BEACHWOOD, Ohio, July 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- DDR Corp. (NYSE: DDR) today announced operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2014. 

Significant Second Quarter Activity:

• Generated Operating FFO of $0.28 per diluted share, a 3.7% increase from the second quarter of 2013
• Executed 364 new leases and renewals for 3.1 million square feet
• Increased the U.S. portfolio leased rate by 20 basis points to 95.3%, from 95.1% at March 31, 2014 and by 80 basis points from 94.5% at June 30, 2013
• Generated positive new leasing spreads of 18.8% on a pro rata basis, and positive renewal leasing spreads of 7.5% on a pro rata basis
• Generated same store net operating income growth of 3.2% at both 100% ownership and on a pro rata basis compared to the prior year
• Acquired $265 million of wholly-owned prime power centers
• Sold $79 million of non-prime assets; DDR's pro rata gross proceeds were $51 million
• Closed on the sale of DDR's 50% ownership interest in Sonae Sierra Brazil BV Sarl ("SSB") for gross proceeds of $344 million
• Closed on a $75 million, seven-year non-recourse mortgage loan secured by a shopping center in Puerto Rico with an interest rate of 3.59%
• Redeemed the remaining $55 million of 7.375% Class H Preferred Shares
• Formed a joint venture with Blackstone to acquire 76 shopping centers for $1.975 billion which is expected to close in the third quarter of 2014

"We are very pleased with our quarterly results highlighted by our ninth consecutive quarter of same store net operating income growth in excess of 3%," commented DDR's Chief Executive Officer Daniel B. Hurwitz.  "We are also optimistic regarding the continued leasing momentum within our portfolio, the expansion of our relationship with Blackstone and the profitable disposition of our interests in Brazil.  Tenant demand for high quality assets remains robust and we expect to benefit as a result going forward."

Financial Highlights

• Second quarter operating funds from operations attributable to common shareholders ("Operating FFO") increased $15.2 million to $101.3 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, compared to $86.1 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, for the prior-year comparable period.
• Second quarter net income attributable to common shareholders was $67.8 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, which compares to net loss of $36.0 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, for the prior-year comparable period.

Significant Second Quarter Operating Activity

• Executed 153 new leases totaling 695,000 square feet at positive spreads of 18.8% on a pro rata basis
• Executed 211 renewal leases totaling 2.4 million square feet at positive spreads of 7.5% on a pro rata basis
• Increased the annualized base rent per occupied square foot to $13.50 as of June 30, 2014 as compared to $12.92 at June 30, 2013

Significant Second Quarter Transactional Activity

• Acquired four consolidated prime power centers totaling 1.2 million square feet for $264.8 million. The acquisitions were funded primarily with proceeds from the sale of the Company's interest in SSB, asset dispositions and the issuance of 1.0 million operating partnership units valued at $17.9 million.
• Sold seven consolidated non-prime operating shopping centers totaling 341,000 square feet and six consolidated non-income producing assets. Gross proceeds were $44.6 million. A net gain of $8.0 million was recorded related to these sales.
• Sold four unconsolidated operating shopping centers totaling 409,000 square feet for $34.0 million, of which the Company's pro rata share was $6.3 million. A net gain of $2.0 million was recorded related to these sales, of which the Company's pro rata share was $0.8 million.
• Sold its entire ownership interest in SSB for gross proceeds of $343.6 million, and recorded a gain on sale in the second quarter of $83.8 million.
• Closed on a $75 million non-recourse mortgage loan secured by Plaza Escorial, a 636,000-square-foot shopping center in Puerto Rico. The loan obtained from a leading life insurance company, includes a seven-year term and an interest rate of 3.59%.
• Redeemed the remaining $55.0 million of the Company's 7.375% Class H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares and recorded a charge of $1.9 million to net income attributable to common shareholders related to the write-off of the Class H Preferred Shares' original issuance costs.
• Formed a joint venture with Blackstone to acquire 76 shopping centers from American Realty Capital Properties, Inc. in a transaction valued at $1.975 billion, including assumed debt of $461 million and approximately $800 million of new financings. An affiliate of Blackstone will own 95% of the common equity of the joint venture and an affiliate of DDR will own the remaining 5%. DDR also is expected to invest up to $300 million in preferred equity in the joint venture with a fixed dividend rate of 8.5% and will provide customary leasing and management services. In addition, DDR will have the right of first offer to acquire ten of the assets under specified conditions consistent with past transactions with Blackstone. The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of 2014.

2014 Guidance

• There has been no change in Operating FFO per share guidance since the last update provided on March 10, 2014.  The Company continues to estimate a range of $1.14 to $1.18 for 2014 Operating FFO per diluted share.  

Non-GAAP Disclosures

FFO is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measurement used as a standard in the real estate industry and a widely accepted measure of real estate investment trust ("REIT") performance.  Management believes that FFO and Operating FFO provide additional indicators of the financial performance of a REIT.  The Company also believes that FFO and Operating FFO more appropriately measure the core operations of the Company and provide benchmarks to its peer group.  Neither FFO nor Operating FFO represents cash generated from operating activities in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), is necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs and should be considered as an alternative to net income computed in accordance with GAAP as an indicator of the Company's operating performance or as an alternative to cash flow as a measure of liquidity.

FFO is defined and calculated by the Company as net income, adjusted to exclude:  (i) preferred share dividends, (ii) gains and losses from disposition of depreciable real estate property, which are presented net of taxes, (iii) impairment charges on depreciable real estate property and related investments, (iv) extraordinary items and (v) certain non-cash items.  These non-cash items principally include real property depreciation and amortization of intangibles, equity income from joint ventures and equity income from non-controlling interests and the Company's proportionate share of FFO from its unconsolidated joint ventures and non-controlling interests, determined on a consistent basis.  The Company calculates Operating FFO by excluding the non-operating charges and gains described below.  The Company computes FFO in accordance with the NAREIT definition.  Other real estate companies may calculate FFO and Operating FFO in a different manner.  Operating FFO is useful to investors as the Company removes these charges and gains to analyze the results of its operations and assess performance of the core operating real estate portfolio.  A reconciliation of net income (loss) to FFO and Operating FFO is presented herein.

Safe Harbor

DDR Corp. considers portions of the information in this press release to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, both as amended, with respect to the Company's expectation for future periods.  Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved.  For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements.  There are a number of important factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including, among other factors, local conditions such as oversupply of space or a reduction in demand for real estate in the area; competition from other available space; dependence on rental income from real property; the loss of, significant downsizing of or bankruptcy of a major tenant; constructing properties or expansions that produce a desired yield on investment; our ability to buy or sell assets on commercially reasonable terms; our ability to complete acquisitions or dispositions of assets under contract, including the ability of the joint venture between DDR and Blackstone to successfully complete the acquisition of the portfolio from American Realty Capital Properties, Inc.; our ability to secure equity or debt financing on commercially acceptable terms or at all; our ability to enter into definitive agreements with regard to our financing and joint venture arrangements or our failure to satisfy conditions to the completion of these arrangements; the success of our capital recycling strategy; and the finalization of the financial statements for the three-month period ended June 30, 2014.  For additional factors that could cause the results of the Company to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, as amended.  The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.

About DDR Corp.

DDR is an owner and manager of 390 value-oriented shopping centers representing 108 million square feet in 39 states and Puerto Rico.  The Company's assets are concentrated in high barrier-to-entry markets with stable populations and high growth potential and its portfolio is actively managed to create long-term shareholder value. DDR is a self-administered and self-managed REIT operating as a fully integrated real estate company, and is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol DDR.  Additional information about the Company is available at www.ddr.com, as well as on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Conference Call and Supplemental Information

A copy of the Company's Supplemental package is available upon request to Brooke Vanek at the Company's corporate office, 3300 Enterprise Parkway, Beachwood, Ohio 44122 or at www.ddr.com.

The Company will hold its quarterly conference call tomorrow, July 31, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.  To participate, please dial 866.515.2914 (domestic), or 617.399.5128 (international) at least ten minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call.  When prompted, provide the passcode: 24154621.  Access to the live call and replay will also be available through the Company's website.  The replay will be available through August 7, 2014.

SOURCE DDR Corp.