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8-K - 8-K - LIBERTY PROPERTY TRUSTa12-10248_18k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

Press Release

 

Inquiries:

Jeanne A. Leonard

 

Liberty Property Trust

 

610/648-1704

 

LIBERTY PROPERTY TRUST ANNOUNCES

FIRST QUARTER 2012 RESULTS

 

Malvern, PA, April 24, 2012 — Liberty Property Trust (NYSE:LRY) reported that funds from operations available to common shareholders (diluted) (“FFO”) for the first quarter of 2012 was $0.68 per share, compared to $0.65 per share for the first quarter of 2011. Funds from operations for the first quarter of 2012 include termination fees of $2.2 million, a $3.7 million net discount realized on the redemption of certain preferred units, and $3.2 million of additional compensation expense due to the accelerated vesting of long-term incentive compensation due to the years of service and ages of certain employees.

 

Net income per common share (diluted) was $0.32 per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, compared to $0.25 per share (diluted) for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.

 

Liberty has done very well so far in 2012,” commented Bill Hankowsky, chief executive officer. “We had strong first quarter, leasing 4.3 million square feet and redeeming high-dividend preferred securities, and we have subsequently advanced our repositioning strategy with the execution of a significant sale of suburban office and high-finish flex properties. All of this was accomplished in an environment of slow recovery in the real estate markets.”

 

Portfolio Performance

 

Leasing: At March 31, 2012, Liberty’s in-service portfolio of 79.3 million square feet was 90.5% occupied, compared to 91.3% at the end of the fourth quarter, an anticipated decrease. During the quarter, Liberty completed lease transactions totaling 4.3 million square feet of space.

 

Same Store Performance: Property level operating income for same store properties increased by 0.5% on a cash basis and decreased by 0.4% on a straight line basis for the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same quarter in 2011.

 

-more-

 



 

Capital Activities and Balance Sheet Management

 

Preferred Unit Redemptions: During the first quarter, Liberty redeemed $32.5 million of its outstanding 6.65% Series F Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units for $26.0 million, and redeemed the entire $95.0 million of 7.45% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units at par.  The $6.5 million discount net of the write off of $2.8 million of origination costs is included in FFO.

 

Property Sales: During the first quarter, Liberty sold two operating properties, which contained 105,000 square feet of leasable space for $6.5 million. The properties were 76.6% leased at the time of the sale.

 

Real Estate Investments

 

Development: Liberty began development of a 126,000 square foot distribution building in Suffolk, Virginia, for a projected investment of $7.8 million. The property is 100% preleased.

 

Acquisitions: Liberty acquired no properties during the quarter.

 

Subsequent Events

 

On April 3, Liberty completed the sale of 49 properties totaling 2.5 million square feet of leasable space in Wisconsin, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and New Jersey for approximately $195 million. The properties consist primarily of single-story and mid-rise office buildings and high-finish flex properties. The properties were 83% leased when the transaction closed.

 

Earnings Outlook

 

Liberty had previously announced the expectation for 2012 funds from operations in the range of $2.45 - $2.60 per diluted share. Liberty is revising this guidance to reflect the redemption of the preferred units during the first quarter, and we now expect 2012 funds from operations in the range of $2.50 - $2.65 per diluted share. A reconciliation of FFO to GAAP net income is below:

 

 

 

2012 Range

 

 

 

Low

 

High

 

Projected net income per share

 

$

1.03

 

$

1.17

 

Depreciation and amortization of unconsolidated joint ventures

 

0.12

 

0.14

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

1.45

 

1.47

 

Gain on property dispositions

 

(0.10

)

(0.13

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Projected funds from operations per share

 

$

2.50

 

$

2.65

 

 

2



 

About the Company

 

Liberty Property Trust (NYSE:LRY) is a leader in commercial real estate, serving customers in the United States and United Kingdom, through the development, acquisition, ownership and management of superior office and industrial properties. Liberty’s 79 million square foot portfolio includes approximately 650 properties which provide office, distribution and light manufacturing facilities to 1,700 tenants.

 

Additional information about the Company, including Liberty’s Quarterly Supplemental Package with detailed financial information is available in the Investors section of the Company’s web site at www.libertyproperty.com. If you are unable to access the web site, a copy of the supplemental package may be obtained by contacting Liberty by phone at 610-648-1704, or by e-mail to jleonard@libertyproperty.com.

 

Liberty will host a conference call during which management will discuss first quarter results on Tuesday, April 24, 2012, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time.  To access the conference call, please dial 1-888-870-2815. The passcode needed for access is 68152370. A replay of the call will be available until May 8, 2012, by dialing 1-855-859-2056 using the same passcode as above. The call can also be accessed via the Internet on the Investors page of Liberty’s web site at www.libertyproperty.com.

 

The statements contained in this press release may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities law.  Although Liberty believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved.  As forward-looking statements, these statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expected results.  These factors include, without limitation, the uncertainties affecting real estate businesses generally (such as entry into new leases, renewals of leases and dependence on tenants’ business operations), risks relating to our ability to maintain and increase property occupancy and rental rates, the financial condition of tenants, the uncertainties of real estate development and construction activity, the costs and availability of financing, the effects of local economic and market conditions, regulatory changes, potential liability relative to environmental matters and other risks and uncertainties detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events.

 

3



 

Liberty Property Trust

Statement of Operations

March 31, 2012

(Unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

Quarter Ended

 

 

 

March 31, 2012

 

March 31, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

Rental

 

$

119,591

 

$

114,724

 

Operating expense reimbursement

 

50,346

 

51,410

 

Total operating revenue

 

169,937

 

166,134

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

Rental property

 

30,440

 

31,750

 

Real estate taxes

 

20,782

 

19,489

 

General and administrative

 

17,204

 

15,949

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

41,367

 

39,077

 

Total operating expenses

 

109,793

 

106,265

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

60,144

 

59,869

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income/Expense

 

 

 

 

 

Interest and other

 

2,762

 

2,589

 

Interest

 

(28,476

)

(32,889

)

Total other income/expense

 

(25,714

)

(30,300

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before property dispositions, income taxes, noncontrolling interest and equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures

 

34,430

 

29,569

 

Gain on property dispositions

 

523

 

1,161

 

Income taxes

 

(178

)

(550

)

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures

 

916

 

534

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

35,691

 

30,714

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discontinued operations (including net gain on property dispositions of $1,064 and $470 for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively)

 

3,911

 

4,229

 

Net Income

 

39,602

 

34,943

 

Noncontrolling interest - operating partnerships

 

(2,513

)

(6,235

)

Noncontrolling interest - consolidated joint ventures

 

 

201

 

Net Income available to common shareholders

 

$

37,089

 

$

28,909

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

39,602

 

$

34,943

 

Other comprehensive income

 

2,317

 

2,144

 

Comprehensive income

 

41,919

 

37,087

 

Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

(2,586

)

(6,306

)

Comprehensive income attributable to common shareholders

 

$

39,333

 

$

30,781

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic income per common share

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

0.29

 

$

0.21

 

Discontinued operations

 

$

0.03

 

$

0.04

 

Total basic income per common share

 

$

0.32

 

$

0.25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted income per common share

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

0.29

 

$

0.21

 

Discontinued operations

 

$

0.03

 

$

0.04

 

Total diluted income per common share

 

$

0.32

 

$

0.25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

115,972

 

114,013

 

Diluted

 

116,743

 

114,766

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amounts attributable to common shareholders

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

33,301

 

$

24,820

 

Discontinued operations

 

3,788

 

4,089

 

Net income

 

$

37,089

 

$

28,909

 

 



 

Liberty Property Trust

Statement of Funds From Operations

March 31, 2012

(Unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

Quarter Ended

 

 

 

March 31, 2012

 

March 31, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

Per

 

 

 

Per

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Dollars

 

Share

 

Dollars

 

Share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of net income to FFO - basic:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic - income available to common shareholders

 

$

37,089

 

$

0.32

 

$

28,909

 

$

0.25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization of unconsolidated joint ventures

 

3,616

 

 

 

3,649

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

41,046

 

 

 

43,971

 

 

 

Gain on property dispositions

 

(1,104

)

 

 

(500

)

 

 

Noncontrolling interest share in addback for depreciation and amortization and gain on property dispositions

 

(1,373

)

 

 

(1,558

)

 

 

Funds from operations available to common shareholders - basic

 

$

79,274

 

$

0.68

 

$

74,471

 

$

0.65

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of net income to FFO - diluted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted - income available to common shareholders

 

$

37,089

 

$

0.32

 

$

28,909

 

$

0.25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization of unconsolidated joint ventures

 

3,616

 

 

 

3,649

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

41,046

 

 

 

43,971

 

 

 

Gain on property dispositions

 

(1,104

)

 

 

(500

)

 

 

Noncontrolling interest excluding preferred unit distributions

 

1,207

 

 

 

982

 

 

 

Funds from operations available to common shareholders - diluted

 

$

81,854

 

$

0.68

 

$

77,011

 

$

0.65

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of weighted average shares:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares - all basic calculations

 

115,972

 

 

 

114,013

 

 

 

Dilutive shares for long term compensation plans

 

771

 

 

 

753

 

 

 

Diluted shares for net income calculations

 

116,743

 

 

 

114,766

 

 

 

Weighted average common units

 

3,809

 

 

 

3,929

 

 

 

Diluted shares for Funds from operations calculations

 

120,552

 

 

 

118,695

 

 

 

 

The Company believes that the calculation of Funds from operations is helpful to investors and management as it is a measure of the Company’s operating performance that excludes depreciation and amortization and gains and losses from property dispositions.  As a result, year over year comparison of Funds from operations reflects the impact on operations from trends in occupancy rates, rental rates, operating costs, development activities, general and administrative expenses, and interest costs, providing perspective not immediately apparent from net income.  In addition, management believes that Funds from operations provides useful information to the investment community about the Company’s financial performance when compared to other REITs since Funds from operations is generally recognized as the standard for reporting the operating performance of a REIT.  Funds from operations available to common shareholders is defined by NAREIT as net income (computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”)), excluding gains (or losses) from sales of property, plus depreciation and amortization, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. Funds from operations available to common shareholders does not represent net income or cash flows from operations as defined by GAAP and does not necessarily indicate that cash flows will be sufficient to fund cash needs. It should not be considered as an alternative to net income as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance or to cash flows as a measure of liquidity. Funds from operations available to common shareholders also does not represent cash flows generated from operating, investing or financing activities as defined by GAAP.

 



 

Liberty Property Trust

Balance Sheet

March 31, 2012

(In thousands, except share and unit amounts)

 

 

 

March 31, 2012

 

December 31, 2011

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Real estate:

 

 

 

 

 

Land and land improvements

 

$

854,972

 

$

855,213

 

Building and improvements

 

4,117,093

 

4,109,783

 

Less: accumulated depreciation

 

(1,088,301

)

(1,058,283

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating real estate

 

3,883,764

 

3,906,713

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Development in progress

 

138,634

 

88,848

 

Land held for development

 

218,926

 

219,375

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net real estate

 

4,241,324

 

4,214,936

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

27,650

 

18,204

 

Restricted cash

 

39,188

 

63,659

 

Accounts receivable

 

9,210

 

8,192

 

Deferred rent receivable

 

104,502

 

103,002

 

Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization (2012, $128,303; 2011, $123,822)

 

130,843

 

130,160

 

Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures

 

174,651

 

174,687

 

Assets held for sale

 

197,737

 

200,647

 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

 

90,189

 

76,186

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

5,015,294

 

$

4,989,673

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage loans

 

$

282,716

 

$

290,819

 

Unsecured notes

 

1,792,643

 

1,792,643

 

Credit facility

 

293,300

 

139,400

 

Accounts payable

 

32,310

 

23,418

 

Accrued interest

 

33,036

 

24,147

 

Dividend and distributions payable

 

57,393

 

56,958

 

Other liabilities

 

177,590

 

194,995

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

2,668,988

 

2,522,380

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noncontrolling interest - operating partnership - 301,483 preferred units outstanding as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011

 

7,537

 

7,537

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Common shares of beneficial interest, $.001 par value, 183,987,000 shares authorized, 118,264,957 (includes 1,249,909 in treasury) and 117,352,353 (includes 1,249,909 in treasury) shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively

 

118

 

117

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

2,637,861

 

2,617,355

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

1,814

 

(429

)

Distributions in excess of net income

 

(479,994

)

(461,498

)

Common shares in treasury, at cost, 1,249,909 shares as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011

 

(51,951

)

(51,951

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

2,107,848

 

2,103,594

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noncontrolling interest - operating partnership

 

 

 

 

 

3,808,746 common units outstanding as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011

 

63,920

 

64,428

 

5,290,000 and 9,740,000 preferred units outstanding as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively

 

163,226

 

287,959

 

Noncontrolling interest - consolidated joint ventures

 

3,775

 

3,775

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total equity

 

2,338,769

 

2,459,756

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities, noncontrolling interest - operating partnership & equity

 

$

5,015,294

 

$

4,989,673