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News Release

Inquiries: Jeanne Leonard, Liberty Property Trust, 610.648.1704

 

Liberty Property Trust Announces Third Quarter 2019 Results

 

Wayne, PA, October 27, 2019 - Liberty Property Trust (NYSE: LPT) announced financial and operating results for the third quarter of 2019.

 

Financial Results

Net Income: Net income available to common shareholders was $0.66 per diluted share for the third quarter of 2019, compared to $1.01 per diluted share for the same period in 2018. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, net income available to common shareholders was $1.70 per diluted share, compared to $2.09 per diluted share for the same period in 2018.

 

Net income for the third quarter and first nine months of 2019 reflects gain on property dispositions net of impairments (including the Company’s share of impairment in unconsolidated joint ventures) of $49.8 million and $109.3 million, respectively, as compared to $96.9 million and $239.4 million, respectively, for the comparative periods in 2018. Net income for first nine months of 2018 includes $86.0 million in charges for the Comcast Technology Center and Camden Waterfront projects.

 

NAREIT FFO* available to common shareholders was $0.69 per diluted share for the third quarters of both 2019 and 2018. FFO for the third quarter of 2019 includes gains on sales of non-depreciable assets, partially offset by expensed pursuit costs, totaling $6.4 million, or $0.04 per diluted share.

 

NAREIT FFO* available to common shareholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $2.00 per diluted share, compared to $1.46 per diluted share for the first nine months of 2018. FFO for the first nine months of 2018 includes $86.0 million, or $0.57 per diluted share, in charges for the Comcast and Camden projects discussed above.

 

Industrial Operating Performance

Occupancy: At September 30, 2019, Liberty’s in-service operating portfolio of 107.0 million square feet was 94.6% occupied, compared to 95.2% at the end of the second quarter of 2019.

 

Leasing Activity: During the quarter, Liberty completed core lease transactions totaling 6.2 million square feet. Rents on retention and replacement leases commenced during the quarter increased 5.4% on a cash basis (16.0% GAAP).

 

Liberty Property Trust Announces 3Q 2019 Results

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Same Store Performance: Property level operating income for same store properties increased by 0.1% on a cash basis (0.3% GAAP) for the third quarter of 2019, compared to the same quarter in 2018.

 

Real Estate Investments

 

Development Deliveries: Liberty brought into service six industrial properties for a total investment of $193.6 million. The properties contain 3.0 million square feet and were 59.5% occupied as of the end of the quarter. Completed development also includes a 219-room Four Seasons Hotel for a total investment of $231.9 million which was developed by a joint venture in which Liberty has a 20% interest.

 

Development Starts: Development commenced on five industrial properties totaling 1.1 million square feet at a projected investment of $99.2 million.

 

Acquisitions: Liberty acquired a fully leased industrial property in the South Bay submarket of Los Angeles, totaling 203,000 square feet for $55.5 million.

 

Real Estate Dispositions

Liberty sold six properties totaling 763,000 square feet for $197.3 million. The properties sold included two flex industrial properties in suburban Philadelphia for $30 million and a 136,000 square foot industrial building in Morrisville, NC, sold to the user for $14.1 million. The remaining dispositions were office properties including a 291,000 square foot office building in Washington DC for $92.5 million, and two office buildings at the Philadelphia Navy Yard totaling 156,000 square feet for $60.7 million.

 

Subsequent to quarter end, Liberty sold 7075 Flying Cloud Drive, a 345,000 square foot office property in (plus 17 acres of adjacent land), Eden Prairie, MN for $28.6 million.

 

Balance Sheet Management

In September 2019, Liberty completed the sale of 9.2 million common shares, generating proceeds of $447.9 million. Proceeds of the offering were used to fund the early redemption on October 12 of Liberty’s $350 million 4.75% senior notes due October 2020. In conjunction with such early redemption, the Company incurred charges of approximately $9 million.

 

Third Quarter Conference Call and Earnings Guidance

Due to Liberty’s proposed merger announced today, Liberty’s third quarter 2019 conference call is canceled, and the Company will no longer provide earnings guidance. 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.

 

Liberty Property Trust Announces 3Q 2019 Results

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*Funds from Operations: Liberty uses the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts’ (“NAREIT”) definition of Funds from Operations (“FFO”) as an operating measure of the company’s financial performance. A reconciliation of U.S. GAAP (“GAAP”) net income to NAREIT FFO is included in the financial data tables accompanying this press release.

 

About the Company

Liberty Property Trust 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 logistics, warehouse, manufacturing, and R&D facilities in key markets. Liberty's 112 million square foot operating portfolio provides productive work environments to 1,200 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.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

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 other 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-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 our ability to maintain and increase property occupancy and rental rates, risks relating to the continued repositioning of the Company's portfolio, risks relating to construction and development activities, risks relating to acquisition and disposition activities, risks relating to the integration of the operations of entities that we have acquired or may acquire, risks relating to joint venture relationships and any possible need to perform under certain guarantees that we have issued or may issue in connection with such relationships, risks related to properties developed by the Company on a fee basis, risks associated with tax abatement, tax credit programs, or other government incentives, 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 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.

 

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Liberty Property Trust Announces 3Q 2019 Results

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Liberty Property Trust

Balance Sheet

September 30, 2019

(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

   September 30, 2019   December 31, 2018 
Assets          
  Real estate:          
    Land and land improvements  $1,393,474   $1,236,514 
    Building and improvements   4,785,171    4,397,049 
    Less: accumulated depreciation   (1,040,249)   (941,299)
           
  Operating real estate   5,138,396    4,692,264 
           
  Development in progress   323,790    462,572 
  Land held for development   303,440    296,244 
           
  Net real estate   5,765,626    5,451,080 
           
  Cash and cash equivalents   514,882    84,923 
  Restricted cash   14,006    10,899 
  Accounts receivable   16,975    14,109 
  Deferred rent receivable   124,509    111,372 
  Deferred financing and leasing costs, net   162,235    157,823 
  Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures   347,880    350,981 
  Assets held for sale   226,504    502,207 
  Right of use asset   17,664     
  Prepaid expenses and other assets   148,451    251,000 
           
  Total assets  $7,338,732   $6,934,394 
           
Liabilities          
           
  Mortgage loans, net  $297,326   $395,202 
  Unsecured notes, net   2,633,941    2,285,698 
  Credit facilities   100,000    411,846 
  Accounts payable   54,953    62,943 
  Accrued interest   36,530    22,309 
  Dividend and distributions payable   65,921    60,560 
  Lease liability   18,379     
  Other liabilities   204,963    270,396 
  Liabilities held for sale   15,939    21,131 
  Total liabilities   3,427,952    3,530,085 
           
  Noncontrolling interest   5,337    7,537 
           
Equity          
  Shareholders' equity          
  Common shares of beneficial interest   158    148 
  Additional paid-in capital   4,145,822    3,691,778 
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (64,496)   (55,243)
  Distributions in excess of net income   (238,629)   (306,822)
  Total shareholders' equity   3,842,855    3,329,861 
           
  Noncontrolling interest - operating partnership   62,308    61,471 
  Noncontrolling interest - consolidated joint ventures   280    5,440 
           
  Total equity   3,905,443    3,396,772 
           
  Total liabilities, noncontrolling interest - operating partnership and equity  $7,338,732   $6,934,394 

 

Liberty Property Trust Announces 3Q 2019 Results

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Liberty Property Trust

Statement of Operations

September 30, 2019

(Unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

   Quarter Ended   Nine Months Ended 
   September 30, 2019   September 30, 2018   September 30, 2019   September 30, 2018 
Revenue                
  Rental revenue  $162,912   $148,330   $479,644   $439,812 
  Development service fee income   257    12,956    2,099    59,132 
    Total revenue   163,169    161,286    481,743    498,944 
                     
Expenses                    
  Rental property   12,012    12,871    39,780    39,340 
  Real estate taxes   23,001    22,693    68,862    65,988 
  General and administrative   10,186    9,807    35,483    32,747 
  Leasing expense   3,082    2,610    9,608    8,189 
  Other operating expenses   3,166    3,169    8,690    7,467 
  Interest expense   25,791    23,133    76,644    66,189 
  Depreciation and amortization   43,972    41,004    130,402    120,586 
  Development service fee expense   168    12,924    1,848    120,799 
  Impairment charges - real estate assets           99    26,000 
    Total expenses   121,378    128,211    371,416    487,305 
                     
Interest and other income   2,630    3,474    13,887    8,737 
Gain on property dispositions   15,168    2,002    21,125    54,705 
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures   1,776    6,766    10,966    20,958 
Income from continuing operations before income taxes   61,365    45,317    156,305    96,039 
                     
Income taxes   (878)   (444)   (1,449)   (1,884)
                     
Income from continuing operations   60,487    44,873    154,856    94,155 
Discontinued operations (including gain on asset sales, net of impairments and debt extinguishment loss, of $37.2 million and $87.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, and $94.9 million and $184.7 million and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively)   42,189    109,198    105,905    224,531 
Net Income   102,676    154,071    260,761    318,686 
    Noncontrolling interest - operating partnerships   (2,309)   (3,696)   (6,126)   (7,738)
    Noncontrolling interest - consolidated joint ventures   (3)   (232)   (170)   (1,010)
Net Income available to common shareholders  $100,364   $150,143   $254,465   $309,938 
                     
    Net income  $102,676   $154,071   $260,761   $318,686 
Other comprehensive (loss) - foreign currency translation   (7,056)   (3,015)   (7,574)   (9,221)
Other comprehensive income (loss) - derivative instruments   83    6    (1,887)   493 
Comprehensive income   95,703    151,062    251,300    309,958 
    Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest   (2,463)   (3,858)   (1,536)   (8,545)
Comprehensive income attributable to common shareholders  $93,240   $147,204   $249,764   $301,413 
                     
Basic income per common share                    
  Continuing operations  $0.39   $0.30   $1.02   $0.62 
  Discontinued operations  $0.28   $0.72   $0.69   $1.48 
Basic income per common share  $0.67   $1.02   $1.71   $2.10 
                     
Diluted income per common share                    
  Continuing operations  $0.39   $0.29   $1.01   $0.61 
  Discontinued operations  $0.27   $0.72   $0.69   $1.48 
Diluted income per common share  $0.66   $1.01   $1.70   $2.09 
                     
Weighted average shares                    
  Basic   150,140    147,324    148,532    147,241 
  Diluted   150,979    148,271    149,383    148,160 

 

Liberty Property Trust Announces 3Q 2019 Results

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Liberty Property Trust

Statement of Funds from Operations

September 30, 2019

(Unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

   Quarter Ended   Nine Months Ended 
   September 30, 2019   September 30, 2018   September 30, 2019   September 30, 2018 
NAREIT FFO                    
Reconciliation of net income available to common shareholders to NAREIT FFO available to common shareholders:                    
Net income available to common shareholders  $100,364   $150,143   $254,465   $309,938 
                     
Adjustments:                    
Depreciation and amortization of unconsolidated joint ventures   3,249    3,193    9,407    9,631 
Depreciation and amortization   43,593    43,112    131,330    130,284 
Loss on property dispositions / impairment - depreciable real estate assets of unconsolidated joint ventures   2,569        6,667     
(Gain) on property dispositions / impairment - depreciable real estate assets continuing operations   (8,127)   (17)   (8,162)   (51,227)
(Gain) on property dispositions / impairment - depreciable real estate assets discontinued operations   (37,238)   (94,878)   (94,534)   (184,689)
Noncontrolling interest share in addback for depreciation and amortization and gain on property dispositions / impairment - depreciable real estate assets   (88)   1,131    (1,032)   2,234 
NAREIT FFO available to common shareholders - basic   104,322    102,684    298,141    216,171 
                     
Noncontrolling interest share in addback for depreciation and amortization and gain on property dispositions / impairment - depreciable real estate assets   88    (1,131)   1,032    (2,234)
Noncontrolling interest excluding preferred unit distributions   2,226    3,578    5,875    7,384 
NAREIT FFO available to common shareholders - diluted  $106,636   $105,131   $305,048   $221,321 
                     
NAREIT FFO available to common shareholders - basic per share  $0.69   $0.70   $2.01   $1.47 
NAREIT FFO available to common shareholders - diluted per share  $0.69   $0.69   $2.00   $1.46 
                     
Reconciliation of weighted average shares:                    
Weighted average common shares - all basic calculations   150,140    147,324    148,532    147,241 
Dilutive shares for long term compensation plans   839    947    851    919 
Diluted shares for net income calculations   150,979    148,271    149,383    148,160 
Weighted average common units   3,506    3,520    3,513    3,520 
Diluted shares for NAREIT FFO calculations   154,485    151,791    152,896    151,680 

 

NAREIT Funds from Operations available to common shareholders is defined by NAREIT as net income (computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP), excluding depreciation and amortization related to real estate, gains and losses from the sale of certain real estate assets, gains and losses from change in control, and impairment write-downs of certain real estate assets and investments in entities when the impairment is directly attributable to decreases in the value of depreciable real estate held by the entity.  The SEC has agreed to the disclosure of this non-GAAP financial measure on a per share basis in its Release No. 34-47226, Conditions for Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures. The Company has opted to include gains and losses from the sale of assets incidental to its main business as a REIT. The Company believes that the calculation of NAREIT FFO 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 operating property dispositions. As a result, year over year comparison of NAREIT FFO 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 FFO provides useful information to the investment community about the Company’s financial performance when compared to other REITs since NAREIT FFO is generally recognized as the standard for reporting the operating performance of a REIT. NAREIT FFO available to common shareholders does not represent net income or cash flows from operations as defined by U.S. 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 FFO available to common shareholders also does not represent cash flows generated from operating, investing or financing activities as defined by U.S. GAAP. The Company believes that the line on its consolidated statements of comprehensive income entitled “net income available to common shareholders” is the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure to FFO.

 

Liberty Property Trust Announces 3Q 2019 Results

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