EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 751364
Filing Year: 2022
Filename: 751364_10-K_2022_0000950170-22-000944.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1. Business
The Company
NNN, a Maryland corporation, is a fully integrated REIT formed in 1984. NNN's assets are primarily real estate assets. NNN's consolidated financial statements are included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The common shares of National Retail Properties, Inc. are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") under the ticker symbol "NNN."
Real Estate Assets
NNN acquires, owns, invests in and develops properties that are leased primarily to retail tenants under long-term net leases and are primarily held for investment ("Properties" or "Property Portfolio," or individually a "Property"). NNN owned 3,223 Properties with an aggregate gross leasable area of approximately 32,753,000 square feet, located in 48 states, with a weighted average remaining lease term of 10.6 years as of December 31, 2021. Approximately 99 percent of the Properties were leased as of December 31, 2021.
Competition
NNN faces active competition from many sources, both domestically and internationally, for net-lease investment opportunities in commercial properties. Competitors may be willing to accept rates of return, prices, lease terms, other transaction terms, or levels of risk that NNN finds unacceptable.
Qualification as a REIT
NNN has made an election to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code, and related regulations and intends to continue to operate so as to remain qualified as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. NNN generally will not be subject to federal income tax on income that it distributes to its stockholders, provided that it distributes 100 percent of its REIT taxable income and meets certain other requirements for qualifying as a REIT. If NNN fails to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, it will be subject to federal income tax on its taxable income at regular corporate rates and will not be permitted to qualify for treatment as a REIT for federal income tax purposes for the four years following the year during which qualification is lost. Such an event could materially adversely affect NNN’s income and ability to pay dividends. NNN believes it has been structured as, and its past and present operations qualify NNN as, a REIT.
Human Capital Resources
Human Capital Development. As of January 31, 2022, the Company employed 72 associates, all of which are full-time. NNN’s success is dependent upon the dedication and hard work of NNN’s talented associates. NNN encourages continued professional and personal development of all associates by providing hundreds of hours of in-person and online training opportunities that touch all aspects of NNN’s business. NNN also has associate mentoring and training programs and formalized talent development programs at all levels of the Company. The success of NNN’s commitment to its associates is shown in the long tenure of NNN’s associates. The executive team, department heads, and senior managers average over 20 years of experience with NNN. In addition, 49% of NNN’s associates have been with NNN for 10 years or longer. The institutional knowledge and long tenure of NNN’s associates is a true competitive advantage of the Company. In addition, the Company's gender make-up is comprised of 54% females and 46% males. NNN has adopted a Human Capital Policy which is available on the Company's website at www.nnnreit.com.
Total Rewards, Benefits & Work-Life Balance. NNN also focuses on additional benefits for its associates to make sure the associates are not only well compensated, but also engaged, developed and satisfied with their work-life balance. There are six key elements to NNN’s total rewards system: Compensation, Benefits, Wellness, Work-Life Balance, Professional Development and Recognition. NNN’s programs include, but are not limited to, a 401(k) plan with a company match, flexible
work schedules, college saving plans, an educational assistance program, adoption benefits, flexible spending and health savings accounts, health and wellness events, and access to a state of the art online wellness platform. NNN has been the repeat recipient of numerous wellness awards, including the prestigious Cigna Well-Being Award.
Community Service and Partnerships. NNN cares about the communities in which its associates live and work. NNN stands behind a commitment to improving education, strengthening neighborhoods, and encouraging volunteer service. NNN actively promotes volunteering by its associates by organizing and sponsoring specific volunteer days throughout the year at various charities, including Ronald McDonald House of Central Florida and Give Kids the World. Associates are encouraged to volunteer on work days during work hours. In addition to NNN’s donation of time, NNN is also a meaningful financial donor to numerous charities in the Central Florida community, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida, Second Harvest Food Bank and Elevate Orlando (a teacher mentor program for high risk urban youth that help young women and men graduate high school with a plan for the future).
Business Strategies and Policies
The following is a discussion of NNN’s operating strategy and certain of its investment, financing and other policies. These strategies and policies have been set by management and the Board of Directors and, in general, may be amended or revised from time to time by management and the Board of Directors without a vote of NNN’s stockholders.
Operating Strategies
NNN’s strategy is to invest primarily in retail real estate that is typically well located within each local market for its tenants’ retail lines of trade. Management believes that these types of properties, generally leased pursuant to triple-net leases, provide attractive opportunities for stable current returns and the potential for increased returns and capital appreciation. Triple-net leases typically require the tenant to pay property operating expenses such as insurance, utilities, repairs, maintenance, capital expenditures and real estate taxes and assessments. Initial lease terms are generally 10 to 20 years.
NNN holds each Property until it determines that the sale of such Property is advantageous in view of NNN’s investment objectives. In deciding whether to sell a Property, factors NNN may consider include, but are not limited to, potential capital appreciation, net cash flow, tenant credit quality, tenant's line of trade, tenant's lease renewal probability, the composition of the Property Portfolio, market lease rates, local market conditions, future uses of the Property, potential use of sale proceeds and federal income tax considerations.
NNN’s management team focuses on certain key indicators to evaluate the financial condition and operating performance of NNN. These key indicators for NNN include items such as: the composition of the Property Portfolio (such as tenant, geographic and line of trade diversification), the occupancy rate of the Property Portfolio, certain financial performance ratios and profitability measures, industry trends, and industry performance compared to that of NNN.
NNN evaluates the creditworthiness of its current and prospective tenants. This evaluation may include reviewing available financial statements, store level financial performance, press releases, public credit ratings from major credit rating agencies, industry news publications and financial market data (debt and equity pricing). NNN may also evaluate the business and operations of its tenants, including past payment history and periodically meeting with senior management of certain tenants.
The operating strategies employed by NNN have allowed NNN to increase the annual dividend (paid quarterly) per common share for 32 consecutive years. NNN has the third longest record of consecutive annual dividend increases of all publicly traded REITs.
Investment in Real Estate or Interests in Real Estate
NNN’s management believes that single tenant, freestanding net lease retail properties will continue to provide attractive investment opportunities and that NNN is well suited to take advantage of these opportunities because of its experience in accessing capital markets, and its ability to source, underwrite and acquire such properties.
In evaluating a particular acquisition, management may consider a variety of factors, including but not limited to:
•the location, visibility and accessibility of the property,
•the geographic area and demographic characteristics of the community,
•the local real estate market conditions, including potential for growth, redevelopment, market rents, and existing or potential competing properties or retailers,
•the size, age and title status of the property,
•the quality of construction and design and the current physical condition of the property,
•the potential for, and current extent of, any environmental problems,
•the purchase price,
•the non-financial lease terms of the proposed acquisition,
•the availability of funds or other consideration for the proposed acquisition and the cost thereof,
•the compatibility of the property with NNN’s existing Property Portfolio,
•the property-level operating history,
•the financial and other characteristics of the existing tenant,
•the tenant’s business plan, operating history and management team,
•the tenant’s industry,
•the terms of any lease,
•the rent to be paid by the tenant,
•any existing debt encumbering the property which may be assumed in connection with acquiring or refinancing these investments, and
•the merits relative to other opportunities.
NNN intends to engage in future investment activities in a manner that is consistent with the maintenance of its status as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. Additionally, NNN does not intend to engage in activities that will make NNN an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Investments in Real Estate Mortgages and Securities of or Interests in Entities Engaged in Real Estate Activities
While NNN’s primary business objectives emphasize retail properties, NNN may invest in (i) a wide variety of property and tenant types, (ii) leases, mortgages and other types of real estate interests, (iii) loans secured by personal property, (iv) loans secured by partnership or membership interests in partnerships or limited liability companies, respectively, or (v) securities of other REITs, or other issuers, including for the purpose of exercising control over such entities.
Financing Strategy
NNN’s financing objective is to manage its capital structure effectively in order to provide sufficient capital to execute its operating strategy while servicing its debt requirements, maintaining its investment grade credit ratings, staggering debt maturities and providing value to its stockholders. NNN's capital resources have and will continue to include, if available, (i) proceeds from the issuance of public or private equity or debt capital market transactions; (ii) secured or unsecured borrowings from banks or other lenders; (iii) proceeds from the sale of Properties; and (iv) to a lesser extent, by internally generated funds as well as undistributed funds from operations. However, there can be no assurance that additional financing or capital will be available, or that the terms will be acceptable or advantageous to NNN.
NNN typically expects to fund its short-term liquidity requirements, including investments in additional Properties, with cash and cash equivalents, cash provided from operations and unsecured revolving credit facility ("Credit Facility"). As of December 31, 2021, NNN had $171,322,000 of cash and cash equivalents and $1,100,000,000 was available for future borrowings under the Credit Facility.
As of December 31, 2021, NNN’s ratio of total debt to total gross assets (before accumulated depreciation and amortization) was approximately 40 percent and the ratio of secured debt to total gross assets was less than one percent. The ratio of total debt to total market capitalization was approximately 30 percent. Certain financial agreements to which NNN is a party contain covenants that limit NNN’s ability to incur additional debt under certain circumstances. The organizational documents of NNN do not limit the absolute amount or percentage of debt that NNN may incur. Additionally, NNN may change its financing strategy.
Strategies and Policy Changes
Any of NNN’s strategies or policies described above may be changed at any time by NNN without notice to or a vote of NNN’s stockholders.
Property Portfolio
As of December 31, 2021, NNN owned 3,223 Properties with an aggregate gross leasable area of approximately 32,753,000 square feet, located in 48 states, with a weighted average remaining lease term of 10.6 years. Approximately 99 percent of total Properties were leased as of December 31, 2021.
The following table summarizes the Property Portfolio as of December 31, 2021 (in thousands):
Size(1)
Total Dollars Invested(2)
High
Low
Average
High
Low
Average
Land
6,586
$
11,899
$
$
Building
45,286
2,013
(1)Approximate square feet.
(2)Costs vary depending upon size, improvements, local market conditions and other factors.
As of December 31, 2021, NNN has committed to fund construction of 13 Properties. The improvements of such Properties are estimated to be completed within 12 months. These construction commitments, as of December 31, 2021, are outlined in the table below (dollars in thousands):
Total commitment(1)
$
40,991
Less amount funded
16,256
Remaining commitment
$
24,735
(1)Includes land, construction costs, tenant improvements, lease costs and capitalized interest.
Leases
The following is a summary of the general structure of the leases in the Property Portfolio, although the specific terms of each lease can vary significantly. Generally, the Property leases provide for initial terms of 10 to 20 years. As of December 31, 2021, the weighted average remaining lease term of the Property Portfolio was approximately 10.6 years. The Properties are generally leased under triple-net leases, which require the tenant to pay all property taxes and assessments, to maintain the interior and exterior of the property, and to carry property and liability insurance coverage. NNN's leases provide for annual base rental payments (generally payable in monthly installments) ranging from $7,000 to $4,085,000 (average of $221,000), and generally provide for increases in rent as a result of (i) increases in the Consumer Price Index ("CPI"), (ii) fixed increases, or, to a lesser extent, (iii) increases in the tenant’s sales volume.
Generally, NNN's leases provide the tenant with one or more multi-year renewal options subject to generally the same terms and conditions provided under the initial lease term. Some of the leases also provide that in the event NNN wishes to sell the Property subject to that lease, NNN first must offer the lessee the right to purchase the Property on the same terms and conditions as any offer which NNN intends to accept for the sale of the Property.
The following table summarizes the lease expirations, assuming none of the tenants exercise renewal options, of the Property Portfolio for each of the next 10 years and then thereafter in the aggregate as of December 31, 2021:
% of
Annual
Base
Rent(1)
# of
Properties
Gross
Leasable
Area(2)
% of
Annual
Base
Rent(1)
# of
Properties
Gross
Leasable
Area(2)
2.8%
739,000
4.7%
1,245,000
2.6%
1,402,000
2.8%
987,000
3.3%
1,455,000
3.7%
1,194,000
5.9%
2,013,000
8.3%
2,781,000
5.5%
2,139,000
Thereafter
51.9%
1,751
15,065,000
8.5%
3,375,000
(1) Based on annualized base rent for all leases in place as of December 31, 2021.
(2) Approximate square feet.
The following table summarizes the diversification of the Property Portfolio based on the top 20 lines of trade:
% of Annual Base Rent(1)
Lines of Trade
1.
Convenience stores
17.9%
18.2%
18.2%
2.
Automotive service
12.3%
10.3%
9.6%
3.
Restaurants - full service
9.8%
10.5%
11.1%
4.
Restaurants - limited service
9.4%
9.7%
8.8%
5.
Family entertainment centers
5.9%
5.9%
6.7%
6.
Health and fitness
5.2%
5.3%
5.2%
7.
Theaters
4.5%
4.4%
4.7%
8.
Recreational vehicle dealers, parts and accessories
3.9%
3.5%
3.4%
9.
Equipment rental
3.2%
2.6%
2.6%
10.
Automotive parts
3.0%
3.1%
3.1%
11.
Wholesale clubs
2.5%
2.6%
2.5%
12.
Home improvement
2.5%
2.6%
2.6%
13.
Medical service providers
2.0%
2.2%
2.1%
14.
Furniture
1.7%
1.7%
1.6%
15.
General merchandise
1.7%
1.7%
1.8%
16.
Consumer electronics
1.5%
1.5%
1.5%
17.
Home furnishings
1.5%
1.6%
1.7%
18.
Travel plazas
1.5%
1.5%
1.6%
19.
Automobile auctions, wholesale
1.3%
1.1%
1.0%
20.
Drug stores
1.3%
1.5%
1.6%
Other
7.4%
8.5%
8.6%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
(1)Based on annualized base rent for all leases in place as of December 31 of the respective year.
The following table summarizes the diversification of the Property Portfolio by state as of December 31, 2021:
State
# of
Properties
% of
Annual
Base Rent(1)
1.
Texas
16.9%
2.
Florida
8.6%
3.
Ohio
5.5%
4.
Illinois
5.5%
5.
North Carolina
4.7%
6.
Georgia
4.6%
7.
Indiana
4.0%
8.
Tennessee
3.8%
9.
Virginia
3.4%
10.
California
3.3%
Other
1,341
39.7%
3,223
100.0%
(1)
Based on annualized base rent for all leases in place as of December 31, 2021.
Governmental Regulations Affecting Properties
Property Environmental Considerations
Subject to a determination of the level of risk and potential cost of remediation, NNN may acquire a property where some level of environmental contamination may exist. Investments in real property create a potential for substantial environmental liability for the owner of such property from the presence or discharge of hazardous materials on the property or the improper disposal of hazardous materials emanating from the property, regardless of fault. In order to mitigate exposure to environmental liability, NNN maintains an environmental insurance policy which provides some coverage for substantially all of the Properties. As a part of its acquisition due diligence process, NNN obtains an environmental site assessment for each property. In such cases where NNN intends to acquire a property where some level of contamination may exist, NNN generally requires the seller or tenant to (i) remediate the problem, (ii) indemnify NNN for environmental liabilities, and/or (iii) agree to other arrangements deemed appropriate by NNN, including, under certain circumstances, the purchase of environmental insurance to address environmental conditions at the property. NNN may incur costs if the seller or tenant does not comply with these requirements.
As of February 2, 2022, NNN had 73 Properties currently under some level of environmental remediation and/or monitoring. In general, the responsible party (which may include the seller, a previous owner, the tenant or an adjacent or former land owner) is liable for the cost of the environmental remediation for each of these Properties.
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Similar Local and State Laws
The Properties, as commercial facilities, are required to comply with Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and similar state and local laws and regulations (collectively, the "ADA"). The tenants will typically have primary responsibility for complying with the ADA, but NNN may incur costs if the tenant does not comply. As of February 2, 2022, NNN had not been notified by any governmental authority of, nor is NNN’s management aware of, any non-compliance with the ADA that NNN’s management believes would have a material adverse effect on its business, financial position or results of operations.
Other Regulations, Rules and Laws
State and local governmental entities regulate the use of the Properties. NNN’s leases generally require each tenant to undertake primary responsibility for complying with all regulations, rules and laws, but failure to comply could result in fines by governmental authorities, awards of damages to private litigants, or restrictions on the ability to conduct business on such Properties.
Impact of COVID-19 on NNN’s Business
Since March 2020, the evolution of the pandemic and worldwide spread of COVID-19 has continued to pose significant risk and uncertainty to the potential adverse effects to the economy and financial markets. Several countries, including the United States, have taken steps to restrict travel, temporarily close businesses and issue quarantine orders, and it remains unclear how long such measures will remain in place.
As a result, the COVID-19 pandemic and the government reaction to it has negatively affected almost every industry directly or indirectly. A number of NNN's tenants experienced temporary closures of their operations and/or requested adjustments to their lease terms during this pandemic. As a result, these economic hardships have increased uncertainty with respect to the collectability of lease payments and have had a negative effect on NNN's financial results, including increased accounts receivables and related allowances and recognizing revenue on a cash basis from certain of its tenants.
As of December 31, 2021, NNN entered into rent deferral lease amendments with certain tenants to defer rent originally due during the years ending December 31, 2021 and 2020. While the terms of each rent deferral lease amendment differ, NNN received repayment of the majority of deferred rents in 2021 and expects to receive substantially all by December 31, 2023. Depending upon the duration of impact on tenants and the overall economic downturn resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, future rent payments including deferred rents may be difficult to collect.
As of January 31, 2022, NNN had collected approximately 99.4% of rent originally due in the quarter ended December 31, 2021. Rent collections may continue below amounts required under the leases.
The rapid development and fluidity of the economic downturn precludes any prediction as to the ultimate adverse impact on NNN, but presents material uncertainty and risk with respect to NNN’s performance, business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
In addition, NNN describes the potential risks and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in “Risk Factors” (Part I, Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K), and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations - Impact of COVID-19 on NNN’s Business” (Part II, Item 7).
Additional Information
NNN’s executive offices are located at 450 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 900, Orlando, Florida 32801, and its telephone number is (407) 265-7348.
NNN’s website is located at www.nnnreit.com. NNN intends to comply with the requirements of Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding amendments to and waivers under the code of business conduct and ethics applicable to its Chief Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer by providing such information on its website within four days after effecting any amendment to, or granting any waiver under, that code, and NNN will maintain such information on its website for at least twelve months. The information contained on NNN’s website does not constitute part of this Form 10-K.
On NNN’s website you can also obtain, free of charge, a copy of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as amended, as soon as reasonably practicable, after NNN files such material electronically with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission" or "SEC"). The public may read and obtain a copy of any materials NNN files electronically with the Commission at www.sec.gov.
Additional information on NNN’s website includes the guiding policies adopted by NNN, which include NNN’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Business Conduct Policy and Whistleblower Policy, as well as NNN’s stance on corporate governance, social responsibility and environmental practices and impact.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Carefully consider the following risks and all of the other information set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto. If any of the events or developments described below were actually to occur, NNN’s business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected.
Risks Related to NNN’s Business and Operations
Changes in financial and economic conditions may have an adverse impact on NNN, its tenants, and commercial real estate in general.
Financial and economic conditions can be challenging and volatile and any worsening of such conditions, including any disruption in the capital markets, could adversely affect NNN’s business and results of operations. Such conditions could also affect the financial condition of NNN’s tenants, developers, borrowers, lenders or the institutions that hold NNN’s cash balances and short-term investments, which may expose NNN to increased risks of default by these parties.
There can be no assurance that actions of the United States Government, the Federal Reserve or other government and regulatory bodies attempting to stabilize the economy or financial markets will achieve their intended effect. Additionally, some of these actions may adversely affect financial institutions, capital providers, retailers, consumers, NNN’s financial condition, NNN's results of operations or the trading price of NNN’s shares.
Potential consequences of challenging and volatile financial and economic conditions include:
•the financial condition of NNN’s tenants may be adversely affected, which may result in tenant defaults under the leases due to bankruptcy, lack of liquidity, operational failures or for other reasons,
•the ability to raise equity capital or borrow on terms and conditions that NNN finds acceptable may be limited or unavailable, which could reduce NNN’s ability to pursue acquisition and development opportunities and refinance existing debt, reduce NNN’s returns from acquisition and development activities, reduce NNN’s ability to make cash distributions to its stockholders and increase NNN’s future interest expense,
•the recognition of impairment charges on or reduced values of the Properties or tenant receivables, may adversely affect NNN's results of operations,
•reduced values of the Properties may limit NNN's ability to dispose of assets at attractive prices and reduce the availability of buyer financing, and
•the value and liquidity of NNN’s short-term investments and cash deposits could be reduced as a result of (i) a deterioration of the financial condition of the institutions that hold NNN’s cash deposits or the institutions or assets in which NNN has made short-term investments, (ii) the dislocation of the markets for NNN’s short-term investments, (iii) increased volatility in market rates for such investments or (iv) other factors.
An epidemic or pandemic (such as the outbreak and worldwide spread of COVID-19), and the measures that international, federal, state and local governments, agencies, law enforcement and/or health authorities implement to address it, may precipitate or materially exacerbate one or more of the other risks, and may significantly disrupt NNN's tenants' ability to operate their businesses and/or pay rent to NNN or prevent NNN from operating its business in the ordinary course for an extended period.
Since March 2020, the evolution of the pandemic and worldwide spread of COVID-19 has continued to pose significant risk and uncertainty to the potential adverse effects to the economy and financial markets. Several countries, including the United States, took steps to restrict travel, temporarily close businesses and issue quarantine orders.
As a result, the COVID-19 pandemic and the government reaction to it negatively affected almost every industry directly or indirectly. A number of NNN’s tenants experienced temporary closures of their operations and/or requested adjustments to their lease terms during this pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic (or a future pandemic) could have a material and adverse effect on or cause disruption to NNN’s business or financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and the market value and trading price of NNN's securities due to, among other factors:
•A complete or partial closure of, or other operational issues with, NNN’s Property Portfolio as a result of government or tenant action;
•The declines in or instability of the economy or financial markets may result in a recession or negatively impact consumer discretionary spending, which could adversely affect retailers and consumers;
•The reduction of economic activity may severely impact NNN’s tenants' business operations, financial condition, liquidity and access to capital resources and may cause one or more of NNN’s tenants to be unable to meet their obligations to NNN in full, or at all, to default on their lease, or to otherwise seek modifications of such obligations;
•The inability to access debt and equity capital on favorable terms, if at all, or a severe disruption and instability in the global financial markets or deteriorations in credit and financing conditions may affect NNN’s access to capital necessary to fund business operations, pursue acquisition and development opportunities, refinance existing debt, reduce NNN’s ability to make cash distributions to its stockholders and increase NNN’s future interest expense;
•A general decline in business activity and demand for real estate transactions would adversely affect NNN’s ability to successfully execute investment strategies or expand the Property Portfolio;
•A significant reduction in NNN’s cash flows could impact NNN’s ability to continue paying cash dividends to NNN common and preferred stockholders at expected levels or at all;
•The financial impact could negatively affect NNN’s future compliance with financial and other covenants of NNN’s Credit Facility and other debt instruments, and the failure to comply with such covenants could result in a default that accelerates the payment of such debt; and
•The potential negative impact on the health of NNN’s associates or Board of Directors, particularly if a significant number are impacted, or the impact of government actions or restrictions, including stay-at-home orders, restricting access to NNN's headquarters located in Orlando, Florida, could result in a deterioration in NNN’s ability to ensure business continuity during a disruption.
While as of December 31, 2021, NNN's rent collections have returned to pre-pandemic levels, the extent to which COVID-19 impacts NNN’s operations and those of NNN’s tenants will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the scope, severity and duration of the outbreak, the actions taken to contain the outbreak or mitigate its impact, and the direct and indirect economic effects of the outbreak and containment measures, among others.
A prolonged continuation of or repeated temporary business closures, reduced capacity at businesses or other social-distancing practices, and quarantine orders may adversely impact NNN's tenants’ ability to generate sufficient revenues to meet financial obligations, and could force tenants to default on their leases, or result in the bankruptcy of tenants, which would diminish the rental revenue NNN receives under its leases. Additionally, an increase in the number of vacant properties would increase NNN's real estate expenses, including expenses associated with ongoing maintenance and repairs, utilities, property taxes, and property and liability insurance.
The rapid development and fluidity of the COVID-19 pandemic precludes any prediction as to the ultimate adverse impact on NNN. Nevertheless, the COVID-19 pandemic presents material uncertainty and risk with respect to NNN’s performance, business or financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. While NNN's leases generally do not allow tenants to withhold rent if the tenants are not operating on its Properties, some tenants have and may pay rent under protest, not pay rent at all, request rent deferrals, and assert legal or equitable claims in the courts that such tenants are not obligated to pay rent while closed or while operating at reduced capacity, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While NNN believes such claims would be without merit it has no assurances on how courts would rule on such claims, if any.
Loss of rent from tenants would reduce NNN’s cash flow.
NNN's tenants encounter significant macroeconomic, governmental and competitive forces. Adverse changes in consumer spending or consumer preferences for particular goods, services or store based retailing could severely impact their ability to pay rent. Shifts from in-store to online shopping could increase due to changing consumer shopping patterns as well as the increase in consumer adoption and use of mobile electronic devices. This expansion of e-commerce could have an adverse impact on NNN's tenants' ongoing viability and the size, type and location of space tenants lease in the future. NNN cannot predict with certainty what tenants will want or what the impact will be on market rents. The default, financial distress, bankruptcy or liquidation of one or more of NNN’s tenants could cause substantial vacancies in the Property Portfolio. Vacancies reduce NNN’s revenues, increase property expenses and could decrease the value of each vacant Property. Upon the expiration of a lease, the tenant may choose not to renew the lease and NNN may not be able to re-lease the vacant Property at a comparable lease rate. Furthermore, NNN may incur additional expenditures in connection with such renewal or re-leasing.
A significant portion of the source of the Property Portfolio annual base rent is concentrated in specific industry classifications, tenants and geographic locations.
As of December 31, 2021, approximately,
•55.3% of the Property Portfolio annual base rent is generated from tenants in five retail lines of trade, including convenience stores (17.9%), automotive service (12.3%) and full-service and limited-service restaurants (19.2%),
•20.2% of the Property Portfolio annual base rent is generated from five tenants, 7-Eleven (4.9%), Mister Car Wash (4.6%), Camping World (3.8%), LA Fitness (3.7%) and GPM Investments (convenience stores) (3.2%), and
•41.2% of the Property Portfolio annual base rent is generated from properties located in five states, including Texas (16.9%) and Florida (8.6%).
Any financial hardship and/or economic changes in these lines of trade, tenants or states could have an adverse effect on NNN’s results of operations.
NNN may not be able to successfully execute its acquisition or development strategies.
NNN may not be able to implement its investment strategies successfully. Additionally, NNN cannot assure that its Property Portfolio will expand at all, or if it will expand at any specified rate or to any specified size. In addition, investment in additional real estate assets is subject to a number of risks. Because NNN expects to invest in markets other than the ones in which its current Properties are located or properties which may be leased to tenants other than those to which NNN has historically leased properties, NNN will also be subject to the risks associated with investment in new markets, new lines of trade or with new tenants that may be relatively unfamiliar to NNN’s management team.
NNN’s development activities are subject to, without limitation, risks relating to the availability and timely receipt of zoning and other regulatory approvals, the cost and timely completion of construction (including risks from factors beyond NNN’s control, such as weather, labor conditions or material shortages), the risk of finding tenants for the properties and the ability to obtain both construction and permanent financing on favorable terms. These risks could result in substantial unanticipated delays or expenses and, under certain circumstances, could prevent completion of development activities once undertaken or provide a tenant the opportunity to delay rent commencement, reduce rent or terminate a lease. Any of these situations may delay or eliminate proceeds or cash flows NNN expects from these projects, which could have an adverse effect on NNN’s financial condition.
NNN may not be able to dispose of properties consistent with its operating strategy.
NNN may be unable to sell Properties targeted for disposition under favorable terms due to adverse market conditions or possible prohibitive tax liability. This may adversely affect, among other things, NNN’s ability to sell under favorable terms, execute its operating strategy, achieve target earnings or returns, retire or repay debt or pay dividends.
Certain provisions of NNN’s leases or loan agreements may be unenforceable.
NNN’s rights and obligations with respect to its leases, mortgage loans or other loans are governed by written agreements. A court could determine that one or more provisions of such an agreement are unenforceable, such as a particular remedy, a master lease covenant, a loan prepayment provision or a provision governing NNN’s security interest in the underlying collateral of a borrower or lessee. NNN could be adversely impacted if this were to happen with respect to an asset or group of assets.
Competition from numerous other REITs, commercial developers, real estate limited partnerships and other investors may impede NNN’s ability to grow.
NNN may not complete suitable property acquisitions or developments on advantageous terms, if at all, due to competition for such properties with others engaged in real estate investment activities or lack of properties for sale on terms deemed acceptable to NNN. NNN’s inability to successfully acquire or develop new properties may affect NNN’s ability to achieve anticipated return on investment or realize its investment strategy, which could have an adverse effect on its results of operations.
Uninsured losses may adversely affect NNN’s operating results and asset values.
The Properties are generally covered by comprehensive liability, fire, and extended insurance coverage. NNN believes that the insurance carried on its Properties is adequate and in accordance with industry standards. There are, however, types of losses (such as from hurricanes, floods, earthquakes or other types of natural disasters or wars, terrorism or other acts of violence) which may be uninsurable, self-insured by tenants, or the cost of insuring against these losses may not be economically justifiable in the opinion of tenants or NNN. If an uninsured loss occurs or a loss exceeds policy limits, NNN could lose both its invested capital and anticipated revenues from the property, thereby reducing NNN’s cash flow and asset value.
NNN’s ability to fully control the management of its net-leased properties may be limited.
The tenants of net-leased properties are responsible for maintenance and other day-to-day management of the Properties. If a Property is not adequately maintained in accordance with the terms of the applicable lease, NNN may incur expenses for deferred maintenance expenditures or other liabilities when the lease expires. While NNN’s leases generally provide for recourse against the tenant in these instances, a bankrupt or financially troubled tenant may be more likely to defer maintenance and it may be more difficult to enforce remedies against such a tenant. Although NNN endeavors to monitor compliance by tenants with their lease obligations, NNN may not always be able to ascertain or forestall deterioration in the condition of a property or the financial circumstances of a tenant.
Vacant properties or bankrupt tenants could adversely affect NNN’s business or financial condition.
As of December 31, 2021, NNN owned 32 vacant, un-leased Properties, which accounted for approximately one percent of total Properties held in the Property Portfolio. NNN is actively marketing these Properties for sale or lease but may not be able to sell or lease these Properties on favorable terms or at all. As of February 2, 2022, NNN had no tenants in bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
Cybersecurity risks and cyber incidents could adversely affect NNN's business, disrupt operations and expose NNN to liabilities to tenants, employees, capital providers, governmental regulators, and other third parties.
NNN uses information technology and other computer resources to carry out important operational activities and to maintain its business records. As part of NNN’s normal business activities, (i) NNN allows associates to perform some or all of their business activities remotely, and (ii) NNN collects and stores certain personal identifying and confidential information relating to its tenants, employees, vendors and suppliers, and (iii) maintains operational and financial information related to NNN’s business. NNN has implemented systems and processes intended to address ongoing and evolving cybersecurity risks, secure its information technology, applications and computer systems, and prevent unauthorized access to or loss of sensitive, confidential and personal data. Although NNN and its service providers employ what NNN believes are adequate security, disaster recovery and other preventative and corrective measures, NNN’s security measures, taken as a whole, may not be sufficient for all possible situations and may be vulnerable to, among other things, fraud, hacking, employee error, system error, and faulty password management.
NNN’s ability to conduct its business may be impaired if its information technology resources, including its websites or e-mail systems, are compromised, degraded, damaged or fail, whether due to a virus or other harmful circumstance, fraud, intentional penetration or disruption of its information technology resources by:
•a third party,
•natural disaster,
•a failure of hardware or software due to a design or programmatic flaw,
•a failure of hardware or software security controls,
•telecommunications system failure,
•service provider error or failure,
•fraudulent transactions,
•intentional or unintentional personnel actions,
•lost connectivity to NNN’s networked resources, or
•a failure of disaster recovery system.
A significant and extended disruption could damage NNN’s business or reputation and cause:
•loss of revenues or tenant relationships,
•unintended and/or unauthorized public disclosure or the misappropriation of proprietary, personal identifying and confidential information, and
•NNN to incur significant expenses to address and remediate or otherwise resolve these kinds of issues.
The release of confidential information may also lead to litigation or other proceedings against NNN by affected individuals, business partners and/or regulators, and the outcome of such proceedings, which could include losses, penalties, fines, injunctions, expenses and charges recorded against NNN’s earnings and cause NNN reputational harm, could have a material and adverse effect on NNN’s business, financial position or results of operations.
In addition, the costs of maintaining adequate protection against data security threats, based on considerations of their evolution, increasing sophistication, pervasiveness and frequency and/or government-mandated standards or obligations regarding protective efforts, could be material to NNN’s financial position or results of operations in a particular period or over various periods.
Future investment in international markets could subject NNN to additional risks.
If NNN expands its operating strategy to include investment in international markets, NNN could face additional risks, including foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, operational risks due to local economic and political conditions and laws and policies of the United States affecting foreign investment.
NNN may suffer a loss in the event of a default or bankruptcy of a borrower.
As of December 31, 2021, NNN had mortgages receivable of $2,023,000. If a borrower defaults on a mortgage or other loan made by NNN, and does not have sufficient assets to satisfy the loan, NNN may suffer a loss of principal and interest. In the event of the bankruptcy of a borrower, NNN may not be able to recover against all or any of the assets of the borrower, or the collateral may not be sufficient to satisfy the balance due on the loan. In addition, certain of NNN’s loans may be subordinate to other debt of a borrower. These investments are typically loans secured by a borrower’s pledge of its ownership interests in the entity that owns the real estate or other assets and are typically subordinated to senior loans encumbering the underlying real estate or assets. Subordinated positions are generally subject to a higher risk of nonpayment of principal and interest than the more senior loans. If a borrower defaults on the debt senior to NNN’s loan, or in the event of the bankruptcy of a borrower, NNN’s loan will be satisfied only after the borrower’s senior creditors’ claims are satisfied. Where debt senior to NNN’s loans exists, the presence of intercreditor arrangements may limit NNN’s ability to amend loan documents, assign the loans, accept prepayments, exercise remedies and control decisions made in bankruptcy proceedings relating to borrowers. Bankruptcy proceedings and litigation can significantly increase the time needed for NNN to acquire underlying collateral, if any, in the event of a default, during which time the collateral may decline in value. In addition, there are significant costs and delays associated with the foreclosure process.
Property ownership through joint ventures and partnerships could limit NNN’s control of those investments.
Joint ventures or partnerships involve risks not otherwise present for direct investments by NNN. It is possible that NNN’s co-venturers or partners may have different interests or goals than NNN at any time and they may take actions contrary to NNN’s requests, policies or objectives, including NNN’s policy with respect to maintaining its qualification as a REIT. Other risks of joint venture or partnership investments include impasses on decisions because in some instances no single co-venturer or partner has full control over the joint venture or partnership, respectively, or the co-venturer or partner may become insolvent, bankrupt or otherwise unable to contribute to the joint venture or partnership, respectively. Further, disputes may develop with a co-venturer or partner over decisions affecting the property, joint venture or partnership that may result in litigation, arbitration or some other form of dispute resolution.
Risks Related to Financing NNN’s Business
NNN may be unable to obtain debt or equity capital on favorable terms, if at all.
NNN may be unable to obtain capital on favorable terms, if at all, to further its business objectives or meet its existing obligations. Nearly all of NNN’s debt, including the Credit Facility, is subject to balloon principal payments due at maturity. These maturities range between 2024 and 2052. NNN's ability to make these scheduled principal payments may be adversely impacted by NNN’s inability to extend or refinance the Credit Facility, the inability to dispose of assets at an attractive price or the inability to obtain additional debt or equity capital. Capital that may be available may be materially more expensive or available under terms that are materially more restrictive which would have an adverse impact on NNN’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
The amount of debt NNN has and the restrictions imposed by that debt could adversely affect NNN’s business and financial condition.
As of December 31, 2021, NNN had outstanding debt, including mortgages payable of $10,697,000, total unsecured notes payable of $3,735,769,000 and no outstanding balance on the Credit Facility. NNN’s organizational documents do not limit the level or amount of debt that it may incur. If NNN incurs additional debt and permits a higher degree of leverage, debt service requirements would increase and could adversely affect NNN’s financial condition and results of operations, as well as NNN’s ability to pay principal and interest on the outstanding debt or cash dividends to its stockholders. In addition, increased leverage could increase the risk that NNN may default on its debt obligations.
The amount of debt outstanding at any time could have important consequences to NNN’s stockholders. For example, it could:
•require NNN to dedicate a substantial portion of its cash flow from operations to payments on its debt, thereby reducing funds available for operations, real estate investments and other business opportunities that may arise in the future,
•increase NNN’s vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions,
•limit NNN’s ability to obtain any additional financing it may need in the future for working capital, debt refinancing, capital expenditures, real estate investments, development or other general corporate purposes,
•make it difficult to satisfy NNN’s debt service requirements,
•limit NNN’s ability to pay dividends in cash on its outstanding common and preferred stock,
•limit NNN’s flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in its business and the factors that affect the profitability of its business, and
•limit NNN’s flexibility in conducting its business, which may place NNN at a disadvantage compared to competitors with less debt or debt with less restrictive terms.
NNN’s ability to make scheduled payments of principal or interest on its debt, or to retire or refinance such debt will depend primarily on its future performance, which to a certain extent is subject to the creditworthiness of its tenants, competition, and economic, financial, and other factors beyond its control. There can be no assurance that NNN’s business will continue to generate sufficient cash flow from operations in the future to service its debt or meet its other cash needs. If NNN is unable to generate sufficient cash flow from its business, it may be required to refinance all or a portion of its existing debt, sell assets or obtain additional financing to meet its debt obligations and other cash needs.
NNN cannot assure stockholders that any such refinancing, sale of assets or additional financing would be possible or, if possible, on terms and conditions, including but not limited to the interest rate, which NNN would find acceptable or would not result in a material decline in earnings.
NNN is obligated to comply with financial and other covenants in its debt instruments that could restrict its operating activities, and the failure to comply with such covenants could result in defaults that accelerate the payment of such debt.
As of December 31, 2021, NNN had approximately $3,746,466,000 of outstanding debt, of which approximately $10,697,000 was secured debt. NNN’s unsecured debt instruments contain various restrictive covenants which include, among others, provisions restricting NNN’s ability to:
•incur or guarantee additional debt,
•make certain distributions, investments and other restricted payments,
•enter into transactions with certain affiliates,
•create certain liens,
•consolidate, merge or sell NNN’s assets, and
•prepay debt.
NNN’s secured debt instruments generally contain customary covenants, including, among others, provisions:
•requiring the maintenance of the property securing the debt,
•restricting its ability to sell, assign or further encumber the properties securing the debt,
•restricting its ability to incur additional debt on the property securing the debt,
•restricting modifications to property improvements,
•restricting its ability to amend or modify existing leases on the property securing the debt, and
•establishing certain prepayment restrictions.
In addition, NNN’s debt instruments may contain cross-default provisions, in which case a default of NNN under one debt instrument will be a default of NNN under multiple or all debt instruments of NNN.
NNN’s ability to meet some of its debt covenants, including covenants related to the condition of the property or payment of real estate taxes, may be dependent on the performance by NNN’s tenants under their leases.
In addition, certain covenants in NNN’s debt instruments, including its Credit Facility, require NNN, among other things, to:
•limit certain leverage ratios,
•maintain certain minimum interest and debt service coverage ratios, and
•limit investments in certain types of assets.
NNN’s failure to comply with certain of its debt covenants could result in defaults that accelerate the payment under such debt and limit the dividends paid to NNN’s common and preferred stockholders which would likely have a material adverse impact on NNN’s financial condition and results of operations. In addition, these defaults could impair its access to the debt and equity markets.
NNN’s ability to pay dividends in the future is subject to many factors.
NNN’s ability to pay dividends may be impaired if any of the risks described in this section were to occur. In addition, payment of NNN’s dividends depends upon NNN’s earnings, financial condition, maintenance of NNN’s REIT status and other factors as NNN’s Board of Directors may deem relevant from time to time.
Risks Related to - Real Estate Ownership
Owning real estate and indirect interests in real estate carries inherent risks.
NNN’s financial performance and the value of its real estate assets are subject to the risk that if the Properties do not generate revenues sufficient to meet its operating expenses, and debt service, NNN’s cash flow and ability to pay distributions to its stockholders will be adversely affected. NNN is susceptible to the following real estate industry risks, which are beyond its control:
•changes in national, regional and local economic conditions and outlook,
•decreases in consumer spending and retail sales or adverse changes in consumer preferences for particular goods, services or store-based retailing,
•economic downturns in the areas where the Properties are located,
•adverse changes in local real estate market conditions, such as an oversupply of space, reduction in demand for space, loss of a large employer, intense competition for tenants, or a demographic change,
•changes in tenant or consumer preferences that reduce the attractiveness of the Properties to tenants,
•a decrease in demand for fossil fuels,
•changes in zoning, regulatory restrictions, or tax laws, and
•changes in interest rates or availability of financing.
All of these factors could result in decreases in market rental rates and increases in vacancy rates, which could adversely affect NNN’s results of operations.
NNN’s real estate investments are illiquid.
Because real estate investments are relatively illiquid, NNN’s ability to adjust the portfolio promptly in response to economic or other conditions is limited. Certain significant expenditures generally do not change in response to economic or other conditions, including: (i) debt service, (ii) real estate taxes, and (iii) operating and maintenance costs. This combination of variable revenue and relatively fixed expenditures may result, under certain market conditions, in reduced earnings and could have an adverse effect on NNN’s financial condition.
NNN may be subject to known or unknown environmental liabilities and hazardous materials on Properties owned by NNN.
There may be known or unknown environmental liabilities associated with Properties owned or acquired in the future by NNN. Certain particular uses of some Properties may also have a heightened risk of environmental liability because of the hazardous materials used in performing services on those Properties, such as convenience stores with underground petroleum storage tanks or auto parts and auto service businesses using petroleum products, paint and machine solvents. Some of the Properties may contain asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, or may contain or may develop mold or other bio-contaminants.
Asbestos-containing materials must be handled, managed and removed in accordance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations. Mold and other bio-contaminants can produce airborne toxins, may cause a variety of health issues in individuals and must be remediated in accordance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations.
As part of its due diligence process, NNN generally obtains an environmental site assessment for each Property it acquires. In cases where NNN intends to acquire real estate where evidence of some level of known contamination may exist, NNN generally requires the seller or tenant to (i) remediate the contamination in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, (ii) indemnify NNN for environmental liabilities, and/or (iii) agree to other arrangements deemed appropriate by NNN, including, under certain circumstances, the purchase of environmental insurance. Although sellers or tenants may be contractually responsible for remediating hazardous materials on a property and may be responsible for indemnifying NNN for any liability resulting from the use of a Property and for any failure to comply with any applicable environmental laws, rules or regulations, NNN has no assurance that sellers, tenants or any other responsible party shall be able to meet their remediation and indemnity obligations to NNN. A tenant, seller or any other responsible party may not have the financial ability to meet its remediation and indemnity obligations to NNN when required. Furthermore, NNN may have strict liability to governmental agencies or third parties as a result of the existence of hazardous materials on Properties, whether or not NNN knew about or caused such hazardous materials to exist.
As of February 2, 2022, NNN had 73 Properties currently under some level of environmental remediation and/or monitoring. In general, the responsible party (which may include the seller, a previous owner, the tenant or an adjacent or former land owner) is liable for the cost of the environmental remediation for each of these Properties.
If NNN is responsible for hazardous materials located on its Properties, NNN’s liability may include investigation and remediation costs, property damage to third parties, personal injury to third parties, and governmental fines and penalties. Furthermore, the presence of hazardous materials on a Property may adversely impact the Property value or NNN’s ability to sell the Property. Significant environmental liability could impact NNN’s results of operations, ability to make distributions to stockholders, and its ability to meet its debt obligations.
In order to mitigate exposure to environmental liability, NNN maintains an environmental insurance policy which provides some coverage for substantially all of its Properties. However, the policy is subject to exclusions and limitations and does not cover all of the Properties owned by NNN. For those Properties covered under the policy, insurance may not fully compensate NNN for any environmental liability. NNN has no assurance that the insurer on its environmental insurance policy will be able to meet its obligations under the policy. NNN may not desire to renew the environmental insurance policy in place upon expiration or a replacement policy may not be available at a reasonable cost, if at all.
Risks Related to - Tax Matters
NNN’s failure to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes could result in significant tax liability.
NNN intends to operate in a manner that will allow NNN to continue to qualify as a REIT. NNN believes it has been organized as, and its past and present operations qualify NNN as a REIT. However, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) could successfully assert that NNN is not qualified as such. In addition, NNN may not remain qualified as a REIT in the future. Qualification as a REIT involves the application of highly technical and complex provisions of the Code for which there are only limited judicial or administrative interpretations and involves the determination of various factual matters and circumstances not entirely within NNN’s control. Furthermore, new tax legislation, administrative guidance or court decisions, in each instance potentially with retroactive effect, could make it more difficult or impossible for NNN to qualify as a REIT or avoid significant tax liability.
If NNN fails to qualify as a REIT, it would not be allowed a deduction for dividends paid to stockholders in computing taxable income and would become subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates. In this event, NNN could be subject to potentially significant tax liabilities and penalties. Unless entitled to relief under certain statutory provisions, NNN would also be disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which the qualification was lost.
Compliance with REIT requirements, including distribution requirements, may limit NNN’s flexibility and may negatively affect NNN’s operating decisions.
To maintain its status as a REIT for United States federal income tax purposes, NNN must meet certain requirements on an on-going basis, including requirements regarding its sources of income, the nature and diversification of its assets, the amounts NNN distributes to its stockholders and the ownership of its shares. NNN may also be required to make distributions to its stockholders when it does not have funds readily available for distribution or at times when NNN’s funds are otherwise needed to fund expenditures or debt service requirements. NNN generally will not be subject to federal income taxes on amounts distributed to stockholders, so long as it distributes 100 percent of its REIT taxable income and meets certain other requirements for qualifying as a REIT. For each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, NNN believes it has qualified as a REIT. Notwithstanding NNN’s qualification for taxation as a REIT, NNN is subject to certain state and local income, franchise and excise taxes.
The share ownership restrictions of the Code for REITs and the 9.8% share ownership limit in NNN’s charter may inhibit market activity in NNN’s shares of stock and restrict NNN’s business combination opportunities.
In order to qualify as a REIT, five or fewer individuals, as defined in the Code, may not own, actually or constructively, more than 50% in value of NNN’s issued and outstanding shares of stock at any time during the last half of each taxable year, other than the first year for which a REIT election is made. Attribution rules in the Code determine if any individual or entity actually or constructively owns NNN’s shares of stock under this requirement. Additionally, at least 100 persons must beneficially own NNN’s shares of stock during at least 335 days of a taxable year for each taxable year, other than the first year for which a REIT election is made. To help ensure that NNN meets these tests, among other purposes, NNN’s charter restricts the acquisition and ownership of NNN’s shares of stock.
NNN’s charter, with certain exceptions, authorizes NNN’s Board of Directors to take such actions as are necessary and desirable to preserve NNN’s qualification as a REIT while NNN so qualifies. Unless exempted by the Board of Directors, for so long as NNN qualifies as a REIT, NNN’s charter prohibits, among other limitations on ownership and transfer of shares of NNN’s stock, any person from beneficially or constructively owning (applying certain attribution rules under the Code) more than 9.8% in value of the aggregate of NNN’s outstanding shares of stock and more than 9.8% (in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of any class or series of NNN’s shares of stock. The Board of Directors, in its sole discretion and upon receipt of certain representations and undertakings, may exempt a person (prospectively or retrospectively) from the ownership limits. However, the Board of Directors may not, among other limitations, grant an exemption from these ownership restrictions to any proposed transferee whose ownership, direct or indirect, in excess of the 9.8% ownership limit would result in the termination of NNN’s qualification as a REIT. These restrictions on transferability and ownership will not apply, however, if the Board of Directors determines that it is no longer in NNN’s best interest to continue to qualify as a REIT or that compliance with the restrictions is no longer required in order for us to continue to so qualify as a REIT. These ownership limits could delay or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for our common stock or otherwise be in the best interest of NNN’s stockholders.
Risks Related to - Governmental Laws and Regulations
Costs of complying with changes in governmental laws and regulations may adversely affect NNN’s results of operations.
NNN cannot predict what laws or regulations will be enacted in the future, how future laws or regulations will be administered or interpreted, or how future laws or regulations will affect NNN, its Properties or its tenants, including, but not limited to environmental laws and regulations. Compliance with new laws or regulations, or stricter interpretation of existing laws, may require NNN, its tenants, or consumers to incur significant expenditures, impose significant liability, restrict or prohibit business activities and could cause a material adverse effect on NNN’s results of operation.
Non-compliance with Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 could have an adverse effect on NNN's business and operating results.
The Properties, as commercial facilities, are required to comply with the ADA. NNN's tenants will typically have primary responsibility for complying with the ADA, but NNN may incur costs if the tenant does not comply. As of February 2, 2022, NNN had not been notified by any governmental authority of, nor is NNN’s management aware of, any non-compliance with the ADA that NNN’s management believes would have a material adverse effect on its business, financial position or results of operations.
General Risks
NNN's loss of key management personnel could adversely affect performance and the value of its securities.
NNN is dependent on the efforts of its key management. Competition for senior management personnel can be intense and NNN may not be able to retain its key management. Although NNN believes qualified replacements could be found for any departures of key management, the loss of their services could adversely affect NNN's performance and the value of its securities.
NNN’s failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could have a material adverse effect on its business, operating results and the market value of NNN's securities.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires annual management assessments of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. If NNN fails to maintain the adequacy of its internal control over financial reporting, as such standards may be modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, NNN may not be able to ensure that it can conclude on an ongoing basis that it has effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Moreover, effective internal control over financial reporting, particularly those related to revenue recognition, are necessary for NNN to produce reliable financial reports and to maintain its qualification as a REIT and are important in helping to prevent financial fraud. If NNN cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, its business and operating results could be harmed, REIT qualification could be jeopardized, investors could lose confidence in the Company’s reported financial information, the company's access to capital could be impaired, and the trading price of NNN’s shares could drop significantly.
Acts of violence, terrorist attacks or war may affect NNN's properties, the markets in which NNN operates and NNN’s results of operations.
Terrorist attacks or other domestic acts of violence may negatively affect NNN’s operations. There can be no assurance that there will not be attacks against businesses within the United States. These attacks may directly or indirectly impact NNN’s physical facilities or the businesses or the financial condition of its tenants, developers, borrowers, lenders or financial institutions with which NNN has a relationship. The United States is engaged in armed conflict, which could have an impact on these parties. The consequences of armed conflict are unpredictable, and NNN may not be able to foresee events that could have an adverse effect on its business or be insured for such.
More generally, any of these events or threats of these events could cause consumer confidence and spending to decrease or result in increased volatility in the United States and worldwide financial markets and economies. They also could result in, or cause a deepening of, economic recession in the United States or abroad. Any of these occurrences could have an adverse impact on NNN’s financial condition or results of operations.
Changes in accounting pronouncements could adversely impact NNN’s or NNN’s tenants’ reported financial performance.
Accounting policies and methods are fundamental to how NNN records and reports its financial condition and results of operations. From time to time the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) and the Commission, who create and interpret appropriate accounting standards, may change the financial accounting and reporting standards or their interpretation and application of these standards that govern the preparation of NNN’s financial statements. These changes could have a
material impact on NNN’s reported financial condition and results of operations. In some cases, NNN could be required to apply a new or revised standard retroactively, resulting in restating prior period financial statements. Similarly, these changes could have a material impact on NNN’s tenants’ reported financial condition or results of operations and affect their preferences regarding leasing real estate.
The market value of NNN’s equity and debt securities is subject to various factors that may cause significant fluctuations or volatility.
As with other publicly traded securities, the market price of NNN’s equity and debt securities depends on various factors, which may change from time-to-time and/or may be unrelated to NNN’s financial condition, operating performance or prospects that may cause significant fluctuations or volatility in such prices. These factors, among others, include:
•general economic and financial market conditions,
•level and trend of interest rates,
•changes in government fiscal, monetary, regulatory, or taxation policies,
•NNN’s ability to access the capital markets to raise additional capital,
•the issuance of additional equity or debt securities,
•changes in NNN’s funds from operations or earnings estimates,
•changes in NNN’s debt ratings or analyst ratings,
•NNN’s financial condition and performance,
•market perception of NNN compared to other REITs, and
•market perception of REITs compared to other investment sectors.
The phase-out of LIBOR could affect interest rates under NNN’s variable rate Credit Facility.
LIBOR is used as a reference rate for NNN’s revolving Credit Facility. On March 5, 2021, the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) announced that USD LIBOR will no longer be published after June 30, 2023. This announcement has several implications, including setting the spread that may be used to automatically convert contracts from LIBOR to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR"). Additionally, as of December 31, 2021, banks are expected to no longer issue any new LIBOR debt.
NNN anticipates that LIBOR will continue to be available at least until June 30, 2023. Any changes adopted by the FCA or other governing bodies in the method used for determining LIBOR may result in a sudden or prolonged increase or decrease in reported LIBOR. If that were to occur, NNN’s interest payments could change. In addition, uncertainty about the extent and manner of future changes may result in interest rates and/or payments that are higher or lower than if LIBOR were to remain available in its current form.
While NNN expects LIBOR to be available in substantially its current form until at least the end of June 30, 2023, it is possible that LIBOR will become unavailable prior to that point. This could result, for example, if sufficient banks decline to make submissions to the LIBOR administrator. In that case, the risks associated with the transition to an alternative reference rate will be accelerated and magnified. If LIBOR ceases to exist, NNN will need to agree upon a benchmark replacement index with the bank, and as such the interest rate on its Credit Facility may change. The new rate may not be as favorable as those in effect prior to any LIBOR phase-out.
Alternative rates and other market changes related to the replacement of LIBOR, including the introduction of financial products and changes in market practices, may lead to risk modeling and valuation challenges, such as adjusting interest rate accrual calculations and building a term structure for an alternative rate.
The introduction of an alternative rate also may create additional basis risk and increased volatility as alternative rates are phased in and utilized in parallel with LIBOR.
Adjustments to systems and mathematical models to properly process and account for alternative rates will be required, which may strain the model risk management and information technology functions and result in substantial incremental costs for NNN. Furthermore, the transition process may result in delays in funding, higher interest expense, additional expenses, and
increased volatility in markets for instruments that currently rely on LIBOR, all of which could negatively impact NNN's cash flow.
Even if NNN remains qualified as a REIT, NNN faces other tax liabilities that reduce operating results and cash flow.
Even if NNN remains qualified for taxation as a REIT, NNN is subject to certain federal, state and local taxes on its income and assets, including taxes on any undistributed income, tax on income from some activities conducted as a result of a foreclosure, and state or local income, property and transfer taxes. Any increase of these taxes would decrease earnings and cash available for distribution to stockholders. In addition, in order to meet certain REIT qualification requirements, NNN may elect to own some of its assets in a TRS.
Adverse legislative or regulatory tax changes could reduce NNN’s earnings and cash flow and the market value of NNN’s securities.
At any time, the federal and state income tax laws or the administrative interpretations of those laws may change. Any such changes may have current and retroactive effects, and could adversely affect NNN or its stockholders. Legislation could cause shares in non-REIT entities to be a more attractive investment to individual investors than shares in REITs, and could have an adverse effect on the value of NNN’s securities.

---

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.

---

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Item 2. Properties
Please refer to Item 1. “Business.”

---

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
In the ordinary course of its business, NNN is a party to various legal actions that management believes are routine in nature and incidental to the operation of the business of NNN. Management does not believe that any of these proceedings are material.

---

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
None.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market Information.
The common stock of NNN currently is traded on the NYSE under the symbol “NNN.”
Performance Graphs.
Set forth below is a line graph comparing the cumulative total stockholder return on NNN’s common stock, based on the market price of the common stock and assuming reinvestment of dividends, with the FTSE National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts Equity Index (“FNER”) and the S&P 500 Index (“S&P”) for the five-year period commencing December 31, 2016 and ending December 31, 2021. The graph assumes an investment of $100 on December 31, 2016.
Comparison to Five-Year Cumulative Total Return
Set forth below is a line graph comparing the cumulative total stockholder return on NNN’s common stock, based on the market price of the common stock and assuming reinvestment of dividends, with the FTSE National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts Equity Index (“FNER”) and the S&P 500 Index (“S&P”) for the fifteen-year period commencing December 31, 2006 and ending December 31, 2021. The graph assumes an investment of $100 on December 31, 2006.
Comparison to Fifteen-Year Cumulative Total Return
Dividends.
NNN intends to pay regular quarterly dividends to its stockholders, although all future distributions will be declared and paid at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon cash generated by operating activities, NNN’s financial condition, capital requirements, annual distribution requirements under the REIT provisions of the Code and such other factors as the Board of Directors deems relevant.
In January 2022, NNN declared dividends payable to its stockholders of $92,751,000, or $0.530 per share, of common stock.
Holders.
On January 28, 2022, there were 1,566 registered holders of record of NNN's common stock. Many of NNN's shares of common stock are held by brokers and institutions on behalf of stockholders, NNN is unable to estimate the total number of stockholders represented by these record holders.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans.
None.
Sale of Unregistered Securities.
None.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
None.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 6. [Reserved]

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
This section generally discusses 2021 and 2020 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2021 and 2020. Discussions of 2019 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2020 and 2019 that are not included in this annual report on Form 10-K can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the Commission on February 11, 2021.
The term "NNN" or the "Company" refers to National Retail Properties, Inc. and all of its consolidated subsidiaries. NNN may elect to treat certain subsidiaries as taxable real estate investment trust subsidiaries, ("TRS").
Forward-Looking Statements
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. NNN makes statements in this section that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. For a complete discussion of forward-looking statements, see the section in this report entitled “Forward-Looking Statements.” Certain risks may cause NNN’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the following discussion. For a discussion of such risk factors, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”
Overview
NNN, a Maryland corporation, is a fully integrated real estate investment trust ("REIT") formed in 1984. NNN's assets are primarily real estate assets. NNN acquires, owns, invests in and develops properties that are leased primarily to retail tenants under long-term net leases and are primarily held for investment ("Properties," or "Property Portfolio," or individually a "Property").
NNN owned 3,223 Properties with an aggregate gross leasable area of approximately 32,753,000 square feet, located in 48 states, with a weighted average remaining lease term of 10.6 years as of December 31, 2021. Approximately 99 percent of the Properties were leased as of December 31, 2021.
NNN’s management team focuses on certain key indicators to evaluate the financial condition and operating performance of NNN. The key indicators for NNN include items such as: the composition of the Property Portfolio (such as tenant, geographic and line of trade diversification), the occupancy rate of the Property Portfolio, certain financial performance ratios and profitability measures, industry trends and industry performance compared to that of NNN.
NNN evaluates the creditworthiness of its current and prospective tenants. This evaluation may include reviewing available financial statements, store level financial performance, press releases, public credit ratings from major credit rating agencies, industry news publications and financial market data (debt and equity pricing). NNN may also evaluate the business and operations of its tenants, including past payment history and periodically meeting with senior management of certain tenants.
NNN continues to maintain its diversification by tenant, geography and tenant’s line of trade. NNN’s largest lines of trade concentrations are the convenience store (17.9%), automotive service (12.3%) and restaurant (19.2%) (including full and limited service) sectors. These sectors represent a large part of the freestanding retail property marketplace and NNN’s management believes these sectors present attractive investment opportunities. The Property Portfolio is geographically concentrated in the south and southeast United States, which are regions of historically above-average population growth. Given these concentrations, any financial hardship within these sectors or geographic regions could have a material adverse effect on the financial condition and operating performance of NNN.
As of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, the Property Portfolio remained at least 98 percent leased and had a weighted average remaining lease term of approximately 11 years. High occupancy levels coupled with a net lease structure, provides enhanced probability of maintaining operating earnings.
Impact of COVID-19 on NNN’s Business
Overview. Since March 2020, the evolution of the pandemic and worldwide spread of COVID-19 has continued to pose significant risk and uncertainty to the potential adverse effects to the economy and financial markets. Several countries, including the United States, took steps to restrict travel, temporarily close businesses and issue quarantine orders.
As a result, the COVID-19 pandemic and the government reaction to it negatively affected almost every industry directly or indirectly. A number of NNN’s tenants experienced temporary closures of their operations and/or requested adjustments to their lease terms during this pandemic. As a result, these economic hardships have increased uncertainty with respect to the collectability of lease payments and have had a negative effect on NNN's financial results, including increased accounts receivables and related allowances and recognizing revenue on a cash basis from certain of its tenants.
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, NNN and certain of NNN's tenants were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic which has resulted in the continued loss of revenue for certain tenants and challenged their ability to pay rent.
As of December 31, 2021, NNN has entered into rent deferral lease amendments with certain tenants, for an aggregate $4,758,000 and $52,019,000 of rent originally due for the year ending December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The rent deferral lease amendments required the deferred rents to be repaid at a later time during the lease term. Approximately $31,776,000 and $3,259,000 of the deferred rent was repaid in 2021 and 2020, respectively. Deferred rents of $14,526,000 are due to be repaid during the year ending December 31, 2022, with the substantially all remaining deferred rent coming due periodically by December 31, 2023.
The following table outlines the rent deferred and corresponding scheduled repayment of the rent deferral lease amendments executed as of December 31, 2021 (dollars in thousands):
Deferred
Scheduled Repayment
Accrual
Basis
Cash
Basis
Total
% of
Total
Accrual
Basis
Cash
Basis
Total
% of
Total
Cumulative
Total
$
33,594
$
18,425
$
52,019
91.7
%
$
3,239
$
$
3,259
5.7
%
5.7
%
3,768
4,758
8.3
%
25,935
5,841
31,776
56.0
%
61.7
%
-
-
-
-
5,391
9,135
14,526
25.6
%
87.3
%
-
-
-
-
3,334
3,353
5.9
%
93.2
%
-
-
-
-
-
1,932
1,932
3.4
%
96.6
%
-
-
-
-
-
1,931
1,931
3.4
%
100.0
%
$
34,584
$
22,193
$
56,777
$
34,584
$
22,193
$
56,777
The following table details the rental revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2021 (collected as of January 31, 2022), as a percentage of annualized base rent, excluding the repayments of amounts previously deferred according to the rent deferral lease amendments:
Lines of Trade
% of Total Annual Base Rent(1)
% of Rent Collected
1.
Convenience stores
17.9%
100.0%
2.
Automotive service
12.3%
99.5%
3.
Restaurants - full service
9.8%
97.3%
4.
Restaurants - limited service
9.4%
99.6%
5.
Family entertainment centers
5.9%
99.9%
6.
Health and fitness
5.2%
98.9%
7.
Theaters
4.5%
99.9%
8.
Recreational vehicle dealers, parts and accessories
3.9%
99.9%
9.
Equipment rental
3.2%
100.0%
10.
Automotive parts
3.0%
99.7%
11.
Wholesale clubs
2.5%
100.0%
12.
Home improvement
2.5%
100.0%
13.
Medical service providers
2.0%
98.4%
14.
Furniture
1.7%
100.0%
15.
General merchandise
1.7%
100.0%
16.
Consumer electronics
1.5%
100.0%
17.
Home furnishings
1.5%
100.0%
18.
Travel plazas
1.5%
98.9%
19.
Automobile auctions, wholesale
1.3%
99.9%
20.
Drug stores
1.3%
100.0%
Other
7.4%
98.4%
Total
100.0%
99.4%
(1)Based on annualized base rent for all leases in place as of December 31, 2021.
As of January 31, 2022, NNN has collected 99.4% and 98.8% of the rental revenue for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2021, respectively, as a percentage of annualized base rent, excluding the repayments of amounts previously deferred according to the rent deferral lease amendments.
Historical rent collections and rent relief requests may not be indicative of rent collections and requests in the future. Depending on macroeconomic conditions and their impact on a tenant's business and operations, deferred rents may be difficult to collect.
While as of December 31, 2021, NNN's rent collections have returned to pre-pandemic levels, the extent to which COVID-19 impacts NNN's operations and those of NNN's tenants will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the scope, severity and duration of the outbreak, the actions taken to contain the outbreak or mitigate its impact, and the direct and indirect economic effects of the outbreak and containment measures, among others.
A prolonged continuation of or repeated temporary business closures, reduced capacity at businesses or other social-distancing practices, and quarantine orders may adversely impact NNN's tenants’ ability to generate sufficient revenues to meet financial obligations, and could force tenants to default on their leases, or result in the bankruptcy of tenants, which would diminish the rental revenue NNN receives under its leases. Additionally, an increase in the number of vacant properties would increase NNN’s real estate expenses, including expenses associated with ongoing maintenance and repairs, utilities, property taxes and property and liability insurance.
NNN will continue to monitor the impact of the economic downturn on retailers, retail real estate, capital markets and investment returns, among other things, when considering new property investments. As of December 31, 2021, NNN had $171,322,000 of cash and cash equivalents and $1,100,000,000 available for borrowings under its unsecured revolving credit
facility (the "Credit Facility"). While the impacts of COVID-19 continue to unfold, NNN currently expects these combined resources, in addition to the cash provided by NNN's operations to be sufficient to meet NNN's demand for funds.
Business Continuity. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, NNN provided the flexibility for its associates to work remotely without any adverse impact on its ability to continue to operate its business nor any material adverse impact on NNN's financial reporting systems, internal controls over financial reporting or disclosure controls and procedures.
The rapid development and fluidity of the economic downturn precludes any prediction as to the ultimate adverse impact on the economy, retailing and NNN and will ultimately depend on future developments, none of which can be predicted with any certainty. Nevertheless, the COVID-19 related economic disruption presents uncertainty and risk with respect to NNN’s performance, business or financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. See Item "1A. Risk Factors."
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of NNN’s consolidated financial statements in conformance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses as well as other disclosures in the financial statements. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates and assumptions; however, actual results may differ from these estimates and assumptions, which in turn could have a material impact on NNN’s financial statements. A summary of NNN’s accounting policies and procedures are included in Note 1 of NNN’s consolidated financial statements. Management believes the following critical accounting policies, among others, affect its more significant estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of NNN’s consolidated financial statements.
Real Estate Portfolio. NNN records the acquisition of real estate at cost, including acquisition and closing costs. The cost of properties developed or funded by NNN includes direct and indirect costs of construction, property taxes, interest and other miscellaneous costs incurred during the development period until the project is substantially complete and available for occupancy.
Purchase Accounting for Acquisition of Real Estate. In accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") guidance on business combinations, consideration for the real estate acquired is allocated to the acquired tangible assets, consisting of land, building and tenant improvements and, if applicable, to identified intangible assets and liabilities, consisting of the value of above-market and below-market leases and value of in-place leases, as applicable, based on their respective fair values.
The fair value estimate is sensitive to significant assumptions, such as establishing a range of relevant market assumptions for land, building and rent and where the acquired property falls within that range. These market assumptions for land, building and rent use the most relevant comparable properties for an acquisition. The final range relies upon ranking comparable properties' attributes from most similar to least similar.
Lease Accounting. NNN records its leases on the Property Portfolio in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)," ("ASC 842").
NNN's real estate is generally leased to tenants on a net lease basis, whereby the tenant is responsible for all operating expenses relating to the Property, including property taxes, insurance, maintenance, repairs and capital expenditures.
NNN’s Property Portfolio primarily consists of leases accounted for using the operating method. Under the operating method, revenue is recognized as rentals are earned and expenses (including depreciation) are charged to operations as incurred. When scheduled rentals vary during the lease term, income is recognized on a straight-line basis so as to produce a constant periodic rent over the term of the lease. Accrued rental income is the aggregate difference between the scheduled rents which vary during the lease term and the income recognized on a straight-line basis.
In April 2020, the FASB issued interpretive guidance relating to the accounting for lease concessions provided as a result of COVID-19. In this guidance, entities can elect not to apply lease modification accounting with respect to such lease concessions and instead, treat the concession as if it was a part of the existing contract. This guidance is only applicable to
COVID-19 related lease concessions that do not result in a substantial increase in the rights of the lessor or the obligations of the lessee. NNN elected to make this policy election for COVID-19 lease concessions, including the rent deferral lease amendments effective during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Collectability. In accordance with ASC 842, NNN reviews the collectability of its lease payments on an ongoing basis. NNN considers collectability indicators when analyzing accounts receivable (and accrued rent) and historical bad debt levels, tenant credit-worthiness and current economic trends, all of which assists in evaluating the probability of outstanding and future lease payment collections. In addition, tenants in bankruptcy are analyzed and considerations are made in connection with the expected recovery of pre-petition and post-petition bankruptcy claims.
At the point NNN deems the collection of lease payments not probable, previously recognized and uncollected rental revenue and any related accrued rent are reversed as a reduction to rental income and, subsequently, any lease revenue is only recognized when cash receipts are received. As a result of the review of lease payments collectability, NNN recorded a write-off of $21,792,000 of outstanding receivables and related accrued rent during the year ended December 31, 2020, and reclassified certain tenants as cash basis for accounting purposes. During the year ended December 31, 2021, no outstanding receivables and related accrued rent were written off and no tenants were reclassified as cash basis for accounting purposes.
NNN includes an allowance for doubtful accounts in rental income on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.
As of December 31, 2021, approximately six percent of total Properties, and approximately seven percent of aggregate gross leasable area held in the Property Portfolio, were leased to 11 tenants that NNN has determined to recognize revenue on a cash basis. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, NNN recognized $52,129,000 and $4,722,000, respectively, of rental income from certain tenants for periods following their classification to cash basis for accounting. NNN had no tenants classified as cash basis for accounting purposes for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Real Estate - Held For Sale. Real estate held for sale is not depreciated and is recorded at the lower of cost or fair value, less costs to sell.
Impairment - Real Estate. NNN periodically assesses its long-lived real estate assets for possible impairment whenever certain events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. These indicators include, but are not limited to: changes in real estate market conditions, the ability of NNN to re-lease properties that are currently vacant or become vacant, properties reclassified as held for sale, persistent vacancies greater than one year, and properties leased to tenants in bankruptcy. Management evaluates whether an impairment in carrying value has occurred by comparing the estimated future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges), and the residual value of the real estate, with the carrying value of the individual asset. The future undiscounted cash flows are primarily driven by estimated future market rents. Future cash flow estimates are sensitive to the assumptions made by management regarding future market rents, which are affected by expectations about future market and economic conditions. If an impairment is indicated, a loss will be recorded for the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its estimated fair value. NNN's Properties are leased primarily to retail tenants under long-term net leases and primarily held for investment. Generally, NNN’s Property leases provide for initial terms of 10 to 20 years, which provide for cash flows over this term. NNN generally intends to hold these assets for the long-term, therefore, a temporary change in cash flows due to the COVID-19 pandemic alone was determined not to be an indicator of impairment.
Revenue Recognition. Rental revenues for properties under construction commence upon completion of construction of the leased asset and delivery of the leased asset to the tenant. Rental revenues for non-development real estate assets are recognized when earned in accordance with ASC 842, based on the terms of the lease of the leased asset. Lease termination fees are recognized when collected subsequent to the related lease that is cancelled and NNN no longer has continuing involvement with the former tenant with respect to that property.
The core principle of ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)", is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which
the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Certain contracts are excluded from ASU 2014-09, including lease contracts within the scope of ASC 842. NNN determined the key revenue stream impacted by ASU 2014-09 is gain on disposition of real estate reported on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. In accordance with ASU 2014-09, NNN evaluates any separate contracts or performance obligations to determine proper timing and/or amount of revenue recognition, as well as, transaction price allocation.
New Accounting Pronouncements. Refer to Note 1 of the December 31, 2021, Consolidated Financial Statements for a summary and the anticipated impact of each accounting pronouncement on NNN's financial position or results of operations.
Results of Operations
Property Analysis
General. The following table summarizes the Property Portfolio as of December 31:
Properties Owned:
Number
3,223
3,143
3,118
Total gross leasable area (square feet)
32,753,000
32,461,000
32,460,000
Properties:
Leased and unimproved land
3,191
3,096
3,086
Percent of Properties - leased and unimproved land
%
%
%
Weighted average remaining lease term (years)
10.6
10.7
11.2
Total gross leasable area (square feet) - leased
32,395,000
31,631,000
31,818,000
The following table summarizes the lease expirations, assuming none of the tenants exercise renewal options, of the Property Portfolio for each of the next 10 years and then thereafter in the aggregate as of December 31, 2021:
% of
Annual
Base
Rent(1)
# of
Properties
Gross
Leasable
Area(2)
% of
Annual
Base
Rent(1)
# of
Properties
Gross
Leasable
Area(2)
2.8%
739,000
4.7%
1,245,000
2.6%
1,402,000
2.8%
987,000
3.3%
1,455,000
3.7%
1,194,000
5.9%
2,013,000
8.3%
2,781,000
5.5%
2,139,000
Thereafter
51.9%
1,751
15,065,000
8.5%
3,375,000
(1)Based on the annualized base rent for all leases in place as of December 31, 2021.
(2)Approximate square feet.
The following table summarizes the diversification of the Property Portfolio based on the top 20 lines of trade:
% of Annual Base Rent(1)
Lines of Trade
1.
Convenience stores
17.9%
18.2%
18.2%
2.
Automotive service
12.3%
10.3%
9.6%
3.
Restaurants - full service
9.8%
10.5%
11.1%
4.
Restaurants - limited service
9.4%
9.7%
8.8%
5.
Family entertainment centers
5.9%
5.9%
6.7%
6.
Health and fitness
5.2%
5.3%
5.2%
7.
Theaters
4.5%
4.4%
4.7%
8.
Recreational vehicle dealers, parts and accessories
3.9%
3.5%
3.4%
9.
Equipment rental
3.2%
2.6%
2.6%
10.
Automotive parts
3.0%
3.1%
3.1%
11.
Wholesale clubs
2.5%
2.6%
2.5%
12.
Home improvement
2.5%
2.6%
2.6%
13.
Medical service providers
2.0%
2.2%
2.1%
14.
Furniture
1.7%
1.7%
1.6%
15.
General merchandise
1.7%
1.7%
1.8%
16.
Consumer electronics
1.5%
1.5%
1.5%
17.
Home furnishings
1.5%
1.6%
1.7%
18.
Travel plazas
1.5%
1.5%
1.6%
19.
Automobile auctions, wholesale
1.3%
1.1%
1.0%
20.
Drug stores
1.3%
1.5%
1.6%
Other
7.4%
8.5%
8.6%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
(1)Based on annualized base rent for all leases in place as of December 31 of the respective year.
The following table summarizes the diversification of the Property Portfolio by state as of December 31, 2021:
State
# of
Properties
% of Annual Base Rent(1)
1.
Texas
16.9%
2.
Florida
8.6%
3.
Ohio
5.5%
4.
Illinois
5.5%
5.
North Carolina
4.7%
6.
Georgia
4.6%
7.
Indiana
4.0%
8.
Tennessee
3.8%
9.
Virginia
3.4%
10.
California
3.3%
Other
1,341
39.7%
3,223
100.0%
(1)
Based on annualized base rent for all leases in place as of December 31, 2021.
Property Acquisitions. The following table summarizes the Property acquisitions for each of the years ended December 31 (dollars in thousands):
Acquisitions:
Number of Properties
Gross leasable area (square feet)(1)
1,341,000
449,000
3,164,000
Initial cash yield
6.5
%
6.5
%
6.9
%
Total dollars invested(2)
$
555,415
$
179,967
$
752,497
(1)Includes additional square footage from completed construction on existing Properties.
(2)Includes dollars invested in projects under construction or tenant improvements for each respective year.
NNN typically funds Property acquisitions either through borrowings under the Credit Facility or by issuing its debt or equity securities in the capital markets.
Property Dispositions. The following table summarizes the Properties sold by NNN for each of the years ended December 31 (dollars in thousands):
Number of properties
Gross leasable area (square feet)
1,015,000
425,000
1,113,000
Net sales proceeds
$
122,018
$
54,488
$
126,194
Net gain on disposition of real estate
$
23,094
$
16,238
$
32,463
Cap rate
7.4
%
6.1
%
5.9
%
NNN typically uses the proceeds from a Property disposition to either pay down the Credit Facility or reinvest in real estate.
Analysis of Revenue
General. NNN’s total revenues increased for the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to the same period ended in 2020. The increase is primarily due to a decrease in receivables reserves, scheduled rent increases based on increases in the Consumer Price Index ("CPI") and to the income generated from newly acquired Properties. NNN's total revenues decreased for the year ended December 31, 2020, as compared to the same period ended in 2019. The decrease is primarily due to the write-off of receivables and lower rent collection from certain tenants due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. (See "Results of Operations - Property Analysis - Property Acquisitions").
The following summarizes NNN's revenues for each of the years ended December 31 (dollars in thousands):
Versus
Percent
Versus
Percent
Rental Revenues(1)
$
705,194
$
640,754
$
652,220
10.1
%
(1.8
)%
Real estate expense reimbursement from tenants
18,665
18,039
16,789
3.5
%
7.4
%
Rental income
723,859
658,793
669,009
9.9
%
(1.5
)%
Interest and other income from real estate transactions
2,548
1,888
1,478
35.0
%
27.7
%
Total revenues
$
726,407
$
660,681
$
670,487
9.9
%
(1.5
)%
(1)Includes rental income from operating leases, earned income from direct financing leases and percentage rent ("Rental Revenues").
Comparison of Revenues - 2021 versus 2020
Rental Income. Rental income increased for the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to the same period in 2020. The increase is primarily due to a change in receivables reserves, scheduled rent increases based on increases in the CPI and Property acquisitions:
(i)a partial year of Rental Revenue from 156 Properties with aggregate gross leasable area of approximately 1,341,000 square feet acquired in 2021, and
(ii)a full year of Rental Revenue from 63 Properties with aggregate gross leasable area of approximately 449,000 square feet acquired in 2020.
Comparison of Revenues - 2020 versus 2019
Refer to “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of NNN's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the Commission on February 11, 2021, for a detailed comparison of revenues for the years ended December 31, 2020 versus December 31, 2019.
Analysis of Expenses
General. Operating expenses decreased primarily due to a decrease in impairment losses recognized on real estate during the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to the same period in 2020. The decrease in impairment losses was partially offset by an increase in depreciation and amortization as a result of the continued growth of NNN's Property Portfolio as well as an increase in general and administrative expenses. The following summarizes NNN’s expenses for the year ended December 31 (dollars in thousands):
Versus
Percent
Versus
Percent
General and administrative
$
44,640
$
38,161
$
37,651
17.0
%
1.4
%
Real estate
28,385
28,362
27,656
0.1
%
2.6
%
Depreciation and amortization
205,220
196,623
188,871
4.4
%
4.1
%
Leasing transaction costs
167.1
%
(70.9
)%
Impairment losses - real estate, net of
recoveries
21,957
37,442
31,992
(41.4
)%
17.0
%
Executive retirement costs
-
1,766
-
(100.0
)%
N/C
Total operating expenses
$
300,405
$
302,430
$
286,431
(0.7
)%
5.6
%
Interest and other income
$
(216
)
$
(417
)
$
(3,112
)
(48.2
)%
(86.6
)%
Interest expense
137,874
129,431
120,023
6.5
%
7.8
%
Loss on early extinguishment of debt
21,328
16,679
-
27.9
%
N/C
Total other expenses
$
158,986
$
145,693
$
116,911
9.1
%
24.6
%
As a percentage of total revenues:
General and administrative
6.1
%
5.8
%
5.6
%
Real estate
3.9
%
4.3
%
4.1
%
Comparison of Expenses - 2021 versus 2020
General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses increased in amount and as a percentage of total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to the same period in 2020. The increase in general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021, is primarily attributable to an increase in incentive compensation costs.
Impairment Losses - Real Estate, Net of Recoveries. NNN periodically assesses its long-lived real estate assets for possible impairment whenever certain events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. These indicators include, but are not limited to: changes in real estate market conditions, the ability of NNN to re-lease properties that are currently vacant or become vacant, properties reclassified as held for sale, persistent vacancies greater than one year, and properties leased to tenants in bankruptcy. Management evaluates whether an impairment in carrying value has occurred by comparing the estimated future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges), and the residual value of the real estate, with the carrying value of the individual asset. The future undiscounted cash flows are primarily driven by estimated future market rents. Future cash flow estimates are sensitive to the assumptions made by management regarding future market rents, which are affected by expectations about future market and economic conditions. If an impairment is
indicated, a loss will be recorded for the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its estimated fair value. NNN's Properties are leased primarily to retail tenants under long-term net leases and primarily held for investment. Generally, NNN’s Property leases provide for initial terms of 10 to 20 years, which provide for cash flows over this term. NNN generally intends to hold these assets for the long-term, therefore, a temporary change in cash flows due to the COVID-19 pandemic alone was determined not to be an indicator of impairment.
As a result of NNN's review of long-lived assets, including identifiable intangible assets, NNN recognized real estate impairments, net of recoveries as summarized in the table below (dollars in thousands):
Total real estate impairments, net of recoveries
$
21,957
$
37,442
$
31,992
Number of Properties:
Vacant
Occupied
For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, real estate impairments, net of recoveries, was less than one percent of NNN's total assets for the respective periods as reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Due to NNN's core business of investing in real estate leased primarily to retail tenants under long-term net leases, the inherent risks of owning commercial real estate, and unknown potential changes in financial and economic conditions that may impact NNN's tenants, NNN believes it is reasonably possible to incur real estate impairment charges in the future.
Executive Retirement Costs. For the year ended December 31, 2020, executive retirement costs relate primarily to the retirement of NNN's former Chief Investment Officer on December 31, 2020.
Interest Expense. Interest expense increased for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to the same period in 2020. The increase is attributable to an increase in outstanding debt, including the following activity related to NNN's notes payable (dollars in thousands):
Transaction
Effective
Date
Principal
Stated
Interest
Rate
Original
Maturity
Date
Issuance 2030 Notes
March 2020
$
400,000
2.500%
April 2030
Issuance 2050 Notes
March 2020
300,000
3.100%
April 2050
Redemption 2022 Notes
March 2020
(325,000
)
3.800%
October 2022
Issuance 2051 Notes
March 2021
450,000
3.500%
April 2051
Redemption 2023 Notes
March 2021
(350,000
)
3.300%
April 2023
Issuance 2052 Notes
September 2021
450,000
3.000%
April 2052
In addition to the note payable transactions outlined above, interest expense was also impacted due to the Credit Facility having no weighted average outstanding balance at December 31, 2021 and a weighted average outstanding balance of $18,895,000 with a weighted average interest rate of 2.6% at December 31, 2020. In addition, interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, includes $2,078,000 and $2,291,000, respectively, in connection with the early redemption of the 2023 Notes and 2022 Notes, respectively.
Loss on Early Extinguishment of Debt. As part of NNN's financing strategy, NNN may opt to redeem outstanding notes payable prior to the original maturity date. Upon an early redemption, notes are redeemed at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus (i) a make-whole amount, and (ii) accrued and unpaid interest. In March 2021, NNN redeemed the $350,000,000 3.300% notes payable that were due in April 2023 with a make-whole amount of $21,328,000. In March 2020, NNN redeemed the $325,000,000 3.800% notes payable that were due in October 2022 with a make-whole amount of $16,679,000. The make-whole amounts are included in loss on early extinguishment of debt on the Consolidated Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income.
Comparison of Expenses - 2020 versus 2019
Refer to “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of NNN's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the Commission on February 11, 2021, for a detailed comparison of expenses for the years ended December 31, 2020 versus December 31, 2019.
Impact of Inflation
NNN’s leases typically contain provisions to mitigate the adverse impact of inflation on NNN’s results of operations. Tenant leases generally provide for limited increases in rent as a result of fixed increases, increases in the CPI, and/or, to a lesser extent, increases in the tenant’s sales volume. During times when inflation is greater than increases in rent, rent increases will not keep up with the rate of inflation.
Properties are leased to tenants under long-term, net leases which typically require the tenant to pay certain operating expenses for a Property, thus, NNN’s exposure to inflation is reduced with respect to these expenses. Inflation may have an adverse impact on NNN’s tenants and challenge their ability to meet lease obligations, including to pay rent.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
NNN’s demand for funds has been and will continue to be primarily for (i) payment of operating expenses and cash dividends; (ii) Property acquisitions and development; (iii) capital expenditures; (iv) payment of principal and interest on its outstanding debt; and (v) other investments.
Financing Strategy. NNN’s financing objective is to manage its capital structure effectively in order to provide sufficient capital to execute its operating strategy while servicing its debt requirements, maintaining its investment grade credit rating, staggering debt maturities and providing value to NNN’s stockholders. NNN’s capital resources have and will continue to include, if available (i) proceeds from the issuance of public or private equity or debt capital market transactions; (ii) secured or unsecured borrowings from banks or other lenders; (iii) proceeds from the sale of Properties; and (iv) to a lesser extent, by internally generated funds as well as undistributed funds from operations. However, there can be no assurance that additional financing or capital will be available, or that the terms will be acceptable or advantageous to NNN.
NNN typically expects to fund its short-term liquidity requirements, including investments in additional Properties, with cash and cash equivalents, cash provided from operations and NNN’s Credit Facility. As of December 31, 2021, NNN had $171,322,000 of cash and cash equivalents and $1,100,000,000 was available for future borrowings under the Credit Facility. (See "Overview - Impact of COVID-19 on NNN's Business").
As of December 31, 2021, NNN’s ratio of total debt to total gross assets (before accumulated depreciation and amortization) was approximately 40 percent and the ratio of secured debt to total gross assets was less than one percent. The ratio of total debt to total market capitalization was approximately 30 percent. Certain financial agreements to which NNN is a party contain covenants that limit NNN’s ability to incur additional debt under certain circumstances. The organizational documents of NNN do not limit the absolute amount or percentage of debt that NNN may incur. Additionally, NNN may change its financing strategy.
Cash and Cash Equivalents. NNN's cash and cash equivalents includes the aggregate of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash held in escrow from the Consolidated Balance Sheets. NNN did not have restricted cash, including cash held in escrow as of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019. The table below summarizes NNN’s cash flows for each of the years ended December 31 (dollars in thousands):
Cash and cash equivalents:
Provided by operating activities
$
568,425
$
450,194
$
501,727
Used in investing activities
(432,177
)
(142,816
)
(619,408
)
Provided by (used in) financing activities
(232,162
)
(41,254
)
4,526
Increase (decrease)
(95,914
)
266,124
(113,155
)
Net cash at beginning of year
267,236
1,112
114,267
Net cash at end of year
$
171,322
$
267,236
$
1,112
Cash flow activities include:
Operating Activities. Cash provided by operating activities represents cash received primarily from Rental Revenues and interest income less cash used for general and administrative expenses. NNN’s cash flow from operating activities has been sufficient to pay the distributions for each period presented. The change in cash provided by operations for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, is primarily the result of changes in revenues and expenses as discussed in “Results of Operations.” Cash generated from operations is expected to fluctuate in the future.
Investing Activities. Changes in cash for investing activities are primarily attributable to acquisitions and dispositions of Properties as discussed in "Results of Operations - Property Analysis." NNN typically uses cash on hand or proceeds from its Credit Facility to fund the acquisition of its Properties.
Financing Activities. NNN’s financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2021, included the following significant transactions:
(i) Issuance and redemption of notes payable resulted in the following:
•$436,417,000 in net proceeds from the issuance in March of the 3.500% notes payable due in April 2051,
•$350,000,000 payment in March for the early redemption of the 3.300% notes payable due in April 2023,
•$21,328,000 payment in March of the make-whole amount from the early redemption of the 3.300% notes payable due in April 2023, and
•$434,611,000 in net proceeds from the issuance in September of the 3.000% notes payable due in April 2052.
(ii) Issuance and redemption of equity securities resulted in the following:
•$345,000,000 payment to redeem the 13,800,000 depository shares of NNN's 5.200% Series F Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the "Series F Preferred Stock"),
•$1,009,000 from the issuance of 30,000 shares of common stock in connection with the at-the-market ("ATM") equity program, and
•$2,744,000 from the issuance of 62,577 shares of common stock in connection with the Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (“DRIP”).
(iii) Dividends paid:
•$367,291,000 to common stockholders, and
•$14,999,000 to holders of the depositary shares of the Series F Preferred Stock.
Material Cash Requirements
NNN's material cash requirements include (i) long-term debt maturities; (ii) interest on long-term debt; (iii) to a lesser extent, Property construction and other Property related costs that may arise; and (iv) common stock dividends (although all future distributions will be declared and paid at the discretion of the Board of Directors).
The table presents material cash requirements related to NNN's long-term debt outstanding as of December 31, 2021 (dollars in thousands):
Date of Obligation
Total
Thereafter
Long-term debt(1)
$
3,810,611
$
$
9,947
$
350,000
$
400,000
$
350,000
$
2,700,000
Long-term debt - interest(2)
1,958,889
136,947
136,701
129,006
120,750
106,225
1,329,260
Total
$
5,769,500
$
137,611
$
146,648
$
479,006
$
520,750
$
456,225
$
4,029,260
(1)Includes only principal amounts outstanding under mortgages payable and notes payable and excludes unamortized mortgage premiums, note discounts and note costs. See "Capital Structure - Mortgages Payable" and "Capital Structure - Notes Payable".
(2)Interest calculation on mortgage and notes payable based on stated rate of the principal amount. See "Capital Structure - Mortgages Payable" and "Capital Structure - Notes Payable".
Property Construction. NNN has committed to fund construction of 13 Properties. The improvements of such Properties are estimated to be completed within 12 months. These construction commitments, at December 31, 2021, are outlined in the table below (dollars in thousands):
Total commitment(1)
$
40,991
Less amount funded
16,256
Remaining commitment
$
24,735
(1)Includes land, construction costs, tenant improvements, lease costs and capitalized interest.
Management anticipates satisfying these obligations with a combination of NNN’s cash provided from operations, current capital resources on hand, its Credit Facility, debt or equity financings and asset dispositions.
Properties. Generally, the Properties are leased under long-term triple net leases, which require the tenant to pay all property taxes and assessments, to maintain the interior and exterior of the Property, and to carry property and liability insurance coverage. Therefore, management anticipates that capital demands to meet obligations with respect to these Properties will be modest for the foreseeable future and can be met with funds from operations and working capital. Certain Properties are subject to leases under which NNN retains responsibility for specific costs and expenses associated with the Property. Management anticipates the costs associated with these Properties, NNN's vacant Properties or those Properties that become vacant will also be met with funds from operations and working capital. NNN may be required to borrow under its Credit Facility or use other sources of capital in the event of significant capital expenditures or major repairs.
The lost revenues and increased property expenses resulting from vacant Properties or the inability to collect lease revenues could have a material adverse effect on the liquidity and results of operations if NNN is unable to re-lease the Properties at comparable rental rates and in a timely manner.
As of December 31, 2021, NNN owned 32 vacant, un-leased Properties which accounted for less than one percent of total Properties held in the Property Portfolio.
Additionally, as of February 2, 2022, NNN had no tenants in bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
NNN generally monitors the financial performance of its significant tenants on an ongoing basis.
A prolonged continuation of or repeated temporary business closures, reduced capacity at businesses or other social-distancing practices and quarantine orders as a result of COVID-19 may adversely impact NNN's tenants' ability to generate sufficient revenues to meet financial obligations, and could force tenants to default on their leases, or result in the bankruptcy of tenants, which would diminish the Rental Revenue NNN receives under its leases. NNN currently expects a short-term decrease in cash
from operations as its tenants continue to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and, while contractually obligated, some have not paid all rent amounts due. Additionally, an increase in the number of vacant properties would increase NNN's real estate expenses, including expenses associated with ongoing maintenance and repairs, utilities, property taxes, and property and liability insurance. The ongoing development and fluidity of the COVID-19 pandemic precludes any prediction as to the ultimate adverse impact on NNN (see "Overview - Impact of COVID-19 on NNN's Business").
Common Stock Dividends. One of NNN’s primary objectives is to distribute a substantial portion of its funds available from operations to its stockholders in the form of dividends, while retaining sufficient cash for reserves and working capital purposes and maintaining its status as a REIT.
The following table outlines the dividends declared and paid for NNN's common stock for the years ended December 31 (dollars in thousands, except per share data):
Dividends
$
367,291
$
356,409
$
333,692
Per share
2.1000
2.0700
2.0300
The following table presents the characterizations for tax purposes of NNN's common stock dividends for the years ended December 31:
Ordinary dividends(1)
$
1.615753
76.9406
%
$
1.659755
80.1814
%
$
1.762899
86.8423
%
Nontaxable distributions
0.484247
23.0594
%
0.410245
19.8186
%
0.267101
13.1577
%
$
2.100000
100.0000
%
$
2.070000
100.0000
%
$
2.030000
100.0000
%
(1)Eligible for the 20% qualified business income deduction under section 199A of the Code.
On January 14, 2022, NNN declared a dividend of $0.530 per share, payable February 15, 2022, to its common stockholders of record as of January 31, 2022.
Preferred Stock Distributions. Holders of NNN’s preferred stock issuances are entitled to receive, when and as authorized by the Board of Directors, cumulative preferential cash distributions based on the stated rate and liquidation preference per annum. The following table presents the dividends declared and paid for NNN's preferred stock for the years ended December 31 (dollars in thousands, except per share data):
Series F(1)
Series E(2)
Dividends
$
14,999
$
17,940
$
17,940
$
13,201
Per share(3)
1.086944
1.3000
1.3000
1.147917
(1)
The Series F Preferred Stock was redeemed in October 2021. The dividends paid in 2021 include accumulated and unpaid dividends through, but not including, the redemption date.
(2)
The Series E preferred stock was redeemed in October 2019. The dividends paid in 2019 include accumulated and unpaid dividends through, but not including, the redemption date.
(3)
100% of preferred stock dividends were characterized as ordinary dividends for tax purposes, eligible for the 20% qualified business income deduction under section 199A of the Code.
In October 2021, NNN redeemed all outstanding depositary shares (13,800,000) representing interests in its Series F Preferred Stock. As of December 31, 2021, NNN had no outstanding shares of preferred stock.
Capital Structure
NNN has used, and expects to use in the future, various forms of debt and equity securities primarily to pay down or refinance its outstanding debt, to finance property acquisitions and to fund construction on its Properties.
The following is a summary of NNN’s total outstanding debt as of December 31 (dollars in thousands):
Percentage
of Total
Percentage
of Total
Mortgages payable
$
10,697
0.3
%
$
11,395
0.4
%
Notes payable
3,735,769
99.7
%
3,209,527
99.6
%
Total outstanding debt
$
3,746,466
100.0
%
$
3,220,922
100.0
%
Line of Credit Payable. In June 2021, NNN amended and restated its credit agreement to increase the borrowing capacity under its Credit Facility from $900,000,000 to $1,100,000,000 and amended certain other terms under the former Credit Facility. The Credit Facility had no weighted average outstanding balance during the year ended December 31, 2021. The Credit Facility matures in June 2025, unless the Company exercises its options to extend maturity to June 2026. The Credit Facility bears interest at the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus 77.5 basis points; however, such interest rate may change pursuant to a tiered interest rate structure based on NNN's debt rating. Additionally, as part of NNN's environmental, social and governance ("ESG") initiatives, pricing may be reduced if specified ESG metrics are achieved. The Credit Facility also includes an accordion feature which permits NNN to increase the facility size up to $2,000,000,000, subject to lender approval. In connection with the Credit Facility, NNN incurred loan costs of $7,489,000 which are included in debt costs on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. As of December 31, 2021, there was no outstanding balance and $1,100,000,000 was available for future borrowings under the Credit Facility.
In accordance with the terms of the Credit Facility, NNN is required to meet certain restrictive financial covenants, which, among other things, require NNN to maintain certain (i) leverage ratios, (ii) debt service coverage, (iii) cash flow coverage, and (iv) investment limitations. At December 31, 2021, NNN was in compliance with those covenants. In the event that NNN violates any of these restrictive financial covenants, it could cause the debt under the Credit Facility to be accelerated and may impair NNN’s access to the debt and equity markets and limit NNN’s ability to pay dividends to its common and preferred stockholders, each of which would likely have a material adverse impact on NNN’s financial condition and results of operations.
LIBOR is used as a reference rate for NNN’s revolving Credit Facility. On March 5, 2021, the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) announced that USD LIBOR will no longer be published after June 30, 2023. This announcement has several implications, including setting the spread that may be used to automatically convert contracts from LIBOR to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR"). Additionally, as of December 31, 2021, banks are expected to no longer issue any new LIBOR debt. NNN anticipates that LIBOR will continue to be available at least until June 30, 2023. For a discussion of the phase-out of LIBOR and its impact to NNN, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors - General Risks.”
Mortgages Payable. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, NNN had mortgages payable, including unamortized premium and net of unamortized debt costs, of $10,697,000 and $11,395,000 respectively. The mortgages payable had an interest rate of 5.23% and matures July 2023. The loan is secured by a first lien on five of the Properties and the carrying value of the assets was $18,972,000 as of December 31, 2021.
Universal Shelf Registration Statement. In August 2020, NNN filed a shelf registration statement with the Commission which was automatically effective and permits the issuance by NNN of an indeterminate amount of debt and equity securities.
Debt Securities - Notes Payable. Each of NNN’s outstanding series of unsecured notes is summarized in the table below (dollars in thousands):
Notes(1)
Issue
Date
Principal
Discount(2)
Net
Price
Stated
Rate
Effective
Rate(3)
Maturity
Date
May 2014
$
350,000
$
$
349,293
3.900%
3.924%
June 2024(4)
October 2015
400,000
399,036
4.000%
4.029%
November 2025(4)
December 2016
350,000
3,860
346,140
3.600%
3.733%
December 2026(4)
September 2017
400,000
1,628
398,372
3.500%
3.548%
October 2027
September 2018
400,000
2,848
397,152
4.300%
4.388%
October 2028
March 2020
400,000
1,288
398,712
2.500%
2.536%
April 2030
September 2018
300,000
4,239
295,761
4.800%
4.890%
October 2048
March 2020
300,000
6,066
293,934
3.100%
3.205%
April 2050
March 2021
450,000
8,406
441,594
3.500%
3.602%
April 2051
September 2021
450,000
10,422
439,578
3.000%
3.118%
April 2052
(1)The proceeds from the note issuances were used to pay down outstanding debt of NNN’s Credit Facility, fund future property acquisitions and for general corporate purposes. Proceeds from the issuance of the 2028 Notes and the 2048 Notes were also used to redeem all of the $300,000 5.500% notes payable that were due 2021. Proceeds from the issuance of the 2030 Notes and the 2050 Notes were also used to redeem all of the $325,000 3.800% notes payable that were due in 2022. Proceeds from the issuance of the 2051 Notes were also used to redeem all of the $350,000 3.300% notes payable that were due in 2023. Proceeds from the issuance of the 2052 Notes were also used to redeem all of NNN's Series F Preferred Stock.
(2)The note discounts are amortized to interest expense over the respective term of each debt obligation using the effective interest method.
(3)Includes the effects of the discount at issuance.
(4)The aggregate principal balance of the unsecured note maturities for the next five years is $1,100,000.
NNN entered into forward starting swaps which were hedging the risk of changes in forecasted interest payments on the forecasted issuance of long-term debt. Upon the issuance of a series of unsecured notes, NNN terminated such derivatives as outlined in the following table (dollars in thousands):
Notes
Terminated
Description
Aggregate Notional Amount
Liability (Asset) Fair Value When Terminated (1)
Fair Value Deferred In Other Comprehensive Income(2)
May 2014
Three forward starting swaps
$
225,000
$
6,312
$
6,312
October 2015
Four forward starting swaps
300,000
13,369
13,369
December 2016
Two forward starting swaps
180,000
(13,352
)
(13,345
)
September 2017
Two forward starting swaps
250,000
7,690
7,688
September 2018
Two forward starting swaps
250,000
(4,080
)
(4,080
)
March 2020
Three forward starting swaps
200,000
13,141
13,141
September 2021
Two forward starting swaps
120,000
1,584
1,584
(1)The deferred liability (asset) is being amortized over the term of the respective notes using the effective interest method.
(2)The amount reported in accumulated other comprehensive income will be reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on the related notes payable.
Each series of notes represents senior, unsecured obligations of NNN and is subordinated to all secured debt of NNN. The notes are redeemable at the option of NNN, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) the principal amount of the notes being redeemed plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon through the redemption date, and (ii) the make-whole amount, if any, as defined in the applicable supplemental indenture relating to the notes.
In connection with the outstanding note offerings, NNN incurred debt issuance costs totaling $38,145,000 consisting primarily of underwriting discounts and commissions, legal and accounting fees, rating agency fees and printing expenses. Debt issuance costs for all note issuances have been deferred and are being amortized over the term of the respective notes using the effective interest method.
As a part of NNN's financing strategy, NNN may opt to redeem outstanding notes payable prior to the original maturity date. Upon early redemption, notes are redeemed at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus (i) a make-whole amount, and (ii) accrued and unpaid interest. In March 2021, NNN redeemed the $350,000,000 3.300% notes payable that were due in April 2023 with a make-whole amount of $21,328,000. In March 2020, NNN redeemed the $325,000,000 3.800% notes payable that were due in October 2022 with a make-whole amount of $16,679,000. The make-whole amounts are included in loss on early extinguishment of debt on the Consolidated Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income.
In accordance with the terms of the indentures pursuant to which NNN’s notes have been issued, NNN is required to meet certain restrictive financial covenants, which, among other things, require NNN to maintain (i) certain leverage ratios, and (ii) certain interest coverage. At December 31, 2021, NNN was in compliance with those covenants. NNN’s failure to comply with certain of its debt covenants could result in defaults that accelerate the payment under such debt and limit the dividends paid to NNN’s common and preferred stockholders which would likely have a material adverse impact on NNN’s financial condition and results of operations. In addition, these defaults could impair its access to the debt and equity markets.
NNN does not use derivatives for trading or speculative purposes or currently have any derivatives that are not designated as hedges. NNN had no derivative financial instruments outstanding at December 31, 2021.
Equity Securities
Preferred Stock. In October 2021, NNN redeemed all outstanding depositary shares (13,800,000) representing interests in its 5.200% Series F Preferred Stock. The Series F Preferred Stock was redeemed at $25.00 per depositary share, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends through, but not including, the redemption date, for an aggregate redemption price of $25.111944 per depositary share. The excess carrying amount of the Series F Preferred Stock redeemed over the cash paid to redeem the Series F Preferred Stock was $10,897,000, representing issuance costs which is reflected as a reduction to earnings attributable to common stockholders.
In October 2019, NNN redeemed all outstanding depositary shares (11,500,000) representing interests in its 5.700% Series E preferred stock. The Series E preferred stock was redeemed at $25.00 per depositary share, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends through, but not including, the redemption date, for an aggregate redemption price of $25.079167 per depositary share. The excess carrying amount of preferred stock redeemed over the cash paid to redeem the preferred stock was $9,856,000, representing issuance costs which is reflected as a reduction to earnings attributable to common stockholders.
As of December 31, 2021, NNN had no outstanding shares of preferred stock.
Common Stock. In September 2019, NNN filed a prospectus supplement to the prospectus contained in its February 2018 shelf registration statement and issued 7,000,000 shares of common stock at a price of $56.50 per share and received net proceeds of $379,410,000. In connection with this offering, NNN incurred stock issuance costs totaling approximately $16,090,000, consisting primarily of underwriters' fees and commissions, legal and accounting fees and printing expenses. NNN used the net proceeds from this offering to redeem the Series E preferred stock, repay outstanding debt under the Credit Facility, to fund property acquisitions, and for general corporate purposes.
At-The-Market Offerings. Under NNN's shelf registration statement, NNN has established an ATM which allows NNN to sell shares of common stock from time to time. The following table outlines NNN's active ATM programs for the three years ended December 31, 2021:
2020 ATM
2018 ATM
Established date
August 2020
February 2018
Termination date
August 2023
August 2020
Total allowable shares
17,500,000
12,000,000
Total shares issued as of December 31, 2021
1,599,304
11,272,034
The following table outlines the common stock issuances pursuant to NNN's ATM equity programs for the years ended December 31 (dollars in thousands, except per share data):
Shares of common stock
30,000
3,119,153
2,344,022
Average price per share (net)
$
33.65
$
38.21
$
53.71
Net proceeds
$
1,009
$
119,185
$
125,905
Stock issuance costs(1)
$
$
2,130
$
1,431
(1)Stock issuance costs consist primarily of underwriters' and agent's fees and commissions, and legal and
accounting fees.
Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan. In February 2021, NNN filed a shelf registration statement that was automatically effective with the Commission for its DRIP, which permits NNN to issue up to 6,000,000 shares of common stock. NNN's DRIP provides an economical and convenient way for current stockholders and other interested new investors to invest in NNN's common stock. The following outlines the common stock issuances pursuant to the DRIP for the years ended December 31 (dollars in thousands):
Shares of common stock
62,577
138,507
362,918
Net proceeds
$
2,744
$
5,092
$
19,442

---

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
NNN is exposed to interest rate risk primarily as a result of its variable rate Credit Facility and its fixed rate long-term debt which is used to finance NNN’s Property acquisitions and development activities, as well as for general corporate purposes. NNN’s interest rate risk management objective is to limit the impact of interest rate changes on earnings and cash flows and to lower its overall borrowing costs. To achieve its objectives, NNN borrows at both fixed and variable rates on its long-term debt. As of December 31, 2021, NNN had no outstanding derivatives.
NNN's variable rate Credit Facility:
•as of December 31, 2021, had no weighted average outstanding balance for the year,
•as of December 31, 2020, had a weighted average outstanding balance of $18,895,000 and a weighted average interest rate of 2.6%, and
•had a zero outstanding balance at December 31, 2021 and 2020.
The information in the table below summarizes NNN’s market risks associated with its outstanding debt obligations. The table presents, by year of expected maturity, principal payments and related interest rates for debt obligations outstanding as of December 31, 2021. The table incorporates only those debt obligations that existed as of December 31, 2021, and it does not consider those debt obligations or positions which could arise after this date and therefore has limited predictive value. As a result, NNN’s ultimate realized gain or loss with respect to interest rate fluctuations will depend on the exposures that arise during the period, NNN’s hedging strategies at that time and interest rates. If interest rates on NNN’s variable rate debt increased by one percent, NNN’s interest expense would remain unchanged for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Debt Obligations (dollars in thousands)
Fixed Rate Debt
Mortgages(1)
Unsecured Debt(2)
Principal
Debt
Obligation
Weighted
Average
Interest Rate
Principal
Debt
Obligation
Effective
Interest
Rate
$
5.23
%
$
-
-
9,947
5.23
%
-
-
-
-
350,000
3.92
%
-
-
400,000
4.03
%
-
-
350,000
3.73
%
Thereafter
-
-
2,700,000
3.57
%
(3)
Total
$
10,611
5.23
%
$
3,800,000
3.69
%
Fair Value:
December 31, 2021
$
10,611
$
4,032,757
December 31, 2020
$
11,241
$
3,553,125
(1)NNN's mortgages payable represent principal payments by year and exclude both unamortized premiums and debt costs.
(2)Includes NNN’s notes payable, each exclude unamortized discounts and debt costs. NNN uses market prices quoted from Bloomberg, a third party, which is a Level 1 input, to determine the fair value.
(3)Weighted average effective interest rate for periods after 2026.

---

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of National Retail Properties, Inc.
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited National Retail Properties, Inc. and Subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, National Retail Properties, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes and financial statement schedules listed in the Index at Item15(a) (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”) and our report dated February 9, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Orlando, Florida
February 9, 2022
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of National Retail Properties, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of National Retail Properties, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes and financial statement schedules listed in the Index at Item 15 (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated February 9, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Valuation of Real Estate Acquisitions
Description of the Matter
As discussed in Note 1 of the consolidated financial statements, real estate asset acquisitions require allocation of consideration to the acquired tangible assets, consisting of land, building and tenant improvements and, if applicable, to identified intangible assets and liabilities, based on their respective fair values. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company completed $532 million of real estate acquisitions accounted for as asset acquisitions.
Auditing management’s measurement of fair values and allocation of consideration to the acquired tangible assets was complex and involved subjectivity. In particular, the fair value estimates are sensitive to significant assumptions, such as establishing a range of relevant market assumptions for land, building and rent, and estimating where within that range the acquired property falls. Establishing the market assumptions for land, building and rent include identifying the relevant properties in the established range most comparable to the acquired property. The position within the range is a judgmental assumption that relies upon ranking comparable properties’ attributes from most similar to least similar.
How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit
We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of controls over the Company’s valuation of real estate acquisitions process. For example, we tested controls over the review and selection of inputs and assumptions used in the valuation estimates and the review of the final allocation of value among the tangible assets acquired.
To test the estimated fair values of the Company’s acquired tangible assets, we performed audit procedures that included, among others, reading the purchase agreements, assessing management’s valuation techniques and testing the completeness and accuracy of the underlying data used by the Company in its analysis. For certain acquisitions, we involved our real estate valuation specialists to evaluate management’s concluded ranges of values by benchmarking against comparable properties. We also compared certain of management’s assumptions to current and comparable industry information for land, building, building improvements and market rents.
Impairment of Held and Used Real Estate Assets
Description of the Matter
At December 31, 2021, held and used real estate assets were $7,444 million. As discussed in Notes 1 and 2 of the consolidated financial statements, the Company assesses held and used real estate assets for impairment when certain events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable through operations. When assessing for impairment, the Company first performs a recoverability test by comparing the undiscounted future cash flows of the real estate asset to the net carrying value. If the undiscounted cash flows used in the test for recoverability are less than the carrying amount of the asset, the Company determines the fair value of the real estate asset and recognizes an impairment loss if the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value.
Auditing management’s evaluation of held and used real estate assets for impairment was complex and involved subjectivity due to the significant estimation required to determine the undiscounted future cash flows of held and used assets where impairment indicators were determined to be present and the fair value for those properties in which the net carrying value of the asset exceeds its undiscounted cash flows. In particular, future cash flow estimates were sensitive to the assumptions made by management regarding future market rents, which are affected by expectations about future market and economic conditions.
How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit
We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of controls over the Company’s impairment of held and used real estate assets process. For example, we tested controls over management’s review of the market rent assumption.
To test the Company’s impairment assessment over held and used real estate assets, our audit procedures included, among others, assessing the methodologies used by management, testing the market rent assumption used to develop the estimates of future cash flows, and testing the completeness and accuracy of the underlying data used by the Company in its analysis. We evaluated the historical accuracy of the Company’s estimates by performing a historical look back on market rent assumptions. We involved our real estate valuation specialists to assist in evaluating certain assumptions used by management.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2006.
Orlando, Florida
February 9, 2022
NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES, INC.
and SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
ASSETS
December 31, 2021
December 31, 2020
Real estate portfolio
$
7,444,289
$
7,212,655
Real estate held for sale
5,557
5,671
Cash and cash equivalents
171,322
267,236
Receivables, net of allowance of $782 and $835, respectively
3,154
4,338
Accrued rental income, net of allowance of $4,587 and $6,947, respectively
31,942
53,958
Debt costs, net of accumulated amortization of $19,377 and $17,294, respectively
7,443
1,917
Other assets
87,347
92,069
Total assets
$
7,751,054
$
7,637,844
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities:
Mortgages payable, including unamortized premium and net of unamortized debt costs
$
10,697
$
11,395
Notes payable, net of unamortized discount and unamortized debt costs
3,735,769
3,209,527
Accrued interest payable
23,923
19,401
Other liabilities
79,002
78,217
Total liabilities
3,849,391
3,318,540
Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)
Equity:
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value. Authorized 15,000,000 shares; 5.200% Series F,
138,000 shares issued and outstanding, at December 31, 2020, at stated
liquidation value of $2,500 per share
$
-
$
345,000
Common stock, $0.01 par value. Authorized 375,000,000 shares; 175,635,792 and
175,232,971 shares issued and outstanding, respectively
1,757
1,753
Capital in excess of par value
4,662,714
4,633,771
Accumulated deficit
(747,853
)
(644,779
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
(14,956
)
(16,445
)
Total stockholders’ equity of NNN
3,901,662
4,319,300
Noncontrolling interests
Total equity
3,901,663
4,319,304
Total liabilities and equity
$
7,751,054
$
7,637,844
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES, INC.
and SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Year Ended December 31,
Revenues:
Rental income
$
723,859
$
658,793
$
669,009
Interest and other income from real estate transactions
2,548
1,888
1,478
726,407
660,681
670,487
Operating expenses:
General and administrative
44,640
38,161
37,651
Real estate
28,385
28,362
27,656
Depreciation and amortization
205,220
196,623
188,871
Leasing transaction costs
Impairment losses - real estate, net of recoveries
21,957
37,442
31,992
Executive retirement costs
-
1,766
-
300,405
302,430
286,431
Gain on disposition of real estate
23,094
16,238
32,463
Earnings from operations
449,096
374,489
416,519
Other expenses (revenues):
Interest and other income
(216
)
(417
)
(3,112
)
Interest expense
137,874
129,431
120,023
Loss on early extinguishment of debt
21,328
16,679
-
158,986
145,693
116,911
Net earnings
290,110
228,796
299,608
Loss (earnings) attributable to noncontrolling interests
(428
)
Net earnings attributable to NNN
$
290,113
$
228,799
$
299,180
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES, INC.
and SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - CONTINUED
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Year Ended December 31,
Net earnings attributable to NNN
$
290,113
$
228,799
$
299,180
Series E preferred stock dividends
-
-
(13,201
)
Series F preferred stock dividends
(14,999
)
(17,940
)
(17,940
)
Excess of redemption value over carrying value of preferred shares redeemed
(10,897
)
-
(9,856
)
Net earnings attributable to common stockholders
$
264,217
$
210,859
$
258,183
Net earnings per share of common stock:
Basic
$
1.51
$
1.22
$
1.56
Diluted
$
1.51
$
1.22
$
1.56
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic
174,710,921
172,109,713
164,688,498
Diluted
174,818,899
172,217,077
165,083,679
Other comprehensive income:
Net earnings attributable to NNN
$
290,113
$
228,799
$
299,180
Amortization of interest rate hedges
3,073
2,300
1,307
Fair value of forward starting swaps
(1,584
)
(7,617
)
(5,524
)
Valuation adjustments - available-for-sale securities
-
-
Realized gain - available-for-sale securities
-
-
(1,331
)
Comprehensive income attributable to NNN
291,602
223,482
293,748
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests
(3
)
(3
)
Total comprehensive income
$
291,599
$
223,479
$
294,176
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES, INC.
and SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - CONTINUED
Years Ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Series E
Preferred
Stock
Series F
Preferred
Stock
Common
Stock
Capital in
Excess of
Par Value
Accumulated Deficit
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Total
Stockholders’
Equity of NNN
Noncontrolling
Interests
Total
Equity
Balances at December 31, 2018
$
287,500
$
345,000
$
1,616
$
3,950,055
$
(424,225
)
$
(5,696
)
$
4,154,250
$
$
4,154,605
Net earnings
-
-
-
-
299,180
-
299,180
299,608
Dividends declared and paid:
$1.147917 per depositary share of
Series E preferred stock
-
-
-
-
(13,201
)
-
(13,201
)
-
(13,201
)
$1.3000 per depositary share of
Series F preferred stock
-
-
-
-
(17,940
)
-
(17,940
)
-
(17,940
)
$2.0300 per share of common stock
-
-
19,069
(333,692
)
-
(314,619
)
-
(314,619
)
Redemption of 11,500,000 depositary
shares of Series E preferred stock
(287,500
)
-
-
9,856
(9,856
)
-
(287,500
)
-
(287,500
)
Issuance of common stock:
28,287 shares - director compensation
-
-
-
1,294
-
-
1,294
-
1,294
6,986 shares - stock purchase plan
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,344,022 shares - ATM equity
program
-
-
127,313
-
-
127,337
-
127,337
7,000,000 shares - equity offering
-
-
395,430
-
-
395,500
-
395,500
359,650 restricted shares - net of
forfeitures
-
-
(4
)
-
-
-
-
-
Stock issuance costs
-
-
-
(17,521
)
-
-
(17,521
)
-
(17,521
)
Amortization of deferred compensation
-
-
-
9,452
-
-
9,452
-
9,452
Amortization of interest rate hedges
-
-
-
-
-
1,307
1,307
-
1,307
Fair value of forward starting swaps
-
-
-
-
-
(5,524
)
(5,524
)
-
(5,524
)
Valuation adjustments - available-for-
sale securities
-
-
-
-
-
-
Realized gain - available-for-sale
securities
-
-
-
-
-
(1,331
)
(1,331
)
-
(1,331
)
Other
-
-
-
-
-
Distributions to noncontrolling
interests
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(776
)
(776
)
Balances at December 31, 2019
$
-
$
345,000
$
1,718
$
4,495,314
$
(499,229
)
$
(11,128
)
$
4,331,675
$
$
4,331,682
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES, INC.
and SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - CONTINUED
Years Ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Series F
Preferred
Stock
Common
Stock
Capital in
Excess of
Par Value
Accumulated Deficit
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Total
Stockholders’
Equity of NNN
Noncontrolling
Interests
Total
Equity
Balances at December 31, 2019
$
345,000
$
1,718
$
4,495,314
$
(499,229
)
$
(11,128
)
$
4,331,675
$
$
4,331,682
Net earnings
-
-
-
228,799
-
228,799
(3
)
228,796
Dividends declared and paid:
$1.3000 per depositary share of
Series F preferred stock
-
-
-
(17,940
)
-
(17,940
)
-
(17,940
)
$2.0700 per share of common stock
-
4,864
(356,409
)
-
(351,544
)
-
(351,544
)
Issuance of common stock:
35,351 shares - director compensation
-
-
1,132
-
-
1,132
-
1,132
8,079 shares - stock purchase plan
-
-
-
-
-
3,119,153 shares - ATM equity
program
-
121,284
-
-
121,315
-
121,315
263,406 restricted shares - net of
forfeitures
-
(3
)
-
-
-
-
-
Stock issuance costs
-
-
(2,212
)
-
-
(2,212
)
-
(2,212
)
Amortization of deferred compensation
-
-
13,084
-
-
13,084
-
13,084
Amortization of interest rate hedges
-
-
-
-
2,300
2,300
-
2,300
Fair value of forward starting swaps
-
-
-
-
(7,617
)
(7,617
)
-
(7,617
)
Balances at December 31, 2020
$
345,000
$
1,753
$
4,633,771
$
(644,779
)
$
(16,445
)
$
4,319,300
$
$
4,319,304
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES, INC.
and SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - CONTINUED
Years Ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Series F
Preferred
Stock
Common
Stock
Capital in
Excess of
Par Value
Accumulated Deficit
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Total
Stockholders’
Equity of NNN
Noncontrolling
Interests
Total
Equity
Balances at December 31, 2020
$
345,000
$
1,753
$
4,633,771
$
(644,779
)
$
(16,445
)
$
4,319,300
$
$
4,319,304
Net earnings
-
-
-
290,113
-
290,113
(3
)
290,110
Dividends declared and paid:
$1.086944 per depositary share of
Series F preferred stock
-
-
-
(14,999
)
-
(14,999
)
-
(14,999
)
$2.1000 per share of common stock
-
-
2,499
(367,291
)
-
(364,792
)
-
(364,792
)
Redemption of 13,800,000 depository
shares of Series F Preferred Stock
(345,000
)
-
10,897
(10,897
)
-
(345,000
)
-
(345,000
)
Issuance of common stock:
30,539 shares - director compensation
-
-
1,145
-
-
1,145
-
1,145
7,062 shares - stock purchase plan
-
-
-
-
-
30,000 shares - ATM equity program
-
1,233
-
-
1,234
-
1,234
287,207 restricted shares - net of
forfeitures
-
(3
)
-
-
-
-
-
Stock issuance costs
-
-
(299
)
-
-
(299
)
-
(299
)
Amortization of deferred compensation
-
-
13,151
-
-
13,151
-
13,151
Amortization of interest rate hedges
-
-
-
-
3,073
3,073
-
3,073
Fair value of forward starting swaps
-
-
-
-
(1,584
)
(1,584
)
-
(1,584
)
Balances at December 31, 2021
$
-
$
1,757
$
4,662,714
$
(747,853
)
$
(14,956
)
$
3,901,662
$
$
3,901,663
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES, INC.
and SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(dollars in thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings
$
290,110
$
228,796
$
299,608
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
205,220
196,623
188,871
Impairment losses - real estate, net of recoveries
21,957
37,442
31,992
Loss on early extinguishment of debt
21,328
16,679
-
Amortization of notes payable discount
2,130
3,036
1,739
Amortization of debt costs
5,186
5,009
3,731
Amortization of mortgages payable premium
(85
)
(85
)
(86
)
Amortization of interest rate hedges
3,073
2,300
1,307
Settlement of forward starting swaps
(1,584
)
(13,141
)
-
Gain on disposition of real estate
(23,094
)
(16,238
)
(32,463
)
Performance incentive plan expense
14,491
14,479
11,547
Performance incentive plan payment
(721
)
(846
)
(775
)
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of assets acquired
and liabilities assumed:
Decrease (increase) in receivables
1,184
(1,464
)
Decrease (increase) in accrued rental income
21,137
(26,027
)
(2,333
)
Decrease (increase) in other assets
1,589
(96
)
Increase (decrease) in accrued interest payable
4,522
1,151
(1,269
)
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities
2,279
1,986
(1,379
)
Other
(297
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
568,425
450,194
501,727
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from the disposition of real estate
123,052
53,254
123,997
Additions to real estate accounted for using the operating method
(553,322
)
(195,944
)
(747,521
)
Principal payments received on mortgages and notes receivable
3,100
Other
(2,393
)
(500
)
1,016
Net cash used in investing activities
(432,177
)
(142,816
)
(619,408
)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES, INC.
and SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - CONTINUED
(dollars in thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from line of credit payable
$
-
$
311,000
$
829,200
Repayment of line of credit payable
-
(444,600
)
(695,600
)
Repayment of mortgages payable
(630
)
(596
)
(567
)
Proceeds from notes payable
881,172
692,646
-
Repayment of notes payable
(350,000
)
(325,000
)
-
Payment for early extinguishment of debt
(21,328
)
(16,679
)
-
Payment of debt issuance costs
(17,814
)
(7,941
)
(157
)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
4,053
126,488
542,280
Stock issuance costs
(325
)
(2,223
)
(17,521
)
Redemption of Series E preferred stock
-
-
(287,500
)
Redemption of Series F preferred stock
(345,000
)
-
-
Payment of Series E preferred stock dividends
-
-
(13,201
)
Payment of Series F preferred stock dividends
(14,999
)
(17,940
)
(17,940
)
Payment of common stock dividends
(367,291
)
(356,409
)
(333,692
)
Noncontrolling interest distributions
-
-
(776
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
(232,162
)
(41,254
)
4,526
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
(95,914
)
266,124
(113,155
)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year(1)
267,236
1,112
114,267
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year(1)
$
171,322
$
267,236
$
1,112
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized
$
123,376
$
119,408
$
115,700
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in other comprehensive income
$
1,489
$
(5,317
)
$
(5,432
)
Right-of-use assets recorded in connection with lease liabilities
$
-
$
-
$
8,224
Work in progress accrual balance
$
7,695
$
5,602
$
21,579
Mortgage receivable issued in connection with a real estate disposition
$
-
$
3,000
$
3,100
Change in lease classification (direct financing lease to operating lease)
$
-
$
-
$
1,246
(1)Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash is the aggregate of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash held in escrow from the Consolidated Balance Sheets. NNN did not have restricted cash, including cash held in escrow as of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES, INC.
and SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019
Note 1 - Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:
Organization and Nature of Business - National Retail Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation, is a fully integrated real estate investment trust ("REIT") formed in 1984. The term "NNN" or the "Company" refers to National Retail Properties, Inc. and all of its consolidated subsidiaries. NNN may elect to treat certain subsidiaries as taxable REIT subsidiaries, ("TRS").
NNN's assets primarily include real estate assets. NNN acquires, owns, invests in and develops properties that are leased primarily to retail tenants under long-term net leases and are primarily held for investment ("Properties" or "Property Portfolio," or individually a "Property").
December 31, 2021
Property Portfolio:
Total properties
3,223
Gross leasable area (square feet)
32,753,000
States
Weighted average remaining lease term (years)
10.6
NNN's operations are reported within one operating segment in the consolidated financial statements and all properties are considered part of the Properties or Property Portfolio. As such, property counts and calculations involving property counts reflect all NNN properties.
COVID-19 Pandemic - During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, NNN and its tenants were impacted by the novel strain of coronavirus and its variants ("COVID-19") pandemic which has resulted in the loss of revenue for certain tenants and challenged their ability to pay rent. NNN has entered into rent deferral lease amendments with certain tenants (See Note 2).
Principles of Consolidation - NNN’s consolidated financial statements include the accounts of each of the respective majority owned and controlled affiliates, including transactions whereby NNN has been determined to be the primary beneficiary in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") guidance included in Consolidation. All significant intercompany account balances and transactions have been eliminated.
NNN consolidates certain joint venture development entities based upon either NNN being the primary beneficiary of the respective variable interest entity or NNN having a controlling interest over the respective entity. NNN records a noncontrolling interest for its non-NNN ownership of consolidated entities.
Real Estate Portfolio - NNN records the acquisition of real estate at cost, including acquisition and closing costs. The cost of Properties developed or funded by NNN includes direct and indirect costs of construction, property taxes, interest and other miscellaneous costs incurred during the development period until the project is substantially complete and available for occupancy. For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, NNN recorded $328,000, $1,388,000 and $1,099,000, respectively, in capitalized interest during development.
Purchase Accounting for Acquisition of Real Estate - In accordance with the FASB guidance on business combinations, consideration for the real estate acquired is allocated to the acquired tangible assets, consisting of land, building and tenant improvements and, if applicable, to identified intangible assets and liabilities, consisting of the value of above-market and below-market leases and the value of in-place leases, as applicable, based on their respective fair values.
The fair value estimate is sensitive to significant assumptions, such as establishing a range of relevant market assumptions for land, building and rent and where the acquired property falls within that range. These market assumptions for land, building
and rent use the most relevant comparable properties for an acquisition. The final range relies upon ranking comparable properties' attributes from most to least similar.
The fair value of the tangible assets of an acquired property is determined by valuing the property as if it were vacant, and the "as-if-vacant" value is then allocated to land, building and tenant improvements based on the determination of their fair values.
In allocating the fair value of the identified intangible assets and liabilities of an acquired property, above-market and below-market in-place lease values are recorded as other assets or liabilities based on the present value (using an interest rate which reflects the risks associated with the leases acquired) of the difference between (i) the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to the in-place leases, and (ii) management’s estimate of fair market lease rates for the corresponding in-place leases, measured over a period equal to the remaining term of the lease and the renewal option terms if it is probable that the tenant will exercise options. The capitalized above-market lease values are amortized as a reduction of rental income over the remaining terms of the respective leases. The capitalized below-market lease values are amortized as an increase to rental income over the initial term unless the Company believes that it is likely that the tenant will renew the lease for an option term whereby the Company amortizes the value attributable to the renewal over the renewal period.
The aggregate value of other acquired intangible assets, consisting of in-place leases, is measured by the excess of (i) the purchase price paid for a property after adjusting existing in-place leases to market rental rates over (ii) the estimated fair value of the property as-if-vacant, determined as set forth above. The value of in-place leases exclusive of the value of above-market and below-market in-place leases is amortized to expense over the remaining non-cancelable periods of the respective leases. If a lease were to be terminated prior to its stated expiration, all unamortized amounts relating to that lease would be written off in that period. The value of tenant relationships is reviewed on individual transactions to determine if future value was derived from the acquisition.
NNN completed $531,726,000 and $137,667,000 of real estate acquisitions during the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Additionally, NNN invested $23,689,000 and $42,300,000 of work in progress - improvements during the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Lease Accounting - NNN records its leases on the Property Portfolio in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)," ("ASC 842").
NNN's real estate is generally leased to tenants on a net lease basis, whereby the tenant is responsible for all operating expenses relating to the Property, including property taxes, insurance, maintenance, repairs and capital expenditures. The leases are accounted for using either the operating or the direct financing method. Such methods are described below:
Operating method - Properties with leases accounted for using the operating method are recorded at the cost of the real estate and depreciated on the straight-line method over their estimated remaining useful lives, which generally range from 20 to 40 years for buildings and improvements and 15 years for land improvements. Leasehold interests are amortized on the straight-line method over the terms of their respective leases. Revenue is recognized as rentals are earned and expenses (including depreciation) are charged to operations as incurred. When scheduled rentals vary during the lease term, income is recognized on a straight-line basis so as to produce a constant periodic rent over the term of the lease. Accrued rental income is the aggregate difference between the scheduled rents which vary during the lease term and the income recognized on a straight-line basis.
Direct financing method - Properties with leases accounted for using the direct financing method are recorded at their net investment (which at the inception of the lease generally represents the cost of the Property). Unearned income is deferred and amortized into income over the lease terms so as to produce a constant periodic rate of return on NNN’s net investment in the leases.
In July 2021, the FASB issued an update to ASC 842, ASU 2021-05, which affects lessors with lease contracts that (i) have variable lease payments that do not depend on a reference index or a rate and (ii) would have resulted in the recognition of a selling loss at lease commencement if classified as sales-type or direct financing. NNN has reviewed all existing leases and determined this update has not effect on the current portfolio, but will apply ASU 2021-05 prospectively to leases that commence or are modified in the future.
In April 2020, the FASB issued interpretive guidance relating to the accounting for lease concessions provided as a result of COVID-19. In this guidance, entities can elect not to apply lease modification accounting with respect to such lease concessions and instead, treat the concession as if it was a part of the existing contract. This guidance is only applicable to COVID-19 related lease concessions that do not result in a substantial increase in the rights of the lessor or the obligations of the lessee. NNN elected to make this policy election for COVID-19 lease concessions, including the rent deferral lease amendments effective during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Collectability - In accordance with ASC 842, NNN reviews the collectability of its lease payments on an ongoing basis. NNN considers collectability indicators when analyzing accounts receivable (and accrued rent) and historical bad debt levels, tenant credit-worthiness and current economic trends, all of which assists in evaluating the probability of outstanding and future lease payment collections. In addition, tenants in bankruptcy are analyzed and considerations are made in connection with the expected recovery of pre-petition and post-petition bankruptcy claims.
At the point NNN deems the collection of lease payments not probable, previously recognized and uncollected rental revenue and any related accrued rent are reversed as a reduction to rental income and, subsequently, any lease revenue is only recognized when cash receipts are received. As a result of the review of lease payments collectability, NNN recorded a write-off of $21,792,000 of outstanding receivables and related accrued rent during the year ended December 31, 2020, and reclassified certain tenants as cash basis for accounting purposes. During the year ended December 31, 2021, no outstanding receivables and related accrued rent were written off and no tenants were reclassified as cash basis for accounting purposes.
NNN includes an allowance for doubtful accounts in rental income on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.
As of December 31, 2021, approximately six percent of total Properties, and approximately seven percent of aggregate gross leasable area held in the Property Portfolio, were leased to 11 tenants that NNN has determined to recognize revenue on a cash basis. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, NNN recognized $52,129,000 and $4,722,000, respectively, of rental income from certain tenants for periods following their classification to cash basis for accounting. NNN had no tenants classified as cash basis for accounting purposes for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Right-Of-Use ("ROU") Assets and Operating Lease Liabilities - In accordance with ASC 842, NNN recorded ROU assets and operating lease liabilities as lessee under operating lease.
NNN is a lessee for three ground lease arrangements and for its headquarters office lease. NNN recognized a ROU asset (recorded in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets) and an operating lease liability (recorded in other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets) for the present value of the minimum lease payments. ROU assets represent NNN’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent NNN’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the estimated present value of the lease payments over the lease term. NNN’s lease term is based on the non-cancellable base term unless economic incentives make it reasonably certain that an option period to extend the lease will be exercised, in which event NNN includes the options.
NNN estimates an incremental borrowing rate, which is derived from information available at the lease commencement date, in determining the present value of the lease payments. NNN gives consideration to the Company's debt issuances, as well as, publicly available data for secured instruments with similar characteristics when calculating its incremental borrowing rates. On an annual basis, NNN will evaluate its lessee portfolio and determine if its incremental borrowing rate should be reassessed.
NNN's lease agreements do not contain any residual value guarantees.
Real Estate - Held For Sale - Real estate held for sale is not depreciated and is recorded at the lower of cost or fair value, less cost to sell.
Real Estate Dispositions - When real estate is disposed, the related cost, accumulated depreciation or amortization and any accrued rental income for operating leases and the net investment for direct financing leases are removed from the accounts,
and gains and losses from the dispositions are reflected in income. Gains from the disposition of real estate are generally recognized using the full accrual method in accordance with the FASB guidance included in Real Estate Sales, provided that various criteria relating to the terms of the sale and any subsequent involvement by NNN with the real estate sold are met.
Impairment - Real Estate - NNN periodically assesses its long-lived real estate assets for possible impairment whenever certain events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. These indicators include, but are not limited to, changes in real estate market condition, the ability of NNN to re-lease properties that are currently vacant or become vacant, properties reclassified as held for sale, persistent vacancies greater than one year, and properties leased to tenants in bankruptcy. Management evaluates whether an impairment in carrying value has occurred by comparing the estimated future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges), and the residual value of the real estate, with the carrying value of the individual asset. The future undiscounted cash flows are primarily driven by estimated future market rents. Future cash flow estimates are sensitive to the assumptions made by management regarding future market rents, which are affected by expectations about future market and economic conditions. If an impairment is indicated, a loss will be recorded for the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its estimated fair value. NNN's Properties are leased primarily to retail tenants under long-term net leases and primarily held for investment. Generally, NNN’s Property leases provide for initial terms of 10 to 20 years, which provide for cash flows over this term. NNN generally intends to hold these assets for the long-term, therefore, a temporary change in cash flows due to COVID-19 alone was determined not be an indicator of impairment.
Credit Losses on Financial Instruments - Effective January 1, 2020, NNN adopted FASB ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326),” (“ASC 326”). The amendments in this update replace the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates.
ASU 326 requires entities to estimate an expected lifetime credit loss on financial assets ranging from short-term trade accounts receivable to long-term financings. The new guidance requires a lifetime credit loss expected at inception and requires pooling of assets, which share similar risk characteristics. NNN is required to evaluate current economic conditions, as well as, make future expectations of economic conditions. In addition, the measurement of the expected credit loss is over the asset’s contractual term.
NNN had mortgages receivable of $2,023,000 and $2,482,000 included in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, net of $129,000 and $158,000 allowance for credit loss, respectively. NNN measures the allowance for credit loss based on the fair value of the collateral and the historical collectability trend analysis over 15 years.
Adoption of ASC 326 did not materially impact NNN’s financial position or results of operations and had no impact on cash flows.
Cash and Cash Equivalents - NNN considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and money market accounts. Cash equivalents are stated at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value.
Cash accounts maintained on behalf of NNN in demand deposits at commercial banks and money market funds may exceed federally insured levels or may be held in accounts without any federal insurance or any other insurance or guarantee. However, NNN has not experienced any losses in such accounts.
Restricted Cash and Cash Held in Escrow - Restricted cash and cash held in escrow include (i) cash proceeds from the sale of assets held by qualified intermediaries in anticipation of the acquisition of replacement properties in tax-free exchanges under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), (ii) cash that has been placed in escrow for the future funding of construction commitments, or (iii) cash that is not immediately available to NNN.
Valuation of Trade Receivables - NNN estimates the collectability of its accounts receivable related to rents, expense reimbursements and other revenues. NNN analyzes accounts receivable and historical bad debt levels, tenant credit-worthiness and current economic trends when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts. In addition, tenants in bankruptcy are analyzed and estimates are made in connection with the expected recovery of pre-petition and post-petition claims.
Debt Costs - Line of Credit Payable - Debt costs incurred in connection with NNN’s $1,100,000,000 unsecured revolving line of credit have been deferred and are being amortized to interest expense over the term of the loan commitment using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method. NNN has recorded debt costs associated with the credit facility as an asset, in debt costs on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Debt Costs - Mortgages Payable - Debt costs incurred in connection with NNN’s mortgages have been deferred and are being amortized over the term of the respective loan commitment using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method. These costs of $147,000 at December 31, 2021 and 2020, are included in mortgages payable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets net of accumulated amortization of $125,000 and $108,000, respectively.
Debt Costs - Notes Payable - Debt costs incurred in connection with the issuance of NNN’s unsecured notes have been deferred and are being amortized to interest expense over the term of the respective debt obligation using the effective interest method. These costs of $38,145,000 and $31,140,000 at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively are included in notes payable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets net of accumulated amortization of $9,262,000 and $9,317,000, respectively.
Revenue Recognition - Rental revenues for properties under construction commence upon completion of construction of the leased asset and delivery of the leased asset to the tenant. Rental revenues for non-development real estate assets are recognized when earned in accordance with ASC 842, based on the terms of the lease of the leased asset. Lease termination fees are recognized when collected subsequent to the related lease that is cancelled and NNN no longer has continuing involvement with the former tenant with respect to that property.
The core principle of ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Certain contracts are excluded from ASU 2014-09, including lease contracts within the scope of ASC 842. NNN determined the key revenue stream impacted by ASU 2014-09 is gain on disposition of real estate reported on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. In accordance with ASU 2014-09, NNN evaluates any separate contracts or performance obligations to determine proper timing and/or amount of revenue recognition, as well as, transaction price allocation.
Earnings Per Share - Earnings per share have been computed pursuant to the FASB guidance included in Earnings Per Share. The guidance requires classification of the Company’s unvested restricted share units which contain rights to receive nonforfeitable dividends, as participating securities requiring the two-class method of computing earnings per share. Under the two-class method, earnings per common share are computed by dividing the sum of distributed earnings to common stockholders and undistributed earnings allocated to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. In applying the two-class method, undistributed earnings are allocated to both common shares and participating securities based on the weighted average shares outstanding during the period. The following table is a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share using the two-class method for the years ended December 31 (dollars in thousands):
Basic and Diluted Earnings:
Net earnings attributable to NNN
$
290,113
$
228,799
$
299,180
Less: Series E preferred stock dividends
-
-
(13,201
)
Less: Series F preferred stock dividends
(14,999
)
(17,940
)
(17,940
)
Less: Excess of redemption value over carrying value
of preferred shares redeemed
(10,897
)
-
(9,856
)
Net earnings available to common stockholders
264,217
210,859
258,183
Less: Earnings allocated to unvested restricted shares
(689
)
(698
)
(601
)
Net earnings used in basic and diluted earnings per share
$
263,528
$
210,161
$
257,582
Basic and Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:
Weighted average number of shares outstanding
175,554,961
172,994,337
165,499,707
Less: Unvested restricted shares
(328,070
)
(337,078
)
(295,773
)
Less: Unvested contingent restricted shares
(515,970
)
(547,546
)
(515,436
)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding used in basic
earnings per share
174,710,921
172,109,713
164,688,498
Other dilutive securities
107,978
107,364
395,181
Weighted average number of shares outstanding used in diluted
earnings per share
174,818,899
172,217,077
165,083,679
Income Taxes - NNN has made an election to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code, and related regulations. NNN generally will not be subject to federal income taxes on amounts distributed to stockholders, providing it distributes 100 percent of its REIT taxable income and meets certain other requirements for qualifying as a REIT. For each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, NNN believes it has qualified as a REIT. Notwithstanding NNN’s qualification for taxation as a REIT, NNN is subject to certain state and local income, franchise and excise taxes.
NNN may elect to treat certain subsidiaries as TRS pursuant to the provisions of the REIT Modernization Act. A TRS is able to engage in activities resulting in income that previously would have been disqualified from being eligible REIT income under the federal income tax regulations. As a result, certain activities of NNN which occur within its TRS entities are subject to federal and state income taxes. All provisions for federal income taxes in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are attributable to NNN’s former TRS. The deferred tax asset consists only of net operating loss carryforwards of $3,899,000 from the former TRS that begin to expire in 2028. Management believes it is unlikely that NNN will realize any of the benefits of these deductible differences and has taken a valuation allowance against them. The current year increase to the valuation allowance was $7,000. NNN currently has no TRS entities.
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method as required by the FASB guidance included in Income Taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the temporary differences based on estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the applicable period.
NNN, in accordance with FASB guidance included in Income Taxes, has analyzed its various federal and state filing positions. NNN believes that its income tax filing positions and deductions are well documented and supported. Additionally, NNN believes that its accruals for tax liabilities are adequate. Therefore, no reserves for uncertain income tax positions have been recorded pursuant to the FASB guidance.
NNN has had no unrecognized tax benefits during any of the years presented. Further, no interest or penalties have been included since no reserves were recorded and no significant increases or decreases are expected to occur within the next 12 months. When applicable, such interest and penalties will be recorded in non-operating expenses. The periods that remain open under federal statute are 2018 through 2021. NNN also files in many states and localities with varying open years under statute.
Fair Value Measurement - NNN’s estimates of fair value of financial and non-financial assets and liabilities are based on the framework established in the fair value accounting guidance. The framework specifies a hierarchy of valuation inputs which was established to increase consistency, clarity and comparability in fair value measurements and related disclosures. The guidance describes a fair value hierarchy based upon three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value, two of which are considered observable and one that is considered unobservable. The following describes the three levels:
•Level 1 - Valuation is based upon quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
•Level 2 - Valuation is based upon inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
•Level 3 - Valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use at least one significant assumption not observable in the market. These unobservable assumptions reflect estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques include option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - The following table outlines the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (dollars in thousands):
Gain or Loss on
Cash Flow
Hedges(1)
Beginning balance, December 31, 2019
$
(11,128
)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
(7,617
)
Reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive income to net earnings
2,300
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)
(5,317
)
Ending balance, December 31, 2020
(16,445
)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
(1,584
)
Reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive income to net earnings
3,073
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)
1,489
Ending balance, December 31, 2021
$
(14,956
)
(1)Additional disclosure is included in Note 10 - Derivatives.
(2)Reclassifications out of other comprehensive income (loss) are recorded in interest expense on the Consolidated
Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. There is no income tax expense (benefit) resulting from this reclassification.
New Accounting Pronouncements - In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes,” ("ASU 2019-12"), effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. The amendments simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740. The amendments also improve consistent application of and simplify GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. The adoption of ASU 2019-12 did not have a significant impact on NNN's financial position or results of operations.
ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) (“ASU 2020-04”) contains practical expedients for reference rate reform-related activities, including the transition away from the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), that impact debt, leases, derivatives and other contracts. The guidance in ASU 2020-04 is optional and may be elected over time as reference rate reform activities occur. As of December 31, 2021, NNN previously elected to apply the hedge accounting expedients related to probability and the assessments of effectiveness for future LIBOR-indexed cash flows to assume that the index upon which future hedged transactions will be based matches the index on the corresponding derivatives. Application of these expedients preserves the presentation of derivatives consistent with past presentation. NNN continues to evaluate the impact of the guidance and may apply other elections as applicable as additional changes in the market occur.
NNN had no derivative financial instruments outstanding as of December 31, 2021.
Use of Estimates - Additional critical accounting policies of NNN include management’s estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities are required to prepare the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Significant accounting policies include management’s estimates of the useful lives used in calculating depreciation expense relating to real estate asset purchase accounting for acquisition of real estate subject to a lease, the recoverability of the carrying value of long-lived assets and management's evaluation of the probability of outstanding and future lease payment collections. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Reclassification - Certain items in the prior year's consolidated financial statements and notes to consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2021 presentation.
Note 2 - Real Estate:
Real Estate - Portfolio
Leases - At December 31, 2021, NNN's real estate portfolio has a weighted average remaining lease term of 10.6 years and consisted of 3,229 leases classified as operating leases and an additional six leases accounted for as direct financing leases.
The following is a summary of the general structure of the leases in the Property Portfolio, although the specific terms of each lease can vary significantly. Generally, the Property leases provide for initial terms of 10 to 20 years. The Properties are generally leased under net leases, pursuant to which the tenant typically bears responsibility for substantially all property costs and expenses associated with ongoing maintenance, repair, replacement and operation of the property, including utilities, property taxes and property and liability insurance. Certain Properties are subject to leases under which NNN retains responsibility for specific costs and expenses of the Property. NNN's leases provide for annual base rental payments (generally payable in monthly installments), and generally provide for limited increases in rent as a result of (i) increases in the Consumer Price Index ("CPI"), (ii) fixed increases, or, to a lesser extent, (iii) increases in the tenant’s sales volume.
Generally, NNN's leases provide the tenant with one or more multi-year renewal options, subject to generally the same terms and conditions provided under the initial lease term, including rent increases. NNN’s lease term is based on the non-cancellable base term unless economic incentives make it reasonably certain that an option period to extend the lease will be exercised, in which event NNN includes the renewal options. Some of the leases also provide that in the event NNN wishes to sell the Property subject to that lease, NNN first must offer the lessee the right to purchase the Property on the same terms and conditions as any offer which NNN intends to accept for the sale of the Property.
As of December 31, 2021, NNN has entered into rent deferral lease amendments with certain tenants, for an aggregate $4,758,000 and $52,019,000 of rent originally due for the years ending December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The rent deferral lease amendments require the deferred rents to be repaid at a later time during the lease term. Approximately $31,776,000 and $3,259,000 of the deferred rent was repaid in 2021 and 2020, respectively. Deferred rents of $14,526,000 are due to be repaid during the year ending December 31, 2022, with the remaining deferred rent coming due periodically by December 31, 2025.
Historical rent collections and rent relief requests may not be indicative of collections and requests in the future. Depending on macroeconomic conditions and their impact on tenant's business and operations, deferred rents may be difficult to collect.
Real Estate Portfolio - NNN's real estate consisted of the following at December 31 (dollars in thousands):
Land and improvements (1)
$
2,527,483
$
2,489,243
Buildings and improvements
6,375,583
6,009,797
Leasehold interests
8,903,421
8,499,395
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
(1,470,062
)
(1,317,407
)
7,433,359
7,181,988
Work in progress - improvements
7,277
26,673
Accounted for using the operating method
7,440,636
7,208,661
Accounted for using the direct financing method
3,653
3,994
$
7,444,289
$
7,212,655
(1)Includes $8,979 and $8,421 in land for Properties under construction as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
NNN recognized the following revenues in rental income for the years ended December 31 (dollars in thousands):
Rental income from operating leases
$
703,865
$
639,265
$
650,112
Earned income from direct financing leases
Percentage rent
1,310
Real estate expense reimbursement from tenants
18,665
18,039
16,789
$
723,859
$
658,793
$
669,009
Some leases provide for a free rent period or scheduled rent increases throughout the lease term. Such amounts are recognized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the leases.
For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, NNN recognized ($21,588,000), $25,449,000 and $1,872,000, respectively, of accrued rental income, net of reserves. Included in accrued rental income is the impact of the rent deferral lease amendments NNN entered into as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, NNN recorded ($24,945,000) and $30,473,000, respectively, of net accrued rental income related to such amendments.
Additionally, as a result of reclassifying certain tenants as cash basis for accounting purposes during the year ended December 31, 2020, NNN wrote-off approximately $16,367,000 of accrued rental income for the year ended December 31, 2020.
At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the balance of accrued rental income was $31,942,000 and $53,958,000, respectively, net of allowance of $4,587,000 and $6,947,000, respectively.
The following is a schedule of undiscounted cash flows to be received on noncancellable operating leases as of December 31, 2021 (dollars in thousands):
$
654,927
632,473
613,371
586,751
543,893
Thereafter
3,895,027
$
6,926,442
Since lease renewal periods are exercisable at the option of the tenant, the above table only presents undiscounted cash flows due during the current lease terms. In addition, this table does not include amounts for potential variable rent increases that are
based on the CPI or future contingent rents which may be received on the leases based on a percentage of the tenant’s sales volume.
Real Estate - Intangibles
In accordance with purchase accounting for the acquisition of real estate subject to a lease, NNN has recorded intangible assets and lease liabilities that consisted of the following at December 31 (dollars in thousands):
Intangible lease assets (included in other assets):
Above-market in-place leases
$
15,335
$
15,474
Less: accumulated amortization
(10,821
)
(10,271
)
Above-market in-place leases, net
$
4,514
$
5,203
In-place leases
$
122,069
$
118,416
Less: accumulated amortization
(73,345
)
(68,695
)
In-place leases, net
$
48,724
$
49,721
Intangible lease liabilities (included in other liabilities):
Below-market in-place leases
$
41,705
$
41,101
Less: accumulated amortization
(27,447
)
(26,486
)
Below-market in-place leases, net
$
14,258
$
14,615
The amounts amortized as a net increase to rental income for capitalized above-market and below-market leases for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 were $710,000, $887,000 and $768,000, respectively. The value of in-place leases amortized to expense for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 was $7,687,000, $8,304,000 and $7,900,000, respectively.
The following is a schedule of the amortization of acquired above-market and below-market in-place lease intangibles and the amortization of the in-place lease intangibles as of December 31, 2021 (dollars in thousands):
Above-Market
and Below-
Market
In-Place
Lease
Intangibles(1)
In-Place Lease
Intangibles(2)
$
$
7,021
6,547
5,859
5,140
4,553
Thereafter
7,476
19,604
$
9,744
$
48,724
Weighted average amortization period (years)
17.7
9.7
(1)Recorded as a net increase to rental income over the life of the lease.
(2)Amortized as an increase to amortization expense.
Real Estate - Held For Sale
On a quarterly basis, the Company evaluates its Properties for held for sale classification based on specific criteria as outlined in ASC 360, Property, Plant & Equipment, including management’s intent to commit to a plan to sell the asset. NNN anticipates the disposition of Properties classified as held for sale to occur within 12 months. As of December 31, 2021, NNN had two of its Properties categorized as held for sale. NNN's real estate held for sale at December 31, 2020, included five properties, all of which were sold in 2021. Real estate held for sale consisted of the following as of December 31 (dollars in thousands):
Land and improvements
$
6,440
$
3,841
Building and improvements
4,313
4,971
10,753
8,812
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
(1,331
)
(2,536
)
Less impairment
(3,865
)
(605
)
$
5,557
$
5,671
Real Estate - Dispositions
The following table summarizes the Properties sold and the corresponding gain recognized on the disposition of Properties for the years ended December 31 (dollars in thousands):
# of Sold
Properties
Gain
# of Sold
Properties
Gain
# of Sold
Properties
Gain
Gain on disposition of real estate
$
23,094
$
16,238
$
32,463
Real Estate - Commitments
As of December 31, 2021, NNN has committed to fund construction of 13 Properties. The improvements of such Properties are estimated to be completed within 12 months. These construction commitments, at December 31, 2021, are outlined in the table below (dollars in thousands):
Total commitment(1)
$
40,991
Less amount funded
16,256
Remaining commitment
$
24,735
(1)Includes land, construction costs, tenant improvements, lease costs and capitalized interest.
Real Estate - Impairments
NNN periodically assesses its long-lived real estate assets for possible impairment whenever certain events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. These indicators include, but are not limited to: changes in real estate market conditions, the ability of NNN to re-lease properties that are currently vacant or become vacant, properties reclassified as held for sale, persistent vacancies greater than one year, and properties leased to tenants in bankruptcy. Management evaluates whether an impairment in carrying value has occurred by comparing the estimated future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges), and the residual value of the real estate, with the carrying value of the individual asset. The future undiscounted cash flows are primarily driven by estimated future market rents. Future cash flow estimates are sensitive to the assumptions made by management regarding future market rents, which are affected by expectations about future market and economic conditions. If an impairment is indicated, a loss will be recorded for the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its estimated fair value. NNN's Properties are leased primarily to retail tenants under long-term net leases and primarily held for investment. Generally, NNN’s Property leases provide for initial terms of 10 to 20 years, which provide for cash flows over this term. NNN generally intends to hold these assets for the long-term, therefore, a temporary change in cash flows due to the COVID-19 pandemic alone was determined not to be an indicator of impairment.
As a result of NNN's review of long-lived assets, including identifiable intangible assets, NNN recognized real estate impairments, net of recoveries as summarized in the table below (dollars in thousands):
Total real estate impairments, net of recoveries
$
21,957
$
37,442
$
31,992
Number of Properties:
Vacant
Occupied
The valuation of impaired assets is determined using widely accepted valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analysis, income capitalization, analysis of recent comparable sales transactions, actual sales negotiations and bona fide purchase offers received from third parties, which are Level 3 inputs. NNN may consider a single valuation technique or multiple valuation techniques, as appropriate, when estimating the fair value of its real estate.
Note 3 - Line of Credit Payable:
In June 2021, NNN amended and restated its credit agreement to increase the borrowing capacity under its unsecured revolving credit facility from $900,000,000 to $1,100,000,000 and amended certain other terms under the former revolving credit facility (as the context requires, the previous and new revolving credit facility, the "Credit Facility"). The Credit Facility had no weighted average outstanding balance during the year ended December 31, 2021. The Credit Facility matures in June 2025, unless the Company exercises its options to extend maturity to June 2026. The Credit Facility bears interest at LIBOR plus 77.5 basis points; however, such interest rate may change pursuant to a tiered interest rate structure based on NNN's debt rating. Additionally, as part of NNN's environmental, social and governance ("ESG") initiative, pricing may be reduced if specified ESG metrics are achieved. The Credit Facility also includes an accordion feature which permits NNN to increase the facility size up to $2,000,000,000, subject to lender approval. In connection with the Credit Facility, NNN incurred loan costs of $7,489,000 which are included in debt costs on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. As of December 31, 2021, there was no outstanding balance and $1,100,000,000 was available for future borrowings under the Credit Facility.
In accordance with the terms of the Credit Facility, NNN is required to meet certain restrictive financial covenants which, among other things, require NNN to maintain certain (i) leverage ratios, (ii) debt service coverage, (iii) cash flow coverage, and (iv) investment and dividend limitations. At December 31, 2021, NNN was in compliance with those covenants.
Note 4 - Mortgages Payable:
The following table outlines the mortgages payable included in NNN’s consolidated financial statements (dollars in thousands):
Initial
Interest
Maturity
Carrying Value of
Encumbered
Outstanding Principal
Balance at December 31,
Entered
Balance
Rate
Date(2)
Asset(s)(3)
November 2014(1)
$
15,151
5.23
%
July 2023
$
18,972
$
10,719
$
11,434
Debt costs
(147
)
(147
)
Accumulated amortization
Debt costs, net of accumulated amortization
(22
)
(39
)
Mortgages payable, including unamortized premium and net of
unamortized debt costs
$
10,697
$
11,395
(1)Date entered represents the date that NNN acquired real estate subject to a mortgage securing a loan. Initial balance and outstanding principal balance includes unamortized premium.
(2)Monthly payments include interest and principal; the balance is due at maturity.
(3)The loan is secured by a first mortgage lien on five of the Properties.
The following outlines of the scheduled principal payments, including premium amortization of NNN’s mortgages payable as of December 31, 2021 (dollars in thousands):
$
9,969
$
10,719
Note 5 - Notes Payable:
Each of NNN’s outstanding series of unsecured notes is summarized in the table below (dollars in thousands):
Notes
Issue Date
Principal
Discount(1)
Net
Price
Stated
Rate
Effective
Rate(2)
Maturity Date
2024(3)
May 2014
$
350,000
$
$
349,293
3.900%
3.924%
June 2024(4)
2025(3)
October 2015
400,000
399,036
4.000%
4.029%
November 2025(4)
2026(3)
December 2016
350,000
3,860
346,140
3.600%
3.733%
December 2026(4)
2027(3)
September 2017
400,000
1,628
398,372
3.500%
3.548%
October 2027
2028(3)
September 2018
400,000
2,848
397,152
4.300%
4.388%
October 2028
2030(3)
March 2020
400,000
1,288
398,712
2.500%
2.536%
April 2030
September 2018
300,000
4,239
295,761
4.800%
4.890%
October 2048
March 2020
300,000
6,066
293,934
3.100%
3.205%
April 2050
March 2021
450,000
8,406
441,594
3.500%
3.602%
April 2051
2052(3)
September 2021
450,000
10,422
439,578
3.000%
3.118%
April 2052
(1)The note discounts are amortized to interest expense over the respective term of each debt obligation using the effective interest method.
(2)Includes the effects of the discount at issuance.
(3)NNN entered into forward starting swaps which were hedging the risk of changes in forecasted interest payments on forecasted issuance of long-term debt. Upon the issuance of a series of unsecured notes, NNN terminated such derivatives, and the resulting fair value was deferred in other comprehensive income. The deferred liability (asset) is being amortized over the term of the respective notes using the effective interest method. Additional disclosure is included in Note 10 - Derivatives.
(4)The aggregate principal balance of the unsecured note maturities for the next five years is $1,100,000.
Each series of the notes represents senior, unsecured obligations of NNN and is subordinated to all secured debt of NNN. Each of the notes is redeemable at the option of NNN, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) the principal amount of the notes being redeemed plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon through the redemption date and (ii) the make-whole amount, if any, as defined in the applicable supplemental indenture relating to the notes.
In connection with the outstanding debt offerings, NNN incurred debt issuance costs totaling $38,145,000 consisting primarily of underwriting discounts and commissions, legal and accounting fees, rating agency fees and printing expenses. Debt issuance costs for all note issuances have been deferred and presented as a reduction to notes payable and are being amortized over the term of the respective notes using the effective interest method.
In March 2021, NNN redeemed the $350,000,000 3.300% notes payable that were due in April 2023. The notes were redeemed at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus (i) a make-whole amount of $21,328,000, and (ii) all accrued and unpaid interest.
In accordance with the terms of the indentures, pursuant to which NNN’s notes have been issued, NNN is required to meet certain restrictive financial covenants, which, among other things, require NNN to maintain (i) certain leverage ratios and (ii) certain interest coverage. At December 31, 2021, NNN was in compliance with those covenants.
Note 6 - Preferred Stock:
In October 2021, NNN redeemed all outstanding depositary shares (13,800,000) representing interests in its 5.200% Series F preferred stock. The Series F preferred stock was redeemed at $25.00 per depositary share, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends through, but not including, the redemption date, for an aggregate redemption price of $25.111944 per depositary share. The excess carrying amount of the Series F preferred stock redeemed over the cash paid to redeem the Series F preferred stock was $10,897,000, representing issuance costs which is reflected as a reduction to earnings attributable to common stockholders.
Note 7 - Common Stock:
Universal Shelf Registration Statement. In August 2020, NNN filed a shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") which was automatically effective and permits the issuance by NNN of an indeterminate amount of debt and equity securities.
Common Stock. In September 2019, NNN filed a prospectus supplement to the prospectus contained in its February 2018 shelf registration statement and issued 7,000,000 shares of common stock at a price of $56.50 per share and received net proceeds of $379,410,000. In connection with this offering, NNN incurred stock issuance costs totaling approximately $16,090,000, consisting primarily of underwriters' fees and commissions, legal and accounting fees and printing expenses.
At-The-Market Offerings. Under NNN's shelf registration statement, NNN has established an at-the-market equity program ("ATM") which allows NNN to sell shares of common stock from time to time. The following table outlines NNN's active ATM programs for the three years ended December 31, 2021:
2020 ATM
2018 ATM
Established date
August 2020
February 2018
Termination date
August 2023
August 2020
Total allowable shares
17,500,000
12,000,000
Total shares issued as of December 31, 2021
1,599,304
11,272,034
The following table outlines the common stock issuances pursuant to NNN's ATM equity programs for the years ended December 31 (dollars in thousands, except per share data):
Shares of common stock
30,000
3,119,153
2,344,022
Average price per share (net)
$
33.65
$
38.21
$
53.71
Net proceeds
$
1,009
$
119,185
$
125,905
Stock issuance costs(1)
$
$
2,130
$
1,431
(1)Stock issuance costs consist primarily of underwriters' and agent's fees and commissions, and legal and accounting
fees.
Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan. In February 2021, NNN filed a shelf registration statement with the Commission for its Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan ("DRIP") which permits the issuance by NNN of up to 6,000,000 shares of common stock. The following outlines the common stock issuances pursuant to the DRIP for the year ended December 31 (dollars in thousands):
Shares of common stock
62,577
138,507
362,918
Net proceeds
$
2,744
$
5,092
$
19,442
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plan:
Effective January 1, 1998, NNN adopted a defined contribution retirement plan (the “Retirement Plan”) covering substantially all of the employees of NNN. The Retirement Plan permits participants to defer a portion of their compensation, as defined in the Retirement Plan, subject to limits established by the Code. NNN generally matches 60 percent of the first eight percent of a participant’s contributions. Additionally, NNN may make discretionary contributions. NNN’s contributions to the Retirement Plan for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 totaled $576,000, $546,000 and $541,000, respectively.
Note 9 - Dividends:
The following table outlines the dividends declared and paid for NNN's common stock for the years ended December 31 (in thousands, except per share data):
Dividends
$
367,291
$
356,409
$
333,692
Per share
2.1000
2.0700
2.0300
On January 14, 2022, NNN declared a dividend of $0.530 per share, payable February 15, 2022, to its common stockholders of record as of January 31, 2022.
The following presents the characterization for tax purposes of common stock dividends per share paid to stockholders for the years ended December 31:
Ordinary dividends(1)
$
1.615753
$
1.659755
$
1.762899
Nontaxable distributions
0.484247
0.410245
0.267101
$
2.100000
$
2.070000
$
2.030000
(1) Eligible for the 20% qualified business income deduction under section 199A of the Code.
The following presents the dividends declared and paid to stockholders for NNN's preferred stock for the years ended December 31 (dollars in thousands, except per share data):
Series F(1)
Series E(2)
Dividends
$
14,999
$
17,940
$
17,940
$
13,201
Per share(3)
1.086944
1.3000
1.3000
1.147917
(1)The Series F Preferred Stock was redeemed in October 2021. The dividends paid in 2021 include accumulated and
unpaid dividends through, but not including, the redemption date.
(2)The Series E preferred stock was redeemed in October 2019. The dividends paid in 2019 include accumulated and
unpaid dividends through, but not including, the redemption date.
(3)100% of preferred stock dividends were characterized as ordinary dividends for tax purposes, eligible for the 20%
qualified business income deduction under section 199A of the Code.
Note 10 - Derivatives:
In accordance with the guidance on derivatives and hedging, NNN records all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative and the resulting designation. Derivatives used to hedge the exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset, liability, or firm commitment attributable to a particular risk, such as interest rate risk, are considered fair value hedges. Derivatives used to hedge the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges.
NNN’s objective in using derivatives is to add stability to interest expense and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements or other identified risks. To accomplish this objective, NNN primarily uses treasury locks, forward starting swaps and interest rate swaps as part of its cash flow hedging strategy. Treasury locks and forward starting swaps are used to hedge forecasted debt issuances. Treasury locks designated as cash flow hedges lock in the yield/price of a treasury security. Forward starting swaps also lock the associated swap spread. Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges are used to hedge the variable cash flows associated with floating rate debt and involve the receipt or payment of variable rate amounts in exchange for fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying principal amount.
For derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, the change in the fair value of the derivative is initially reported in other comprehensive income (loss) (outside of earnings) and subsequently reclassified to earnings when the hedged transaction affects earnings.
NNN discontinues hedge accounting prospectively when it is determined that the derivative is no longer effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows of the hedged item, the derivative expires or is sold, terminated, or exercised, the derivative is re-designated as a hedging instrument or management determines that designation of the derivative as a hedging instrument is no longer appropriate. When hedge accounting is discontinued, NNN recognizes any changes in its fair value in earnings and continues to carry the derivative on the balance sheet or may choose to settle the derivative at that time with a cash payment or receipt. NNN records a cash settlement of forward starting swaps in the statement of cash flows as an operating activity.
The following table outlines NNN's terminated derivatives which were hedging the risk of changes in forecasted interest payments on forecasted issuance of long-term debt (dollars in thousands):
Notes
Payable
Terminated
Description
Aggregate
Notional
Amount
Liability (Asset)
Fair Value When
Terminated
Fair Value
Deferred
In Other
Comprehensive
Income(1)
May 2014
Three forward starting swaps
$
225,000
$
6,312
$
6,312
October 2015
Four forward starting swaps
300,000
13,369
13,369
December 2016
Two forward starting swaps
180,000
(13,352
)
(13,345
)
September 2017
Two forward starting swaps
250,000
7,690
7,688
September 2018
Two forward starting swaps
250,000
(4,080
)
(4,080
)
March 2020
Three forward starting swaps
200,000
13,141
13,141
September 2021
Two forward starting swaps
120,000
1,584
1,584
(1)The amount reported in accumulated other comprehensive income will be reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on the related notes payable.
As of December 31, 2021, $14,956,000 remains in other comprehensive income (loss) related to NNN’s previously terminated interest rate hedges. During the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, NNN reclassified $3,073,000, $2,300,000 and $1,307,000, respectively, out of other comprehensive income (loss) as an increase to interest expense. Over the next 12 months, NNN estimates that an additional $2,373,000 will be reclassified as an increase in interest expense. Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to derivatives will be reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on NNN’s long-term debt.
NNN does not use derivatives for trading or speculative purposes or currently have any derivatives that are not designated as hedges. NNN had no derivative financial instruments outstanding at December 31, 2021.
Note 11 - Performance Incentive Plan:
In May 2017, NNN filed a registration statement on Form S-8 with the Commission which permits the issuance of up to 1,800,000 shares of common stock pursuant to NNN’s 2017 Performance Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”). The 2017 Plan allows NNN to award or grant to key employees, directors and persons performing consulting or advisory services for NNN or its affiliates, stock options, stock awards, stock appreciation rights, Phantom Stock Awards, Performance Awards and Leveraged Stock Purchase Awards, each as defined in the 2017 Plan.
There were no stock options outstanding or exercisable at December 31, 2021.
Pursuant to the 2017 Plan, NNN has granted and issued shares of restricted stock to certain officers and key associates of NNN. The following summarizes the restricted stock activity for the year ended December 31, 2021:
Number of
Shares
Weighted
Average
Share Price
Non-vested restricted shares, January 1
896,044
$
49.54
Restricted shares granted
345,891
42.30
Restricted shares vested
(204,796
)
40.81
Restricted shares forfeited
(58,684
)
37.36
Non-vested restricted shares, December 31
978,455
49.54
Compensation expense for the restricted stock which is not contingent upon NNN’s performance goals is determined based upon the fair value at the date of grant and is recognized as the greater of the amount amortized over a straight-lined basis or the amount vested over the vesting periods. Vesting periods for officers and key associates of NNN range from three to five years and generally vest annually. NNN recognizes compensation expense on a straight-line basis for awards with only service conditions.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, NNN granted 242,555 performance-based shares subject to its total stockholder return after a three-year period relative to its peers. The fair value of these shares was determined at the grant date (for a fair value share price of $27.50). The performance-based shares were granted to certain executive officers and had a weighted average grant price of $42.30 per share. Once the respective performance criteria are met and the actual number of shares earned is determined, the shares vest immediately. Compensation expense is recognized over the requisite service period.
The following summarizes other grants made during the year ended December 31, 2021, pursuant to the 2017 Plan.
Number of
Shares
Weighted
Average
Share Price
Other share grants under the 2017 Plan:
Directors’ fees
13,786
$
45.21
Deferred directors’ fees
16,471
45.27
30,257
40.28
Shares available under the 2017 Plan for grant, end of period
467,259
The total compensation expense for share-based payments for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 totaled $14,296,000, $14,213,000 and $10,737,000, respectively. At December 31, 2021, NNN had $12,288,000 of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share-based compensation arrangements under the 2017 Plan. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.2 years.
Note 12 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments:
NNN believes the carrying value of its Credit Facility approximates fair value based upon its nature, terms and variable interest rate. NNN believes that the carrying value of its mortgages payable at December 31, 2021 and 2020, approximate fair value based upon current market prices of comparable instruments (Level 3). At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the fair value of NNN’s notes payable excluding unamortized discount and debt costs, were $4,032,757,000 and $3,553,125,000, respectively, based upon quoted market prices, which is a Level 1 valuation since NNN's notes payable are publicly traded.
Note 13 - Segment Information:
For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, NNN’s operations are reported within one operating segment in the consolidated financial statements and all properties are part of the Properties or Property Portfolio.
Note 14 - Major Tenants:
As of December 31, 2021, NNN had no tenants that accounted for ten percent or more of its rental income.
Note 15 - Commitments and Contingencies:
A summary of NNN's commitments are included in Note 2 - Real Estate.
In the ordinary course of its business, NNN is a party to various other legal actions which management believes are routine in nature and incidental to the operation of the business of NNN. Management does not believe that any of these proceedings are material to NNN's consolidated financial statements.
Note 16 - Subsequent Events:
NNN reviewed all subsequent events and transactions that have occurred after December 31, 2021, the date of the consolidated balance sheet.
As of January 31, 2022, NNN had collected approximately 99.4% of rent originally due in the quarter ended December 31, 2021.
There were no other reportable subsequent events or transactions.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Process for Assessment and Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures and Internal Control over Financing Reporting.
NNN carried out an assessment as of December 31, 2021, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures and its internal control over financial reporting. This assessment was done under the supervision and with the participation of management, including NNN’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer ("NNN's Chief Officers"). Rules adopted by the Commission require NNN to present the conclusions of NNN's Chief Officers about the effectiveness of NNN’s disclosure controls and procedures and the conclusions of NNN’s management about the effectiveness of NNN’s internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the period covered by this annual report.
CEO and CFO Certifications. Included as Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K are forms of “Certification” of NNN’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The forms of Certification are required in accordance with Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. This section of the Annual Report on Form 10-K that stockholders are currently reading is the information concerning the assessment referred to in the Section 302 certifications and this information should be read in conjunction with the Section 302 certifications for a more complete understanding of the topics presented.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures and Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed with the objective of providing reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in NNN’s reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act, such as this Annual Report on Form 10-K, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures are also designed with the objective of providing reasonable assurance that such information is accumulated and communicated to NNN’s management, including NNN's Chief Officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, NNN's Chief Officers, and affected by NNN’s Board of Directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and includes those policies and procedures that:
•pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of NNN’s assets;
•provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that NNN’s receipts and expenditures are being made in accordance with authorizations of management or the Board of Directors; and
•provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of NNN’s assets that could have a material adverse effect on NNN’s financial statements.
Scope of the Assessments. The assessment by NNN's Chief Officers of NNN’s disclosure controls and procedures and the assessment by NNN’s management, including NNN's Chief Officers, of NNN’s internal control over financial reporting included a review of procedures and discussions with NNN’s management and others at NNN. In the course of the assessments, NNN sought to identify data errors, control problems or acts of fraud and to confirm that appropriate corrective action, including process improvements, were being undertaken.
NNN’s internal control over financial reporting is also assessed on an ongoing basis by personnel in NNN’s Accounting department and by NNN’s internal auditors in connection with their internal audit activities. The overall goals of these various assessment activities are to monitor NNN’s disclosure controls and procedures and NNN’s internal control over financial reporting and to make modifications as necessary. NNN’s intent in this regard is that the disclosure controls and procedures and the internal control over financial reporting will be maintained and updated (including with improvements and corrections) as
conditions warrant. Management also sought to deal with other control matters in the assessment, and in each case if a problem was identified, management considered what revision, improvement and/or correction was necessary to be made in accordance with NNN’s on-going procedures. The assessments of NNN’s disclosure controls and procedures and NNN’s internal control over financial reporting is done on a quarterly basis so that the conclusions concerning effectiveness of those controls can be reported in NNN’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Assessment of Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
Based upon the assessments, NNN's Chief Officers have concluded that, as of December 31, 2021, NNN’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
Management, including NNN's Chief Officers, are responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for NNN. Management used the criteria issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control - 2013 Integrated Framework to assess the effectiveness of NNN’s internal control over financial reporting. Based upon the assessments, NNN’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of December 31, 2021, NNN’s internal control over financial reporting was effective.
Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm.
Ernst & Young LLP, NNN’s independent registered public accounting firm, audited the financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in connection therewith has issued an attestation report on NNN’s effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, which appears in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
During the three months ended December 31, 2021, there were no changes in NNN’s internal control over financial reporting that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, NNN’s internal control over financial reporting.
Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls.
Management, including NNN's Chief Officers, do not expect that NNN’s disclosure controls and procedures or NNN’s internal control over financial reporting will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within NNN have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management’s override of the control. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9B. Other Information
None.

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Reference is made to the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14(a); information responsive to this Item is included in the Registrant's proxy statement including the information, without limitation, contained in the sections thereof captioned “Proposal I: Election of Directors - Nominees,” “Proposal I: Election of Directors - Executive Officers,” “Proposal I: Election of Directors - Code of Business Conduct and Insider Trading Policy” and “Security Ownership ”, and such information in such sections is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Reference is made to the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14(a); information responsive to this Item is included in the Registrant's proxy statement including the information, without limitation, contained in the sections thereof captioned “Proposal I: Election of Directors - Director Compensation,” “Executive Compensation” and “Compensation Committee Report”, and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Reference is made to the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14(a); information responsive to this Item is included in the Registrant's proxy statement including the information, without limitation, contained in the sections thereof captioned "Executive Compensation - Long-Term Incentive Compensation" and “Security Ownership”, and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Reference is made to the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14(a); information responsive to this Item is included in the Registrant's proxy statement including the information, without limitation, contained in the section thereof captioned “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
Reference is made to the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14(a); information responsive to this Item is included in the Registrant's proxy statement including the information, without limitation, contained in the section thereof captioned “Audit Committee Report” and “Proposal III: Ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm”, and such information is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)
The following documents are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") as part of this report.
(1)
Financial Statements
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 42)
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
Consolidated Statements of Equity for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(2)
Financial Statement Schedules
Schedule III - Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization and Notes as of December 31, 2021
Schedule IV - Mortgage Loans on Real Estate and Notes as of December 31, 2021
All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or because the required information is shown in the financial statements or the notes thereto.
(3)
Exhibits
The following exhibits are filed with the Commission as a part of this report, unless otherwise noted, each exhibit was previously filed with the Commission and is incorporated by reference below.
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
3.1
First Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant, as amended (filed on August 3, 2012 as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q).
3.2
Articles Supplementary Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of 5.70% Series E Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, dated May 29, 2013 (filed on May 30, 2013 as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A).
3.3
Articles Supplementary Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of 5.20% Series F Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, dated October 7, 2016 (filed on October 11, 2016 as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A).
3.4
Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant, dated May 1, 2006, as amended (filed on February 19, 2014 as Exhibit 3.4 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K).
3.5
Second Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant, dated December 13, 2007 (filed on February 19, 2014 as Exhibit 3.5 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K).
3.6
Third Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant, dated February 13, 2014 (filed on February 19, 2014 as Exhibit 3.6 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K).
3.7
Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant, as amended through the Fourth Amendment to Bylaws, dated February 17, 2021 (filed on February 19, 2021 as Exhibit 3.1 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
Instruments Defining the Rights of Security Holders, Including Indentures
4.1
Description of Registrant’s Securities (filed on February 11, 2020 as Exhibit 4.22 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K).
4.2
Specimen Certificate of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement No. 1-11290 on Form 8-B filed).
4.3
Indenture, dated as of March 25, 1998, between the Registrant and First Union National Bank, as trustee (filed on February 28, 2006 as Exhibit 4.4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-132095)).
4.4
Form of Twelfth Supplemental Indenture between National Retail Properties, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association relating to 3.300% Notes due 2023 (filed on April 15, 2013 as Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 9, 2013).
4.5
Form of 3.300% Notes due 2023 (filed on April 15, 2013 as Exhibit 4.2 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 9, 2013).
4.6
Form of Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture between National Retail Properties, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association relating to 3.900% Notes due 2024 (filed on May 14, 2014 as Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
4.7
Form of 3.900% Notes due 2024 (filed on May 14, 2014 as Exhibit 4.2 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
4.8
Form of Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture between National Retail Properties, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association relating to 4.000% Notes due 2025 (filed on October 26, 2015 as Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
4.9
Form of 4.000% Notes due 2025 (filed on October 26, 2015 as Exhibit 4.2 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
4.10
Specimen certificate representing the 5.20% Series F Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Registrant (filed on October 11, 2016 as Exhibit 4.3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A).
4.11
Deposit Agreement, among the Registrant, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Depositary, and the holders of depositary receipts (filed on October 11, 2016 as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A).
4.12
Form of Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture between National Retail Properties, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association relating to 3.60% Notes due 2026 (filed on December 12, 2016 as Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
4.13
Form of 3.60% Notes due 2026 (filed on December 12, 2016 as Exhibit 4.2 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
4.14
Form of Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture between National Retail Properties, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association relating to 3.50% Notes due 2027 (filed on September 19, 2017 as Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
4.15
Form of 3.50% Notes due 2027 (filed on September 19, 2017 as Exhibit 4.2 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
4.16
Form of Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture between National Retail Properties, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association relating to 4.300% Notes due 2028 and 4.800% Notes due 2048 (filed on September 27, 2018 as Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
4.17
Form of 4.300% Notes due 2028 (filed on September 27, 2018 Exhibit 4.2 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
4.18
Form of 4.800% Notes due 2048 (filed on September 27, 2018 as Exhibit 4.3 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
4.19
Form of Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture between National Retail Properties, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association relating to 2.500% Notes due 2030 and 3.100% Notes due 2050 (filed on March 3, 2020 as Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
4.20
Form of 2.500% Notes due 2030 (filed on March 3, 2020 as Exhibit 4.2 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
4.21
Form of 3.100% Notes due 2050 (filed on March 3, 2020 as Exhibit 4.3 on March 3, 2020 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
4.22
Form of Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture between National Retail Properties, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association relating to 3.500% Notes due 2051 (filed on March 10, 2021 as Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
4.23
Form of 3.500% Notes due 2051 (filed on March 10, 2021 as Exhibit 4.2 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
4.24
Form of Twentieth Supplemental Indenture between National Retail Properties, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association relating 3.000% Notes due 2052 (filed on September 24, 2021 as Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
4.25
Form of 3.000% Notes due 2052 (filed on September 24, 2021 as Exhibit 4.2 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
Material Contracts
10.1*
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2016, between the registrant and Julian Whitehurst (filed on September 30, 2016 as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
10.2*
Retirement and Transition Agreement, dated January 19, 2022, between the Company and Julian E. Whitehurst (filed on January 21, 2022 as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
10.3*
Employment Agreement dated as of December 1, 2008, between the Registrant and Kevin B. Habicht (filed on December 3, 2008 as Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K).
10.4*
Amendment to Employment Agreement dated as of November 8, 2010, between the Registrant and Kevin B. Habicht (filed on February 24, 2011 as Exhibit 10.12 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K).
10.5*
Employment Agreement dated as of December 1, 2008, between the Registrant and Paul E. Bayer (filed on December 3, 2008 as Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K).
10.6*
Amendment to Employment Agreement dated as of November 8, 2010, between the Registrant and Paul E. Bayer (filed on February 24, 2011 as Exhibit 10.13 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K).
10.7*
Retirement and Transition Agreement, dated as of December 14, 2020, between the registrant and Paul E. Bayer (filed on December 14, 2020 as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K).
10.8*
Employment Agreement dated as of December 1, 2008, between the Registrant and Christopher P. Tessitore (filed on December 3, 2008 as Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K).
10.9*
Amendment to Employment Agreement dated as of November 8, 2010, between the Registrant and Christopher P. Tessitore (filed on February 24, 2011 as Exhibit 10.14 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K).
10.10*
Employment Agreement dated as of January 2, 2014, between the Registrant and Stephen A. Horn, Jr. (filed on February 19, 2014 as Exhibit 10.19 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K).
10.11*
Employment Letter, dated as of January 19, 2022, between the Registrant and Stephen A. Horn, Jr. (filed on January 21, 2022 as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
10.12*
Form of Indemnification Agreement (as entered into between the Registrant and each of its directors and executive officers) (filed on June 12, 2009 as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated).
10.13*
2017 Performance Incentive Plan (filed on March 29, 2017 as Annex A to the Registrant’s 2017 Annual Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A).
10.14*
Amended and Restated Deferred Fee Plan for Directors, dated as of August 16, 2018 (filed on November 1, 2018 as exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q).
10.15*
Form of Restricted Award Agreement - Performance between NNN and the Participant of NNN (filed on May 4, 2012 as Exhibit 10.15 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q).
10.16*
Form of Restricted Award Agreement - Service between NNN and the Participant of NNN (filed on May 4, 2012 as Exhibit 10.16 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q).
10.17*
Form of Restricted Award Agreement - Special Grant between NNN and the Participant of NNN (filed on May 4, 2012 as Exhibit 10.17 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q).
10.18*
Form of Restricted Award Agreement - Performance between NNN and the Participant of NNN (filed on May 2, 2016 as exhibit 10.21 to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q).
10.19*
Form of Restricted Award Agreement - Service - Non-Executives between NNN and the Participant of NNN (filed on May 2, 2016 as exhibit 10.22 to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q).
10.20*
Form of Restricted Award Agreement - Service between NNN and the Participant of NNN (filed on May 2, 2016 as exhibit 10.23 to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q).
10.21
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 25, 2011, by and among the Registrant, certain lenders and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent (filed on June 1, 2011 as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
10.22
First Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2012, by and among the Registrant, certain lenders and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent (filed on November 1, 2012 as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
10.23
Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 27, 2014, by and among the Registrant, certain lenders and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent (filed on October 28, 2014 as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
10.24
Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 25, 2017, by and among the Registrant, certain lenders and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent (filed on October 26, 2017 as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
10.25
Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 29, 2020, by and among the Registrant, certain lenders and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent (filed on August 3, 2020 as exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q).
10.26
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated June 23, 2021, by and among the Registrant, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and a syndicate of lenders named therein (filed on June 25, 2021 as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
10.27
National Retail Properties, Inc. Executive Severance and Change of Control Plan (filed on January 21, 2022 as Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K).
Subsidiaries of the Registrant (filed herewith).
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
23.1
Ernst & Young LLP dated February 9, 2022 (filed herewith).
Power of Attorney (included on signature page).
Section 302 Certifications**
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
Section 906 Certifications**
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
32.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
Additional Exhibits
99.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 303A.12(a) of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual (filed herewith).
101.
Interactive Data File
101.1
The following materials from National Retail Properties, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2021, are formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language: (i) consolidated balance sheets, (ii) consolidated statements of comprehensive income, (iii) consolidated statements of stockholders' equity (iv) consolidated statements of cash flows, and (v) notes to consolidated financial statements.
104.
Cover Page Interactive Data File
104.1
Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
*
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
**
In accordance with Item 601(b)(32) of Regulation S-K, this Exhibit is not deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. Such certifications will not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the registrant specifically incorporates it by reference.