EX-99 2 w67944exv99.htm PRESS RELEASE BY THE REGISTRANTS exv99
 

(LIBERTY PROPERTY TRUST LOGO)   Press Release
         
For Immediate Release
  Inquiries:   Jeanne A. Leonard
October 25, 2004
      Liberty Property Trust
      610/648-1704

LIBERTY PROPERTY TRUST ANNOUNCES
THIRD QUARTER RESULTS

Malvern, PA — Liberty Property Trust (NYSE:LRY) reported that net income per common share (diluted) decreased to $.46 per share for the quarter ended September 30, 2004, from $.49 per share (diluted) for the quarter ended September 30, 2003. For the nine month period ended September 30, 2004, net income per common share (diluted) was $1.35, compared to $1.59 for the same period in 2003.

Funds from operations available to common shareholders (diluted) (“FFO”) for the third quarter of 2004 decreased to $.81 per share from $.85 per share for the third quarter of 2003. FFO per share for the nine month period ended September 30, 2004 was $2.43 per share compared to $2.54 per share for the same period last year. FFO is a non-GAAP financial measure. A reconciliation of GAAP net income to FFO is included in the financial tables accompanying this press release.

Third quarter 2004 results include $2.7 million, or approximately $.03 per share, in termination fees.

“Liberty’s performance during the third quarter gives us cause for optimism. We leased a remarkable amount of space, renewed a record percentage of leases, tenant improvements and leasing costs were held in check, same store occupancy increased modestly, we were able to source more than $100 million of acquisitions and we started $33 million in developments,” commented Bill Hankowsky, Liberty’s chief executive officer. “But our optimism is tempered by what we know and what we don’t know about the future. We know that decreases in rental rates are continuing to offset occupancy gains we attain. We know that companies, including our tenants, continue to contract, consolidate, make do with less space and that they are reluctant to hire. What we do not know is when economic factors will shift to our favor. Until they do, significant growth may remain tantalizingly just out of reach. We therefore believe the most likely scenario for 2005 earnings is a very modest increase over 2004.”

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LRY Third Quarter 2004 Results
Page 2

 

Real Estate Investments

Development: During the third quarter, Liberty brought into service six development properties totaling 632,000 square feet and representing an investment of $35.5 million. These properties are 100 percent leased, at a yield of 10.6 percent.

Construction commenced on five new developments during the quarter, all of which are for inventory purposes and are not preleased. The properties include two distribution facilities in Greenville, SC totaling 134,400 square feet, a 130,000 square foot distribution facility in Suffolk, Virginia, an 83,200 square foot flex building in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, and a 77,100 square foot office building at the Navy Yard Corporate Center in Philadelphia. The total investment in these properties is projected to be $33.1 million.

As of quarter end, Liberty had 1.6 million square feet under development, representing a total investment of $146.6 million. These properties were 46.9 percent leased at September 30.

Acquisitions: During the quarter, Liberty acquired eight properties for $103.6 million. These properties contain 1.9 million square feet of leaseable space, are 67.5 percent leased, and have a projected stabilized yield of 8.5 percent. The properties include three distribution facilities in the Lehigh Valley totaling 1.4 million square feet, three industrial properties in Houston, Texas totaling 348,000 square feet, and a 59,000 square foot office building in Richmond, Virginia. Also purchased was a 125,000 square foot distribution facility for the Liberty/COPERA southern New Jersey industrial joint venture portfolio.

Dispositions: During the quarter, Liberty sold three properties containing 169,000 square feet of leaseable space for $6.3 million.

Portfolio Performance

Leasing: At September 30, Liberty’s in-service portfolio of 60.3 million square feet was 91.2 percent occupied, unchanged from the second quarter of 2004. During the quarter, Liberty completed lease transactions totaling over four million square feet of space.

Same Store Performance: Property level operating income for same store properties decreased by 0.7 percent on a cash basis and by 0.3 percent on a straight line basis for the quarter. For the nine month period ended September 30, property level operating income decreased by 0.8 percent both on a cash basis and on a straight line basis.

Dividend

During the quarter, Liberty increased its quarterly dividend by 0.8 percent to $0.61 per share.

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LRY Third Quarter 2004 Results
Page 3

 

Financing and Balance Sheet Management

During the quarter, Liberty issued $200 million of ten year 5.65 percent senior unsecured notes. The proceeds from this issuance were used to repay $100 million of 7.1% senior unsecured notes which matured on August 15, 2004, to pay down outstanding borrowings under the company’s unsecured credit facility, for the acquisition of properties and for general corporate purposes.

Liberty also reduced the rate on its $95 million Series B Preferred Units from 9.25% to 7.45%, effective August 31, 2004.

Earnings Outlook

Liberty expects to report funds from operations for 2004 in the range of $3.21-$3.23 per share, and for 2005 in the range of $3.20-$3.35 per share. A reconciliation of FFO to GAAP net income for both 2004 and 2005 is below:

                                 
    2004 Range
  2005 Range
    Low
  High
  Low
  High
Projected net income per share
  $ 1.77     $ 1.79     $ 1.67     $ 1.79  
Depreciation and amortization of unconsolidated joint ventures
    0.03       0.03       0.03       0.03  
Depreciation and amortization
    1.54       1.54       1.56       1.60  
Gain on property dispositions
    (0.05 )     (0.05 )           --  
Minority interest share of addbacks
    (0.08 )     (0.08 )     (0.06 )     (0.07 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Projected funds from operations per share
  $ 3.21     $ 3.23     $ 3.20     $ 3.35  

About the Company

Liberty Property Trust (NYSE:LRY) is a leading real estate company dedicated to enhancing people’s lives through extraordinary work environments. Liberty’s 60 million square foot portfolio of office and industrial properties offers exceptional locations, flexible design, thoughtful amenities, superior service, and state-of-the-art technology to the Company’s 2,100 tenants. Liberty increases the value of this portfolio through expert property management, marketing and development.

Additional information about the company, including Liberty’s Quarterly Supplemental Package with detailed financial information is available in the Investor 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 610-648-1708, or by e-mail to eshoemaker@libertyproperty.com.

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LRY Third Quarter 2004 Results
Page 4

 

Liberty will host a conference call during which management will discuss third quarter results, on Tuesday, October 26, 2004, at 2:00 p.m. eastern time. To access the conference call in the United States or Canada, please dial 1-888-870-2815. For international access, dial 706-643-7691. No password or code is needed. A replay of the call will be available by dialing 1-800-642-1687 for US/Canada participants or 706-645-9291 for international participants. A passcode is needed for the replay: 1069467. The call can also be accessed live via the Internet on the Investor Relations page of Liberty’s web site at www.libertyproperty.com for one week following the call.

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.

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Liberty Property Trust
Balance Sheet
September 30, 2004
(In thousands, except share amounts)

                 
    September 30, 2004
  December 31, 2003
Assets   (Unaudited)        
Real estate:
               
Land and land improvements
  $ 605,394     $ 564,332  
Building and improvements
    3,548,695       3,359,996  
Less: accumulated depreciation
    (668,823 )     (586,736 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Operating real estate
    3,485,266       3,337,592  

Development in progress

    82,263       56,869  
Land held for development
    170,390       162,483  
 
   
 
     
 
 

Net real estate

    3,737,919       3,556,944  
Cash and cash equivalents
    21,775       21,809  
Restricted cash
    21,803       15,292  
Accounts receivable
    19,688       14,508  
Deferred rent receivable
    66,278       58,015  
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization (2004, $100,676; 2003, $89,650)
    106,600       98,506  
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures
    23,348       19,631  
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    66,474       49,303  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total assets
  $ 4,063,885     $ 3,834,008  
 
   
 
     
 
 

Liabilities

               
Mortgage loans
  $ 371,433     $ 363,866  
Unsecured notes
    1,455,000       1,355,000  
Credit facility
    245,100       167,000  
Accounts payable
    39,165       14,685  
Accrued interest
    20,573       31,622  
Dividend payable
    54,230       52,384  
Other liabilities
    92,755       96,887  
 
   
 
     
 
 

Total liabilities

    2,278,256       2,081,444  
 
   
 
     
 
 

Minority interest

    206,693       207,667  

Shareholders’ Equity

               
Common shares of beneficial interest, $.001 par value, 191,200,000 shares authorized, 85,314,755 (includes 59,100 in treasury) and 83,071,491 (includes 59,100 in treasury) shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively
    86       83  
Additional paid-in capital
    1,693,743       1,623,446  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    16,759       14,710  
Unearned compensation
    (7,302 )     (3,497 )
Distributions in excess of net income
    (123,023 )     (88,518 )
Common shares in treasury, at cost, 59,100 shares as of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003
    (1,327 )     (1,327 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total shareholders’ equity
    1,578,936       1,544,897  

Total liabilities & shareholders’ equity

  $ 4,063,885     $ 3,834,008  
 
   
 
     
 
 

 


 

Liberty Property Trust
Statement of Operations
September 30, 2004
(Unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts)

                                 
    Quarter Ended
  Nine Months Ended
    September 30, 2004
  September 30, 2003
  September 30, 2004
  September 30, 2003

Operating Revenue

                               
Rental
  $ 117,519     $ 114,402     $ 352,755     $ 335,694  
Operating expense reimbursement
    47,748       42,983       137,901       127,234  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total operating revenue
    165,267       157,385       490,656       462,928  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

Operating Expenses

                               
Rental property
    33,951       30,429       101,867       90,712  
Real estate taxes
    17,464       16,287       48,851       46,374  
General and administrative
    8,549       6,541       25,094       20,748  
Depreciation and amortization
    34,068       30,639       100,891       90,372  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total operating expenses
    94,032       83,896       276,703       248,206  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

Operating Income

    71,235       73,489       213,953       214,722  

Other Income/Expense

                               
Interest and other
    1,096       1,509       4,237       5,707  
Interest
    (30,861 )     (31,086 )     (91,954 )     (92,576 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total other income/expense
    (29,765 )     (29,577 )     (87,717 )     (86,869 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

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

    41,470       43,912       126,236       127,853  
Gain (loss) on property dispositions
    128       (312 )     (280 )     292  
Income taxes
    (532 )     (526 )     (1,379 )     (1,587 )
Minority interest
    (4,360 )     (4,957 )     (13,480 )     (15,202 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures
    (143 )     440       (673 )     1,355  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

Income from continuing operations

    36,563       38,557       110,424       112,711  

Discontinued operations net of minority interest (including net gain on property dispositions of $2,166 and $418 for the quarters ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 and $4,263 and $11,668 for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2004 and 2003)

    2,916       552       5,082       13,014  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

Net Income

  $ 39,479     $ 39,109     $ 115,506     $ 125,725  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total basic income per common share
  $ 0.47     $ 0.50     $ 1.37     $ 1.61  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total diluted income per common share
  $ 0.46     $ 0.49     $ 1.35     $ 1.59  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

Weighted average shares

                               
Basic
    84,877       78,949       84,260       77,939  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Diluted
    86,327       80,317       85,747       79,164  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

 


 

Liberty Property Trust
Statement of Funds From Operations
September 30, 2004
(Unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts)

                                                                 
    Quarter Ended
  Nine Months Ended
    September 30, 2004
  September 30, 2003
  September 30, 2004
  September 30, 2003
            Per           Per           Per           Per
            Weighted           Weighted           Weighted           Weighted
            Average           Average           Average           Average
    Dollars
  Share
  Dollars
  Share
  Dollars
  Share
  Dollars
  Share

Reconciliation of net income to FFO — basic:

                                                               

Basic — income available to common shareholders

  $ 39,479     $ 0.47     $ 39,109     $ 0.50     $ 115,506     $ 1.37     $ 125,725     $ 1.61  
 
           
 
             
 
             
 
             
 
 

Adjustments:

                                                               
Depreciation and amortization of unconsolidated joint ventures
    567               168               2,011               495          
Depreciation and amortization
    33,411               30,162               98,897               89,408          
Gain on property dispositions
    (2,294 )             (106 )             (3,983 )             (11,377 )        
Minority interest share in addback for depreciation and amortization, and gain on property dispositions
    (1,305 )             (1,342 )             (4,032 )             (3,519 )        
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Funds from operations available to common shareholders — basic
  $ 69,858     $ 0.82     $ 67,991     $ 0.86     $ 208,399     $ 2.47     $ 200,732     $ 2.58  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Reconciliation of net income to FFO — diluted:

                                                               
Diluted — income available to common shareholders
  $ 39,479     $ 0.46     $ 39,109     $ 0.49     $ 115,506     $ 1.35     $ 125,725     $ 1.59  
 
           
 
             
 
             
 
             
 
 

Adjustments:

                                                               
Depreciation and amortization of unconsolidated joint ventures
    567               168               2,011               495          
Depreciation and amortization
    33,411               30,162               98,897               89,408          
Gain on property dispositions
    (2,294 )             (106 )             (3,983 )             (11,377 )        
Minority interest excluding preferred unit distributions
    1,689               1,843               4,993               5,953          
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Funds from operations available to common shareholders — diluted
  $ 72,852     $ 0.81     $ 71,176     $ 0.85     $ 217,424     $ 2.43     $ 210,204     $ 2.54  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Reconciliation of weighted average shares:

                                                               
Weighted average common shares — all basic calculations
    84,877               78,949               84,260               77,939          
Dilutive shares for long term compensation plans
    1,450               1,368               1,487               1,225          
 
   
 
             
 
             
 
             
 
         
Diluted shares for net income calculations
    86,327               80,317               85,747               79,164          
Weighted average common units
    3,668               3,698               3,679               3,691          
 
   
 
             
 
             
 
             
 
         
Diluted shares for funds from operations calculations
    89,995               84,015               89,426               82,855          
 
   
 
             
 
             
 
             
 
         

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 REIT’s 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.