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EQUITY LIFESTYLE PROPERTIES INC - Quarter Report: 2020 March (Form 10-Q)

 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_________________________________________________________ 
FORM 10-Q
_________________________________________________________ 
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020
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: 1-11718
_________________________________________________________ 
EQUITY LIFESTYLE PROPERTIES, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
_________________________________________________________ 
Maryland
 
 
 
36-3857664
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
 
 
(IRS Employer Identification Number)
Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 800
 
Chicago,
Illinois
 
60606
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
 
 
(Zip Code)

(312) 279-1400
Registrant's telephone number, including area code
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
ELS
New York Stock Exchange
_________________________________________________________ 
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      No  
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes      No  
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, 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. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer
Smaller reporting company
 
 
Emerging growth company
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  
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 182,146,987 shares of Common Stock as of April 23, 2020.
 



Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
Table of Contents
 
 
 
Page
Item 1.
Financial Statements (unaudited)
 
 
Index To Financial Statements
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
Item 1.
Item 1A.
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
Item 5.
Item 6.

2


Part I – Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
As of
 
As of
 
March 31, 2020
 
December 31, 2019

(unaudited)
 
 
Assets
 
 
 
Investment in real estate:
 
 
 
Land
$
1,526,225

 
$
1,525,407

Land improvements
3,362,287

 
3,336,070

Buildings and other depreciable property
892,816

 
881,572

 
5,781,328

 
5,743,049

Accumulated depreciation
(1,812,822
)
 
(1,776,224
)
Net investment in real estate
3,968,506

 
3,966,825

Cash and restricted cash
96,921

 
28,860

Notes receivable, net
35,227

 
37,558

Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures
20,130

 
20,074

Deferred commission expense
41,230

 
41,149

Other assets, net
50,450

 
56,809

Total Assets
$
4,212,464

 
$
4,151,275

 
 
 
 
Liabilities and Equity
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
Mortgage notes payable, net
$
2,260,819

 
$
2,049,509

Term loan, net
199,030

 
198,949

Unsecured line of credit

 
160,000

Accounts payable and other liabilities
124,396

 
124,665

Deferred revenue – upfront payments from membership upgrade sales
129,356

 
126,814

Deferred revenue – annual membership subscriptions
12,319

 
10,599

Accrued interest payable
8,627

 
8,639

Rents and other customer payments received in advance and security deposits
91,152

 
91,234

Distributions payable
65,858

 
58,978

Total Liabilities
2,891,557

 
2,829,387

Equity:
 
 
 
Stockholders' Equity:
 
 
 
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019; none issued and outstanding.

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 400,000,000 shares authorized as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019; 182,144,559 and 182,089,595 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.
1,812

 
1,812

Paid-in capital
1,402,514

 
1,402,696

Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings
(153,703
)
 
(154,318
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
(1,713
)
 
(380
)
Total Stockholders’ Equity
1,248,910

 
1,249,810

Non-controlling interests – Common OP Units
71,997

 
72,078

Total Equity
1,320,907

 
1,321,888

Total Liabilities and Equity
$
4,212,464

 
$
4,151,275












The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

3


Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
(amounts in thousands, except per share data (adjusted for stock split))
(unaudited)
 
Quarters Ended March 31,
 
2020

2019
Revenues:
 
 
 
Rental income
$
239,346

 
$
223,566

Annual membership subscriptions
13,073

 
12,316

Membership upgrade sales current period, gross
4,843

 
3,838

Membership upgrade sales upfront payments, deferred, net
(2,542
)
 
(1,771
)
Other income
11,059

 
10,370

Gross revenues from home sales
11,309

 
6,475

Brokered resale and ancillary services revenues, net
938

 
1,559

Interest income
1,807

 
1,751

Income from other investments, net
643

 
986

Total revenues
280,476

 
259,090

Expenses:
 
 
 
Property operating and maintenance
83,634

 
77,948

Real estate taxes
16,841

 
15,323

Sales and marketing, gross
3,978

 
3,409

Membership sales commissions, deferred, net
(216
)
 
(191
)
Property management
15,004

 
13,685

Depreciation and amortization
39,024

 
37,977

Cost of home sales
11,911

 
6,632

Home selling expenses
1,213

 
1,083

General and administrative
10,855

 
9,909

Other expenses
588

 
427

Early debt retirement
1,054

 

Interest and related amortization
26,073

 
26,393

Total expenses
209,959

 
192,595

Gain on sale of real estate, net

 
52,507

Income before equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures
70,517

 
119,002

Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures
207

 
1,533

Consolidated net income
70,724

 
120,535

 
 
 
 
Income allocated to non-controlling interests – Common OP Units
(3,849
)
 
(7,226
)
Net income available for Common Stockholders
$
66,875

 
$
113,309

 
 
 
 
Consolidated net income
$
70,724

 
$
120,535

Other comprehensive income (loss):
 
 
 
Adjustment for fair market value of swap
(1,333
)
 
(931
)
Consolidated comprehensive income
69,391

 
119,604

Comprehensive income allocated to non-controlling interests – Common OP Units
(3,776
)
 
(7,170
)
Comprehensive income attributable to Common Stockholders
$
65,615

 
$
112,434

 
 
 
 
Earnings per Common Share – Basic
$
0.37

 
$
0.63

 
 
 
 
Earnings per Common Share – Fully Diluted
$
0.37

 
$
0.63

 
 
 
 
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding – Basic
181,729

 
179,560

Weighted average Common Shares outstanding – Fully Diluted
192,564

 
191,248





The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

4


Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
(amounts in thousands; adjusted for stock split)
(unaudited)
 
Common Stock
 
Paid-in Capital
 
Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Non-controlling Interests – Common OP Units
 
Total Equity
Balance as of December 31, 2019
$
1,812

 
$
1,402,696

 
$
(154,318
)
 
$
(380
)
 
$
72,078

 
$
1,321,888

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle (ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326))

 

 
(3,875
)
 

 

 
(3,875
)
Balance as of January 1, 2020
1,812

 
1,402,696

 
(158,193
)
 
(380
)
 
72,078

 
1,318,013

Exchange of Common OP Units for Common Stock

 
63

 

 

 
(63
)
 

Issuance of Common Stock through employee stock purchase plan

 
619

 

 

 

 
619

Compensation expenses related to restricted stock and stock options

 
2,964

 

 

 

 
2,964

Repurchase of Common Stock or Common OP Units

 
(3,962
)
 

 

 

 
(3,962
)
Adjustment for Common OP Unitholders in the Operating Partnership

 
277

 

 

 
(277
)
 

Adjustment for fair market value of swap

 

 

 
(1,333
)
 

 
(1,333
)
Consolidated net income

 

 
66,875

 

 
3,849

 
70,724

Distributions

 

 
(62,385
)
 

 
(3,590
)
 
(65,975
)
Other

 
(143
)
 

 

 

 
(143
)
Balance as of March 31, 2020
$
1,812

 
$
1,402,514

 
$
(153,703
)
 
$
(1,713
)
 
$
71,997

 
$
1,320,907




 
Common Stock
 
Paid-in Capital
 
Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Non-controlling interests – Common OP Units
 
Total Equity
Balance as of December 31, 2018
$
1,792

 
$
1,328,495

 
$
(211,034
)
 
$
2,299

 
$
71,792

 
$
1,193,344

Exchange of Common OP Units for Common Stock

 
66

 

 

 
(66
)
 

Issuance of Common Stock through exercise of options

 
53

 

 

 

 
53

Issuance of Common Stock through employee stock purchase plan

 
652

 

 

 

 
652

Compensation expenses related to restricted stock and stock options

 
2,420

 

 

 

 
2,420

Repurchase of Common Stock or Common OP Units

 
(53
)
 

 

 

 
(53
)
Adjustment for Common OP Unitholders in the Operating Partnership

 
(56
)
 

 

 
56

 

Adjustment for fair market value of swap

 

 

 
(931
)
 

 
(931
)
Consolidated net income

 

 
113,309

 

 
7,226

 
120,535

Distributions

 

 
(55,123
)
 

 
(3,516
)
 
(58,639
)
Other

 
(63
)
 

 

 

 
(63
)
Balance as of March 31, 2019
$
1,792

 
$
1,331,514

 
$
(152,848
)
 
$
1,368

 
$
75,492

 
$
1,257,318











The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

5


Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(amounts in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
Quarters Ended March 31,
 
2020
 
2019
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
 
 
 
Consolidated net income
$
70,724

 
$
120,535

Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Gain on sale of real estate, net

 
(52,507
)
Early debt retirement
1,054

 

Depreciation and amortization
39,628

 
38,404

Amortization of loan costs
872

 
887

Debt premium amortization
(114
)
 
(101
)
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures
(207
)
 
(1,533
)
Distributions of income from unconsolidated joint ventures

 
677

Proceeds from insurance claims, net
756

 
4,150

Compensation expense related to restricted stock and stock options
2,964

 
2,420

Revenue recognized from membership upgrade sales upfront payments
(2,301
)
 
(2,067
)
Commission expense recognized related to membership sales
940

 
938

Long-term incentive plan compensation
383

 
(3,987
)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Notes receivable, net
(317
)
 
122

Deferred commission expense
(1,020
)
 
(1,035
)
Other assets, net
13,324

 
(9,238
)
Accounts payable and other liabilities
(2,096
)
 
20,402

Deferred revenue – upfront payments from membership upgrade sales
4,843

 
3,838

Deferred revenue – annual membership subscriptions
1,720

 
2,991

Rents and other customer payments received in advance and security deposits
(261
)
 
3,202

Net cash provided by operating activities
130,892

 
128,098

Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
 
 
 
Real estate acquisitions, net
(1,352
)
 
(13,012
)
Proceeds from disposition of properties, net

 
77,746

Distributions of capital from unconsolidated joint ventures
150

 
58

Proceeds from insurance claims

 
761

Capital improvements
(48,959
)
 
(52,441
)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
(50,161
)
 
13,112

























The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

6



Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (continued)
(amounts in thousands)
(unaudited)

 
Quarters Ended March 31,
 
2020
 
2019
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
 
 
 
Proceeds from stock options and employee stock purchase plan
619

 
652

Distributions:
 
 
 
Common Stockholders
(55,765
)
 
(49,457
)
Common OP Unitholders
(3,213
)
 
(3,161
)
Share based award tax withholding payments
(3,962
)
 

Principal payments and mortgage debt repayment
(61,791
)
 
(13,683
)
Mortgage notes payable financing proceeds
275,385

 

Line of Credit repayment
(222,500
)
 

Line of Credit proceeds
62,500

 

Debt issuance and defeasance costs
(3,800
)
 
(250
)
Other
(143
)
 
(63
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(12,670
)
 
(65,962
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and restricted cash
68,061

 
75,248

Cash and restricted cash, beginning of period
28,860

 
68,974

Cash and restricted cash, end of period
$
96,921

 
$
144,222


 
Quarters Ended March 31,
 
2020
 
2019
Supplemental Information:
 
 
 
Cash paid for interest
$
25,518

 
$
25,729

Net investment in real estate – reclassification of rental homes
$
9,319

 
$
5,520

Other assets, net – reclassification of rental homes
$
(9,319
)
 
$
(5,520
)
 
 
 
 
Real estate acquisitions:
 
 
 
Investment in real estate
$
(1,531
)
 
$
(25,797
)
Debt assumed

 
11,208

Other liabilities
179

 
1,577

Real estate acquisitions, net
$
(1,352
)
 
$
(13,012
)
 
 
 
 
Real estate dispositions:
 
 
 
Investment in real estate
$

 
$
35,572

Notes receivable, net

 
295

Other assets, net

 
97

Mortgage notes payable, net

 
(11,175
)
Other liabilities

 
450

Gain on sale of real estate, net

 
52,507

Real estate dispositions, net
$

 
$
77,746















The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

7


Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


Note 1 – Organization and Basis of Presentation
Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. ("ELS"), a Maryland corporation, together with MHC Operating Limited Partnership (the "Operating Partnership") and its other consolidated subsidiaries (the "Subsidiaries"), are referred to herein as "we," "us," and "our." We are a fully integrated owner and operator of lifestyle-oriented properties ("Properties") consisting primarily of manufactured home ("MH") and recreational vehicle ("RV") communities. We provide our customers the opportunity to place manufactured homes, cottages or RVs on our Properties either on a long-term or short-term basis. Our customers may lease individual developed areas ("Sites") or enter into right-to-use contracts, also known as membership subscriptions, which provide them access to specific Properties for limited stays.
Our Properties are owned primarily by the Operating Partnership and managed internally by affiliates of the Operating Partnership. ELS is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, has exclusive responsibility and discretion in management and control of the Operating Partnership and held a 94.6% interest as of March 31, 2020. As the general partner with control, ELS is the primary beneficiary of, and therefore consolidates, the Operating Partnership.
Equity method of accounting is applied to entities in which ELS does not have a controlling interest or for variable interest entities in which ELS is not considered the primary beneficiary, but with respect to which it can exercise significant influence over operations and major decisions. Our exposure to losses associated with unconsolidated joint ventures is primarily limited to the carrying value of these investments. Accordingly, distributions from a joint venture in excess of our carrying value are recognized in earnings.
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules and regulations for Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and note disclosures required by U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. All adjustments to the interim consolidated financial statements are of a normal, recurring nature and, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of results for these interim periods. Revenues and expenses are subject to seasonal fluctuations and accordingly, quarterly interim results may not be indicative of full year results.
On October 15, 2019, we effected a two-for-one stock split of our common stock. Pursuant to the anti-dilution provision in the Operating Partnership's Agreement of Limited Partnership, the stock split also effected a two-for one split of the outstanding Operating Partnership units ("OP units"). All shares of common stock and OP units and per share data in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes, for all periods presented, have been adjusted to reflect the stock split.

Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(a)
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

On January 1, 2020, we prospectively adopted FASB ("ASU 2018-15") Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (ASC 350-40), Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. ASU 2018-15 provides guidance on accounting for fees paid when the arrangement includes a software license and aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing costs to develop or obtain internal-use software. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
On January 1, 2020 we adopted FASB (“ASU 2016-13”) Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326) using the modified retrospective approach. ASU 2016-13 requires entities to measure all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Entities should use forward-looking information to better form their credit loss estimates. 
We are exposed to credit losses primarily through sales of annual membership subscriptions and membership upgrades and home sales. We have developed an allowance for credit losses, which represents an estimate of expected losses over the remaining contractual life of our receivables considering current market conditions and estimates for forecasts when appropriate. The estimate

8


Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

is a result of our ongoing assessments and evaluations of collectability, historical loss experience and future expectations in estimating credit losses in each of our receivable portfolios. We recognized a cumulative-effect adjustment of $3.9 million, which decreased opening retained earnings as of January 1, 2020.
The cumulative-effect adjustment resulting from the adoption of ASU 2016-13 as of January 1, 2020 was as follows:
Balance net of allowance
Balance Sheet Location
 
Balance at December 31, 2019
 
Adjustment due to ASU 2016-13 Adoption
 
Balance at January 1, 2020
 
Balance at
March 31, 2020
(amounts in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annual membership subscriptions
Other assets, net
 
$
2,394

 
$
(1,361
)
 
$
1,033

 
$
1,232

Membership upgrades
Notes receivable, net
 
$
25,236

 
$
(2,514
)
 
$
22,722

 
$
23,149


(b)
Revenue Recognition
Rental income is accounted for in accordance with the ASC 842, Leases, and is recognized over the term of the respective lease or the length of a customer's stay. Utility recoveries are presented within Rental income on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. Expected credit losses related to the collectability of lease receivables are presented as a reduction to Rental Income. Lease receivables are presented within Other assets, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are net of expected credit losses. See Note 3. Leases for additional information.

Annual membership subscriptions and membership upgrade sales are accounted for in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Membership subscriptions provide our customers access to specific Properties for limited stays at a specified group of Properties. Payments are deferred and recognized on a straight-line basis over the one-year period during which access to Sites at certain Properties is provided. Membership subscription receivables are presented within Other assets, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are net of an allowance for credit losses. Membership upgrades grant certain additional access rights to the customer and require non-refundable upfront payments. The non-refundable upfront payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over 20 years. Financed upgrade sales (also known as contract receivables) are presented within Notes receivable, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are net of an allowance for credit losses.

Income from home sales is recognized when the earnings process is complete. The earnings process is complete when the home has been delivered, the purchaser has accepted the home and title has transferred. Financed home sales (also known as chattel loans) are presented within Notes receivable, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are net of an allowance for credit losses.
(c)
Restricted Cash
As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, restricted cash consists of $27.6 million and $25.1 million, respectively, primarily related to cash reserved for customer deposits and amounts escrowed for insurance and real estate taxes.


9


Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 3 – Leases


Lessor
Rental income derived from customers renting our Sites is accounted for in accordance with ASC 842, Leases, and is recognized over the term of the respective operating lease or the length of a customer's stay. MH Sites are generally leased on an annual basis to residents who own or lease factory-built homes, including manufactured homes. Annual RV and marina Sites are leased on an annual basis to customers who generally have an RV, factory-built cottage, boat or other unit placed on the site, including those Northern properties that are open for the summer season. Seasonal RV and marina Sites are leased to customers generally for one to six months. Transient RV and marina Sites are leased to customers on a short-term basis. In addition, customers may lease homes that are located in our communities.
The leases entered into between the customer and us for a rental of a Site are renewable upon the consent of both parties or, in some instances, as provided by statute. Long-term leases that are non-cancelable by the tenants are in effect at certain Properties. Rental rate increases at these Properties are primarily a function of increases in the Consumer Price Index, taking into consideration certain conditions. Additionally, periodic market rate adjustments are made as deemed appropriate. In addition, certain state statutes allow entry into long-term agreements that effectively modify lease terms related to rent amounts and increases over the term of the agreements. The following table presents future minimum rents expected to be received under long-term non-cancelable tenant leases, as well as those leases that are subject to long-term agreements governing rent payments and increases:
 
(amounts in thousands)
 
As of March 31, 2020
2020
 
$
63,393

2021
 
85,220

2022
 
53,423

2023
 
20,119

2024
 
20,144

Thereafter
 
79,241

Total
 
$
321,540



Lessee
We lease land under non-cancelable operating leases at 13 Properties expiring at various dates through 2054. The majority of the leases have terms requiring fixed payments plus additional rents based on a percentage of gross revenues at those Properties. We also have other operating leases, primarily office space, expiring at various dates through 2026. For the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, total operating lease payments were $2.4 million and $2.3 million, respectively.
The following table summarizes our minimum future rental payments, excluding variable costs, which are discounted by our incremental borrowing rate to calculate the lease liability for our operating leases as of March 31, 2020:
 
 
As of March 31, 2020
 
(amounts in thousands)
 
Ground Leases
 
Office and Other Leases
 
Total
 
2020
 
$
1,462

 
$
2,444

 
$
3,906

 
2021
 
1,949

 
2,602

 
4,551

 
2022
 
1,479

 
916

 
2,395

 
2023
 
534

 
687

 
1,221

 
2024
 
534

 
505

 
1,039

 
Thereafter
 
4,984

 
484

 
5,468

 
Total undiscounted rental payments
 
10,942

 
7,638

 
18,580

 
Less imputed interest
 
(2,300
)
 
(558
)
 
(2,858
)
 
Total lease liabilities
 
$
8,642

 
$
7,080

 
$
15,722

 


Right-of-use ("ROU") assets and lease liabilities from our operating leases, included within Other assets, net and Accounts payable and other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, were $14.7 million and $15.7 million, respectively, as of March

10


Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 3 – Leases (continued)


31, 2020. The weighted average remaining lease term for our operating leases was seven years and the weighted average incremental borrowing rate was 4.3% at March 31, 2020.
ROU assets and lease liabilities from our operating leases, included within Other assets, net and Accounts payable and other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, were $15.1 million and $16.2 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2019. The weighted average remaining lease term for our operating leases was seven years and the weighted average incremental borrowing rate was 4.4% at December 31, 2019.

Note 4 – Earnings Per Common Share
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share of common stock, as adjusted for the stock split, for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:
 
 
Quarters Ended March 31,
(amounts in thousands, except per share data)
 
2020
 
2019
Numerators:
 
 
 
 
Net income available for Common Stockholders – Basic
 
$
66,875

 
$
113,309

Amounts allocated to dilutive securities
 
3,849

 
7,226

Net income available for Common Stockholders – Fully Diluted
 
$
70,724

 
$
120,535

Denominators:
 
 
 
 
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding – Basic
 
181,729

 
179,560

Effect of dilutive securities:
 
 
 
 
Exchange of Common OP Units for Common Shares
 
10,491

 
11,482

Stock options and restricted stock
 
344

 
206

Weighted average Common Shares outstanding – Fully Diluted
 
192,564

 
191,248

 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per Common Share – Basic
 
$
0.37

 
$
0.63

 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per Common Share – Fully Diluted
 
$
0.37

 
$
0.63

 
 
 
 
 


Note 5 – Common Stock and Other Equity Related Transactions
Two-for-One Common Stock and OP Units Split
On October 15, 2019, a two-for-one stock split of our common stock, effected by and in the form of a stock dividend, was paid to stockholders of record as of October 1, 2019. In connection with our stock split, the OP Units of our Operating Partnership were also split on a two-for-one basis.
Common Stockholder Distribution Activity
The following quarterly distributions, as adjusted for the stock split, have been declared and paid to Common Stockholders and the OP Unit holders since January 1, 2019.
Distribution Amount Per Share
 
For the Quarter Ended
 
Stockholder Record Date
 
Payment Date
$0.3063
 
March 31, 2019
 
March 29, 2019
 
April 12, 2019
$0.3063
 
June 30, 2019
 
June 28, 2019
 
July 12, 2019
$0.3063
 
September 30, 2019
 
September 27, 2019
 
October 11, 2019
$0.3063
 
December 31, 2019
 
December 27, 2019
 
January 10, 2020
$0.3425
 
March 31, 2020
 
March 27, 2020
 
April 10, 2020






11


Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 5 – Common Stock and Other Equity Related Transactions (continued)

Equity Offering Program
Our at-the-market (“ATM”) equity offering program allows us to sell, from time-to-time, shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, having an aggregate offering price of up to $200.0 million. As of March 31, 2020, we have $140.7 million of common stock available under the ATM offering program for issuance.
Exchanges
Subject to certain limitations, OP Unit holders can request an exchange of any or all of their OP Units for shares of Common Stock at any time. Upon receipt of such a request, we may, in lieu of issuing shares of Common Stock, cause the Operating Partnership to pay cash. During the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, 9,228 and 10,650 OP Units, respectively, were exchanged for an equal number of shares of Common Stock

Note 6 – Investment in Real Estate
Acquisitions
On March 25, 2019, we completed the acquisitions of Drummer Boy Camping Resort, a 465-site RV community located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and Lake of the Woods Campground, a 303-site RV community located in Wautoma, Wisconsin, for a total purchase price of $25.4 million. These acquisitions were funded with available cash and a loan assumption of approximately $10.8 million, excluding mortgage premium of $0.4 million.
Dispositions
On January 23, 2019, we closed on the sale of five all-age MH communities located in Indiana and Michigan, collectively containing 1,463 sites, for $89.7 million and recognized a gain of $52.5 million, net of transaction costs, during the first quarter of 2019.

Note 7 – Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures
The following table summarizes our investment in unconsolidated joint ventures (investment amounts in thousands with the number of Properties shown parenthetically as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment as of
 
Income/(Loss) for
Quarters Ended
Investment
 
Location
 
 Number of Sites
 
Economic
Interest
(a)
 
March 31,
2020
 
December 31,
2019
 
March 31,
2020
 
March 31,
2019
Meadows
 
Various (2,2)
 
1,077

 
50
%
 
$
146

 
$
146

 
$

 
$
397

Lakeshore
 
Florida (3,3)
 
721

 
(b)

 
2,408

 
2,467

 
90

 
69

Voyager
 
Arizona (1,1)
 
1,801

 
50
%
(c) 
588

 
599

 
(10
)
 
604

Loggerhead
 
Florida
 
2,343

 
%
(d) 

 

 

 
321

ECHO JV
 
Various
 

 
50
%
 
16,988

 
16,862

 
127

 
142

 
 
 
 
5,942

 
 
 
$
20,130

 
$
20,074

 
$
207

 
$
1,533

_____________________
(a)
The percentages shown approximate our economic interest as of March 31, 2020. Our legal ownership interest may differ.
(b)
Includes two joint ventures in which we own a 65% interest and the Crosswinds joint venture in which we own a 49% interest.
(c)
Primarily consists of a 50% interest in Voyager RV Resort and a 33% interest in the utility plant servicing this Property.
(d)
On September 10, 2019, we completed the acquisition of the remaining interest in the Loggerhead joint venture. Loggerhead sites represent marina slip count.
We received approximately $0.2 million and $0.7 million in distributions from our unconsolidated joint ventures for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Approximately $0.1 million of the distributions made to us exceeded our basis in our unconsolidated joint ventures for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, and as such, were recorded as income from unconsolidated joint ventures. None of the distributions made to us exceeded our basis in joint ventures for the quarter ended March 31, 2019.


12


Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 8 – Borrowing Arrangements

Mortgage Notes Payable
Our mortgage notes payable is classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The following table presents the fair value of our mortgage notes payable:
 
 
As of March 31, 2020
 
As of December 31, 2019
(amounts in thousands)
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Value
Mortgage notes payable, excluding deferred financing costs
 
$
2,414,922

 
$
2,285,847

 
$
2,227,185

 
$
2,072,416



The weighted average interest rate on our outstanding mortgage indebtedness, including the impact of premium/discount amortization and loan cost amortization on mortgage indebtedness, as of March 31, 2020, was approximately 4.3% per annum. The debt bears interest at stated rates ranging from 2.7% to 8.9% per annum and matures on various dates ranging from 2021 to 2041. The debt encumbered a total of 125 and 116 of our Properties as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, and the gross carrying value of such Properties was approximately $2,634.2 million and $2,524.7 million, as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.
2020 Activity
During the quarter ended March 31, 2020, we entered into a $275.4 million secured credit facility with Fannie Mae, maturing in 10 years and bearing a 2.7% interest rate. The facility is secured by eight MH and four RV communities. We also repaid $48.1 million of principal on three mortgage loans that were due to mature in 2020, incurring $1.0 million of prepayment penalties. These mortgage loans had a weighted average interest rate of 5.2% per annum and were secured by three MH communities.
2019 Activity
During the quarter ended March 31, 2019, we defeased mortgage debt of $11.2 million in conjunction with the disposition of five all-age MH communities as disclosed in Note 6. Investment in Real Estate. These loans had a weighted average interest rate of 5.0% per annum. We also assumed mortgage debt of $10.8 million, excluding mortgage note premium of $0.4 million, as a result of the acquisitions that were closed during the quarter. This loan carries an interest rate of 5.5% per annum and matures in 2024.
Unsecured Line of Credit
During the quarter ended March 31, 2020, we borrowed and paid off amounts on our unsecured Line of Credit ("LOC"), leaving no balance outstanding as of March 31, 2020. As of March 31, 2020, our LOC has a remaining borrowing capacity of $400 million with the option to increase the borrowing capacity by $200 million, subject to certain conditions. The LOC had $160 million outstanding at December 31, 2019.
As of March 31, 2020, we were in compliance in all material respects with the covenants in all our borrowing arrangements.

Note 9 – Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Cash Flow Hedges of Interest Rate Risk
We record all derivatives at fair value. Our objective in utilizing interest rate derivatives is to add stability to our interest expense and to manage our exposure to interest rate movements. We do not enter into derivatives for speculative purposes. In connection with our $200.0 million senior unsecured term loan (the “Term Loan”), which has an interest rate of LIBOR plus 1.20% to 1.90% per annum, we entered into a three-year LIBOR Swap Agreement (the "Swap") allowing us to trade the variable interest rate on the Term Loan for a fixed interest rate. The Swap has a notional amount of $200.0 million of outstanding principal with an underlying LIBOR of 1.85% per annum for the first three years and matures on November 1, 2020. Based on the leverage as of March 31, 2020, our spread over LIBOR was 1.20% resulting in an estimated all-in interest rate of 3.05% per annum.



13


Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 9 – Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (continued)

Our derivative financial instrument is classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The following table presents the fair value of our derivative financial instrument:
 
 
 
 
As of March 31,
 
As of December 31,
(amounts in thousands)
 
Balance Sheet Location
 
2020
 
2019
Interest Rate Swap
 
Accounts payable and other liabilities
 
$
1,713

 
$
380



The following table presents the effect of our derivative financial instrument on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income:
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationship
 
Amount of (gain)/loss recognized
in OCI on derivative
for the quarter ended March 31,
 
Location of (gain)/ loss reclassified from
accumulated OCI into income
 
Amount of (gain)/loss reclassified from
accumulated OCI into income
for the quarter ended March 31,
(amounts in thousands)
 
2020
 
2019
 
(amounts in thousands)
 
2020
 
2019
Interest Rate Swap
 
$
1,424

 
$
606

 
Interest Expense
 
$
91

 
$
(325
)

During the next seven months through the maturity date of November 1, 2020, we estimate that $1.7 million will be reclassified as an increase to interest expense. This estimate may be subject to change as the underlying LIBOR changes. We determined that no adjustment was necessary for non-performance risk on our derivative obligation. As of March 31, 2020, we had not posted any collateral related to this Swap.

Note 10 – Equity Incentive Awards
Our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”) was adopted by the Board of Directors on March 11, 2014 and approved by our stockholders on May 13, 2014. During the quarter ended March 31, 2020, 90,933 shares of restricted stock were awarded to certain members of our management team. Of these shares, 50% are time-based awards, vesting in equal installments over a three-year period on January 29, 2021, January 31, 2022, and January 27, 2023, respectively, and have a grant date fair value of $3.3 million. The remaining 50% are performance-based awards vesting in equal installments on January 29, 2021, January 31, 2022, and January 27, 2023, respectively, upon meeting performance conditions as established by the Compensation Committee in the year of the vesting period. They are valued using the closing price at the grant date when all the key terms and conditions are known to all parties. The 15,154 shares of restricted stock subject to 2020 performance goals have a grant date fair value of $1.1 million.
Stock based compensation expense, reported in General and administrative expense on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income, for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, was $3.0 million and $2.4 million, respectively.

Note 11 – Commitments and Contingencies
We are involved in various legal and regulatory proceedings ("Proceedings") arising in the ordinary course of business. The Proceedings include, but are not limited to, legal claims made by employees, vendors and customers, and notices, consent decrees, information requests, additional permit requirements and other similar enforcement actions by governmental agencies relating to our utility infrastructure, including water and wastewater treatment plants and other waste treatment facilities and electrical systems. Additionally, in the ordinary course of business, our operations are subject to audit by various taxing authorities. Management believes these Proceedings taken together do not represent a material liability. In addition, to the extent any such Proceedings or audits relate to newly acquired Properties, we consider any potential indemnification obligations of sellers in our favor.
The Operating Partnership operates and manages Westwinds, a 720 site mobilehome community, and Nicholson Plaza, an adjacent shopping center, both located in San Jose, California pursuant to ground leases that expire on August 31, 2022 and do not contain extension options. The master lessor of these ground leases, The Nicholson Family Partnership (the “Nicholsons”), has expressed a desire to redevelop Westwinds, and in a written communication, they claimed that we were obligated to deliver the property free and clear of any and all subtenancies upon the expiration of the ground leases on August 31, 2022. In connection

14


Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 11 – Commitments and Contingencies (continued)


with any redevelopment, the City of San Jose’s conversion ordinance requires, among other things, that the landowner provide relocation, rental and purchase assistance to the impacted residents.
We believe the Nicholsons’ demand is unlawful, and on December 30, 2019, the Operating Partnership filed a complaint in California Superior Court for Santa Clara County, seeking declaratory relief pursuant to which it requested that the Court determine, among other things, that the Operating Partnership has no obligation to deliver the property free and clear of the mobilehome residents upon the expiration of the ground leases. The Operating Partnership filed an amended complaint on January 29, 2020. The Nicholsons filed a demand for arbitration on January 28, 2020, which they subsequently amended, pursuant to which they request a declaration that the Operating Partnership, as the “owner and manager” of Westwinds, is “required by the Ground Leases, and State and local law to deliver the Property free of any encumbrances or third-party claims at the expiration of the lease terms.” On February 3, 2020, the Nicholsons filed a motion in California Superior Court to compel arbitration and to stay the litigation, which motion is currently scheduled to be heard on June 25, 2020. We intend to continue to vigorously defend our interests in this matter. As of March 31, 2020 we have not made an accrual, as we are unable to predict the outcome of this matter or reasonably estimate any possible loss.


15


Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 12 – Reportable Segments


We have identified two reportable segments: (i) Property Operations and (ii) Home Sales and Rentals Operations. The Property Operations segment owns and operates land lease Properties and the Home Sales and Rentals Operations segment purchases, sells and leases homes at the Properties. The distribution of the Properties throughout the United States reflects our belief that geographic diversification helps insulate the portfolio from regional economic influences.
All revenues were from external customers and there is no customer who contributed 10% or more of our total revenues during the quarters ended March 31, 2020 or 2019.
The following tables summarize our segment financial information for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:
Quarter Ended March 31, 2020
(amounts in thousands)
Property
Operations
 
Home Sales
and Rentals
Operations
 
Consolidated
Operations revenues
$
262,474

 
$
15,552

 
$
278,026

Operations expenses
(117,898
)
 
(14,467
)
 
(132,365
)
Income from segment operations
144,576

 
1,085

 
145,661

Interest income
1,075

 
727

 
1,802

Depreciation and amortization
(36,220
)
 
(2,804
)
 
(39,024
)
Income (loss) from operations
$
109,431

 
$
(992
)
 
$
108,439

Reconciliation to consolidated net income:
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate interest income
 
 
 
 
5

Income from other investments, net
 
 
 
 
643

General and administrative
 
 
 
 
(10,855
)
Other expenses
 
 
 
 
(588
)
Interest and related amortization
 
 
 
 
(26,073
)
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures
 
 
 
 
207

Early debt retirement
 
 
 
 
(1,054
)
Consolidated net income
 
 
 
 
$
70,724

 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets
$
3,936,862

 
$
275,602

 
$
4,212,464

Capital improvements
$
32,605

 
$
16,354

 
$
48,959


Quarter Ended March 31, 2019
(amounts in thousands)
Property
Operations
 
Home Sales
and Rentals
Operations
 
Consolidated
Operations revenues
$
246,016

 
$
10,337

 
$
256,353

Operations expenses
(108,970
)
 
(8,919
)
 
(117,889
)
Income from segment operations
137,046

 
1,418

 
138,464

Interest income
894

 
850

 
1,744

Depreciation and amortization
(35,543
)
 
(2,434
)
 
(37,977
)
Gain on sale of real estate, net
52,507

 

 
52,507

Income (loss) from operations
$
154,904

 
$
(166
)
 
$
154,738

Reconciliation to consolidated net income:
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate interest income
 
 
 
 
7

Income from other investments, net
 
 
 
 
986

General and administrative
 
 
 
 
(9,909
)
Other expenses
 
 
 
 
(427
)
Interest and related amortization
 
 
 
 
(26,393
)
Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures
 
 
 
 
1,533

Consolidated net income
 
 
 
 
$
120,535

 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets
$
3,771,453

 
$
237,424

 
$
4,008,877

Capital improvements
$
24,406

 
$
28,035

 
$
52,441




16


Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 12 – Reportable Segments (continued)


The following table summarizes our financial information for the Property Operations segment for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:    
 
Quarters Ended March 31,
(amounts in thousands)
2020

2019
Revenues:
 
 
 
Rental income
$
235,364

 
$
219,982

Annual membership subscriptions
13,073

 
12,316

Membership upgrade sales current period, gross
4,843

 
3,838

Membership upgrade sales upfront payments, deferred, net
(2,542
)
 
(1,771
)
Other income
11,059

 
10,370

Ancillary services revenues, net
677

 
1,281

Total property operations revenues
262,474

 
246,016

Expenses:

 
 
Property operating and maintenance
82,291

 
76,744

Real estate taxes
16,841

 
15,323

Sales and marketing, gross
3,978

 
3,409

Membership sales commissions, deferred, net
(216
)
 
(191
)
Property management
15,004

 
13,685

Total property operations expenses
117,898

 
108,970

Income from property operations segment
$
144,576

 
$
137,046


The following table summarizes our financial information for the Home Sales and Rentals Operations segment for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:
 
Quarters Ended March 31,
(amounts in thousands)
2020
 
2019
Revenues:
 
 
 
Rental income (a)
$
3,982

 
$
3,584

Gross revenue from home sales
11,309

 
6,475

Brokered resale revenues, net
261

 
278

Ancillary services revenues, net

 

Total revenues
15,552

 
10,337

Expenses:
 
 
 
Rental home operating and maintenance
1,343

 
1,204

Cost of home sales
11,911

 
6,632

Home selling expenses
1,213

 
1,083

Total expenses
14,467

 
8,919

Income from home sales and rentals operations segment
$
1,085

 
$
1,418

______________________
(a)
Rental income within Home Sales and Rentals Operations does not include base rent related to the rental home Sites. Base rent is included within property operations.

Note 13 – Subsequent Events
We are actively monitoring the rapidly evolving situation related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. On April 1, 2020, we borrowed $100.0 million on our line of credit as a precautionary measure to increase liquidity and preserve financial flexibility. Our line of credit has remaining availability of $300 million, subject to certain conditions.
On April 28, 2020, our stockholders approved an amendment to our charter to increase the number of shares of our common stock that we are authorized to issue from 400,000,000 to 600,000,000 shares.


17


Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes thereto included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 ("2019 Form 10-K"), as well as information in the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our 2019 Form 10-K. All shares of common stock ("Common Shares") and units of common interests in our Operating Partnership ("OP Units") as well as per share results reflect the two-for-one stock split that was completed on October 15, 2019.
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) a pandemic. See the COVID-19 Pandemic Update ("COVID Update") section below for a discussion of the impact on our business to date, including operational changes we have implemented, performance indicators such as rent collections through April 17, 2020 and factors that we anticipate will inform our future decisions and actions. The current operating environment is changing rapidly. Our future response and the resulting impact on our business is difficult to predict. The extent of the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on our business going forward, including our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, is dependent on multiple factors, many of which are unknown. For additional details, see Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Overview and Outlook
We are a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (“REIT”) with headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. We are a fully integrated owner and operator of properties (“Properties”) consisting primarily of manufactured home ("MH") and recreational vehicle ("RV") communities. As of March 31, 2020, we owned or had an ownership interest in a portfolio of 413 Properties located throughout the United States and Canada containing 156,655 individual developed areas ("Sites"). These Properties are located in 33 states and British Columbia, with more than 90 Properties with lake, river or ocean frontage and more than 120 Properties within 10 miles of the coastal United States.
We invest in properties in sought-after locations near retirement and vacation destinations and urban areas across the United States with a focus on delivering value to our residents and guests as well as stockholders. Our business model is intended to provide an opportunity for increased cash flows and appreciation in value. We seek growth in earnings, Funds from Operations ("FFO") and cash flows by enhancing the profitability and operation of our Properties and investments. We accomplish this by attracting and retaining high quality customers to our Properties, who take pride in our Properties and in their homes, and efficiently managing our Properties by increasing occupancy, maintaining competitive market rents and controlling expenses. We also actively pursue opportunities that fit our acquisition criteria and are currently engaged in various stages of negotiations relating to the possible acquisition of additional properties.
We believe the demand from baby boomers for MH and RV communities will continue to be strong over the long term. It is estimated that approximately 10,000 baby boomers are turning 65 daily through 2030. In addition, the population age 55 and older is expected to grow 18% from 2020 to 2035. These individuals, seeking an active lifestyle, will continue to drive the market for second home sales as vacation properties, investment opportunities or retirement retreats. We expect it is likely that over the next decade, we will continue to see high levels of second-home sales and that manufactured homes and cottages in our Properties will continue to provide a viable second-home alternative to site-built homes. We also believe the Millennial and Generation X demographic will contribute to our future long-term customer pipeline. Millennials and Generation X combined represent over half of RV buyers. There is an increasing trend among these groups to adopt a minimalist lifestyle due to its affordability, preference over home quality relative to its size and the overall unique experience that our communities can provide. We believe the demand from baby boomers and these younger generations will continue to outpace supply for MH and RV communities. The entitlement process to develop new MH and RV communities is extremely restrictive. As a result, there have been limited new communities developed in our target geographic markets.
We generate the majority of our revenues from customers renting our Sites or entering into right-to-use contracts, also known as membership subscriptions, which provide them access to specific Properties for limited stays. MH Sites are generally leased on an annual basis to residents who own or lease factory-built homes, including manufactured homes. Annual RV and marina Sites are leased on an annual basis to customers who generally have an RV, factory-built cottage, boat or other unit placed on the site, including those Northern properties that are open for the summer season. Seasonal RV and marina Sites are leased to customers generally for one to six months. Transient RV and marina Sites are leased to customers on a short-term basis. The revenue from seasonal and transient Sites is generally higher during the first and third quarters. We consider the transient revenue stream to be our most volatile as it is subject to weather conditions and other factors affecting the marginal RV customer's vacation and travel preferences. We also generate revenue from customers renting our marina slips and dry storage. Additionally, we have interests in joint venture Properties for which revenue is classified as Equity in income from unconsolidated joint ventures on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.

18

Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)


The following table shows the breakdown of our Sites by type (amounts are approximate):
 
 
Total Sites as of March 31, 2020
MH Sites
 
72,200

RV Sites:
 
 
    Annual
 
29,700

    Seasonal
 
10,200

    Transient
 
13,900

Marina Slips
 
2,300

Membership (1)
 
24,600

Joint Ventures (2)
 
3,600

Total (3)
 
156,700

_________________________ 
(1) 
Primarily utilized to service the approximately 116,500 members. Includes approximately 5,900 Sites rented on an annual basis.
(2) 
Includes approximately 2,900 annual Sites, 500 seasonal Sites and 200 transient Sites.
(3) 
Total does not foot due to rounding.
In our Home Sales and Rentals Operations business, our revenue streams include home sales, home rentals and brokerage services and ancillary activities. We generate revenue through home sales and rental operations by selling or leasing manufactured homes and cottages that are located in Properties owned and managed by us. We believe renting our vacant homes represents an attractive source of occupancy and an opportunity to convert the renter to a homebuyer in the future. We also sell and rent homes through our joint venture, ECHO Financing, LLC (the "ECHO JV"). Additionally, home sale brokerage services are offered to our residents who may choose to sell their homes rather than relocate them when moving from a Property. At certain Properties, we operate ancillary facilities, such as golf courses, pro shops, stores and restaurants.
In the manufactured housing industry, options for home financing, also known as chattel financing, are limited. Chattel financing options available today include community owner-funded programs or third-party lender programs that provide subsidized financing to customers and often require the community owner to guarantee customer defaults. Third-party lender programs have stringent underwriting criteria, sizable down payment requirements, short loan amortization and high interest rates. We have a limited program under which we purchase loans made by an unaffiliated lender to homebuyers at our Properties.
In addition to net income computed in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), we assess and measure our overall financial and operating performance using certain Non-GAAP supplemental measures, which include: (i) FFO, (ii) Normalized Funds from Operations ("Normalized FFO"), (iii) Income from property operations, (iv) Income from property operations, excluding deferrals and property management, (v) Core Portfolio income from property operations, excluding deferrals and property management (operating results for Properties owned and operated in both periods under comparison), and (vi) Income from rental operations, net of depreciation. We use these measures internally to evaluate the operating performance of our portfolio and provide a basis for comparison with other real estate companies. Definitions and reconciliations of these measures to the most comparable GAAP measures are included below in this discussion.
COVID-19 Pandemic Update
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we have taken actions to prioritize the safety and security of our employees, residents and customers, while maintaining our high-quality standards in service to our residents and customers. As of April 17, 2020, our MH and RV properties, with the exception of 46 Northern RV resorts, are open and are complying with federal, state and local shelter-in-place orders. To achieve compliance with these shelter-in-place orders, we have implemented, and may continue to implement, operational changes. For example, we have implemented Center for Disease Control ("CDC") and local public health department guidelines and developed protocols for social distancing and enhanced community and office cleaning procedures. Our property offices are open to residents and customers by appointment only, and we have closed all indoor amenity areas, including on-site stores and restaurants, pools and playgrounds. We have transitioned to work from home in our corporate and regional offices.
With consideration for the hardship our residents and customers may have experienced as a result of COVID-19 and in response to certain regulatory guidelines, we have taken the following actions: suspended mailing of April 2020 MH rent increase notices, introduced a rent deferral program for financial hardship related to COVID-19, which allows residents to pay April rent over the subsequent three months, waived April late fees and RV cancellation fees, allowed extended stays for Thousand Trails members and suspended eviction proceedings.


19

Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)


Certain of our property-level employees are not working or have reduced hours pending a delayed opening or resumption of operations subject to shelter-in-place orders. We introduced a supplemental benefit program to provide continuation of pay for up to two weeks during the period of disruption caused by the pandemic.
During the first quarter of 2020, the primary financial statement impact from the COVID-19 pandemic was a reduction of transient RV revenue as certain transient customers terminated reservations earlier than expected or canceled upcoming reservations to visit our Properties. For the quarter ended March 31, 2020, we earned approximately $11.1 million of transient RV revenue in our Core portfolio as compared to $12.0 million for the same period in 2019.
As we entered the second quarter, we identified cash collections as the primary indicator of disruption to our business. As of April 17, 2020: we received 96% of April MH rent as compared to 97% at the same time in April 2019, and we received 96% of April rent from our RV annual customers as compared to 98% at the same time in April 2019. Our collections from the customers of 46 Northern RV resorts, who generally pay a deposit in advance of the season and make an installment payment upon arrival at the RV resort when the season begins, have been affected by the delayed openings of those resorts. Customers of these Northern RV resorts generated approximately 20% of 2019 RV annual revenue, and as of April 17, 2020, we received approximately 61% of the installment payment amounts as compared to 71% at the same time in April 2019. As of April 17, 2020, seasonal RV customers have made $2.1 million in reservations for April or 88% of the $2.4 million in seasonal RV reservations for April at this time in April 2019. As of April 17, 2020, we have received approximately 95% of the cash receipts from Thousand Trails dues payments at this time in April 2019. We received 93% of Marina April billing as of April 17, 2020.
As we continue to adapt operations in response to COVID-19, we anticipate continuing to make decisions that comply with the various federal, state and local authorities. We are closely monitoring updates to the shelter-in-place orders, and we intend to resume any suspended operations as quickly as permitted and when we believe conditions are safe for our customers and employees to do so. As a result of the various shelter-in-place orders, we stopped accepting reservations for transient stays through April 30, 2020. In 2019, 23% of our RV transient revenue for the second quarter was earned in April, 33% in May and 44% in June. This business disruption represents the most significant impact to our financial performance to date.
Our decision to suspend mailing of MH rent increases in April resulted in approximately 5% of our MH residents not receiving a notice of rent increase effective August 1, 2020. Our April rent deferral program was accepted by approximately 300 residents, and the amount approved was less than 40 basis points of rent billed in April. Our employee time off program has resulted in additional employee benefits of approximately $0.3 million since introduction, which has been offset by reduced payroll expense.
Based on our performance to date, the feedback from our customers and employees and the financial impact of programs we have implemented to date, we intend to continue the following programs in May: rent deferral for residents providing evidence of COVID-19 related hardship similar to the program for April, waiver of late fees, waiver of RV cancellation fees, employee time off program, extension of stays for Thousand Trails members and suspension of eviction proceedings. While this is our current plan for these programs in May, there can be no assurance that these programs will be extended, and we may take additional actions.
We attribute the solid performance of our business, as shown by the April cash collection activity, to the fundamentals of our business model. Our customers have made an investment in a housing unit that is placed on land leased from us. In addition, there is continued demand for our properties. The property locations and the lifestyle we offer have broad appeal to customers interested in enjoying an outdoor experience. We believe this is particularly relevant in a COVID-19 impacted environment. We intend to continue to monitor the rapidly evolving situation and we may take further actions that alter our business operations as may be required and that are in the best interests of our employees, residents, customers and shareholders.
Results Overview
For the quarter ended March 31, 2020, net income available for Common Stockholders decreased $46.4 million, or $0.26 per fully diluted Common Share, to $66.9 million, or $0.37 per fully diluted Common Share, compared to $113.3 million, or $0.63 per fully diluted Common Share, for the same period in 2019. Net income available for Common Stockholders for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 included a gain on sale of real estate, net of $52.5 million as a result of the sale of five MH communities.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2020, FFO available for Common Stock and OP Unit holders increased $4.3 million, or $0.02 per fully diluted Common Share, to $112.3 million, or $0.58 per fully diluted Common Share, compared to $108.0 million, or $0.56 per fully diluted Common Share, for the same period in 2019.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2020, Normalized FFO available for Common Stock and OP Unit holders increased $5.6 million, or $0.03 per fully diluted Common Share, to $113.3 million, or $0.59 per fully diluted Common Share, compared to $107.7 million, or $0.56 per fully diluted Common Share, for the same period in 2019.

20

Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)


For the quarter ended March 31, 2020, our Core Portfolio property operating revenues, excluding deferrals, increased 5.4% and property operating expenses, excluding deferrals and property management, increased 5.8%, from the same period in 2019, resulting in an increase in income from property operations, excluding deferrals and property management, of 5.2% compared to the same period in 2019.
While we continue to focus on increasing the number of manufactured homeowners in our Core Portfolio, we also believe renting our vacant homes may represent an attractive source of occupancy and an opportunity to potentially convert the renter to a new homebuyer in the future. We continue to expect there to be fluctuations in the sources of occupancy gains depending on local market conditions, availability of vacant sites and success with converting renters to homeowners. Our Core Portfolio average occupancy, including both homeowners and renters, in our MH communities was 95.1% for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, compared to 95.2% for the quarter ended December 31, 2019 and 95.0% for the same period in 2019. For the quarter ended March 31, 2020, our Core Portfolio occupancy increased by 13 sites with an increase in homeowner occupancy of 76 sites. By comparison, for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, our Core Portfolio occupancy increased 61 sites with an increase in homeowner occupancy of 47 sites. In addition to higher occupancy, we have increased rental rates during the quarter ended March 31, 2020, contributing to a growth of 4.4% in MH rental income compared to the same period in 2019.
We continue to grow RV rental income in our Core Portfolio as a result of our ability to increase rates and occupancy. RV rental income in our Core Portfolio for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 was 4.8% higher than the same period in 2019. Annual and seasonal revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 increased 7.4% and 7.0%, while transient revenue decreased 7.6%. The decrease in transient revenue over the same period in the prior year was primarily as a result of COVID-19. Year to date through February, transient revenue increased 5.8% over the same period in 2019.
We continue to experience strong performance in our membership base within our Thousand Trails portfolio. We sold approximately 3,200 Thousand Trail Camping ("TTC") memberships and approximately 700 membership upgrades for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, an increase in membership subscriptions and upgrade revenues of 6.1% and 26.2%, respectively, over the same period in 2019. In addition, we activated approximately 5,000 TTC memberships through our RV dealer program for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. Our customers are increasingly choosing self-service options to complete their transactions with us. For the quarter ended March 31, 2020, 38% of our Core RV transient revenue was booked through our website and 15% of our new TTC memberships were purchased online.
Demand for our homes and communities remains strong as evidenced by factors including our high occupancy levels. We closed 155 new home sales during the quarter ended March 31, 2020 compared to 91 new home sales during the quarter ended March 31, 2019. The increase in new home sales was primarily due to favorable housing trends and timing of the availability of home inventory ready for sale. We continue to believe renting our vacant homes represents an attractive source of occupancy and an opportunity to convert the renter to a homebuyer in the future.
As of March 31, 2020, we had 3,913 occupied rental homes in our Core MH communities, including 286 homes rented through our ECHO JV. Our Core Portfolio income from rental operations, net of depreciation, was $7.6 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019. Approximately $7.8 million and $7.7 million of rental operations revenue related to Site rental was included in MH base rental income in our Core Portfolio for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Our gross investment in real estate increased $38.3 million to $5,781.3 million as of March 31, 2020 from $5,743.0 million as of December 31, 2019, primarily due to capital improvements during the quarter ended March 31, 2020.










21

Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)


The following chart lists the Properties acquired or sold from January 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020 and Sites added through expansion opportunities at our existing Properties:
 
 
Location
 
Type of Property
 
Transaction Date
 
Sites
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Sites as of January 1, 2019 (1) (2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
155,400
Acquisition Properties:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Drummer Boy Camping Resort
 
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
 
RV
 
March 25, 2019
 
465
Lake of the Woods Campground
 
Wautoma, Wisconsin
 
RV
 
March 25, 2019
 
303
Round Top RV Campground
 
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
 
RV
 
April 10, 2019
 
391
White Oak Shores Camping and RV Resort
 
Stella, North Carolina
 
RV
 
May 29, 2019
 
455
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Expansion Site Development:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sites added (reconfigured) in 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
891
Sites added (reconfigured) in 2020
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
159
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dispositions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hoosier Estates
 
Lebanon, Indiana
 
MH
 
January 23, 2019
 
(288)
Lake in the Hills
 
Auburn Hills, Michigan
 
MH
 
January 23, 2019
 
(238)
North Glen Village
 
Westfield, Indiana
 
MH
 
January 23, 2019
 
(282)
Oak Tree Village
 
Portage, Indiana
 
MH
 
January 23, 2019
 
(361)
Swan Creek
 
Ypsilanti, Michigan
 
MH
 
January 23, 2019
 
(294)
Total Sites as of March 31, 2020 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
156,700
______________________
(1) 
Includes the marina slips from the acquisition of the remaining interest in our joint venture investment of 11 marinas in Florida.
(2) 
Sites are approximate. Total does not foot due to rounding.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations include certain Non-GAAP financial measures that in management's view of the business are meaningful as they allow investors the ability to understand key operating details of our business both with and without regard to certain accounting conventions or items that may not always be indicative of recurring annual cash flows of the portfolio. These Non-GAAP financial measures as determined and presented by us may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies, and include income from property operations and Core Portfolio, FFO, Normalized FFO and income from rental operations, net of depreciation.
We believe investors should review Income from property operations and Core Portfolio, FFO, Normalized FFO and Income from rental operations, net of depreciation, along with GAAP net income and cash flow from operating activities, investing activities and financing activities, when evaluating an equity REIT's operating performance. A discussion of Income from property operations and Core Portfolio, FFO, Normalized FFO and Income from rental operations, net of depreciation, and a reconciliation to net income, are included below.
Income from Property Operations and Core Portfolio
We use income from property operations, income from property operations, excluding deferrals and property management, and Core Portfolio income from property operations, excluding deferrals and property management, as alternative measures to evaluate the operating results of our Properties. Income from property operations represents rental income, membership subscriptions and upgrade sales, utility and other income less property and rental home operating and maintenance expenses, real estate taxes, sales and marketing expenses and property management expenses. Income from property operations, excluding deferrals and property management, represents income from property operations excluding property management expenses and the impact of the GAAP deferrals of membership upgrade sales upfront payments and membership sales commissions, net. For comparative purposes, we present bad debt expense within Property operating, maintenance and real estate taxes in the current and prior periods.
Our Core Portfolio consists of our Properties owned and operated since January 1, 2019. Core Portfolio income from property operations, excluding deferrals and property management, is useful to investors for annual comparison as it removes the fluctuations associated with acquisitions, dispositions and significant transactions or unique situations. Our Non-Core Portfolio includes all Properties that were not owned and operated during all of 2019 and 2020.
Funds from Operations ("FFO") and Normalized Funds from Operations ("Normalized FFO")
We define FFO as net income, computed in accordance with GAAP, excluding gains or losses from sales of properties, depreciation and amortization related to real estate, impairment charges and adjustments to reflect our share of FFO of

22

Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)


unconsolidated joint ventures. Adjustments for unconsolidated joint ventures are calculated to reflect FFO on the same basis. We compute FFO in accordance with our interpretation of 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 define the term in accordance with the current NAREIT definition or that interpret the current NAREIT definition differently than we do. We receive non-refundable upfront payments from membership upgrade contracts. In accordance with GAAP, the non-refundable upfront payments and related commissions are deferred and amortized over the estimated membership upgrade contract term. Although the NAREIT definition of FFO does not address the treatment of non-refundable upfront payments, we believe that it is appropriate to adjust for the impact of the deferral activity in our calculation of FFO.
We define Normalized FFO as FFO excluding the following non-operating income and expense items: a) gains and losses from early debt extinguishment, including prepayment penalties and defeasance costs, and b) other miscellaneous non-comparable items. Normalized FFO presented herein is not necessarily comparable to Normalized FFO presented by other real estate companies due to the fact that not all real estate companies use the same methodology for computing this amount.
We believe that FFO and Normalized FFO are helpful to investors as supplemental measures of the performance of an equity REIT. We believe that by excluding the effect of gains or losses from sales of properties, depreciation and amortization related to real estate and impairment charges, which are based on historical costs and which may be of limited relevance in evaluating current performance, FFO can facilitate comparisons of operating performance between periods and among other equity REITs. We further believe that Normalized FFO provides useful information to investors, analysts and our management because it allows them to compare our operating performance to the operating performance of other real estate companies and between periods on a consistent basis without having to account for differences not related to our operations. For example, we believe that excluding the early extinguishment of debt, and other miscellaneous non-comparable items from FFO allows investors, analysts and our management to assess the sustainability of operating performance in future periods because these costs do not affect the future operations of the properties. In some cases, we provide information about identified non-cash components of FFO and Normalized FFO because it allows investors, analysts and our management to assess the impact of those items.
Income from Rental Operations, Net of Depreciation
We use income from rental operations, net of depreciation as an alternative measure to evaluate the operating results of our home rental program. Income from rental operations, net of depreciation, represents income from rental operations less depreciation expense on rental homes. We believe this measure is meaningful for investors as it provides a complete picture of the home rental program operating results including the impact of depreciation which affects our home rental program investment decisions.
Our definitions and calculations of these Non-GAAP financial and operating measures and other terms may differ from the definitions and methodologies used by other REITs and, accordingly, may not be comparable. These Non-GAAP financial and operating measures do not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP, nor do they represent cash available to pay distributions and should not be considered as an alternative to net income, determined in accordance with GAAP, as an indication of our financial performance, or to cash flows from operating activities, determined in accordance with GAAP, as a measure of our liquidity, nor is it indicative of funds available to fund our cash needs, including our ability to make cash distributions.
The following table reconciles net income available for Common Stockholders to income from property operations for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:
 
 
Quarters Ended March 31,
(amounts in thousands)
 
2020
 
2019
Computation of Income from Property Operations:
 
 
 
 
Net income available for Common Stockholders
 
$
66,875

 
$
113,309

Income allocated to non-controlling interests – Common OP Units
 
3,849

 
7,226

Equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures
 
(207
)
 
(1,533
)
Income before equity in income of unconsolidated joint ventures
 
70,517

 
119,002

Gain on sale of real estate, net
 

 
(52,507
)
Total other expenses, net
 
75,144

 
71,969

Income from home sales operations and other
 
877

 
(319
)
Income from property operations
 
$
146,538

 
$
138,145


23

Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)


The following table presents a calculation of FFO available for Common Stock and OP Unitholders and Normalized FFO available for Common Stock and OP Unitholders for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:
 
 
Quarters Ended March 31,
(amounts in thousands)
 
2020
 
2019
Computation of FFO and Normalized FFO:
 
 
 
 
Net income available for Common Stockholders
 
$
66,875

 
$
113,309

Income allocated to non-controlling interests – Common OP Units
 
3,849

 
7,226

Membership upgrade sales upfront payments, deferred, net
 
2,542

 
1,771

Membership sales commissions, deferred, net
 
(216
)
 
(191
)
Depreciation and amortization
 
39,024

 
37,977

Depreciation on unconsolidated joint ventures
 
177

 
433

Gain on sale of real estate, net
 

 
(52,507
)
FFO available for Common Stock and OP Unit holders
 
112,251

 
108,018

Early debt retirement
 
1,054

 

Insurance proceeds due to catastrophic weather event (1)
 

 
(349
)
Normalized FFO available for Common Stock and OP Unit holders
 
$
113,305

 
$
107,669

Weighted average Common Shares outstanding – Fully Diluted (2)
 
192,564

 
191,248

______________________
(1)     Represents insurance recovery revenue from reimbursement for capital expenditures related to Hurricane Irma.
(2)     Adjusted for the stock split.





24

Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)


Results of Operations
This section discusses the comparison of our results of operations for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and March 31, 2019. For the comparison of our results of operations for the quarters ended March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018 and discussion of our operating activities, investing activities and financing activities for these quarters, refer to Part I, Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on April 30, 2019.

Income from Property Operations
The following table summarizes certain financial and statistical data for our Core Portfolio and total portfolio:
 
Core Portfolio
 
Total Portfolio
 
Quarters Ended March 31,
 
Quarters Ended March 31,
(amounts in thousands)
2020
 
2019
 
Variance
 
%
Change
 
2020
 
2019
 
Variance
 
%
Change
MH base rental income
$
141,403

 
$
134,844

 
$
6,559

 
4.9
%
 
$
141,421

 
$
135,282

 
$
6,139

 
4.5
%
Rental home income
3,983

 
3,490

 
493

 
14.1
%
 
3,982

 
3,584

 
398

 
11.1
%
RV and marina base rental income (1)
75,610

 
72,132

 
3,478

 
4.8
%
 
81,060

 
72,168

 
8,892

 
12.3
%
Annual membership subscriptions
13,073

 
12,316

 
757

 
6.1
%
 
13,073

 
12,316

 
757

 
6.1
%
Membership upgrades sales current period, gross
4,843

 
3,838

 
1,005

 
26.2
%
 
4,843

 
3,838

 
1,005

 
26.2
%
Utility and other income
24,860

 
23,657

 
1,203

 
5.1
%
 
25,303

 
23,751

 
1,552

 
6.5
%
Property operating revenues, excluding deferrals
263,772

 
250,277

 
13,495

 
5.4
%
 
269,682

 
250,939

 
18,743

 
7.5
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Property operating and maintenance
81,441

 
77,288

 
4,153

 
5.4
%
 
83,652

 
77,593

 
6,059

 
7.8
%
Real estate taxes
16,000

 
15,276

 
724

 
4.7
%
 
16,841

 
15,323

 
1,518

 
9.9
%
Rental home operating and maintenance
1,340

 
1,182

 
158

 
13.4
%
 
1,343

 
1,204

 
139

 
11.5
%
Sales and marketing, gross
3,978

 
3,409

 
569

 
16.7
%
 
3,978

 
3,409

 
569

 
16.7
%
Property operating expenses, excluding deferrals and property management
102,759

 
97,155

 
5,604

 
5.8
%
 
105,814

 
97,529

 
8,285

 
8.5
%
Income from property operations, excluding deferrals and property management (2)
161,013

 
153,122

 
7,891

 
5.2
%
 
163,868

 
153,410

 
10,458

 
6.8
%
Property management
15,004

 
13,685

 
1,319

 
9.6
%
 
15,004

 
13,685

 
1,319

 
9.6
%
Income from property operations, excluding deferrals (2)
146,009

 
139,437

 
6,572

 
4.7
%
 
148,864

 
139,725

 
9,139

 
6.5
%
Membership upgrade sales upfront payments and membership sales commission, deferred, net
2,326

 
1,580

 
746

 
47.2
%
 
2,326

 
1,580

 
746

 
47.2
%
Income from property operations (2)
$
143,683

 
$
137,857

 
$
5,826

 
4.2
%
 
$
146,538

 
$
138,145


$
8,393

 
6.1
%
_____________________
(1) 
Marina rental income has been included in our Non-Core Portfolio since the acquisition of the remaining interest in a joint venture investment of 11 marinas in Florida occurred on September 10, 2019.
(2) 
See Non-GAAP Financial Measures section of the Management Discussion and Analysis for definitions and reconciliations of these Non-GAAP measures to Net Income available for Common Shareholders.
Total portfolio income from property operations for 2020 increased $8.4 million, or 6.1%, from 2019, driven by an increase of $5.8 million, or 4.2%, from our Core Portfolio and an increase of $2.6 million from our Non-Core Portfolio. The increase in income from property operations from our Core Portfolio was primarily driven by higher MH base rental income and RV base rental income, partially offset by higher property operating expenses. The increase in income from property operations from our None-Core Portfolio was mainly due to income from property operations from our acquisitions that closed during 2019.
Property Operating Revenues
MH base rental income in our Core Portfolio for 2020 increased $6.6 million, or 4.9%, from 2019, which reflects 4.4% growth from rate increases and 0.5% growth from occupancy gains. The average monthly base rental income per Site in our Core Portfolio increased to approximately $688 in 2020 from approximately $659 in 2019. The average occupancy for our Core Portfolio increased to 95.1% in 2020 from 95.0% in 2019.



25

Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)


RV base rental income in our Core Portfolio for 2020 increased $3.5 million, or 4.8%, from 2019, due to the annual and seasonal rental income, partially offset by a decrease in transient income primarily as a result of COVID-19. RV and marina base rental income is comprised of the following:
 
 
Core Portfolio
 
Total Portfolio
 
 
Quarters Ended March 31,
 
Quarters Ended March 31,
(amounts in thousands)
 
2020
 
2019
 
Variance
 
%
Change
 
2020
 
2019
 
Variance
 
%
Change
Annual
 
$
41,960

 
$
39,053

 
$
2,907

 
7.4
 %
 
$
47,325

 
$
39,084

 
$
8,241

 
21.1
 %
Seasonal
 
22,568

 
21,083

 
1,485

 
7.0
 %
 
22,583

 
21,085

 
1,498

 
7.1
 %
Transient
 
11,082

 
11,996

 
(914
)
 
(7.6
)%
 
11,152

 
11,999

 
(847
)
 
(7.1
)%
RV and marina base rental income (1)
 
$
75,610

 
$
72,132

 
$
3,478

 
4.8
 %
 
$
81,060

 
$
72,168

 
$
8,892

 
12.3
 %
_____________________
(1) 
Marina rental income has been included in our Non-Core Portfolio following the acquisition of the remaining interest in our joint venture investment of 11 marinas in Florida on September 10, 2019.
Property Operating Expenses
Property operating expenses, excluding deferrals and property management, in our Core Portfolio for 2020 increased $5.6 million, or 5.8%, from 2019. The increase was primarily due to an increase in property operating and maintenance expenses of $4.2 million and an increase in property taxes of $0.7 million. Property operating and maintenance expenses was higher mainly driven by an increase in property payroll of $1.1 million, an increase in repairs and maintenance of $1.0 million and an increase in insurance expense of $0.9 million. Property taxes in 2020 were higher due to real estate tax increases in Florida.
Home Sales and Rental Operations
Home Sales and Other
The following table summarizes certain financial and statistical data for our Home Sales and Other Operations:
 
 
Quarters Ended March 31,
(amounts in thousands, except home sales volumes)
 
2020
 
2019
 
Variance
 
%
Change
Gross revenues from new home sales (1)
 
$
9,382

 
$
4,564

 
$
4,818

 
105.6
 %
Cost of new home sales (1)
 
9,287

 
4,394

 
4,893

 
111.4
 %
Gross profit from new home sales
 
95

 
170

 
(75
)
 
(44.1
)%
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross revenues from used home sales
 
1,927

 
1,911

 
16

 
0.8
 %
Cost of used home sales
 
2,624

 
2,238

 
386

 
17.2
 %
Loss from used home sales
 
(697
)
 
(327
)
 
(370
)
 
(113.1
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brokered resale and ancillary services revenues, net
 
938

 
1,559

 
(621
)
 
(39.8
)%
Home selling expenses
 
1,213

 
1,083

 
130

 
12.0
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) from home sales and other
 
$
(877
)
 
$
319

 
$
(1,196
)
 
(374.9
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home sales volumes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total new home sales (2)
 
155

 
91

 
64

 
70.3
 %
 New Home Sales Volume - ECHO JV
 
12

 
13

 
(1
)
 
(7.7
)%
Used home sales
 
194

 
219

 
(25
)
 
(11.4
)%
Brokered home resales
 
176

 
168

 
8

 
4.8
 %
_________________________
(1) New home sales gross revenues and costs of new home sales do not include the revenues and costs associated with our ECHO JV.
(2) Total new home sales volume includes home sales from our ECHO JV.
The loss from home sales and other operations was $0.9 million for 2020 compared to income of $0.3 million for 2019. The decrease in income (loss) from home sales and other operations was due to a decrease in brokered resale and ancillary services revenues, net and an increase in the loss from used home sales.

26

Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)


Rental Operations
The following table summarizes certain financial and statistical data for our MH Rental Operations:
 
 
Quarters Ended March 31,
(amounts in thousands, except rental unit volumes)
 
2020
 
2019
 
Variance
 
%
Change
Rental operations revenue (1)
 
$
11,743

 
$
11,210

 
$
533

 
4.8
 %
Rental home operating and maintenance
 
1,340

 
1,182

 
158

 
13.4
 %
Income from rental operations
 
10,403

 
10,028

 
375

 
3.7
 %
Depreciation on rental homes (2)
 
2,804

 
2,433

 
371

 
15.2
 %
Income from rental operations, net of depreciation
 
$
7,599

 
$
7,595

 
$
4

 
0.1
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross investment in new manufactured home rental units (3)
 
$
233,667

 
$
174,599

 
$
59,068

 
33.8
 %
Gross investment in used manufactured home rental units
 
$
19,633

 
$
27,347

 
$
(7,714
)
 
(28.2
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment in new manufactured home rental units
 
$
197,311

 
$
151,640

 
$
45,671

 
30.1
 %
Net investment in used manufactured home rental units
 
$
9,026

 
$
13,461

 
$
(4,435
)
 
(32.9
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of occupied rentals – new, end of period (4)
 
3,226

 
2,860

 
366

 
12.8
 %
Number of occupied rentals – used, end of period
 
687

 
1,106

 
(419
)
 
(37.9
)%
______________________
(1) 
Consists of Site rental income and home rental income. Approximately $7.8 million and $7.7 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and March 31, 2019, respectively, of Site rental income were included in MH base rental income in the Core Portfolio Income from Property Operations table. The remainder of home rental income is included in rental home income in our Core Portfolio Income from Property Operations table.
(2) 
Included in Depreciation and amortization in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.
(3) 
New home cost basis does not include the costs associated with our ECHO JV. Our investment in the ECHO JV was $17.0 million and $16.4 million as of March 31, 2020 and March 31, 2019, respectively.
(4) 
Includes 286 and 290 homes rented through our ECHO JV as of March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Income from rental operations, net of depreciation, in 2020 was consistent with 2019 as higher income from rental operations from an increase in the number of new occupied rental units was offset by an increase in depreciation on rental homes.
Other Income and Expenses
The following table summarizes other income and expenses:
 
 
Quarters Ended March 31,
(amounts in thousands, expenses shown as negative)
 
2020
 
2019
 
Variance
 
%
Change
Depreciation and amortization
 
$
(39,024
)
 
$
(37,977
)
 
$
(1,047
)
 
(2.8
)%
Interest income
 
1,807

 
1,751

 
56

 
3.2
 %
Income from other investments, net
 
643

 
986

 
(343
)
 
(34.8
)%
General and administrative
 
(10,855
)
 
(9,909
)
 
(946
)
 
(9.5
)%
Other expenses
 
(588
)
 
(427
)
 
(161
)
 
(37.7
)%
Early debt retirement
 
(1,054
)
 

 
(1,054
)
 
 %
Interest and related amortization
 
(26,073
)
 
(26,393
)
 
320

 
1.2
 %
Total other income and expenses, net
 
$
(75,144
)
 
$
(71,969
)
 
$
(3,175
)
 
(4.4
)%

Total other income and expenses, net increased $3.2 million in 2020 compared to 2019, primarily due to early debt retirement cost incurred in the current quarter and increases in depreciation and amortization, general and administrative expenses. The early debt retirement cost was resulted from our repayment of $48.1 million of principal on three mortgage loans that were due to mature in 2020.
Gain on Sale of Real Estate, Net
On January 23, 2019, we closed on the sale of five all-age MH communities located in Indiana and Michigan, collectively containing 1,463 sites, for $89.7 million. We recognized a gain on sale of these Properties of $52.5 million during the first quarter of 2019.


27

Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)


Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity
Our primary demands for liquidity include payment of operating expenses, dividend distributions, debt service, including principal and interest, capital improvements on Properties, home purchases and property acquisitions. We expect similar demand for liquidity will continue for the short-term and long-term. Our primary sources of cash include operating cash flows, proceeds from financings, borrowings under our unsecured Line of Credit ("LOC") and proceeds from issuance of equity and debt securities.
The impact the COVID-19 pandemic will have on our financial condition and cashflows is uncertain and is dependent upon various factors including the timing and manner in which operations resume at our Properties, customer payment patterns and operational decisions we have made and may make in the future in response to guidance from public authorities and/or for the health and safety of our employees, residents and guests. We believe, based on information currently available and informed in part by our cash collection experience in April as detailed in our COVID Update, that our current cash reserves, including the recent $100.0 million borrowed on our LOC, provide us sufficient cash to meet our needs for the next twelve months, including our expected dividend payments. Each quarter our Board of Directors considers several factors as it deliberates and decides whether to declare a quarterly dividend. The process includes revisiting our annual budget and considering factors including our planned operating performance and related cash flow, our debt service obligations, capital investments to maintain and expand the business, working capital requirements including home purchases and potential investments to generate external growth.
One of our stated objectives is to maintain financial flexibility. Achieving this objective allows us to take advantage of strategic opportunities that may arise. When investing capital, we consider all potential uses, including returning capital to our stockholders or the conditions under which we may repurchase our stock. These conditions include, but are not limited to, market price, balance sheet flexibility, alternative opportunistic capital uses and capital requirements. We believe effective management of our balance sheet, including maintaining various access points to raise capital, managing future debt maturities and borrowing at competitive rates, enables us to meet this objective. Accessing long-term low-cost secured debt continues to be our focus.
We expect to meet certain long-term liquidity requirements, such as scheduled debt maturities, property acquisitions and capital improvements, using long-term collateralized and uncollateralized borrowings including the existing LOC and the issuance of debt securities or the issuance of equity including under our ATM equity offering program.
During the quarter ended March 31, 2020, we entered into a $275.4 million secured credit facility with Fannie Mae, maturing in 10 years and bearing a 2.69% interest rate. The facility is secured by eight MH and four RV communities. For information regarding our debt activities and related borrowing arrangements, see Item 1. Financial Statements—Note 8. Borrowing Arrangements. Total secured debt encumbered a total of 125 and 116 of our Properties as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, and the gross carrying value of such Properties was approximately $2,634.2 million and $2,524.7 million, as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.
On April 28, 2020, our stockholders approved an amendment to our charter to increase the number of shares of our common stock that we are authorized to issue from 400,000,000 to 600,000,000 shares. As of March 31, 2020, we have available liquidity in the form of approximately 217.9 million shares of authorized and unissued common stock, par value $0.01 per share of stock, and 10.0 million shares of authorized and unissued preferred stock registered for sale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Our at-the-market (“ATM”) equity offering program allows us to sell, from time-to-time, shares of our common stock, having an aggregate offering price of up to $200.0 million. As of March 31, 2020, we have $140.7 million of common stock available for issuance under our ATM equity program.
We expect to meet our short-term liquidity requirements, including principal payments, capital improvements and dividend distributions for the next twelve months, generally through available cash, net cash provided by operating activities and our LOC. As of March 31, 2020, our LOC had a borrowing capacity of $400.0 million with the option to increase the borrowing capacity by $200.0 million, subject to certain conditions. On April 1, 2020, we borrowed $100.0 million on our LOC to increase liquidity
and preserve financial flexibility. The LOC bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 1.10% to 1.55%, requires an annual facility fee of 0.15% to 0.35% and matures on October 27, 2021.
We also utilize interest rate swaps to add stability to our interest expense and to manage our exposure to interest rate movements. Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of variable amounts from a counterparty in exchange for making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amount. The changes in the fair value of the designated derivative are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and subsequently reclassified into earnings on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. For additional information regarding our interest rate swap, see Item 1. Financial Statements—Note 9. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.

28

Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)


As part of our unsecured credit facility, our LOC arrangement will mature prior to the expected discontinuation of LIBOR subsequent to 2021 and our $200.0 million term loan is scheduled to mature in April 2023. We continue to monitor the development and adoption of an alternative index to LIBOR to manage the transition and as it pertains to new arrangements to be entered in the future. Given approximately 88% of our current debt is secured and not subject to LIBOR, we do not believe the discontinuation of LIBOR will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.
The following table summarizes our cash flows activity:
 
For the quarters ended March 31,
(amounts in thousands)
2020
 
2019
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
130,892

 
$
128,098

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
(50,161
)
 
13,112

Net cash used in financing activities
(12,670
)
 
(65,962
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and restricted cash
$
68,061

 
$
75,248

Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities increased $2.8 million to $130.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 from $128.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2019. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to higher income from property operations of $8.4 million, partially offset by decreases in rents and other customer payments received in advance and security deposits of $3.5 million and proceeds from insurance claims of $3.4 million. In addition, long-term incentive plan compensation payments of $4.4 million were made during the first quarter of 2019.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $50.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. Net cash provided by investing activities was $13.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2019. The increase in cash used was primarily due to proceeds of $77.7 million received during the first quarter of 2019 from the sale of real estate, partially offset by more acquisitions during the first quarter of 2019.
Capital Improvements
The following table summarizes capital improvements:
 
For the quarters ended March 31,
(amounts in thousands)
2020
 
2019
Recurring capital expenditures (1)
$
11,467

 
$
10,064

Property upgrades and development (2)
20,115

 
12,246

New home investments (3) (4)
16,268

 
27,362

Used home investments (4)
86

 
673

Total property improvements
47,936

 
50,345

Corporate
1,023

 
2,096

Total capital improvements
$
48,959

 
$
52,441

______________________
(1) 
Primarily comprised of common area, utility infrastructure and mechanical improvements.
(2) 
Includes $1.3 million of restoration and improvement capital expenditures related to Hurricane Irma for the quarter ended March 31, 2019.
(3) 
Excludes new home investments associated with our ECHO JV.
(4) 
Net proceeds from new and used home sale activities are reflected within Operating Activities.
Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities was $12.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 and $66.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2019. The decrease in net cash used in financing activities was primarily due to financing proceeds of $275.4 million, partially offset by net repayment on the LOC of $160.0 million and total mortgage debt repayment of $61.8 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2020.




29

Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)


Contractual Obligations
Significant ongoing contractual obligations consist primarily of long-term borrowings, interest expense, operating leases, LOC maintenance fees and ground leases. For a summary and complete presentation and description of our ongoing commitments and contractual obligations, see the Contractual Obligations section of the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our 2019 Form 10-K.
Westwinds
The Operating Partnership operates and manages Westwinds, a 720 site mobilehome community, and Nicholson Plaza, an adjacent shopping center, both located in San Jose, California pursuant to ground leases that expire on August 31, 2022 and do not contain extension options. Westwinds provides affordable, rent-controlled homes to numerous residents, including families with children and residents over 65 years of age. For the year ended December 31, 2019, Westwinds and Nicholson Plaza generated approximately $5.8 million of net operating income.
The master lessor of these ground leases, The Nicholson Family Partnership (together with its predecessor in interest, the “Nicholsons”), has expressed a desire to redevelop Westwinds, and in a written communication, they claimed that we were obligated to deliver the property free and clear of any and all subtenancies upon the expiration of the ground leases on August 31, 2022. In connection with any redevelopment, the City of San Jose’s conversion ordinance requires, among other things, that the landowner provide relocation, rental and purchase assistance to the impacted residents. We believe the Nicholsons are unlawfully attempting to impose those obligations upon the Operating Partnership.
Westwinds opened in the 1970s and was developed by the original ground lessee with assistance from the Nicholsons. In 1997, the Operating Partnership acquired the leasehold interest in the ground leases. In addition to rent based on the operations of Westwinds, the Nicholsons receive a percentage of gross revenues from the sale of new or used mobile homes in Westwinds.
The Operating Partnership has entered into subtenancy agreements with the mobilehome residents of Westwinds. Because the ground leases with the Nicholsons have an expiration date of August 31, 2022, and no further right of extension, the Operating Partnership has not entered into any subtenancy agreements that extend beyond August 31, 2022. However, the mobilehome residents’ occupancy rights continue by operation of California state and San Jose municipal law beyond the expiration date of the ground leases. Notwithstanding this, the Nicholsons’ have made what we believe to be an unlawful demand that the Operating Partnership deliver the property free and clear of any subtenancies upon the expiration of the ground leases by August 31, 2022. We believe the Nicholsons’ demand (i) violates California state and San Jose municipal law because the Nicholsons are demanding that the Operating Partnership remove all residents without just cause and (ii) conflicts with the terms and conditions of the ground leases, which contain no express or implied requirement that the Operating Partnership deliver the property free and clear of all subtenancies at the mobile home park and require, instead, that the Operating Partnership continuously operate the mobilehome park during the lease term.
On December 30, 2019, the Operating Partnership filed a complaint in California Superior Court for Santa Clara County, seeking declaratory relief pursuant to which it requested that the Court determine, among other things, that the Operating Partnership has no obligation to deliver the property free and clear of the mobilehome residents upon the expiration of the ground leases. The Operating Partnership filed an amended complaint on January 29, 2020.
The Nicholsons filed a demand for arbitration on January 28, 2020, which they subsequently amended, pursuant to which they request a declaration that the Operating Partnership, as the “owner and manager” of Westwinds, is “required by the Ground Leases, and State and local law to deliver the Property free of any encumbrances or third-party claims at the expiration of the lease terms,” and that the Operating Partnership anticipatorily breached the ground leases by publicly repudiating any such obligation. On February 3, 2020, the Nicholsons filed a motion in California Superior Court to compel arbitration and to stay the litigation, which motion is currently scheduled to be heard on June 25, 2020.
Following the filing of our lawsuit, the City of San Jose took steps to accelerate the passage of a general plan amendment previously under review by the City to change the designation for Westwinds from its current general plan designation of Urban Residential (which would allow for higher density redevelopment), to a newly created designation of Mobile Home Park. The Nicholsons expressed opposition to this change in designation. However, on March 10, 2020, following significant pressure from residents and advocacy groups, the City Council approved this new designation for all 58 mobilehome communities in with City of San Jose, including Westwinds. In addition to requirements imposed by California state and San Jose municipal law, the change in designation requires, among other things, a further amendment to the general plan to a different land use designation by the City Council prior to any change in use.


30

Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)


Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of March 31, 2020, we have no off-balance sheet arrangements.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Refer to the "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our 2019 Form 10-K for a discussion of our critical accounting policies. There have been no significant changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates during the quarter ended March 31, 2020.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used, words such as "anticipate," "expect," "believe," "project," "intend," "may be" and "will be" and similar words or phrases, or the negative thereof, unless the context requires otherwise, are intended to identify forward-looking statements and may include without limitation, information regarding our expectations, goals or intentions regarding the future, and the expected effect of our acquisitions. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to:
our ability to control costs and real estate market conditions, our ability to retain customers, the actual use of Sites by customers and our success in acquiring new customers at our Properties (including those that we may acquire);
our ability to maintain historical or increase future rental rates and occupancy with respect to properties currently owned or that we may acquire;
our ability to attract and retain customers entering, renewing and upgrading membership subscriptions;
our assumptions about rental and home sales markets;
our ability to manage counter-party risk;
our ability to renew our insurance policies at existing rates and on consistent terms;
in the age-qualified Properties, home sales results could be impacted by the ability of potential home buyers to sell their existing residences as well as by financial, credit and capital markets volatility;
results from home sales and occupancy will continue to be impacted by local economic conditions, lack of affordable manufactured home financing and competition from alternative housing options including site-built single-family housing;
impact of government intervention to stabilize site-built single-family housing and not manufactured housing;
effective integration of recent acquisitions and our estimates regarding the future performance of recent acquisitions;
the completion of future transactions in their entirety, if any, and timing and effective integration with respect thereto;
unanticipated costs or unforeseen liabilities associated with recent acquisitions;
ability to obtain financing or refinance existing debt on favorable terms or at all;
the effect of interest rates;
the effect from any breach of our, or any of our vendor's, data management systems;
the dilutive effects of issuing additional securities;
the outcome of pending or future lawsuits or actions brought against us, including those disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and
other risks indicated from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In addition, these forward-looking statements are subject to risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of which are unknown, including the duration of the pandemic, the extent of the adverse health impact on the general population and on our residents, customers, and employees in particular, its impact on the employment rate and the economy, the extent and impact of governmental responses, and the impact of operational changes we have and may implement in response to the pandemic.
These forward-looking statements are based on management's present expectations and beliefs about future events. As with any projection or forecast, these statements are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. We are under no obligation to, and expressly disclaim any obligation to, update or alter our forward-looking statements whether as a result of such changes, new information, subsequent events or otherwise.


31


Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We disclosed a quantitative and qualitative analysis regarding market risk in Part II, Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk in our 2019 Form 10-K. There have been no material changes in the assumptions used or results obtained regarding market risk since December 31, 2019.

Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer), has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2020. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to give reasonable assurances to the timely collection, evaluation and disclosure of information relating to us that would potentially be subject to disclosure under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder as of March 31, 2020. Any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
During the quarter ended March 31, 2020, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.



32


Part II – Other Information

Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
See Item 1. Financial Statements—Note 11. Commitments and Contingencies accompanying the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Item 1A.
Risk Factors

Except as set forth below, there have been no material changes to the risk factors discussed in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2019 Form 10-K.

The current pandemic of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, has adversely impacted us, and COVID-19, or the future outbreak of other highly infectious or contagious diseases, could materially and adversely impact or disrupt our business, including our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) was reported to have surfaced in Wuhan, China. COVID-19 has since spread globally, including throughout the United States. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, and on March 13, 2020, the United States declared a national emergency with respect to COVID-19.

COVID-19 has had, and another pandemic could have, significant repercussions across regional, national and global economies and financial markets, and could trigger a period of regional, national and global economic slowdown or regional, national or global recessions. The outbreak of COVID-19 in many countries continues to adversely impact regional, national and global economic activity and has contributed to significant volatility and negative pressure in financial markets.

Many U.S. cities and states, including cities and states where our offices and properties are located, have implemented measures to combat COVID-19, including quarantines, “shelter in place” rules, and restrictions on travel and the types of business that may continue to operate. We have already taken actions in response to or in furtherance of these measures, including, but not limited to, temporarily halting RV reservations by incoming transient customers, delaying opening certain of our northern RV communities, closing all indoor amenity areas, pools and playgrounds, introducing a rent deferral program and waiving certain late fees and cancellation fees, which actions we may continue to implement. See "Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-COVID-19 Pandemic Update."

The effects of COVID-19 have had, and could continue to have, or another pandemic, could have an adverse affect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, which impact could be material, due to, among other factors:

Weaknesses in national, regional or local economies may prevent our residents and customers from paying rent in full or on a timely basis. Federal, state, local, and industry-initiated efforts, including eviction moratoriums, and certain actions we have taken, such as the introduction of a rent deferral program, may affect our ability to collect rent, including on a deferred basis, or enforce remedies for the failure to pay rent, which could lead to an increase in our recognition of credit losses related to our rent receivables. In addition, a reduction in the ability or willingness of prospective customers to visit our properties could impact our ability to lease Sites and sell manufactured homes and may result in lower rental revenue and ancillary operating revenue produced by our Properties.

The seasonal and transient customers that vacation and camp at our Properties, including our RV communities, may be less likely to visit if they have less disposable income for leisure-time activities or are unable to visit if subject to shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders, which has caused, and could continue to cause, cancellation of existing reservations and reduced transient RV revenue.

A general decline in business activity and discretionary spending could result in few customers purchasing membership subscriptions, or existing customers purchasing fewer membership upgrades or failing to pay annual subscription fees or installments on financed upgrade sales.

A reduction in the demand for our Properties due to a general decline in business activity and discretionary spending could adversely affect the value of our Properties. This could lead to an impairment of our real estate investments. In addition, we may be unable to complete planned development of land for expansion or other capital improvement projects on a timely basis or at all due to government-mandated shutdowns or an inability by our third-party contractors to continue to work on construction projects.


33



A general decline in business activity or demand for real estate transactions could adversely affect our ability or desire to acquire additional properties, including through our joint ventures.

The financial impact of COVID-19 could negatively impact our ability to comply with financial covenants in our credit arrangements and result in a default and potentially an acceleration of indebtedness, which non-compliance could negatively impact our ability to make additional borrowings under our credit facilities.

A severe disruption and instability in the global financial markets or deteriorations in credit and financing conditions may affect our ability to access capital necessary to fund business operations, including the acquisition or expansion of properties, or replace or renew maturing liabilities on a timely basis, on attractive terms, or at all and may adversely affect the valuation of financial assets and liabilities.

The outbreak of COVID-19 could negatively affect the health, availability and productivity of our current personnel. It could also affect our ability to recruit and attract new employees, retain current employees whose hours have been reduced. An outbreak that directly affects, or threatens to directly affect, any of our properties could also deter or prevent our on-site personnel from reporting to work. In response to shelter-in-place orders, the employees in our corporate and regional offices are currently working remotely. The effects of these shelter-in-place orders, including remote work arrangements for an extended period of time, could strain our business continuity plans, introduce operational risk, including but not limited to cybersecurity risks, and impair our ability to manage our business. Further, we have and may continue to implement mitigation and other measures to support and protect our employees, which could result in increased labor costs.

We have also described risks related to changes to federal and state laws and regulations, economic downturn in markets with a large concentration of our properties, and our ability to obtain mortgage financing or refinance maturing mortgages and the effects of these risks on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, ability to make distributions, operations and market price of our stock in our 2019 Form 10-K, each of which could be exacerbated by the effects of COVID-19.

The rapid development and fluidity of the circumstances resulting from COVID-19 precludes any prediction as to the ultimate adverse impact of COVID-19. Nevertheless, COVID-19 and the current financial, economic and capital markets environment, and future developments in these and other areas present material uncertainty and risk with respect to our performance, financial condition, volume of business, results of operations and cash flows, which could adversely affect our ability to make distributions.

Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
None.

Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.

Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
None.

Item 5.
Other Information
None.


34


Item 6.
Exhibits
 
31.1
31.2
32.1
32.2
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File included as Exhibit 101 (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)


35


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.
 
 
EQUITY LIFESTYLE PROPERTIES, INC.
 
 
 
Date: April 28, 2020
By:
/s/ Marguerite Nader
 
 
Marguerite Nader
 
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
Date: April 28, 2020
By:
/s/ Paul Seavey
 
 
Paul Seavey
 
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
(Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
 
Date: April 28, 2020
By:
/s/ Valerie Henry
 
 
Valerie Henry
 
 
Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
 
 
(Principal Accounting Officer)


36