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Easterly Government Properties Extends $100 Million Unsecured Term Loan Facility

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Easterly Government Properties, Inc. (NYSE: DEA) has extended a $100 million unsecured term loan with market-leading terms, underscoring the company's strong balance sheet and capital partner relationships. The loan now matures on January 30, 2025, and will bear interest at a rate of SOFR plus a spread of 1.20% to 1.70%, depending on the Company's leverage ratio.
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Easterly Government Properties, Inc.'s extension of its $100 million unsecured term loan is a strategic move that exemplifies the company's strong financial standing and capacity for managing long-term debt. The extension, which improves the weighted average life of maturities, indicates a proactive approach to capital management, potentially reducing refinancing risk and stabilizing interest expenses. The favorable interest rate spreads, with an initial spread to SOFR set at 1.35%, reflect investor confidence in Easterly's creditworthiness and the stability provided by its government agency tenants.

From an investment perspective, the company's ability to secure market leading terms suggests a competitive advantage in accessing capital. This could be a positive signal to shareholders about the company's risk management practices and its potential for sustained financial performance. Moreover, the emphasis on long-term leases and consistent dividend payouts may attract income-focused investors, particularly in a market environment where stable returns are highly valued.

The extension of the term loan by Easterly underscores the unique position of REITs that specialize in properties leased to government entities. The nature of Easterly's portfolio, focused on Class A commercial properties with mission-critical government tenants, provides a layer of security to lenders and investors, given the predictable revenue stream from long-term leases. This is a key differentiator in the commercial real estate sector, where tenant credit quality significantly impacts property values and financing terms.

Additionally, the company's disciplined investment strategy, as highlighted by the CEO, may reassure stakeholders of prudent growth and risk mitigation. In the broader context of the REIT industry, Easterly's performance and approach to debt management could serve as a benchmark for assessing the financial health and strategic direction of similar entities. The involvement of reputed financial institutions as arrangers and bookrunners further solidifies the market's perception of Easterly's credit standing.

Analyzing the broader market implications, Easterly's extended term loan reflects a favorable lending environment for well-positioned REITs. The company's focus on maintaining robust corporate banking relationships is a testament to the importance of financial flexibility in capital-intensive industries. The ability to extend debt at attractive rates is indicative of a low-risk profile, which can be a competitive edge in securing capital for future acquisitions or developments.

It's important to note that the commercial real estate market is sensitive to interest rate fluctuations. The use of SOFR (Secured Overnight Financing Rate) as a benchmark for the term loan aligns with the industry's transition away from LIBOR, adding a layer of modern financial practice to Easterly's operations. Investors and stakeholders should monitor how Easterly leverages its strengthened balance sheet to navigate potential market volatility and capitalize on growth opportunities within the government property sector.

  • Easterly secures market leading terms and extends the weighted average life of maturities at attractive interest rate spreads
  • The deal underscores Easterly’s fortified balance sheet and strong capital partner relationships
  • Long-term leases and consistent dividend payouts recognized by capital partners

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Easterly Government Properties, Inc. (NYSE: DEA) (the “Company” or “Easterly”), a fully integrated real estate investment trust that acquires, develops, and manages Class A commercial properties leased to mission-critical U.S. Government agencies, today announced it has extended a $100 million unsecured term loan executed in 2016 (the “Extended Term Loan”).

Easterly secured market leading terms for the facility and extended the weighted average life of maturities at attractive spreads, underscoring the company’s fortified balance sheet and strong capital partner relationships. The loan now matures on January 30, 2025.

“With Easterly’s high credit tenancy of mission-critical government agencies, the Company maintains a strong balance sheet and long-term debt capacity,” said Darrell Crate, Easterly’s Chief Executive Officer. “We remain focused on executing a disciplined investment strategy while sustaining robust corporate banking relationships to fund future growth.”

Borrowings under the Term Loan will continue to bear interest at a rate of SOFR, a credit spread adjustment of 0.10%, plus a spread of 1.20% to 1.70%, depending on the Company's leverage ratio. Given the Company's current leverage ratio, the Extended Term Loan’s initial spread to SOFR is set at 1.35%.

“Extending Easterly’s term loan equips the Company to hold the current pricing grid and prolong the weighted average of the loan’s debt maturity,” said Allison Marino, Easterly’s Chief Financial and Accounting Officer. “This extension yields greater clarity into the commercial real estate market and allows us to continue prudently managing our debt obligations.”

PNC Capital Markets LLC, U.S. Bank National Association, and Truist Securities, Inc. served as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners. PNC Bank, National Association served as the administrative agent.

About Easterly Government Properties, Inc.

Easterly Government Properties, Inc. (NYSE:DEA) is based in Washington, D.C. and focuses primarily on the acquisition, development and management of Class A commercial properties that are leased to the U.S. Government. Easterly’s experienced management team brings specialized insight into the strategy and needs of mission-critical U.S. Government agencies for properties leased to such agencies either directly or through the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). For further information on the company and its properties, please visit www.easterlyreit.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws and regulations. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “project,” “anticipate,” “position,” and other similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions and forecasts of future results. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to differ materially from those anticipated at the time the forward-looking statements are made. These risks include, but are not limited to, those risks and uncertainties associated with our business described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2023. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that the expectations will be attained or that any deviation will not be material. All information in this release is as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in our expectations.

Easterly Government Properties, Inc.

Lindsay S. Winterhalter

Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Operations

202-596-3947

ir@easterlyreit.com

Source: Easterly Government Properties, Inc.

FAQ

What is the ticker symbol for Easterly Government Properties, Inc.?

The ticker symbol for Easterly Government Properties, Inc. is DEA.

What is the amount of the extended unsecured term loan?

Easterly Government Properties, Inc. has extended a $100 million unsecured term loan.

When does the extended term loan mature?

The extended term loan now matures on January 30, 2025.

What is the interest rate for the extended term loan?

The extended term loan will bear interest at a rate of SOFR plus a spread of 1.20% to 1.70%, depending on the Company's leverage ratio.

Easterly Government Properties, Inc.

NYSE:DEA

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About DEA

we focus primarily on the acquisition, development and management of class a commercial properties that are leased to u.s. government agencies that serve essential u.s. government functions. we generate substantially all of our revenue by leasing our properties to such agencies through the gsa. our multidisciplinary team possesses complementary skills and experience that we expect will drive our business and growth strategies. we plan to grow our business primarily through the pursuit of attractive acquisition opportunities, the development of built-to-suit u.s. government properties and the renewal of existing leases at positive spreads. we maintain a proprietary database that tracks approximately 8,500 leases totaling approximately 200 million rentable square feet and includes substantially every major u.s. government-leased property that meets our investment criteria as well as information about the ownership of such properties.