Debt

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Debt

Debt

(11) Debt

Bank Line of Credit and Term Loan

On March 27, 2012, the Company executed an amendment to its existing $1.5 billion unsecured revolving line of credit facility (the “Facility”). This amendment reduces the cost to the Company of the Facility (lower borrowing rate and facility fee) and extends the Facility’s maturity by one additional year to March 2016. The Facility contains a one-year extension option. Borrowings under this Facility accrue interest at LIBOR plus a margin that depends on the Company’s debt ratings. The Company pays a facility fee on the entire revolving commitment that depends upon its debt ratings. Based on the Company’s debt ratings at September 30, 2012, the margin on the Facility was 1.075%, and the facility fee was 0.175%. The Company has the right to increase the commitments under the Facility by an aggregate amount of up to $500 million, subject to customary conditions. At September 30, 2012, the Company had had no balance outstanding under this Facility.

On July 30, 2012, the Company entered into a credit agreement with a syndicate of banks for a £137 million ($221 million at September 30, 2012) four-year unsecured term loan (the “Term Loan”) that accrues interest at a rate of GBP LIBOR plus 1.20%, based on the Company’s current debt ratings. Concurrent with the closing of the Term Loan, the Company entered into a four-year interest rate swap contract that fixes the interest rate of the Term Loan at 1.81%, subject to adjustments based on the Company’s debt ratings. The Term Loan contains a one-year committed extension option and covenants similar to those in the Facility.

The Facility and Term Loan contain certain financial restrictions and other customary requirements, including cross-default provisions to other indebtedness. Among other things, these covenants, using terms defined in the agreements (i) limit the ratio of Consolidated Total Indebtedness to Consolidated Total Asset Value to 60%, (ii) limit the ratio of Secured Debt to Consolidated Total Asset Value to 30%, (iii) limit the ratio of Unsecured Debt to Consolidated Unencumbered Asset Value to 60%, (iv) require a minimum Fixed Charge Coverage ratio of 1.5 times and (v) require a formula-determined Minimum Consolidated Tangible Net Worth of $8.3 billion at September 30, 2012. At September 30, 2012, the Company was in compliance with each of these restrictions and requirements of the Facility and Term Loan.

Senior Unsecured Notes

At September 30, 2012, the Company had senior unsecured notes outstanding with an aggregate principal balance of $5.9 billion. At September 30, 2012, interest rates on the notes ranged from 1.29% to 7.07% with a weighted average effective interest rate of 5.40% and a weighted average maturity of 6.11 years. Discounts and premiums are amortized to interest expense over the term of the related senior unsecured notes. The senior unsecured notes contain certain covenants including limitations on debt, cross-acceleration provisions and other customary terms. The Company believes it was in compliance with these covenants at September 30, 2012.

On July 23, 2012, the Company issued $300 million of 3.15% senior unsecured notes due in 2022. The notes were priced at 98.888% of the principal amount with an effective yield to maturity of 3.28%; net proceeds from the offering were $294 million.

On June 25, 2012, the Company repaid $250 million of maturing senior unsecured notes, which accrued interest at a rate of 6.45%. The senior unsecured notes were repaid with proceeds from the Company’s June 2012 common stock offering.

On January 23, 2012, the Company issued $450 million of 3.75% senior unsecured notes due in 2019. The notes were priced at 99.523% of the principal amount with an effective yield to maturity of 3.83%; net proceeds from the offering were $444 million.

On September 15, 2011, the Company repaid $292 million of maturing senior unsecured notes, which accrued interest at a rate of 4.82%. The senior unsecured notes were repaid with funds available under the Facility.

On January 24, 2011, the Company issued $2.4 billion of senior unsecured notes as follows: (i) $400 million of 2.70% notes due 2014; (ii) $500 million of 3.75% notes due 2016; (iii) $1.2 billion of 5.375% notes due 2021; and (iv) $300 million of 6.75% notes due 2041. The notes had an initial weighted average maturity of 10.3 years and a weighted average yield of 4.83%; net proceeds from the offering were $2.37 billion.

Mortgage Debt

At September 30, 2012, the Company had $1.7 billion in aggregate principal amount of mortgage debt outstanding that is secured by 137 healthcare facilities (including redevelopment properties) with a carrying value of $2.1 billion. At September 30, 2012, interest rates on the mortgage debt ranged from 1.54% to 8.69% with a weighted average effective interest rate of 6.14% and a weighted average maturity of 3.80 years.

Mortgage debt generally requires monthly principal and interest payments, is collateralized by real estate assets and is generally non-recourse. Mortgage debt typically restricts transfer of the encumbered assets, prohibits additional liens, restricts prepayment, requires payment of real estate taxes, requires maintenance of the assets in good condition, requires maintenance of insurance on the assets and includes conditions to obtain lender consent to enter into and terminate material leases. Some of the mortgage debt is also cross-collateralized by multiple assets and may require tenants or operators to maintain compliance with the applicable leases or operating agreements of such real estate assets.

Other Debt

At September 30, 2012, the Company had $85 million of non-interest bearing life care bonds at two of its continuing care retirement communities and non-interest bearing occupancy fee deposits at two of its senior housing facilities, all of which were payable to certain residents of the facilities (collectively, “Life Care Bonds”). At September 30, 2012, $28 million of the Life Care Bonds were refundable to the residents upon the resident moving out or to their estate upon death, and $57 million of the Life Care Bonds were refundable after the unit is successfully remarketed to a new resident.

Debt Maturities

The following table summarizes the Company’s stated debt maturities and scheduled principal repayments at September 30, 2012 (in thousands):

Year	Term Loan(1)		Senior Unsecured Notes			Mortgage Debt			Total(2)
2012 (Three months)	$	—	$	—		$	8,715		$	8,715
2013	—		550,000			320,207			870,207
2014	—		487,000			184,495			671,495
2015	—		400,000			304,761			704,761
2016	221,214		900,000			293,175			1,414,389
Thereafter	—		3,600,000			584,762			4,184,762
	221,214		5,937,000			1,696,115			7,854,329
(Discounts) and premiums, net	—		(23,310		)	(11,601		)	(34,911		)
	$	221,214	$	5,913,690		$	1,684,514		$	7,819,418

(1)Represents £137 million translated into U.S. dollars as of September 30, 2012.

(2)Excludes $85 million of other debt that represents the Life Care Bonds that have no scheduled maturities.