EX-99.1 2 w73765exv99w1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 exv99w1
Exhibit 99.1
(LIBERTY LOGO)   Press Release
         
For Immediate Release
    Inquiries:           Jeanne A. Leonard
 
      Liberty Property Trust
 
      610/648-1704
LIBERTY PROPERTY TRUST ANNOUNCES
FIRST QUARTER RESULTS
Malvern, PA, April 27, 2009 — Liberty Property Trust (NYSE:LRY) reported that net income per common share (diluted) was $0.28 per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, compared to $0.33 per share (diluted) for the quarter ended March 31, 2008.
Funds from operations available to common shareholders (diluted) (“FFO”) for the first quarter of 2009 was $0.72 per share, compared to $0.80 per share for the first quarter of 2008. A reconciliation of GAAP net income to FFO is included in the financial tables accompanying this press release. Funds from operations for the first quarter include a debt extinguishment gain of $0.5 million; termination fees of $0.3 million, and an impairment charge of $0.7 million. Earnings also include $3.8 million ($.04 per share) of additional expense compared to the first quarter of 2008 primarily relating to the accelerated vesting of long term incentive compensation due to the years of service and age of certain employees who are now in excess of threshold levels.
“During the first quarter, Liberty further strengthened our solid financial position by accessing both the equity and debt markets,” said Bill Hankowsky, chief executive officer. “However, these capital activities came at a cost, which will affect our earnings performance for the year. This dilution, combined in roughly equal parts with the continued erosion of fundamentals in the office/industrial real estate sector due to macro-economic forces, lead us to update previously issued guidance for 2009 funds from operations to a new range of $2.70 — $2.90.”
Capital Activities and Balance Sheet Management
Common Share Sales: During the first quarter of 2009, Liberty sold 4.6 million shares pursuant to a continuous offering program, generating net proceeds of $91.8 million.
Senior Note Obligations: During the quarter, Liberty purchased $11.4 million of its April 2009 Senior Notes and $6.9 million of its August 2010 Senior Notes. These notes were purchased at a $0.5 million discount. This discount is included in FFO as a debt extinguishment gain. Liberty repaid $20 million of 8.125% medium term notes which matured on January 15, 2009.
Secured Financing: During the quarter, Liberty closed on $317 million in mortgage loans. The weighted average interest rate on this financing is 7.1%.
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Liberty Property Trust
First Quarter Earnings -2-
Property Sales: Liberty sold six operating properties, which contained 296,000 square feet of leaseable space, and 0.3 acres of land for $45.6 million.
Portfolio Performance
Leasing: At March 31, 2009 Liberty’s in-service portfolio of 76.7 million square feet was 90.1% occupied, compared to 91.3% at the end of last year. During the quarter, Liberty completed lease transactions totaling 2.8 million square feet of space.
Same Store Performance: Property level operating income for same store properties increased by 1.8% on a cash basis and increased by 1.9 % on a straight line basis for the first quarter of 2009 compared to the same quarter in 2008.
Real Estate Investments
Development: During the first quarter, Liberty brought into service one development property totaling 90,000 square feet for a total investment of $15.7 million. This property is 85.9% occupied at a current yield of 8.3%, and a projected stabilized yield of 9.2%. No development projects were commenced during the quarter.
As of March 31, 2009, Liberty had 4.4 million square feet of wholly-owned and joint venture properties under development. This activity represents a total projected investment of $550.9 million, with an expected yield of 7.7%. The properties were 55.5% leased at March 31.
Acquisitions: Liberty acquired no properties during the quarter.
2009 Guidance
Liberty is updating previously-issued earnings guidance. Liberty now expects to report funds from operations for 2009 in the range of $2.70-$2.90 per share. A reconciliation of FFO to GAAP net income is below:
                 
    2009   Range
    Low   High
Projected net income per share
   $ 0 .84     $ 1.04  
Depreciation and amortization of unconsolidated joint ventures
     0.16       0.18  
Depreciation and amortization
     1.82       1.85  
Gain on property dispositions
     (0.05 )     (0.10 )
Minority interest share of addbacks
     (0.07 )     (0.07 )
 
                
Projected funds from operations per share
   $ 2.70     $ 2.90  
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Liberty Property Trust
First Quarter Earnings -3-
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 77 million square foot portfolio includes more than 700 properties which provide office, distribution and light manufacturing facilities to 2,100 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 28, 2009, at Noon 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: 95635249. The call can also be accessed via the Internet on the Investors page of Liberty’s web site at www.libertyproperty.com for two weeks 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
Statement of Operations
March 31, 2009
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
                 
    Quarter Ended  
    March 31, 2009     March 31, 2008  
    (Unaudited)  
Operating Revenue
                
Rental
   $ 130,780     $ 132,899  
Operating expense reimbursement
     58,440       56,571  
 
            
Total operating revenue
     189,220       189,470  
 
            
 
                
Operating Expenses
                
Rental property
     39,372       38,905  
Real estate taxes
     22,446       20,454  
General and administrative
     15,576       14,037  
Depreciation and amortization
     43,553       43,063  
 
            
Total operating expenses
     120,947       116,459  
 
            
 
                
Operating Income
     68,273       73,011  
 
                
Other Income/Expense
                
Interest and other
     3,106       3,091  
Debt extinguishment gain
     529       —  
Interest
     (38,429 )     (41,690 )
 
            
Total other income/expense
     (34,794 )     (38,599 )
 
            
 
                
Income before property dispositions, income taxes, minority interest and equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures
     33,479       34,412  
(Loss) gain on property dispositions
     (294 )     641  
Income taxes
     (217 )     (484 )
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures
     417       377  
 
            
 
                
Income from continuing operations
     33,385       34,946  
 
                
Discontinued operations (including net gain on property dispositions of $199 and $610 for the quarters ended March 31, 2009 and 2008)
     457       1,450  
 
            
Net Income
     33,842       36,396  
Less: Net income attributable to minority interest
     (5,953 )     (6,435 )
 
            
Net Income available to common shareholders
   $ 27,889     $ 29,961  
 
            
 
                
Basic income per common share
                
Continuing operations
   $ 0.28     $ 0.31  
 
            
Discontinued operations
   $ —     $ 0.02  
 
            
Total basic income per common share
   $ 0.28     $ 0.33  
 
            
 
                
Diluted income per common share
                
Continuing operations
   $ 0.28     $ 0.31  
 
            
Discontinued operations
   $ —     $ 0.02  
 
            
Total diluted income per common share
   $ 0.28     $ 0.33  
 
            
 
                
Weighted average shares
                
Basic
     100,681       91,779  
 
            
Diluted
     100,960       91,943  
 
            
 
                
Amounts attributable to common shareholders
                
Income from continuing operations
   $ 27,449     $ 28,574  
Discontinued operations
     440       1,387  
 
            
Net income
   $ 27,889     $ 29,961  
 
            

 

 

Liberty Property Trust
Statement of Funds From Operations
March 31, 2009
(Unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts)
                                 
    Quarter Ended  
    March 31, 2009     March 31, 2008  
            Per             Per  
            Weighted             Weighted  
            Average             Average  
    Dollars     Share     Dollars     Share  
         
Reconciliation of net income to FFO — basic:
                                
Basic — income available to common shareholders
   $ 27,889     $ 0.28     $ 29,961     $ 0.33  
 
                            
 
                                
Adjustments:
                                
Depreciation and amortization of unconsolidated joint ventures
     3,990               3,548          
Depreciation and amortization
     43,022               43,378          
Gain on property dispositions
     (308 )             (968 )        
Minority interest share in addback for depreciation and amortization and gain on property dispositions
     (1,737 )             (1,995 )        
         
Funds from operations available to common shareholders — basic
   $ 72,856     $ 0.72     $ 73,924     $ 0.81  
         
 
                                
Reconciliation of net income to FFO — diluted:
                                
Diluted — income available to common shareholders
   $ 27,889     $ 0.28     $ 29,961     $ 0.33  
 
                            
 
                                
Adjustments:
                                
Depreciation and amortization of unconsolidated joint ventures
     3,990               3,548          
Depreciation and amortization
     43,022               43,378          
Gain on property dispositions
     (308 )             (968 )        
Minority interest excluding preferred unit distributions
     1,064               1,352          
         
Funds from operations available to common shareholders — diluted
   $ 75,657     $ 0.72     $ 77,271     $ 0.80  
         
 
                                
Reconciliation of weighted average shares:
                                
Weighted average common shares — all basic calculations
     100,681               91,779          
Dilutive shares for long term compensation plans
     279               164          
 
                            
Diluted shares for net income calculations
     100,960               91,943          
Weighted average common units
     4,021               4,190          
 
                            
Diluted shares for funds from operations calculations
     104,981               96,133          
 
                            
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, 2009
(In thousands, except share amounts)
                 
    March 31, 2009     December 31, 2008  
    (unaudited)          
Assets
                
Real estate:
                
Land and land improvements
   $ 815,353     $ 810,486  
Building and improvements
     4,268,952       4,245,427  
Less: accumulated depreciation
     (1,015,130 )     (979,171 )
 
            
 
                
Operating real estate
     4,069,175       4,076,742  
 
                
Development in progress
     260,520       245,463  
Land held for development
     201,419       209,551  
 
            
 
                
Net real estate
     4,531,114       4,531,756  
   
Cash and cash equivalents
     135,847       15,794  
Restricted cash
     28,234       39,726  
Accounts receivable
     6,406       12,985  
Deferred rent receivable
     87,785       84,916  
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization (2009, $146,617; 2008, $140,206)
     135,720       133,664  
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures
     253,073       266,602  
Assets held for sale
     15,487       49,125  
Prepaid expenses and other assets
     79,028       82,467  
 
            
   
Total assets
   $ 5,272,694     $ 5,217,035  
 
            
 
                
Liabilities
                
Mortgage loans
   $ 474,869     $ 198,560  
Unsecured notes
     2,093,301       2,131,607  
Credit facility
     —       260,000  
Accounts payable
     40,054       32,481  
Accrued interest
     36,485       36,474  
Dividend and distributions payable
     51,350       48,858  
Other liabilities
     172,589       182,549  
 
            
   
Total liabilities
     2,868,648       2,890,529  
 
            
 
                
Equity
                
Shareholders’ equity:
                
Common shares of beneficial interest, $.001 par value, 183,987,000 shares authorized, 105,307,649 (includes 1,249,909 in treasury) and 100,034,404 (includes 1,249,909 in treasury) shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively
     106       101  
Additional paid-in capital
     2,264,569       2,162,820  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
     (6,682 )     (5,378 )
Distributions in excess of net income
     (207,276 )     (185,721 )
Common shares in treasury, at cost, 1,249,909 shares as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008
     (51,951 )     (51,951 )
 
            
Total shareholders’ equity
     1,998,766       1,919,871  
 
                
Minority interest — operating partnership
     404,514       405,505  
Minority interest — consolidated joint ventures
     766       1,130  
 
            
 
                
Total equity
     2,404,046       2,326,506  
 
            
 
                
Total liabilities & equity
   $ 5,272,694     $ 5,217,035