
%
2,470
34.79
%
Income tax expense
—
(2)
—
(2)
2
100.00
%
2
100.00
%
Net Loss
(53)
(3,067)
(4,629)
(7,101)
3,014
98.27
%
2,472
34.81
%
Less: Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(1)
—
3
15
(1)
(100.00)
%
(12)
(80.00)
%
Net Loss Attributable to Wheeler REIT
$
(52)
$
(3,067)
$
(4,632)
$
(7,116)
$
3,015
98.30
%
$
2,484
34.91
%
(1) Excludes the undeveloped land parcels. Includes assets held for sale.
Total Revenue
Total revenues were $15.48 million and $30.98 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, compared to $15.49 million and $30.22 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, representing a decrease of 0.07% and an increase of 2.51%, respectively. The increase in rental revenues of $34 thousand and $710 thousand for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 is primarily a result of a 410 basis point improvement in occupancy, partially offset by the decrease from sold properties. See Same Store and Non-same Store Operating Income for further details about the changes within operating revenue.
Total Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses were $10.13 million and $20.92 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, compared to $12.11 million and $22.29 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, representing a decrease of 16.32% and 6.14%, respectively. See Same Store and Non-same Store Operating Income for further details about the changes within property operations expense.
Impairment of assets held for sale was $100 thousand and $760 thousand for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, as a result of Harbor Pointe Land Parcel. Impairment of assets held for sale was $2.20 million and $2.20 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, as a result of Columbia Fire Station.
27
Depreciation and amortization decreased $14 thousand and $114 thousand for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, primarily as a result of lease intangibles becoming fully amortized partially offset by an increase in depreciation due to capital improvements to properties related to occupancy increases.
Corporate general and administrative expenses were $1.67 million and $1.61 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, representing an increase of 4.11%, primarily a result of the following:
•
$144 thousand increase in advertising related costs associated with conferences and marketing expenses;
•
$38 thousand increase in compensation and benefits primarily driven by payroll related costs; and
•
$76 thousand increase in corporate administration costs; and partially offset by
•
$87 thousand decrease in professional fees primarily related to lower legal fees; and
•
$105 thousand decrease in other expenses, primarily related to lower fees associated with capital, debt and financing activities.
Corporate general and administrative expenses were $2.94 million and $3.19 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, representing a decrease of 7.90%, primarily a result of the following:
•
$444 thousand decrease in professional fees primarily related to lower legal fees and timing of director and officer insurance reimbursement;
•
$235 thousand decrease in other expenses, primarily related to lower fees associated with capital, debt and financing activities; partially offset by
•
$116 thousand increase in compensation and benefits primarily driven by payroll related costs;
•
$169 thousand increase in advertising related costs associated with conferences and marketing expenses; and
•
$142 thousand increase in corporate administration costs.
Disposal of Properties
The net (loss) gain on disposal of properties change of $0 and $(191) thousand for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 is a result of the 2022 sale of Walnut Hill Plaza compared to the 2021 sale of the Berkley Shopping Center and Berkley Land Parcel.
Interest Expense
Interest expense was $7.50 million and $5.22 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, representing an increase of 43.84%, primarily a result of $1.46 million in defeasance costs paid as a result of loans refinanced with the Guggenheim Loan Agreement in addition to the write off of deferred loan costs and interest on the Convertibles Notes accounting for $1.52 million, which is inclusive of a $945 thousand adjustment to fair value for interest paid with the shares of Series B Preferred, offset by a decrease of approximately $700 thousand in interest associated with the Wilmington Financing Agreement that was paid in full in December 2021.
Interest expense was $12.13 million and $14.18 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, representing a decrease of 14.44%. Amortization on deferred loan costs accounted for $2.97 million of the decrease, primarily attributable to the 2021 write-off of debt issuance costs and $1.53 million in interest associated with the Wilmington Financing Agreement along with $687 thousand in defeasance paid resulting from the sale of Berkley Shopping Center, partially offset by $1.46 million in defeasance costs paid as a result of loans refinanced with the Guggenheim Loan Agreement in addition to the write off of deferred loan costs and interest on the Convertibles Notes accounting for $2.10 million, which is inclusive of a $945 thousand adjustment to fair value for interest paid with shares of Series B Preferred.
Net Change in Fair Value of Derivative Liabilities
The change in net change in fair value of derivative liabilities of $3.32 million and $(296) thousand for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, represents a non-cash adjustment from change in the fair value. The largest impact on the derivative liabilities' valuation is a result of the change in fair market value of the Company's securities described at Note 6 on this Form 10-Q and the 2021 conversion features on Convertible Notes.
28
Other Income and Expense
Other expense was $0 and $691 thousand for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, relating to legal settlement costs. There was no other expense recognized in 2021. No other income was recognized in 2022. Other income was $0 and $552 thousand for three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, relating to Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") Promissory Note forgiveness. Other income and other expense are non-operating in nature.
Preferred
Dividends
The Company had accumulated undeclared dividends of $30.40 million to holders of shares of our Series D Preferred, of which $2.12 million and $4.24 million are attributable to the three months and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively.
Same Store and Non-same Store Operating Income
Net operating income ("NOI") is a widely-used non-GAAP financial measure for REITs. The Company believes that NOI is a useful measure of the Company's property operating performance. The Company defines NOI as property revenues (rental and other revenues) less property and related expenses (property operation and maintenance and real estate taxes). Because NOI excludes general and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization, interest expense, interest income, provision for income taxes, gain or loss on sale or capital expenditures and leasing costs and impairment of assets held for sale and held for use, it provides a performance measure, that when compared year over year, reflects the revenues and expenses directly associated with owning and operating commercial real estate properties and the impact to operations from trends in occupancy rates, rental rates and operating costs, providing perspective not immediately apparent from net income. The Company uses NOI to evaluate its operating performance since NOI allows the Company to evaluate the impact of factors, such as occupancy levels, lease structure, lease rates and tenant base, have on the Company's results, margins and returns. NOI should not be viewed as a measure of the Company's overall financial performance since it does not reflect general and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization, involuntary conversion, interest expense, interest income, provision for income taxes, gain or loss on sale or disposition of assets, and the level of capital expenditures and leasing costs necessary to maintain the operating performance of the Company's properties. Other REITs may use different methodologies for calculating NOI, and accordingly, the Company's NOI may not be comparable to that of other REITs.
The following table is a reconciliation of same store and non-same store NOI from the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure of net income (loss). Same stores consist of those properties owned during all periods presented in their entirety, while non-same stores consist of those properties acquired or disposed of during the periods presented. The non-same store category consists of the following properties:
•
Continuing operations:
◦
Berkley Shopping Center and Berkley Land Parcel (sold March 25, 2021);
◦
Tulls Creek Land Parcel (sold July 9, 2021);
◦
Rivergate Shopping Center Out Parcel (sold August 31, 2021);
◦
Columbia Fire Station (sold November 17, 2021); and
◦
Walnut Hill Plaza (sold January 11, 2022).
29
Three Months Ended June 30,
Same Store
Non-same Store
Total
2022
2021
2022
2021
2022
2021
(in thousands, unaudited)
Net Loss
$
(53)
$
(704)
$
—
$
(2,363)
$
(53)
$
(3,067)
Adjustments:
Income tax expense
—
2
—
—
—
2
Net changes in fair value of derivative liabilities
(2,085)
1,234
—
—
(2,085)
1,234
Interest expense
7,501
5,014
—
201
7,501
5,215
Interest income
(14)
—
—
—
(14)
—
Corporate general & administrative
1,673
1,601
—
6
1,673
1,607
Impairment of assets held for sale
100
—
—
2,200
100
2,200
Depreciation and amortization
3,625
3,583
—
56
3,625
3,639
Other non-property revenue
(8)
(9)
—
—
(8)
(9)
Property Net Operating Income
$
10,739
$
10,721
$
—
$
100
$
10,739
$
10,821
Property revenues
$
15,471
$
15,318
$
—
$
163
$
15,471
$
15,481
Property expenses
4,732
4,597
—
63
4,732
4,660
Property Net Operating Income
$
10,739
$
10,721
$
—
$
100
$
10,739
$
10,821
Six Months Ended June 30,
Same Store
Non-same Store
Total
2022
2021
2022
2021
2022
2021
(in thousands, unaudited)
Net Loss
$
(4,592)
$
(3,914)
$
(37)
$
(3,187)
$
(4,629)
$
(7,101)
Adjustments:
Income tax expense
—
2
—
—
—
2
Other expense
691
—
—
—
691
—
Net changes in fair value of derivative liabilities
1,877
1,581
—
—
1,877
1,581
Interest expense
12,117
13,073
12
1,103
12,129
14,176
Interest income
(27)
—
—
—
(27)
—
Loss (gain) on disposal of properties
—
—
15
(176)
15
(176)
Corporate general & administrative
2,930
3,141
7
48
2,937
3,189
Impairment of assets held for sale
760
—
—
2,200
760
2,200
Depreciation and amortization
7,241
7,244
—
111
7,241
7,355
Other non-property revenue
(16)
(574)
—
—
(16)
(574)
Property Net Operating Income
$
20,981
$
20,553
$
(3)
$
99
$
20,978
$
20,652
Property revenues
$
30,957
$
29,874
$
3
$
322
$
30,960
$
30,196
Property expenses
9,976
9,321
6
223
9,982
9,544
Property Net Operating Income
$
20,981
$
20,553
$
(3)
$
99
$
20,978
$
20,652
Property Revenues
Total same store property revenues were $15.47 million and $15.32 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, representing an increase of 1.00% primarily due to:
•
$624 thousand increase in rental revenues (excluding straight-line revenue) and reimbursement revenue primarily due to increased occupancy; partially offset by
30
•
$230 thousand decrease in straight-line rental revenues; and
•
$220 thousand increase in provision for credit losses on operating lease receivables.
Total same store property revenues were $30.96 million and $29.87 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, representing an increase of 3.63% primarily due to:
•
$1.67 million increase in rental revenues (excluding straight-line revenue) and reimbursement revenue primarily due to increased occupancy; partially offset by
•
$441 thousand decrease in straight-line rental revenues; and
•
$190 thousand increase in provision for credit losses on operating lease receivables.
Property Expenses
Total same store property expenses were $4.73 million and $4.60 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, an increase of 2.94%. The $135 thousand increase for the three months ended June 30, 2022 is primarily due to increases of $79 thousand in insurance and $43 thousand in repairs and maintenance.
Total same store property expenses were $9.98 million and $9.32 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, an increase of 7.03%. The $655 thousand increase for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is primarily due to increases of $192 thousand in insurance, $186 thousand in snow removal and $175 thousand in remaining common area expenses.
There were no significant unusual or non-recurring items included in non-same store property expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021.
Property Net Operating Income
Total property net operating income was $10.74 million and $20.98 million for the three and six ended June 30, 2022, compared to $10.82 million and $20.65 million for the three and six month ended June 30, 2021, respectively, representing a decrease of $82 thousand and an increase of $326 thousand, respectively.
Funds from Operations (FFO)
We use FFO, a non-GAAP measure, as an alternative measure of our operating performance, specifically as it relates to results of operations and liquidity. We compute FFO in accordance with standards established by the Board of Governors of NAREIT in its March 1995 White Paper (as amended in November 1999, April 2002 and December 2018). As defined by NAREIT, FFO represents net income (computed in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains (or losses) from sales of property, plus real estate related depreciation and amortization (excluding amortization of loan origination costs), plus impairment of real estate related long-lived assets and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. Most industry analysts and equity REITs, including us, consider FFO to be an appropriate supplemental measure of operating performance because, by excluding gains or losses on dispositions and excluding depreciation, FFO is a helpful tool that can assist in the comparison of the operating performance of a company’s real estate between periods, or as compared to different companies. Management uses FFO as a supplemental measure to conduct and evaluate our business because there are certain limitations associated with using GAAP net income alone as the primary measure of our operating performance. Historical cost accounting for real estate assets in accordance with GAAP implicitly assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time, while historically real estate values have risen or fallen with market conditions. Accordingly, we believe FFO provides a valuable alternative measurement tool to GAAP when presenting our operating results.
31
Below is a comparison of same and non-same store FFO, which is a non-GAAP measurement
(in thousands, unaudited):
Three Months Ended June 30,
Same Store
Non-same Store
Total
Period Over Period Changes
2022
2021
2022
2021
2022
2021
$
%
Net Loss
$
(53)
$
(704)
$
—
$
(2,363)
$
(53)
$
(3,067)
$
3,014
98.27
%
Depreciation and amortization of real estate assets
3,625
3,583
—
56
3,625
3,639
(14)
(0.38)
%
Impairment of assets held for sale
100
—
—
2,200
100
2,200
(2,100)
(95.45)
%
FFO
$
3,672
$
2,879
$
—
$
(107)
$
3,672
$
2,772
$
900
32.47
%
Six Months Ended June 30,
Same Store
Non-same Store
Total
Period Over Period Changes
2022
2021
2022
2021
2022
2021
$
%
Net Loss
$
(4,592)
$
(3,914)
$
(37)
$
(3,187)
$
(4,629)
$
(7,101)
$
2,472
34.81
%
Depreciation and amortization of real estate assets
7,241
7,244
—
111
7,241
7,355
(114)
(1.55)
%
Impairment of assets held for sale
760
—
—
2,200
760
2,200
(1,440)
(65.45)
%
Loss (gain) on disposal of properties
—
—
15
(176)
15
(176)
191
108.52
%
FFO
$
3,409
$
3,330
$
(22)
$
(1,052)
$
3,387
$
2,278
$
1,109
48.68
%
During the three months ended June 30, 2022, same store FFO increased $793 thousand primarily due to the following:
•
$3.32 million increase in the net change in fair value of derivative liability; partially offset by
•
$2.49 million increase in interest expense.
During the six months ended June 30, 2022, same store FFO increased $79 thousand primarily due to the following:
•
$956 thousand decrease in interest expense;
•
$211 thousand decrease in corporate general and administrative expenses;
•
$428 thousand increase in property net operating income; partially offset by
•
$296 thousand decrease in the net change in fair value of derivative liability;
•
$691 thousand increase in other expense for legal settlements; and
•
$552 thousand decrease in other income for PPP Promissory Note forgiveness in 2021.
We believe the computation of FFO in accordance with NAREIT's definition includes certain items that are not indicative of the results provided by our operating portfolio and affect the comparability of our period-over-period performance. These items include, but are not limited to, legal settlements, non-cash share-based compensation expense, non-cash amortization on loans and acquisition costs. Therefore, in addition to FFO, management uses Adjusted FFO ("AFFO"), which we define to exclude such items. Management believes that these adjustments are appropriate in determining AFFO as they are not indicative of the operating performance of our assets. In addition, we believe that AFFO is a useful supplemental measure for the investing community to use in comparing us to other REITs as many REITs provide some form of adjusted or modified FFO. However, there can be no assurance that AFFO presented by us is comparable to the adjusted or modified FFO of other REITs.
32
Total AFFO is shown in the table below:
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2022
2021
2022
2021
FFO
$
3,672
$
2,772
$
3,387
$
2,278
Preferred Stock dividends - undeclared
(2,264)
(2,189)
(4,528)
(4,462)
Preferred stock accretion adjustments
146
147
292
309
FFO available to common stockholders and common unitholders
1,554
730
(849)
(1,875)
Capital related costs
2
156
(22)
284
Other non-recurring and non-cash expense
1,468
11
2,169
156
Net changes in fair value of derivative liabilities
(2,085)
1,234
1,877
1,581
Straight-line rental revenue, net straight-line expense
(148)
(376)
(217)
(590)
Loan cost amortization
928
674
1,348
4,316
Paid-in-kind interest
2,099
—
2,099
—
Above (below) market lease amortization
(7)
17
16
5
Recurring capital expenditures and tenant improvement reserves
(269)
(275)
(539)
(551)
AFFO
$
3,542
$
2,171
$
5,882
$
3,326
Other non-recurring and non-cash expenses are costs we believe will not be incurred on a go forward basis. Other nonrecurring expenses of $1.47 million and $2.17 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 primarily include $1.46 million in loan prepayment penalty a result of the 2022 loan refinancing activity and legal settlement costs. Other nonrecurring expenses of $11 thousand and $156 thousand for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 include $0 and $687 thousand, respectively, loan prepayment penalty on sale of the Berkley Shopping Center, partially offset with $0 and $552 thousand, respectively, in PPP Promissory Note forgiveness.
Net changes in fair value of derivative liabilities is the result of the non-cash loss or gain from adjusting the warrant liabilities and embedded derivative liabilities to their fair market value, further details are described at Note 6 on this Form 10-Q.
Loan cost amortization was $928 thousand and $1.35 million for three months and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, compared to $674 thousand and $4.32 million for three months and six months ended June 30, 2021. The increase for the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared to 2021 is primarily related to the write-off of loan costs associated with the Guggenheim Loan Agreement. The decrease for the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to 2021 is primarily related to the write-off of loan costs associated with the Powerscourt Financing Agreement in 2021, partially offset with the write-off of loan costs associated with the Guggenheim Loan Agreement and the amortization of the Convertible Notes.
The preferred stock accretion adjustments represent the amortization of offering costs associated with raising the Series B Preferred and Series D Preferred.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
At June 30, 2022, our consolidated cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $46.55 million compared to consolidated cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of $44.15 million at June 30, 2021. Cash flows from operating activities, investing activities and financing activities were as follows (in thousands, unaudited):
Six Months Ended June 30,
Period Over Period Change
2022
2021
$
%
Operating activities
$
9,951
$
9,536
$
415
4.35
%
Investing activities
$
(3,247)
$
2,621
$
(5,868)
(223.88)
%
Financing activities
$
(571)
$
(10,773)
$
10,202
94.70
%
Operating Activities
Our cash flows from operating activities were $9.95 million and $9.54 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, representing an increase of 4.35% or $415 thousand. This increase is primarily a result of the decrease in interest expense, an increase in property NOI of $326 thousand and the timing of accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities partially offset by the timing of receivables, deferred costs and other expenses and other non-operating expenses.
33
Investing Activities
Our cash flows used in investing activities were $3.25 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to $2.62 million of cash flows provided by investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2021, representing a decrease of 223.88% or $5.87 million due to costs related to the Cedar Acquisition, sales described in Note 3 included in this Form 10-Q and an increase in capital expenditures paid of $2.18 million.
Financing Activities
Our cash flows used in financing activities were $571 thousand and $10.77 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, representing an increased of 94.70% or $10.20 million due to the following:
•
$28.85 million increase in loan proceeds a result of the Guggenheim Loan Agreement, partially offset by the 2021 Wilmington Financing Agreement and Tuckernuck refinance;
•
$8.34 million decrease as a result of 2021 preferred stock redemptions;
•
$995 thousand decrease in deferred financing costs primarily related to the Wilmington Financing Agreement, partially offset by 2022 deferred financing costs; partially offset by
•
$27.21 million increase in loan principal payments primarily a result of the eleven loans paid associated with the Guggenheim Loan Agreement and the 2022 Walnut Hill Plaza payoff, partially offset by the 2021 Powerscourt Financing Agreement payoff, the Wilmington Financing Agreement proceeds, the Tuckernuck refinance and Berkley Shopping Center sale; and
•
$771 thousand increase in prepayment penalties related to defeasance associated with the Guggenheim Loan Agreement partially offset by the Berkley/Sangaree/Tri-County loan payoff.
The Company continues to endeavor to manage its debt prudently with the objective of achieving a conservative capital structure and minimizing leverage within the Company. Our debt balances, excluding unamortized debt issuance costs, consisted of the following (in thousands)
:
June 30, 2022
December 31, 2021
(unaudited)
Fixed-rate notes
(1)
$
350,877
$
344,177
Adjustable-rate mortgages
—
2,085
Total debt
$
350,877
$
346,262
(1) Includes portion attributable to liabilities held for sale, see Note 3 included in this Form 10-Q.
The weighted-average interest rate and term of our fixed-rate debt including assets held for sale are 4.67% and 5.46 years, respectively, at June 30, 2022. We have $4.48 million of debt maturing, including scheduled principal repayments, during the twelve months ending June 30, 2023. While we anticipate being able to refinance all the loans at reasonable market terms upon maturity, our inability to do so may materially impact our financial position and results of operations. See Note 5 included in this Form 10-Q for additional mortgage indebtedness details.
Material Cash Requirements, Contractual Obligations and Commitments
Our expected material cash requirements for the twelve months ended June 30, 2023 and thereafter are comprised of (i) contractually obligated expenditures; (ii) other essential expenditures; and (iii) opportunistic expenditures.
The primary liquidity needs of the Company, in addition to the funding of our ongoing operations, at June 30, 2022 are $4.48 million in principal and regularly scheduled payments due in the twelve months ended June 30, 2023 as described in Note 5 on this Form 10-Q. The Company plans to pay these obligations through a combination of refinances, dispositions and operating cash. Management intends to refinance or extend the remaining maturing debt as it comes due.
In addition to liquidity required to fund debt payments we may incur some level of capital expenditures during the year for our existing properties that cannot be passed on to our tenants.
To meet these future liquidity needs, at June 30, 2022 the Company had:
•
$24.61 million in cash and cash equivalents;
•
$21.95 million held in lender reserves for the purpose of tenant improvements, lease commissions, real estate taxes and insurance; and
34
•
intends to use cash generated from operations during the twelve months ended June 30, 2023.
In addition, our Board of Directors suspended Series A Preferred, Series B Preferred and Series D Preferred dividend payments beginning with the fourth quarter 2018 dividend. On November 3, 2021, common stockholders of the Company approved amendments to the Company’s Articles Supplementary to remove the cumulative dividend of the Series A Preferred and the Series B Preferred. These amendments had the effect of significantly reducing the Company’s financial obligation to its preferred stockholders, which the Company believes impeded the potential growth and strategic opportunities available to it.
Additionally, the Company plans to undertake measures to grow its operations and increase liquidity through delivering space currently leased but not yet occupied, replacing tenants who are in default of their lease terms, increasing future lease revenue through tenant improvements partially funded by restricted cash, disposition of assets and refinancing properties.
Series D Preferred Stock
Beginning on September 21, 2023 (the “Series D Redemption Date”), holders of the Series D Preferred (the “Series D Preferred Holders”) will have the right to cause the Company to redeem their Series D Preferred at a price of $25.00 per share plus the amount of all accrued but unpaid dividends. This redemption price is payable by the Company, at the Company’s election, in cash or shares of the Company’s Common Stock, or a combination of cash and shares of the Company’s Common Stock. Since January 2019, the Company’s Series D Preferred (of which there are approximately 3.15 million shares outstanding at June 30, 2022) have been accruing unpaid dividends at a rate of 10.75% per annum of the $25.00 liquidation preference per share of Series D Preferred, or at $2.6875 per share per annum. As of June 30, 2022, the outstanding Series D Preferred had an aggregate liquidation preference of approximately $78.81 million, with aggregate accrued and unpaid dividends in the amount of approximately $30.40 million.
As of June 30, 2022, the Series D Preferred is convertible, in whole or in part, at any time, at the option of the Series D Preferred Holders, into previously unissued Common Stock at a conversion price of $16.96 per share of Common Stock. Based upon the closing price of our Common Stock on August 8, 2022 of $2.23 per share, we believe it unlikely that Series D Preferred Holders would convert their shares of Series D Preferred into Common Stock in advance of the Series D Redemption Date and would instead choose to exercise their redemption rights on or after the Series D Redemption Date.
The Company further believes that it is unlikely that on the Series D Redemption Date the Company will have sufficient available cash to pay the aggregate redemption price in cash. Accordingly, the Company would not be able to meet our redemption obligation without either liquidating assets or issuing significant additional amounts of Common Stock.
The Company does not believe it is in its interests to liquidate assets to fund redemptions. The Company further believes that issuing Common Stock to either (i) fund cash redemptions or (ii) directly settle redemptions in Common Stock could result in a substantial dilution of our Common Stock, which would be detrimental both to holders of Common Stock and to Series D Preferred Holders, who would likely see a significant reduction in the value of any Common Stock paid to settle the Series D Preferred redemption amount.
In an effort to address this risk of a significant reduction to the value of a holder’s investment in Series D Preferred and Common Stock following the Series D Redemption Date, the Company executed a modified Dutch auction tender offer in March 2021 for up to $6.00 million of our Series D Preferred, in which 387,097 shares were accepted for purchase for an aggregate cost of $6.00 million. We subsequently launched a second modified Dutch auction tender offer in April 2021 for up to $12.00 million of our Series D Preferred, in which 103,513 shares were accepted for purchase for an aggregate cost of $1.86 million.
In July 2021, we raised additional capital for the Company by distributing to holders of our Common Stock, on a pro-rata basis, non-transferable subscription rights to purchase up to $30.00 million in aggregate principal amount (the “Rights Offering”) of our 7.00% senior subordinated convertible notes due 2031 (“Convertible Notes”). These Convertible Notes were fully subscribed in the Rights Offering and interest is payable on the Convertible Notes at the Company’s option in cash, Series B Preferred and/or Series D Preferred. On December 31, 2021, the first interest payment date on the Convertible Notes, interest was paid in the form of Series D Preferred. For purposes of determining the value of the Series D Preferred paid as interest on the Convertible Notes, each share of Series D Preferred was deemed to have a value equal to the product of (x) the average of the per share volume-weighted average prices of the Series D Preferred for the 15 consecutive trading days ending on the third business day immediately preceding the interest payment date, and (y) 0.55.
However, the Rights Offering could have the effect of causing, if interest on the Convertible Notes is continued to be paid in shares of Series D Preferred, a further substantial dilution of the Series D Preferred and reduction in the value of any Series D Preferred.
35
The Company continues to analyze ways to address the risk associated with the significant and growing financial obligation to
the Series D Preferred Holders
which, as stated above, the Company is unlikely to be able to pay in cash, and which could cause a significant reduction to the value of a holder’s investment in Series D Preferred and Common Stock following the Series D Redemption Date, as well as ways to improve the Company’s capital structure.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements beginning on page 9 of this Current Report on Form 10-Q.
Critical Accounting Policies
In preparing the condensed consolidated financial statements, we have made estimates, assumptions and judgements that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reported periods. Actual results may differ from these estimates. A summary of our critical accounting estimates and policies is included in our 2021 Form 10-K under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” During the three months ended June 30, 2022, there have been no significant changes to these estimates and policies previously disclosed in our 2021 Form 10-K. For disclosure regarding recent accounting pronouncements and the anticipated impact they will have on our operations, please refer to Note 2 of the condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q.
Available Information
The Company’s website address is www.whlr.us. We make available free of charge through our website our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file or furnish such materials to the SEC. In addition, we have posted the Charters of our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Governance and Nominating Committee, as well as our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Employees, Officers, Agents and Representatives, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Members of the Board of Directors, Corporate Governance Principles, including guidelines on director independence, and Insider Trading Policy, all under separate headings. The content of our website is not incorporated by reference into this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or in any other report or document we file with the SEC, and any references to our website is intended to be inactive textual references only.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Not applicable.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The management of the Company, under the supervision and with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures in ensuring that the information required to be disclosed in our filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, including ensuring that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on such evaluation, our principal executive and financial officers have concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2022 (the end of the period covered by this Form 10-Q)
to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in our filings under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and to provide reasonable assurance that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
See Note 10, Commitments and Contingencies, to our condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information under this item.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
(a) Not applicable.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) Not applicable.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
As of August 9, 2022, the Company had accumulated undeclared dividends of $30.40 million to holders of shares of our Series D Preferred, of which $2.12 million and $4.24 million are attributable to the three months and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
WHEELER REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST, INC.
By:
/s/ Crystal Plum
CRYSTAL PLUM
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
Customers and Suppliers of Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc.
Beta
No Customers Found
No Suppliers Found
Bonds of Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc.
Price Graph
Price
Yield
Insider Ownership of Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc.
company Beta
Owner
Position
Direct Shares
Indirect Shares
AI Insights
Summary Financials of Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc.
Beta
(We are using algorithms to extract and display detailed data. This is a hard problem and we are working continuously to classify data in an accurate and useful manner.)