Indebtedness

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Indebtedness

Indebtedness

7. Indebtedness

Our mortgages and unsecured indebtedness, excluding the impact of derivative instruments, consist of the following as of December 31:

	2023		2022
Fixed-Rate Debt:
Mortgage notes, including $1,977 and $2,436 of net premiums and $10,408 and $11,194 of debt issuance costs, respectively. Weighted average interest and maturity of 3.83% and 3.1 years at December 31, 2023.	$	4,832,884	$	4,580,799
Unsecured notes and Credit Facilities (see below), including $74,968 and $32,421 of net discounts and $125,557 and $76,058 of debt issuance costs, respectively.		20,811,917		18,029,459
Total Fixed-Rate Debt		25,644,801		22,610,258
Variable-Rate Debt:
Mortgage notes, including $4,477 and $5,336 of debt issuance costs, respectively. Weighted average interest and maturity of 5.91% and 1.5 years at December 31, 2023.		328,027		874,442
Unsecured Notes, including $0 and $15,622 of debt issuance costs, respectively.		—		1,412,141
Total Variable-Rate Debt		328,027		2,286,583
Other Debt Obligations		60,595		63,445
Total Mortgages and Unsecured Indebtedness	$	26,033,423	$	24,960,286

General.  Our unsecured debt agreements contain financial covenants and other non-financial covenants. If we were to fail to comply with these covenants, after the expiration of the applicable cure periods, the debt maturity could be accelerated or other remedies could be sought by the lender, including adjustments to the applicable interest rate. As of December 31, 2023, we were in compliance with all covenants of our unsecured debt.

At December 31, 2023, our consolidated subsidiaries were the borrowers under 35 non-recourse mortgage notes secured by mortgages on 38 properties and other assets, including two separate pools of cross-defaulted and cross-collateralized mortgages encumbering a total of five properties. Under these cross-default provisions, a default under any mortgage included in the cross-defaulted pool may constitute a default under all mortgages within that pool and may lead to acceleration of the indebtedness due on each property within the pool. Certain of our secured debt instruments contain financial and other non-financial covenants which are specific to the properties that serve as collateral for that debt. If the applicable borrower under these non-recourse mortgage notes were to fail to comply with these covenants, the lender could accelerate the debt and enforce its rights against their collateral. At December 31, 2023, the applicable borrowers under these non-recourse mortgage notes were in compliance with all covenants where non-compliance could individually or in the aggregate, giving effect to applicable cross-default provisions, have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.

Unsecured Debt

At December 31, 2023, our unsecured debt consisted of $20.7 billion of senior unsecured notes of the Operating Partnership, $305.0 million outstanding under the Operating Partnership’s $5.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility, or Credit Facility.  

The Credit Facility can be increased in the form of additional commitments in an aggregate not to exceed $1.0 billion, for a total aggregate size of $6.0 billion, subject to obtaining additional lender commitments and satisfying certain customary conditions precedent.  Borrowings may be denominated in U.S. dollars, Euro, Yen, Pounds, Sterling, Canadian dollars and Australian dollars. Borrowings in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are limited to 97% of the maximum

revolving credit amount, as defined. The initial maturity date of the Credit Facility is June 30, 2027. The Credit Facility can be extended for two additional six-month periods to June 30, 2028, at our sole option, subject to satisfying certain customary conditions precedent.

Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest, at our election, at either (i) (x) for Term Benchmark Loans, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, the applicable Local Rate, the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, or the Adjusted TIBOR Rate, (y) for RFR Loans, if denominated in Sterling, SONIA plus a benchmark adjustment and if denominated in Dollars, Daily Simple SOFR plus a benchmark adjustment, or (z) for Daily SOFR Loans, the Adjusted Floating Overnight Daily SOFR Rate, in each case of clauses (x) through (z) above, plus a margin determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.650% and 1.400% or (ii) for loans denominated in U.S. Dollars only, the base rate (which rate is equal to the greatest of the prime rate, the federal funds effective rate plus 0.500% or Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for one month plus 1.000%) (the “Base Rate”), plus a margin determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.000% and 0.400%. The Credit Facility includes a facility fee determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.100% and 0.300% on the aggregate revolving commitments under the Credit Facility.  Based upon our current credit ratings, the interest rate on the Credit Facility is SOFR plus 72.5 basis points, plus a spread adjustment to account for the transition from LIBOR to SOFR.

The Operating Partnership’s $3.5 billion unsecured revolving credit facility, or Supplemental Facility, and together with the Credit Facility, the Credit Facilities, has a borrowing capacity of $3.5 to $4.5 billion during its term and provides for borrowings denominated in U.S. dollars, Euro, Yen, Pounds, Sterling, Canadian dollars and Australian dollars. Borrowings in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are limited to 100% of the maximum revolving credit amount, as defined. The initial maturity date of the Supplemental Facility is January 31, 2026 and can be extended for an additional year to January 31, 2027 at our sole option, subject to satisfying certain customary conditions precedent.

Borrowings under the Supplemental Facility bear interest, at our election, at either (i) (x) for Term Benchmark Loans, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, the applicable Local Rate, the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, or the Adjusted TIBOR Rate, (y) for RFR Loans, if denominated in Sterling, SONIA plus a benchmark adjustment and if denominated in Dollars, Daily Simple SOFR plus a benchmark adjustment, or (z) for Daily SOFR Loans, the Adjusted Floating Overnight Daily SOFR Rate, in each case of clauses (x) through (z) above, plus a margin determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.650% and 1.400% or (ii) for loans denominated in U.S. Dollars only, the base rate (which rate is equal to the greatest of the prime rate, the federal funds effective rate plus 0.500% or Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for one month plus 1.000%) (the “Base Rate”), plus a margin determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.000% and 0.400%. The Supplemental Facility includes a facility fee determined by our corporate credit rating of between 0.100% and 0.300% on the aggregate revolving commitments under the Supplemental Facility.  Based upon our current credit ratings, the interest rate on the Supplemental Facility is SOFR plus 72.5 basis points, plus a spread adjustment to account for the transition from LIBOR to SOFR.

On December 31, 2023 we had an aggregate available borrowing capacity of $8.1 billion under the Credit Facilities. The maximum aggregate outstanding balance under the Facilities during the year ended December 31, 2023 was $1.1 billion and the weighted average outstanding balance was $962.6 million. Letters of credit of $58.6 million were outstanding under the Facilities as of December 31, 2023.

The Operating Partnership also has available a Commercial Paper program of $2.0 billion, or the non-U.S. dollar equivalent thereof. The Operating Partnership may issue unsecured commercial paper notes, denominated in U.S. dollars, Euro and other currencies. Notes issued in non-U.S. currencies may be issued by one or more subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership and are guaranteed by the Operating Partnership.  Notes will be sold under customary terms in the U.S. and Euro commercial paper note markets and rank (either by themselves or as a result of the guarantee described above) pari passu with the Operating Partnership's other unsecured senior indebtedness.  The Commercial Paper program is supported by the Credit Facilities, and if necessary or appropriate, we may make one or more draws under either of the Credit Facilities to pay amounts outstanding from time to time on the Commercial Paper program. On December 31, 2023, we had no outstanding balance under the Commercial Paper program.  Borrowings under the Commercial Paper program reduce amounts otherwise available under the Credit Facilities.

On January 11, 2022, the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of the following senior unsecured notes: $500 million with a floating interest rate of SOFR plus 43 basis points, and $700 million with a fixed interest rate of 2.650%,

with maturity dates of January 11, 2024 and February 1, 2032, respectively. The proceeds were used to repay $1.05 billion outstanding under the Supplemental Facility on January 12, 2022.

On November 16, 2022, the Operating Partnership drew €750.0 million ($779.0 million U.S. dollar equivalent) under the Supplemental Facility and used the proceeds on November 17, 2022 to repay €750.0 million ($777.1 million U.S. dollar equivalent) of senior unsecured notes at maturity.

On January 10, 2023, the Operating Partnership completed interest rate swap agreements with a combined notional value at €750.0 million to swap the interest rate of the Euro denominated borrowings outstanding under the Supplemental Facility to an all-in fixed rate of 3.81%. These interest rate swaps were terminated in connection with the repayment of these borrowings on November 14, 2023.

On March 8, 2023, the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of the following senior unsecured notes: $650 million with a fixed interest rate 5.50%, and $650 million with a fixed interest rate of 5.85%, with maturity dates of March 8, 2033 and March 8, 2053, respectively. The Operating Partnership used a portion of the net proceeds of the offering to fund the optional redemption of its $500 million floating rate notes due January 2024 on March 13, 2023.

On April 28, 2023 the Operating Partnership completed a borrowing of $180.0 million under the Credit Facility and subsequently unencumbered two properties.

On June 1, 2023, the Operating Partnership completed the redemption, at par, of its $600 million 2.75% notes at maturity.

On November 9, 2023, the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of the following senior unsecured notes: $500 million with a fixed interest rate of 6.25% and $500 million with a fixed interest rate of 6.65%, with maturity dates of January 15, 2034 and January 15, 2054, respectively. The proceeds were used to redeem, at par, its $600 million 3.75% notes at maturity on February 1, 2024.

On November 14, 2023, the Operating Partnership completed the issuance of €750.0 million senior unsecured bonds ($808.0 million U.S. dollar equivalent) with a maturity date of November 14, 2026 and a fixed interest rate of 3.50%.  The bonds are exchangeable into shares of Klépierre at the option of the holder of the bond at an initial common price of €27.2092.  We may elect to settle the exchange with cash instead of shares.  The proceeds were used to repay €750.0 million ($815.4 million U.S. dollar equivalent) outstanding under the Supplemental Facility on November 17, 2023. The exchangeable option within the bonds has been determined to meet the criteria for bifurcation as previously discussed in Note 3.

Mortgage Debt

Total mortgage indebtedness was $5.2 billion and $5.5 billion at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Debt Maturity and Other

Our scheduled principal repayments on indebtedness as of December 31, 2023, assuming the obligations remain outstanding through the initial maturities, are as follows:

2024	$	2,946,165
2025		2,639,816
2026		4,759,916
2027		2,466,364
2028		1,153,921
Thereafter		12,220,079
Total principal maturities		26,186,261
Net unamortized debt premium		13,635
Net unamortized debt discount		(86,626)
Debt issuance costs, net		(140,442)
Other Debt Obligations		60,595
Total mortgages and unsecured indebtedness	$	26,033,423

Our cash paid for interest in each period, net of any amounts capitalized, was as follows:

	For the Year Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
Cash paid for interest	$	856,110	$	763,203	$	822,182

Debt Issuance Costs

Our debt issuance costs consist primarily of financing fees we incurred in order to obtain long-term financing. We record amortization of debt issuance costs on a straight-line basis over the terms of the respective loans or agreements. Details of those debt issuance costs as of December 31 are as follows:

	2023		2022
Debt issuance costs	$	253,178	$	210,893
Accumulated amortization		(112,736)		(102,683)
Debt issuance costs, net	$	140,442	$	108,210

We report amortization of debt issuance costs, amortization of premiums, and accretion of discounts as part of interest expense. We amortize debt premiums and discounts, which are included in mortgages and unsecured indebtedness, over the remaining terms of the related debt instruments. These debt premiums or discounts arise either at the time of the debt issuance or as part of purchase accounting for the fair value of debt assumed in acquisitions. The accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income include amortization as follows:

	2023		2022		2021
Amortization of debt issuance costs	$	28,660	$	26,113	$	24,794
Amortization of debt discounts/(premiums)		433		7		168

Fair Value of Debt

The carrying value of our variable-rate mortgages and other loans approximates their fair values. We estimate the fair values of consolidated fixed-rate mortgages using cash flows discounted at current borrowing rates and other indebtedness using cash flows discounted at current market rates. We estimate the fair values of consolidated fixed-rate

unsecured notes using quoted market prices, or, if no quoted market prices are available, we use quoted market prices for securities with similar terms and maturities. The book value of our consolidated fixed-rate mortgages and unsecured indebtedness including commercial paper was $25.6 billion and $22.6 billion as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The fair values of these financial instruments and the related discount rate assumptions as of December 31 are summarized as follows:

	2023			2022
Fair value of consolidated fixed rate mortgages and unsecured indebtedness (in millions)	$	24,248		$	20,020
Weighted average discount rates assumed in calculation of fair value for fixed rate mortgages		6.10	%		6.10	%
Weighted average discount rates assumed in calculation of fair value for unsecured indebtedness		6.10	%		5.87	%