Item 1. Business
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
The Company
Urban Edge Properties (“UE”, “Urban Edge” or the “Company”) (NYSE: UE) is a Maryland REIT that owns, manages, acquires, develops, and redevelops retail real estate, primarily in the Washington, D.C. to Boston corridor. Urban Edge Properties LP (“UELP” or the “Operating Partnership”) is a Delaware limited partnership formed to serve as UE’s majority-owned partnership subsidiary and to own, through affiliates, all of our real estate and other assets. Our portfolio is currently comprised of 71 shopping centers, two outlet centers, two malls and one industrial property totaling approximately 17.1 million square feet (“sf”) with a consolidated occupancy rate of 91%.
For additional information on recent business developments, see Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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Company Strategies
Our goal is to be a leading owner and operator of retail real estate in major urban markets, with a focus on the Washington, D.C. to Boston corridor. We believe urban markets offer attractive acquisition and redevelopment opportunities resulting from high population density, strong demand from consumers, above average retailer sales trends, a limited supply of institutional quality assets and a large number of older, undermanaged assets that remain privately owned. We seek to create value through the following primary strategies:
Maximize the value of existing properties through proactive management. We intend to maximize the value of each of our assets through comprehensive, proactive management encompassing: continuous asset evaluation for highest-and-best-use; targeted leasing to desirable tenants; and efficient and cost-conscious day-to-day operations that minimize operating expenses and enhance property quality. Repurposing retail real estate with high-quality retailers, with a focus on grocers, department stores, discounters, entertainment offerings, and elevated food offerings is increasingly important to our business plan. Leasing and asset management add value through:
• Monitoring retailer sales, merchandising, store operations, timeliness of payments, overall financial condition and related factors;
• Being consistently aware of each asset’s competitive position within its trade area and recommending physical improvements or adjusting merchandising if circumstances warrant;
• Continuously canvassing trade areas to identify unique operators that can distinguish a property and enhance its offerings;
• Maintaining regular contact with the brokerage community to stay abreast of new merchants, potential relocations, new supply and overall trade area dynamics;
• Conducting regular portfolio reviews with key merchants;
• Building and nurturing deep relationships with tenant decision-makers;
• Focusing on spaces with below-market leases that might be recaptured;
• Understanding the impact of options, exclusives, co-tenancy and other restrictive lease provisions; and
• Optimizing required capital investment in every transaction.
Develop and redevelop assets to their highest and best use. Our existing portfolio presents considerable opportunity to generate additional income at attractive returns by redeveloping underutilized existing space, developing new space through expanding our properties and developing pad sites. As of December 31, 2023, we had $168.1 million of active development, redevelopment, and anchor repositioning projects, of which $112.2 million remains to be funded. These projects are expected to generate an approximate 15% unleveraged yield. We will continue to explore opportunities throughout our portfolio to achieve similar upgrades in tenancy, to densify sites where feasible and to repurpose certain retail space to its highest and best use.
Invest in target markets. We intend to selectively deploy capital through acquisitions in our target markets that meet our criteria for risk-adjusted returns and enhance the overall quality of our existing portfolio. At the same time, we plan to sell assets that no longer meet our return requirements and strategic objectives. Investment considerations for acquisitions include:
• Competition and Barriers-to-Entry : We seek assets in underserved, high barrier-to-entry markets in densely populated, affluent trade areas. We believe that properties located in such markets present a more attractive risk-return profile relative to other markets.
• Geography : We focus primarily on the Washington, D.C. to Boston corridor. We intend to invest in our existing core markets, and, over time, may expand into new markets that have similar characteristics.
• Environmental : We consider asset sustainability and characteristics that are consistent with our environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) plans and strategy for the future. Our due diligence process includes a full assessment of potential environmental risks associated with acquisitions.
• Product : We generally seek large properties that provide scale relative to the competition and optionality for redevelopment to meet the changing demands of the local community.
• Tenancy : We consider tenant mix, sales performance and related occupancy cost, lease term, lease provisions, omni-channel capabilities, susceptibility to e-commerce disruption and other factors. Our tenant base comprises a diverse group of merchants, including department stores, supermarkets, discounters, entertainment offerings, health clubs, DIY stores, in-line specialty shops, restaurants and other food and beverage vendors and service providers.
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• Rent : We derive our revenue from fixed and variable rents from our tenants. We consider existing rents relative to market rents and target submarkets that have potential for market rent growth as evidenced by strong retailer sales performance.
• Access and Visibility : We seek assets with convenient access and good visibility.
• Physical Condition : We consider aesthetics, functionality, building and site conditions and environmental matters in evaluating asset quality.
Maintain capital discipline. We intend to keep our balance sheet flexible and capable of supporting growth. We expect to generate increasing levels of cash flow from internally generated funds and to have substantial borrowing capacity under our existing revolving credit agreement, general access to equity markets and from potential secured debt financing on our existing assets.
Environmental, Social and Governance Achievements, Initiatives, and Objectives
We seek to drive financial performance while engaging in environmentally and socially responsible business practices grounded in sound corporate governance. We believe that disclosure of our ESG practices allows our stakeholders to see our company holistically and understand its trajectory beyond fundamentals and financial metrics. The Company’s Board of Trustees oversees our ESG program with initial oversight responsibilities delegated to the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Internally, we have an ESG Steering Committee (the “Steering Committee”) comprised of executives, senior leadership and other personnel of the Company. The Steering Committee meets periodically and is focused on setting, implementing, tracking, measuring, and communicating our progress related to ESG initiatives. The Steering Committee has developed a comprehensive suite of ESG policies that inform and guide our ESG approach and drive our ESG goals forward. We have aligned our sustainability practices in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative standards as well as the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board and the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures frameworks. On an annual basis, we publish an ESG Report and complete a Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmarks submission to continue to measure our progress against peers. Additionally, we have conducted a materiality assessment to determine which ESG issues matter most to our stakeholders, tenants and employees. We routinely reassess our plans and policies to evaluate compliance with regional and national requirements as well as industry best practices.
Environmental
From an environmental perspective, we have implemented and plan to continue to implement policies and practices with the goal of supporting the continued reduction of energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption, and improving waste recycling across the portfolio. Initiatives we have taken include the installation of energy-efficient roofing, LED lighting retrofits, high efficiency HVAC systems, electric vehicle charging stations and waste recycling and management programs. We are also exploring solar and alternative energy opportunities to further reduce our consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
We recognize that climate change poses a material risk to the real estate industry and understand the importance of assessing the physical and transitional risks that can affect each property. We have completed a climate-related risk assessment of our portfolio, which our management team uses to identify asset-level exposure to climate-related risks and assess application of adaptation tactics and resilience measures to mitigate various risks.
Our tenants also play a vital role in maximizing the impact we make, and as part of our initiatives we have created a tenant criteria manual focused on improving building energy and water efficiency that serves as a guideline for tenants undertaking construction projects at our properties to ensure they align with sustainable practices and our ESG objectives. Further, we have implemented green lease language into all new leases which includes several clauses designed to promote sustainability measures. The Green Lease Leaders program recognized these efforts as we received a Green Lease Leader award, developed by the Institute for Market Transformation and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Alliance. We are committed to maintaining sustainable operations and believe that our long-term sustainability goals will align with positive outcomes for shareholders, tenants, employees and the communities in which we invest.
We are subject to federal, state and local regulations, including environmental regulations. Each of our properties has been subjected to varying degrees of environmental assessment at various times. Based on these assessments, we have accrued costs for remediation for environmental contamination at certain properties. As of the date of this Report on Form 10-K, we are not aware of any material costs of complying with government regulations, including environmental regulations, that would have a material adverse effect on our overall business, financial condition or results of operations. See “Risks Related to Environmental Liability and Regulatory Compliance” in Part 1, Item 1A “Risk Factors” for further information regarding our risks related to government regulations.
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Social
Our community involvement includes donations to various charitable organizations, hospitals, and relief funds as well as hosting community focused events at our properties that often include food and clothing drives. Many of these organizations and drives directly benefit the people and neighborhoods in which our properties are located. During 2023, the Company launched UE Cares, our volunteer initiative, which has partnered with local organizations to give back to our communities. Some of these local organizations include Helping Hands Food Pantry, Hackensack River Keeper, and St. John’s Soup Kitchen. Additionally, this year the Company hosted a blood drive, partnering with Vitalant Blood Donation of Paramus, at Bergen Town Center, open to both employees and the general public. We continue to partner with Relief Access Program for the Bronx (“RAP4Bronx”) and Grassroots Grocery, two non-profit organizations focused on delivering meals to those affected by food insecurity in the five boroughs of NYC, by donating vacant space that serves as a warehouse and distribution hub for both organizations.
We believe that through our business, we are able to provide the communities in which we operate a welcoming and safe environment for our tenants and customers to connect and engage with one another. We are committed to providing a better shopping experience for our tenants’ customers and servicing nearby communities by spending capital to improve our centers, which also results in the creation of new jobs in construction and retail. Additionally, we are deliberate in our leasing approach by aiming to add necessary retailers to neighborhoods lacking vital resources and those that appeal to the respective communities where the properties are located.
Governance
Our corporate governance standards and policies aim to promote ethical conduct, fair dealing, transparency and accountability. The Company is governed by a nine-member board comprised primarily of independent trustees. The Board of Trustees is focused on independence, diversity of thought, experience and ethical leadership, and is critical in the oversight of our risk-management processes. Additionally, we have three board committees made up of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, each of which addresses risks specific to their respective functional responsibilities and works closely with the Board of Trustees. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines are re-evaluated annually, taking into account changing circumstances to ensure that the best interests of the Company and our shareholders are met. We maintain additional policies including our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, Conflict of Interest Policy, Human Rights Policy, and Whistleblower Policy, on which all employees are trained.
Human Capital
As of December 31, 2023, we had 109 employees. We believe that our people are our most valuable asset. Our future success will depend, in part, on our ability to continue to attract, hire, and retain qualified personnel. Accordingly, we strive to offer competitive salaries and employee benefits to all employees and monitor salaries in our market areas. We provide professional training and development workshops and aim to provide a workplace environment where employees are informed, engaged, feel empowered, and can succeed. Additionally, the Company launched a mentorship program designed to provide members of the team an opportunity to expand their knowledge and experience through one-on-one mentorship with an employee from another department. The goal of this initiative is to promote a culture of learning while providing opportunities for professional and personal growth.
Our employees enjoy subsidized health and wellness benefits, professional training and development workshops, ergonomic office equipment, telecommuting opportunities and policies encouraging work/life balance. We have created an employee wellness program which spans the entire year and focuses on five pillars of health and wellness, both inside and outside of the office. The areas of focus for this program include financial, emotional, physical, social and community wellness. Each month there is a theme with associated activities, challenges, and webcasts to promote growth and learning, as well as employee incentives including the ability to earn additional money for health savings accounts.
We allow employees the flexibility to maintain a hybrid in-office and remote working schedule to promote a healthy work-life balance while continuing to maximize engagement, collaboration, and efficiency.
Diversity, equity and inclusion (“DE&I”) initiatives are an integral part of our culture. We believe that a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture promotes growth, both personally and professionally, and is an important aspect in our ability to attract and retain talented employees. All employees are required to complete trainings on DE&I which cover a range of topics including best practices and education on unconscious bias. We aim to create an equitable workplace for all, and our CEO has signed the CEO Diversity and Inclusion Action Pledge on behalf of our Company, joining thousands of other CEOs and peers across the country to cultivate a trusting environment where our employees feel comfortable and are empowered to have discussions about DE&I. As a part of this pledge, the Company has created a Days of Understanding initiative which provides different platforms such as a book club or a movie screening as a way to encourage our team to have open discussions on issues of DE&I. This
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program is designed to allow employees to not only gain a better understanding of culture issues tied to race, gender, and sexual orientation, but also drive engagement, build camaraderie, and learn from different perspectives.
Our efforts, like those mentioned above, are some of the many reasons Urban Edge Properties was named one of the best places to work in New Jersey by NJBIZ Magazine in 2023, the second consecutive year we have received this recognition. The annual program identifies and recognizes the best employers in the state of New Jersey.
Through our wellness programs, DE&I initiatives, and town hall meetings with all employees, among other initiatives, we continually strive to provide a workplace environment where employees are informed, engaged, feel empowered and can succeed.
Further information on our corporate responsibility practices can be found on our website in the ESG section. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Our headquarters are located at 888 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019.
Significant Tenants
None of our tenants accounted for more than 10% of total revenues in any of the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. The Home Depot, Inc. is our largest tenant and accounted for approximately $21.5 million, or 5.2%, of our total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023.
REIT Qualification
The Company elected to be taxed as a REIT under sections 856-860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), commencing with the filing of its 2015 tax return for its tax year ended December 31, 2015. So long as the Company qualifies as a REIT under the Code, the Company will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on net taxable income that it distributes annually to its shareholders. If we fail to qualify as a REIT for any taxable year, we will be subject to federal income taxes at regular corporate rates and may not be able to qualify as a REIT for the four subsequent taxable years. The Company is subject to certain foreign, state and local income taxes, in particular income taxes arising from its operating activities in Puerto Rico, which are included in income tax expense in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. In addition, the Company’s taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”) is subject to income tax at regular corporate rates.
Supplemental U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following discussion supplements and updates the disclosures under “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the prospectus dated August 15, 2022, contained in our Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-266885) filed with the SEC on August 15, 2022. Capitalized terms herein that are not otherwise defined shall have the same meaning as when used in such disclosures (as supplemented).
On December 29, 2022, the Internal Revenue Service promulgated final Treasury Regulations under Sections 897, 1441, 1445, and 1446 of the Code that were, in part, intended to coordinate various withholding regimes for non-U.S. shareholders. The new Treasury Regulations provide that:
i. The withholding rules applicable to ordinary REIT dividends paid to a non-U.S. shareholder (generally, a 30% rate of withholding on gross amounts unless otherwise reduced by treaty or effectively connected with such non-U.S. shareholder’s trade or business within the United States and proper certifications are provided) will apply to (a) that portion of any distribution paid by us that is not designated as a capital gain dividend, a return of basis or a distribution in excess of the non-U.S. shareholder’s adjusted basis in its stock that is treated as gain from the disposition of such stock and (b) any portion of a capital gain dividend paid by us that is not treated as gain attributable to the sale or exchange of a U.S. real property interest by reason of the recipient not owning more than 10% of a class of our stock that is regularly traded on an established securities market during the one-year period ending on the date of the capital gain dividend.
ii. The withholding rules under FIRPTA will apply to a distribution paid by us in excess of a non-U.S. shareholder’s adjusted basis in our stock, unless the interest in our stock is not a U.S. real property interest (for example, because we are a domestically controlled qualified investment entity) or the distribution is paid to a “withholding qualified holder.” A “withholding qualified holder” means a qualified holder (as defined below) and a foreign partnership all of the interests of which are held by qualified holders, including through one or more partnerships.
iii. The withholding rules under FIRPTA will apply to any portion of a capital gain dividend paid to a non-U.S. shareholder that is attributable to the sale or exchange of a U.S. real property interest, unless it is paid to a withholding qualified holder.
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In the case of FIRPTA withholding under clause (ii) above, the applicable withholding rate is currently 15%, and in the case of FIRPTA withholding under clause (iii) above the withholding rate is currently 21%. For purposes of FIRPTA withholding under clause (iii), whether a capital gain dividend is attributable to the sale or exchange of a U.S. real property interest is determined taking into account the general exception from FIRPTA distribution treatment for distributions paid to certain non-U.S. shareholders under which any distribution by us to a non-U.S. shareholder with respect to any class of stock which is regularly traded on an established securities market located in the United States is not treated as gain recognized from the sale or exchange of a U.S. real property interest if such non-U.S. shareholder did not own more than 10% of such class of stock at any time during the 1-year period ending on the date of such distribution. To the extent inconsistent, these Treasury Regulations supersede the discussion on withholding contained in the above-referenced disclosures (as supplemented) under the heading “ Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders .” However, if, notwithstanding these Treasury Regulations, we encounter difficulties in properly characterizing a distribution for purposes of the withholding rules, we may decide to withhold on such distribution at the highest possible U.S. federal withholding rate that we determine could apply.
The Treasury Regulations also provide new guidance regarding qualified foreign pension funds. Accordingly, the last two sentences of the first paragraph under the heading “ Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders—Qualified Foreign Pension Funds ” are hereby deleted and replaced with the following:
Under Treasury Regulations, subject to the discussion below regarding “qualified holders,” a “qualified controlled entity” also is not generally treated as a foreign person for purposes of FIRPTA. A qualified controlled entity generally includes a trust or corporation organized under the laws of a foreign country all of the interests of which are held by one or more qualified foreign pension funds either directly or indirectly through one or more qualified controlled entities.
Additionally, the following two paragraphs are added after the first paragraph under the heading “ Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxation of Shareholders and Potential Tax Considerations Relating to Their Investment in Common Shares or Preferred Shares—Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders—Qualified Foreign Pension Funds ”:
Treasury Regulations further require that a qualified foreign pension fund or qualified controlled entity will not be exempt from FIRPTA with respect to dispositions of U.S. real property interests or REIT distributions attributable to the same unless the qualified foreign pension fund or qualified controlled entity is a “qualified holder.” To be a qualified holder, a qualified foreign pension fund or qualified controlled entity must satisfy one of two alternative tests at the time of the disposition of the U.S. real property interest or the REIT distribution. Under the first test, a qualified foreign pension fund or qualified controlled entity is a qualified holder if it owned no U.S. real property interests as of the earliest date during an uninterrupted period ending on the date of the disposition or distribution during which it qualified as a qualified foreign pension fund or qualified controlled entity. Alternatively, if a qualified foreign pension fund or qualified controlled entity held U.S. real property interests as of the earliest date during the period described in the preceding sentence, it can be a qualified holder only if it satisfies certain testing period requirements.
Treasury Regulations also provide that a foreign partnership all of the interests of which are held by qualified holders, including through one or more partnerships, may certify its status as such and will not be treated as a foreign person for purposes of withholding under Code Section 1445 (and Code Section 1446, as applicable).
Available Information
Copies of our Annual Reports on Form 10‑K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10‑Q, Current Reports on Form 8‑K, including exhibits, and amendments to those reports, as well as Reports on Forms 3, 4 and 5 regarding officers, trustees or 10% beneficial owners of us, filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a), 15(d) or 16(a) of the Exchange Act, are available free of charge through our website (www.uedge.com) as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Also available on our website are copies of our Audit Committee Charter, Compensation Committee Charter, Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee Charter, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Corporate Governance Guidelines. In the event of any changes to these charters or the code or guidelines, changed copies will also be made available on our website. Our website also includes other financial information, including certain non-GAAP financial measures, none of which is a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Copies of our charters, code, guidelines, and filings under the Exchange Act are also available free of charge from us, upon request.
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