Regency Centers Corporation (“Regency”) (Nasdaq: REG) and Urstadt
Biddle Properties Inc. (“Urstadt Biddle” or “UBP”) (NYSE: UBA and
UBP) today announced that the two companies have entered into a
definitive merger agreement (the “Agreement”) by which Regency will
acquire Urstadt Biddle in an all-stock transaction, valued at
approximately $1.4 billion, including the assumption of debt and
preferred stock. The combined company is expected to have a pro
forma equity market capitalization of approximately $11 billion and
total enterprise value of approximately $16 billion.
Under the terms of the Agreement, Urstadt
Biddle’s Class A Common (UBA) and Common (UBP) stockholders will
receive 0.347 of a newly-issued REG share for each UBA or UBP share
they own, representing a total consideration of approximately
$20.40 per share based on Regency’s closing share price on May 17,
2023. Upon closing, Regency and Urstadt Biddle shareholders will
own approximately 93% and 7% of the combined company, respectively.
The respective Boards of Directors of both Regency and Urstadt
Biddle have each approved the transaction.
“We couldn’t be more excited about the
combination of our two great companies,” said Lisa Palmer,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Regency. “The portfolio
that Urstadt Biddle has carefully assembled over more than 50 years
offers a highly aligned demographic and merchandising profile to
Regency. Both companies have a successful track record of owning
and operating best-in-class grocery-anchored neighborhood and
community centers in premier suburban trade areas, and we look
forward to the synergies and growth opportunities that this
transaction will offer to the combined shareholder base.”
"Regency has a long, successful history of being
a sector and industry leader in the ownership and operation of
high-quality shopping centers around the country, with one of the
best-regarded teams in the REIT industry," said Willing L. Biddle,
President and CEO of Urstadt Biddle. "I have no doubt that our
portfolio will be in great hands under Regency leadership, and as a
future Regency shareholder I look forward to the scale and platform
benefits that the combination of our two companies will
provide.”
The combined portfolio will be comprised of 481
total properties encompassing more than 56 million square feet of
gross leasable area. The combination is expected to provide several
strategic benefits, including:
- Strategically Aligned
Portfolios of High-Quality, Open-Air Shopping Centers: The
transaction grows the combined company’s footprint of high-quality,
grocery-anchored shopping centers in premier suburban trade areas
while enhancing Regency’s overall geographic diversification and
maintaining a strong tenant roster.
- Best-In-Class Operating
Platform Drives Value Creation: Regency’s sector-leading
national leasing and asset management platform is positioned to
unlock value within the combined portfolio.
- Positive Financial
Benefit: The transaction is expected to be immediately
accretive to Core Operating Earnings (defined below), including
approximately $9 million of annual cost savings benefit.
- Maintains Balance Sheet and
Liquidity Strength: The all-stock transaction preserves
Regency’s well-capitalized and flexible balance sheet to support
continued growth as pro forma leverage remains at the low end of
Regency’s target range of 5.0x – 5.5x.
UBP is expected to align the timing of its
quarterly dividend payments to Regency’s during the pendency of the
merger. The transaction is expected to be non-taxable to Urstadt
Biddle shareholders.
The transaction is currently expected to close
late in the third quarter or early in the fourth quarter of 2023,
subject to the receipt of approval of UBA and UBP shareholders and
satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. Stockholders of
UBP holding approximately 68% of UBP’s voting rights have entered
into an agreement to vote in favor of the transaction. There are no
anticipated changes to Regency’s executive management team or Board
of Directors.
RBC Capital Markets and Wells Fargo Securities
are acting as financial advisors and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen &
Katz is serving as legal advisor to Regency Centers. Eastdil
Secured and Deutsche Bank are acting as financial advisors and
Hogan Lovells US LLP is serving as legal advisor to Urstadt
Biddle.
Presentation, Webcast & Conference
Call InformationA Merger Presentation with additional
details will be posted on Regency’s Investor Relations website at
investors.regencycenters.com. Regency will host a webcast and
conference call today, May 18, 2023 at 8:30 AM ET to discuss the
transaction. Dial-in and webcast information is below.
Date: |
Thursday, May 18, 2023 |
Time: |
8:30 a.m. ET |
Dial#: |
877-407-0789 or
201-689-8562 |
Webcast: |
Regency Centers & Urstadt
Biddle Conference Call |
Replay: Webcast Archive –
Regency Investor Relations page under Events & Webcasts
About Regency Centers Corporation
(Nasdaq: REG)
Regency Centers is a preeminent national owner,
operator, and developer of shopping centers located in suburban
trade areas with compelling demographics. Our portfolio includes
thriving properties merchandised with highly productive grocers,
restaurants, service providers, and best-in-class retailers that
connect to their neighborhoods, communities, and customers.
Operating as a fully integrated real estate company, Regency
Centers is a qualified real estate investment trust (“REIT”) that
is self-administered, self-managed, and an S&P 500 Index
member. For more information, please visit RegencyCenters.com.
About Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc.
(NYSE: UBA and UBP)
Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc. is a
self-administered equity REIT which owns or has equity interests in
77 properties containing approximately 5.3 million square feet of
space. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange since 1970, it
provides investors with a means of participating in ownership of
income-producing properties. It has paid 212 consecutive quarters
of uninterrupted dividends to its shareholders since its
inception.
Forward-Looking StatementsThis
communication contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995.
Certain statements in this document regarding
anticipated financial, business, legal or other outcomes including
business and market conditions, outlook and other similar
statements relating to the proposed transaction between Regency and
UBP or Regency’s and UBP’s future events, developments or financial
or operational performance or results are “forward-looking
statements” made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal
securities laws. These forward-looking statements are identified by
the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “can”, “should,”
“plan”, “seek”, “would,” “expect,” “estimate,” “believe,” “intend,”
“forecast,” “project,” “anticipate,” “guidance,” or variations of
such words and other similar language and the negatives of such
words. However, the absence of these or similar words or
expressions does not mean a statement is not forward-looking. While
we believe these forward-looking statements are reasonable when
made, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance or events and undue reliance should not be placed on
these statements. These forward-looking statements are based on
certain assumptions and analyses made by Regency or UBP in light of
their respective experiences and their respective perceptions of
historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments
and other factors we believe are appropriate. Although we believe
the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are
based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance these
expectations will be attained, and it is possible actual results
may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking
statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other
factors, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy and some
of which might not even be anticipated. Ours and UBP’s operations
are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties including, but
not limited to, those risk factors described in our respective SEC
filings. When considering an investment in our securities, you
should carefully read and consider these risks, together with all
other information in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q and our other filings and submissions to the
SEC. If any of the events described in the risk factors actually
occur, our respective businesses, financial condition or operating
results, as well as the market price of our respective securities,
could be materially adversely affected. Forward-looking statements
are only as of the date they are made, and Regency undertakes no
duty to update its forward-looking statements, whether as a result
of new information, future events or developments or otherwise,
except as to the extent required by law. These risks and events
include, without limitation: the occurrence of any event, change or
other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the
merger agreement between Regency and UBP; the effect of the
announcement of the proposed transaction on the ability of Regency
and UBP to operate their respective businesses and retain and hire
key personnel and to maintain favorable business relationships;
Regency’s and UBP’s ability to complete the proposed transaction on
the proposed terms or on the anticipated timeline, or at all,
including risks and uncertainties related to securing the necessary
stockholder approval and satisfaction of other closing conditions
to consummate the proposed transaction; failure to achieve the
anticipated benefits from the proposed transaction; other risks
related to the completion of the proposed transaction and actions
related thereto, including significant transaction costs and/or
unknown or inestimable liabilities, risks related to diverting the
attention of Regency and UBP management from ongoing business
operations and the risk of stockholder litigation in connection
with the proposed transaction; risk factors related to the
integration of the two companies and the future opportunities and
plans for the combined company; risk factors related to the current
economic environment; risk factors related to pandemics or other
health crises; risk factors related to operating retail-based
shopping centers; risk factors related to real estate investments;
risk factors related to the environment affecting Regency’s and
UBP’s properties; risk factors related to corporate matters; risk
factors related to our respective partnerships and joint ventures;
risk factors related to funding strategies and capital structure;
risk factors related to the market price for our respective common
stock and other securities; and risk factors related our respective
qualifications as a REIT.
These risks, as well as other risks related to
the proposed transaction, will be included in the registration
statement on Form S-4 and proxy statement/prospectus that will be
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in
connection with the proposed transaction. While the list of factors
presented here is, and the list of factors to be presented in the
registration statement on Form S-4 are, considered representative,
no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all
potential risks and uncertainties. For additional information about
other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those described in the forward-looking statements, please
refer to Regency’s and UBP’s respective periodic reports and other
filings with the SEC, including the risk factors identified in
Regency’s and UBP’s most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and
Annual Reports on Form 10-K. The forward-looking statements
included in this communication are made only as of the date hereof.
Neither Regency nor UBP undertakes any obligation to update any
forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or
circumstances, except as required by law.
No Offer or SolicitationThis
communication is not intended to and shall not constitute an offer
to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any
securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall
there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such
offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration
or qualification under the securities laws of any such
jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made, except by
means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the
U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Additional Information about the
Transaction and Where to Find ItIn connection with the
proposed transaction, Regency intends to file with the SEC a
registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a proxy
statement of UBP and that also constitutes a prospectus of Regency.
Each of Regency and UBP may also file other relevant documents with
the SEC regarding the proposed transaction. This document is not a
substitute for the proxy statement/prospectus or registration
statement or any other document that Regency or UBP may file with
the SEC. The definitive proxy statement/prospectus (if and when
available) will be mailed to stockholders of UBP. INVESTORS AND
SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT,
PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT
MAY BE FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS
TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN
THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and
security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the
registration statement and proxy statement/prospectus (if and when
available) and other documents containing important information
about Regency, UBP and the proposed transaction, once such
documents are filed with the SEC through the website maintained by
the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with
the SEC by Regency will be available free of charge on Regency’s
website at https://investors.regencycenters.com or by requesting
copies from by mail at Investor Relations, Regency Centers
Corporation, One Independent Drive, Suite 114, Jacksonville FL
32202-5019. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by UBP will
be available free of charge on UBP’s website at
https://investors.ubproperties.com or by requesting copies from by
mail at 321 Railroad Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830, attention:
Secretary.
Participants in the
SolicitationRegency, UBP and certain of their respective
directors, executive officers and other members of management may
be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in
respect of the proposed transaction. Information about the
directors and executive officers of Regency, including a
description of their direct or indirect interests, by security
holdings or otherwise, is set forth in Regency’s proxy statement
for its 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which was filed with
the SEC on March 22, 2023, and Regency’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, which was filed with
the SEC on February 17, 2023. Information about the directors and
executive officers of UBP, including a description of their direct
or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set
forth in UBP’s proxy statement for its 2023 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on February 7, 2023 and
UBP’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October
31, 2022, which was filed with the SEC on January 13, 2023. Other
information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation
and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by
security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the proxy
statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with
the SEC regarding the proposed transaction when such materials
become available. Investors should read the proxy
statement/prospectus carefully when it becomes available before
making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free
copies of these documents from Regency or UBP using the sources
indicated above.
Non-GAAP DisclosureWe believe these non-GAAP
measures provide useful information to our Board of Directors,
management and investors regarding certain trends relating to our
financial condition and results of operations. Our management uses
these non-GAAP measures to compare our performance to that of prior
periods for trend analyses, purposes of determining management
incentive compensation and budgeting, forecasting and planning
purposes.
We do not consider non-GAAP measures an
alternative to financial measures determined in accordance with
GAAP, rather they supplement GAAP measures by providing additional
information we believe to be useful to our shareholders. The
principal limitation of these non-GAAP financial measures is they
may exclude significant expense and income items that are required
by GAAP to be recognized in our consolidated financial statements.
In addition, they reflect the exercise of management’s judgment
about which expense and income items are excluded or included in
determining these non-GAAP financial measures. In order to
compensate for these limitations, reconciliations of the non-GAAP
financial measures we use to their most directly comparable GAAP
measures are provided. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be
relied upon in evaluating the financial condition, results of
operations or future prospects of Regency.
Nareit FFO is a commonly used measure of REIT
performance, which the National Association of Real Estate
Investment Trusts (“Nareit”) defines as net income, computed in
accordance with GAAP, excluding gains on sale and impairments of
real estate, net of tax, plus depreciation and amortization, and
after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint
ventures. Regency computes Nareit FFO for all periods presented in
accordance with Nareit's definition. Since Nareit FFO excludes
depreciation and amortization and gains on sales and impairments of
real estate, it provides a performance measure that, when compared
year over year, reflects the impact on operations from trends in
percent leased, rental rates, operating costs, acquisition and
development activities, and financing costs. This provides a
perspective of Regency’s financial performance not immediately
apparent from net income determined in accordance with GAAP. Thus,
Nareit FFO is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure of the
Regency's operating performance, which does not represent cash
generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP; and,
therefore, should not be considered a substitute measure of cash
flows from operations. Regency provides a reconciliation of Net
Income Attributable to Common Shareholders to Nareit FFO.
Core Operating Earnings is an additional
performance measure that excludes from Nareit FFO: (i) transaction
related income or expenses; (ii) gains or losses from the early
extinguishment of debt; (iii) certain non-cash components of
earnings derived from above and below market rent amortization,
straight-line rents, and amortization of mark-to-market of debt
adjustments; and (iv) other amounts as they occur. The Regency
provides a reconciliation of Net Income to Nareit FFO to Core
Operating Earnings.
Regency – Investor Contact
Christy McElroy, SVP, Capital Markets904 598
7616ChristyMcElroy@regencycenters.com
Urstadt Biddle – Investor
Contact
John T. Hayes, CFO203 863 8200jhayes@ubproperties.com
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