Business description of MACERICH-CO from last 10-k form


PART I

IMPORTANT FACTORS RELATED TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        This Annual Report on Form 10-K of The Macerich Company (the "Company") contains or incorporates by reference statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Any statements that do not relate to historical or current facts or matters are forward-looking statements. You can identify some of the forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking words, such as "may," "will," "could," "should," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "projects," "predicts," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "scheduled" and variations of these words and similar expressions. Statements concerning current conditions may also be forward-looking if they imply a continuation of current conditions. Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places in this Form 10-K and include statements regarding, among other matters:

    expectations regarding the Company's growth;

    the Company's beliefs regarding its acquisition, redevelopment, development, leasing and operational activities and opportunities, including the performance of its retailers;

    the Company's acquisition, disposition and other strategies;

    regulatory matters pertaining to compliance with governmental regulations;

    the Company's capital expenditure plans and expectations for obtaining capital for expenditures;

    the Company's expectations regarding its financial condition or results of operations; and

    the Company's expectations for refinancing its indebtedness, entering into new debt obligations and entering into joint venture arrangements.

        Stockholders are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company or the industry to differ materially from the Company's future results, performance or achievements, or those of the industry, expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. You are urged to carefully review the disclosures we make concerning risks and other factors that may affect our business and operating results, including those made in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as our other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this document. The Company does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update any forward-looking information to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, unless required by law to do so.

ITEM 1.    BUSINESS

General

        The Company is involved in the acquisition, ownership, development, redevelopment, management and leasing of regional and community shopping centers located throughout the United States. The Company is the sole general partner of, and owns a majority of the ownership interests in, The Macerich Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the "Operating Partnership"). As of December 31, 2010, the Operating Partnership owned or had an ownership interest in 71 regional shopping centers and 13 community shopping centers totaling approximately 73 million square feet of gross leasable area ("GLA"). These 84 regional and community shopping centers are referred to herein as the "Centers," and consist of consolidated Centers ("Consolidated Centers") and unconsolidated joint venture Centers ("Unconsolidated Joint Venture Centers") as set forth in "Item 2—Properties," unless the context otherwise requires. The Company is a self-administered and self-managed real estate

investment trust ("REIT") and conducts all of its operations through the Operating Partnership and the Company's management companies, Macerich Property Management Company, LLC, a single member Delaware limited liability company, Macerich Management Company, a California corporation, Westcor Partners, L.L.C., a single member Arizona limited liability company, Macerich Westcor Management LLC, a single member Delaware limited liability company, Westcor Partners of Colorado, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company, MACW Mall Management, Inc., a New York corporation, and MACW Property Management, LLC, a single member New York limited liability company. All seven of the management companies are collectively referred to herein as the "Management Companies."

        The Company was organized as a Maryland corporation in September 1993. All references to the Company in this Annual Report on Form 10-K include the Company, those entities owned or controlled by the Company and predecessors of the Company, unless the context indicates otherwise.

        Financial information regarding the Company for each of the last three fiscal years is contained in the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

Recent Developments

    Acquisitions:

        On January 28, 2011, the Company in a 50/50 joint venture, agreed to acquire the Shops at Atlas, a 400,000 square foot community center in Queens, New York, for a total purchase price of $53.8 million. The Company's share of the purchase price consisting of $26.9 million is expected to be funded from cash on hand.

        On February 24, 2011, the Company increased its ownership interest in Kierland Commons, a 434,690 square foot community center in Scottsdale, Arizona, from 24.5% to 50%. The purchase price for this transaction was $34.2 million in cash and the assumption of $18.6 million of existing debt.

    Financing Activity:

        On March 31, 2010, the Company replaced the existing loan on South Plains Mall with a new $105.0 million fixed rate loan that bears interest at an effective rate of 6.53% and matures on April 11, 2015.

        On April 19, 2010, the Company repurchased and retired $18.5 million of convertible senior notes ("Senior Notes") for $18.3 million. This repurchase resulted in a loss of $0.5 million on early extinguishment of debt. The repurchases were funded through cash on hand.

        On April 20, 2010, the Company completed an offering of 30,000,000 newly issued shares of its common stock and on April 23, 2010 issued an additional 1,000,000 newly issued shares of common stock in connection with the underwriters' exercise of its over-allotment option. The net proceeds of the offering, after giving effect to the issuance and sale of all 31,000,000 shares of common stock at an initial price to the public of $41.00 per share, were approximately $1.2 billion after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and other transaction costs. The Company used a portion of the net proceeds of the offering to pay down its line of credit in full and reduce certain property indebtedness. The Company plans to use the remaining cash for debt repayments and/or general corporate purposes.

        On April 27, 2010, the Company replaced the existing loan on Vintage Faire Mall with a new $135.0 million loan that bears interest at LIBOR plus 3.0% and matures on April 27, 2015.

        On July 15, 2010, a court appointed receiver ("Receiver") assumed operational control of Valley View Center and responsibility for managing all aspects of the property. The Company anticipates the

disposition of the asset, which is under the control of the Receiver, will be executed through foreclosure, deed in lieu of foreclosure, or by some other means, and will be completed within the next twelve months. Although the Company is no longer funding any cash shortfall, it will continue to record the operations of Valley View Center until the title for the Center is transferred and its obligation for the loan is discharged. Once title to the Center is transferred, the Company will remove the net assets and liabilities from the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The $125.0 million mortgage note payable on Valley View Center is non-recourse to the Company.

        On August 2, 2010, the Company replaced the existing loan on Wilton Mall with a new $40.0 million loan that bears interest at LIBOR plus 0.675% and matures on August 1, 2013. As additional collateral for the loan, the Company is required to maintain a deposit of $40.0 million with the lender. The interest on the deposit is not restricted.

        On September 10, 2010, the Company replaced the existing loan on the Danbury Fair Mall with a new $220.0 million loan that bears interest at an effective rate of 5.53% and matures on October 1, 2020. In addition, the loan provides for $30.0 million of additional borrowings at 5.50% subject to certain conditions.

        On October 12, 2010, the Company's joint venture in Camelback Colonnade replaced the existing loan with a new $47.0 million loan that bears interest at an effective rate of 4.82% and matures on October 12, 2015.

        On November 2, 2010, the Company's joint venture in Stonewood Mall replaced the existing loan with a new $114.0 million loan that bears interest at an effective rate of 4.67% and matures on November 1, 2017.

        On November 3, 2010, Pacific Premier Retail Trust, one of the Company's joint ventures, repaid $40.0 million of the $155.0 million balance then outstanding on its credit facility, modified the interest rate to LIBOR plus 3.50% and modified the maturity to November 3, 2012, with a one-year extension option. The credit facility is cross-collateralized by Cascade Mall, Cross Court Plaza, Kitsap Mall, Kitsap Place, Northpoint Plaza and Redmond Town Center.

        On December 15, 2010, the Company's joint venture in Boulevard Shops replaced the existing loan with a new $21.4 million loan that bears interest at LIBOR plus 2.75% and matures on December 16, 2013.

        On December 29, 2010, the Company's co-venture in Freehold Raceway Mall replaced the existing loan on the property with a new $232.9 million loan that bears interest at an effective rate of 4.20% and matures on January 1, 2018.

        On December 30, 2010, the Company's joint venture in Promenade at Casa Grande replaced the existing loan on the property with a new $79.1 million loan that bears interest at LIBOR plus 4.0% with a LIBOR rate floor of 0.50% and matures on December 30, 2013.

        On January 18, 2011, the Company replaced the existing loan on Twenty Ninth Street with a new $107.0 million loan that bears interest at LIBOR plus 2.63% and matures on January 18, 2016.

        On February 1, 2011 the Company paid off the $50.0 million mortgage on Chesterfield Towne Center. The loan bore interest at an effective rate of 9.07% with a maturity in January 2024.

    Redevelopment and Development Activity:

        Northgate Mall, the Company's 715,781 square foot regional mall in Marin County, California, opened the first phase of its redevelopment on November 12, 2009. The remainder of the project was completed in May 2010. The Company incurred approximately $79.0 million of redevelopment costs for the Center.