W. P. Carey Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Financial Results

NEW YORK, Feb. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- W. P. Carey Inc. (NYSE: WPC) (W. P. Carey or the Company), a net lease real estate investment trust, today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2019.

Total Company

• Net income attributable to W. P. Carey of $129.4 million, or $0.75 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter and $305.2 million, or $1.78 per diluted share, for 2019

• AFFO of $222.0 million, or $1.28 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter and $856.5 million, or $5.00 per diluted share, for 2019

• Quarterly cash dividend raised to $1.038 per share, equivalent to an annualized dividend rate of $4.152 per share

• 2020 full year AFFO guidance range of $4.86 to $5.01 per diluted share announced, including Real Estate AFFO of between $4.74 and $4.89 per diluted share

Business Segments

Real Estate

• Segment net income attributable to W. P. Carey of $124.3 million for the fourth quarter and $272.1 million for 2019

• Segment AFFO of $210.2 million, or $1.21 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter and $811.2 million, or $4.74 per diluted share, for 2019

• Investment volume of $411.7 million during the fourth quarter, bringing total investment volume for 2019 to $868.1 million

• Active capital investment projects of $371.2 million outstanding at year end, including $242.6 million expected to be completed in 2020

• Gross disposition proceeds of $347.8 million during the fourth quarter, bringing total dispositions for 2019 to $383.9 million

• Portfolio occupancy of 98.8%

• Weighted-average lease term increased to 10.7 years

Investment Management

• Segment net income attributable to W. P. Carey of $5.0 million for the fourth quarter and $33.2 million for 2019

• Segment AFFO of $11.8 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter and $45.3 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, for 2019

• CWI 1 and CWI 2 proposed merger further progressed and is expected to close toward the end of the 2020 first quarter

Balance Sheet and Capitalization

• Reduced secured debt outstanding by $1.29 billion during 2019, including $324.3 million during the fourth quarter, lowering the Company's consolidated secured debt to gross assets ratio to 9.7%

• Amended and restated existing unsecured credit facility in February 2020, increasing capacity to $2.1 billion

MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY

"During 2019, we continued to execute on our strategy, growing and enhancing the quality of our earnings, our real estate portfolio and our balance sheet," said Jason Fox, Chief Executive Officer of W. P. Carey. "Real Estate AFFO per diluted share increased 8% even as we reduced leverage, driven by the full-year impact of our merger with CPA:17 and our 2019 net investment activity. Within our portfolio, we increased the proportion of rent from industrial and warehouse properties as well as from investment grade tenants, lowered our top 10 tenant concentration and extended our weighted-average lease term. We have ample liquidity, low leverage and established access to various forms of capital, all of which support our ability to execute on our investment pipeline. And we're off to a good start in 2020, reflecting a continuation of the momentum we saw in the fourth quarter, and have a healthy number of capital projects scheduled for completion this year."

QUARTERLY FINANCIAL RESULTS

Revenues

• Total Company: Revenues, including reimbursable costs, for the 2019 fourth quarter totaled $311.2 million, up 13.8% from $273.4 million for the 2018 fourth quarter.

• Real Estate: Real Estate revenues, including reimbursable costs, for the 2019 fourth quarter were $296.4 million, up 19.4% from $248.3 million for the 2018 fourth quarter, due primarily to additional lease revenues from properties acquired in the Company's merger with CPA:17 on October 31, 2018 (the CPA:17 Merger) and net acquisitions.

Note: While it has no impact on net income or AFFO, in accordance with Accounting Standards Update 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which the Company has adopted effective as of January 1, 2019, operating expenses reimbursed by tenants are included within lease revenues on the consolidated statements of income (for both current and prior year periods). Prior to that date the Company presented revenues excluding reimbursable costs.

• Investment Management: Investment Management revenues, including reimbursable costs, for the 2019 fourth quarter were $14.9 million, down 40.6% from $25.1 million for the 2018 fourth quarter, due primarily to lower structuring and other advisory revenues, as well as the cessation of asset management revenue previously earned from CPA:17.

Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey

• Net income attributable to W. P. Carey for the 2019 fourth quarter was $129.4 million, down 33.1% from $193.3 million for the 2018 fourth quarter. Net income from Investment Management attributable to W. P. Carey decreased, due primarily to a gain on change in control of interests recognized during the prior year period in connection with the CPA:17 Merger, as well as the cessation of revenues and distributions previously earned from CPA:17. Net income from Real Estate attributable to W. P. Carey also decreased, due primarily to a lower aggregate gain on sale of real estate and a gain on change in control of interests recognized during the prior year period in connection with the CPA:17 Merger, partly offset by merger expenses related to the CPA:17 Merger recognized during the prior year period, a mark-to-market gain of $36.1 million for the Company's investment in shares of a cold storage operator and the impact of properties acquired in the CPA:17 Merger and net acquisitions. The increase in revenues from properties acquired in the CPA:17 Merger and acquisitions was partly offset by corresponding increases in depreciation and amortization, interest expense and property expenses.

Adjusted Funds from Operations (AFFO)

• AFFO for the 2019 fourth quarter was $1.28 per diluted share, down 3.8% from $1.33 per diluted share for the 2018 fourth quarter. AFFO from the Company's Real Estate segment (Real Estate AFFO) increased, due primarily to the accretive impact of properties acquired in the CPA:17 Merger and net acquisitions, partly offset by the dilutive impact of shares issued through the Company's ATM program. AFFO from the Company's Investment Management segment declined, due primarily to the cessation of revenues and distributions previously earned from CPA:17, as well as lower structuring and other advisory revenues.

Note: Further information concerning AFFO and Real Estate AFFO, which are both non-GAAP supplemental performance metrics, is presented in the accompanying tables and related notes.

Dividend

• As previously announced, on December 18, 2019 the Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.038 per share, equivalent to an annualized dividend rate of $4.152 per share. The dividend was paid on January 15, 2020 to stockholders of record as of December 31, 2019.

FULL YEAR FINANCIAL RESULTS

Revenues

• Total Company: Revenues, including reimbursable costs, for the 2019 full year totaled $1.23 billion, up 39.2% from $885.7 million for the 2018 full year.

• Real Estate: Real Estate revenues, including reimbursable costs, for the 2019 full year totaled $1.17 billion, up 50.5% from $779.1 million for the 2018 full year, due primarily to additional lease revenues from properties acquired in the CPA:17 Merger and net acquisitions, as well as higher lease termination and other income.

• Investment Management: Investment Management revenues, including reimbursable costs, for the 2019 full year totaled $59.9 million, down 43.8% from $106.6 million for the 2018 full year, due primarily to the cessation of asset management revenue previously earned from CPA:17, as well as lower structuring and other advisory revenues.

Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey

• Net income attributable to W. P. Carey for the 2019 full year totaled $305.2 million, down 25.9% from $411.6 million for the 2018 full year. Net income from Investment Management attributable to W. P. Carey decreased, due primarily to the cessation of revenues and distributions previously earned from CPA:17, as well as a gain on change in control of interests recognized during the prior year in connection with the CPA:17 Merger. Net income from Real Estate attributable to W. P. Carey also decreased, due primarily to a lower aggregate gain on sale of real estate, higher impairment charges and a loss on change in control of interests recognized during the current year in connection with the CPA:17 Merger (as compared to a gain on change in control of interests recognized during the prior year), partly offset by the impact of properties acquired in the CPA:17 Merger and net acquisitions, merger expenses related to the CPA:17 Merger recognized during the prior year and a mark-to-market gain of $32.9 million for the Company's investment in shares of a cold storage operator. The increase in revenues from properties acquired in the CPA:17 Merger and acquisitions was partly offset by corresponding increases in depreciation and amortization, interest expense and property expenses.

AFFO

• AFFO for the 2019 full year was $5.00 per diluted share, down 7.2% compared to $5.39 per diluted share for the 2018 full year. Real Estate AFFO increased, due primarily to the accretive impact of properties acquired in the CPA:17 Merger and net acquisitions, partly offset by the dilutive impact of shares issued through the Company's ATM program. Investment Management AFFO declined, due primarily to the cessation of revenues and distributions previously earned from CPA:17, as well as lower structuring and other advisory revenues.

Note: Further information concerning AFFO and Real Estate AFFO, which are both non-GAAP supplemental performance metrics, is presented in the accompanying tables and related notes.

Dividend

• Dividends declared during 2019 totaled $4.14 per share, an increase of 1.2% compared to total dividends declared during 2018 of $4.09 per share.

AFFO GUIDANCE

• For the 2020 full year, the Company expects to report total AFFO of between $4.86 and $5.01 per diluted share, including Real Estate AFFO of between $4.74 and $4.89 per diluted share, based on the following key assumptions:

(i)   investments for the Company's Real Estate portfolio of between $750 million and $1.25 billion;

(ii)   dispositions from the Company's Real Estate portfolio of between $300 million and $500 million; and

(iii)  total general and administrative expenses of between $80 million and $84 million.

Note: The Company does not provide guidance on net income. The Company only provides guidance on total AFFO (and Real Estate AFFO) and does not provide a reconciliation of this forward-looking non-GAAP guidance to net income due to the inherent difficulty in quantifying certain items necessary to provide such reconciliation as a result of their unknown effect, timing and potential significance. Examples of such items include impairments of assets, gains and losses from sales of assets and depreciation and amortization from new acquisitions.

BALANCE SHEET AND CAPITALIZATION

Mortgage / Secured Debt Repayment

• During 2019, the Company reduced secured debt outstanding by $1.29 billion, with a weighted-average interest rate of approximately 4.8%, including $324.3 million during the 2019 fourth quarter, with a weighted-average interest rate of approximately 4.5%, primarily through mortgage prepayments and repayments at maturity, lowering its consolidated secured debt to gross assets ratio to 9.7%.

Senior Unsecured Credit Facility – Subsequent to Year End

• As previously announced, on February 20, 2020, the Company amended and restated its senior unsecured credit facility, increasing the capacity under the facility to $2.1 billion. The facility comprises a $1.8 billion multi-currency revolving line of credit, a £150 million term loan and a $105 million delayed draw term loan, in each case maturing in five years. The delayed draw term loan may be drawn within one year and allows for borrowing in U.S. dollars, euros and British pounds sterling.

REAL ESTATE

Investments

• During the 2019 fourth quarter, the Company completed investments totaling $411.7 million, consisting of 11 acquisitions for $367.8 million in aggregate and three completed capital investment projects at a total cost of $43.9 million, bringing total investment volume for the year ended December 31, 2019 to $868.1 million.

• As of December 31, 2019, the Company had 12 capital investment projects outstanding for an expected total investment of approximately $371.2 million, of which nine projects totaling $242.6 million are currently expected to be completed during 2020, including the three projects completed year-to-date 2020 discussed below.

• Year-to-date 2020, the Company has completed five investments totaling $206.1 million, consisting of two acquisitions for $139.3 million in aggregate and three completed capital investment projects at a total cost of $66.8 million.

Dispositions

• During the 2019 fourth quarter, the Company disposed of 12 properties for gross proceeds of $347.8 million, bringing total disposition proceeds for the year ended December 31, 2019 to $383.9 million.

• Year-to-date 2020, the Company has completed four dispositions totaling $116.3 million, including one of its two hotel operating properties for gross proceeds of $114.5 million.

Composition

• As of December 31, 2019, the Company's net lease portfolio consisted of 1,214 properties, comprising 140.0 million square feet leased to 345 tenants, with a weighted-average lease term of 10.7 years and an occupancy rate of 98.8%. In addition, the Company owned 19 self-storage and two hotel operating properties, totaling approximately 1.6 million square feet.

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

• W. P. Carey is the advisor to CPA:18 – Global (CPA:18), Carey Watermark Investors Incorporated (CWI 1), Carey Watermark Investors 2 Incorporated (CWI 2) and Carey European Student Housing Fund I, L.P. (CESH) (collectively, the Managed Programs). As of December 31, 2019, the Managed Programs had total assets under management of approximately $7.5 billion.

Proposed Merger of CWI 1 and CWI 2

• On January 13, 2020, the joint proxy statement / prospectus on Form S-4 previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by CWI 1 and CWI 2 was declared effective. Each of CWI 1 and CWI 2 has scheduled a special meeting of stockholders for March 26, 2020, and, if approved, the merger is expected to close shortly thereafter.

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Supplemental Information

The Company has provided supplemental unaudited financial and operating information regarding the 2019 fourth quarter and certain prior quarters, including a description of non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations to GAAP measures, in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 21, 2020.

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Live Conference Call and Audio Webcast Scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Please dial in at least 10 minutes prior to the start time.

Date/Time: Friday, February 21, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Call-in Number: 1-877-465-1289 (U.S.) or +1-201-689-8762 (international)

Live Audio Webcast and Replay: www.wpcarey.com/earnings

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W. P. Carey Inc.

W. P. Carey ranks among the largest net lease REITs with an enterprise value of approximately $20 billion and a diversified portfolio of operationally-critical commercial real estate that includes 1,214 net lease properties covering approximately 140 million square feet. For over four decades, the company has invested in high-quality single-tenant industrial, warehouse, office, retail and self-storage properties subject to long-term net leases with built-in rent escalators. Its portfolio is located primarily in the U.S. and Northern and Western Europe and is well-diversified by tenant, property type, geographic location and tenant industry.

www.wpcarey.com

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Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the matters discussed in this communication constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Exchange Act of 1934, both as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding the intent, belief or expectations of W. P. Carey and can be identified by the use of words such as "may," "will," "should," "would," "assume," "outlook," "seek," "plan," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "forecast" and other comparable terms. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements made by Mr. Fox with regard to our investment pipeline. These statements are based on the current expectations of the management of W. P. Carey. It is important to note that W. P. Carey's actual results could be materially different from those projected in such forward-looking statements. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could also have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements of W. P. Carey. Discussions of some of these other important factors and assumptions are contained in W. P. Carey's filings with the SEC and are available at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov, including Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in W. P. Carey's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. In light of these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors, the forward-looking events discussed in this communication may not occur. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this communication, unless noted otherwise. Except as required under the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC, W. P. Carey does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to the forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this communication or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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Non-GAAP Financial Disclosure

Funds from Operations (FFO) and Adjusted Funds from Operations (AFFO)

Due to certain unique operating characteristics of real estate companies, as discussed below, the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, Inc. (NAREIT), an industry trade group, has promulgated a non-GAAP measure known as FFO, which we believe to be an appropriate supplemental measure, when used in addition to and in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP, to reflect the operating performance of a REIT. The use of FFO is recommended by the REIT industry as a supplemental non-GAAP measure. FFO is not equivalent to, nor a substitute for, net income or loss as determined under GAAP.

We define FFO, a non-GAAP measure, consistent with the standards established by the White Paper on FFO approved by the Board of Governors of NAREIT, as restated in December 2018. The White Paper defines FFO as net income or loss computed in accordance with GAAP, excluding gains or losses from sales of property, impairment charges on real estate, gains or losses on changes in control of interests in real estate and depreciation and amortization from real estate assets; and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and jointly owned investments. Adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and jointly owned investments are calculated to reflect FFO.

We also modify the NAREIT computation of FFO to adjust GAAP net income for certain non-cash charges, such as amortization of real estate-related intangibles, deferred income tax benefits and expenses, straight-line and other non-cash rent adjustments, stock-based compensation, non-cash environmental accretion expense and amortization of deferred financing costs. Our assessment of our operations is focused on long-term sustainability and not on such non-cash items, which may cause short-term fluctuations in net income but have no impact on cash flows. Additionally, we exclude non-core income and expenses, such as gains or losses from extinguishment of debt, restructuring and related compensation expenses and merger and acquisition expenses. We also exclude realized and unrealized gains/losses on foreign currency exchange transactions (other than those realized on the settlement of foreign currency derivatives), which are not considered fundamental attributes of our business plan and do not affect our overall long-term operating performance. We refer to our modified definition of FFO as AFFO. We exclude these items from GAAP net income to arrive at AFFO as they are not the primary drivers in our decision-making process and excluding these items provides investors a view of our portfolio performance over time and makes it more comparable to other REITs that are currently not engaged in acquisitions, mergers and restructuring, which are not part of our normal business operations. AFFO also reflects adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and jointly owned investments. We use AFFO as one measure of our operating performance when we formulate corporate goals, evaluate the effectiveness of our strategies and determine executive compensation.

We believe that AFFO is a useful supplemental measure for investors to consider as we believe it will help them to better assess the sustainability of our operating performance without the potentially distorting impact of these short-term fluctuations. However, there are limits on the usefulness of AFFO to investors. For example, impairment charges and unrealized foreign currency losses that we exclude may become actual realized losses upon the ultimate disposition of the properties in the form of lower cash proceeds or other considerations. We use our FFO and AFFO measures as supplemental financial measures of operating performance. We do not use our FFO and AFFO measures as, nor should they be considered to be, alternatives to net income computed under GAAP, or as alternatives to net cash provided by operating activities computed under GAAP, or as indicators of our ability to fund our cash needs.

Institutional Investors:
Peter Sands
W. P. Carey Inc.
212-492-1110
[email protected]

Individual Investors:
W. P. Carey Inc.
212-492-8920
[email protected]

Press Contact:
Guy Lawrence
Ross & Lawrence
212-308-3333
[email protected]

SOURCE W. P. Carey Inc.