EX-99.1 2 nre-exhibit991q12019xpress.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 Exhibit
Exhibit 99.1

  
nre7458.jpg
NORTHSTAR REALTY EUROPE ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER 2019 RESULTS

NEW YORK, May 8, 2019 -- NorthStar Realty Europe Corp. (NYSE: NRE) (“NorthStar Realty Europe” or “NRE”), a European office REIT, today announced its results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019.

First Quarter 2019 Financial Results and Highlights
•
U.S. GAAP net income attributable to common stockholders: $11.1 million, or $0.22 per diluted share for the first quarter 2019
•
Cash available for distribution (“CAD”): $7.4 million, or $0.15 per share for the quarter despite significant sale activity in 2018 and lower corporate loan to value (“LTV”)1 
•
During the first quarter, NRE sold three assets for a total consideration of $44 million, releasing $23 million of net equity and crystallizing an approximate 14% IRR2 and an aggregate 17% IRR over the last twelve months
•
$2.6 million of first quarter 2019 annualized cash expense savings compared to full year 2018, ahead of the $2 million stated target for 2019 and the overall target of $5 million
•
In April 2019, NRE repaid $81 million Cale Street preferred equity reducing overall LTV to 36%
•
Cash dividend of $0.15 per share declared for the first quarter 2019

Mahbod Nia, Chief Executive Officer and President, commented: “I am pleased to announce that during the quarter, we completed the sale of three assets, realizing an approximate 14% IRR. During the past year we have sold ten assets, crystallizing an aggregate 17% IRR for stockholders.”

Mr. Nia added: “We also further reduced our leverage and continued to make progress with our expense saving initiatives that we anticipate being ahead of our stated targets.”

For more information and a reconciliation of CAD, net operating income (“NOI”) and same store NOI to net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders, please refer to the tables on the following pages.

Portfolio Overview
$1.3 billion portfolio market value3 based on the year-end 2018 independent portfolio valuation by Cushman & Wakefield LLP adjusted for currency movements (“Portfolio Market Value” or “Valuation”) comprising of primarily the real estate portfolio and $40 million across two preferred equity investments.

Real Estate Portfolio4,5 
As of March 31, 2019, NRE’s real estate portfolio comprised of 15 properties located across Germany, the U.K. and France with approximately 193,000 rentable square meters, 84% weighted average occupancy and a 6.2 year weighted average remaining lease term to expiry (“WALT”).
•
The office portfolio comprised of 12 properties with 122,000 rentable square meters, had a 96% weighted average occupancy and a 5.9 year WALT as of March 31, 2019.
•
The other (non-office) portfolio, which represented 7% of the Q1 2019 portfolio NOI, comprised of three properties with 71,000 rentable square meters (including a 59,000 square meters logistics asset, Marly), had a 63% weighted average occupancy (100% excluding Marly) and a 8.8 year WALT as of March 31, 2019.

Asset Sales
In 2019, NRE sold three properties for approximately $44 million releasing approximately $23 million of net equity to stockholders after repayment of financing and transactions costs, crystallizing an approximate 14% IRR.
•
On February 14, 2019, NRE completed the sale of a retail asset in Werl, Germany for $2.9 million. On March 1, 2019, NRE completed the sale of Kirchheide, a retail asset in Bremen, Germany for $1.1 million.


•
On March 1, 2019, NRE completed the sale of Uhlandstrasse, an office property in Frankfurt, Germany, for $40 million, representing a 65% premium to the allocated purchase price including funded capital expenditures, releasing approximately $22 million of net equity after repayment of financing and transaction costs.
•
Marly, NRE’s only logistics asset, was held for sale as of March 31, 2019.

Same Store Net Operating Income (Currency Adjusted; Excluding Held for Sale)
Same store sequential quarter-over-quarter rental income increased by $0.1 million, or 0.9%, due to indexation uplifts offset by partial vacancy in Dammtorwall (fully let from March 2019) and Marceau. Same store quarter-over-quarter NOI decreased by $0.2 million, or (1.5%), due to the timing of certain non-recoverable repairs and maintenance expenses specifically in IC Hotel (Berlin) and Ludwigstrasse (Cologne) incurred in the first quarter 2019. The remainder of the increase in operating expenses were reimbursed by the tenants and therefore did not result in a decrease in NOI.

Same store year-over-year rental income for the three months ended March 31, 2019 decreased by $0.1 million, or (0.7)%, driven by partial vacancy mentioned above and as the first quarter of 2018 preceded the execution of certain value enhancing leases, including a 9 year lease extension with BNP Paribas SA at Boulevard Macdonald and a 10 year lease extension with Baker Tilly at Valentinskamp. Same store year-over-year NOI for the three months ended March 31, 2019 decreased by $0.3 million, or (1.8%), driven by the non-recoverable expenses mentioned above.

Expense Saving Initiatives
In addition to the $3 million of savings in other expenses and general and administrative expenses realized in 2018, NRE remains on track to achieve an additional $2-3 million of savings during 2019, exceeding the overall expense saving target of $5 million.

Liquidity and Financing
As of March 31, 2019, NRE’s overall leverage was 39% based on the Portfolio Market Value. On April 5, 2019, NRE fully repaid the $81 million preferred equity debt related to the SEB portfolio, reducing leverage to 36%.
As of April 24, 2019, total liquidity was $433 million, comprising of $363 million of unrestricted cash, of which $196 million was held in US Dollars, and $70 million of availability under NRE’s revolving credit facility.
 
$ in millions
Unrestricted cash
$
363

Revolving credit facility
70

Total liquidity
$
433


Amended and Restated Management Agreement
On April 23, 2019, NRE entered into Amendment No. 2 to the amended and restated management agreement (the “Amended and Restated Management Agreement”) dated November 9, 2017, with an affiliate of Colony Capital, Inc., extending the date used in the definition of Triggering Date (as defined in the Amended and Restated Management Agreement) from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2019 to accommodate the ongoing strategic review process.

Stockholder’s Equity
NRE had 50.1 million shares of common stock, operating partnership units and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) not subject to performance hurdles outstanding as of March 31, 2019.
As of March 31, 2019, total equity was $682 million (U.S. GAAP depreciated value), or $13.62 per share and EPRA NAV6 was $20.48 per share. For more information and a reconciliation of EPRA NAV to total equity, please refer to the tables on the following pages.

First Quarter 2019 Disclosure Supplement Presentation
First Quarter 2019 disclosure supplement presentation will be posted on NRE’s website, www.nrecorp.com, which provides additional details regarding NRE’s operations and portfolio.



First Quarter 2019 Conference Call
NRE will conduct a conference call to discuss the results on May 8, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. ET. Hosting the call will be Mahbod Nia, Chief Executive Officer, Keith Feldman, Chief Financial Officer and Trevor Ross, General Counsel.

To participate in the event by telephone, please dial +1 866 966 5335 (U.S. Toll Free), or +44 (0) 20 3003 2666 (International) or 0808 109 0700 (U.K. Toll Free), using passcode: NorthStar.

The call will also be broadcast live over the internet and can be accessed from NRE’s website at www.nrecorp.com. For those unable to participate during the live call, a replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the call through May 15, 2019 by dialing +1 866 583 1039 (U.S. Toll Free), or +44 (0) 20 8196 1998 (International) or 0800 633 8453 (UK Toll Free), using passcode: 3902609.

About NorthStar Realty Europe Corp.
NorthStar Realty Europe Corp. is a European focused commercial real estate company with predominately prime office properties within key cities in Germany, the United Kingdom and France, organized as a REIT and managed by an affiliate of Colony Capital, Inc. (NYSE: CLNY), a leading global equity REIT with an embedded investment management platform. For more information about NorthStar Realty Europe Corp., please visit www.nrecorp.com.

Investor Relations
Gordon Simpson
Finsbury
+1 855 527 8539 or +44 (0) 207 2513801
nre@finsbury.com


NorthStar Realty Europe Corp.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
($ in thousands, except per share data)
Unaudited

    
 
March 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
Assets
 
 

Operating real estate, gross
$
843,212

 
$
844,809

Less: accumulated depreciation
(68,143
)
 
(64,187
)
Operating real estate, net
775,069

 
780,622

Preferred equity investments
39,754

 
39,090

Cash and cash equivalents
453,373

 
438,931

Restricted cash
5,093

 
5,592

Receivables, net of allowance of $232 and $236 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively
8,097

 
8,989

Assets held for sale
45,891

 
73,345

Derivative assets, at fair value
5,255

 
6,440

Intangible assets, net and goodwill
25,390

 
58,173

Other assets, net
47,805

 
14,317

Total assets
$
1,405,727

 
$
1,425,499

Liabilities
 
 
 
Mortgage and other notes payable, net
$
663,214

 
$
682,912

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
21,935

 
22,367

Due to affiliates
10,227

 
9,630

Intangible liabilities, net
9,492

 
9,722

Liabilities related to assets held for sale
2,007

 
1,498

Other liabilities
16,473

 
21,267

Total liabilities
723,348

 
747,396

Commitments and contingencies

 

Equity
 
 
 
NorthStar Realty Europe Corp. Stockholders’ Equity
 
 
 
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018
—

 
—

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 1,000,000,000 shares authorized, 49,783,016 and 49,807,448 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively
497

 
498

Additional paid-in capital
863,112

 
862,240

Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)
(167,063
)
 
(170,669
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
(18,322
)
 
(18,424
)
Total NorthStar Realty Europe Corp. stockholders’ equity
678,224

 
673,645

Noncontrolling interests
4,155

 
4,458

Total equity
682,379

 
678,103

Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and equity
$
1,405,727

 
$
1,425,499









NorthStar Realty Europe Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
($ in thousands, except for per share data)
Unaudited

 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,

 
2019
 
2018
Revenues
 
 
 
 
Lease income
 
$
17,084

 
$
32,565

Interest income
 
1,611

 
729

Other income
 
475

 
278

Total revenues

19,170

 
33,572

Expenses
 
 
 
 
Properties - operating expenses
 
2,906

 
6,802

Interest expense
 
3,680

 
6,107

Transaction costs
 
762

 
481

Management fee, related party
 
3,888

 
4,157

Other expenses
 
737

 
1,424

General and administrative expenses
 
1,736

 
1,878

Compensation expense
 
1,287

 
365

Depreciation and amortization
 
5,913

 
11,651

Total expenses

20,909

 
32,865

Other income (loss)
 
 
 
 
Other gain (loss), net
 
(2,517
)
 
(3,002
)
Extinguishment of debt
 
(194
)
 
—

Gain on sales, net
 
17,725

 
1,266

Income (loss) before income tax benefit (expense)

13,275

 
(1,029
)
Income tax benefit (expense)
 
(2,152
)
 
(39
)
Net income (loss)

11,123

 
(1,068
)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
(62
)
 
(4
)
Net income (loss) attributable to NorthStar Realty Europe Corp. common stockholders

$
11,061

 
$
(1,072
)
Earnings (loss) per share:
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
0.22

 
$
(0.02
)
Diluted
 
$
0.22

 
$
(0.02
)
Weighted average number of shares:
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
49,314,342

 
55,192,762

Diluted
 
50,670,072

 
55,603,500






Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Included in this press release are Cash Available for Distribution, or CAD, net operating income, or NOI, same store net operating income, or same store NOI, Adjusted Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization, or Adjusted EBITDA and EPRA net asset value, or EPRA NAV, each a “non-GAAP financial measure,” which measures NRE’s historical or future financial performance that is different from measures calculated and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or U.S. GAAP, within the meaning of the applicable Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, rules. NRE believes these metrics can be a useful measure of its performance which is further defined below.
Cash Available for Distribution
We believe that CAD provides investors and management with a meaningful indicator of operating performance. We also believe that CAD is useful because it adjusts for a variety of items that are consistent with presenting a measure of operating performance (such as transaction costs, depreciation and amortization, equity-based compensation, gain on sales, net, asset impairment and non-recurring bad debt expense). We adjust for transaction costs because these costs are not a meaningful indicator of our operating performance. For instance, these transaction costs include costs such as professional fees associated with new investments, which are expenses related to specific transactions. Management also believes that quarterly distributions are principally based on operating performance and our board of directors includes CAD as one of several metrics it reviews to determine quarterly distributions to stockholders. The definition of CAD may be adjusted from time to time for our reporting purposes in our discretion, acting through our audit committee or otherwise. CAD may fluctuate from period to period based upon a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the timing and amount of investments, new leases, repayments and asset sales, capital raised, use of leverage, changes in the expected yield of investments and the overall conditions in commercial real estate and the economy generally.
We calculate CAD by subtracting from or adding to net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders, noncontrolling interests and the following items: depreciation and amortization items including straight-line rental income or expense (excluding amortization of rent free periods), amortization of above/below market leases, amortization of deferred financing costs, amortization of discount on financings and other and equity-based compensation; other gain (loss), net (excluding any realized gain (loss) on the settlement on foreign currency derivatives); gain on sales, net; impairment on depreciable property; extinguishment of debt; acquisition gains or losses; transaction costs; foreign currency gains (losses) related to sales; goodwill impairment following the sale of operating real estate and other intangible assets; the incentive fee relating to the Amended and Restated Management Agreement and one-time events pursuant to changes in U.S. GAAP and certain other non-recurring items. These items, if applicable, include any adjustments for unconsolidated ventures.
CAD should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders, determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, as an indicator of operating performance. In addition, our methodology for calculating CAD involves subjective judgment and discretion and may differ from the methodologies used by other comparable companies, including other REITs, when calculating the same or similar supplemental financial measures and may not be comparable with these companies.




The following table presents a reconciliation of net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders to CAD for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 (dollars in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders
$
11,061

 
$
(1,072
)
Noncontrolling interests
62

 
4

 
 
 
 
Adjustments:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization items(1)
7,418

 
12,952

Other (gain) loss, net(2)
3,663

 
1,586

(Gain) on sales, net
(17,725
)
 
(1,266
)
Transaction costs and other(3)
2,926

 
481

CAD
$
7,405

 
$
12,685

CAD per share(4)
$
0.15

 
$
0.23

_________________
(1)
Three months ended March 31, 2019 reflects an adjustment to exclude depreciation and amortization of $5.9 million, amortization expense of capitalized above/below market leases of $(0.3) million, amortization of deferred financing costs of $0.5 million and amortization of equity-based compensation of $1.3 million. Three months ended March 31, 2018 reflects an adjustment to exclude depreciation and amortization of $11.7 million, amortization expense of capitalized above/below market leases of $0.2 million, amortization of deferred financing costs of $0.7 million and amortization of equity-based compensation of $0.4 million.
(2)
Three months ended March 31, 2019 CAD includes a $1.1 million net gain related to the settlement of foreign currency derivatives. Three months ended March 31, 2018 CAD includes a $1.4 million net loss related to the settlement of foreign currency derivatives.
(3)
Three months ended March 31, 2019 reflects an adjustment to exclude $0.8 million of transaction costs, $0.2 million related to extinguishment of debt and $2.0 million of taxes related to sales. Three months ended March 31, 2018 reflects an adjustment to exclude $0.5 million of transaction costs and other one-time items.
(4)
CAD per share is based on 50.1 million and 55.8 million weighted average shares (common shares outstanding including operating partnership units and RSUs not subject to performance hurdles) for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. CAD per share does not take into account any potential dilution from restricted stock units subject to performance metrics not currently achieved.

Net Operating Income
We believe NOI is a useful metric for evaluating the operating performance of our real estate portfolio in the aggregate. Portfolio results and performance metrics represent 100% for all consolidated investments. Net operating income reflects total property and related revenues, adjusted for: (i) amortization of above/below market leases; (ii) straight-line rent (except with respect to rent free period); (iii) other items such as adjustments related to joint ventures and non-recurring bad debt expense and less property operating expenses. However, the usefulness of NOI is limited because it excludes general and administrative costs, interest expense, transaction costs, depreciation and amortization expense, gains on sales, net and other items under U.S. GAAP and capital expenditures and leasing costs, all of which may be significant economic costs. NOI may fail to capture significant trends in these components of U.S. GAAP net income (loss) which further limits its usefulness.
NOI should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss), determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, as an indicator of operating performance. In addition, our methodology for calculating NOI involves subjective judgment and discretion and may differ from the methodologies used by other comparable companies, including other REITs, when calculating the same or similar supplemental financial measures and may not be comparable with these companies.



The following table presents a reconciliation of NOI of our real estate equity and preferred equity segments to property and other related revenues less property operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 (dollars in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Lease income
$
17,084

 
$
32,565

Other income
475

 
278

Total property and other income
17,559


32,843

Properties - operating expenses
2,906

 
6,802

Adjustments:
 
 
 
Interest income
777

 
729

Amortization and other items(1)
(252
)
 
220

NOI(2)
$
15,178


$
26,990

_____________________________
(1)
Three months ended March 31, 2019 primarily excludes $(0.3) million of amortization of above/below market leases. Three months ended March 31, 2018 primarily excludes $0.2 million of amortization of above/below market leases and $0.1 million of other one-time items.
(2)
The following table presents a reconciliation of net income (loss) to NOI of our real estate equity and preferred equity segment for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 (dollars in thousands):

 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Net income (loss)
$
11,123

 
$
(1,068
)
Remaining segments(i)
9,276

 
9,528

Real estate equity and preferred equity segment adjustments:
 
 
 
Interest expense
3,454

 
5,955

Other expenses
737

 
1,424

Depreciation and amortization
5,913

 
11,651

Other (gain) loss, net
331

 
168

Extinguishment of debt
194

 
—

Gain on sales, net
(17,725
)
 
(1,266
)
Income tax (benefit) expense
2,152

 
39

Other items
(277
)
 
559

Total adjustments
(5,221
)
 
18,530

NOI
$
15,178


$
26,990

_____________________________
(i)
Reflects the net (income) loss in our corporate segment to reconcile to net operating income.


Same Store Net Operating Income
We believe same store NOI is a useful metric for evaluating the operating performance as it reflects the operating performance of the real estate portfolio and provides a better measure of operational performance for quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year comparison. Same store net operating income is presented for the same store portfolio, which comprises all properties that were owned by us at the end of the reporting period. We define same store net operating income as NOI excluding (i) properties that were acquired or sold during the period, (ii) impact of foreign currency changes and (iii) amortization of above/below market leases. We consider same store NOI to be an appropriate and useful supplemental performance measure. Same store NOI should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss), determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, as an indicator of operating performance.  In addition, our methodology for calculating same store net operating income involves subjective judgment and discretion and may differ from the methodologies used by other comparable companies, including other REITs, when calculating the same or similar supplemental financial measures and may not be comparable with these companies. Same store portfolio is defined as properties in operation throughout the full periods presented under the comparison, excluding the impact of foreign currency changes, and included 14 properties (excluding an asset held for sale) and our preferred equity segment (in case of quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year comparison).


The following table presents our same store analysis for the Gresham Street preferred equity and real estate equity segment which comprises 14 properties (134,047 square meters) adjusted for currency movement and to exclude the held for sale asset as of March 31, 2019 and properties that were acquired or sold at any time during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 and December 31, 2018 (dollars in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Year-over-year Increase (Decrease)
 
Three Months Ended
December 31, 2018(1)
 
Quarter-over-quarter
Increase (Decrease)
 
2019
 
2018(1)
 
Amount
 
%
 
 
Amount
 
%
Same Store Occupancy (end of period)
96
%
 
97
%
 
 
 
 
 
96
%
 
 
 
 
Same store
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rental income(2)
$
13,357

 
$
13,453

 
$
(96
)
 
(0.7
%)
 
$
13,242

 
$
115

 
0.9
%
Escalation income
$
2,569

 
$
2,187

 
382

 
 
 
2,592

 
(23
)
 
 
Lease income
15,926

 
15,640

 
286

 
1.8
%
 
15,834

 
92

 
0.6
%
Interest income
$
681

 
$
674

 
7

 
 
 
688

 
(7
)
 
 
Other income
63

 
136

 
(73
)
 
 
 
74

 
(11
)
 
 
Total revenues
16,670

 
16,450

 
220

 
1.3
%
 
16,596

 
74

 
0.4
%
Utilities
689

 
526

 
163

 
 
 
549

 
140

 
 
Real estate taxes and insurance
708

 
571

 
137

 
 
 
660

 
48

 
 
Management fees
129

 
209

 
(80
)
 
 
 
222

 
(93
)
 
 
Repairs and maintenance
1,095

 
839

 
256

 
 
 
845

 
250

 
 
Other(2)(3)
203

 
204

 
(1
)
 
 
 
268

 
(65
)
 
 
Properties - operating expenses
2,824

 
2,349

 
475

 
20.2
%
 
2,544

 
280

 
11.0
%
Same store net operating income
$
13,846

 
$
14,101

 
$
(255
)
 
(1.8
%)
 
$
14,052

 
$
(206
)
 
(1.5
%)
_____________________________
(1)
Three months ended December 31, 2018 and March 31, 2018 are translated using the average exchange rate for the three months ended March 31, 2019.
(2)
Adjusted to exclude amortization of above/below market leases and ground leases.
(3)
Includes non-recoverable value-added tax, or VAT, administrative costs and other non-reimbursable expenses.

The following table presents a reconciliation from net income (loss) to same store net operating income for the real estate equity and preferred equity segments for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 and December 31, 2018 (dollars in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Three Months Ended
December 31, 2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
Net income (loss)
$
11,123

 
$
(1,068
)
 
$
171,466

Corporate segment net (income) loss(1)
9,276

 
9,528

 
13,305

(Gain) on sales, net
(17,725
)
 
(1,266
)
 
(198,767
)
Other (income) loss(2)
12,504

 
19,796

 
36,351

Net operating income
15,178

 
26,990

 
22,355

Sale of real estate investments and other(3)
(1,332
)
 
(12,889
)
 
(8,303
)
Same store net operating income
$
13,846

 
$
14,101

 
$
14,052

_____________________________
(1)
Includes management fees, general and administrative expense, compensation expense, corporate interest expense and corporate transaction costs offset by the net gain on foreign currency derivatives.
(2)
Includes depreciation and amortization expense, loss on interest rate caps and other expenses in the real estate equity segment.
(3)
Primarily reflects the impact of net operating income of sold assets, interest income on the Trianon preferred equity investment and the foreign currency effect relating to the translation of the March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2018 balances to the March 31, 2019 exchange rate.






Adjusted EBITDA
We believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides investors and management with a meaningful indicator of operating performance. We also believe that Adjusted EBITDA is useful because it adjusts for a variety of items that are consistent with presenting a measure of operating performance (such as depreciation and amortization, interest expense, income tax benefit (expense), gain on sales, net, transaction costs, equity-based compensation and asset impairment). The definition of Adjusted EBITDA may be adjusted from time to time for our reporting purposes in our discretion, acting through our audit committee or otherwise. Adjusted EBITDA may fluctuate from period to period based upon a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the timing and amount of investments, new leases, repayments and asset sales, capital raised, changes in the expected yield of investments and the overall conditions in commercial real estate and the economy generally.
We calculate Adjusted EBITDA by subtracting from or adding to net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders, noncontrolling interests and the following items: depreciation and amortization items including straight-line rental income or expense (excluding amortization of rent free periods), amortization of above/below market leases and equity-based compensation; interest expense; income tax (benefit) expense; other gain (loss), net (excluding any realized gain (loss) on the settlement on foreign currency derivatives); gain on sales, net; impairment on depreciable property; extinguishment of debt; acquisition gains or losses; transaction costs; foreign currency gains (losses) related to sales; goodwill impairment following the sale of operating real estate and other intangible assets; the incentive fee relating to the Amended and Restated Management Agreement and one-time events pursuant to changes in U.S. GAAP and certain other non-recurring items. These items, if applicable, include any adjustments for unconsolidated ventures.
Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders, determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, as an indicator of operating performance. In addition, our methodology for calculating Adjusted EBITDA involves subjective judgment and discretion and may differ from the methodologies used by other comparable companies, including other REITs, when calculating the same or similar supplemental financial measures and may not be comparable with these companies.
The following table presents a reconciliation of net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders to Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2019, December 31, 2018 and March 31, 2018 (dollars in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
March 31, 2018
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders
$
11,061

 
$
170,271

 
$
(1,072
)
Noncontrolling interests
62

 
1,195

 
4

 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization items(1)
6,948

 
12,157

 
12,236

Impairments(2)
—

 
8,889

 
—

Incentive fee
—

 
5,445

 
—

Income tax (benefit) expense
2,152

 
949

 
39

Interest expense
3,680

 
4,663

 
6,107

Other (gain) loss, net(3)
3,663

 
(351
)
 
1,586

(Gain) on sales, net
(17,725
)
 
(198,767
)
 
(1,266
)
Transaction costs and other(4)
956

 
11,067

 
481

Adjusted EBITDA
$
10,797

 
$
15,518

 
$
18,115

_____________________________
(1)
Three months ended March 31, 2019 reflects an adjustment to exclude depreciation and amortization of $5.9 million, amortization expense of capitalized above/below market leases of $(0.3) million and amortization of equity-based compensation of $1.3 million. Three months ended December 31, 2018 reflects an adjustment to exclude depreciation and amortization of $10.9 million and amortization of equity-based compensation of $1.3 million. Three months ended March 31, 2018 reflects an adjustment to exclude depreciation and amortization of $11.7 million, amortization expense of capitalized above/below market leases of $0.2 million and amortization of equity-based compensation of $0.4 million.
(2)
Three months ended December 31, 2018 reflects an adjustment to exclude a goodwill impairment following the sale of operating real estate of $8.1 million and an impairment loss related to assets held-for-sale of $0.8 million.
(3)
Three months ended March 31, 2019 Adjusted EBITDA includes a $1.1 million net gain related to the settlement of foreign currency derivatives. Three months ended December 31, 2018 Adjusted EBITDA includes a $0.1 million net gain related to the settlement of foreign currency derivatives. Three months ended March 31, 2018 Adjusted EBITDA includes a $1.4 million net loss related to the settlement of foreign currency derivatives.
(4)
Three months ended March 31, 2019 reflects an adjustment to exclude $0.8 million of transaction costs and $0.2 million related to extinguishment of debt. Three months ended December 31, 2018 reflects an adjustment to exclude $8.3 million of transaction costs and $2.8 million related to extinguishment of debt. Three months ended March 31, 2018 reflects an adjustment to exclude $0.5 million of transaction costs and other one-time items.




EPRA Net Asset Value (EPRA NAV)
As our entire portfolio is based in Europe, our management calculates European Public Real Estate Association net asset value, or EPRA NAV, a non-GAAP measure, to compare our balance sheet to other European real estate companies and believes that disclosing EPRA NAV provides investors with a meaningful measure of our net asset value. Our calculation of EPRA NAV is derived from our U.S. GAAP balance sheet with adjustments reflecting our interpretation of EPRA’s best practices recommendations. Accordingly, our calculation of EPRA NAV may be different from how other European real estate companies calculate EPRA NAV, which utilize International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) to prepare their balance sheet. EPRA NAV makes adjustments to net assets as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP in order to provide our stockholders a measure of fair value of our assets and liabilities with a long-term investment strategy. This performance measure excludes assets and liabilities that are not expected to materialize in normal circumstances. EPRA NAV includes the revaluation of investment properties and excludes the fair value of financial instruments that we intend to hold to maturity, deferred tax and goodwill that resulted from deferred tax. All other assets, including real property and investments reported at cost are adjusted to fair value based upon an independent third party valuation conducted in December and June of each year. This measure should not be considered as an alternative to measuring our net assets in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
The following table presents a reconciliation of total equity to EPRA NAV as at March 31, 2019 (dollars in thousands, other than per share data):
 
March 31, 2019
Total Equity
$
682,379

Adjustments
 
Operating real estate, net intangibles and other
(871,448
)
Fair value of properties
1,216,000

Adjusted NAV
1,026,931

 
 
Diluted NAV, after the exercise of options, convertibles and other equity interests
1,026,931

Fair value of financial instruments
(901
)
EPRA NAV
1,026,030

EPRA NAV per share(1)
$
20.48

______________
(1)
Based on 50.1 million common shares, operating partnership units and RSUs not subject to performance hurdles outstanding as of March 31, 2019. EPRA NAV per share does not take into account any potential dilution from restricted stock units subject to performance metrics not currently achieved.


Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains certain “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward looking statements are generally identifiable by use of forward looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “potential,” “intend,” “expect,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “could,” “project,” “predict,” “hypothetical,” “continue,” “future” or other similar words or expressions. Forward looking statements are not guarantees of performance and are based on certain assumptions, discuss future expectations, describe plans and strategies, contain projections of results of operations or of financial condition or state other forward looking information. Such statements include, but are not limited to, the likelihood and timing of successfully completing sales transactions and the amount of the net equity released after repayment of financing and transaction costs; the expected cost savings as a result of operational efficiencies, the time required to achieve such run rate cost savings; the availability of future borrowings under the revolving credit facility; the ability to execute on NRE’s strategy; NRE’s ability to maintain dividend payments, at current levels, or at all, and the timing of dividend levels declared. Forward looking statements are necessarily speculative in nature, and it can be expected that some or all of the assumptions underlying any forward-looking statements will not materialize or will vary significantly from actual results. Variations of assumptions and results may be material. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from NRE’s expectations include, but are not limited to, NRE’s liquidity and financial flexibility; NRE’s future cash available for distribution; the pace and result of any asset disposals contemplated by NRE; NRE’s use of leverage; the result of the ongoing review of the strategic alternatives for the company; and the anticipated strength and growth of NRE’s business. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward looking statements are specified in NRE’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such forward looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. NRE expressly disclaims any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

Disclaimer
As an opinion, the valuation by Cushman & Wakefield LLP referenced in this release is not a measure of realizable value and may not reflect the amount that would be received if the property in question were sold. Real estate valuation is inherently subjective due to, among other factors, the individual nature of each property, its location, the expected future rental revenues from that particular property and the valuation methodology adopted. Real estate valuations are subject to a large degree of uncertainty and are made on the basis of assumptions and methodologies that may not prove to be accurate, particularly in periods of volatility, low transaction flow or restricted debt availability in the commercial or residential real estate markets. For example, in the appraisal, a number of the properties were valued using the special assumption that such properties would be purchased through a tax-efficient special purpose vehicle, and is therefore subject to lower purchaser transaction expenses. If one or more assumptions are incorrect, the value may be materially lower than the appraised value.

Endnotes
1.
Leverage, or loan to value, is calculated as property level debt plus portfolio level preferred equity divided by the Portfolio Market Value and unrestricted cash net of any outstanding balance on the revolving credit facility.
2.
IRR = Internal Rate of Return.
3.
The external third-party valuation was prepared by Cushman & Wakefield LLP in accordance with the current U.K. and Global edition of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors' (RICS) Valuation - Professional Standards (the "Red Book") on the basis of "Fair Value", which is widely recognized within Europe as the leading professional standards for independent valuation professionals. Each property is classified as an investment and has been valued on the basis of Fair Value adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board. This is the equivalent to the Red Book definition of Market Value. The Red Book defines Market Value as the estimated amount for which an asset or liability should exchange on the valuation date between a willing buyer and a willing seller in an arm's-length transaction after proper marketing where the parties had each acted knowledgeably, prudently and without compulsion. The Cushman & Wakefield LLP valuation assumes that certain properties would be purchased through market accepted structures resulting in lower purchaser transaction expenses (taxes, duties, and similar costs). This Cushman & Wakefield LLP valuation is as of December 31, 2018, adjusted for currency movements as of March 31, 2019.


The $1.3 billion Portfolio Market Value comprises $1.2 billion real estate portfolio value based on the independent valuation by Cushman & Wakefield LLP and $40 million across two preferred equity investments (please refer to Note 11, “Fair Value” in the NRE Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2019 included in Part I Item 1. “Financial Statements”).
4.
Excludes the preferred equity investment.
5.
Occupancy and weighted average remaining contractual lease term based on rent roll as of March 31, 2019, on a same store basis.
6.
EPRA = European Public Real Estate. EPRA Net Asset Value (“EPRA NAV”).