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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

(Mark One)

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from                      to                     

 

Commission File number 1-12254

 

SAUL CENTERS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Maryland   52-1833074

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1500, Bethesda, Maryland 20814-6522

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (301) 986-6200

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class


 

Name of each exchange on which registered


Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 Per Share   New York Stock Exchange

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: N/A

 

Indicate by check mark whether registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in the definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨

 

The number of shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding as of February 27, 2004 was 15,988,877.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes x No ¨

 

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the closing price of the registrant’s Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on June 30, 2003 was $251,581,000.

 



Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page Numbers

     PART I     

Item 1.

   Business    3

Item 2.

   Properties    10

Item 3.

   Legal Proceedings    15

Item 4.

   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    15
     PART II     

Item 5.

   Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters    15

Item 6.

   Selected Financial Data    16

Item 7.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    18

Item 7a.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    35

Item 8.

   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data    35

Item 9.

   Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure    35

Item 9A.

   Controls and Procedures    35
     PART III     

Item 10.

   Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant    36

Item 11.

   Executive Compensation    36

Item 12.

   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters    36

Item 13.

   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions    37

Item 14.

   Principal Accountant Fees and Services    37
     PART IV     

Item 15.

   Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K    37
     FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE     

Schedule III.

   Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation    F-25

 

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PART I

 

Item 1. Business

 

General

 

Saul Centers, Inc. (“Saul Centers”) was incorporated under the Maryland General Corporation Law on June 10, 1993. Saul Centers operates as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Saul Centers generally will not be subject to federal income tax, provided it annually distributes at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its stockholders and meets certain organizational and other requirements. Saul Centers has made and intends to continue to make regular quarterly distributions to its stockholders. Saul Centers, together with its wholly owned subsidiaries and the limited partnerships of which Saul Centers or one of its subsidiaries is the sole general partner, are referred to collectively as the “Company”. B. Francis Saul II serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Saul Centers.

 

The Company’s principal business activity is the ownership, management and development of income-producing properties. The Company’s long-term objectives are to increase cash flow from operations and to maximize capital appreciation of its real estate.

 

Saul Centers was formed to continue and expand the shopping center business previously owned and conducted by the B.F. Saul Real Estate Investment Trust, the B.F. Saul Company, Chevy Chase Bank, F.S.B. and certain other affiliated entities, each of which is controlled by B. Francis Saul II and his family members (collectively, “The Saul Organization”). On August 26, 1993, members of The Saul Organization transferred to Saul Holdings Limited Partnership, a newly formed Maryland limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), and two newly formed subsidiary limited partnerships (the “Subsidiary Partnerships”, and collectively with the Operating Partnership, the “Partnerships”), shopping center and office properties, and the management functions related to the transferred properties. Since its formation, the Company has purchased and developed additional properties, including seven properties during 2002 and 2003. In November 2003, the Company acquired approximately 13 acres of undeveloped land in Frederick, Maryland where it is developing Shops at Monocacy, a 102,000 square foot grocery anchored neighborhood shopping center. The property was approximately 60% pre-leased at purchase. In October 2003, the Company completed the first phase of the Broadlands Village development, a grocery anchored neighborhood shopping center in Loudoun County, Virginia. In July 2003, the Company purchased Olde Forte Village, a grocery anchored neighborhood shopping center in Fort Washington, Maryland. In November 2002, the Company purchased a 19 acre parcel of land in the Lansdowne community in Loudoun County, Virginia. The Company plans to develop the Lansdowne parcel into a grocery anchored neighborhood shopping center. In September 2002, the Company purchased 109,642 square feet of retail space known as Kentlands Square. In the summer of 2002, the Company completed development of Ashburn Village IV, an in-line retail and pad building expansion to the Ashburn Village shopping center. In June 2002, the Company purchased Clarendon Center for future redevelopment. As of December 31, 2003, the Company’s properties (the “Current Portfolio Properties”) consisted of 31 operating shopping center properties (the “Shopping Centers”), five predominantly office operating properties (the “Office Properties”) and three development and/or redevelopment properties.

 

The Company established Saul QRS, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Saul Centers, to facilitate the placement of collateralized mortgage debt. Saul QRS, Inc. was created to succeed to the interest of Saul Centers as the sole general partner of Saul Subsidiary I Limited Partnership. The remaining limited partnership interests in Saul Subsidiary I Limited Partnership and Saul Subsidiary II Limited Partnership are held by the Operating Partnership as the sole limited partner. Through this structure, the Company owns 100% of the Current Portfolio Properties.

 

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The following diagram depicts the Company’s organizational structure as of December 31, 2003.

 

[GRAPHIC]

 

Management of the Current Portfolio Properties

 

The Partnerships manage the Current Portfolio Properties and will manage any subsequently acquired properties. The management of the properties includes performing property management, leasing, design, renovation, development and accounting duties for each property. The Partnerships provide each property with a fully integrated property management capability, with approximately 50 employees and with an extensive and mature network of relationships with tenants and potential tenants as well as with members of the brokerage and property owners’ communities. The Company currently does not, and does not intend to, retain third party managers or provide management services to third parties.

 

The Company augments its property management capabilities by sharing with The Saul Organization certain ancillary functions, at cost, such as computer and payroll services, benefits administration and in-house legal services. The Company also shares insurance administration expenses on a pro rata basis with The Saul Organization. Management believes that these arrangements result in lower costs than could be obtained by contracting with third parties. These arrangements permit the Company to capture greater economies of scale in purchasing from third party vendors than would otherwise be available to the Company alone and to capture internal economies of scale by avoiding payments representing profits with respect to functions provided internally. The terms of all sharing arrangements with The Saul Organization, including payments related thereto, are reviewed periodically by the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

The Company’s corporate headquarters lease commenced in March 2002 and is a sublease of office space from The Saul Organization at its cost. A discussion of the lease terms are provided in Note 6, Long Term Lease Obligations, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Principal Offices

 

The principal offices of the Company are located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1500, Bethesda, Maryland 20814-6522, and the Company’s telephone number is (301) 986-6200. The Company’s internet web address is www.saulcenters.com.

 

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Policies with Respect to Certain Activities

 

The following is a discussion of the Company’s operating strategy and certain of its investment, financing and other policies. These strategies and policies have been determined by the Board of Directors and, in general, may be amended or revised from time to time by the Board of Directors without a vote of the Company’s stockholders.

 

Operating Strategies

 

The Company’s primary operating strategy is to focus on its community and neighborhood shopping center business and to operate its properties to achieve both cash flow growth and capital appreciation. Community and neighborhood shopping centers typically provide reliable cash flow and steady long-term growth potential. Management intends to actively manage its property portfolio by engaging in strategic leasing activities, tenant selection, lease negotiation and shopping center expansion and reconfiguration. The Company seeks to optimize tenant mix by selecting tenants for its shopping centers that provide a broad spectrum of goods and services, consistent with the role of community and neighborhood shopping centers as the source for day-to-day necessities. Management believes that such a synergistic tenanting approach results in increased cash flow from existing tenants by providing the Shopping Centers with consistent traffic and a desirable mix of shoppers, resulting in increased sales and, therefore, increased cash flows.

 

Management believes there is potential for growth in cash flow as existing leases for space in the Shopping Centers expire and are renewed, or newly available or vacant space is leased. The Company intends to renegotiate leases where possible and seek new tenants for available space in order to maximize this potential for increased cash flow. As leases expire, management expects to revise rental rates, lease terms and conditions, relocate existing tenants, reconfigure tenant spaces and introduce new tenants with the goal of increasing cash flow. In those circumstances in which leases are not otherwise expiring, management selectively attempts to increase cash flow through a variety of means, or in connection with renovations or relocations, recapturing leases with below market rents and re-leasing at market rates, as well as replacing financially troubled tenants. When possible, management also will seek to include scheduled increases in base rent, as well as percentage rental provisions, in its leases.

 

The Shopping Centers contain undeveloped parcels within the centers which are suitable for development as free-standing retail facilities, such as restaurants, banks or auto centers. Management will continue to seek desirable tenants for facilities to be developed on these sites and to develop and lease these sites in a manner that complements the Shopping Centers in which they are located.

 

The Company will also seek growth opportunities in its Washington, DC metropolitan area office portfolio, primarily through development and redevelopment. Management also intends to negotiate lease renewals or to re-lease available space in the Office Properties, while considering the strategic balance of optimizing short-term cash flow and long-term asset value.

 

It is management’s intention to hold properties for long-term investment and to place strong emphasis on regular maintenance, periodic renovation and capital improvement. Management believes that such characteristics as cleanliness, lighting and security are particularly important in community and neighborhood shopping centers, which are frequently visited by shoppers during hours outside of the normal work-day. Management believes that the Shopping Centers and Office Properties generally are attractive and well maintained. The Shopping Centers and Office Properties will undergo expansion, renovation, reconfiguration and modernization from time to time when management believes that such action is warranted by opportunities or changes in the competitive environment of a property. Several of the Shopping Centers have been renovated recently. During 2003 and 2002, the Company was

 

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involved in predevelopment and/or development of ten of its properties. The Company will continue its practice of expanding existing properties by undertaking new construction on out parcels suitable for development as free standing retail or office facilities.

 

Investment in Real Estate or Interests in Real Estate

 

The Company’s redevelopment and renovation objective is to selectively and opportunistically redevelop and renovate its properties, by replacing leases with below market rents with strong, traffic-generating anchor stores such as supermarkets and drug stores, as well as other desirable local, regional and national tenants. The Company’s strategy remains focused on continuing the operating performance and internal growth of its existing Shopping Centers, while enhancing this growth with selective retail redevelopments and renovations.

 

Management believes that attractive acquisition and development opportunities for investment in existing and new shopping center properties will continue to be available. Management believes that the Company will be well situated to take advantage of these opportunities because of its access to capital markets, as evidenced by the Company’s successful $100 million preferred stock offering in November 2003, ability to acquire properties or undeveloped land, either for cash or securities (including Operating Partnership interests in tax advantaged transactions) and because of management’s experience in seeking out, identifying and evaluating potential acquisitions. In addition, management believes its shopping center expertise should permit it to optimize the performance of shopping centers once they have been acquired.

 

Management also believes that opportunities exist for investment in new office properties. It is management’s view that several of the office sub-markets in which the Company operates have very attractive supply/demand characteristics. The Company will continue to evaluate new office development and redevelopment as an integral part of its overall business plan.

 

In evaluating a particular redevelopment, renovation, acquisition, or development, management will consider a variety of factors, including (i) the location and accessibility of the property; (ii) the geographic area (with an emphasis on the Washington, DC/Baltimore metropolitan area) and demographic characteristics of the community, as well as the local real estate market, including potential for growth and potential regulatory impediments to development; (iii) the size of the property; (iv) the purchase price; (v) the non-financial terms of the proposed acquisition; (vi) the availability of funds or other consideration for the proposed acquisition and the cost thereof; (vii) the “fit” of the property with the Company’s existing portfolio; (viii) the potential for, and current extent of, any environmental problems; (ix) the current and historical occupancy rates of the property or any comparable or competing properties in the same market; (x) the quality of construction and design and the current physical condition of the property; (xi) the financial and other characteristics of existing tenants and the terms of existing leases; and (xii) the potential for capital appreciation.

 

Although it is management’s present intention to concentrate future acquisition and development activities on community and neighborhood shopping centers and office properties in the Washington, DC/Baltimore metropolitan area, the Company may, in the future, also acquire other types of real estate in other areas of the country as opportunities present themselves. While the Company may diversify in terms of property locations, size and market, the Company does not set any limit on the amount or percentage of Company assets that may be invested in any one property or any one geographic area. In January 2004, the Company acquired a 3.4 acre site, adjacent to the Company’s Kentlands Square property, where it plans to develop retail and office improvements. In February 2004, the Company acquired a 121,000 square foot neighborhood shopping center in Boca Raton, Florida anchored by Publix, the dominant grocer in South Florida, in addition to another February 2004 acquisition of a 130,000 square foot grocery anchored neighborhood shopping center in Loudoun County, Virginia.

 

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The Company intends to engage in such future investment or development activities in a manner that is consistent with the maintenance of its status as a REIT for federal income tax purposes and that will not make the Company an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Equity investments in acquired properties may be subject to existing mortgage financings and other indebtedness or to new indebtedness which may be incurred in connection with acquiring or refinancing these investments.

 

Investments in Real Estate Mortgages

 

While the Company’s current portfolio of, and its business objectives emphasize, equity investments in commercial and neighborhood shopping centers and office properties, the Company may, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, invest in mortgages, participating or convertible mortgages, deeds of trust and other types of real estate interests consistent with its qualification as a REIT. However, the Company does not presently intend to invest in real estate mortgages.

 

Investments in Securities of or Interests in Persons Engaged in Real Estate Activities and Other Issues

 

Subject to the tests necessary for REIT qualification, the Company may invest in securities of other REITs, other entities engaged in real estate activities or securities of other issuers, including for the purpose of exercising control over such entities.

 

Dispositions

 

The Company does not currently intend to dispose of any of its properties, although the Company reserves the right to do so if, based upon management’s periodic review of the Company’s portfolio, the Board of Directors determines that such action would be in the best interest of the Company’s stockholders. Any decision to dispose of a property will be made by the Board of Directors.

 

Capital Policies

 

As a general policy, the Company intends to maintain a ratio of its total debt to total asset value of 50% or less and to actively manage the Company’s leverage and debt expense on an ongoing basis in order to maintain prudent coverage of fixed charges. Asset value is the aggregate fair market value of the Current Portfolio Properties and any subsequently acquired properties as reasonably determined by management by reference to the properties’ aggregate cash flow. Given the Company’s current debt level, it is management’s belief that the ratio of the Company’s debt to total asset value is below 50% as of December 31, 2003.

 

The organizational documents of the Company do not limit the absolute amount or percentage of indebtedness that it may incur. The Board of Directors may, from time to time, reevaluate the Company’s debt capitalization policy in light of current economic conditions, relative costs of capital, market values of the Company property portfolio, opportunities for acquisition, development or expansion, and such other factors as the Board of Directors then deems relevant. The Board of Directors may modify the Company’s debt capitalization policy based on such a reevaluation without shareholder approval and consequently, may increase or decrease the Company’s debt to total asset ratio above or below 50% or may waive the policy for certain periods of time. The Company selectively continues to refinance or renegotiate the terms of its outstanding debt in order to achieve longer maturities, and obtain generally more favorable loan terms, whenever management determines the financing environment is favorable.

 

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The Company intends to finance future acquisitions and developments and to make debt repayments by utilizing the sources of capital then deemed to be most advantageous. Such sources may include undistributed operating cash flow, secured or unsecured bank and institutional borrowings, proceeds from the Company’s Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, proceeds from the sale of properties and private and public offerings of debt or equity securities. Borrowings may be at the Operating Partnership or Subsidiary Partnerships’ level and securities offerings may include (subject to certain limitations) the issuance of Operating Partnership interests convertible into common stock or other equity securities.

 

Other Policies

 

The Company has authority to offer equity or debt securities in exchange for property and to repurchase or otherwise acquire its common stock or other securities in the open market or otherwise, and may engage in such activities in the future. The Company expects, but is not obligated, to issue common stock to holders of units of the Partnership upon exercise of their redemption rights. The Company has not engaged in trading, underwriting or agency distribution or sale of securities of other issues other than the Partnership and does not intend to do so. The Company has not made any loans to third parties, although the Company may in the future make loans to third parties.

 

Competition

 

As an owner of, or investor in, community and neighborhood shopping centers and office properties, the Company is subject to competition from an indeterminate number of companies in connection with the acquisition, development, ownership and leasing of similar properties. These investors include investors with access to significant capital, such as domestic and foreign corporations and financial institutions, publicly traded and privately held REITs, private institutional investment funds, investment banking firms, life insurance companies and pension funds.

 

With respect to acquisitions and developments, this competition may reduce properties available for acquisition or development or increase prices for raw land or developed properties of the type in which the Company invests. The Company faces competition in providing leases to prospective tenants and in re-letting space to current tenants upon expiration of their respective leases. If the Company’s tenants decide not to renew or extend their leases upon expiration, the Company may not be able to re-let the space. Even if the tenants do renew or the Company can re-let the space, the terms of renewal or re-letting, including the cost of required renovations, may be less favorable than current lease terms or than expectations for the space. This risk may be magnified if the properties owned by our competitors have lower occupancy rates than the Company’s properties. As a result, these competitors may be willing to make space available at lower prices than the space in the Current Portfolio Properties.

 

Management believes that success in the competition for ownership and leasing property is dependent in part upon the geographic location of the property, the tenant mix, the performance of property managers, the amount of new construction in the area and the maintenance and appearance of the property. Additional competitive factors impacting the Company’s properties include the ease of access to the properties, the adequacy of related facilities such as parking, and the demographic characteristics in the markets in which the properties compete. Overall economic circumstances and trends and new properties in the vicinity of each of the Current Portfolio Properties are also competitive factors.

 

Finally, retailers at our Shopping Centers face increasing competition from outlet stores, discount shopping clubs and other forms of marketing of goods, such as direct mail, internet marketing and telemarketing. This competition may reduce percentage rents payable to us and may contribute to lease defaults or insolvency of tenants.

 

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Environmental Matters

 

The Current Portfolio Properties are subject to various laws and regulations relating to environmental and pollution controls. The impact upon the Company of the application of such laws and regulations either prospectively or retrospectively is not expected to have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s property operations. As a matter of policy, the Company requires an environmental study be performed with respect to a property that may be subject to possible environmental hazards prior to its acquisition to ascertain that there are no material environmental hazards associated with such property.

 

Employees

 

As of February 27, 2004, the Company employed approximately 50 persons, including six leasing officers. None of the Company’s employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements. Management believes that its relationship with employees is good.

 

Recent Developments

 

2003 Property Acquisitions, Developments and Redevelopments.

 

A significant contributor to the Company’s sustained historical internal growth in shopping centers has been its continuing program of renovation, redevelopment and expansion activities. These development activities reposition the Company’s centers to be competitive in the current retailing environment. The redevelopments typically include an update of the facade, site improvements and reconfiguring tenant spaces to accommodate tenant size requirements and merchandising evolution. During 2003, the Company acquired an operating shopping center with plans to redevelop a portion of this property, completed the construction of a grocery anchored shopping center and acquired a development parcel. In addition, three development parcels, all in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC containing 44 acres of land with existing zoning to develop over 600,000 square feet of retail and mixed-use commercial space were acquired in 2002. Approximately 100,000 square feet of this 600,000 square feet has been developed and placed into operations with the remainder available for future development.

 

Olde Forte Village

 

In July 2003, the Company acquired Olde Forte Village, a 161,000 square foot neighborhood shopping center located in Fort Washington, Maryland. The center is anchored by a newly constructed 58,000 Safeway supermarket which opened in March 2003, relocating from a smaller store within the center. The center contains approximately 50,000 square feet of vacant space, consisting primarily of the former Safeway space, which the Company plans to redevelop in 2004. The Company has filed for permits and plans to begin redevelopment in March 2004. The Company expects total redevelopment costs, including the initial property acquisition cost, to be approximately $22 million and projects completion of the redevelopment in the fall of 2004. Olde Forte Village is currently 67% leased.

 

Broadlands Village

 

The Company purchased 24 acres of undeveloped land in the Broadlands section of the Dulles Technology Corridor of Loudoun County, Virginia in April 2002. Broadlands is a 1,500 acre planned community consisting of 3,500 residences, approximately half of which are constructed and currently occupied. In October 2003, the Company completed construction of the first phase of the Broadlands Village shopping center. The 58,000 square foot Safeway supermarket opened in October 2003 with a pad building and many in-line small shops also opening in the fourth quarter of 2003. The 105,000 square foot first phase is 100% leased. Construction of a 30,000 square foot second phase is planned to commence in March 2004. The Company expects total development costs of both

 

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phases, including the land acquisition, to be approximately $22 million and projects substantial completion of phase two of the center in the fall of 2004. The second phase is currently 12% pre-leased.

 

Thruway

 

During the fourth quarter of 2003, the Company commenced a 15,725 square foot expansion of the Thruway shopping center located in Winston Salem, North Carolina. The new development includes replacing a former 6,100 square foot single-tenant pad building with a new multi-tenant building. Leases have been executed for 52% of the new space, including Ann Taylor Loft and Chico’s. This $2.5 million expansion is projected to be substantially completed in the spring of 2004.

 

Shops at Monocacy

 

In November 2003, the Company acquired 13 acres of undeveloped land in Frederick, Maryland at the southeast corner of Maryland Route 26 and Monocacy Boulevard. Construction commenced in early December of a 102,000 square foot shopping center to be anchored by a 57,000 square foot Giant grocery store. The Company expects total development costs, including the land acquisition, to be approximately $21.3 million and projects substantial completion of the center in the fall of 2004. The property is currently 63% pre-leased.

 

Kentlands Square

 

In January 2004, the Company purchased 3.4 acres of undeveloped land adjacent to its 109,000 square foot Kentlands Square shopping center in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The Company plans to build a 41,300 square foot retail/office property comprised of 24,400 square feet of in-line retail space and 16,900 square feet of professional office suites. Construction is expected to commence in spring 2004. Development costs, including the land acquisition, are projected to total $7.1 million, and substantial completion of the project is scheduled for the fall of 2004.

 

2004 Property Acquisitions, Developments and Redevelopments.

 

Countryside

 

In mid-February 2004, the Company completed the acquisition of the 130,000 square foot Safeway-anchored Countryside shopping center, its fourth neighborhood shopping center investment in Loudoun County, Virginia. The center is 95% leased and was acquired for a purchase price of $29.7 million.

 

Boca Valley Plaza

 

The Company added Publix as one of its grocery tenants with the February acquisition of Boca Valley Plaza in Boca Raton, Florida. Boca Valley Plaza is a 121,000 square foot neighborhood shopping center on U.S. Highway 1 in an attractive demographic area of South Florida. The center, constructed in 1988, is 90% leased and anchored by a 42,000 square foot Publix supermarket. The property was acquired for a purchase price of $17.5 million, subject to the assumption of a $9.2 million mortgage.

 

Item 2. Properties

 

Overview

 

The Company is the owner and operator of a real estate portfolio composed of 36 properties as of December 31, 2003, totaling approximately 6,500,000 square feet of gross leasable area (“GLA”) and located primarily in the Washington, DC/Baltimore metropolitan area. The portfolio is composed of 31 neighborhood and community Shopping Centers, and five predominantly Office Properties totaling approximately 5,300,000 and 1,200,000 square feet of GLA, respectively. Only the United States Government (4.1%), a tenant of six properties

 

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and Giant Food (5.7%), a tenant of eight Shopping Centers, individually accounted for more than 2.4% of the Company’s total revenues for the year ending December 31, 2003. With the exception of four development parcels purchased in 2003 and 2002, eight Shopping Center properties and a portion of one Office Property purchased or developed during the past seven years, the Company’s Current Portfolio Properties consist of seasoned properties that have been owned and managed by The Saul Organization for 15 years or more. The Company expects to hold its properties as long-term investments, and it has no maximum period for retention of any investment. It plans to selectively acquire additional income-producing properties and to expand, renovate, and improve its properties when circumstances warrant. See “Item 1. Business—Operating Strategies” and “Business—Capital Policies.”

 

The Shopping Centers

 

Community and neighborhood shopping centers typically are anchored by one or more supermarkets, discount department stores or drug stores. These anchors offer day-to-day necessities rather than apparel and luxury goods and, therefore, generate consistent local traffic. By contrast, regional malls generally are larger and typically are anchored by one or more full-service department stores.

 

The Shopping Centers (typically) are seasoned community and neighborhood shopping centers located in well established, highly developed, densely populated, middle and upper income areas. The 2003 average estimated population within a one and three-mile radius of the Shopping Centers is approximately 28,000 and 118,000, respectively. The 2003 average household income within the one and three-mile radius of the Shopping Centers is approximately $86,000 and $90,000, respectively compared to a national average of $57,000. Because the Shopping Centers generally are located in highly developed areas, management believes that there is little likelihood that significant numbers of competing centers will be developed in the future.

 

The Shopping Centers range in size from 5,000 to 561,000 square feet of GLA, with seven in excess of 300,000 square feet, and an average of approximately 170,000 square feet. A majority of the Shopping Centers are anchored by several major tenants and other tenants offering primarily day-to-day necessities and services. Nineteen of the 31 Shopping Centers are anchored by a grocery store. As of February 27, 2004, no single property accounted for more than 8.6% of the Portfolio Properties’ GLA.

 

The Office Properties

 

Four of the five Office Properties are located in the Washington, DC metropolitan area and contain an aggregate GLA of approximately 1,007,000 square feet, comprised of 920,000 and 87,000 square feet of office and retail space, respectively. The fifth office property is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma and contains GLA of 197,000 square feet. The Office Properties represent three distinct styles of facilities, are located in differing commercial environments with distinctive demographic characteristics, and are geographically removed from one another. As a consequence, management believes that the Washington, DC area office properties compete for tenants in different commercial and geographic sub-markets of the metropolitan Washington, DC market and do not compete with one another.

 

Management believes that the Washington, DC office market is one of the strongest and most stable leasing markets in the nation, with relatively low vacancy rates in comparison to other major metropolitan areas. Management believes that the long-term stability of this market is attributable to the status of Washington, DC as the nation’s capital and to the presence of the Federal government, international agencies, and an expanding private sector job market. 601 Pennsylvania Avenue is a nine-story, 226,000 square foot Class A office building (with a small amount of street level retail space) built in 1986 and located in a prime location in downtown Washington, DC. Van Ness Square is a six-story, 156,000 square foot office/retail building which was redeveloped in 1990. Van Ness Square is located in a highly developed

 

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commercial area of Northwest Washington, DC which offers extensive retail and restaurant amenities. Washington Square at Old Town is a 235,000 square foot Class A mixed-use office/retail complex completed in 2000 and located on a two-acre site along Alexandria’s main street, North Washington Street, in historic Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Avenel Business Park is a research park located in the suburban Maryland, I-270 biotech corridor. The business park consists of twelve one-story buildings built in six phases, completed in 1981, 1985, 1989, 1998, 1999 and 2000.

 

Crosstown Business Center is a 197,135 square foot flex office/warehouse property located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The property is located in close proximity to Tulsa’s international airport and major roadways and has attracted tenants requiring light industrial and distribution facilities.

 

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The following table sets forth, at the dates indicated, certain information regarding the Current Portfolio Properties:

 

Saul Centers, Inc.

Schedule of Current Portfolio Properties

December 31, 2003

 

    

Location


  

Leasable

Area

(Square

Feet)


  

Year

Developed

or Acquired

(Renovated)


 

Land

Area

(Acres)


   Percentage Leased

     

Property


              Dec-2003

    Dec-2002

   

Anchor / Significant Tenants


Shopping Centers

                                   

Ashburn Village I, II & III

   Ashburn, VA    185,537    1994 / 00 / 01   23.3    98 %   100 %   Giant Food, Reston Hospital Center, Blockbuster

Ashburn Village IV

   Ashburn, VA    25,790    2000 / 02   3.1    100 %   84 %   Long & Foster

Beacon Center

   Alexandria, VA    352,915    1972 (1993/99)   32.3    100 %   100 %   Lowe’s, Giant Food, Office Depot, Outback Steakhouse, Marshalls, Hancock Fabrics, Party Depot

Belvedere

   Baltimore, MD    54,941    1972   4.8    95 %   95 %   Food King

Boulevard

   Fairfax, VA    56,350    1994 (1999)   5.0    100 %   100 %   Danker Furniture, Petco, Panera Bread, Party City

Broadlands Village

   Loudoun County, VA    104,492    2003   24.0    100 %   n / a     Safeway

Clarendon

   Arlington, VA    6,940    1973   0.5    100 %   100 %    

Clarendon Station

   Arlington, VA    4,868    1996   0.1    100 %   100 %    

Flagship Center

   Rockville, MD    21,500    1972, 1989   0.5    100 %   100 %    

French Market

   Oklahoma City, OK    244,724    1974 (1984/98)   13.8    95 %   94 %   Burlington Coat Factory, Bed Bath & Beyond, Famous Footwear, Lakeshore Learning Center, BridesMart, Staples, Dollar Tree

Germantown

   Germantown, MD    26,241    1992   2.7    90 %   82 %    

Giant

   Baltimore, MD    70,040    1972 (1990)   5.0    100 %   100 %   Giant Food

The Glen

   Lake Ridge, VA    112,639    1994   14.7    93 %   87 %   Safeway Marketplace

Great Eastern

   District Heights, MD    255,398    1972 (1995)   23.9    99 %   99 %   Giant Food, Pep Boys, Big Lots, Run N’ Shoot

Hampshire Langley

   Langley Park, MD    131,700    1972 (1979)   9.9    100 %   100 %   Safeway, Blockbuster

Kentlands Square

   Gaithersburg, MD    109,922    2002   11.5    100 %   100 %   Lowe’s

Leesburg Pike

   Baileys Crossroads, VA    97,752    1966 (1982/95)   9.4    100 %   95 %   Party Depot, CVS Pharmacy, Kinko’s, Hollywood Video

Lexington Mall

   Lexington, KY    314,535    1974   30.0    58 %   58 %   Dillard’s

Lumberton Plaza

   Lumberton, NJ    193,544    1975 (1992/96)   23.3    97 %   96 %   SuperFresh, Rite Aid, Blockbuster, Ace Hardware

Olde Forte Village

   Ft. Washington, MD    160,990    2003   16.0    67 %   n / a     Safeway

Olney

   Olney, MD    53,765    1975 (1990)   3.7    100 %   100 %   Rite Aid

Ravenwood

   Baltimore, MD    85,958    1972   8.0    98 %   100 %   Giant Food, Hollywood Video

Seven Corners

   Falls Church, VA    560,998    1973 (1994-7)   31.6    99 %   99 %   Home Depot, Shoppers Club, Michaels, Barnes & Noble, Ross Dress For Less, G Street Fabrics, Off-Broadway Shoes

 

13


Table of Contents

Saul Centers, Inc.

Schedule of Current Portfolio Properties

December 31, 2003

 

    

Location


  

Leasable

Area

(Square

Feet)


  

Year

Developed

or Acquired

(Renovated)


 

Land

Area

(Acres)


    Percentage Leased

     

Property


             Dec-2003

    Dec-2002

   

Anchor / Significant Tenants


Shopping Centers (continued)

                                    

Shops at Fairfax

   Fairfax, VA    68,743    1975 (1993/99)   6.7     100 %   100 %   Super H Mart, Blockbuster

Southdale

   Glen Burnie, MD    484,115    1972 (1986)   39.6     97 %   95 %   Giant Food, Home Depot, Circuit City, Michaels, Marshalls, PetSmart, Value City Furniture

Southside Plaza

   Richmond, VA    341,891    1972   32.8     95 %   93 %   CVS Pharmacy, Community Pride Supermarket, Maxway

South Dekalb Plaza

   Atlanta, GA    163,418    1976   14.6     100 %   100 %   MacFrugals, Pep Boys, The Emory Clinic, Maxway

Thruway

   Winston-Salem, NC    338,774