MALVERN, Pa., Feb. 3, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Liberty Property Trust (NYSE:LPT) reported that funds from operations available to common shareholders (diluted) ("FFO") for the fourth quarter of 2014 was $0.67 per share, compared to $0.63 per share for the fourth quarter of 2013.
For the year ended December 31, 2014, FFO per share was $2.48, which included acquisition expenses of $0.005 per share. This compares to FFO of $2.49 per share for 2013, which included acquisition expenses of $0.08 per share.
Net income per common share (diluted) was $0.55 per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2014, compared to $0.48 per share (diluted) for the quarter ended December 31, 2013. Net income for the full year 2014 was $1.47 per common share (diluted), compared with $1.60 per share (diluted) for 2013. Net income for 2014 reflects gain on sale of $0.62 per share, compared with $0.73 per share for 2013.
"Real estate markets continue to perform well, capping a strong 2014 performance. Our portfolio clearly benefited from the positive trends, exhibiting solid occupancy gains and rent increases in the fourth quarter," said Bill Hankowsky, chairman and chief executive officer. "We also continue to see solid opportunities for value creation, as evidenced by the growth in the development pipeline this quarter."
Portfolio Performance
Occupancy: At December 31, 2014, Liberty's in-service portfolio of 106 million square feet was 93.0% occupied, compared to 92.3% at the end of the third quarter. During the quarter, Liberty completed lease transactions totaling 5.3 million square feet of space. Liberty leased 25.0 million square feet in 2014.
Same Store Performance: Property level operating income for same store properties decreased by 0.7% on a cash basis and by 0.8% on a straight line basis for the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to the same quarter in 2013 and decreased by 1.0% on both a cash and straight line basis for the full year 2014 compared to 2013.
Real Estate Investments
Development Deliveries: In the fourth quarter,Liberty brought into service two wholly-owned distribution development properties for a total investment of $55.2 million. The properties contain 956,000 square feet of leasable space and were 100% leased as of December 31, 2014. The current yield on these properties is 8.2%.
A joint venture in which Liberty holds a 25% interest brought into service one distribution property for a total investment of $15.8 million. The property contains 203,000 square feet and is 100% leased at a current yield of 8.8%.
Development Starts: During the quarter, Liberty began development of five properties for a projected investment of $98.3 million. The properties consist of:
- 11150 NW 122nd Street, Medley, FL, a 140,400 square foot distribution facility, 100% pre-leased
- 1720 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, AZ, a 92,000 square foot office building, 100% pre-leased
- 4701 League Island Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA, a 75,777 square foot flex building, 100% pre-leased
- 130 Caliber Ridge Drive, Greer, SC, a 156,000 square foot distribution building
- 1200 Intrepid Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, a 93,572 square foot office building
In addition to wholly-owned starts, a joint venture in which the company holds a 50% interest began development of two properties containing 369,000 square feet for a projected investment of $20.5 million. The properties consist of:
- 10670 Central Port Drive, Orlando, FL, a 196,302 square foot distribution building, 73% pre-leased
- 2307 Tradeport Drive, Orlando, FL, a 173,000 square foot distribution building
Acquisitions: During the quarter,Liberty acquired one operating property for $27.3 million. 1920 West Baseline Road is a 374,000 square foot distribution building in Rialto, CA. The property is currently vacant.
Real Estate Dispositions
During the fourth quarter,Liberty sold 13 properties, containing 1.5 million square feet of leasable space, for $201.2 million. The properties were 97.5% leased at the time of the sale and consist of five multi-tenant industrial buildings in Houston, TX; four office properties at Maitland Center in Orlando, FL; an office property in Minneapolis, MN; two office buildings in Horsham, PA; and a distribution building in Philadelphia, PA.
Subsequent Events
Comcast Corporation has notified Liberty that it intends to exercise its right to lease the entirety of the office space in the Comcast Innovation and Technology Center being developed in Philadelphia. Comcast had previously committed to lease approximately 74% of the office space in the building, but has rights to expand its lease to include all of the office space. Liberty and Comcast are working together to document this expansion of the Comcast lease.
Comcast Innovation & Technology Center is a 59-story tower in center city Philadelphia. It is currently under construction and will be completed in the first quarter of 2018. Owned by a joint venture between Comcast Corporation and Liberty Property Trust and developed by Liberty, it will include 1.3 million square feet of office space and a 222-room Four Seasons Hotel.
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 106 million square foot portfolio includes more than 750 properties which provide office, distribution and light manufacturing facilities to 1,900 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 results, on Tuesday, February 3, 2015, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time. To access the conference call, please dial 855-277-7530. The passcode needed for access is 70954560. A replay of the call will be available until March 3, 2015, 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, future asset dispositions, 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" 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-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 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.
| Liberty Property Trust | ||||
| Statement of Operations | ||||
| December 31, 2014 | ||||
| (Unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts) | ||||
| Quarter Ended | Year Ended | |||
| December 31, 2014 | December 31, 2013 | December 31, 2014 | December 31, 2013 | |
| Operating Revenue | ||||
| Rental | $ 146,726 | $ 136,148 | $ 568,346 | $ 458,081 |
| Operating expense reimbursement | 56,959 | 56,279 | 224,285 | 187,849 |
| Total operating revenue | 203,685 | 192,427 | 792,631 | 645,930 |
| Operating Expenses | ||||
| Rental property | 34,397 | 35,074 | 138,124 | 114,617 |
| Real estate taxes | 26,002 | 24,126 | 101,814 | 79,918 |
| General and administrative | 15,250 | 21,098 | 63,327 | 74,564 |
| Depreciation and amortization | 58,759 | 59,878 | 231,943 | 173,784 |
| Total operating expenses | 134,408 | 140,176 | 535,208 | 442,883 |
| Operating Income | 69,277 | 52,251 | 257,423 | 203,047 |
| Other Income/Expense | ||||
| Interest and other | 5,883 | 4,286 | 17,669 | 18,555 |
| Interest | (36,252) | (37,701) | (151,887) | (127,115) |
| Total other income/expense | (30,369) | (33,415) | (134,218) | (108,560) |
| Income before property dispositions, income taxes, noncontrolling interest and equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures | 38,908 | 18,836 | 123,205 | 94,487 |
| Gain on property dispositions | 43,152 | -- | 45,030 | -- |
| Income taxes | (884) | (1,019) | (2,967) | (2,799) |
| Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures | 3,017 | 2,094 | 10,314 | 6,067 |
| Income from continuing operations | 84,193 | 19,911 | 175,582 | 97,755 |
| Discontinued operations (including net gains on property dispositions of $339 and $46,017 for the quarters ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively and $46,631 and $95,384 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively) | 306 | 51,832 | 48,581 | 121,839 |
| Net Income | 84,499 | 71,743 | 224,163 | 219,594 |
| Noncontrolling interest - operating partnerships | (2,088) | (1,809) | (5,706) | (9,203) |
| Noncontrolling interest - consolidated joint ventures | (73) | (247) | (547) | (653) |
| Net Income available to common shareholders | $ 82,338 | $ 69,687 | $ 217,910 | $ 209,738 |
| Net income | $ 84,499 | $ 71,743 | $ 224,163 | $ 219,594 |
| Other comprehensive (loss) income - foreign currency translation | (9,226) | 5,282 | (14,415) | 5,397 |
| Other comprehensive (loss) income - change in net unrealized gain on derivative instruments | (971) | 1,584 | (1,961) | 1,584 |
| Comprehensive income | 74,302 | 78,609 | 207,787 | 226,575 |
| Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest | (1,923) | (2,219) | (5,870) | (9,995) |
| Comprehensive income attributable to common shareholders | $ 72,379 | $ 76,390 | $ 201,917 | $ 216,580 |
| Basic income per common share | ||||
| Continuing operations | $ 0.55 | $ 0.13 | $ 1.16 | $ 0.70 |
| Discontinued operations | $ 0.01 | $ 0.35 | $ 0.32 | $ 0.91 |
| Total basic income per common share | $ 0.56 | $ 0.48 | $ 1.48 | $ 1.61 |
| Diluted income per common share | ||||
| Continuing operations | $ 0.55 | $ 0.13 | $ 1.15 | $ 0.70 |
| Discontinued operations | $ -- | $ 0.35 | $ 0.32 | $ 0.90 |
| Total diluted income per common share | $ 0.55 | $ 0.48 | $ 1.47 | $ 1.60 |
| Weighted average shares | ||||
| Basic | 147,881 | 145,865 | 147,216 | 130,180 |
| Diluted | 148,519 | 146,498 | 147,886 | 130,909 |
| Amounts attributable to common shareholders | ||||
| Income from continuing operations | $ 82,039 | $ 19,083 | $ 170,471 | $ 91,274 |
| Discontinued operations | 299 | 50,604 | 47,439 | 118,464 |
| Net income | $ 82,338 | $ 69,687 | $ 217,910 | $ 209,738 |
| Liberty Property Trust | ||||||||
| Statement of Funds From Operations | ||||||||
| December 31, 2014 | ||||||||
| (Unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts) | ||||||||
| Quarter Ended | Year Ended | |||||||
| December 31, 2014 | December 31, 2013 | December 31, 2014 | December 31, 2013 | |||||
| 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 | $ 82,338 | $ 0.56 | $ 69,687 | $ 0.48 | $ 217,910 | $ 1.48 | $ 209,738 | $ 1.61 |
| Adjustments: | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization of unconsolidated joint ventures | 3,366 | 3,061 | 13,332 | 13,152 | ||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 58,284 | 66,313 | 230,014 | 201,731 | ||||
| Gain on property dispositions | (43,491) | (46,324) | (91,120) | (94,934) | ||||
| Noncontrolling interest share in addback for depreciation and amortization and gain on property dispositions | (424) | (546) | (3,570) | (3,171) | ||||
| Funds from operations available to common shareholders - basic | $ 100,073 | $ 0.68 | $ 92,191 | $ 0.63 | $ 366,566 | $ 2.49 | $ 326,516 | $ 2.51 |
| Reconciliation of net income to FFO - diluted: | ||||||||
| Diluted - income available to common shareholders | $ 82,338 | $ 0.55 | $ 69,687 | $ 0.48 | $ 217,910 | $ 1.47 | $ 209,738 | $ 1.60 |
| Adjustments: | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization of unconsolidated joint ventures | 3,366 | 3,061 | 13,332 | 13,152 | ||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 58,284 | 66,313 | 230,014 | 201,731 | ||||
| Gain on property dispositions | (43,491) | (46,324) | (91,120) | (94,934) | ||||
| Noncontrolling interest excluding preferred unit distributions | 1,970 | 1,691 | 5,234 | 5,848 | ||||
| Funds from operations available to common shareholders - diluted | $ 102,467 | $ 0.67 | $ 94,428 | $ 0.63 | $ 375,370 | $ 2.48 | $ 335,535 | $ 2.49 |
| Reconciliation of weighted average shares: | ||||||||
| Weighted average common shares - all basic calculations | 147,881 | 145,865 | 147,216 | 130,180 | ||||
| Dilutive shares for long term compensation plans | 638 | 633 | 670 | 729 | ||||
| Diluted shares for net income calculations | 148,519 | 146,498 | 147,886 | 130,909 | ||||
| Weighted average common units | 3,554 | 3,595 | 3,554 | 3,678 | ||||
| Diluted shares for Funds from operations calculations | 152,073 | 150,093 | 151,440 | 134,587 | ||||
| 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 | ||
| December 31, 2014 | ||
| (Unaudited and in thousands, except share and unit amounts) | ||
| December 31, 2014 | December 31, 2013 | |
| Assets | ||
| Real estate: | ||
| Land and land improvements | $ 1,189,760 | $ 1,137,897 |
| Building and improvements | 5,342,597 | 5,129,702 |
| Less: accumulated depreciation | (1,181,364) | (1,051,593) |
| Operating real estate | 5,350,993 | 5,216,006 |
| Development in progress | 277,411 | 209,187 |
| Land held for development | 269,059 | 233,055 |
| Net real estate | 5,897,463 | 5,658,248 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 69,346 | 163,414 |
| Restricted cash | 20,325 | 51,456 |
| Accounts receivable | 15,482 | 13,900 |
| Deferred rent receivable | 107,909 | 99,797 |
| Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization (2014, $169,468; 2013, $140,461) | 206,286 | 226,067 |
| Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures | 208,832 | 179,655 |
| Assets held for sale | 8,495 | 287,183 |
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | 89,474 | 95,840 |
| Total assets | $ 6,623,612 | $ 6,775,560 |
| Liabilities | ||
| Mortgage loans | $ 487,301 | $ 545,306 |
| Unsecured notes | 2,509,094 | 2,708,213 |
| Credit facility | 167,000 | -- |
| Accounts payable | 52,043 | 70,406 |
| Accrued interest | 24,513 | 25,777 |
| Dividend and distributions payable | 72,253 | 71,323 |
| Other liabilities | 217,494 | 250,819 |
| Total liabilities | 3,529,698 | 3,671,844 |
| Noncontrolling interest - operating partnership - 301,483 preferred units outstanding as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 | 7,537 | 7,537 |
| Equity | ||
| Shareholders' equity: | ||
| Common shares of beneficial interest, $.001 par value, 283,987,000 shares authorized, 149,807,179 (includes 1,249,909 in treasury) and 147,846,801 (includes 1,249,909 in treasury) shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively | 150 | 148 |
| Additional paid-in capital | 3,740,594 | 3,669,618 |
| Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income | (6,252) | 9,742 |
| Distributions in excess of net income | (654,869) | (591,713) |
| Common shares in treasury, at cost, 1,249,909 shares as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 | (51,951) | (51,951) |
| Total shareholders' equity | 3,027,672 | 3,035,844 |
| Noncontrolling interest - operating partnership 3,553,566 and 3,556,566 common units outstanding as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively | 54,786 | 56,713 |
| Noncontrolling interest - consolidated joint ventures | 3,919 | 3,622 |
| Total equity | 3,086,377 | 3,096,179 |
| Total liabilities, noncontrolling interest - operating partnership & equity | $ 6,623,612 | $ 6,775,560 |