Liberty Property Trust Announces Third Quarter Results

October 26, 2009 6:55 PM EDT

MALVERN, Pa., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Liberty Property Trust (NYSE: LRY) reported that net income per common share (diluted) was $0.39 per share for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, compared to $0.41 per share (diluted) for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009, net income per common share (diluted) was $1.02, compared to $1.08 per share for the same period in 2008.

Funds from operations available to common shareholders (diluted) ("FFO") for the third quarter of 2009 was $0.72 per share, compared to $0.80 per share for the third quarter of 2008. FFO per share for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009 was $2.16, compared to $2.41 per share for the same period in 2008. A reconciliation of GAAP net income to FFO is included in the financial tables accompanying this press release. Funds from operations for the third quarter include termination fees of $6.2 million, and an impairment charge of $4.8 million.

"During the third quarter we saw Liberty's portfolio occupancy stabilize, and while competitive market occupancies continue to erode, we may be seeing the first signs of what will, with no doubt, be a slow market recovery," said Bill Hankowsky, chief executive officer. "The industrial sector is poised to begin recovery ahead of the office markets, which continue to await positive news on the employment front. We expect that Liberty's outstanding financial position and customer-centric operations will continue to allow us to outperform our markets and provide us with fuel to grow when the opportunity arises in 2010 and beyond."

Portfolio Performance

Leasing: At September 30, 2009, Liberty's in-service portfolio of 77.4 million square feet was 89.3% occupied, compared to 89.4% at the end of the second quarter. During the quarter, Liberty completed lease transactions totaling 3.5 million square feet of space.

Same Store Performance: Property level operating income for same store properties increased by 0.4% on a cash basis and by 2.0% on a straight line basis for the third quarter of 2009 compared to the same quarter in 2008.

Capital Activities and Balance Sheet Management

Common Share Sales: During the third quarter of 2009, Liberty completed its continuous equity offering program, selling 2.8 million shares, which generated net proceeds of $69.2 million.

Senior Note Obligations: During the quarter, Liberty purchased $3.5 million of its October 2017 Senior Notes. These notes were purchased at a $0.5 million discount. This discount is included in FFO as a debt extinguishment gain.

Property Sales: Liberty sold six operating properties, which contained 982,000 square feet of leaseable space, and three acres of land, for $63.1 million.

Real Estate Investments

Development: During the third quarter, Liberty brought into service seven development properties totaling 501,000 square feet for a total investment of $89.2 million. These properties were 22.4% occupied as of September 30, 2009. The current yield on this investment is 1.1%, and the projected stabilized yield is 6.9%. Leases have been signed for an additional 29% of the space.

A joint venture in which the company holds a 50% interest brought into service a 500,000 square foot build-to-suit development property during the quarter. This property is 100% leased, and the current yield on the $24.0 million investment is 11.5%.

No development commenced during the quarter.

As of September 30, 2009, Liberty had 2.4 million square feet of wholly-owned and joint venture properties under development. This activity represents a total projected investment of $372.4 million, with an expected yield of 7.5%. The properties were 63.1% leased at September 30.

Acquisitions: Liberty acquired no properties during the quarter.

Earnings Outlook

Liberty expects to report funds from operations for 2009 in the range of $2.81 - $2.83 per share, and for 2010 in the range of $2.60 - $2.80 per share. A reconciliation of FFO to GAAP net income for both 2009 and 2010 is below:

                                     2009 Range             2010 Range
                                  Low          High      Low          High
    Projected net income
     per share                  $1.32         $1.37    $1.12         $1.33
    Depreciation and
     amortization of
     unconsolidated
     joint ventures
                                 0.15          0.15     0.13          0.15
    Depreciation and
     amortization                1.59          1.59     1.50          1.52
    Gain on property
     dispositions               (0.20)        (0.23)   (0.10)        (0.15)
    Minority interest
     share of addbacks          (0.05)        (0.05)   (0.05)        (0.05)

    Projected funds from
     operations per share       $2.81         $2.83    $2.60         $2.80



Commenting on this guidance, Bill Hankowsky said: "The change in Liberty's earnings guidance from 2009 to 2010 is primarily due to a full-year's dilution from capital activity in 2009, and, to a lesser extent, continued pressure on real estate fundamentals, principally rental rates. While we have begun to see the first signs of stabilization taking root in our portfolio, it will take time for the economy to recover enough to reverse current declines in rents."

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 third quarter results, on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, at 1 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: 33769240. 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.

                             Liberty Property Trust
                            Statement of Operations
                               September 30, 2009
             (Unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts)


                                  Quarter Ended         Nine Months Ended
                                  -------------         -------------------
                              September   September   September   September
                               30, 2009    30, 2008    30, 2009    30, 2008
                               --------    --------    --------    --------

    Operating Revenue
    Rental                     $130,643    $126,422    $388,446    $379,345
    Operating expense
     reimbursement               56,850      56,009     168,699     167,694
                                 ------      ------     -------     -------
      Total operating
       revenue                  187,493     182,431     557,145     547,039
                                -------     -------     -------     -------

    Operating Expenses
    Rental property              36,224      37,078     109,903     110,582
    Real estate taxes            23,061      21,527      66,857      64,245
    General and
     administrative              11,248      13,180      38,470      40,340
    Depreciation and
     amortization                43,268      43,196     128,140     127,637
                                 ------      ------     -------     -------
      Total operating
       expenses                 113,801     114,981     343,370     342,804
                                -------     -------     -------     -------

      Operating Income           73,692      67,450     213,775     204,235

    Other Income/Expense
    Interest and other            2,635       3,313       8,245       9,399
    Debt extinguishment
     gain                           455           -       1,547           -
    Interest                    (36,735)    (37,587)   (111,464)   (114,559)
                                -------     -------    --------    --------
      Total other income/
       expense                  (33,645)    (34,274)   (101,672)   (105,160)
                                -------     -------    --------    --------

    Income before property
     dispositions, income
     taxes, minority interest
     and equity in earnings
     of unconsolidated joint
     ventures                    40,047      33,176     112,103      99,075
    Gain (loss) on property
     dispositions                   100         463      (2,244)      1,939
    Income taxes                    (86)       (308)       (430)     (1,372)
    Equity in earnings of
     unconsolidated joint
     ventures                       515         470       2,124       1,857
                                    ---         ---       -----       -----

    Income from continuing
     operations                  40,576      33,801     111,553     101,499

    Discontinued operations
     (including net gain on
     property dispositions of
     $5,131 and $10,232 for
     the quarters ended
     September 30, 2009 and
     2008 and $9,000 and
     $13,635 for the nine
     month periods ended
     September 30, 2009 and
     2008)                       10,168      12,152      16,245      19,228
                                 ------      ------      ------      ------
    Net Income                   50,744      45,953     127,798     120,727
        Less: Net income
         attributable to
         minority interest       (6,841)     (7,399)    (19,335)    (20,583)
                                 ------      ------     -------     -------
    Net Income available to
     common
     shareholders               $43,903     $38,554    $108,463    $100,144
                                =======     =======    ========    ========

    Basic income per common share
      Continuing operations       $0.30       $0.29       $0.87       $0.88
                                  =====       =====       =====       =====
      Discontinued operations     $0.09       $0.12       $0.15       $0.20
                                  =====       =====       =====       =====
    Total basic income per
     common share                 $0.39       $0.41       $1.02       $1.08
                                  =====       =====       =====       =====

    Diluted income per common share
      Continuing operations       $0.30       $0.29       $0.87       $0.88
                                  =====       =====       =====       =====
      Discontinued operations     $0.09       $0.12       $0.15       $0.20
                                  =====       =====       =====       =====
    Total diluted income per
     common share                 $0.39       $0.41       $1.02       $1.08
                                  =====       =====       =====       =====

    Weighted average shares
      Basic                     111,351      92,955     105,989      92,328
                                =======      ======     =======      ======
      Diluted                   111,926      93,369     106,441      92,626
                                =======      ======     =======      ======

    Amounts attributable to
     common shareholders
      Income from continuing
       operations               $34,085     $26,923     $92,808     $81,745
      Discontinued operations     9,818      11,631      15,655      18,399
                                  -----      ------      ------      ------
      Net income                $43,903     $38,554    $108,463    $100,144
                                =======     =======    ========    ======== 
                           Liberty Property Trust
                     Statement of Funds From Operations
                             September 30, 2009
           (Unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts)


                                                 Quarter Ended
                                                 -------------
                                   September 30, 2009     September 30, 2008
                                   ------------------     ------------------
                                                 Per                    Per
                                              Weighted               Weighted
                                               Average                Average
                                   Dollars      Share     Dollars      Share
                                   -------      -----     -------      -----
    Reconciliation of net
     income to FFO - basic:
    Basic - income available
     to common shareholders        $43,903      $0.39     $38,554      $0.41
                                                =====                  =====

    Adjustments:
    Depreciation and
     amortization of
     unconsolidated joint
     ventures                        3,991                  4,331
    Depreciation and
     amortization                   43,041                 44,173
    Gain on property
     dispositions                   (9,442)               (10,542)
    Minority interest share
     in addback for
     depreciation and
     amortization and gain
     on property dispositions       (1,293)                (1,629)
                                    ------                 ------
        Funds from operations
         available to common
         shareholders - basic      $80,200      $0.72     $74,887      $0.81
                                   =======      =====     =======      =====

    Reconciliation of net income
     to FFO - diluted:
    Diluted - income
     available to common
     shareholders                  $43,903      $0.39     $38,554      $0.41
                                                =====                  =====

    Adjustments:
    Depreciation and
     amortization of
     unconsolidated joint
     ventures                        3,991                  4,331
    Depreciation and
     amortizaton                    43,041                 44,173
    Gain on property
     dispositions                   (9,442)               (10,542)
    Minority interest excluding
     preferred unit
     distributions                  1,565                   1,746
                                    -----                   -----
        Funds from operations
         available to common
         shareholders - diluted   $83,058       $0.72     $78,262      $0.80
                                  =======       =====     =======      =====

    Reconciliation of weighted
     average shares:
    Weighted average common
     shares - all basic
     calculations                 111,351                  92,955
    Dilutive shares for long
     term compensation plans          575                     414
                                      ---                     ---
    Diluted shares for net
     income calculations          111,926                  93,369
    Weighted average common
     units                          4,017                   4,190
                                    -----                   -----
    Diluted shares for funds
     from operations
     calculations                 115,943                  97,559
                                  =======                  ======



                                                Nine Months Ended
                                                -----------------
                                  September 30, 2009     September 30, 2008
                                  ------------------     ------------------
                                                Per                    Per
                                              Weighted               Weighted
                                               Average                Average
                                   Dollars      Share     Dollars      Share
                                   -------      -----     -------      -----

    Reconciliation of net income
     to FFO - basic:
    Basic - income available
     to common shareholders      $108,463       $1.02    $100,144      $1.08
                                                =====                  =====

    Adjustments:
    Depreciation and
     amortization of
     unconsolidated joint
     ventures                      12,113                  12,208
    Depreciation and
     amortization                 128,427                 130,803
    Gain on property
     dispositions                 (14,817)                (14,674)
    Minority interest share
     in addback for
     depreciation and
     amortization and gain on
     property dispositions         (4,497)                 (5,538)
                                   ------                  ------
        Funds from operations
         available to common
         shareholders - basic    $229,689       $2.17    $222,943     $2.41
                                 ========       =====    ========     =====

    Reconciliation of net
     income to FFO - diluted:
    Diluted - income
     available to common
     shareholders                $108,463       $1.02    $100,144      $1.08
                                                =====                  =====

    Adjustments:
    Depreciation and
     amortization of
     unconsolidated joint
     ventures                      12,113                  12,208
    Depreciation and
     amortizaton                  128,427                 130,803
    Gain on property
     dispositions                 (14,817)                (14,674)
    Minority interest
     excluding preferred unit
     distributions                  3,974                   4,526
                                    -----                   -----
      Funds from operations
       available to common
       shareholders - diluted    $238,160       $2.16    $233,007      $2.41
                                 ========       =====    ========      =====

    Reconciliation of weighted
     average shares:
    Weighted average common
     shares - all basic
     calculations                 105,989                  92,328
    Dilutive shares for long
     term compensation
     plans                            452                     298
                                      ---                     ---
    Diluted shares for net
     income calculations          106,441                 92,626
    Weighted average common
     units                          4,018                  4,190
                                    -----                  -----
    Diluted shares for funds
     from operations
     calculations                 110,459                 96,816
                                  =======                 ======


    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
                                September 30, 2009
                       (In thousands, except share amounts)


                                                 September 30,   December 31,
                                                         2009           2008
                                                         ----           ----
    Assets                                         (unaudited)
    Real estate:
      Land and land improvements                     $835,075       $801,763
      Building and improvements                     4,305,128      4,191,361
      Less: accumulated depreciation               (1,060,885)      (963,043)
                                                   ----------       --------

    Operating real estate                           4,079,318      4,030,081

    Development in progress                           169,926        245,463
    Land held for development                         219,440        209,551
                                                      -------        -------

    Net real estate                                 4,468,684      4,485,095

    Cash and cash equivalents                         219,402         15,794
    Restricted cash                                    34,273         39,726
    Accounts receivable                                 7,356         12,985
    Deferred rent receivable                           93,046         83,033
    Deferred financing and leasing costs,
     net of accumulated amortization
     (2009, $132,099; 2008, $139,078)                 133,426        132,627
    Investment in unconsolidated joint
     ventures                                         255,191        266,602
    Assets held for sale                               22,520         98,706
    Prepaid expenses and other assets                  91,988         82,467
                                                       ------         ------

    Total assets                                   $5,325,886     $5,217,035
                                                   ==========     ==========

    Liabilities
    Mortgage loans                                   $462,700       $198,560
    Unsecured notes                                 1,842,882      2,131,607
    Credit facility                                   140,000        260,000
    Accounts payable                                   47,865         32,481
    Accrued interest                                   27,794         36,474
    Dividend and distributions payable                 55,394         48,858
    Other liabilities                                 160,134        182,549
                                                      -------        -------

    Total liabilities                               2,736,769      2,890,529
                                                    ---------      ---------

    Equity
    Shareholders' equity:
    Common shares of beneficial interest,
     $.001 par value, 183,987,000 shares
     authorized, 113,850,578 (includes 1,249,909
     in treasury) and 100,034,404 (includes
     1,249,909 in treasury) shares issued and
     outstanding as of September 30, 2009 and
     December 31, 2008, respectively                      114            101
    Additional paid-in capital                      2,452,479      2,162,820
    Accumulated other comprehensive income              1,420         (5,378)
    Distributions in excess of net income            (232,323)      (185,721)
    Common shares in treasury, at cost,
     1,249,909 shares as of September 30, 2009
     and December 31, 2008                            (51,951)       (51,951)
                                                      -------        -------
    Total shareholders' equity                      2,169,739      1,919,871

    Minority interest - operating partnership         418,645        405,505
    Minority interest - consolidated joint
     ventures                                             733          1,130
                                                          ---          -----

    Total equity                                    2,589,117      2,326,506
                                                    ---------      ---------

    Total liabilities & equity                     $5,325,886     $5,217,035
                                                   ==========     ==========



SOURCE Liberty Property Trust


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