Dan Booth
Analyst · Capital One. Please go ahead
Thanks Bob and good morning everyone. As of December 31, 2018, Omega had an operating asset portfolio of 909 facilities with approximately 91,000 operating beds. These facilities were spread across 68 third party operators and located within 40 states in the United Kingdom. Trailing 12 month operator EBITDARM and EBITDAR coverage for our core portfolio, was down slightly during the third quarter of 2018, at 1.67 and 1.32 times respectively, versus 1.7 and 1.34 times respectively form the trailing 12-month period ended June 30, 2018. Just as a reminder, our core portfolio represents facilities that are deemed stabilized. Excluded from our core portfolio are new development projects, projects which are open, but not yet stabilized, facilities slated for sale or closure, and facilities expected to be or that have recently been transitioned to a new operator. As we have executed on our strategic repositioning, the amount of rent reported as core has consistently increased over the last four quarters, improving from 83% in the fourth quarter of 2017 to 85% in the first quarter of 2018, 87% in the second quarter of 2018, and up further in the third quarter of 2018 to 91%. Turning to portfolio matters. As Taylor mentioned, the operating environment for skilled nursing facilities in the state of Texas has gotten increasingly more challenging over the last several years. Recent headlines have reported that several operators including the largest operator in the state have sought protection under the U.S. bankruptcy code. While none of Omega's operators have reached that point, many are experiencing shrinking margins as a result of woefully low state Medicaid rates, a slow but steady erosion in occupancy and a robust labor market causing virtually across the board labor pressures. As a direct result of these challenges, one Omega operator Daybreak, has requested a partial rent deferral for the second time in the span of approximately five quarters. Accordingly, on January 30, 2019, Omega and Daybreak entered into a second amendment to settlement and forbearance agreement, whereby Omega agreed to defer approximately $4.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 and one month's rent or approximately $2.5 million in each of the first and second quarters of 2019. These deferrals were granted for a number of reasons. First, to allow Daybreak to continue to embark on certain operational improvements, which are already starting to yield positive results in the form of improved operating performance. Second, to give Daybreak time to reap the benefits of a significant increase participation in the Texas Quick program, which is similar to what other states commonly refer to as a UPL program. Daybreak currently has 16 Omega facilities enrolled in the Texas Quick program, and has recently applied to enroll an additional 31 facilities, which is currently estimated to increase annual revenue by between $5 million and $7 million. And third to permit Daybreak to potentially benefit in the event of State of Texas passes the Nursing Facility Reinvestment Allowance or NFRA, which is expected to be introduced into legislation within the next several months. The NFRA legislation would provide for an enhanced Medicaid rate to be used for direct care and capital improvements. In addition, the legislation in its current form, would provide for additional rate enhancements to be earned based upon quality performance metrics, similar to programs already in existence in 43 states. The NFRA bill will provide much needed relief to providers across the entire State of Texas. While the outcome of the NFRA bill and the benefit and timing of the aforementioned operational improvements is uncertain, we believe the temporary rent deferrals are critical to provide additional time to allow these initiatives to reach their full potential and positively impact the performance of the Daybreak portfolio. Turning to new investments, during the fourth quarter of 2018, Omega completed new investments totaling $53 million plus an additional $45 million in capital expenditures. The new investments included the purchase of three skilled nursing facilities in Pennsylvania for $35 million and two skilled nursing facilities in Indiana for $17 million. Omega purchased the facilities from third party sellers and leased them to existing Omega operators pursuant to long term master leases. These transactions bring our 2018 investment total to $470 million including capital expenditures. Subsequent to the fourth quarter and as Taylor mentioned on January 2, 2019, Omega announced a proposed merger with MedEquities for approximately $600 million. The transaction involves 34 facilities in seven states with eleven operators, nearly all of which are new to Omega. In addition to further diversifying our operator base, the MRT transaction also diversifies our operator classes by adding in addition to 20 SNF, five behavioral health facilities, three acute care hospitals, two inpatient rehab facilities, two LTACs, one ALF and one medical office building. Turning to dispositions, during the fourth quarter of 2018, Omega sold 15 facilities for approximately $67 million, this brings the 2018 total dispositions to 86 facilities inclusive of three mortgage loan payoffs, for total consideration of approximately $409 million. I will now turn the call over Steven.