John Kilroy
Analyst · KeyBanc Capital Markets
Thank you, Tyler. Hello, everyone, and thank you for joining us today. We delivered a strong first quarter at KRC with market fundamentals remaining healthy in all of our West Coast markets. In our stabilized portfolio, we produced excellent results, including a double-digit increase in cash, same-store NOI and exceptional leasing and higher rental rates. In our development program, we expanded the Adobe lease at our 100 Hooper project in San Francisco to include 100% of the office space. We are moving forward with the multi-tenant leasing strategy at the Exchange in mission Bay and seeing significant strong interest from both Life Science and Technology tenants. We stabilized the new office component of our mixed-use Columbia square project in Hollywood, and we are preparing to start 333 Dexter, our first ground-up development project in Seattle later this quarter. On the financing front, we continue to ensure funding for our future development spending with the addition of $560 million of new debt and equity capital. And we remain on track to complete $100 million to $300 million of dispositions this year. Now let me review the quarter's highlights. Leasing was once again a terrific story for us. We signed new or renewing leases on more than 740,000 square feet during the quarter. 643,000 square-feet of this was in our stabilized portfolio as rents were 15% higher on a cash basis and 29% higher on a GAAP basis. The remaining 104,000 square-feet was in our development portfolio at 100 Hooper. At quarter-end, the stabilized portfolio was 94.1% occupied and 95.7% leased. Included in our strong leasing results was 112,000-square foot extension with online travel services provider, Expedia at our Skyline Tower in Bellevue. Cash rents were up 13% and gap rents were up 44% when compared to the prior rent levels. In San Francisco, M&A activity continued to play a role in market leasing activity, App/Dynamics recently acquired by Cisco, expanded its lease in our 303 Second Street building by 67,000 square feet and now leases a total of 150,000 square feet. Cash in gap rents on the expansion space were up 33% and 45%, respectively when compared to prior rent levels. In San Diego county, we signed multiple leases totaling 157,000 square feet of space in several different projects, including our recently completed Heights of Del Mar office property. Additionally, we signed a 50,000-square-foot early renewal with Qualcomm for a 5-year term at one of our Sorrento Mesa projects. And just this week, [indiscernible] signed an agreement to expand its leasing on our Westside Media Center in Los Angeles by 120,000 square feet. The rapidly growing gaming and entertainment company is taking over space from Fandango in Connecticut city when their two leases expire later this quarter. Cash rents were up 37% and gap rents were up 72% when compared to prior rent levels. We have also made progress in our development program, as you know we have three projects under construction, one for sale, 100 Hooper in the exchange. That one for sale in Del Mar, we commenced construction last quarter on Phase 1 which includes building the infrastructure for the entire 23 acre project along with 237 residential units and 96,000 square feet of retail space. We currently expect Phase 1 to be completed in increments beginning in the second quarter of 2018. At 100 Hopper in San Francisco as I mentioned earlier, all 314,000 square feet of office space is now 100% leased to Adobe. We remain on track to deliver the projects in the third quarter of 2018 and expect the 86,000 square feet of PDR space to be leased within 12 months of completion right on our pro forma. And at the exchange on 16th, we are focused on a multi-tenant office, Life Science leasing strategy, you will note that in yesterday's disclosures, we updated our cost, timing and square footage assumptions to incorporate the scope changes related to the building of state-of-the-art Life Science facility. we have strong interest in the project from a variety of tech and life science tenants and remain confident that the exchange will be largely leased by warm shell completion in the second quarter of next year. Moving to our near-term development pipeline, we now plan to commence construction later in the second quarter on 333 Dexter, our approximately 650,000 square foot, $370 million office project in Seattle, South Lake Union neighborhood. Given the strength of the Seattle market, we couldn’t be better positioned to start the project, TL job growth has consistently outpaced the nation, there is a very positive supply-demand imbalance driven by the strong office absorption over the last five years. South Lake Union vacancy is 1.7% and currently has little new supply competing with 333 Dexter’s timeline. And our projects has all the confirmation of another successful KRC development including access to key transportation routes. In addition to 333 Dexter, we have two mixed used projects in our near-term development pipeline, they include our mixed used academic project in Hollywood and Phases 2 & 3 that went in Del Mar. Decisions concerning start dates for the academy and additional Phases going for sale will be made overtime based on the company’s overall leasing progress and market conditions. Let me finish up with a few comments on general market conditions and our expectations for the year. Our experience in the first four months of 2017 is at the West Coast markets where we operate, demand remains healthy, the rental rates for top quality properties continue to rise and that a broad range of industries including Technology, Life Science and Entertainment continues to expand in our markets. We also believe that our focus on high quality well located work environments designed from maximum efficiency and long-term sustainability remains a winning formula that will drive earnings and dividend growth overtime. That said, we’re also aware of the cyclical nature of our business, we continually balance our enthusiasm for growth opportunities with a firm commitment to financial stability and balance sheet strength. We will continue to support both goals with a disciplined approach to development, a rigorous capital recycling program, prudence when it comes to managing our leverage and a clear focus in our decision making process as we continue to drive long-term shareholder value. That completes my remarks, now I’ll turn the call over to Jeff for a closer look at our markets. Jeff?