KIMCO REALTY CORP - Quarter Report: 2021 June (Form 10-Q)

KIMCO REALTY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share information)

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

KIMCO REALTY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

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

KIMCO REALTY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

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

KIMCO REALTY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

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

KIMCO REALTY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

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

KIMCO REALTY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Business and Organization

Kimco Realty Corporation, a Maryland corporation, is one of North America’s largest publicly traded owners and operators of open-air, grocery-anchored shopping centers and mixed-use assets.  The terms “Kimco,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” each refers to Kimco Realty Corporation and our subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise. The Company, its affiliates and related real estate joint ventures are engaged principally in the ownership, management, development and operation of open-air shopping centers, which are anchored generally by grocery stores, off-price retailers, home improvement centers, discounters and/or service-oriented tenants. Additionally, the Company provides complementary services that capitalize on the Company’s established retail real estate expertise.

The Company elected status as a Real Estate Investment Trust (a “REIT”) for federal income tax purposes beginning in its taxable year ended December 31, 1991 and operates in a manner that enables the Company to maintain its status as a REIT.  As a REIT, with respect to each taxable year, the Company must distribute at least 90 percent of its taxable income (excluding capital gain) and does not pay federal income taxes on the amount distributed to its shareholders.  The Company is not generally subject to federal income taxes if it distributes 100 percent of its taxable income.  Most states where the Company holds investments in real estate conform to the federal rules recognizing REITs.  Certain subsidiaries have made a joint election with the Company to be treated as taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRSs”), which permit the Company to engage in certain business activities which the REIT may not conduct directly.  A TRS is subject to federal and state income taxes on its income, and the Company includes, when applicable, a provision for taxes in its condensed consolidated financial statements.  The Company is subject to and also includes in its tax provision non-U.S. income taxes on certain investments located in jurisdictions outside the U.S. These investments are held by the Company at the REIT level and not in the Company’s taxable REIT subsidiaries. Accordingly, the Company does not expect a U.S. income tax impact associated with the repatriation of undistributed earnings from the Company’s foreign subsidiaries.

COVID-19 Pandemic –

The coronavirus disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) pandemic continues to impact the retail real estate industry for both landlords and tenants. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, in the near term, will continue to depend on future developments, which are uncertain at this time. The Company’s business, operations and financial results will depend on numerous evolving factors, including the duration and scope of the pandemic, governmental, business and individual actions that have been and continue to be, taken in response to the pandemic, the distribution and effectiveness of vaccines, impacts on economic activity from the pandemic and actions taken in response, the effects of the pandemic on the Company’s tenants and their businesses, the ability of tenants to make their rental payments, additional closures of tenants’ businesses and impacts of opening and reclosing of communities in response to the increase in positive COVID-19 cases. Any of these events could materially adversely impact the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or stock price. The Company will continue to monitor the economic, financial, and social conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and will assess its asset portfolio for any impairment indicators. In addition, the Company will continue to monitor for any material or adverse effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. If the Company has determined that any of its assets are impaired, the Company would be required to take impairment charges, and such amounts could be material.

The development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines has assisted in allowing many restrictions to be lifted, providing a path to recovery. The U.S. economy continues to build upon the reopening trend as businesses reopen to full capacity and stimulus is flowing through to the consumer. The overall economy continues to recover but several issues including the lack of qualified employees, inflation risk, supply chain bottlenecks and COVID-19 variants have impacted the pace of the recovery. 

Although the Company continues to see an increase in collections of rental payments, the effects COVID-19 have had on its tenants are still heavily considered when evaluating the collectability of the tenant's total accounts receivable balance, including the corresponding straight-line rent receivable. Management’s estimate of the collectability of accrued rents and accounts receivable is based on the best information available to management at the time of evaluation.

Pending Merger with Weingarten Realty Investors

On April 15, 2021, the Company and Weingarten Realty Investors (“Weingarten”) announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement (the "Merger Agreement") under which Weingarten will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving public company (the "Merger").  This strategic transaction was unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of the Company and the Board of Trust Managers of Weingarten.  Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, each Weingarten common share will be converted into 1.408 newly issued shares of the Company’s common stock plus $2.89 in cash, subject to certain adjustments specified in the Merger Agreement.   

On July 15, 2021, Weingarten’s Board of Trust Managers declared a special cash distribution of $0.69 per Weingarten common share (the “Special Distribution”) payable on August 2, 2021 to shareholders of record on July 28, 2021.  The Special Distribution is being paid in connection with the anticipated Merger and to satisfy the REIT taxable income distribution requirements.  Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, Weingarten’s payment of the Special Distribution adjusts the cash consideration to be paid by the Company at the closing of the Merger from $2.89 per Weingarten common share to $2.20 per Weingarten common share, and does not affect the payment of the share consideration of 1.408 newly issued shares of Company common stock for each Weingarten common share owned immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger.  During the six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company incurred costs of $3.2 million associated with its pending merger with Weingarten.  These charges are primarily comprised of legal and professional fees.  

The Merger is expected to close on August 3, 2021, subject to the receipt of required shareholder approvals and the satisfaction or waiver of other closing conditions specified in the Merger Agreement.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation -

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company. The Company’s subsidiaries include subsidiaries which are wholly-owned or which the Company has a controlling interest, including where the Company has been determined to be a primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (“VIE”) in accordance with the Consolidation Guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”). All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The information presented in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements is unaudited and reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to reflect a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented, and all such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.  These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 (the “10-K”), as certain disclosures in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2021 that would duplicate those included in the 10-K are not included in these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Reclassifications -

Certain amounts in the prior period have been reclassified in order to conform to the current period’s presentation. On the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2020, the Company reclassified $5.3 million of Cash flows used for Change in other financing liabilities to (i) Cash flows used for Shares repurchased for employee tax withholdings on equity awards of $5.3 million and (ii) Cash flows provided by Change in tenant’s security deposits of $0.05 million.

Subsequent Events -

The Company has evaluated subsequent events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure in its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

New Accounting Pronouncements –

The following ASU to the FASB’s ASC have been adopted by the Company as of the date listed:

3. Real Estate

Acquisitions of Operating Properties -

During the six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company acquired the following operating properties, through direct asset purchases (in thousands):

* Gross leasable area ("GLA")

** Consists of the fair value of the assets acquired which exceeded the purchase price upon closing. The transaction was a sale-leaseback with the seller which resulted in the recognition of a prepayment of rent of $17.7 million in accordance with ASC 842, Leases at closing. The prepayment of rent will be amortized over the initial term of the lease through Revenues from rental properties, net on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. See Footnote 10 of the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion regarding fair value allocation of partnership interest for noncontrolling interests.

The two distribution centers were purchased through a TRS of the Company during January 2021, and they were subsequently sold in June 2021 and are included in the Dispositions disclosure below.  Included in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income is $3.2 million in total revenues from the date of acquisition through the date of disposition for these two operating properties.

Purchase Price Allocation -

The purchase price for these acquisitions was allocated to real estate and related intangible assets acquired, as applicable, in accordance with our accounting policies for asset acquisitions. The purchase price allocation for properties acquired during the six months ended June 30, 2021, is as follows (in thousands): 

Dispositions -

The table below summarizes the Company’s disposition activity relating to consolidated operating properties and parcels (dollars in millions):

(1) Before noncontrolling interests of $3.1 million and taxes of $2.1 million, after utilization of net operating loss carryforwards, for the six months ended June 30, 2021.

4. Investments in and Advances to Real Estate Joint Ventures

The Company has investments in and advances to various real estate joint ventures. These joint ventures are engaged primarily in the operation of shopping centers which are either owned or held under long-term operating leases. The Company and the joint venture partners have joint approval rights for major decisions, including those regarding property operations. As such, the Company holds noncontrolling interests in these joint ventures and accounts for them under the equity method of accounting.

The table below presents joint venture investments for which the Company held an ownership interest at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 (dollars in millions):

The table below presents the Company’s share of net income for the above investments which is included in Equity in income of joint ventures, net on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 (in millions):

During the six months ended June 30, 2021, certain of the Company’s real estate joint ventures disposed of two properties, in separate transactions, for an aggregate sales price of $53.7 million. These transactions resulted in an aggregate net gain to the Company of $4.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021.

The table below presents debt balances within the Company’s unconsolidated joint venture investments for which the Company held noncontrolling ownership interests at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 (dollars in millions):

* Includes extension options

The Company will continue to monitor the economic, financial, and social conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and will assess its joint venture portfolio for any impairment indicators. If the Company has determined that any of its assets are impaired, the Company would be required to take impairment charges, and such amounts could be material.

5. Other Real Estate Investments

The Company has provided capital to owners and developers of real estate properties and loans through its Preferred Equity Program. The Company’s maximum exposure to losses associated with its preferred equity investments is primarily limited to its net investment.  During the six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company invested $54.9 million in a new preferred equity investment in a property located in San Antonio, TX.  As of June 30, 2021, the Company’s net investment under the Preferred Equity Program was $123.4 million relating to 62 properties, including 52 net leased properties.  During the six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company recognized income of $7.7 million from its preferred equity investments, including profit participation of $1.2 million.  During the six months ended June 30, 2020, the Company recognized income of $15.9 million from its preferred equity investments, including profit participation of $7.5 million.  These amounts are included in Equity in income of other real estate investments, net on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

6. Marketable Securities

The amortized cost and unrealized gains, net of marketable securities as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, are as follows (in thousands):

During the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, there were net unrealized gains on marketable securities of $24.3 million and $526.2 million, respectively. During the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, the net unrealized gains on a marketable securities were $85.4 million and $521.6 million, respectively. These net unrealized gains are included in Gain on marketable securities, net on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. See Footnote 12 of the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for fair value disclosure.

7. Accounts and Notes Receivable

The components of accounts and notes receivable, net of potentially uncollectible amounts as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, are as follows (in thousands):

8. Leases

Lessor Leases

The Company’s primary source of revenues is derived from lease agreements, which includes rental income and expense reimbursement. The Company’s lease income is comprised of minimum base rent, expense reimbursements, percentage rent, lease termination fee income, ancillary income, amortization of above-market and below-market rent adjustments and straight-line rent adjustments.

The disaggregation of the Company’s lease income, which is included in Revenues from rental properties, net on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, as either fixed or variable lease income based on the criteria specified in ASC 842, for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, is as follows (in thousands):

Lessee Leases

The Company currently leases real estate space under non-cancelable operating lease agreements for ground leases and administrative office leases. The Company’s leases have remaining lease terms ranging from less than one year to 64.5 years, some of which include options to extend the terms for up to an additional 75 years. The Company does not include any of its renewal options in its lease terms for calculating its lease liability as the renewal options allow the Company to maintain operational flexibility and the Company is not reasonably certain it will exercise these renewal options at this time. At June 30, 2021, the weighted average remaining non-cancelable lease term for the Company’s operating leases was 20.1 years and the weighted average discount rate was 6.54%. The Company’s operating lease liabilities are determined based on the estimated present value of the Company’s minimum lease payments under its lease agreements. The discount rate used to determine the lease liabilities is based on the estimated incremental borrowing rate on a lease by lease basis. When calculating the incremental borrowing rates, the Company utilized data from (i) its recent debt issuances, (ii) publicly available data for instruments with similar characteristics, (iii) observable mortgage rates and (iv) unlevered property yields and discount rates. The Company then applied adjustments to account for considerations related to term and security that may not be fully incorporated by the data sets.

The components of the Company’s lease expense, which are included in rent expense and general and administrative expense on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, were as follows (in thousands):

9. Notes and Mortgages Payable

Notes Payable –

In February 2020, the Company obtained a $2.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) with a group of banks. The Credit Facility is scheduled to expire in March 2024, with two additional six-month options to extend the maturity date, at the Company’s discretion, to March 2025. The Credit Facility is a green credit facility tied to sustainability metric targets, as described in the agreement. The Company achieved such targets, which effectively reduced the rate on the Credit Facility by one basis point. The Credit Facility, which accrues interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 76.5 basis points (0.85% as of June 30, 2021), can be increased to $2.75 billion through an accordion feature. Pursuant to the terms of the Credit Facility, the Company, among other things, is subject to covenants requiring the maintenance of (i) maximum indebtedness ratios and (ii) minimum interest and fixed charge coverage ratios. As of June 30, 2021, the Credit Facility had no outstanding balance, no appropriations for letters of credit and the Company was in compliance with its covenants.

Mortgages Payable -

During the six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company repaid $137.2 million of mortgage debt (including fair market value adjustment of $1.0 million) that encumbered 25 operating properties.

10. Noncontrolling Interests

Noncontrolling interests represent the portion of equity that the Company does not own in entities it consolidates as a result of having a controlling interest or determining that the Company was the primary beneficiary of a VIE in accordance with the provisions of the FASB’s Consolidation guidance.  The Company accounts and reports for noncontrolling interests in accordance with the Consolidation guidance and the Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity guidance issued by the FASB. The Company identifies its noncontrolling interests separately within the equity section on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The amounts of consolidated net income attributable to the Company and to the noncontrolling interests are presented separately on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

Included within noncontrolling interests are units that were determined to be contingently redeemable that are classified as Redeemable noncontrolling interests and presented in the mezzanine section between Total liabilities and Stockholder’s equity on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following table presents the change in the redemption value of the Redeemable noncontrolling interests for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands): 

11. Variable Interest Entities (“VIE”)

Included within the Company’s consolidated operating properties at both June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 are 22 consolidated entities that are VIEs for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. These entities have been established to own and operate real estate property. The Company’s involvement with these entities is through its majority ownership and management of the properties. The entities were deemed VIEs primarily because the unrelated investors do not have substantive kick-out rights to remove the general or managing partner by a vote of a simple majority or less, and they do not have substantive participating rights. The Company determined that it was the primary beneficiary of these VIEs as a result of its controlling financial interest. At June 30, 2021, total assets of these VIEs were $991.9 million and total liabilities were $60.7 million. At December 31, 2020, total assets of these VIEs were $1.0 billion and total liabilities were $62.1 million and as a result the joint venture is no longer a VIE.

The majority of the operations of these VIEs are funded with cash flows generated from the properties. The Company has not provided financial support to any of these VIEs that it was not previously contractually required to provide, which consists primarily of funding any capital expenditures, including tenant improvements, which are deemed necessary to continue to operate the entity and any operating cash shortfalls the entity may experience.

All liabilities of these consolidated VIEs are non-recourse to the Company (“VIE Liabilities”). The assets of the unencumbered VIEs are not restricted for use to settle only the obligations of these VIEs. The remaining VIE assets are encumbered by third party non-recourse mortgage debt. The assets associated with these encumbered VIEs (“Restricted Assets”) are collateral under the respective mortgages and are therefore restricted and can only be used to settle the corresponding liabilities of the VIE. The table below summarizes the consolidated VIEs and the classification of the Restricted Assets and VIE Liabilities on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as follows (dollars in millions):

12. Fair Value Measurements

All financial instruments of the Company are reflected in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at amounts which, in management’s estimation, based upon an interpretation of available market information and valuation methodologies, reasonably approximate their fair values except those listed below, for which fair values are disclosed. The valuation method used to estimate fair value for fixed-rate and variable-rate debt is based on discounted cash flow analyses, with assumptions that include credit spreads, market yield curves, trading activity, loan amounts and debt maturities. The fair values for marketable securities are based on published values, securities dealers’ estimated market values or comparable market sales. Such fair value estimates are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that would be realized upon disposition.

As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, the FASB’s Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within Levels 1 and 2 of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy).

The following are financial instruments for which the Company’s estimated fair value differs from the carrying value (in thousands):

The Company has certain financial instruments that must be measured under the FASB’s Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures guidance, including available for sale securities. The Company currently does not have non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities that are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

The table below presents the Company’s financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis at  June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, aggregated by the level in the fair value hierarchy within which those measurements fall (in thousands):

The table below presents the Company's assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at December 31, 2020 (in thousands):

The Company’s estimated fair values of these properties were primarily based upon estimated sales prices, from signed contracts or letters of intent from third party offers, which were less than the carrying value of the assets.  The Company does not have access to the unobservable inputs used to determine the estimated fair values of third party offers.  Based on these inputs, the Company determined that its valuation of these investments was classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

13. Incentive Plans

In May 2020, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2020 Equity Participation Plan (the “2020 Plan”), which is a successor to the Restated Kimco Realty Corporation 2010 Equity Participation Plan (together with the 2020 Plan, the "Plans") that expired in March 2020.  The 2020 Plan provides for a maximum of 10,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to be reserved for the issuance of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance awards, dividend equivalents, stock payments and deferred stock awards.  At June 30, 2021, the Company had 8.5 million shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2020 Plan.

The Company accounts for equity awards in accordance with FASB’s Compensation – Stock Compensation guidance which requires that all share-based payments to employees, including restricted stock and performance shares, be recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income over the service period based on their fair values. Fair value of performance awards is determined using the Monte Carlo method which is intended to estimate the fair value of the awards at the grant date. Fair value of restricted shares is calculated based on the price on the date of grant.

The Company recognized expenses associated with its equity awards of $12.3 million and $11.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.  As of June 30, 2021, the Company had $47.8 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock compensation granted under the Plans.  That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 3.0 years.

14. Earnings Per Share

The following table sets forth the reconciliation of earnings and the weighted average number of shares used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share (amounts presented in thousands except per share data):

The Company's unvested restricted share awards contain non-forfeitable rights to distributions or distribution equivalents. The impact of the unvested restricted share awards on earnings per share has been calculated using the two-class method whereby earnings are allocated to the unvested restricted share awards based on dividends declared and the unvested restricted shares' participation rights in undistributed earnings.

15. Stockholders’ Equity

Preferred Stock -

The Company’s outstanding Preferred Stock is detailed below:

Common Stock -

During February 2020, the Company extended its share repurchase program for a term of two years, which will expire in February 2022, pursuant to which the Company may repurchase shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share, with an aggregate gross purchase price of up to $300.0 million. The Company did not repurchase any shares under the share repurchase program during the six months ended June 30, 2021. As of June 30, 2021, the Company had $224.9 million available under this share repurchase program.

Dividends Declared -

The following table provides a summary of the dividends declared per share:

16. Supplemental Schedule of Non-Cash Investing / Financing Activities

The following schedule summarizes the non-cash investing and financing activities of the Company for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, together with other statements and information publicly disseminated by Kimco Realty Corporation (the “Company”) contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and includes this statement for purposes of complying with the safe harbor provisions. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe the Company’s future plans, strategies and expectations, are generally identifiable by use of the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “will,” “target,” “forecast” or similar expressions. You should not rely on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which, in some cases, are beyond the Company’s control and could materially affect actual results, performances or achievements. Factors which may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, (i) general adverse economic and local real estate conditions, (ii) the inability of major tenants to continue paying their rent obligations due to bankruptcy, insolvency or a general downturn in their business, (iii) financing risks, such as the inability to obtain equity, debt or other sources of financing or refinancing on favorable terms to the Company, (iv) the Company’s ability to raise capital by selling its assets, (v) changes in governmental laws and regulations and management’s ability to estimate the impact of such changes, (vi) the level and volatility of interest rates and management’s ability to estimate the impact thereof, (vii) pandemics or other health crises, such as coronavirus disease 2019 (“COVID-19”), (viii) the availability of suitable acquisition, disposition, development and redevelopment opportunities, and risks related to acquisitions not performing in accordance with our expectations, (ix) risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s and Weingarten Realty Investor’s (“Weingarten”) ability to complete the Merger (as defined below) on the proposed terms or on the anticipated timeline, or at all, including risks and uncertainties related to securing the necessary shareholder approvals and satisfaction of other closing conditions to consummate the Merger, (x) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement (as defined below), (xi) risks related to diverting the attention of the Company and Weingarten management from ongoing business operations, (xii) the Company's failure to realize the expected benefits of the Merger, (xiii) significant transaction costs and/or unknown or inestimable liabilities related to the Merger, (xiv) the risk of shareholder litigation in connection with the proposed Merger, including any resulting expense or delay, (xv) the risk that Weingarten’s business will not be integrated successfully or that such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected, (xvi) the Company’s ability to obtain the expected financing to consummate the Merger, (xvii) risks related to future opportunities and plans for the combined company, including the uncertainty of expected future financial performance and results of the combined company following completion of the Merger, (xviii) effects relating to any further announcements regarding the Merger or the consummation of the Merger on the market price of the Company’s common stock or Weingarten’s common shares, (xix) the possibility that, if the Company does not achieve the perceived benefits of the Merger as rapidly or to the extent anticipated by financial analysts or investors, the market price of the Company’s common stock could decline, (xx) valuation and risks related to the Company’s joint venture and preferred equity investments, (xxi) valuation of marketable securities and other investments, including the shares of Albertsons Companies, Inc. common stock held by the Company, (xxii) increases in operating costs, (xxiii) changes in the dividend policy for the Company’s common and preferred stock and the Company’s ability to pay dividends at current levels, (xxiv) the reduction in the Company’s income in the event of multiple lease terminations by tenants or a failure of multiple tenants to occupy their premises in a shopping center, (xxv) impairment charges, (xxvi) unanticipated changes in the Company’s intention or ability to prepay certain debt prior to maturity and/or hold certain securities until maturity and (xxvii) the other risks and uncertainties identified under Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year-ended December 31, 2020, as supplemented by the risks and uncertainties identified under Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, there is no assurance that the Company’s expectations will be realized. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised to refer to any further disclosures the Company makes in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K that the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto.  These unaudited financial statements include all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to reflect a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented, and all such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.

Executive Overview

Kimco Realty Corporation, a Maryland corporation, is one of North America’s largest publicly traded owners and operators of open-air, grocery-anchored shopping centers and mixed-use assets in the U.S. The terms “Kimco,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” each refers to Kimco Realty Corporation and our subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.  The Company’s mission is to create destinations for everyday living that inspire a sense of community and deliver value to our many stakeholders.

The Company is a self-administered real estate investment trust (“REIT”) and has owned and operated open-air shopping centers for over 60 years.  The Company has not engaged, nor does it expect to retain, any REIT advisors in connection with the operation of its properties. As of June 30, 2021, the Company had interests in 398 U.S. shopping center properties, aggregating 70.2 million square feet of gross leasable area (“GLA”), located in 27 states. In addition, the Company had 71 other property interests, primarily through the Company’s preferred equity investments and other real estate investments, totaling 5.1 million square feet of GLA. The Company’s ownership interests in real estate consist of its consolidated portfolio and portfolios where the Company owns an economic interest, such as properties in the Company’s investment real estate management programs, where the Company partners with institutional investors and also retains management.  

The Company’s primary business objective is to be the premier owner and operators of open-air, grocery-anchored shopping centers and mixed-use assets in the U.S. The Company believes it can achieve this objective by:

The Company further concentrated its business objectives to three main areas:

Pending Merger with Weingarten Realty Investors

On April 15, 2021, the Company and Weingarten announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement (the “Merger Agreement”) under which Weingarten will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving public company (the “Merger”). The Merger brings together two industry-leading retail real estate platforms with highly complementary portfolios and is expected to create, the preeminent open-air shopping center and mixed-use real estate owner in the country. The increased scale in targeted growth markets, coupled with a broader pipeline of redevelopment opportunities, is expected to position the combined company to create significant value for its shareholders.

Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, each Weingarten common share will be converted into 1.408 newly issued shares of the Company’s common stock plus $2.89 in cash, subject to certain adjustments specified in the Merger Agreement.  This strategic transaction was unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of the Company and the Board of Trust Managers of Weingarten. 

On July 15, 2021, Weingarten’s Board of Trust Managers declared a special cash distribution of $0.69 per Weingarten common share (the “Special Distribution”) payable on August 2, 2021 to shareholders of record on July 28, 2021.  The Special Distribution is being paid in connection with the anticipated Merger and to satisfy the REIT taxable income distribution requirements.  Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, Weingarten’s payment of the Special Distribution adjusts the cash consideration to be paid by the Company at the closing of the Merger from $2.89 per Weingarten common share to $2.20 per Weingarten common share, and does not affect the payment of the share consideration of 1.408 newly issued shares of Company common stock for each Weingarten common share owned immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger.

The Merger is expected to close on August 3, 2021, subject to the receipt of required shareholder approvals and the satisfaction or waiver of other closing conditions specified in the Merger Agreement.  The amounts presented herein for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, are solely the Company’s stand-alone results of operations and therefore do not include Weingarten’s results of operations for these periods.

The Merger will create a national operating portfolio of approximately 555 open-air grocery-anchored shopping centers and mixed-use assets comprising approximately 100 million square feet of gross leasable area. These properties are primarily concentrated in the top major metropolitan markets in the United States. The combined company is expected to benefit from increased scale and density in key Sun Belt markets, enhanced asset quality, tenant diversity, a larger redevelopment pipeline and a deleveraged balance sheet. As a result, the combined company should be uniquely positioned to drive further sustained growth in net operating income and asset value creation through continued strategic leasing and asset management.

COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a widespread health crisis that adversely affected businesses, economies and financial markets worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the retail sector in which the Company operates.  The majority of the Company’s tenants and their operations have been, and may continue to be impacted.  Through the duration of the pandemic, a substantial number of tenants had to temporarily or permanently close their business, shortened their operating hours or offer reduced services for some period of time. 

The development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines has assisted in allowing many restrictions to be lifted, providing a path to recovery. The U.S. economy continues to build upon the reopening trend as businesses reopen to full capacity and stimulus is flowing through to the consumer. The overall economy continues to recover but several issues including lack of qualified employees, inflation risk, supply chain bottlenecks and COVID-19 variants have impacted the pace of the recovery. 

The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, in the near term, will continue to depend on future developments, which continue to be uncertain, including new information that may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19 variants, the distribution and effectiveness as well as the willingness to take the vaccines, the impact of COVID-19 on economic activity, the effect of COVID-19 on the Company’s tenants and their businesses, the ability of tenants to make their rental payments and any additional closures of tenants’ businesses. 

The Company continues to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s business, tenants and industry as a whole.  The magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the Company’s operations and liquidity remains uncertain as the pandemic continues to evolve globally and within the United States. The Company will continue to monitor the economic, financial, and social conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and will assess its asset portfolio for any impairment indicators. In addition, the Company will continue to monitor for any material or adverse effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.  If the Company determines that any of its assets are impaired, the Company would be required to take impairment charges, and such amounts could be material.

Although the Company continues to see an increase in collections of rental payments, the effects COVID-19 have had on its tenants are still heavily considered when evaluating the adequacy of the collectability of the tenant’s total accounts receivable balance, including the corresponding straight-line rent receivable. As of June 30, 2021, the Company’s consolidated accounts receivable balance was 48% potentially uncollectible, including receivables from tenants that are being accounted for on a cash basis, and 16% of the Company’s straight-line rent receivables were potentially uncollectible, also inclusive of tenants that are being accounted for on a cash basis.  These elevated reserves are primarily attributable to the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. Management’s estimate of the collectability of accrued rents and accounts receivable is based on the best information available to management at the time of evaluation.  The Company will continue to monitor the economic, financial, and social conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to assess the collectability of its tenant accounts receivables.  As such, the Company may determine that further adjustments to its accounts receivable may be required in the future, and such amounts may be material. 

Results of Operations

Comparison of the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020

The following table presents the comparative results from the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, as compared to the corresponding periods in 2020 (in thousands, except per share data):