Brandywine Realty Trust Announces Fourth Quarter, Full Year 2020 Results, Initiates 2021 Guidance, and Announces Investment Activity

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Brandywine Realty Trust (NYSE:BDN) today reported its financial and operating results for the three and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2020.

Management Comments

“As we begin a new year, the continued health and safety of our employees, tenants and stakeholders remain a top priority,” stated Jerry Sweeney, President and Chief Executive Officer of Brandywine Realty Trust. “Our operating platform remains strong. We exceeded our 2020 $26 million speculative revenue target, we achieved strong quarterly mark-to-market rents increasing 11.0% and 18.9% on a cash and accrual basis and our portfolio experienced 59,000 square feet of net absorption. We executed several successful capital markets transactions including a joint venture of a 1.1 million square foot office portfolio located in the Pennsylvania suburbs and suburban Maryland and a $50 million preferred equity investment in an office complex located in Austin, Texas. As result of our capital markets activity, at year-end, we had no outstanding balance on our $600 million unsecured line of credit and $46 million of cash-on-hand. While the pace of the economic recovery and a full reopening remains uncertain, we are introducing our 2021 FFO guidance range of $1.32 to $1.42 per share which reflects $0.04/share of net dilution from our recent joint venture sales activity.”

Fourth Quarter 2020 Highlights

Financial Results

• Net income allocated to common shareholders; $18.9 million, or $0.11 per diluted share.
• Funds from Operations (FFO); $61.4 million, or $0.36 per diluted share.

Portfolio Results

• Core Portfolio: 91.9% occupied and 93.0% leased.
• New and renewal leases signed: 372,000 square feet.
• Rental Rate Mark-to-Market: 18.9% on an accrual basis and 11.0% on a cash basis.
• Tenant Retention Ratio: 46% in fourth quarter and 52% for 2020.

COVID-19 Update

We continue to monitor events related to COVID-19 and are taking steps to mitigate the potential impact and risks to Brandywine. While the duration and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic remains unknown, as of the date of this press release, we believe that the impact of COVID-19 has been reflected in our 2021 business plan and earnings estimates. We are continually assessing the ongoing effects of the pandemic to our business plan, our tenants and earnings estimates.

The following is a summary of our fourth quarter consolidated cash base rent collections as of February 1, 2021:

• 98.3% of total cash-based rent due has been received from our tenants during the fourth quarter 2020, which represents a 98.5% collection rate from our office tenants.
• We have granted rent relief requests primarily to our co-working and retail tenants, totaling approximately 0.8% of annualized billings. The relief requests have substantially all been in the form of rent deferrals that are primarily being repaid by year-end 2021.
• Through February 1, 2021, we have collected 30% of the rent deferrals.

Transaction Activity

Joint Venture Activity

• On December 21, 2020, we sold a portfolio of twelve suburban office properties containing an aggregate of 1.1 million square feet (“Mid-Atlantic Office Portfolio”), nine of which are located in the Pennsylvania suburbs and three of which are located in Maryland, for a gross sales price of $192.9 million. We retained a 20% interest in the Mid-Atlantic Office Portfolio through an unconsolidated joint venture (“Mid-Atlantic Office JV”). The joint venture simultaneously closed on a $121.0 million first mortgage loan secured by the properties and we invested $20 million through a preferred equity interest in the joint venture at closing. We earn a 9% current pay annual preferred return on the investment. We received $155.8 million in net cash proceeds at closing and recorded a gain on sale of $15.2 million. Brandywine will provide management, leasing and construction management services to the joint venture.

Acquisition Activity

• On November 5, 2020, we acquired an office building containing 119,763 rentable square feet located at 1505-11 Race Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for a gross purchase price of $9.7 million. The building is 100% occupied by a single tenant and we intend to redevelop the building once the tenant vacates.
• On November 30, 2020, we acquired an office building containing 169,843 rentable square feet located at 250 King of Prussia Road in Radnor, Pennsylvania for a gross purchase price of $20.3 million. The acquisition was consummated in connection with our previously announced transaction with Penn Medicine. The property has minimal occupancy and our intention is to commence a redevelopment of the building during 2021.

Structured Finance Activity

• On December 31, 2020, we invested $50 million through a preferred equity interest in two office properties located in Austin, Texas. The investment has an initial term of 36 months with a one-year extension option. We earn a 9% current pay annual preferred return on the investment and the investment has a December 31, 2023 mandatory redemption date. The portfolio totals approximately 554,000 square feet and is secured by a $95.0 million first mortgage.

Finance Activity

• We had no outstanding balance on our $600.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility as of December 31, 2020.
• We had $46.3 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2020.
• Two Logan Square: We acquired the first mortgage, totaling $79.8 million on October 21, 2020. The first mortgage was acquired with cash-on-hand and proceeds from our unsecured line of credit.
• Four Tower Bridge: We repaid the first mortgage loan totaling $9.1 million, at par. As a result, our wholly-owned portfolio is now unencumbered and we have no secured mortgage debt. The first mortgage was repaid with cash-on-hand and proceeds from our unsecured line of credit.

Results for the Three and Twelve-Month Periods Ended December 31, 2020

Net income allocated to common shares totaled $18.9 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to net income of $16.7 million or $0.09 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2019.

FFO available to common shares and units in the fourth quarter of 2020 totaled $61.4 million or $0.36 per diluted share versus $67.0 million or $0.38 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2019. Our fourth quarter 2020 FFO payout ratio ($0.19 common share distribution / $0.36 FFO per diluted share) was 52.8%.

Net income allocated to common shares totaled $305.1 million or $1.77 per diluted share for the twelve months of 2020 compared to net income of $33.9 million or $0.19 per diluted share for the twelve months of 2019. The 2020 results include a $271.9 million, or $1.58 per diluted share, net gain on disposition of real estate from our previously announced joint venture of Commerce Square.

Our FFO available to common shares and units for the twelve months ended 2020 totaled $240.5 million, or $1.39 per diluted share, compared to our FFO available to common shares and units for the twelve months of 2019, which totaled $253.3 million, or $1.43 per diluted share. Our 2020 FFO payout ratio ($0.76 common share distribution / $1.39 FFO per diluted share) was 54.7%.

Operating and Leasing Activity

In the fourth quarter of 2020, our Net Operating Income (NOI) excluding termination revenues, write-off of prior straight-line rent receivables and other income items decreased (0.2%) on a GAAP basis and (3.5%) on a cash basis for our 75 same store properties, which were 91.8% and 92.5% occupied on December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

We leased approximately 372,000 square feet and commenced occupancy on 305,000 square feet during the fourth quarter of 2020. The fourth quarter occupancy activity includes 80,000 square feet of renewals, 192,000 square feet of new leases and 33,000 square feet of tenant expansions. We have an additional 144,000 square feet of executed new leasing scheduled to commence subsequent to December 31, 2020.

We experienced a 46% tenant retention ratio in our core portfolio with net absorption of 59,000 square feet during the fourth quarter of 2020. Fourth quarter rental rate growth increased 18.9% as our renewal rental rates increased 20.7% and our new lease/expansion rental rates increased 17.9%, all on a GAAP basis.

At December 31, 2020, our core portfolio of 78 properties comprising 13.4 million square feet was 91.9% occupied and we are now 93.0% leased (reflecting new leases commencing after December 31, 2020).

Distributions

On December 8, 2020, our Board of Trustees declared a quarterly dividend distribution of $0.19 per common share that was paid on January 20, 2021 to shareholders of record as of January 6, 2021.

2021 Earnings and FFO Guidance

Based on current plans and assumptions and subject to the risks and uncertainties more fully described in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, we are providing our initial 2021 net income guidance of $0.32 – $0.42 to per diluted share and 2021 FFO guidance of $1.32 – $1.42 per diluted share. This guidance is provided for informational purposes and is subject to change. The following is a reconciliation of the calculation of 2021 FFO and earnings per diluted share:

Our 2021 FFO key assumptions include:

• Year-end Core Occupancy Range: 91-93%;
• Year-end Core Leased Range: 92-94%;
• Rental Rate Mark-to-Market (accrual): 14-16%;
• Rental Rate Mark-to-Market (cash): 8-10%;
• Same Store (accrual) NOI Range: 0-2%;
• Same Store (cash) NOI Range: 3-5%;
• Speculative Revenue Range: $18.0-$22.0 million, $14.7 million achieved;
• Tenant Retention Rate Range: 51-53%;
• Property Acquisition Activity: None;
• Property Sales Activity: None;
• Joint Venture Activity: None;
• Development/Redevelopment Starts: Two starts;
• Core and Same Store Portfolio Adjustments: Effective January 1, 2021, we are removing 2340 Dulles (placed into redevelopment) and 905 Broadmoor (taken out of service);
• Financing Activity: None;
• Share Buyback Activity: None;
• Annual earnings and FFO per diluted share based on 173.0 million fully diluted weighted average common shares.

About Brandywine Realty Trust

Brandywine Realty Trust (NYSE: BDN) is one of the largest, publicly traded, full-service, integrated real estate companies in the United States with a core focus in the Philadelphia, Austin and Washington, D.C. markets. Organized as a real estate investment trust (REIT), we own, develop, lease and manage an urban, town center and transit-oriented portfolio comprising 175 properties and 24.7 million square feet as of December 31, 2020 which excludes assets held for sale. Our purpose is to shape, connect and inspire the world around us through our expertise, the relationships we foster, the communities in which we live and work, and the history we build together. For more information, please visit www.brandywinerealty.com.

Conference Call and Audio Webcast

We will hold our fourth quarter conference call on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-833-818-6810 and providing conference ID: 7644589. Beginning two hours after the conference call, a taped replay of the call can be accessed through Friday, February 19, 2021, by calling 1-855-859-2056 and entering access code 7644589. The conference call can also be accessed via a webcast on our website at www.brandywinerealty.com.

Looking Ahead – First Quarter 2021 Conference Call

We anticipate we will release our first quarter 2021 earnings on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, after the market close and will host our first quarter 2021 conference call on Thursday, April 22, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. We expect to issue a press release in advance of these events to reconfirm the dates and times and provide all related information.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements can generally be identified by our use of forward-looking terminology such as “will,” “strategy,” “expects,” “seeks,” “believes,” “potential,” or other similar words. Because such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and contingencies, actual results may differ materially from the expectations, intentions, beliefs, plans or predictions of the future expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, including our 2021 guidance, are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are difficult to predict and generally not within our control. Such risks, uncertainties and contingencies include, among others: risks related to the impact of COVID-19 and other potential future outbreaks of infectious diseases on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and those of our tenants as well as on the economy and real estate and financial markets; reduced demand for office space and pricing pressures, including from competitors, that could limit our ability to lease space or set rents at expected levels or that could lead to declines in rent; uncertainty and volatility in capital and credit markets, including changes that reduce availability, and increase costs, of capital; the potential loss or bankruptcy of tenants or the inability of tenants to meet their rent and other lease obligations; risks of acquisitions and dispositions, including unexpected liabilities and integration costs; delays in completing, and cost overruns incurred in connection with, our developments and redevelopments; disagreements with joint venture partners; unanticipated operating and capital costs; uninsured casualty losses and in ability to obtain adequate insurance, including coverage for terrorist acts; asset impairments; our dependence upon certain geographic markets; changes in governmental regulations, tax laws and rates and similar matters; unexpected costs of REIT qualification compliance; and costs and disruptions as the result of a cybersecurity incident or other technology disruption. The declaration and payment of future dividends (both timing and amount) is subject to the determination of our Board of Trustees, in its sole discretion, after considering various factors, including our financial condition, historical and forecast operating results, and available cash flow, as well as any applicable laws and contractual covenants and any other relevant factors. Our Board’s practice regarding declaration of dividends may be modified at any time and from time to time. Additional information on factors which could impact us and the forward-looking statements contained herein are included in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. We assume no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events except as required by law.

Non-GAAP Supplemental Financial Measures

We compute our financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Although FFO and NOI are non-GAAP financial measures, we believe that FFO and NOI calculations are helpful to shareholders and potential investors and are widely recognized measures of real estate investment trust performance. At the end of this press release, we have provided a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

Funds from Operations (FFO)

We compute FFO in accordance with standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT), which may not be comparable to FFO reported by other REITs that do not compute FFO in accordance with the NAREIT definition, or that interpret the NAREIT definition differently than us. NAREIT defines FFO as net income (loss) before non-controlling interests and excluding gains (losses) on sales of depreciable operating property, impairment losses on depreciable consolidated real estate, impairment losses on investments in unconsolidated real estate ventures and extraordinary items (computed in accordance with GAAP); plus real estate related depreciation and amortization (excluding amortization of deferred financing costs), and after similar adjustments for unconsolidated joint ventures. Net income, the GAAP measure that we believe to be most directly comparable to FFO, includes depreciation and amortization expenses, gains or losses on property sales, extraordinary items and non-controlling interests. To facilitate a clear understanding of our historical operating results, FFO should be examined in conjunction with net income (determined in accordance with GAAP) as presented in the financial statements included elsewhere in this release. FFO does not represent cash flow from operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP) and should not be considered to be an alternative to net income (loss) (determined in accordance with GAAP) as an indication of our financial performance or to be an alternative to cash flow from operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP) as a measure of our liquidity, nor is it indicative of funds available for our cash needs, including our ability to make cash distributions to shareholders. We generally consider FFO and FFO per share to be useful measures for understanding and comparing our operating results because, by excluding gains and losses related to sales of previously depreciated operating real estate assets, impairment losses and real estate asset depreciation and amortization (which can differ across owners of similar assets in similar condition based on historical cost accounting and useful life estimates), FFO and FFO per share can help investors compare the operating performance of a company’s real estate across reporting periods and to the operating performance of other companies

Net Operating Income (NOI)

NOI (accrual basis) is a financial measure equal to net income available to common shareholders, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, plus corporate general and administrative expense, depreciation and amortization, interest expense, non-controlling interest in the Operating Partnership and losses from early extinguishment of debt, less interest income, development and management income, gains from property dispositions, gains on sale from discontinued operations, gains on early extinguishment of debt, income from discontinued operations, income from unconsolidated joint ventures and non-controlling interest in property partnerships. In some cases we also present NOI on a cash basis, which is NOI after eliminating the effects of straight-lining of rent and deferred market intangible amortization. NOI presented by us may not be comparable to NOI reported by other REITs that define NOI differently. NOI should not be considered an alternative to net income as an indication of our performance or to cash flows as a measure of the Company’s liquidity or its ability to make distributions. We believe NOI is a useful measure for evaluating the operating performance of our properties, as it excludes certain components from net income available to common shareholders in order to provide results that are more closely related to a property’s results of operations. We use NOI internally to evaluate the performance of our operating segments and to make decisions about resource allocations. We concluded that NOI provides useful information to investors regarding our financial condition and results of operations, as it reflects only the income and expense items incurred at the property level, as well as the impact on operations from trends in occupancy rates, rental rates, operating costs and acquisition and development activity on an unlevered basis.

Same Store Properties

In our analysis of NOI, particularly to make comparisons of NOI between periods meaningful, it is important to provide information for properties that were in-service and owned by us throughout each period presented. We refer to properties acquired or placed in-service prior to the beginning of the earliest period presented and owned by us through the end of the latest period presented as Same Store Properties. Same Store Properties therefore exclude properties placed in-service, acquired, repositioned, held for sale or in development or redevelopment after the beginning of the earliest period presented or disposed of prior to the end of the latest period presented. Accordingly, it takes at least one year and one quarter after a property is acquired for that property to be included in Same Store Properties.

Core Portfolio

Our core portfolio is comprised of our wholly-owned properties, excluding any properties currently in development, re-development or re-entitlement.

BRANDYWINE REALTY TRUST
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited and in thousands)

BRANDYWINE REALTY TRUST
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share data)

BRANDYWINE REALTY TRUST
FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS
(unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share data)

BRANDYWINE REALTY TRUST
SAME STORE OPERATIONS – 4th QUARTER
(unaudited and in thousands)  

Of the 82 properties owned by the Company as of December 31, 2020, a total of 75 properties (“Same Store Properties”) containing an aggregate of 13.0 million net rentable square feet were owned for the entire three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. As of December 31, 2020, three properties were recently completed/acquired, and four properties were in development/redevelopment. Average occupancy for the Same Store Properties was 91.3% and 92.5% during the three-month periods ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The following table sets forth revenue and expense information for the Same Store Properties:

BRANDYWINE REALTY TRUST
SAME STORE OPERATIONS – TWELVE MONTHS
(unaudited and in thousands)  

Of the 82 properties owned by the Company as of December 31, 2020, a total of 74 properties (“Same Store Properties”) containing an aggregate of 12.8 million net rentable square feet were owned for the entire twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. As of December 31, 2020, four properties were recently completed/acquired, and four properties were in development/redevelopment. Average occupancy for the Same Store Properties was 91.5% and 92.7% during the twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The following table sets forth revenue and expense information for the Same Store Properties: