Griffin Realty Trust, Inc. Second Quarter 2021 Results

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Griffin Realty Trust, Inc. (“GRT” or the “Company”) announced its results for the quarter ended June 30, 2021.

Highlights for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2021

• Total revenue of approximately $118.8 million.
• Net income attributable to common stockholders of $0.01 per basic and diluted share.
• Adjusted Funds from Operations available to common stockholders and limited partners, or AFFO¹, of $0.16 per basic and diluted share.
• Collected 100 percent of contractual rent due in the quarter.
• Signed two new leases and two lease renewals.
• The Company’s average net asset value (“NAV”) across all share classes increased by $0.05 to $9.10 per share as of June 30, 2021 compared to $9.05 per share the prior quarter.

Highlights Subsequent to June 30, 2021

• Collected 100 percent of contractual rent due in July.
• The Company executed a third amendment to its existing credit agreement, which decreased the applicable interest rate margin for the $150 million 7-year loan.

Management Commentary

Michael J. Escalante, GRT’s Chief Executive Officer, stated, “In the second quarter, our high-quality office and industrial portfolio continued to perform exceptionally well, as we ended the quarter at approximately 95% occupancy, and again collected 100 percent of rent during the quarter and through July. We are seeing increased demand across many of our Sunbelt markets that are experiencing accelerated positive net migration. With leverage of just 41.8% of enterprise value, our balance sheet remains in great shape, and during the second quarter, our strong credit position enabled us to lower the effective interest rate on our $150 million 7-year loan by 35 basis points to 1.50% per annum. While we have seen a growing list of companies announce they are intending to return to physical workspaces this Fall, the renewed spread of the Delta variant requires continued vigilance and appropriate caution. Notwithstanding any further pandemic related setbacks, we believe our high quality portfolio, primarily leased to Blue Chip tenants, will continue to provide stability to our results, consistent with our experience through the COVID-19 pandemic. As we look to the balance of the year, we are well-positioned to benefit from improving market fundamentals while continuing to seek opportunities for strategic and accretive growth as one of the largest corporate net-lease REITs.”

Results for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2021

Revenue

Total revenue of approximately $118.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, an increase of $13.4 million compared to the same quarter last year.

The increase was primarily attributable to $22.8 million of rental income in connection with the acquisition of CCIT II; offset by approximately $8.4 million of lower termination income in the current period.

Net Income

Net income attributable to common stockholders was approximately $3.0 million, or $0.01 per basic and diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, compared to approximately $3.3 million, or $0.01 per basic and diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2020.

Adjusted Funds from Operations (AFFO)

AFFO was approximately $55.3 million, or $0.16 per basic and diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. This result represents a nominal increase of $5.3 million and a decrease in AFFO of $0.03 per basic and diluted share as compared to the same period in 2020. Consistent with total revenue, the changes to AFFO were primarily attributable to the acquisition of CCIT II. While the acquisition of CCIT II was accretive to the Company’s AFFO by approximately $0.01 per share for the quarter, the decrease in AFFO per basic and diluted share was primarily attributable to lower termination income in the current period.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA, as defined per the Company’s credit facility agreement, was approximately $77.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. This resulted in fixed charge and interest coverage ratios of 3.1x and 3.8x, respectively, for the quarter.

Consolidated Financial Statistics

Compared to the last quarter, Net Debt decreased from $2.6 billion to $2.5 billion. The Company’s Net Debt to Normalized EBITDAre and our Net Debt plus Preferred to Normalized EBITDAre were 7.3x and 7.7x, respectively. The ratio of Debt, net less cash and cash equivalents, to total real estate, was 43.4%.

As of June 30, 2021, the Company’s weighted average loan maturity was 4.2 years with 70% of the loan balance having a fixed interest rate, including the effect of interest rate swaps. Approximately 40% of the Company’s consolidated debt was secured and approximately 60% was unsecured.

Leasing Activity

The Company signed two new leases totaling 40,400 square feet. This activity includes a new lease at Atlanta Wildwood for approximately 35,000 square feet for a 12 year term and a new three year lease for approximately 5,600 square feet at Houston Westway II. The Company also signed two renewal leases representing 33,500 square feet, including a five year lease extension with Texas Capital Bank at Houston Westway II and a seven year lease extension with Global Equipment Company at Parkland Center.

Balance Sheet

On July 14, 2021, the Company, through the GRT operating partnership, entered into the third amendment to the second amended and restated credit agreement. The third amendment amended the second amended and restated credit agreement to decrease the applicable interest rate margin for the $150 million 7-year term loan. All other terms of the second amended and restated credit agreement are unchanged. No new term loan borrowings were incurred under the third amendment. The applicable rate decreased 35 basis points from 1.85% to 1.50%, which is approximately $0.5 million in annual interest expense savings.

Net Asset Value

On July 16, 2021, the Company published an updated estimate of its NAV as of June 30, 2021. The Company’s average NAV across all share classes increased by $0.05 to $9.10 per share compared to $9.05 per share as of March 31, 2021, or a 2.2% annualized increase.

The change was primarily due to net operating income in excess of distributions during the quarter. Real estate values remained fairly static on a portfolio basis.

Portfolio Overview as of June 30, 2021

• Enterprise value was approximately $5.8 billion.²
• Weighted average remaining lease term was approximately 6.6 years with approximately 2.0 percent average annual contractual rent growth for the remainder of the existing term for all leases combined.
• The portfolio was 95.0 percent leased.
• The portfolio’s economic occupancy was 94.8%. The industrial portfolio was at 100% economic occupancy, and the Company’s office portfolio was at 91.7% economic occupancy.
• 88% of the Company’s net rental revenue is subject to annual escalations that average over 2%, and over 98% is subject to periodic increases.
• Approximately 63.3 percent of the portfolio’s net rental revenue³ was generated by properties leased and/or guaranteed, directly or indirectly, by companies that have investment grade credit ratings or what management believes are generally equivalent ratings.⁴

An overview of GRT’s portfolio is provided in the accompanying Portfolio Snapshot.

About Griffin Realty Trust, Inc.

Griffin Realty Trust, Inc. – America’s Blue-Chip Landlord^TM – is an internally managed, publicly-registered, non-traded REIT. The Company owns and operates a geographically-diversified portfolio of strategically-located, high-quality, corporate office and industrial properties that are primarily net leased to single tenants that the Company has determined to be creditworthy. The Company’s portfolio, as of June 30, 2021, consisted of 121 office and industrial properties (144 buildings), totaling 29.2 million in rentable square feet, located in 26 states, representing a total enterprise value of approximately $5.8 billion.

Additional information is available at www.grtreit.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The Company intends for all such forward-looking statements to be covered by the applicable safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” or “potential” or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases which are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and which do not relate solely to historical matters. You can also identify forward-looking statements by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect the Company’s current views about future events and are subject to numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that may cause the Company’s actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement.

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those set forth or contemplated in the forward-looking statements: the continued severity, duration, transmission rate and geographic spread of COVID-19 in the United States, the speed of the vaccine roll-out, effectiveness and willingness of people to take COVID-19 vaccines, the duration of associated immunity and their efficacy against emerging variants and mutations of COVID-19, the extent and effectiveness of other containment measures taken, and the response of the overall economy, the financial markets and the population, particularly in areas in which we operate and with respect to occupancy rates, rent deferrals and the financial condition of GRT’s tenants; general financial and economic conditions; statements about the benefits of the merger involving GRT and CCIT II and statements that address operating performance, events or developments that GRT expects or anticipates will occur in the future, including but not limited to statements regarding anticipated synergies and general and administrative expense savings in the merger, future financial and operating results, plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, expected sources of financing, anticipated asset dispositions, anticipated leadership and governance, creation of value for stockholders, benefits of the merger to customers, employees, stockholders and other constituents of the combined company, the integration of GRT and CCIT II, cost savings related to the merger and other non-historical statements; whether the merger will be accretive to AFFO in future quarters; risks related to the disruption of management’s attention from ongoing business operations due to the merger; the availability of suitable investment or disposition opportunities; changes in interest rates; the availability and terms of financing; market conditions; legislative and regulatory changes that could adversely affect the business of GRT; our future capital expenditures, distributions and acquisitions (including the amount and nature thereof), business strategies, the expansion and growth of our operations, our net sales, gross margin, operating expenses, operating income, net income, cash flow, financial condition, impairments, expenditures, capital structure, organizational structure, and other developments and trends of the real estate industry and other factors, including those risks disclosed in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Part I, Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and urge you to carefully review the disclosures it makes concerning risks. While forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s good faith beliefs, assumptions and expectations, they are not guarantees of future performance. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Furthermore, the Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, of new information, data or methods, future events or other changes.

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1 FFO, as described by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”), is adjusted for redeemable preferred distributions. Additionally, the Company uses AFFO as a non-GAAP financial measure to evaluate its operating performance. FFO and AFFO have been revised to include amounts available to both common stockholders and limited partners for all periods presented.

2 Enterprise value includes the outstanding debt balance (net of cash and cash equivalents) (excluding deferred financing costs and premium/discounts), plus unconsolidated debt – pro rata share, plus preferred equity, plus total outstanding shares multiplied by the NAV per share. Total outstanding shares includes limited partnership units issued and shares issued pursuant to the Company’s distribution reinvestment plan, net of redemptions.

3 Net rental revenue is based on (a) the contractual base rental payments assuming the lease requires the tenant to reimburse the Company for certain operating expenses or the property is self-managed by the tenant and the tenant is responsible for all, or substantially all, of the operating expenses; or (b) contractual rent payments less certain operating expenses that are the Company’s responsibility for the 12-month period subsequent to June 30, 2021 and includes assumptions that may not be indicative of the actual future performance of a property, including the assumption that the tenant will perform its obligations under its lease agreement during the next 12 months.

4 Approximately 63.3 percent of the portfolio’s net rental revenue for the 12-month period subsequent to June 30, 2021 was generated by properties leased and/or guaranteed, directly or indirectly, by companies that have investment grade credit ratings or what management believes are generally equivalent ratings; 58.0 percent generated from companies with a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (“NRSRO”) credit rating; and the remaining 5.3 percent from companies with a non-NRSRO credit rating that the Company believes is generally equivalent to an NRSRO investment grade rating. Bloomberg’s default risk rating is an example of a non-NRSRO rating.

GRIFFIN REALTY TRUST, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited; in thousands, except units and share amounts)
	June 30, 2021					December 31, 2020
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	133,979				$	168,954
Restricted cash	32,248					34,352
Real estate:
Land	584,291					445,674
Building and improvements	4,081,952					3,112,253
Tenant origination and absorption cost	876,746					740,489
Construction in progress	19,923					11,886
Total real estate	5,562,912					4,310,302
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	(886,553		)			(817,773		)
Total real estate, net	4,676,359					3,492,529
Intangible assets, net	45,915					10,035
Deferred rent receivable	104,659					98,116
Deferred leasing costs, net	43,939					45,966
Goodwill	229,948					229,948
Due from affiliates	548					1,411
Right of use asset	40,171					39,935
Other assets	27,720					30,604
Total assets	$	5,335,486				$	4,151,850
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Debt, net	$	2,537,023				$	2,140,427
Restricted reserves	12,341					12,071
Interest rate swap liability	37,205					53,975
Redemptions payable	7,865					5,345
Distributions payable	11,937					9,430
Due to affiliates	1,971					3,272
Intangible liabilities, net	34,398					27,333
Lease liability	50,616					45,646
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	101,440					114,434
Total liabilities	2,794,796					2,411,933
Perpetual convertible preferred shares	125,000					125,000
Common stock subject to redemption	—					2,038
Noncontrolling interests subject to redemption; 556,099 units as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020	4,671					4,610
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 800,000,000 shares authorized; 323,910,617 and 230,320,668 shares outstanding in the aggregate as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively	324					230
Additional paid-in capital	2,947,700					2,103,028
Cumulative distributions	(865,125		)			(813,892		)
Accumulated earnings	138,513					140,354
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(32,951		)			(48,001		)
Total stockholders’ equity	2,188,461					1,381,719
Noncontrolling interests	222,558					226,550
Total equity	2,411,019					1,608,269
Total liabilities and equity	$	5,335,486				$	4,151,850

GRIFFIN REALTY TRUST, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited; in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
	Three Months Ended June 30,										Six Months Ended June 30,
	2021					2020					2021					2020
Revenue:
Rental income	$	118,824				$	105,427				$	220,179				$	201,155
Expenses:
Property operating expense	14,797					12,922					29,242					27,893
Property tax expense	9,678					9,413					19,357					18,961
Property management fees to non-affiliates	1,017					839					1,998					1,748
General and administrative expenses	10,198					7,408					19,667					15,073
Corporate operating expenses to affiliates	635					625					1,260					1,250
Impairment provision	—					12,623					4,242					12,623
Depreciation and amortization	55,109					39,881					99,447					81,029
Total expenses	91,434					83,711					175,213					158,577
Income before other income and (expenses)	27,390					21,716					44,966					42,578
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense	(21,492		)			(19,046		)			(42,177		)			(39,007		)
Other income, net	100					354					216					3,054
Gain (Loss) from investment in unconsolidated entities	—					(1,444		)			8					(2,071		)
(Loss) Gain from disposition of assets	(320		)			4,268					(326		)			4,268
Net income	5,678					5,848					2,687					8,822
Distributions to redeemable preferred shareholders	(2,359		)			(2,047		)			(4,718		)			(4,094		)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(292		)			(457		)			277					(568		)
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	3,027					3,344					(1,754		)			4,160
Distributions to redeemable noncontrolling interests attributable to common stockholders	(44		)			(43		)			(87		)			(122		)
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	$	2,983				$	3,301				$	(1,841	)			$	4,038
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders per share, basic and diluted	$	0.01				$	0.01				$	(0.01	)			$	0.02
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic and diluted	324,433,017					229,879,280					293,909,092					229,844,960
Cash distributions declared per common share	$	0.09				$	0.09				$	0.17				$	0.23

GRIFFIN REALTY TRUST, INC.

Funds from Operations and Adjusted Funds from Operations

(Unaudited; in thousands except share and per share amounts)

Funds from Operations and Adjusted Funds from Operations

The Company’s management believes that historical cost accounting for real estate assets in accordance with GAAP implicitly assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. Since real estate values have historically risen or fallen with market conditions, many industry investors and analysts have considered the presentation of operating results for real estate companies that use historical cost accounting to be insufficient.

Management is responsible for managing interest rate, hedge and foreign exchange risks. To achieve the Company’s objectives, it may borrow at fixed rates or variable rates. In order to mitigate interest rate risk on certain financial instruments, if any, the Company may enter into interest rate cap agreements or other hedge instruments and in order to mitigate its risk to foreign currency exposure, if any, the Company may enter into foreign currency hedges. The Company view’s fair value adjustments of derivatives, impairment charges and gains and losses from dispositions of assets as non-recurring items or items which are unrealized and may not ultimately be realized, and which are not reflective of ongoing operations and are therefore typically adjusted for when assessing operating performance.

In order to provide a more complete understanding of the operating performance of a REIT, the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) promulgated a measure known as Funds from Operations (“FFO”). FFO is defined as net income or loss computed in accordance with GAAP, excluding extraordinary items, as defined by GAAP, and gains and losses from sales of depreciable operating property, adding back asset impairment write-downs, plus real estate related depreciation and amortization (excluding amortization of deferred financing costs and depreciation of non-real estate assets), and after adjustment for unconsolidated partnerships, joint ventures and preferred distributions. Because FFO calculations exclude such items as depreciation and amortization of real estate assets and gains and losses from sales of operating real estate assets (which can vary among owners of identical assets in similar conditions based on historical cost accounting and useful-life estimates), they facilitate comparisons of operating performance between periods and between other REITs. As a result, the Company believes that the use of FFO, together with the required GAAP presentations, provides a more complete understanding of the Company’s performance relative to its competitors and a more informed and appropriate basis on which to make decisions involving operating, financing, and investing activities. It should be noted, however, that other REITs may not define FFO in accordance with the current NAREIT definition or may interpret the current NAREIT definition differently than the Company does, making comparisons less meaningful.

Additionally, the Company uses Adjusted Funds from Operations (“AFFO”) as a non-GAAP financial measure to evaluate the Company’s operating performance. AFFO excludes non-routine and certain non-cash items such as revenues in excess of cash received, amortization of stock-based compensation net, deferred rent, amortization of in-place lease valuation, acquisition-related costs, financed termination fee, net of payments received, gain or loss from the extinguishment of debt, unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments, write-off transaction costs and other one-time transactions.

Contacts

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