PENNSYLVANIA REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST - Annual Report: 2019 (Form 10-K)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2019

OR

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission File No. 1-6300

PENNSYLVANIA REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (215) 875-0700

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    

Yes   ☐     No   ☒

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.    Yes   ☐     No   ☒

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 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 if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T 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, smaller reporting company, or 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.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected to not 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   ☒

The aggregate market value, as of June 30, 2019, of the shares of beneficial interest, par value $1.00 per share, of the Registrant held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was approximately $489.5 million. (Aggregate market value is estimated solely for the purposes of this report and shall not be construed as an admission for the purposes of determining affiliate status.)

On March 6, 2020, 78,528,350 shares of beneficial interest, par value $1.00 per share, of the Registrant were outstanding.

Documents Incorporated by Reference

Portions of the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to regulation 14A relating to its 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K.

PENNSYLVANIA REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, together with other statements and information publicly disseminated by us, contain certain forward-looking statements that can be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” ”expect,” “intend,” “may,” “project,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans, strategies, anticipated events, trends and other matters that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views about future events, achievements or results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that might cause future events, achievements or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In particular, our business might be materially and adversely affected by the following:

Additional factors that might cause future events, achievements or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements include those discussed in the section entitled “Item 1A. Risk Factors.” We do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or otherwise.

Except as the context otherwise requires, references in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to “we,” “our,” “us,” the “Company” and “PREIT” refer to Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust and its subsidiaries, including our operating partnership, PREIT Associates, L.P. References in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to “PREIT Associates” or to the “Operating Partnership” refer to PREIT Associates, L.P.

1

PART I

ITEM 1.     BUSINESS.

OVERVIEW

PREIT, a Pennsylvania business trust founded in 1960 and one of the first equity real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) in the United States, has a primary investment focus on retail shopping malls located in the eastern half of the United States, primarily in the Mid-Atlantic region.

We currently own interests in 26 retail properties, of which 25 are operating properties and one is a development property. The 25 operating properties include 21 shopping malls and four other retail properties, have a total of 20.1 million square feet and are located in nine states. We and partnerships in which we hold an interest own 15.7 million square feet at these properties (excluding space owned by anchors or third parties).

There are 18 operating retail properties in our portfolio that we consolidate for financial reporting purposes. These consolidated properties have a total of 15.2 million square feet, of which we own 12.1 million square feet. The seven operating retail properties that are owned by unconsolidated partnerships with third parties have a total of 4.9 million square feet, of which 3.6 million square feet are owned by such partnerships. When we refer to “Same Store” properties, we are referring to properties that have been owned for the full periods presented and excluding properties acquired, disposed of, under redevelopment or designated as a non-core property during the periods presented. Core properties include all operating retail properties except for Exton Square Mall, Valley View Mall and Fashion District Philadelphia. “Core Malls” excludes these properties as well as power centers and Gloucester Premium Outlets. Wyoming Valley Mall was conveyed to the lender of the mortgage loan secured by that property in September 2019.

We have one property in our portfolio that is classified as under development; however, we do not currently have any activity occurring at this property.

Fashion District Philadelphia, our recently redeveloped property owned with our 50/50 joint venture partner, the Macerich Company (“Macerich”), opened on September 19, 2019. The partnership continues to progress through the lease-up phase of the project with stabilization of the project expected after the anticipated opening of several key tenants in 2020. We are currently forecasting stabilization in the first half of 2021.

We are a fully integrated, self-managed and self-administered REIT that has elected to be treated as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. In general, we are required each year to distribute to our shareholders at least 90% of our net taxable income and to meet certain other requirements in order to maintain the favorable tax treatment associated with qualifying as a REIT.

PREIT’S BUSINESS

We are primarily engaged in the ownership, management, leasing, acquisition, redevelopment, and disposition of shopping malls. In general, our malls include tenants that are national or regional department stores, large format retailers or other anchors and a diverse mix of national, regional and local in-line stores offering apparel (women’s, family, teen, children’s, men’s), shoes, eyewear, cards and gifts, jewelry, sporting goods, home furnishings and personal care items, among other things. In recent years, we have increased the portion of our mall properties that is leased to non-traditional mall tenants. Approximately 24% of our mall space is committed to non-traditional tenants offering services such as dining and entertainment, health and wellness, off-price retail and fast fashion.

To enhance the experience for shoppers, most of our malls have restaurants and/or food courts, and some of the malls have multi-screen movie theaters and other entertainment options, either as part of the mall or on outparcels around the perimeter of the mall property. In addition, many of our malls have outparcels containing restaurants, banks or other stores. Our malls frequently serve as a central place for community, promotional and charitable events in their geographic trade areas.

The largest core mall in our retail portfolio is 1.4 million square feet and contains 172 stores, and the smallest core mall is 0.5 million square feet and contains 80 stores. The other properties in our retail portfolio range from 370,000 to 780,000 square feet.

We derive the substantial majority of our revenue from rent received under leases with tenants for space at retail properties in our real estate portfolio. In general, our leases require tenants to pay minimum rent, which is a fixed amount specified in the lease, and which is often subject to scheduled increases during the term of the lease for longer term leases. In 2019, 75% of the new leases that we signed contained scheduled rent increases, and these increases, which are typically scheduled to occur between two and four times during the term, ranged from 1.2% to 33.3%, with approximately 90% ranging from 2.0% to 4.0%. In addition or in the alternative, certain tenants are required to pay percentage rent, which can be either a percentage of their sales revenue that exceeds certain levels specified in their lease agreements, or a percentage of their total sales revenue.

The majority of our leases also provide that the tenant will reimburse us for certain expenses relating to the property for common area maintenance (“CAM”), real estate taxes, utilities, insurance and other operating expenses incurred in the operation of the property subject, in some cases, to certain limitations. The proportion of the expenses for which tenants are responsible was historically related to the tenant’s pro rata share of space at the property. We have continued to shift the CAM provision in our leases to be a fixed amount, which gives greater predictability to tenants, and a majority of such revenue is derived from leases specifying fixed CAM reimbursements.

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Retail real estate industry participants sometimes classify malls based on the average sales per square foot of non-anchor mall tenants occupying spaces under 10,000 square feet in size, the population and average household income of the trade area and the geographic market, the growth rates of the population and average household income in the trade area and geographic market, and numerous other factors. Based on these factors, in general, malls that have high average sales per square foot and are in trade areas with large populations and high household incomes and/or growth rates are considered Class A malls, malls with average sales per square foot that are in the middle range of population or household income and/or growth rates are considered Class B malls, and malls with lower average sales and smaller populations and lower household incomes and/or growth rates are considered Class C malls. Although these classifications are defined differently by different market participants, in general, most of our malls would be classified as Class A or Class B properties. The classification of a mall can change, and one of the goals of our current property strategic plans and remerchandising programs is to increase the average sales per square foot of certain of our properties and correspondingly increase their rental income and cash flows, and thus potentially their class, in order to maximize the value of the property. The malls that we have sold pursuant to the strategic property disposition program we commenced in 2012 generally have been Class C properties.

BUSINESS STRATEGY

Our primary objective is to maximize the long-term value of the Company for our shareholders. To that end, our business goals are to obtain the highest possible rental income, tenant sales and occupancy at our properties in order to maximize our cash flows, net operating income, funds from operations, funds available for distribution to shareholders and other operating measures and results, and ultimately to maximize the values of our properties.

To achieve this primary goal, we have developed a business strategy focused on increasing the values of our properties, and ultimately of the Company, which includes:

Improving Our Balance Sheet by Reducing Debt and Leverage; Maintaining Liquidity

Leverage. We continue to seek ways to reduce our leverage by improving our operating performance and through a variety of other means available to us. These means might include selling properties or interests in properties with values in excess of their mortgage loans and applying any excess proceeds to debt reduction; entering into joint ventures or other partnerships or arrangements involving our contribution of assets; issuing common or preferred equity or equity-related securities if market conditions are favorable; or through other actions.

Mortgage Loan Refinancings and Repayments. We might pursue opportunities to make favorable changes to individual mortgage loans on our properties. When we refinance such loans, we might seek a new term, better rates and excess proceeds. An aspect of our approach to debt financing is that we strive to lengthen and stagger the maturities of our debt obligations in order to better manage our future capital requirements. We might seek to repay certain mortgage loans in full in order to unencumber the associated properties, which enables us to increase our pool of unencumbered assets, have greater financial flexibility and obtain additional financing.

Liquidity. As of December 31, 2019, our consolidated balance sheet reflected $12.2 million in cash and cash equivalents. We believe that this amount and our net cash provided by operations, together with the available credit under the 2018 Revolving Facility (assuming continued compliance with the financial covenants thereunder) and other sources of capital, provide sufficient liquidity to meet our liquidity requirements in the short term.

Capital Recycling. We regularly conduct portfolio property reviews and, if appropriate, we seek to dispose of malls, other retail properties or outparcels that we do not believe meet the financial and strategic criteria we apply, given economic, market and other circumstances. Disposing of these properties can enable us to redeploy or recycle our capital to other uses, such as to repay debt, to reinvest in other real estate assets and development and redevelopment projects, and for other corporate purposes. Along these lines, during 2019 we sold a mortgage note secured by Wiregrass Commons in Dothan, Alabama, two non-income producing undeveloped properties, and five outparcels, including the Whole Foods at Exton, generating aggregate proceeds of $50.4 million. Since we began our disposition program in 2012, we have sold 17 malls, four power centers, two street retail properties, three office properties and several land parcels and other real estate assets for a total of $886.6 million. The proceeds generated from these sales were reinvested in our existing redevelopment program or used to repay debt. In September 2019, we conveyed Wyoming Valley Mall to the lender of the mortgage loan secured by the property. In January 2020, we sold the REI outparcel at Woodland Mall to Four Corners Property Trust (“FCPT”). We are currently under contract to sell ten additional outparcels to FCPT and expect to close the transactions in the first half of 2020. We have executed agreements of sale for two hotel sites at our malls that we expect to close in 2020. Additionally, in 2020, we entered into an agreement of sale for the sale and leaseback of five properties and executed agreements of sale for land parcels for anticipated multifamily development at seven sites on, or adjacent to, our mall properties.

We expect to continue to look for opportunities to sell non-core assets, including land parcels, to residential, hotel and office developers at some of our mall properties.

3

Raising the Overall Level of Quality of Our Portfolio and of Individual Properties in Our Portfolio

Portfolio Actions. We continue to refine our collection of properties to enhance the overall quality of the portfolio. We seek to have a portfolio that derives most of its Net Operating Income, or “NOI” (a non-GAAP measure; as defined below) from higher productivity properties and from properties located in major metropolitan markets. We hold ownership interests in 10 properties in the Philadelphia metro area, four properties in the Washington, D.C. metro area and one property in the Boston-Providence metro area. One method we have used and continue to use for raising the level of quality of our portfolio is disposing of assets that had certain economic features, such as sales productivity or occupancy levels below the average for our portfolio and significantly lower expected income due to anchor closures. In 2018, we designated the following two properties as non core malls (“Non Core Malls”) (1) Exton Square Mall, because we have completed the first phase of a redevelopment with the opening of Whole Foods and the sale of a land parcel to a multifamily developer as part of our densification effort (as discussed below) and as we consider the possible inclusion of other non-retail uses on the site; and (2) Valley View Mall, which currently has three vacant anchors and where we are evaluating strategic options for the property. A third Non Core Mall, Wyoming Valley Mall, was conveyed to the lender of the mortgage loan secured by that property in 2019.

Redevelopment. We might also seek to improve particular properties, to increase the potential value of properties in our portfolio, and to maintain or enhance their competitive positions by redeveloping them. We do so in order to make the properties more attractive to customers and retailers, which we expect to lead to increases in shopper traffic, sales, occupancy and rental rates. Redevelopments are generally more involved than strategic property plans or remerchandising programs and require the investment of capital. We give redevelopment priority to properties in our portfolio that are of a higher quality and where we anticipate the redevelopment can be economically transformative. Our property redevelopments focus primarily on anchor replacement and remerchandising. We believe these activities will position us to optimize our financial returns.

The table below sets forth our property redevelopment summary as of December 31, 2019.

Densification. We seek to maximize the value of our retail properties by adding other uses where appropriate. We believe that by incorporating residential, hotel or office uses into some of our retail properties, we will increase the value of those properties. The addition of other property types to our sites may provide synergies to both the retail and non-retail uses. The presence of residents, hotel guests or office workers in close proximity to the retail center may result in additional visits to the retail property. In November 2018, we sold a four acre parcel at Exton Square Mall where construction of the first phase of multifamily residences consisting of 348 units, is nearing completion. The lease-up phase is expected to commence in the first half of 2020. We have executed agreements of sale for two hotel sites at our malls that we expect to close in 2020. In 2020, we entered into agreements of sale for the sale and leaseback of five properties and executed agreements of sale for land parcels for anticipated multifamily development at seven sites on, or adjacent to, our mall properties.

4

Since 2014, we, along with our 50/50 joint venture partner, Macerich, have been engaged in a redevelopment of Fashion District Philadelphia (formerly The Gallery). In connection therewith, we contributed and sold real estate assets to the venture and Macerich acquired its interest in the venture and real estate from us for $106.8 million in cash. We and Macerich are jointly and severally responsible for a minimum investment in the project of $300.0 million. Fashion District Philadelphia is in a key location in central Philadelphia, strategically positioned above regional mass transit, adjacent to the convention center and tourism sites, and amidst numerous offices and residential sites.

In January 2018, we along with Macerich, entered into a $250.0 million term loan (the “FDP Term Loan”). The initial term of the FDP Term Loan is five years and bears interest at a variable rate of 2.00% over LIBOR. PREIT and Macerich secured the FDP Term Loan by pledging their respective equity interests of 50% each in the entities that own Fashion District Philadelphia. The entire $250.0 million available under the FDP Term Loan was drawn during the first quarter of 2018, and we received an aggregate $123.0 million as a distribution of our share of the draws in 2018. In July 2019, the FDP Term Loan was modified to increase the maximum total potential borrowings from $250.0 million to $350.0 million. A total of $51.0 million was drawn during the third quarter of 2019 and we received aggregate distributions of $25.0 million as our share of the draws.  

An important aspect of any redevelopment project, including the redevelopment of Fashion District Philadelphia, is its effect on the property and on the tenants and customers during the time that a redevelopment is taking place. While we might undertake a redevelopment to maximize the long term performance of the property, in the short term, the operations and performance of the property, as measured by sales, occupancy and NOI, will often be negatively affected. Tenants might be relocated or closed as space for the redevelopment is aggregated, which affects overall tenant sales and rental rates. As Fashion District Philadelphia was being redeveloped, occupancy, sales and NOI decreased from their levels prior to the commencement of the redevelopment. We expect those trends to reverse as the newly constructed space is completed, leased and occupied. On September 19, 2019, Fashion District Philadelphia, an aggregation of properties spanning three blocks in downtown Philadelphia that were formerly known as Gallery I, Gallery II and 907 Market Street, opened. Joining Century 21 and Burlington in 2019 were multiple dining and entertainment venues including Market Eats, a multi-offering food court, City Winery, AMC Theatres, and Round 1 Bowling & Amusement. In addition, Nike Factory Store, Ulta, and H & M opened Philadelphia flagship stores at the property. Fashion District is expected to have additional tenant openings throughout 2020 and 2021. Through December 31, 2019 we had incurred costs of $175.4 million relating to our share of the development costs of the project.

Mall-Specific Plans. We seek to unlock value in our portfolio through a variety of targeted efforts at our properties. We believe that certain of our properties, including those in trade areas around major cities or those which are leading properties in secondary markets, can benefit from strategic remerchandising strategies, including, for example, selective re-tenanting of certain spaces in certain properties with higher quality, better-matched tenants. Based on the demographics of the trade area or the relevant competition, we believe that this subset of properties provides opportunities for meaningful value creation at the property level. We believe that we can successfully implement particular strategies at these assets by incorporating in-demand uses such as dining, entertainment and fitness, by adding discount, specialty, fast fashion and native internet retailer tenants, and by closing, relocating and right-sizing certain existing mall tenants. Some examples of in-demand tenants include Apple, Urban Outfitters and The Cheesecake Factory. We also continuously work to optimize the match between the demographics of the trade area, such as the household income level, and the nature and mix of tenants at such properties. We strive to work closely with tenants to enhance their merchandising opportunities at our properties. We believe that these approaches can attract more national and other tenants to the property and can lead to higher occupancy and NOI.

Shopper Experiences. In addition to such property-wide remerchandising efforts, we also seek to offer unique shopper experiences at our properties by having tenants that provide products, services or interactions that are unlike other offerings in the trade area. We seek to add first-to-market tenants, dining and entertainment options, beauty and fashion purveyors, off-price retail, traditionally online retailers and health and fitness destinations such as Legoland Discovery Center, Peloton, Ulta, HomeSense, Dave & Buster's, Balsam Hill and the 1776 retail incubator, among others, as well as to provide amenities like children’s play areas and mall shopping smartphone apps.

Vacant Anchor Replacements. In recent years, through property dispositions, proactive store recaptures, lease terminations and other activities, we have made efforts to reduce our risks associated with certain department store concentrations. Since 2012, we have reduced the number of Sears locations from 27 to 5, the number of Macy’s locations from 25 to 14, and the number of J.C. Penney locations from 29 to 14.

From the beginning of 2017 through December 31, 2019, nine department stores within our core portfolio were recaptured or closed. To date, all or a significant portion of these former department stores have tenants that either opened, are currently under construction, or have leases that are executed or near execution.

During 2019, we re-opened or introduced additional tenants to former anchor positions at Woodland Mall in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Valley Mall in Hagerstown, Maryland and Plymouth Meeting Mall, in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. We opened Von Maur and Urban Outfitters, on a site formerly occupied by Sears at Woodland Mall and in-line lease-up continues.  At Valley Mall, we opened Onelife Fitness in February to complete the former Macy’s redevelopment and during the year we signed a lease with Dick’s Sporting Goods to occupy the former Sears store at the property. Dick’s Sporting Goods is expected to open in the first quarter of 2020. At Plymouth Meeting Mall, we opened Burlington, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Edge Fitness and Miller’s Ale House in the former Macy’s location, and the last tenant, Michael’s, opened in the first quarter of 2020. We opened Sierra Trading at Moorestown Mall in Moorestown, New Jersey in 2019 and Michael’s opened in the first quarter of 2020.

Construction is underway to open Burlington in place of a former Sears at Dartmouth Mall in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. We are also moving forward with several outparcels at Dartmouth Mall resulting from the Sears recapture and working with large format prospects for space adjacent to Burlington.

5

We currently have three vacant anchor positions at Valley View Mall in La Crosse, Wisconsin and during 2019 an additional anchor, Sears, closed at Exton Square Mall in Exton, Pennsylvania and at Dartmouth Mall in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. In January 2020, the Lord & Taylor store at Moorestown Mall in Moorestown, New Jersey closed and we are working with several retail and entertainment prospects to fill the space. We have been notified by Sears that it plans to close stores at Moorestown Mall in Moorestown, New Jersey and Jacksonville Mall in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Sears continues to be financially obligated pursuant to the leases at these locations.

The status of our anchor replacements at our other properties is summarized in the table below.

Improving the Operating Results of Our Properties

We aim to improve the overall operational performance of our portfolio of properties with a multi-pronged approach.

Occupancy. We continue to work to increase non-anchor and total occupancy in our properties. From 2018 to 2019, total occupancy for our retail portfolio including consolidated and unconsolidated properties (and including all tenants irrespective of the term of their agreement) decreased 10 basis points to 92.6%, and total occupancy at our malls other than the Non-Core Malls and Fashion District Philadelphia, which reopened in 2019 and is expected to stabilize in 2021 (such other malls being called the “Core Malls”) decreased 50 basis points to 95.5%.

In connection with the remerchandising plans at several of our properties, we are seeking or have obtained tenants for new spaces of different types, such as pads or kiosks. We are also seeking tenants that have not previously been prevalent at our mall properties.

Key Tenants; Mall Leasing. We continue to recruit, and expand our relationships with, certain high profile retailers, and to initiate and expand our relationships with other quality and first-to-market retailers or concepts. We coordinate closely with tenants on new store locations in an effort to position our properties for our tenants’ latest concept or store prototype, in order to drive traffic to our malls and stimulate customer spending. We believe that increasing our occupancy in ways that are tailored to particular properties will be helpful to our leasing efforts and will help increase rental rates and tenant sales. We have also diversified the mix of tenants within our portfolio, with approximately 24% of our mall space committed to non traditional tenants offering services such as dining and entertainment, health and wellness, off price retail and fast fashion.

Rental Rates and Releasing Spreads. For the year ended December 31, 2019, we generated sales per square foot of $539 from our Core Malls, an increase of 5.6% from 2018. At properties with improved or already higher sales per square foot, these sales levels have helped attract new tenants and helped us retain current tenants that seek to take advantage of the property’s increased productivity. We have worked to capitalize on the increase in, or high level of, sales per square foot by seeking positive rent renewal spreads, including from renewal and new leases following expirations of leases entered into during earlier challenging economic times. In 2019, total renewal spreads increased 2.5% on all non-anchor leases.

6

As discussed above, since 2012, we have sold 17 low-productivity or underperforming malls. In 2019, we also conveyed Wyoming Valley Mall to the lender of the mortgage secured by the property. We believe that the disposition of these less productive assets will help improve our negotiating position with retailers with multiple stores in our portfolio (including stores at these properties), and potentially enable us to obtain higher rental rates from them at our remaining properties.

Specialty Leasing and Partnership Marketing. Some space at our properties might be available for a shorter period of time, pending a lease with a permanent tenant or in connection with a redevelopment. We strive to manage the use of this space through our specialty leasing function, which manages the short term leasing of stores and the licensing of income-generating carts and kiosks, with the goal of maximizing the rent we receive during the period when a space is not subject to a longer term lease.

We also seek to generate ancillary revenue (such as sponsorship marketing revenue and promotional income) from the properties in our portfolio. We believe that increased efforts in this area can enable us to increase the proportion of net operating income derived from ancillary revenue.

Operating Expenses and CAM Reimbursements. Our strategy for improving operating results also includes efforts to control or reduce the costs of operating our properties. With respect to operating expenses, we have taken steps to manage a significant proportion of them through contracts with third party vendors for housekeeping and maintenance, security services, landscaping and trash removal. These contracts provide reasonable control, certainty and predictability. We also seek to contain certain expenses through our active programs for managing utility expense and real estate taxes. We have taken advantage of opportunities to buy electricity economically in states that have opened their energy markets to competition, and we expect to continue with this approach. We have instituted a solar energy program at five of our properties, which we expect will lower our utility expenses and reduce our carbon footprint. We also review the annual tax assessments of our properties and, when appropriate, pursue appeals.

With respect to CAM reimbursements, we have converted most of our leases to fixed CAM reimbursement, in contrast to the traditional pro-rata CAM reimbursement. Fixed CAM reimbursement, while shifting some risk to us as landlord, offers tenants increased predictability of their costs, a decrease in the number of items to be negotiated in a lease thus speeding lease execution, and reduced need for detailed CAM billings, reconciliations and collections.

Taking Steps to Position the Company for Future Growth Opportunities

We are taking steps designed to position the Company to generate future growth. In connection therewith, we have implemented processes designed to ensure strong internal discipline in the use, harvesting and recycling of our capital, and these processes will be applied in connection with proposals to redevelop properties or to reposition properties with a mix of uses, or possibly, in the future, to acquire additional properties.

External Opportunities. Though not currently a primary focus, we may continue to seek to acquire, in an opportunistic, selective and disciplined manner, properties that are well-located, that are in trade areas with growing or stable demographics, that have operating metrics that are better than or equal to our existing portfolio averages, and that we believe have strong potential for increased cash flows and appreciation in value if we call upon our relationships with retailers and apply our skills in asset management and redevelopment. We also seek to acquire additional parcels or properties that are included within, or adjacent to, the properties already in our portfolio, in order to gain greater control over the merchandising and tenant mix of a property. Taking advantage of any acquisition opportunities will likely involve some use of debt or equity capital.

We pursue development of retail and mixed use projects that we expect can meet the financial and strategic criteria we apply, given economic, market and other circumstances. We seek to leverage our skill sets in site selection, entitlement and planning, design, cost estimation and project management to develop new retail and mixed use properties. We seek properties in trade areas that we believe have sufficient demand, once developed, to generate cash flows that meet the financial thresholds we establish in the given environment. We manage all aspects of these undertakings, including market and trade area research, acquisition, preliminary development work, construction and leasing.

Depending on the nature of the acquisition or development opportunity, we might involve a partner or sell land to a qualified third party, including in connection with projects involving a use other than retail.

In light of the redevelopment and densification opportunities in our existing portfolio and the capital required to complete these investments, together with a limited availability of properties that meet our investment criteria, we are not currently emphasizing external opportunities as part of our growth strategy.

Organic Opportunities. We look for ways to maximize the value of our assets by adding a mix of uses, such as office or multi-family residential housing, initiated either by ourselves or with a partner, that are designed to attract a greater number of people to the property. Multiple constituencies, from local governments to city planners to citizen groups, have indicated a preference for in-place development, development near transportation hubs, the addition of uses to existing properties, and sustainable development, as opposed to locating, acquiring and developing new green field sites. Also, if appropriate, we will seek to attract certain nontraditional tenants to these properties, including tenants using the space for purposes such as entertainment, education, health care, government and childcare, which can bring larger numbers of people to the property, as well as regional, local or nontraditional retailers. Such uses will, we believe, increase traffic and enable us to generate additional revenue and grow the value of the property.

7

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Operating Performance

Our net loss decreased by $113.5 million to a net loss of $13.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 from a net loss of $126.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The change in our 2019 results of operations was primarily due to impairment losses in 2018 that did not recur in 2019, partially offset by a $6.7 million decrease in same store lease termination revenue and a $7.6 million decrease in non same store net operating income due to three anchor store closings during 2018 and 2019 and associated co-tenancy concessions, as well as a decrease in lease revenue at Exton Square Mall due to the sale of an outparcel in 2019.

Funds From Operations (“FFO”), a non-GAAP measure, decreased 6.2% from the prior year, and FFO as adjusted, also a non-GAAP measure, decreased 31.4% from the prior year. Adjustments to FFO included impairment of land parcels in Gainesville, Florida and at Woodland Mall in Grand Rapids, Michigan, provision for employee separation expense, insurance recoveries, and a gain on debt extinguishment. FFO as adjusted per share decreased 31.8% from 2018.

Same Store net operating income (“Same Store NOI”), a non-GAAP measure, decreased 5.5% over the prior year. Same Store NOI, excluding lease termination revenue, decreased 2.5% compared to 2018.

Renewal spreads at our properties decreased 4.8% on non-anchor leases under 10,000 square feet and increased 5.0% for non-anchor leases of at least 10,000 square feet.

Retail portfolio occupancy at December 31, 2019 was 92.6%, a decrease of 10 basis points compared to 2018. Non-anchor occupancy was 91.7%, a decrease of 90 basis points compared to 2018. Core Mall occupancy decreased by 50 basis points to 95.5%. Core Mall non-anchor occupancy was 92.9%, a decrease of 70 basis points.

Sales per square foot at our Core Malls was $539, an increase of 5.6% from 2018, including consolidated and unconsolidated properties.

Descriptions of each non-GAAP measure mentioned above, NOI, Same Store NOI, FFO and FFO, as adjusted, as well as the related reconciliation to the comparable GAAP measures are located in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”—Results of Operations—NON-GAAP SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL MEASURES.

Financing Activity

We have entered into two credit agreements (collectively, the “Credit Agreements”): (1) the 2018 Credit Agreement, which includes (a) the 2018 Revolving Facility and (b) the 2018 Term Loan Facility, and (2) the 2014 7-Year Term Loan. The 2014 7-Year Term Loan and the 2018 Term Loan Facility are collectively referred to as the “Term Loans.”

We, along with Macerich, our partner in the Fashion District Philadelphia redevelopment project, entered into a $250.0 million term loan (the “FDP Term Loan”) in January 2018. We own a 50% partnership interest in Fashion District Philadelphia. The FDP Term Loan matures in January 2023, and bears interest at a variable rate of LIBOR plus 2.00%. We and Macerich secured the FDP Term Loan by pledging each of our respective equity interests in the entities that own Fashion District Philadelphia. The entire $250.0 million available under the FDP Term Loan was drawn during the first quarter of 2018, and we received an aggregate $123.0 million as a distribution of our share of the draws in 2018. In July 2019, the FDP Term Loan was modified to increase the potential borrowings from $250.0 million to $350.0 million. A total of $51.0 million was drawn during the third quarter of 2019 and we received aggregate distributions of $25.0 million as our share of the draws.

Leverage. Our ratio of Total Liabilities to Gross Asset Value under our Credit Agreements increased by 600 basis points from 53.8% at December 31, 2018 to 59.8% as of December 31, 2019.

Mortgage Loan Activity.

We received a notice of transfer of servicing, dated July 9, 2018, from the special servicer for the mortgage loan secured by Wyoming Valley Mall, which had a balance of $72.8 million as of September 26, 2019. Our subsidiary that was the borrower under the loan also received a notice of default on the loan from the lender, dated December 14, 2018. The loan was subject to a cash sweep arrangement as a result of an anchor tenant trigger event. We had entered into an agreement with the lender to jointly market the property for sale for a stipulated period of time. The property did not sell and we conveyed the property to the lender by deed in lieu of foreclosure on September 26, 2019.

In March 2019, we defeased a $58.5 million mortgage loan secured by Capital City Mall in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania using funds from our 2018 Revolving Facility and the balance from available working capital.

In April 2019, we received a notice from the servicer of the Cumberland Mall mortgage of a cash sweep event due to the failure of an anchor tenant to renew for a full term. We satisfied this requirement in August 2019.

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CAPITAL STRATEGY

In support of the business strategies described above, our long-term corporate finance objective is to maximize the availability and minimize the cost of the capital we employ to fund our operations. In pursuit of this objective and for other business reasons, we seek the broadest range of funding sources (including commercial banks, institutional lenders, equity and debt investors and joint venture partners) and funding vehicles (including mortgage loans, commercial loans, sales of properties or interests in properties, and debt and equity securities) available to us on the most favorable terms. We pursue this goal by maintaining relationships with various capital sources and utilizing a variety of financing instruments, all in an effort to enhance our flexibility to execute our business strategy in different economic environments or at different points in the business cycle.

We have one wholly-owned property mortgage loan maturing in July 2020. While mortgage interest rates remain relatively low, we intend to continue to seek to extend the maturity dates of our mortgage loans to the maximum extent possible, or to replace them with longer term mortgage loans.

As part of our capital strategy, in the past, we have taken steps to restructure our debt and credit facilities to align with our needs and goals at such time and we intend to do so going forward.

In general, in determining the amount and type of debt capital to employ in our business, we consider several factors, including: general economic conditions, the capital market environment, prevailing and forecasted interest rates for various debt instruments, the cost of equity capital, property values, capitalization rates for mall properties, our financing needs for acquisition, redevelopment and development opportunities, the debt ratios of other mall REITs and publicly-traded real estate companies, and the federal tax law requirement that REITs distribute at least 90% of net taxable income, among other factors.

In the normal course of business, we are exposed to financial market risks, including interest rate risk on our interest-bearing liabilities. We attempt to limit these risks by following established risk management policies, procedures and strategies, including the use of various types of financial instruments. To manage interest rate risk and limit overall interest cost, we may employ interest rate swaps, options, forwards, caps and floors or a combination thereof depending on our underlying exposure, and subject to our ability to satisfy collateral requirements.

Capital Availability

To maintain our status as a REIT, we are required, under federal tax laws, to distribute to shareholders 90% of our net taxable income, which generally leaves insufficient funds to finance major initiatives internally. Because of these requirements, we ordinarily fund most of our significant capital requirements, such as the capital for acquisitions, redevelopments and developments, through secured and unsecured indebtedness, sales of properties or interests in properties and, when appropriate, the issuance of additional debt, equity or equity-related securities.

Aggregate borrowings under our $400.0 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility, $300.0 million five-year term loan facility and $250.0 million 7-year term loan may be limited by the Unencumbered Debt Yield covenant included in these loan agreements. The aggregate borrowing capacity, including support for letters of credit, under these facilities is determined by dividing the net operating income (“NOI”) from the Company’s unencumbered properties by 11%. The maximum amount that was available to be borrowed by us under our revolving credit facility as of December 31, 2019 was $30.1 million. As of December 31, 2019, $255.0 million was outstanding under the 2018 Revolving Facility and as of the filing date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, $289.0 million was outstanding under the 2018 Revolving Facility.

In addition, our ability to finance our growth using these sources depends, in part, on our creditworthiness, the availability of credit to us, the market for our securities at the time or times we need capital and prevailing conditions in the capital and credit markets, among other things. While currently not available to us, we believe that we will have adequate access to capital to fund the remaining cost of our anchor replacement and redevelopment program, which we currently estimate to be between $130.0 million and $150.0 million. Our ability to manage our obligations under our senior unsecured credit facility and to remain in compliance with the covenants thereunder is critical to maintaining adequate liquidity and access to capital. We regularly engage in discussions with lenders that participate in our senior unsecured credit facility regarding our capital and liquidity resources and liquidity needs in order to explore alternatives and ensure that we will remain in compliance with our financial covenants and have continued access to funding under the facility. In particular, as of the date of the filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we are in active discussions with the banks participating in our credit facilities to modify the terms of those agreements and obtain debt covenant relief.

OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE

We hold our interests in our portfolio of properties through our operating partnership, PREIT Associates, L.P. We are the sole general partner of PREIT Associates and, as of December 31, 2019, held a 97.5% controlling interest in PREIT Associates. We consolidate PREIT Associates for financial reporting purposes. We own our interests in our properties through various ownership structures, including partnerships and tenancy in common arrangements (collectively, “partnerships”). PREIT Associates’ direct or indirect economic interest in the properties ranges from 25% or 50% (for eight partnership properties) up to 100%. See “Item 2. Properties—Retail Properties.”

We provide management, leasing and real estate development services through two of our subsidiaries: PREIT Services, LLC (“PREIT Services”), which generally develops and manages properties that we consolidate for financial reporting purposes, and PREIT-RUBIN, Inc. (“PRI”), which generally develops and manages properties that we do not consolidate for financial reporting purposes, including properties owned by partnerships in which we own an interest, and properties that are owned by third parties in which we do not have an interest. PREIT Services and PRI are consolidated. PRI is a taxable REIT subsidiary, as defined by federal tax laws, which means that it is able to offer additional services to tenants without jeopardizing our continuing qualification as a REIT under federal tax law.

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COMPETITION

Competition in the retail real estate market is intense. We compete with other public and private retail real estate companies, including companies that own or manage malls, power centers, strip centers, lifestyle centers, factory outlet centers, theme/festival centers and community centers, as well as other commercial real estate developers and real estate owners, particularly those with properties near our properties, on the basis of several factors, including location and rent charged. We compete with these companies to attract customers to our properties, as well as to attract anchor and in-line stores and other tenants. We also compete to acquire land for new site development or to acquire parcels or properties to add to our existing properties. Our malls and our other retail properties face competition from similar retail centers, including more recently developed or renovated centers that are near our retail properties. We also face competition from an increasing variety of different retail formats, including internet retailers, discount or value retailers, home shopping networks, mail order operators, catalogs, and telemarketers. Our tenants face competition from companies at the same and other properties and from other retail channels or formats as well, including internet retailers. This competition could have a material adverse effect on our ability to lease space and on the amount of rent and expense reimbursements that we receive.

The existence or development of competing retail properties and the related increased competition for tenants might, subject to the terms and conditions of our Credit Agreements, lead us to make capital improvements to properties that we would have deferred or would not have otherwise planned to make and might affect occupancy and net operating income of such properties. Any such capital improvements, undertaken individually or collectively, would involve costs and expenses that could adversely affect our results of operations.

We compete with many other entities engaged in real estate investment activities for acquisitions of malls, other retail properties and prime development sites or sites adjacent to our properties, including institutional pension funds, other REITs and other owner-operators of retail properties. When we seek to make acquisitions, competitors might drive up the price we must pay for properties, parcels, other assets or other companies or might themselves succeed in acquiring those properties, parcels, assets or companies. In addition, our potential acquisition targets might find our competitors to be more attractive suitors if they have greater resources, are willing to pay more, or have a more compatible operating philosophy. In particular, larger REITs might enjoy significant competitive advantages that result from, among other things, a lower cost of capital, a better ability to raise capital, a better ability to finance an acquisition, better cash flow and enhanced operating efficiencies. We might not succeed in acquiring retail properties or development sites that we seek, or, if we pay a higher price for a property or site, or generate lower cash flow from an acquired property or site than we expect, our investment returns will be reduced, which will adversely affect the value of our securities.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Under various federal, state and local laws, ordinances, regulations and case law, an owner, former owner or operator of real estate might be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of hazardous or toxic substances present at, on, under, in or released from its property, regardless of whether the owner, operator or other responsible party knew of or was at fault for the release or presence of hazardous or toxic substances. Contamination might adversely affect the owner’s ability to sell or lease real estate or borrow with real estate as collateral. In connection with our ownership, operation, management, development and redevelopment of properties, or any other properties we acquire in the future, we might be liable under these laws and might incur costs in responding to these liabilities.

Each of our retail properties has been subjected to a Phase I or similar environmental audit (which involves a visual property inspection and a review of records, but not soil sampling or ground water analysis) by environmental consultants. These audits have not revealed, and we are not aware of, any environmental liability that we believe would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. It is possible, however, that there are material environmental liabilities of which we are unaware.

We are aware of certain past environmental matters at some of our properties. We have, in the past, investigated and, where we consider appropriate, performed remediation of such environmental matters, but we might be required in the future to perform testing relating to these matters or to satisfy requirements for further remediation, or we might incur liability as a result of such environmental matters. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Our Properties—We might incur costs to comply with environmental laws, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.”

SUSTAINABILITY

We strive to be socially and environmentally conscious. We now have the capacity to produce more than 8 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year from solar arrays at five of our properties. The annual environmental benefit accrued through the production of renewable energy at these five properties is equivalent to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from more than 1,200 passenger vehicles. We also currently offer electric vehicle charging stations at three of our properties, with plans underway for such stations at two more mall locations. Additionally, as part of our redevelopment at Woodland Mall in Grand Rapids, Michigan, we diverted more than 20,000 tons of concrete from two former Sears buildings from landfills, instead recycling it for reuse as building pads, parking lot base and site grading during the expansion phase of the mall.

EMPLOYEES

We had 233 employees at our properties and in our corporate office as of December 31, 2019. None of our employees are represented by a labor union.

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INSURANCE

We have comprehensive liability, fire, flood, cyber liability, terrorism, extended coverage and rental loss insurance that we believe is adequate and consistent with the level of coverage that is standard in our industry. We cannot be assured, however, that our insurance coverage will be adequate to protect against a loss of our invested capital or anticipated profits, or that we will be able to obtain adequate coverage at a reasonable cost in the future.

STATUS AS A REIT

We conduct our operations in a manner intended to maintain our qualification as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Generally, as a REIT, we will not be subject to federal or state income taxes on our net taxable income that we currently distribute to our shareholders. Our qualification and taxation as a REIT depend on our ability to meet various qualification tests (including dividend distribution, asset ownership and income tests) and certain share ownership requirements prescribed in the Internal Revenue Code.

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS

Our principal executive offices are currently located at One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103.  In December 2018, we entered into a lease for this office space with Brandywine Realty Trust.  Our lead independent trustee is also a trustee of Brandywine Realty Trust. The lease commenced in late December 2019 and our corporate office reopened on January 2, 2020 at the One Commerce Square location.

Our principal executive offices during 2019 were located at The Bellevue, 200 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102. We had leased our principal executive offices from Bellevue Associates, an entity that is owned by Ronald Rubin, one of our former trustees, collectively with members of his immediate family and affiliated entities.

SEASONALITY

There is seasonality in the retail real estate industry. Retail property leases often provide for the payment of all or a portion of rent based on a percentage of a tenant’s sales revenue, or sales revenue over certain levels. Income from such rent is recorded only after the minimum sales levels have been met. The sales levels are often met in the fourth quarter, during the November and December holiday season. Also, many new and temporary leases are entered into later in the year in anticipation of the holiday season and a higher number of tenants vacate their space early in the year. As a result, our occupancy and cash flows are generally higher in the fourth quarter and lower in the first and second quarters. Our concentration in the retail sector increases our exposure to seasonality and has resulted, and is expected to continue to result, in a greater percentage of our cash flows being received in the fourth quarter.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

We maintain a website with the address www.preit.com. We are not including or incorporating by reference the information contained on our website into this report. We make available on our website, free of charge and as soon as practicable after filing with the SEC, copies of our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, all Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and all Current Reports on Form 8-K filed during each year, including all amendments to these reports, if any. Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to these reports are also available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, copies of our corporate governance guidelines, codes of business conduct and ethics (which include the code of ethics applicable to our Chief Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) and the governing charters for the audit, nominating and governance, and executive compensation and human resources committees of our Board of Trustees are available free of charge on our website, as well as in print to any shareholder upon request. We intend to comply with the requirements of Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding amendments to and waivers under the code of business conduct and ethics applicable to our Chief Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer by providing such information on our website within four days after effecting any amendment to, or granting any waiver under, that code, and we will maintain such information on our website for at least twelve months.

ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS AND OUR PROPERTIES

Store closings, leasing and construction delays, lease terminations, tenant financial difficulties and tenant bankruptcies have in the past and could in the future adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

We receive a substantial portion of our operating income as rent under leases with tenants. At any time, any tenant having space in one or more of our properties could experience a downturn in its business that might weaken its financial condition. There are also a number of tenants that are based outside the U.S., and these tenants are affected by economic conditions in the country where their headquarters are located and internationally. Any of such tenants might enter into or renew leases with relatively shorter terms. Such tenants might also defer or fail to make rental payments when due, delay or defer lease commencement, voluntarily vacate the premises or declare bankruptcy, which could result in the termination of the tenant’s lease, or preclude the collection of rent in connection with the space for a period of time, and could result in material losses to us and harm to our results of operations. Also, it might take time to terminate leases of underperforming or nonperforming tenants, and we might incur costs to remove such tenants. Some of our tenants occupy stores at multiple locations in our portfolio, and so the effect of any bankruptcy or store closing of those tenants might be more significant to us than the bankruptcy or store closings of other tenants. In addition, under some of our leases, our tenants pay rent based, in whole or in part, on a percentage of their sales. Accordingly, declines in these tenants’ sales could directly affect our results of operations, and in some cases allow these tenants to cancel their leases pursuant to a sales termination clause. Also, if tenants are unable to comply with the terms of our leases, or otherwise seek changes to the terms, including changes to the amount of rent, we might modify lease terms in ways that are less favorable to us.

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If a tenant files for bankruptcy, the tenant might have the right to reject and terminate its leases, and we cannot be sure that it will affirm its leases and continue to make rental payments in a timely manner. A bankruptcy filing by, or relating to, one of our tenants would bar all efforts by us to collect pre-bankruptcy debts from that tenant, or from their property, unless we receive an order permitting us to do so from the bankruptcy court. In addition, we cannot evict a tenant solely because of its bankruptcy. If a lease is assumed by the tenant in bankruptcy, all pre-bankruptcy balances due under the lease must be paid to us in full. However, if a lease is rejected by a tenant in bankruptcy, we would have only a general unsecured claim for damages in connection with such balances. If a bankrupt tenant vacates a space, it might not do so in a timely manner, and we might be unable to re-lease the vacated space during that time, at attractive rates, or at all. In addition, such a scenario with one tenant could result in lease terminations or reductions in rent by other tenants of the same property whose leases have co-tenancy provisions. These other tenants might seek changes to the terms of their leases, including changes to the amount of rent to be paid. Any unsecured claim we hold against a bankrupt tenant might be paid only to the extent that funds are available and only in the same percentage as is paid to all other holders of unsecured claims, and there are restrictions under bankruptcy laws that limit the amount of the claim we can make if a lease is rejected. As a result, it is likely that we would recover substantially less than the full value of any unsecured claims we hold, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In some instances, retailers that have sought protection from creditors under bankruptcy law have had difficulty in obtaining debtor-in-possession financing, which has decreased the likelihood that such retailers will emerge from bankruptcy protection and has limited their alternatives. Tenant bankruptcies and liquidations have adversely affected, and are likely in the future to adversely affect, our financial condition and results of operations.

Changes in the retail industry, particularly among anchor tenant retailers, could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

The income we generate depends in part on our anchor or other major tenants’ ability to attract customers to our properties and generate traffic, which affects the property’s ability to attract non-anchor tenants, and thus the revenue generated by the property. In recent years, in connection with economic conditions and other changes in the retail industry, including customers’ use of smartphones and websites and the continued expansion of e-commerce generally, some anchor tenant retailers have experienced decreases in operating performance, and in response, they are contemplating strategic, operational and other changes. The strategic and operational changes being considered by anchor tenants include subleasing, combinations and other consolidation designed to increase scale, leverage with suppliers like landlords, and other efficiencies, which might result in the restructuring of these companies and which could involve withdrawal from certain geographic areas, such as secondary or tertiary trade areas, or the closure or sale of stores operated by them. We have been affected by anchor store closings in the past and cannot assure you that there will not be additional store closings by any anchor or other tenant in the future, which could affect our results of operations, cash flows, and ability to make cash distributions. The closure of one or more anchor stores would have a negative effect on the affected properties, on our portfolio and on our results of operations. In addition, a lease termination by an anchor for any reason, a failure by an anchor to occupy the premises, or any other cessation of operations by an anchor could result in lease terminations or reductions in rent by other tenants of the same property whose leases permit cancellation or rent reduction (i.e., co-tenancy provisions) if an anchor’s lease is terminated or the anchor otherwise ceases occupancy or operations. In that event, we might be unable to re-lease the vacated space of the anchor or non-anchor stores in a timely manner, or at all. If a large number of anchor stores close in a particular region, competition to fill these vacancies could cause us to lease space at lower rates than we would otherwise seek, which could negatively affect our results of operations. In addition, the leases of some anchors might permit the anchor to transfer its lease, including any attendant approval rights, to another retailer. The transfer to a new anchor could cause customer traffic in the property to decrease or to be composed of different types of customers, which could reduce the income generated by that property. A transfer of a lease to a new anchor also could allow other tenants to make reduced rental payments or to terminate their leases at the property, which could adversely affect our results of operations.

Approximately 35% of our non-anchor leases expire in 2020 or 2021 or are in holdover status, and if we are unable to renew these leases or re-lease the space covered by these leases on equivalent terms, we might experience reduced occupancy and traffic at our properties and lower rental revenue, net operating income, cash flows and funds available for distributions.

The current conditions in the economy, including rising interest rates and changes in the means and patterns of consumer behavior, may affect employment growth and cause fluctuations and variations in retail sales, consumer confidence and consumer spending on retail goods. The weaker operating performance of certain retailers, combined in some circumstances with overleveraged retailer balance sheets in recent years has resulted in store closings and in delays or deferred decisions regarding the openings of new retail stores at some of our properties and affected renewals of both anchor and non-anchor leases. In recent years, partially because of the economic environment, we frequently renewed leases with terms of one year, two years or three years, rather than the more typical five years or ten years. These shorter term leases enabled both the tenant and us, before entering into a longer term lease, to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of a longer term lease at a later time in the economic cycle, at least in part with the expectation that there will be greater visibility into future conditions in the economy and future trends. As a result, we have a substantial number of such leases that are in holdover status or will expire in the next few years, including some leases with our top 20 tenants, and including both anchor and non-anchor leases. See “Item 2. Properties—Retail Lease Expiration Schedule” and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Results of Operations—Leasing Activity.” We might not be successful in renewing the leases for, or re-leasing, the space covered by leases that are in holdover status or that are expiring in 2020 and 2021, or obtaining positive rent renewal spreads, or even renewing the leases on terms comparable to those of the expiring leases. If we are not successful, we will be likely to experience reduced occupancy, traffic, rental revenue and net operating income, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and ability to make distributions to shareholders.

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The investments we have made in redeveloping older properties and developing new properties could be subject to delays or other risks and might not yield the returns we anticipate, which would harm our financial condition and operating results.

Currently, we are planning or engaged in redevelopment projects at a number of our properties. Additionally, Fashion District Philadelphia (“FDP”), which is a significant redevelopment project undertaken through our 50/50 joint venture, opened in September 2019, but development is continuing and FDP has not yet stabilized. To the extent we continue current redevelopment projects or enter into new redevelopment or development projects in the longer term, they will be subject to a number of risks that could negatively affect our return on investment, financial condition, results of operations and our ability to make distributions to shareholders, including, among others:

Some of our retail properties were constructed or last renovated more than 10 years ago. Older, unrenovated properties tend to generate lower rent and might require significant expense for maintenance or renovations to maintain competitiveness, which, if incurred, could harm our results of operations. Subject to the terms and conditions of our Credit Agreements, as a key component of our growth strategy, we plan to continue to redevelop existing properties, and we might develop or redevelop other projects as opportunities arise. These plans are subject to then-prevailing economic, capital market and retail industry conditions.

We might elect not to proceed with certain development projects after they have begun. In general, when we elect not to proceed with a project that has commenced, development costs for such a project will be expensed in the then-current period. The accelerated recognition of these expenses could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations for the period in which the expenses are recognized.

We might be unable to effectively manage any redevelopment and development projects involving a mix of uses, or other unique aspects, such as a project located in a city rather than a suburb, which could affect our financial condition and results of operations.

The complex nature of redevelopment and development projects calls for substantial management time, attention and skill. Some of our redevelopment and development projects currently, and in the future, might involve mixed uses of the properties, including residential, office and other uses. We might not have all of the necessary or desirable skill sets to manage such projects. If a development or redevelopment project includes a non-retail use, we might seek to sell the rights to that component to a third-party developer with experience in that use, or we might seek to partner with such a developer. If we are not able to sell the rights to, or partner with, such a developer, or if we choose to develop the other component ourselves, we would be exposed not only to those risks typically associated with the development of commercial real estate generally, and of retail real estate, but also to specific risks associated with the development, ownership and property management of non-retail real estate, such as the demand for residential or office space of the types to be developed and the effects of general economic conditions on such property types, as opposed to the effects on retail real estate, with which we are more familiar. Also, if we pursue a redevelopment or development project with a different or unique aspect, such as a project in a dense city location like the redevelopment of Fashion District Philadelphia, either in a partnership with another developer (like with Macerich for Fashion District Philadelphia) or ourselves, we would be, and are, exposed to the particular risks associated with the unique aspect such as, in the case of dense city projects, differences in the entitlements process, different types of responses by particular stakeholders and different involvement and priorities of local, state and federal government entities. In addition, even if we sell the rights to develop a specific component or elect to participate in the development through a partnership, we might be exposed to the risks associated with the failure of the other party to complete the development as expected. These include the risk that the other party would default on its obligations, necessitating that we complete the component ourselves (including providing any necessary financing). The lack of sufficient management resources, or of the necessary skill sets to execute our plans, or the failure of a partner in connection with a joint, mixed-use or other unique development, could delay or prevent us from realizing our expectations with respect to any such projects and could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Expense reimbursements are relatively low and might continue to be relatively low. Also, operating expense amounts have increased and, in the future, are likely to continue to increase, reducing our cash flow and funds available for future distributions.

Our leases have historically provided that the tenant is liable for a portion of common area maintenance (“CAM”) costs, real estate taxes and other operating expenses. If these expenses increase, then under such provisions, the tenant’s portion of such expenses also increases. Our new leases are continuing to incorporate terms providing for fixed CAM reimbursement or caps on the rate of annual increases in CAM reimbursement. In these cases, a tenant will pay a set or capped expense reimbursement amount, regardless of the actual amount of operating expenses. The tenant’s payment remains the same even if operating expenses increase, causing us to be responsible for the excess amount. To the extent that existing leases, new leases or renewals of leases do not require a pro rata contribution from tenants, and to the extent that any new fixed CAM reimbursement provision sets an amount below actual expense levels, we are liable for the cost of such expenses in excess of the portion paid by tenants, if any. This has affected and could, in the future, adversely affect our net effective rent, our results of operations and our ability to make distributions to shareholders. Further, if a property is not fully occupied, as it typically is not, we are required to pay the portion of the expenses allocable to the vacant space that is otherwise typically paid by tenants, which would adversely affect our results of operations and our ability to make distributions to shareholders.

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Our properties are also subject to the risk of increases in CAM costs and other operating expenses, which typically include real estate taxes, energy and other utility costs, repairs, maintenance on and capital improvements to common areas, security, housekeeping, property and liability insurance and administrative costs. A significant portion of our operating expenses are managed through contracts with third-party vendors. Vendor consolidation could result in increased expense for such services.  In addition, in recent years, municipalities have sought to raise real estate taxes paid by our property in their jurisdiction because of their strained budgets, our recent redevelopment of such property or for other reasons. In some cases, our mall might be the largest single taxpayer in a jurisdiction, which could make real estate tax increases significant to us. If operating expenses increase, the availability of other comparable retail space in the specific geographic markets where our properties are located might limit our ability to pass these increases through to tenants, or, if we do pass all or a part of these increases on, might lead tenants to seek retail space elsewhere, which, in either case, could adversely affect our results of operations and limit our ability to make distributions to shareholders.

The valuation and accounting treatment of certain long-lived assets, such as real estate, or of intangible assets, such as goodwill, could result in future asset impairments, which would be recorded as operating losses.

Real estate investments and related intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances, such as a decrease in net operating income, the loss of an anchor tenant or an agreement of sale at a price below book value, indicate that the carrying amount of the property might not be recoverable. An operating property to be held and used is considered impaired under applicable accounting authority only if management’s estimate of the aggregate future cash flows to be generated by the property, undiscounted and without interest charges, is less than the carrying value of the property. In addition, this estimate may consider a probability weighted cash flow estimation approach when alternative courses of action to recover the carrying amount of a long-lived asset are under consideration or when a range of possible values is estimated. This estimate takes into consideration factors such as expected future net operating income, trends and prospects, and upcoming lease maturities, as well as the effects of demand, competition and other factors. We have set our estimates of future cash flows to be generated by our properties taking into account these factors, which might cause changes in our estimates in the future. If we find that the carrying value of real estate investments and related intangible assets has been impaired, as we did in recent years, we will recognize impairment with respect to such assets. Applicable accounting principles require that goodwill and certain intangible assets be tested for impairment annually or earlier upon the occurrence of certain events or substantive changes in circumstances. If we find that the carrying value of goodwill or certain intangible assets exceeds estimated fair value, we will reduce the carrying value of the real estate investment or goodwill or intangible asset to the estimated fair value, and we will recognize impairment with respect to such investments or goodwill or intangible assets.

Impairment of long-lived assets is required to be recorded as a noncash operating expense. Our 2019, 2018, and 2017 impairment analyses resulted in noncash impairment charges on long-lived assets of $5.0 million, $137.5 million, and $55.8 million, respectively, and, as a result, the carrying values of our impaired assets were reset to their estimated fair values as of the respective dates on which the impairments were recognized. Any further decline in the estimated fair values of these assets could result in additional impairment charges. It is possible that such impairments, if required, could be material. See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies—Asset Impairment.”

Conditions in the U.S. economy might adversely affect our cash flows from operations.

The U.S. economy has continued to experience relatively slow income growth, increased health care costs and reduced or fluctuating business and consumer confidence and retail sales. Changes in the patterns of consumer spending, consumer confidence and seasonal spending have led to decreased operating performance of and bankruptcy or similar filings by several retailer tenants, which has led to store closings, delays or deferred decisions regarding lease renewals and the openings of new retail stores at our properties, and has in some cases affected the ability of our current tenants to meet their obligations to us. This could adversely affect our ability to generate cash flows, meet our debt service requirements, comply with the covenants under our Credit Agreements, make capital expenditures and make distributions to shareholders. These conditions could also have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Our retail properties are concentrated in the Eastern United States, particularly in the Mid-Atlantic region, and adverse market conditions in that region might affect the ability of our tenants to make lease payments and the interest of prospective tenants to enter into leases, which might reduce the amount of revenue generated by our properties.

Our retail properties are concentrated in the Eastern United States, particularly in the Mid-Atlantic region, including a number of properties in the Philadelphia, and to a lesser extent, the Washington, D.C. metropolitan areas. To the extent adverse conditions affecting retail properties, such as economic conditions, population trends, changing demographics and urbanization, availability and costs of financing, construction costs, income, unemployment, declining real estate values, local real estate conditions, sales and property taxes and tax laws, and weather conditions are particularly adverse in these areas, our results of operations will be affected to a greater degree than companies that do not have concentrations in these regions. If the sales of stores operating at our properties were to decline significantly due to adverse regional conditions, the risk that our tenants, including anchors, will be unable to fulfill the terms of their leases to pay rent or will enter into bankruptcy might increase. Furthermore, such adverse regional conditions might affect the likelihood or timing of lease commitments by new tenants or lease renewals by existing tenants as such parties delay their leasing decisions in order to obtain the most current information about trends in their businesses or industries. If, as a result of prolonged adverse regional conditions, occupancy at our properties decreases or our properties do not generate sufficient revenue to meet our operating and other expenses, including debt service, our financial position, results of operations, cash flow and ability to make distributions to shareholders would be adversely affected.

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The benefits of our redevelopment of The Gallery at Market East into Fashion District Philadelphia may not be realized as expected and our financial results could be adversely affected.

We, along with our joint venture partner, The Macerich Company, undertook the significant redevelopment of Fashion District Philadelphia (“FDP”). FDP opened in 2019, but development activities are continuing, occupancy has not yet been fully achieved, and stabilization is currently projected to be realized in 2021. Although FDP is expected to generate a positive contribution and provide for future growth, operating FDP involves a number of risks, including those that are financial and operational in nature. For example, FDP may under-perform relative to our expectations or not perform in accordance with our anticipated timetable or it may place unanticipated demands on our resources.  If we are unable to realize the expected benefits of our investment in this joint venture, our financial results could be adversely affected.

We have invested and expect to invest in the future in partnerships with third parties to acquire, develop or redevelop properties, and we might not control the management, redevelopment or disposition of these properties, or we might be exposed to other risks.

We have invested and expect to invest in the future as a partner with third parties in the acquisition or ownership of existing properties or the development of new properties, in contrast to acquiring or owning properties or developing projects by ourselves. Entering into partnerships with third parties involves risks not present where we act alone, in that we might not have primary control over the acquisition, disposition, development, redevelopment, financing, leasing, management, budgeting and other aspects of the property or project. These limitations might adversely affect our ability to develop, redevelop or sell these properties at the most advantageous time for us, if at all. Also, there might be restrictive provisions and rights that apply to sales or transfers of interests in our partnership properties, which might require us to make decisions about buying or selling interests at a disadvantageous time.

Some of our retail properties are owned by partnerships for which major decisions, such as a sale, lease, refinancing, redevelopment, expansion or rehabilitation of a property, or a change of property manager, require the consent of all partners. Accordingly, because decisions must be unanimous, necessary actions might be delayed significantly and it might be difficult or even impossible to remove a partner that is serving as the property manager. We might not be able to resolve favorably any conflicts which arise with respect to such decisions, or we might be required to provide financial or other inducements to our partners to obtain a resolution. In cases where we are not the controlling partner or where we are only one of the general partners, there are many decisions that do not relate to fundamental matters that do not require our approval and that we do not control. Also, in cases in which we serve as managing general partner of the partnership that owns the property, we might have certain fiduciary responsibilities to the other partners in those partnerships.

Business disagreements with our third-party partners might arise. We might incur substantial expenses in resolving these disputes. Moreover, we cannot assure you that our resolution of a dispute with a third-party partner will be on terms that are favorable to us.

The profitability of each partnership we enter into with a third party that has short-term financing or debt requiring a balloon payment is dependent on the subsequent availability of long-term financing on satisfactory terms. If satisfactory long-term financing is not available, we might have to rely on other sources of short-term financing or equity contributions. Although these partnerships are not wholly-owned by us, if any obligations were recourse, we might be required to pay the full amount of any obligation of the partnership, or we might elect to pay all of the obligations of such a partnership to protect our equity interest in its properties and assets. This could cause us to utilize a substantial portion of our liquidity sources or operating funds and could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and reduce amounts available for distribution to shareholders.

Other risks of investments in partnerships with third parties include:

We face competition for the acquisition of properties, development sites and other assets, which might impede our ability to make future acquisitions or might increase the cost of these acquisitions.

We compete with many other entities engaged in real estate investment activities for acquisitions of malls, other retail properties and other prime development sites or sites adjacent to our properties, including institutional investors, other REITs and other owner-operators of retail properties. Our efforts to compete for acquisitions are also subject to the terms and conditions and limitations of our Credit Agreements. When we seek to make acquisitions, competitors might drive up the price we must pay for properties, parcels, other assets or other companies, or might themselves succeed in acquiring those properties, parcels, assets or companies. In addition, our potential acquisition targets might find our competitors to be more attractive suitors if they have greater resources, are willing to pay more, or have a more compatible operating philosophy. In particular, larger REITs might enjoy significant competitive advantages that result from, among other things, a lower cost of capital, a better ability to raise capital, a better ability to finance an acquisition, and enhanced operating efficiencies. We might not succeed in acquiring retail properties or development sites that we seek, or, if we pay a higher price for a property or site, or generate lower cash flow from an acquired property or site than we expect, our investment returns will be reduced, which will adversely affect the value of our securities.

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We might not be successful in identifying suitable acquisitions that meet the criteria we apply, given economic, market or other circumstances, which might adversely affect our results of operations.

Acquisitions of retail properties have historically been an important component of our growth strategy, though we have initiated few acquisitions in recent years. Expanding by acquisitions requires us to identify suitable acquisition candidates or investment opportunities that meet the criteria we apply, given economic, market or other circumstances, and that are compatible with our growth strategy. We must also typically obtain financing on terms that are acceptable to us. We analyze potential acquisitions on a property-by-property and market-by-market basis. We might not be successful in identifying suitable properties or other assets in our existing geographic markets or in markets new to us that meet the acquisition criteria we apply, given economic, market or other circumstances, in financing such properties or other assets or in consummating acquisitions or investments on satisfactory terms. In connection with prospective acquisitions, we generally conduct a due diligence review of the target property, portfolio or investment.  While the process of due diligence is intended to provide us with an independent basis to evaluate a prospective acquisition, in some cases we might be given limited time or be given limited materials to review, or pertinent facts might not be adequately uncovered. In such cases, the decision of whether to pursue acquiring the property or portfolio might be based on insufficient, incomplete or inaccurate information, which might lead us to make acquisitions that might have additional or larger issues than we anticipated. If so, these issues might reduce the returns on our investment and affect our financial condition and results of operations. An inability to successfully identify, consummate or finance acquisitions could reduce the number of acquisitions we complete and impede our growth, which could adversely affect our results of operations.

We might be unable to integrate effectively any additional properties we might acquire, which might result in disruptions to our business and additional expense.

To the extent that we pursue acquisitions of additional properties or portfolios of properties that meet the investment criteria we apply, given economic, market and other circumstances, we might not be able to adapt our management and operational systems to effectively manage any such acquired properties or portfolios. Specific risks for our ongoing operations posed by acquisitions we have completed or that we might complete in the future include:

If we fail to successfully integrate any properties, portfolios, assets or companies we acquire, or fail to effectively handle our increased operations or to realize the intended benefits of any such transactions, our financial condition and results of operations, and our ability to make distributions to shareholders, might be adversely affected.

Our business could be harmed if members of our corporate management team terminate their employment with us or otherwise are unable to continue in their current capacity or we are unable to attract and retain talented employees.

Our future success depends, to a meaningful extent, upon the continued services of Joseph F. Coradino, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Mario C. Ventresca, Jr., our Chief Financial Officer, and the services of our corporate management team and, more broadly, our employees generally. Our executives have substantial experience in managing, developing and acquiring retail real estate. In March 2020, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mario C. Ventresca, Jr. to serve as its Chief Financial Officer. We have also entered into an employment agreement with Joseph F. Coradino, our Chief Executive Officer. Each of these individuals could elect to terminate their respective agreements at any time. The loss of services of one or more members of our corporate management team, or our failure to attract and retain talented employees generally could harm our business and our prospects. Further, if we undertake certain cost-savings and restructuring initiatives in the future, they may be disruptive to our workforce and operations and adversely affect our financial results, because they may impact employee morale and may impair our ability to attract and retain talent.

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If we suffer losses that are not covered by insurance or that are in excess of our insurance coverage limits, we could lose invested capital and anticipated profits.

There are some types of losses, including those of a catastrophic nature, such as losses due to wars, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, pollution, environmental matters, information technology system failures (including phishing, ransomware and cyber attacks) and lease and contract claims, that are generally uninsurable or not economically insurable, or might be subject to insurance coverage limitations, including large deductibles or co-payments or caps on coverage amounts. Under federal terrorism risk insurance legislation, the United States government provides reinsurance coverage to insurance companies following a declared terrorism event. There is a generally similar program relating to flood insurance.  If either or both of these programs were no longer in effect, it might become prohibitively expensive, or impossible, to obtain insurance that covers damages or losses from those types of events.  Tenants might also encounter difficulty obtaining coverage. 

If one of these events occurred to, or caused the destruction of, one or more of our properties, we could lose both our invested capital and anticipated profits from that property. We also might remain obligated for any mortgage loan or other financial obligation related to the property. In addition, if we are unable to obtain insurance in the future at acceptable levels and at a reasonable cost, the possibility of losses in excess of our insurance coverage might increase and we might not be able to comply with covenants under our debt agreements, which could adversely affect our financial condition. If any of our properties were to experience a significant, uninsured loss, it could seriously disrupt our operations, delay our receipt of revenue and result in large expense to repair or rebuild the property. These types of events could adversely affect our cash flow, results of operations and ability to make distributions to shareholders.

We might incur costs to comply with environmental laws, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

Under various federal, state and local laws, ordinances, regulations and case law, an owner, former owner or operator of real estate might be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of hazardous or toxic substances present at, on, under, in or released from its property, regardless of whether the owner, operator or other responsible party knew of or was at fault for the release or presence of hazardous or toxic substances. The responsible party also might be liable to the government or to third parties for substantial property damage and investigation and cleanup costs. Even if more than one person might have been responsible for the contamination, each person covered by the environmental laws might be held responsible for all of the clean-up costs incurred. In addition, some environmental laws create a lien on the contaminated site in favor of the government for damages and costs the government incurs in connection with the contamination. Contamination might adversely affect the owner’s ability to sell or lease real estate or borrow with that real estate as collateral. In connection with our ownership, operation, management, development and redevelopment of properties, or any other properties we acquire in the future, we might be liable under these laws and might incur costs in responding to these liabilities.

We are aware of certain environmental matters at some of our properties. We have, in the past, investigated and, where appropriate, performed remediation of such environmental matters, but we might be required in the future to perform testing relating to these matters and further remediation might be required, or we might incur liability as a result of such environmental matters. Environmental matters at our properties include the following:

Asbestos. Asbestos-containing materials are present at a number of our properties, primarily in the form of floor tiles, mastics, roofing materials and adhesives. Fire-proofing material containing asbestos is present at some of our properties in limited concentrations or in limited areas. Under applicable laws and practices, asbestos-containing material in good, non-friable condition are allowed to be present, although removal might be required in certain circumstances. In particular, in the course of any redevelopment, renovation, construction or build out of tenant space, asbestos-containing materials are generally removed.

Underground and Above Ground Storage Tanks. Underground and above ground storage tanks are or were present at some of our properties. These tanks were used to store waste oils or other petroleum products primarily related to the operation of automobile service center establishments at those properties. In some cases, the underground storage tanks have been abandoned in place, filled in with inert materials or removed and replaced with above ground tanks. Some of these tanks might have leaked into the soil, leading to ground water and soil contamination. Where leakage has occurred, we might incur investigation, remediation and monitoring costs if responsible current or former tenants, or other responsible parties, are unavailable to pay such costs.

Ground Water and Soil Contamination. Ground water contamination has been found at some properties in which we currently or formerly had an interest. At some properties, dry cleaning operations, which might have used solvents, contributed to ground water and soil contamination.

Each of our retail properties has been subjected to a Phase I or similar environmental audit (which involves a visual property inspection and a review of records, but not soil sampling or ground water analysis) by environmental consultants. These audits have not revealed, and we are not aware of, any environmental liability that we believe would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. It is possible, however, that there are material environmental liabilities of which we are unaware. Also, we cannot assure you that future laws will not impose any material environmental liability, or that the current environmental condition of our properties will not be affected by the operations of our tenants, by the existing condition of the land, by operations in the vicinity of the properties (such as the presence of underground storage tanks) or by the activities of unrelated third parties.

We have environmental liability insurance coverage for the types of environmental liabilities described above, which currently covers liability for pollution and on-site remediation of up to $25.0 million per occurrence and $25.0 million in the aggregate over our three year policy term. We cannot assure you that this coverage will be adequate to cover future environmental liabilities. If this environmental coverage were inadequate, we would be obligated to fund those liabilities. We might be unable to continue to obtain insurance for environmental matters, at a reasonable cost or at all, in the future.

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In addition to the costs of remediation, we might incur additional costs to comply with federal, state and local laws relating to environmental protection and human health and safety. There are also various federal, state and local fire, health, life-safety and similar regulations that might be applicable to our operations and that might subject us to liability in the form of fines or damages for noncompliance. The cost described above, individually or in the aggregate, could adversely affect our results of operations.

Inflation may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

Inflationary price increases could have an adverse effect on consumer spending, which could impact our tenants’ sales and, in turn, our tenants’ business operations. This could affect the amount of rent these tenants pay, including if their leases provide for percentage rent or percentage of sales rent, and their ability to pay rent. Also, inflation could cause increases in operating expenses, which could increase occupancy costs for tenants and, to the extent that we are unable to recover operating expenses from tenants, could increase operating expenses for us. In addition, if the rate of inflation exceeds the scheduled rent increases included in our leases, then our net operating income and our profitability would decrease. Inflation could also result in increases in market interest rates, which could not only negatively impact consumer spending and tenant investment decisions, but would also increase the borrowing costs associated with our existing or any future variable rate debt, to the extent such rates are not effectively hedged or fixed, or any future debt that we incur.

We face risks associated with, and have experienced, security breaches through cyber attacks. A significant privacy breach or IT system disruption could adversely affect our business and we might be required to increase our spending on data and system security, which could adversely affect our financial condition.

We rely on information technology networks and systems, including the Internet, to process, transmit and store electronic information, and to manage or support a variety of business processes and activities. In addition, our business relationships with our tenants and vendors involve the storage and transmission of proprietary information and sensitive or confidential data. Like many businesses today, we have experienced an increase in cyber-threats and attempted intrusions. Our systems are subject to a variety of forms of cyber attacks (including phishing and ransomware attacks) with the objective of gaining unauthorized access to our systems or data or disrupting our operations.  Security breaches have, from time to time, occurred and may occur in the future.  Due to the nature of these attacks, there is a risk that an attack or intrusion remains undetected for a period of time.  Though the cyber attacks we have experienced have not had a material impact on our financial results to date, and we maintain cyber liability insurance coverage, there remains a risk that breaches in security could expose us, our tenants or our employees to a risk of loss, misappropriation of assets that cannot be recovered, or misuse of proprietary information and of sensitive or confidential data. In addition, our information technology systems, some of which are managed or hosted by third-parties, may be susceptible to damage, disruptions or shutdowns due to computer viruses, attacks by computer hackers, telecommunication failures, user errors or catastrophic events, failures during the process of upgrading or replacing software, databases or components thereof, power outages or hardware failures. Any of these occurrences could result in disruptions in our operations, the loss of existing or potential tenants or shoppers, damage to our brand and reputation, regulatory compliance efforts and costs, remediation costs, and litigation and potential liability. Even the most well-protected information remains potentially vulnerable, because the techniques and sophistication used to conduct cyber attacks and breaches of IT systems, as well as the sources of these attacks, change frequently and are often not recognized until they are launched and have been put in place for a period of time.  Although we make substantial efforts to maintain the security of our networks and related systems, there can be no assurance that our security efforts will be effective or that attempted security breaches would not be successful or damaging. Our efforts include conducting periodic assessments of internal and external threats to and vulnerabilities of our information and technology systems, security controls and processes in place and the effectiveness of our management of cybersecurity risk. The results of these assessments are used to create and implement strategies designed to prevent, detect and respond to cybersecurity threats, and we expect to continue to employ cybersecurity risk mitigation measures, as well as seek to improve and expand such measures.  We expect to continue to dedicate resources to technology and mitigating related risks. We may incur increasing costs to deploy additional personnel and protection technologies, to train employees and engage third-party experts and consultants, or to notify employees, suppliers or the general public as part of our notification obligations. The cost and operational consequences of implementing further data or system protection measures or remediation efforts could be significant. Our processes, procedures and controls to reduce these risks, our increased awareness of the risk of a cyber incident, and our insurance coverage, however, do not guarantee that our financial results would not be materially impacted by a cyber incident.

Our retailer tenants’ businesses also require the collection, transmission and retention of large volumes of shopper and employee data, including credit and debit card numbers and other personally identifiable information, in various information technology systems. The consequences of cyber attacks perpetrated against our retailer tenants, which may include the misappropriation of assets or sensitive information or an operational disruption, could diminish consumer confidence and spending, result in fines, legal claims or proceedings or other liability, as well as significant remediation costs, any of which could have a material and adverse effect on their financial condition and results of operations and business. This could, in turn, have an adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

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RISKS RELATED TO THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY

Online shopping and other uses of technology could affect the business models and viability of retailers, which could, in turn, affect their demand for retail real estate.

Online retailing and shopping and the use of technology to aid purchase decisions have increased in recent years, and are expected to continue to increase in the future. In certain categories, such as books, music, apparel and electronics, online retailing has become a significant proportion of total sales, and has affected retailers and consumers significantly. The information available online empowers consumers with knowledge about products and information about prices and other offers differently than information available in a single physical store with sales associates. Consumers are able to purchase products anytime and anywhere, and are able to compare more products than are typically found in a single retail location, and they are able to read product reviews and to compare product features and pricing. In addition, customers of certain of our retailers use technology including smartphones to check competitors’ product offerings and prices while in stores evaluating merchandise. Some tenants utilize our shopping centers as showrooms or as part of an omni-channel strategy (allowing for customers to shop online or in stores and for order fulfillment and returns to take place in stores or via shipping). In this model, customers may make purchases during or immediately after visiting our malls, with such sales not currently being captured in our tenant sales figures or monetized in our minimum or percentage rents.

Online shopping and technology, such as smartphone applications, might affect the business models, sales and profitability of retailers, which might, in turn, affect the demand for retail real estate, occupancy at our properties and the amount of rent that we receive. Any resulting decreases in rental revenue could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and ability to make distributions to shareholders.

We are subject to risks that affect the retail real estate environment generally.

Our business focuses on retail real estate, predominantly malls. As such, we are subject to certain risks that can affect the ability of our retail properties to generate sufficient revenue to meet our operating and other expenses, including debt service, to make capital expenditures and to make distributions to our shareholders. We face continuing challenges because of changing consumer preferences and because the conditions in the economy affect employment growth and cause fluctuations and variations in retail sales and in business and consumer confidence and consumer spending on retail goods. In general, a number of factors can negatively affect the income generated by a retail property or the value of a property, including: a downturn in the national, regional or local economy; a decrease in employment or consumer confidence or spending; increases in operating costs, such as common area maintenance, real estate taxes, utility rates and insurance premiums; higher energy or fuel costs resulting from adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, geopolitical concerns, terrorist activities and other factors; changes in interest rate levels and the cost and availability of financing; a weakening of local real estate conditions, such as an oversupply of, or a reduction in demand for, retail space or retail goods, and the availability and creditworthiness of current and prospective tenants; trends in the retail industry; seasonality; changes in perceptions by retailers or shoppers of the safety, convenience and attractiveness of a retail property; perceived changes in the convenience and quality of competing retail properties and other retailing options such as internet shopping or other strategies, such as using smartphones or other technologies to determine where to make and to assist in making purchases; the ability of our tenants to meet shoppers’ demands for quality, variety, and product availability, which may be impacted by supply chain disruptions; and changes in laws and regulations applicable to real property, including tax and zoning laws. For example, in early 2020, a global outbreak of a novel coronavirus occurred, leading to travel restrictions and plant shutdowns, all of which have impacted, and could continue to impact, our tenants’ supply chains and, ultimately, retail product availability. Fears related to this coronavirus outbreak has impacted, and may continue to impact, shoppers’ willingness to visit our retail properties and the continued spread of the virus has resulted in property shutdowns, and may result in additional shutdowns of our retail properties, particularly in certain geographies reporting increasing diagnoses of the virus or related illnesses. The extent of the outbreak and its impact on our tenants and our operations is uncertain, but a prolonged outbreak could continue to have a material impact.  

Changes in one or more of the aforementioned factors can lead to a decrease in the revenue or income generated by our properties and can have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Many of these factors could also specifically or disproportionately affect one or more of our tenants, which could lead to decreased operating performance, reduce property revenue and affect our results of operations. If the estimated future cash flows related to a particular property are significantly reduced, we may be required to reduce the carrying value of the property.

The retail real estate industry is highly competitive, and this competition could harm our ability to operate profitably.

Competition in the retail real estate industry is intense. We compete with other public and private retail real estate companies, including companies that own or manage malls, power centers, strip centers, lifestyle centers, factory outlet centers, theme/festival centers and community centers, as well as other commercial real estate developers and real estate owners, particularly those with properties near our properties, on the basis of several factors, including location and rent charged. We compete with these companies to attract customers to our properties, as well as to attract anchor, non-anchor and other tenants. We also compete to acquire land for new site development or to add to our existing properties. Our properties face competition from similar retail centers, including more recently developed or renovated centers that are near our retail properties. We also face competition from a variety of different retail formats, including internet retailers, discount or value retailers, home shopping networks, mail order operators, catalogs, and telemarketers. Our tenants face competition from companies at the same and other properties and from other retail formats as well, including retailers with a significant online presence. This competition could have a material adverse effect on our ability to lease space and on the amount of rent and expense reimbursements that we receive.

The existence or development of competing retail properties and the related increased competition for tenants might, subject to the terms and conditions of our Credit Agreements, require us to make capital improvements to properties that we would have deferred or would not have otherwise planned to make, and might affect the occupancy and net operating income of such properties. Any such capital improvements, undertaken individually or collectively, would involve costs and expenses that could adversely affect our results of operations.

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Acts of violence or war or other terrorist activity, including at our properties, could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

Violent activities, terrorist or other attacks, threats of attacks or the increased frequency of such attacks or threats of attacks could directly affect the value of our properties as a result of casualties or through property damage, destruction or loss, or by making shoppers afraid to patronize such properties. The availability of insurance for such acts, or of insurance generally, might decrease, or cost more, which could increase our operating expenses and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Future acts of violence or terrorist attacks in the United States might result in declining economic activity, which could harm the demand for goods and services offered by our tenants and the value of our properties, and might adversely affect the value of an investment in our securities. Such a decrease in retail demand could make it difficult for us to renew leases or enter into new leases at our properties at lease rates equal to or above historical rates. To the extent that our tenants are directly or indirectly affected by future attacks, their businesses similarly could be adversely affected, including their ability to continue to meet obligations under their existing leases. Customers of the tenants at an affected property, and at other properties, might be less inclined to shop at an affected location or at a retail property generally. Such acts might erode business and consumer confidence and spending, and might result in increased volatility in national and international financial markets and economies. Any such acts could decrease demand for retail goods or real estate, decrease or delay the occupancy of our properties, and limit our access to capital or increase our cost of raising capital.

The illiquidity of real estate investments might delay or prevent us from selling properties that we determine no longer meet the strategic and financial criteria we apply and could significantly affect our ability to respond in a timely manner to adverse changes in the performance of our properties and harm our financial condition.

Substantially all of our assets consist of investments in real properties. We review all of the assets in our portfolio regularly and we make determinations about which assets have growth potential and which properties do not meet the strategic or financial criteria we apply and should thus be divested. Because real estate investments are relatively illiquid, our ability to quickly sell one or more properties in our portfolio in response to our evaluation or to changing economic and financial conditions is limited. The real estate market is affected by many factors that are beyond our control, such as general economic conditions, the availability of financing, interest rates, and the supply and demand for space. We cannot predict whether we will be able to sell any property for the price or on the terms we set, or whether any price or other terms offered by a prospective purchaser would be acceptable to us. The number of prospective buyers interested in purchasing malls is limited. We also cannot predict the length of time needed to find a willing purchaser and to close the sale of a property. In addition, prospective buyers might experience increased costs of debt financing or other difficulties in obtaining debt financing (as the volatility in the credit markets may be reflected in lending on unfavorable terms to the retail industry), which might make it more difficult for us to sell properties or might adversely affect the price we receive for properties that we do sell. There are also limitations under federal income tax laws applicable to REITs that could limit our ability to sell assets. Therefore, if we want to sell one or more of our properties, we might not be able to make such dispositions in the desired time period, or at all, and might receive less consideration than we seek or than we originally invested in the property.

Before a property can be sold, we might be required to make expenditures to correct defects or to make improvements. We cannot assure you that we will have funds available to correct those defects or to make those improvements, and if we cannot do so, we might not be able to sell the property, or might be required to sell the property on unfavorable terms. In acquiring a property, we might agree with the sellers or others to provisions that materially restrict us from selling that property for a period of time or impose other restrictions, such as limitations on the amount of debt that can be placed or repaid on that property. These factors and any others that would impede our ability to respond to adverse changes in the performance of our properties could significantly harm our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, failure to sell the properties that we intend to sell could delay or negatively affect our strategy to obtain higher rental rates from retailers with multiple stores in our portfolios, including at these properties. 

RISKS RELATED TO OUR INDEBTEDNESS AND OUR FINANCING

We have substantial debt and stated value of preferred shares outstanding, which could adversely affect our overall financial health and our operating flexibility. We require significant cash flows to satisfy our debt service and dividends on our preferred shares outstanding. These obligations may prevent us from using our cash flows for other purposes. If we are unable to satisfy these obligations, we might default on our debt or reduce, defer or suspend our dividend payments on preferred shares or reduce our dividend payments on common shares below historical rates.

We use a substantial amount of debt and preferred shares outstanding to finance our business. As of December 31, 2019, we had an aggregate consolidated indebtedness of $1,702.8 million, the majority of which consisted of mortgage loans secured by our properties. These aggregate debt amounts do not include our proportionate share of indebtedness of our partnership properties, which was $376.3 million as of December 31, 2019. We also had outstanding as of December 31, 2019, in the aggregate, $86.3 million of 7.375% Series B Preferred Shares, $172.5 million of 7.20% Series C Preferred Shares and $125.0 million of 6.875% Series D Preferred Shares.

Our substantial indebtedness and preferred shares outstanding involve significant obligations for the payment of interest, principal and dividends. If we do not have sufficient cash flow from operations to meet these obligations, we might be forced to sell assets to generate cash, which might be on unfavorable terms, if at all, or we might not be able to make all required payments of principal and interest on our debt, which could result in a default or have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations, and which might adversely affect our ability to make distributions to shareholders and might lead us to determine to reduce our dividend payments below historical rates, any of which might adversely affect the value of our preferred shares or our common shares.

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Our substantial obligations arising from our indebtedness and preferred shares could also have other negative consequences to our shareholders, including the acceleration of a significant amount of our debt if we are not in compliance with the terms of such debt or, if such debt contains cross-default or cross-acceleration provisions (as our Credit Agreements do), other debt. If we fail to meet our obligations under our debt and our preferred shares, we could lose assets due to foreclosure or sale on unfavorable terms, which could create taxable income without accompanying cash proceeds, or such failure could harm our ability to obtain additional financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures, debt service requirements, acquisitions, redevelopment and development activities, execution of our business strategy or other general corporate purposes. Also, our indebtedness and mandated debt service might limit our ability to refinance existing debt or to do so at a reasonable cost, might make us more vulnerable to adverse economic and market conditions, might limit our ability to respond to competition or to take advantage of opportunities, and might discourage business partners from working with us or counterparties from entering into hedging transactions with us.

In addition to our current debt, we might incur additional debt in the future in the form of mortgage loans, unsecured borrowings, additional borrowing under our existing Credit Agreements, other term loan borrowings or other financing vehicles or arrangements, or by issuing additional preferred shares. We might do so in order to finance acquisitions, to develop or redevelop properties or for other general corporate purposes, subject to the terms and conditions of our Credit Agreements, which could exacerbate the risks set forth above.

If we are unable to comply with the covenants in our Credit Agreements, we might be adversely affected.

The Credit Agreements require us to satisfy certain customary affirmative and negative covenants and to meet numerous financial tests, including tests relating to our leverage, unencumbered debt yield, interest coverage, fixed charge coverage, tangible net worth, corporate debt yield and facility debt yield. These covenants could restrict our ability to pursue acquisitions, redevelopment and development projects or limit our ability to respond to changes and competition, and reduce our flexibility in conducting our operations by limiting our ability to borrow money, sell or place liens on assets, manage our cash flows, repurchase securities, make capital expenditures or make distributions to shareholders. We expect the current conditions in the economy and the retail industry to continue to affect our operating results. The leverage covenant in the Credit Agreements generally takes our net operating income and applies capitalization rates to calculate Gross Asset Value, and consequently, deterioration or improvement to our operating performance also affects the calculation of our leverage. In addition, a material decline in future operating results could affect our ability to comply with other financial ratio covenants contained in our Credit Agreements, which are calculated on a trailing four quarter basis. Also, we might be restricted in the amount we can borrow based on the Unencumbered Debt Yield covenant under the Credit Agreements. Following recent property sales, the NOI from our remaining unencumbered properties is at a level such that the maximum amount that was available to be borrowed by us under the 2018 Revolving Facility was $26.3 million as of December 31, 2019.

As of December 31, 2019, we were in compliance with all the financial covenants in our Credit Agreements. Particularly in light of recent property sales and reduction in our asset base, however, we are at increased risk of being unable to comply with these covenants or having reduced borrowing capacity. We regularly engage in discussions with lenders that participate in our senior unsecured credit facility regarding our capital and liquidity resources and needs, including to explore alternatives and ensure that we will remain in compliance with our financial covenants and have continued access to funding under the facility, which alternatives may include waivers or amendments. For example, as of the date of the filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we are in active discussions with the banks participating in our credit facilities to modify the terms of those agreements and obtain debt covenant relief. There is no assurance that we could obtain such waivers or amendments, and even if obtained, we would likely incur additional costs. Our inability to obtain any such waiver or amendment could result in a breach and a possible event of default under our Credit Agreements, which could allow the lenders to discontinue lending or issuing letters of credit, terminate any commitments they have made to provide us with additional funds, and/or declare amounts outstanding to be immediately due and payable. If a default were to occur, we might have to refinance the debt through secured or unsecured debt financing or private or public offerings of debt or equity securities. If we are unable to do so, we might have to liquidate assets, potentially on unfavorable terms. Any of such consequences could negatively affect our financial position, results of operations, cash flow and ability to make capital expenditures and distributions to shareholders.

We have determined that there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

In evaluating whether there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued, our management considered our current financial condition and liquidity sources, including current funds available, forecasted future cash flows and our conditional and unconditional obligations due over the next twelve months. Management considered the following: (i) our senior unsecured facility, which includes a revolving facility maturing in 2022 with a balance of $255.0 million as of December 31, 2019 and term loans maturing in 2021 with a balance of $550.0 million as of December 31, 2019; (ii) our mortgage loans with varying maturities through 2025 with a principal balance of $901.6 million as of December 31, 2019; (iii) the financial covenant compliance requirements of our credit agreements; and (iv) recurring costs of operating our business. As a result of the considerations articulated below, management concluded there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

Although we plan to control costs, sell certain real estate assets and continue to work with the banks participating in our credit facilities to obtain debt covenant relief, there are inherent risks, unknown results and significant uncertainties associated with each of these matters and the direct correlation between these matters and our ability to satisfy financial obligations that may arise over the applicable twelve month period. Our ability to satisfy obligations under our senior unsecured credit facility and mortgage loans, maintain compliance with our debt covenants and fund recurring costs of operations depends on management’s ability to complete the sale of certain real estate assets, which sales will provide cash, to continue to control costs, and to obtain relief from banks participating in our credit facilities in regards to debt covenants. While controlling costs is within management’s control to some extent, executing the sale-leaseback transactions, selling real estate assets and obtaining relief from the lender group through modified debt covenant requirements involve performance by third parties and therefore cannot be considered probable of occurring.

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The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary should we be unable to continue as a going concern. Management is taking steps to mitigate the associated risks, but we can provide no assurance that cash generated from our operations together with cash received in the future from our various sources of funding will be sufficient to enable us to continue as a going concern.

We might not be able to refinance our existing obligations or obtain the capital required to finance our activities.

The REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, generally require the distribution to shareholders of 90% of a REIT’s net taxable income, excluding net capital gains, which generally leaves insufficient funds to finance major initiatives internally. Due to these requirements, and subject to the terms of the Credit Agreements, we generally fund certain capital requirements, such as the capital for renovations, expansions, redevelopments, other non-recurring capital improvements, scheduled debt maturities, and acquisitions of properties or other assets, through secured and unsecured indebtedness and, when available and market conditions are favorable, the issuance of additional equity securities.

As of December 31, 2019, we had one consolidated mortgage loan with an outstanding balance of $27.4 million with an initial maturity in July 2020 at our consolidated properties. Also, subject to the terms and conditions of our Credit Agreements, we estimate that we will need between $130.0 million and $150.0 million of additional capital to complete our current active anchor replacement and redevelopment projects, including the completion of redevelopment at Fashion District Philadelphia, which opened on September 19, 2019. Our ability to finance growth from financing sources depends, in part, on our creditworthiness, the availability of credit to us from financing sources, or the market for our debt, equity or equity-related securities when we need capital, and on conditions in the capital markets generally. See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources” for information about our available sources of funds. There can be no assurances that we will continue to be able to obtain the financing we need for future growth or to meet our debt service as obligations mature, or that the financing will be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. A lack of acceptable financing could delay or hinder our growth initiatives, or prevent us from implementing our initiatives on satisfactory terms.

Much of our indebtedness does not require significant principal payments prior to maturity, and we might enter into agreements on similar terms in future transactions. If our mortgage loans and other debts cannot be repaid in full, refinanced or extended at maturity on acceptable terms, or at all, a lender could foreclose upon the mortgaged property and receive an assignment of rent and leases or pursue other remedies, or we might be forced to dispose of one or more of our properties on unfavorable terms, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations and which might adversely affect our cash flow and our ability to make distributions to shareholders.

Payments by our direct and indirect subsidiaries of dividends and distributions to us might be adversely affected by their obligations to make prior payments to the creditors of these subsidiaries.

We own substantially all of our assets through our interest in PREIT Associates. PREIT Associates holds substantially all of its properties and assets through subsidiaries, including subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies, and derives substantially all of its cash flow from cash distributions to it by its subsidiaries. We, in turn, derive substantially all of our cash flow from cash distributions to us by PREIT Associates. Our direct and indirect subsidiaries must make payments on their obligations to their creditors when due and payable before they may make distributions to us. Thus, PREIT Associates’ ability to make distributions to its partners, including us, depends on its subsidiaries’ ability first to satisfy their obligations to their creditors. Similarly, our ability to pay dividends to holders of our shares depends on PREIT Associates’ ability first to satisfy its obligations to its creditors before making distributions to us. If the subsidiaries were unable to make payments to their creditors when due and payable, or if the subsidiaries had insufficient funds both to make payments to creditors and distribute funds to PREIT Associates, we might not have sufficient cash to satisfy our obligations and/or make distributions to our shareholders.

In addition, we will only have the right to participate in any distribution of the assets of any of our direct or indirect subsidiaries upon the liquidation, reorganization or insolvency of such subsidiary after the claims of the creditors, including mortgage lenders and trade creditors, of that subsidiary are satisfied. Our shareholders, in turn, will have the right to participate in any distribution of our assets upon our liquidation, reorganization or insolvency only after the claims of our creditors, including trade creditors, are satisfied.

Some of our properties are owned or ground-leased by subsidiaries that we created solely to own or ground-lease those properties. The mortgaged properties and related assets are restricted solely for the payment of the related loans and are not available to pay our other debts, which could impair our ability to borrow, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and reduce amounts available for distribution to shareholders.

Our hedging arrangements might not be successful in limiting our risk exposure, and we might incur expenses in connection with these arrangements or their termination that could harm our results of operations or financial condition.

In the normal course of business, we are exposed to financial market risks, including interest rate risk on our interest-bearing liabilities. We use interest rate hedging arrangements to manage our exposure to interest rate volatility, but these arrangements might expose us to additional risks, such as requiring that we fund our contractual payment obligations under such arrangements in relatively large amounts or on short notice. We are also subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to derivative contracts. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a derivative contract due to financial difficulties, we may experience delays in obtaining any recovery under the derivative contract in a dissolution, assignment for the benefit of creditors, liquidation, winding-up, bankruptcy or other analogous proceeding. As of December 31, 2019, the aggregate fair value of our derivative instruments was an unrealized loss of $11.9 million, which is expected to be subsequently reclassified into earnings in the periods that the hedged forecasted transactions affect earnings. Developing an effective interest rate

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risk strategy is complex, and no strategy can completely insulate us from risks associated with interest rate fluctuations. We might enter into interest rate swaps as hedges in connection with forecasted debt transactions or payments, and if we repay such debt earlier than expected and are no longer obligated to make such payments, then we might determine that the swaps no longer meet the criteria for effective hedges, and we might incur gain or loss on such ineffectiveness. We cannot assure you that our hedging activities will have a positive impact, and it is possible that our strategies could adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations. We might be subject to additional costs, such as transaction fees or breakage costs, if we terminate these arrangements.

We are subject to risks associated with increases in interest rates, including in connection with our variable interest rate debt.

As of December 31, 2019, we had $1.1 billion of indebtedness with variable interest rates, although we have fixed the interest rates on an aggregate of $795.6 million of this variable rate debt by using derivative instruments. In addition, our unconsolidated partnerships have $175.1 million, at our proportionate share, of indebtedness with variable rates. We might incur additional variable rate debt in the future, and, if we do so, the proportion of our debt with variable interest rates might increase. See “Part I. Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”

An increase in market interest rates applicable to the variable portion of the debt portfolio would increase the interest incurred and cash flows necessary to service such debt, subject to our hedging arrangements on such debt. This has and could, in the future, adversely affect our results of operations and our ability to make distributions to shareholders. Also, in coming years, as our current mortgage loans mature, if these mortgage loans are refinanced at higher interest rates than the rates in effect at the time of the prior loans, our interest expense in connection with debt secured by our properties will increase, and could adversely affect our results of operations and ability to make distributions to shareholders.

Furthermore, the expected discontinuation of LIBOR after 2021 and the transition away from LIBOR presents various risks and challenges, including with respect to our borrowings and hedging arrangements that rely on the LIBOR benchmark. Various parties are working on industry wide and company specific transition plans as they relate to derivatives and cash markets exposed to LIBOR.  We have material contracts that are indexed to LIBOR and are monitoring and evaluating the related risks, which include interest on loans or amounts received and paid on derivative instruments. To the extent that our contracts that rely on the LIBOR benchmark do not provide for replacement rates, we may seek to amend such contracts. While we are focused on effective planning for the phase-out of LIBOR, the transition may divert management attention and could have other adverse consequences for us, including on our interest rates for current and future indebtedness.

RISKS RELATING TO OUR ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE

Our organizational documents contain provisions that might discourage a takeover of us and depress our share price.

Our organizational documents contain, or might contain in the future, provisions that might have an anti-takeover effect and might inhibit a change in our management and the opportunity to realize a premium over the then-prevailing market price of our securities. These provisions currently include:

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Limited partners of PREIT Associates may vote on certain fundamental changes we propose, which could inhibit a change in control that might otherwise result in a premium to our shareholders.

Our assets generally are held through our interests in PREIT Associates. We currently hold a majority of the outstanding limited partnership interests (“OP Units”) in PREIT Associates. However, PREIT Associates might, from time to time, issue additional OP Units to third parties in exchange for contributions of property to PREIT Associates in amounts that could, individually or in the aggregate, be substantial. These issuances will dilute our percentage ownership of PREIT Associates. OP Units generally do not carry a right to vote on any matter voted on by our shareholders, although OP Units might, under certain circumstances, be redeemed for our shares. However, before the date on which at least half of the units issued on September 30, 1997 in connection with our acquisition of The Rubin Organization have been redeemed, the holders of units issued on September 30, 1997 are entitled to vote such units together with our shareholders, as a single class, on any proposal to merge, consolidate or sell substantially all of our assets. Joseph F. Coradino, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is among the holders of these units. 

These existing rights could inhibit a change in control that might otherwise result in a premium to our shareholders. In addition, we cannot assure you that we will not agree to extend comparable rights to other limited partners in PREIT Associates.

We have, in the past, and might again, in the future, enter into tax protection agreements for the benefit of certain former property owners, including some limited partners of PREIT Associates, that might affect our ability to sell or refinance some of our properties that we might otherwise want to sell or refinance, which could harm our financial condition.

As the general partner of PREIT Associates, we have agreed to indemnify certain former property owners against tax liabilities that they might incur if we sell a property in a taxable transaction or significantly reduce the debt secured by a property acquired from them within a certain number of years after we acquired it, and we might do so again in the future. In some cases, these agreements might make it uneconomical for us to sell or refinance these properties, even in circumstances in which it otherwise would be advantageous to do so, which could interfere with our ability to execute strategic dispositions, harm our ability to address liquidity needs in the future or otherwise harm our financial condition.

RISKS RELATING TO OUR SECURITIES

Individual taxpayers might perceive REIT securities as less desirable relative to the securities of other corporations because of the lower tax rate on certain dividends from such corporations, which might have an adverse effect on the market value of our securities.

Currently, the maximum federal income tax rate on dividends, excluding tax on net investment income, from most publicly traded corporations is 20%. Dividends from REITs, however, do not qualify for this favorable tax treatment, and the maximum federal income tax rate on dividends from REITs is 29.6% (which excludes tax on new investment income). It is possible also that tax legislation enacted in subsequent years might increase this rate differential. The differing treatment of dividends received from REITs and other corporations might cause individual investors to view an investment in REITs as less attractive relative to other corporations, which might negatively affect the value of our shares.

We could face adverse consequences as a result of the actions of activist shareholders.

In recent years, proxy contests and other forms of shareholder activism have been directed against numerous public companies, including us.  Shareholders may engage in proxy solicitations, advance shareholder proposals, or otherwise attempt to effect changes in or acquire control over us. Campaigns by shareholders to effect changes at publicly traded companies are sometimes led by investors seeking to increase short-term shareholder value through actions such as financial restructuring, increased debt, special dividends, share repurchases, or sales of assets or the entire company.  Shareholder activists may also seek to involve themselves in the governance, strategic direction and operations of the company.

If a shareholder, by itself or in conjunction with other shareholders or as part of a group, engages in activist activities with respect to us, our business could be adversely affected because responding to proxy contests and other actions by activist shareholders can be costly and time-consuming, potentially disrupting operations and diverting the attention of our Board of Trustees, senior management and employees from the execution of business strategies. In addition, perceived uncertainties as to our future direction might result in the loss of potential business opportunities and harm our ability to attract new tenants, customers and  investors. If individuals are elected to our Board of Trustees with a specific agenda, it might adversely affect our ability to effectively and timely implement our strategies and initiatives and to retain and attract experienced executives and employees. Finally, we might experience a significant increase in legal fees and administrative and associated costs incurred in connection with responding to a proxy contest or related action. These actions could also negatively affect our share price.

A few significant shareholders may influence or control the direction of our business, and, if the ownership of our common shares continues to be concentrated, or becomes more concentrated in the future, it could prevent our other shareholders from influencing significant corporate decisions.

As of December 31, 2019, a small number of institutional shareholders together own or control more than 25% of our outstanding common shares. Although these investors do not act as a group, they may be able to exercise influence over matters requiring shareholder approval, including approval of significant corporate transactions that might affect the price of our shares.  The concentration of ownership of our shares held by these investors may make some transactions more difficult or impossible without their support. 

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The interests of these investors may conflict with our interests or the interests of our other shareholders.  For example, the concentration of ownership with these investors could allow them to influence our policies and strategies and could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or business combination from occurring that might otherwise be favorable to us and our other shareholders.

Holders of our common shares might have their interest in us diluted by actions we take in the future.

We continue to contemplate ways to reduce our leverage through a variety of means available to us, subject to the terms of the Credit Agreements. These means might include obtaining equity capital, including through the issuance of common or preferred equity or equity-related securities if market conditions are favorable. In addition, we might contemplate acquisitions of properties or portfolios, and we might issue equity, in the form of common shares, OP Units or other equity securities in consideration for such acquisitions, potentially in substantial amounts. Any issuance of equity securities might result in substantial dilution in the percentage of our common shares held by our then existing shareholders, and the interest of our shareholders might be materially adversely affected. The market price of our common shares could decline as a result of sales of a large number of shares in the market or the perception that such sales could occur. Additionally, future sales or issuances of substantial amounts of our common shares might be at prices below the then-current market price of our common shares and might adversely affect the market price of our common shares.

Many factors, including changes in interest rates and the negative perceptions of the retail sector generally, can have an adverse effect on the market value of our securities.

As is the case with other publicly traded companies, a number of factors might adversely affect the price of our securities, many of which are beyond our control. These factors include:

Any additional issuances of preferred shares in the future might adversely affect the earnings per share available to common shareholders and amounts available to common shareholders for payments of dividends.

The market value of our common shares is based primarily upon the market’s perception of our growth potential and our current and potential future earnings, net operating income, funds from operations, our liquidity and capital resources, and cash distributions. Consequently, our common shares might trade at prices that are higher or lower than our net asset value per common share. If our future earnings, net operating income, funds from operations or cash distributions are less than expected, it is likely that the market price of our common shares will decrease. These metrics might be adversely affected by the existence of preferred shares, including our existing preferred shares and additional preferred shares that we might issue. We are not restricted by our organizational documents, contractual arrangements or otherwise from issuing additional preferred shares, including any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, or that represent the right to receive, preferred shares or any substantially similar securities in the future.

We might change the dividend policy for our common shares in the future.

In February 2020, our Board of Trustees declared a cash dividend of $0.21 per share, payable in March 2020. Our future payment of distributions will be at the discretion of our Board of Trustees and will depend on numerous factors, including our cash flow, financial condition, capital requirements, annual distribution requirements under the REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, the terms and conditions of our Credit Agreements and other factors that our Board of Trustees deems relevant. Any change in our dividend policy could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common shares.

In addition, the Credit Agreements provide generally that dividends may not exceed the greater of 110% of REIT Taxable Income (as defined in the Credit Agreements) for a fiscal year, or 95% of funds from operations (unless necessary for us to maintain our status as a REIT). We must maintain our status as a REIT at all times.

Some of the distributions we make might be classified as a return of capital. In general, if the distributions are in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits (determined under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), then such distributions would be considered a return of capital for federal income tax purposes to the extent of a holder’s adjusted basis in its shares. A return of capital is not

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taxable, but has the effect of reducing the holder’s adjusted tax basis in the investment. To the extent that distributions exceed the adjusted tax basis of a holder’s shares, the distributions will be treated as gain from the sale or exchange of such shares.

TAX RISKS

If we were to fail to qualify as a REIT, our shareholders would be adversely affected.

We believe that we have qualified as a REIT since our inception and intend to continue to qualify as a REIT. To qualify as a REIT, however, we must comply with certain highly technical and complex requirements under the Internal Revenue Code, which is complicated in the case of a REIT such as ours that holds its assets primarily in partnership form. We cannot be certain we have complied with these requirements because there are very limited judicial and administrative interpretations of these provisions, and even a technical or inadvertent mistake could jeopardize our REIT status. In addition, facts and circumstances that might be beyond our control might affect our ability to qualify as a REIT. We cannot assure you that new legislation, regulations, administrative interpretations or court decisions will not change the tax laws significantly with respect to our qualification as a REIT or with respect to the federal income tax consequences of qualification.

If we were to fail to qualify as a REIT, we would be subject to federal income tax, on our taxable income at regular corporate rates. Also, unless the Internal Revenue Service granted us relief under statutory provisions, we would remain disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which we first failed to qualify. The additional tax incurred at regular corporate rates would significantly reduce the cash flow available for distribution to shareholders and for debt service. In addition, we would no longer be required to make any distributions to shareholders and our securities could be delisted from the exchange on which they are listed. If there were a determination that we do not qualify as a REIT, there would be a material adverse effect on our results of operations and there could be a material reduction in the value of our common shares.

Furthermore, as a REIT, we might be subject to a 100% “prohibited transactions” tax on the gain from dispositions of property if we are deemed to hold the property primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, unless the disposition qualifies under a safe harbor exception for properties that have been held for at least two years and with respect to which certain other requirements are met. The potential application of the prohibited transactions tax could cause us to forego or delay potential dispositions of property or other opportunities that might otherwise be attractive to us, or to undertake such dispositions or other opportunities through a taxable REIT subsidiary, which would generally result in income taxes being incurred.

We might be unable to comply with the strict income distribution requirements applicable to REITs, or compliance with such requirements could adversely affect our financial condition or cause us to forego otherwise attractive opportunities.

To obtain the favorable tax treatment associated with qualifying as a REIT, in general, we are required each year to distribute to our shareholders at least 90% of our net taxable income. In addition, we are subject to a tax on any undistributed portion of our income at regular corporate rates and might also be subject to a 4% excise tax on this undistributed income. We could be required to borrow funds on a short-term basis to meet the distribution requirements that are necessary to achieve the tax benefits associated with qualifying as a REIT, even if conditions are not favorable for borrowing, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, compliance with these REIT requirements might cause us to forgo opportunities we would otherwise pursue.

There is a risk of changes in the tax law applicable to REITs or our tenants.

Congress, the United States Treasury Department and the IRS frequently revise federal tax laws, regulations and other guidance. We cannot predict whether, when or to what extent new federal tax laws, regulations, interpretations or rulings will be adopted.

The federal tax legislation that was signed into law on December 22, 2017 (the ‘‘Act’’) made a large quantity of changes to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”). Among those changes were a significant reduction in the generally applicable corporate income tax rate (from a top corporate rate of 35% to a flat 21% rate), and a reduction in the rates of taxation on most ordinary REIT dividends and certain business income derived by non-corporate taxpayers (in each case, from a top individual rate of 39.6% to a top individual rate of 29.6%) so as to be lower than the rate applicable to other ordinary income recognized by such taxpayers. The Act also imposes certain additional limitations on the deduction of net operating losses, which may in the future require us to make distributions that will be taxable to our stockholders to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits in order to comply with the annual REIT distribution requirements. Some uncertainties remain as to the effects of these, and other changes made in the Act, both in terms of their direct effects on the taxation of an investment in our common stock and their indirect effects on the value of our assets or market conditions generally.

We also cannot predict the impact that any future federal tax legislation may have on REITs or our tenants. Any such legislative action may prospectively or retroactively modify our tax treatment and, therefore, may adversely affect taxation of us and/or our shareholders. Any legislative action might also negatively affect our tenants and, in turn, affect their ability to pay rent, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

We could face possible adverse federal, state and local tax audits and changes in state and local tax laws, which might result in an increase in our tax liability.

In the normal course of business, certain subsidiaries through which we own real estate have undergone, are currently undergoing or may undergo tax audits. There can be no assurance that the ultimate outcomes of any such audits will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

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From time to time, changes in state and local tax laws or regulations are enacted, which might result in an increase in our tax liability including potentially increases in the real estate taxes due on the properties we own. The shortfall in tax revenue for many states and municipalities in recent years might lead to an increase in the frequency and size of such changes. If such changes occur, we might be required to pay additional taxes on our assets, including our properties, or income. We might be unable to effectively pass these increased costs onto our existing tenants and such increased costs may make our properties less appealing to renewing tenants and potential new tenants, which could negatively affect our occupancy rates. These increased tax costs could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and our ability to make distributions to shareholders.

ITEM 1B.    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.

None.

ITEM 2.    PROPERTIES.

RETAIL PROPERTIES

We currently own interests in 26 retail properties, of which 25 are operating properties and one is a development property. The 25 operating properties include 21 shopping malls and four other retail properties, have a total of 20.1 million square feet and are located in nine states. We and partnerships in which we hold an interest own 15.7 million square feet at these properties (excluding space owned by anchors or third parties).

There are 18 operating retail properties in our portfolio that we consolidate for financial reporting purposes. These consolidated properties have a total of 15.2 million square feet, of which we own 12.1 million square feet. The seven operating retail properties that are owned by unconsolidated partnerships with third parties have a total of 4.9 million square feet, of which 3.6 million square feet are owned by such partnerships. When we refer to “Same Store” properties, we are referring to properties that have been owned for the full periods presented and exclude properties acquired, disposed of, under redevelopment or designated as a non-core property during the periods presented. Core properties include all operating retail properties except for Exton Square Mall, Valley View Mall and Fashion District Philadelphia. “Core Malls” also excludes these properties as well as power centers and Gloucester Premium Outlets. Wyoming Valley Mall was conveyed to the lender of the mortgage loan secured by that property in September 2019.

In general, we own the land underlying our properties in fee or, in the case of our properties held by partnerships with others, ownership by the partnership entity is in fee. At certain properties, however, the underlying land is owned by third parties and leased to us or the partnership in which we hold an interest pursuant to long-term ground leases. In a ground lease, the building owner pays rent for the use of the land and is responsible for all costs and expenses related to the building and improvements.

See financial statement Schedule III for financial statement information regarding the consolidated properties.

The following tables present information regarding our retail properties. We refer to the total retail space of these properties, including anchors and non-anchor stores, as “total square feet,” and the portion that we own as “owned square feet.”

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Consolidated Retail Properties

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Unconsolidated Operating Properties

The following table sets forth our average annual gross rent per square foot, under the terms of the leases (for consolidated and unconsolidated properties, excluding Fashion District Philadelphia, which opened in September 2019 and is not yet fully stabilized as development work is continuing) for the five years ended December 31, 2019:

LARGE FORMAT RETAILERS AND ANCHORS

Historically, large format retailers and anchors have been an important element of attracting customers to a mall, and they have generally been department stores whose merchandise appeals to a broad range of customers, although in recent years we have attracted some non-traditional large format retailers. These large format retailers and anchors either own their stores, the land under them and adjacent parking areas, or enter into long-term leases at rent that is generally lower than the rent charged to in-line tenants. Well-known, large format retailers and anchors continue to play an important role in generating customer traffic and making malls desirable locations for in-line store tenants, even though the market share of traditional department store anchors has been declining and such companies have experienced significant changes. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Our Properties.” The following table indicates the parent company of each of our large format retailers and anchors and sets forth the number of stores and square feet owned or leased by each at our retail properties, including consolidated and unconsolidated, as of December 31, 2019:

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MAJOR TENANTS

The following table presents information regarding the top 20 tenants at our retail properties, including consolidated and unconsolidated properties, by gross rent as of December 31, 2019:

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RETAIL LEASE EXPIRATION SCHEDULE—NON-ANCHORS

The following table presents scheduled lease expirations of non-anchor tenants as of December 31, 2019: