SL Green Realty Corp.


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SL Green Realty Corp. Reports Third Quarter 2014 FFO of $1.55 Per Share Before Transaction Costs and Non-Recurring Charges; and Eps Of $0.68 Per Share

SL Green Realty Corp. Reports Third Quarter 2014 FFO of $1.55 Per Share Before Transaction Costs and Non-Recurring Charges; and Eps Of $0.68 Per Share

Financial and Operating Highlights

  • Third quarter FFO of $1.55 per share before non-recurring charges related to the refinancing of 420 Lexington Avenue of $0.24 per share and transaction related costs of $0.03 per share compared to prior year FFO of $1.32 per share before the recovery of transaction related costs of $0.02 per share.
  • Third quarter net income attributable to common stockholders of $0.68 per share compared to net income of $0.40 per share in the prior year.
  • Adjusting 2014 NAREIT defined FFO guidance to $5.82 to $5.85 per share, which equates to $6.06 to $6.09 per share before giving effect to the $0.24 per share prepayment penalty associated with the refinancing of 420 Lexington Avenue, as compared to the previous FFO guidance range of $5.90 to $5.96 per share.
  • Combined same-store cash NOI increased 5.7 percent for the third quarter and 3.0 percent for the first nine months of 2014 as compared to the prior year.
  • Signed 46 Manhattan office leases covering 664,727 square feet during the third quarter. The mark-to-market on signed Manhattan office leases was 17.2 percent higher in the third quarter than the previously fully escalated rents on the same spaces, bringing the mark-to-market for the first nine months of 2014 to 15.4 percent.
  • Signed 28 Suburban office leases covering 165,331 square feet during the third quarter. The mark-to-market on signed Suburban office leases was 0.6 percent higher in the third quarter than the previously fully escalated rents on the same spaces, bringing the mark-to-market for the first nine months of 2014 to 1.1 percent.
  • Increased Manhattan same-store occupancy, inclusive of leases signed but not yet commenced, as of September 30, 2014 to 95.3 percent.

Investing Highlights

  • Entered into an agreement to acquire 319,000 square feet of newly constructed, vacant commercial condominium units on the 22nd through 34th floors and the building’s parking garage and fitness center at 55 West 46th Street for $275.0 million. The agreement included an option, which has since been exercised, for the seller to include the 2nd floor, comprising 28,000 square feet, for an additional purchase price of $20.0 million.
  • Closed on the acquisition of the fee interest at 635 Madison Avenue for $145.0 million.
  • Together with its joint venture partner, closed on the acquisition of the retail condominium at 121 Greene Street in SoHo for $27.2 million, continuing the growth of the Company’s prime retail property portfolio.
  • Together with its joint venture partner, entered into an agreement to sell 180 Maiden Lane for a gross sales price of $470.0 million, resulting in an internal rate of return on the investment of approximately 16.0 percent.
  • Together with its joint venture partner, closed on the sale of the mixed-use college dormitory/retail asset at 180 Broadway for a gross sales price of $222.5 million. The Company recognized a promote of $3.3 million and a gain on sale of $16.5 million.
  • Invested $50.0 million in the construction of a 1,174 unit residential rental project at 605 West 42nd Street. The investment consists of mezzanine loan interests and a fixed-price option for the Company to acquire up to a 20 percent equity stake in the property.
  • Originated and retained, or acquired debt and preferred equity investments totaling $155.1 million in the third quarter at a weighted average current yield of 10.1 percent.

Financing Highlights

  • Obtained an upgrade in credit rating to investment grade from Fitch Ratings. This rating coupled with the Company’s investment grade rating from Standard & Poor’s will allow for future unsecured bond issuances by the Company to be included in the Barclays U.S Corporate Index.
  • Closed on a $300.0 million leasehold mortgage refinancing of 420 Lexington Avenue at a significantly reduced interest rate. The new 10-year, fixed rate loan replaces the previous $181.0 million mortgage.
  • Closed on a $97.0 million floating rate leasehold mortgage at 650 Fifth Avenue.

Summary
New York, NY, October 22, 2014 – SL Green Realty Corp. (NYSE: SLG) today reported funds from operations, or FFO, for the quarter ended September 30, 2014 of $154.7 million, or $1.55 per share, before non-recurring charges related to the refinancing of 420 Lexington Avenue of $24.5 million, or $0.24 per share, and transaction costs of $2.7 million, or $0.03 per share, as compared to FFO for the same quarter of 2013 of $125.0 million, or $1.32 per share, before the recovery of transaction costs of $2.4 million, or $0.02 per share.

Net income attributable to common stockholders for the quarter ended September 30, 2014 totaled $64.7 million, or $0.68 per share, compared to net income attributable to common stockholders of $37.0 million, or $0.40 per share, for the same quarter in 2013.

All per share amounts in this press release are presented on a diluted basis.

Operating and Leasing Activity
For the third quarter of 2014, the Company reported consolidated revenues and operating income of $390.3 million and $211.1 million, respectively, compared to $338.8 million and $191.0 million, respectively, for the same period in 2013.

Same-store cash NOI on a combined basis increased by 5.7 percent to $167.7 million and by 3.0 percent to $498.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, as compared to the same periods in 2013. For the quarter ended September 30, 2014, consolidated property same-store cash NOI increased by 4.7 percent to $149.7 million and unconsolidated joint venture property same-store cash NOI increased 15.1 percent to $18.0 million, as compared to the same period in 2013. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, consolidated property same-store cash NOI increased by 1.4 percent to $446.6 million and unconsolidated joint venture property same-store cash NOI increased 19.0 percent to $51.8 million, as compared to the same period in 2013.

During the third quarter, the Company signed 46 office leases in its Manhattan portfolio totaling 664,727 square feet. Twenty-five leases comprising 179,205 square feet represented office leases that replaced previous vacancy. Twenty-one leases comprising 485,522 square feet, representing office leases on space that had been occupied within the prior twelve months, are considered replacement leases on which mark-to-market is calculated. Those replacement leases had average starting rents of $67.25 per rentable square foot, representing a 17.2 percent increase over the previously fully escalated rents on the same office spaces. The average lease term on the Manhattan office leases signed in the third quarter was 9.5 years and average tenant concessions were 2.2 months of free rent with a tenant improvement allowance of $44.09 per rentable square foot.

During the first nine months of 2014, the Company signed 185 office leases in its Manhattan portfolio totaling 1,485,434 square feet. Seventy-three leases comprising 446,711 square feet represented office leases that replaced previous vacancy. One-hundred twelve leases comprising 1,038,723 square feet, representing office leases on space that had been occupied within the prior twelve months, are considered replacement leases on which mark-to-market is calculated. Those replacement leases had average starting rents of $64.58 per rentable square foot, representing a 15.4 percent increase over the previously fully escalated rents on the same office spaces.

Manhattan same-store occupancy increased to 95.3 percent as of September 30, 2014, inclusive of 118,848 square feet of leases signed but not yet commenced, as compared to 94.9 percent at June 30, 2014.

During the third quarter, the Company signed 28 office leases in the Suburban portfolio totaling 165,331 square feet. Seven leases comprising 22,255 square feet represented office leases that replaced previous vacancy. Twenty-one leases comprising the remaining 143,076 square feet, representing office leases on space that had been occupied within the prior twelve months, are considered replacement leases on which mark-to-market is calculated. Those replacement leases had average starting rents of $33.29 per rentable square foot, representing a 0.6 percent increase over the previously fully escalated rents on the same office spaces. The average lease term on the Suburban office leases signed in the third quarter was 8.1 years and average tenant concessions were 5.4 months of free rent with a tenant improvement allowance of $26.57 per rentable square foot.

During the first nine months of 2014, the Company signed 95 office leases in its Suburban portfolio totaling 488,242 square feet. Forty-one leases comprising 214,430 square feet represented office leases that replaced previous vacancy. Fifty-four leases comprising 273,812 square feet, representing office leases on space that had been occupied within the prior twelve months, are considered replacement leases on which mark-to-market is calculated. Those replacement leases had average starting rents of $32.69 per rentable square foot, representing a 1.1 percent increase over the previously fully escalated rents on the same office spaces.

Same-store occupancy for the Company’s Suburban portfolio was 82.4 percent at September 30, 2014, inclusive of 95,142 square feet of leases signed but not yet commenced, as compared to 82.8 percent at June 30, 2014 and 80.0 percent at September 30, 2013.

Significant leases that were signed during the third quarter included:

  • Early renewal on 283,894 square feet with Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP at 919 Third Avenue, bringing the remaining lease term to 21.8 years;
  • New lease on 50,365 square feet with Quik Park for 10.0 years at 315 West 33rd Street;
  • Early renewal on 50,247 square feet with B and E Theaters at 5 Landmark Square, Stamford, Connecticut, bringing the remaining lease term to 6.7 years;
  • Renewal and expansion on 39,850 square feet with Taconic Capital Advisors, L.P. for 11.0 years at 280 Park Avenue;
  • New lease on 30,000 square feet with First Niagra Bank for 13.0 years at 520 White Plains Road, Tarrytown, New York;
  • New lease on 28,857 square feet with Blue Mountain Realty, LLC for 9.3 years at 280 Park Avenue;
  • New lease on 21,342 square feet with Versace USA, Inc. for 11.0 years at 3 Columbus Circle; and
  • Early renewal on 20,010 square feet with Road Runner Capital Partners LLC at 800 Third Avenue, bringing the remaining lease term to 7.2 years.

Marketing, general and administrative, or MG&A, expenses for the quarter ended September 30, 2014 decreased to $22.6 million from $23.9 million in the previous quarter.

Real Estate Investment Activity
In September, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire 319,000 square feet of vacant commercial condominium units on the 22nd through 34th floors in the newly constructed Midtown Manhattan class-A office property located at 55 West 46th Street for $275.0 million. As part of the agreement, the seller had the option, which has since been exercised, to include the vacant 2nd floor, comprising 28,000 square feet, for an additional purchase price of $20.0 million. The Company will also acquire a retail store on 46th Street and the building’s parking garage and fitness center. This transaction is expected to be completed before the end of 2014, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

In September, the Company closed on the acquisition of the fee interest at 635 Madison Avenue for $145.0 million. The property is encumbered by a ground lease through April 2030 with one twenty-one year renewal extension option. The improvements of the fee interest include a 19-story 176,530-square-foot office tower.

In September, the Company, together with its joint venture partner, closed on the acquisition of the retail condominium at 121 Greene Street in SoHo for $27.2 million. The 7,200 square foot prime retail condominium is located along one of SoHo’s most popular shopping corridors, adjacent to Ralph Lauren and directly across the street from Apple’s local flagship. The acquisition marks the continued growth of the Company’s prime retail property portfolio, which already includes several other assets in Manhattan’s popular SoHo shopping district.

In September, the Company, together with its joint venture partner, entered into an agreement to sell 180 Maiden Lane for a gross sales price of $470.0 million, resulting in an internal rate of return on the investment of approximately 16.0 percent. This transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2014, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

In September, the Company, together with its joint venture partner, closed on the sale of all its interests, including the fee position and retail condominium unit, in the mixed-use college dormitory/retail asset at 180 Broadway for a gross sales price of $222.5 million. The Company recognized a promote of $3.3 million and a gain on sale of $16.5 million.

In September, the Company invested $50.0 million in the construction of a large residential rental project at 605 West 42nd Street in Manhattan. The investment consists of mezzanine loan interests and a fixed-price option for the Company to acquire up to a 20 percent equity stake in the property upon completion of the project. The project, one of several to be constructed in New York’s Midtown West development area over the next decade, will consist of a 1.16 million-square-foot tower that will feature 1,174 rental apartment units.

Debt and Preferred Equity Investment Activity
The carrying value of the Company’s debt and preferred equity investment portfolio totaled $1.4 billion at September 30, 2014. During the third quarter, the Company originated and retained, or acquired new debt and preferred equity investments totaling $155.1 million, at a weighted average current yield of 10.1 percent, and recorded $287.6 million of principal reductions from investments that were sold or repaid. As of September 30, 2014, the debt and preferred equity investment portfolio had a weighted average maturity of 2.0 years, excluding any extension options, and had a weighted average yield during the third quarter of 10.5 percent.

Financing and Capital Activity
In October, the Company’s focus on balance sheet management and improvement in credit quality was recognized when Fitch Ratings upgraded the Company to an investment grade rating of BBB- with a stable outlook. This rating coupled with the Company’s investment grade rating from Standard & Poor’s will allow for future unsecured bond issuances by the Company to be included in the Barclays U.S. Corporate Index.

In September, the Company refinanced the Graybar Building at 420 Lexington Avenue, site of the Company’s headquarters. The new 10-year, $300.0 million leasehold mortgage features a fixed interest rate of 3.98 percent and replaces the previous $181.0 million, 7.15 percent fixed-rate mortgage that the Company initially obtained in 2009 at the trough of the credit markets. The refinancing reduced the Company’s overall cost of capital, termed out its debt maturities and generated $91.4 million of net cash proceeds, after giving consideration to closing costs and the defeasance charge on the previous financing.

In October, the Company and its joint venture partner closed on a new $97.0 million leasehold mortgage at 650 Fifth Avenue. The new two-year mortgage, which bears interest at 350 basis points over LIBOR, had an initial funding of $65.0 million.

Guidance
Based on the Company’s performance for the first nine months of 2014 and its outlook for the remainder of 2014, the Company is adjusting its NAREIT defined FFO guidance for 2014 to $5.82 to $5.85, which equates to $6.06 to $6.09 per share before giving effect to the $0.24 per share prepayment penalty associated with the refinancing of 420 Lexington Avenue, as compared to the previous FFO guidance range of $5.90 to $5.96 per share.

Dividends
During the third quarter of 2014, the Company declared quarterly dividends on its outstanding common and preferred stock as follows:

  • $0.50 per share of common stock, which was paid on October 15, 2014 to stockholders of record on the close of business on September 30, 2014; and
  • $0.40625 per share on the Company’s 6.50% Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock for the period July 15, 2014 through and including October 14, 2014, which was paid on October 15, 2014 to stockholders of record on the close of business on September 30, 2014, and reflects the regular quarterly dividend which is the equivalent of an annualized dividend of $1.625 per share.

Annual Institutional Investor Conference
The Company will host its Annual Institutional Investor Conference on Monday, December 8, 2014 in New York City. To be added to the Conference’s email distribution list or to pre-register, please email SLG2014@slgreen.com.

Conference Call and Audio Webcast
The Company’s executive management team, led by Marc Holliday, Chief Executive Officer, will host a conference call and audio webcast on Thursday, October 23, 2014 at 2:00 pm ET to discuss the financial results.

The supplemental data will be available prior to the quarterly conference call on the Company’s website, www.slgreen.com, under “Financial Reports” in the Investors section.

The live conference will be webcast in listen-only mode on the Company’s website under “Event Calendar & Webcasts” in the Investors section and on Thomson’s StreetEvents Network. The conference may also be accessed by dialing 866.510.0712 using pass-code “SL Green.”

A replay of the call will be available through October 30, 2014 by dialing 888.286.8010 Domestic or 617.801.6888 International, using pass-code 17931905.

Company Profile
SL Green Realty Corp., New York City’s largest office landlord, is a fully integrated real estate investment trust, or REIT, that is focused primarily on acquiring, managing and maximizing value of Manhattan commercial properties. As of September 30, 2014, SL Green held interests in 96 Manhattan buildings totaling 44.1 million square feet. This included ownership interests in 28.0 million square feet of commercial buildings and debt and preferred equity investments secured by 16.1 million square feet of buildings. In addition to its Manhattan investments, SL Green held ownership interests in 35 suburban buildings totaling 5.9 million square feet in Brooklyn, Long Island, Westchester County, Connecticut and New Jersey.

To be added to the Company’s distribution list or to obtain the latest news releases and other Company information, please visit our website at www.slgreen.com or contact Investor Relations at 212.594.2700.

Disclaimers
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
During the quarterly conference call, the Company may discuss non-GAAP financial measures as defined by SEC Regulation G. In addition, the Company has used non-GAAP financial measures in this press release. A reconciliation of each non-GAAP financial measure and the comparable GAAP financial measure can be found in this release and in the Company’s Supplemental Package.

Forward-looking Statement
This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions thereof. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and we caution you not to place undue reliance on such statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by the use of the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “intend,” “project,” “continue,” or the negative of these words, or other similar words or terms.

Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by us. Factors and risks to our business that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements are described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise.

CONTACT

James Mead
Chief Financial Officer
-and-
Matt DiLiberto
Chief Accounting Officer & Treasurer
(212) 594-2700