Adjusted Funds From Operations (AFFO)
This term refers to a computation made by analysts and investors to measure a real estate company's cash that is available for distribution to shareholders. AFFO is usually calculated by subtracting from Funds from Operations (FFO) both (1) normalized recurring expenditures that are capitalized by the REIT and then amortized, but which are necessary to maintain a REIT's properties and its revenue stream (e.g., new carpeting and drapes in apartment units, leasing expenses and tenant improvement allowances) and (2) "straight-lining" of rents. This calculation also is called Cash Available for Distribution (CAD) or Funds Available for Distribution (FAD). Capitalization Rate
The Company defines cap
rates as net operating income (NOI) divided by cost where NOI represents
budgeted cash operating income for the current year at current occupancy rates
and at rental rates currently in place with no adjustments for anticipated
expense savings, increases in rental rates, additional leasing in the first six months of ownership or straight line
rent. Leases that expire during the year are assumed to roll to market unless
interviews with the customer reveals that the customer will renew. Cost is defined as purchase price plus estimated closing costs plus
anticipated capital expenditures during the first 24 months of ownership for
customer improvements, commissions, upgrades and cosmetic capital improvements (4F
Program) to bring the building up to the Company's
standards.Cash (or Funds) Available for Distribution
Cash (or Funds) available for distribution (CAD or FAD) is another measure of a REIT's ability to generate cash and to distribute dividends to its shareholders. In addition to subtracting from FFO normalized recurring real estate-related expenditures and other items to obtain AFFO, CAD (or FAD) is usually derived by also subtracting nonrecurring expenditures. Cash Flow
With reference to a property (or group of properties), the owner's rental revenues from the property less all property operating expenses. The term ignores depreciation and amortization expenses, as well as interest on loans incurred to finance the property. Sometimes referred to as "EBITDA" (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization).Cost of Capital
The cost to a company, such as a REIT, of raising capital in the form of equity (common or preferred stock) or debt. The cost of equity capital generally is considered to include both the dividend rate as well as the expected equity growth either by higher dividends or growth in stock prices. The cost of debt capital is merely the interest expense on the debt incurred.DownREIT
A DownREIT is structured much like an UPREIT, but the REIT owns and operates properties other than its interest in a controlled partnership that owns and operates separate properties. EBITDA
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Equitization
The process by which the economic benefits of ownership of a tangible asset, such as real estate, are divided among numerous investors and represented in the form of publicly-traded securities. Equity Market Cap
The market value of all outstanding common stock of a company. Equity REIT
A REIT which owns, or has an "equity interest" in, rental real estate (rather than making loans secured by real estate collateral). Funds From Operations (FFO)
The most commonly accepted and reported measure of REIT operating performance. Equal to a REIT's net income, excluding gains or losses from sales of property or debt restructuring, and adding back real estate depreciation. Hybrid REIT
A REIT that combines the investment strategies of both equity REITs and mortgage REITs. Implied Equity Market Cap
The market value of all outstanding common stock of a company plus the value of all UPREIT partnership units as if they were converted into the REIT's stock. It excludes convertible preferred stock, convertible debentures and warrants even though these securities have similar conversion features. Leverage
Debt. Mortgage REIT
A REIT that makes or owns loans and other obligations that are secured by real estate collateral. Net Asset Value (NAV)
The net "market value" of all a company's assets, including but not limited to its properties, after subtracting all its liabilities and obligations. Positive Spread Investing (PSI)
The ability to raise funds (both equity and debt) at a cost significantly less than the initial returns that can be obtained on real estate transactions. Real Estate Investment Trust Act of 1960
The federal law that authorized REITs. Its purpose was to allow small investors to pool their investments in real estate in order to get the same benefits as might be obtained by direct ownership, while also diversifying their risks and obtaining professional management. Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)
A REIT is essentially a corporation or business trust that combines the capital of many investors to acquire or provide financing for all forms of real estate. A REIT generally is not required to pay corporate income tax if it distributes at least 95% of its taxable income to shareholders each year. Replacement Cost
Replacement cost is defined as the total development cost to recreate the building and its economics in today's dollars. Development cost includes construction costs, customer improvements, commissions, marketing costs, construction period interest, land, Architectural and Engineering fees, development fees, parking lot/garage costs and all other costs, hard and soft, to reproduce the property. Securitization
Securitization is the process of financing a pool of similar but unrelated financial assets (usually loans or other debt instruments) by issuing to investors security interests representing claims against the cash flow and other economic benefits generated by the pool of assets. Stabilized Capitalization Rate
The Company defines stabilized cap rates as stabilized net operating income (NOI) divided by total investment cost. Stabilized net operating income represents expected operating revenue less expected operating expenses upon achieving occupancy of ninety-two percent (92%). Total investment cost represents the initial cost of the property plus all closing costs and building improvement costs required in the first two years of ownership and other capital costs associated with the leasing and customer improvement expenses to achieve ninety-two percent (92%) occupancy.Straightlining
Real estate companies such as REITs "straight line" rents because generally accepted accounting principles require it. Straight lining averages the customer's rent payments over the life of the lease. Tax Reform Act of 1986
Federal law that substantially altered the real estate investment landscape by permitting REITs not only to own, but also to operate and manage, most types of income-producing commercial properties. It also stopped real estate "tax shelters" that had attracted capital from investors based on the amount of losses that could be created. Total Market Cap
The total market value of a REIT's (or other company's) outstanding common stock and indebtedness. Total Return
A stock's dividend income plus capital appreciation, before taxes and commissions. Unleveraged ARGUS Return
Using ARGUS financial software projecting over a five to ten year assumed holding period with the below mentioned assumptions, the project should produce at least a 8% unleveraged internal rate of return (IRR). Assumptions: No new leasing in the first six months of ownership, leases that expire are assumed to roll to market at a 75% customer retention rate unless the customers reveal that they will renew, 4-6 months down time between leases, 5% general vacancy, market based rent and expense increases and a sale between years six to ten with an exit CAP rate spread of seventy-five basis points above the going-in CAP rate. UPREIT
In the typical UPREIT, the partners of the Existing Partnerships and a newly-formed REIT become partners in a new partnership termed the Operating Partnership. For their respective interests in the Operating Partnership ("Units"), the partners contribute the properties from the Existing Partnership and the REIT contributes the cash proceeds from its public offering. The REIT typically is the general partner and the majority owner of the Operating Partnership Units. After a period of time (often one year), the partners may enjoy the same liquidity of the REIT shareholders by tendering their Units for either cash or REIT shares (at the option of the REIT or Operating Partnership). This conversion may result in the partners incurring the tax deferred at the UPREIT's formation. The Unitholders may tender their Units over a period of time, thereby spreading out such tax. In addition, when a partner holds the Units until death, the estate tax rules operate in a such a way as to provide that the beneficiaries may tender the Units for cash or REIT shares without paying income taxes. |
