Retail Opportunity Investments Corp (ROIC)

[Enterprising Investor]

Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. Reports Strong 2013 Results (2/24/14)

Company Increases Dividend 6.7% & Establishes 2014 FFO Guidance

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 24, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. (Nasdaq:ROIC) announced today financial and operating results for the year and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2013.

YEAR 2013 HIGHLIGHTS

•Net income of $34.0 million, or $0.48 per diluted share

•Funds From Operation (FFO) of $76.0 million, or $1.07 per diluted share(1)

•$437.1 million in shopping center acquisitions

•96.3% portfolio occupancy rate at December 31, 2013

•6.8% increase in same-center cash net operating income (2013 vs. 2012)

•7.3% increase in same-space comparative cash rents

•Awarded investment grade ratings from Moody's and Standard & Poor's

•36.5% debt-to-total market capitalization ratio at December 31, 2013

•88.4% of the company's total outstanding warrants retired to date

•13.2% increase in cash dividends per share paid (2013 vs. 2012)

4TH QUARTER 2013 HIGHLIGHTS

•Net income of $4.0 million, or $0.05 per diluted share

•FFO of $16.4 million, or $0.21 per diluted share(1)

•$101.6 million in shopping center acquisitions

•6.7% increase in same-center cash net operating income (4Q13 vs. 4Q12)

•10.4% increase in same-space comparative cash rents

•$250 million senior unsecured notes issued (due 2023, 5.0% coupon)

•4.3 times interest coverage ratio for 4Q'13

•Quarterly cash dividend of $0.16 per share declared (6.7% increase)

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(1) A reconciliation of GAAP net income to FFO is provided at the end of this press release.

Stuart A. Tanz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. stated, "During 2013, we achieved record results in every facet of our business. We continued to expand our portfolio significantly and deepen our presence on the West Coast, acquiring a record $437 million of grocery-anchored shopping centers. Additionally, we steadily increased occupancy throughout the year, reaching a new, record high of 96.3% as of year-end, and achieved a solid 6.8% increase in same-center cash net operating income and a 7.3% increase in same-space cash rents. During 2013, we enhanced our financial strength, achieving several important milestones. The company was awarded investment grade ratings and successfully completed its first investment-grade bond offering. Additionally, we refinanced our unsecured debt facilities, lowering our borrowing costs, to a new record low for the company, and expanding the capital availability." Tanz also commented, "We look forward to 2014 with much enthusiasm and are confident that we have the portfolio, financial strength and strategy to continue advancing our West Coast shopping center franchise and building shareholder value."

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

For the three months ended December 31, 2013, net income attributable to common stockholders was $4.0 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, as compared to a net loss of $0.3 million, or $0.01 per diluted share for the three months ended December 31, 2012. FFO for the fourth quarter of 2013 was $16.4 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, as compared to $8.5 million in FFO, or $0.15 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2012. ROIC reports FFO as a supplemental performance measure. A reconciliation of GAAP net income to FFO is provided at the end of this press release.

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2013, net income was $34.0 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, as compared to net income of $7.9 million, or $0.15 per diluted share for 2012. FFO for the year 2013 was $76.0 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, as compared to FFO of $39.1 million, or $0.75 per diluted share for 2012. Included in net income and FFO for the year ended December 31, 2013, is a one-time, non-cash GAAP gain-on-consolidation of $20.4 million recorded in the third quarter as a result of ROIC's acquisition of the remaining 51% joint venture interest in Crossroads Shopping Center. Prior to the third quarter 2013, ROIC held a 49% unconsolidated joint venture interest in Crossroads. At December 31, 2013, ROIC had no unconsolidated joint venture interests.

At December 31, 2013, ROIC had a total market capitalization of approximately $1.7 billion with $621.7 million of debt outstanding, equating to a 36.5% debt-to-total market capitalization ratio. ROIC's debt outstanding was comprised of $118.9 million of mortgage debt and $506.9 million of unsecured debt, including $250 million of senior unsecured notes, which ROIC issued, through its operating partnership, in December 2013. At December 31, 2013, ROIC had $56.9 million outstanding on its unsecured credit facility and $200.0 million outstanding on its unsecured term loan. For fourth quarter 2013, ROIC's interest coverage was 4.3 times.

2013 ACQUISITION ACTIVITY

During 2013, ROIC acquired twelve grocery-anchored shopping centers for a total of $437.1 million, including the following three shopping centers acquired during the fourth quarter for a total of $101.6 million.

Peninsula Marketplace

In October 2013, ROIC acquired Peninsula Marketplace for $35.9 million. The shopping center is approximately 95,000 square feet and is anchored by Kroger (Ralph's) Supermarket. The property is located in Huntington Beach, California, in the heart of Orange County, and is currently 100% leased.

Country Club Village

In November 2013, ROIC acquired Country Club Village for $30.9 million. The shopping center is approximately 111,000 square feet and is anchored by Walmart Neighborhood Market and CVS Pharmacy. The property is located in San Ramon, California, within the San Francisco metropolitan area, and is currently 91.1% leased.

Plaza de la Cañada

In December 2013, ROIC acquired Plaza de la Cañada for $34.8 million. The shopping center is approximately 100,000 square feet and is anchored by a new Gelson's Supermarket, a Southern California based high-end grocer, and Rite Aid Pharmacy. The property is located in La Cañada Flintridge, California, within the Los Angeles metropolitan area, and is currently 100% leased.

2014 ACQUISITION ACTIVITY

Year-to-date in 2014, ROIC has acquired one shopping center and currently has a binding contract to acquire an additional shopping center, in separate transactions, aggregating $69.1 million.

Tigard Marketplace

In February 2014, ROIC acquired Tigard Marketplace for $25.1 million. The shopping center is approximately 137,000 square feet and is anchored by H-Mart Supermarket. The property is located in Tigard, Oregon, within the Portland metropolitan area, and is currently 90.1% leased.

Creekside Plaza

ROIC has a binding contract to acquire Creekside Plaza for $44.0 million. The shopping center is approximately 129,000 square feet and is anchored by Stater Brothers Supermarket. The property is located in Poway, California, within the San Diego metropolitan area, and is currently 100% leased.

CASH DIVIDEND

On December 30, 2013, ROIC distributed a $0.15 per share cash dividend. During 2013, ROIC distributed quarterly cash dividends totaling $0.60 per share, representing a 13.2% increase over dividends paid during 2012.

On February 21, 2014, ROIC's board of directors declared a cash dividend of $0.16 per share, payable on March 28, 2014 to stockholders of record on March 14, 2014. The $0.16 per share dividend represents a 6.7% increase over ROIC's previous dividend.

WARRANT UPDATE

To date, 88.4% of ROIC's outstanding warrants have been retired, including: 19.1 million warrants exercised, providing ROIC with $228.8 million of proceeds; 16.6 million warrants repurchased by ROIC, for an aggregate purchase price of $32.8 million; and all 8.0 million founders' warrants exercised on a cashless basis in February 2013. ROIC currently has 5.8 million warrants outstanding, scheduled to expire in October 2014.

2014 FFO GUIDANCE

ROIC is establishing FFO guidance for 2014 to be within the range of $0.80 to $0.85 per diluted share, and net income to be within the range of $0.16 to $0.17 per diluted share. The following table provides a reconciliation of GAAP net income to FFO.
ROIC's estimates are based on numerous underlying assumptions. ROIC's management will discuss the company's guidance and underlying assumptions on its February 25, 2014 conference call. ROIC's guidance is a forward-looking statement and is subject to risks and other factors described elsewhere in this press release.

CONFERENCE CALL

ROIC will conduct a conference call and audio webcast to discuss its quarterly results on Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Those interested in participating in the conference call should dial [phone] (domestic), or [phone] (international) at least ten minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call. When prompted, provide the Conference ID: 20561983. A live webcast will also be available in listen-only mode at http://www.roireit.net/. The conference call will be recorded and available for replay beginning at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on February 25, 2014 and will be available until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on March 4, 2014. To access the conference call recording, dial [phone] (domestic) or [phone] (international) and use the Conference ID: 20561983. The conference call will also be archived on http://www.roireit.net/ for approximately 90 days.

ABOUT RETAIL OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENTS CORP.

Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. (Nasdaq:ROIC) is a fully integrated, self-managed real estate investment trust. ROIC specializes in the acquisition, ownership and management of necessity-based community and neighborhood shopping centers, anchored by national or regional supermarkets and drugstores. As of December 31, 2013, ROIC owned 54 shopping centers encompassing approximately 5.8 million square feet. Additional information is available at: www.roireit.net.

http://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/retail-opportunity-investments-corp-reports-strong-2013-results-20140224-01228