EX-99.1 2 a16-3755_1ex99d1.htm EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

News Release

Inquiries: Jeanne Leonard, Liberty Property Trust, 610.648.1704

 

Liberty Property Trust Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results

 

Fourth quarter highlights include:

 

·                  Funds from Operations $0.65 per share

·                  2.5 million square feet of non-core, suburban office and flex properties sold for $265 million

·                  $75 million in developments delivered at a yield of 7.9%

·                  $108 million in new developments started at a projected stabilized yield of 8.5%

·                  Same store operating income increased by 2.6% over the 2014 fourth quarter

·                  Same store operating income for the industrial distribution portfolio increased by 6.5% over the 2014 fourth quarter

·                  Industrial distribution rents increased 8.8%

·                  197,000 shares repurchased for $6.3 million, an average price of $32.18 per share

 

Full year highlights include:

 

·                  Funds from Operations $2.69 per share

·                  Six million square feet of properties sold for $562 million

·                  $251 million in developments delivered at a yield of 8.2%

·                  $518 million in new developments started at a projected yield of 8.1%

·                  Same store operating income increased by 2.4% over 2014

·                  Same store operating income for the industrial distribution portfolio increased by 5.0% over 2014

·                  Industrial distribution rents increased by 9.4%

·                  2.3 million shares repurchased for $71.8 million, an average share price of $30.90 per share

 

Malvern, PA, February 9, 2016 - Liberty Property Trust reported that funds from operations available to common shareholders (diluted) (“FFO”) for the fourth quarter of 2015 was $0.65 per share, compared to $0.67 per share for the fourth quarter of 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2015, FFO per share was $2.69, compared to $2.48 for 2014.

 

Net income per share (diluted) was $0.54 for the fourth quarter of 2015 and $0.55 for the fourth quarter of 2014. Net income per share (diluted) for the full year 2015 was $1.60, compared with $1.47 for 2014.

 

“Even though the year has started with choppy financial markets, we continue to benefit from a very strong real estate market and we expect 2016 to be another very good year. This strength manifests itself in outstanding opportunities for leasing and development in our industrial portfolio and strong

 

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demand from the investment buyer universe. In addition, we continue to be encouraged by the strengthening office market in a resurgent Philadelphia,” said Bill Hankowsky, chairman, president, and chief executive officer.

 

Portfolio Performance

 

Occupancy: At December 31, 2015, Liberty’s in-service portfolio of 104 million square feet was 93.7% occupied, compared to 93.2% at the end of the third quarter of 2015. During the quarter, Liberty completed lease transactions totaling 7.0 million square feet of space. Liberty leased 29.2 million square feet of space in 2015.

 

Same Store Performance: Property level operating income for same store properties increased by 0.9% on a cash basis and by 2.6% on a straight line basis for the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to the same quarter in 2014 and increased by 1.6% on a cash basis and 2.4% on a straight line basis for the full year 2015 compared to 2014.

 

Real Estate Investments

 

Development Deliveries: In the fourth quarter, Liberty brought into service five development properties for a total investment of $75.3 million. The properties contain 678,000 square feet of leasable space and were 98.6% occupied as of the end of the quarter. The yield on these properties at December 31, 2015 was 7.9%.

 

Development Starts: In the fourth quarter, Liberty began development of five properties totaling 806,000 square feet of leasable space at a projected investment of $107.6 million. The properties include 311,000 square feet of office space that is 79% pre-leased and 496,000 square feet of industrial buildings for inventory:

 

·                  4485 Premier Drive, High Point, North Carolina, a 140,000 square foot distribution building, 57% pre-leased.

·                  3225 and 3525 Gravel Springs Road in Buford, Georgia, two distribution buildings totaling 356,000 square feet

·                  1050 Constitution Avenue, a 175,000 square foot office build-to-suit at The Navy Yard in Philadelphia, 100% leased

·                  1930 West Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, Arizona, a 136,000 square foot office building, 51% pre-leased.

 

Acquisitions: In the fourth quarter, Liberty acquired one industrial property in Shakopee, Minnesota, for $11.0 million. The 198,000 square foot distribution building was vacant as of December 31, 2015 and is expected to yield 7.3% at stabilization.

 

2



 

Real Estate Dispositions

 

During the fourth quarter, Liberty sold 45 operating properties which contained 3.2 million square feet of leasable space and 20.4 acres of land for $300.3 million. These properties were 87.0% leased at the time of sale. In addition, a joint venture in which Liberty holds a 25% interest sold one property, which contained 80,000 square feet of leasable space, for $5.0 million. The property was 38.5% leased at the time of sale.

 

Capital and Balance Sheet Activity

 

During the fourth quarter Liberty prepaid in full, without penalty, a $59.7 million, 7.5% mortgage loan due March 1, 2016 and satisfied $16.0 million in 3.4% unsecured notes due December 1, 2015.

 

Liberty also repurchased 197,000 common shares for $6.3 million, an average price of $32.18 per share.

 

About the Company

 

Liberty Property Trust (NYSE:LPT) 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 104 million square foot portfolio includes 691 properties which provide office, distribution and light manufacturing facilities to 1,600 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 fourth quarter and full year results, on Tuesday, February 9, 2016, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time.  To access the conference call, please dial 855-277-7530. The passcode needed for access is 70954606. A replay of the call will be available until March 9, 2016, 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.  These forward-looking statements include statements relating to, among others things, achievement of strategic targets, expectations for our operating results, business and financial condition, business and our growth prospects, as well as statements that are generally accompanied by words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates,” “should,” “seeks,” “intends,” “proposed,” “planned,” “outlook,” “remain confident,” and “goal” or similar expressions. 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-

 

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looking statements, these statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expected results.  These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, without limitation, uncertainties affecting real estate business generally (such as entry into new leases, renewals of leases and dependence on tenants’ business operations), risks relating to the integration of the operations of entities that we have acquired or may acquire, risks relating to our plans for disposing of certain properties, risks relating to financing arrangements and sales of securities, possible environmental liabilities, risks relating to leverage and debt service (including availability of financing terms acceptable to the company and sensitivity of the company’s operations and financing arrangements to fluctuations in interest rates), dependence on the primary markets in which the company’s properties are located, the existence of complex regulations relating to status as a REIT and the adverse consequences of the failure to qualify as a REIT, risks relating to litigation, including without limitation litigation involving entities that we have a acquired or may acquire, and the potential adverse impact of market interest rates on the market price for the company’s securities, 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.

 

# # #

 

4



 

Liberty Property Trust

Statement of Operations

December 31, 2015

(Unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

Quarter Ended

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

December 31, 2015

 

December 31, 2014

 

December 31, 2015

 

December 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rental

 

$

143,204

 

$

146,726

 

$

584,165

 

$

568,346

 

Operating expense reimbursement

 

56,178

 

56,959

 

224,608

 

224,285

 

Total operating revenue

 

199,382

 

203,685

 

808,773

 

792,631

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rental property

 

33,728

 

34,397

 

132,702

 

138,124

 

Real estate taxes

 

26,831

 

26,002

 

105,410

 

101,814

 

General and administrative

 

17,282

 

15,250

 

68,710

 

63,327

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

55,228

 

58,759

 

226,575

 

231,943

 

Impairment - real estate assets

 

1,126

 

117

 

18,244

 

117

 

Total operating expenses

 

134,195

 

134,525

 

551,641

 

535,325

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

65,187

 

69,160

 

257,132

 

257,306

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income/Expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest and other income

 

4,952

 

5,883

 

22,863

 

17,669

 

Interest expense

 

(32,484

)

(36,252

)

(135,779

)

(151,887

)

Total other income/expense

 

(27,532

)

(30,369

)

(112,916

)

(134,218

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

37,655

 

38,791

 

144,216

 

123,088

 

Gain on property dispositions

 

42,984

 

43,269

 

100,314

 

45,147

 

Income taxes

 

(620

)

(884

)

(3,233

)

(2,967

)

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures

 

2,344

 

3,017

 

3,149

 

10,314

 

Income from continuing operations

 

82,363

 

84,193

 

244,446

 

175,582

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discontinued operations (including net gain on property dispositions of $339 and $46,631 for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2014, respectively)

 

 

306

 

 

48,581

 

Net Income

 

82,363

 

84,499

 

244,446

 

224,163

 

Noncontrolling interest - operating partnerships

 

(2,041

)

(2,088

)

(6,158

)

(5,706

)

Noncontrolling interest - consolidated joint ventures

 

(78

)

(73

)

(249

)

(547

)

Net Income available to common shareholders

 

$

80,244

 

$

82,338

 

$

238,039

 

$

217,910

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

82,363

 

$

84,499

 

$

244,446

 

$

224,163

 

Other comprehensive loss - foreign currency translation

 

(5,204

)

(9,226

)

(11,433

)

(14,415

)

Other comprehensive income (loss) - derivative instruments

 

1,051

 

(971

)

(488

)

(1,961

)

Comprehensive income

 

78,210

 

74,302

 

232,525

 

207,787

 

Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

(2,022

)

(1,923

)

(6,127

)

(5,870

)

Comprehensive income attributable to common shareholders

 

$

76,188

 

$

72,379

 

$

226,398

 

$

201,917

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic income per common share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

0.55

 

$

0.55

 

$

1.61

 

$

1.16

 

Discontinued operations

 

$

 

$

0.01

 

$

 

$

0.32

 

Total basic income per common share

 

$

0.55

 

$

0.56

 

$

1.61

 

$

1.48

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted income per common share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

0.54

 

$

0.55

 

$

1.60

 

$

1.15

 

Discontinued operations

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

0.32

 

Total diluted income per common share

 

$

0.54

 

$

0.55

 

$

1.60

 

$

1.47

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

147,164

 

147,881

 

148,243

 

147,216

 

Diluted

 

147,730

 

148,519

 

148,843

 

147,886

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amounts attributable to common shareholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

80,244

 

$

82,039

 

$

238,039

 

$

170,471

 

Discontinued operations

 

 

299

 

 

47,439

 

Income available to common shareholders

 

$

80,244

 

$

82,338

 

$

238,039

 

$

217,910

 

 



 

Liberty Property Trust

Statement of Funds From Operations

December 31, 2015

(Unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

Quarter Ended

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

December 31, 2015

 

December 31, 2014

 

December 31, 2015

 

December 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

Per

 

 

 

Per

 

 

 

Per

 

 

 

Per

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Dollars

 

Share

 

Dollars

 

Share

 

Dollars

 

Share

 

Dollars

 

Share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of net income available to common shareholders to NAREIT FFO available to common shareholders - basic:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic - income available to common shareholders

 

$

80,244

 

$

0.55

 

$

82,338

 

$

0.56

 

$

238,039

 

$

1.61

 

$

217,910

 

$

1.48

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization of unconsolidated joint ventures

 

2,747

 

 

 

3,366

 

 

 

11,638

 

 

 

13,332

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

54,817

 

 

 

58,284

 

 

 

224,917

 

 

 

230,014

 

 

 

Gain on property dispositions / impairment - real estate assets of unconsolidated joint ventures

 

(11

)

 

 

 

 

 

11,305

 

 

 

(49

)

 

 

Gain on property dispositions / impairment - real estate assets

 

(41,858

)

 

 

(43,491

)

 

 

(82,070

)

 

 

(91,071

)

 

 

Noncontrolling interest share in addback for depreciation and amortization and gain on property dispositions / impairment - real estate assets

 

(367

)

 

 

(424

)

 

 

(3,845

)

 

 

(3,570

)

 

 

NAREIT Funds from operations available to common shareholders - basic

 

$

95,572

 

$

0.65

 

$

100,073

 

$

0.68

 

$

399,984

 

$

2.70

 

$

366,566

 

$

2.49

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of net income available to common shareholders to NAREIT FFO available to common shareholders - diluted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted - income available to common shareholders

 

$

80,244

 

$

0.54

 

$

82,338

 

$

0.55

 

$

238,039

 

$

1.60

 

$

217,910

 

$

1.47

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization of unconsolidated joint ventures

 

2,747

 

 

 

3,366

 

 

 

11,638

 

 

 

13,332

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

54,817

 

 

 

58,284

 

 

 

224,917

 

 

 

230,014

 

 

 

Gain on property dispositions / impairment - real estate assets of unconsolidated joint ventures

 

(11

)

 

 

 

 

 

11,305

 

 

 

(49

)

 

 

Gain on property dispositions / impairment - real estate assets

 

(41,858

)

 

 

(43,491

)

 

 

(82,070

)

 

 

(91,071

)

 

 

Noncontrolling interest excluding preferred unit distributions

 

1,923

 

 

 

1,970

 

 

 

5,686

 

 

 

5,234

 

 

 

NAREIT Funds from operations available to common shareholders - diluted

 

$

97,862

 

$

0.65

 

$

102,467

 

$

0.67

 

$

409,515

 

$

2.69

 

$

375,370

 

$

2.48

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of weighted average shares:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares - all basic calculations

 

147,164

 

 

 

147,881

 

 

 

148,243

 

 

 

147,216

 

 

 

Dilutive shares for long term compensation plans

 

566

 

 

 

638

 

 

 

600

 

 

 

670

 

 

 

Diluted shares for net income calculations

 

147,730

 

 

 

148,519

 

 

 

148,843

 

 

 

147,886

 

 

 

Weighted average common units

 

3,539

 

 

 

3,554

 

 

 

3,540

 

 

 

3,554

 

 

 

Diluted shares for NAREIT Funds from operations calculations

 

151,269

 

 

 

152,073

 

 

 

152,383

 

 

 

151,440

 

 

 

 

The Company believes that the calculation of NAREIT 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 NAREIT 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 NAREIT Funds from operations provides useful information to the investment community about the Company’s financial performance when compared to other REITs since NAREIT Funds from operations is generally recognized as the standard for reporting the operating performance of a REIT.  NAREIT 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. NAREIT 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. NAREIT 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

December 31, 2015

(Unaudited and in thousands, except share and unit amounts)

 

 

 

December 31, 2015

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Real estate:

 

 

 

 

 

Land and land improvements

 

$

1,184,927

 

$

1,188,774

 

Building and improvements

 

5,131,648

 

5,339,314

 

Less: accumulated depreciation

 

(1,148,928

)

(1,182,129

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating real estate

 

5,167,647

 

5,345,959

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Development in progress

 

360,948

 

277,411

 

Land held for development

 

336,967

 

269,059

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net real estate

 

5,865,562

 

5,892,429

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

35,353

 

69,346

 

Restricted cash

 

9,018

 

20,325

 

Accounts receivable

 

14,343

 

15,481

 

Deferred rent receivable

 

118,787

 

107,909

 

Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization (2015, $175,798; 2014, $156,462)

 

192,109

 

192,764

 

Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures

 

218,454

 

208,832

 

Assets held for sale

 

4,954

 

13,529

 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

 

99,049

 

91,399

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

6,557,629

 

$

6,612,014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage loans, net

 

$

307,908

 

$

484,852

 

Unsecured notes, net

 

2,580,108

 

2,498,021

 

Credit facility

 

259,000

 

167,000

 

Accounts payable

 

51,382

 

52,043

 

Accrued interest

 

26,154

 

24,513

 

Dividend and distributions payable

 

71,787

 

72,253

 

Other liabilities

 

243,806

 

219,418

 

Total liabilities

 

3,540,145

 

3,518,100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noncontrolling interest - operating partnership - 301,483 preferred units outstanding as of December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

7,537

 

7,537

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

Common shares of beneficial interest, $.001 par value, 283,987,000 shares authorized, 147,577,984 and 148,557,270 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively

 

148

 

149

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

3,669,627

 

3,688,644

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(17,893

)

(6,252

)

Distributions in excess of net income

 

(698,954

)

(654,869

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

2,952,928

 

3,027,672

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noncontrolling interest - operating partnership 3,539,075 and 3,553,566 common units outstanding as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively

 

53,100

 

54,786

 

Noncontrolling interest - consolidated joint ventures

 

3,919

 

3,919

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total equity

 

3,009,947

 

3,086,377

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities, noncontrolling interest - operating partnership and equity

 

$

6,557,629

 

$

6,612,014