American Assets Trust, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2013 Financial Results


FFO per share increases 5% and 14% year-over-year for the three months and year ended December 31, 2013

Same-store cash NOI increases 4% and 6% year-over-year for the three months and year ended December 31, 2013

SAN DIEGO, California - 2/18/2014 - American Assets Trust, Inc. (NYSE: AAT) (the "Company") today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and year-ended December 31, 2013.

Financial Results and Recent Developments

  • Funds From Operations increased 5% and 14% to $0.40 and $1.54 per diluted share for the three months and year ended December 31, 2013, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2012 

  • Net income available to common stockholders of $4.7 million and $15.2 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2013, respectively, or $0.11 and $0.38 per diluted share, respectively 

  • Same-store cash NOI increased 4% and 6% for the three months and year ended December 31, 2013, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2012 

  • Embassy Suites-Waikiki Beach WalkTM increased Revenue per Available Room by 7% and 11% for the three months and year ended December 31, 2013, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2012 

  • Signed 44 retail and office leases for approximately 326,700 square feet 

During the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company generated funds from operations ("FFO") for common stockholders of $23.0 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, compared to $21.7 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2012.  For the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company generated FFO for common stockholders of $89.0 million, or $1.54 per diluted share, compared to $77.5 million, or $1.35 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2012. The increase in FFO from the corresponding period in 2012 was largely due to additional operating income from our 2012 acquisitions, primarily City Center Bellevue and Geary Marketplace.

Net income attributable to common stockholders was $4.7 million, or $0.11 per basic and diluted share, for the three months ended December 31, 2013 compared to $28.6 million, or $0.73 per basic and diluted share, for the three months ended December 31, 2012.  For the year ended December 31, 2013, net income attributable to common stockholders was $15.2 million, or $0.38 per basic and diluted share, compared to net income attributable to common stockholders of $34.9 million, or $0.90 per basic and diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2012. The decrease in net income attributable to common stockholders was largely due to the sale of 160 King Street during the fourth quarter of 2012.

FFO is a non-GAAP supplemental earnings measure which the Company considers meaningful in measuring its operating performance.   A reconciliation of FFO to net income is attached to this press release.

Portfolio Results

The portfolio leased status as of the end of the indicated quarter was as follows:

December 31, 2013 September 30, 2013 December 31, 2012
Total Portfolio
Retail 97.0% 95.6% 97.0%
Office 89.8% 91.4% 93.3%
Multifamily 96.4% 96.7% 94.7%
Mixed-Use:
Retail 97.8% 97.9% 95.5%
Hotel 87.2% 88.7% 88.9%
Same-Store Portfolio
Retail 97.0% 95.5% 96.9%
Office 91.6% 96.9% 98.2%
Multifamily 96.4% 96.7% 94.7%
Mixed-Use:
Retail 97.8% 97.9% 95.5%
Hotel 87.2% 88.7% 88.9%

During the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company signed 44 leases for approximately 326,700 square feet of retail and office space, as well as 184 multifamily apartment leases.   Renewals accounted for 71.4% of the comparable retail leases, 68.8% of the comparable office leases and 55.4% of the residential leases.  

Retail and Office

On a comparable space basis (i.e., leases for which there was a former tenant) during the fourth quarter of 2013, our retail and office leasing spreads are shown below:  

Q4 2013 Number of Leases Signed Comparable Leased Sq. Ft. Average Cash Basis % Change Over Prior Rent Average Cash Contractual Rent Per Sq. Ft. Prior Average Cash Contractual Rent Per Sq. Ft. GAAP Straight-Line Basis % Change Over Prior Rent
Retail 14 79,000 -% $36.61 $36.60 6.4%
Office 16 163,000 (0.4)% $28.76 $28.89 12.3%

Multifamily

At December 31, 2013, the average monthly base rent per leased unit was $1,422 compared to an average monthly base rent per leased unit of $1,399 at December 31, 2012.  

Same-Store Operating Income

For the three months and year ended December 31, 2013, same-store property operating income increased 3.7% and 6.4%, respectively, on a cash basis compared to the corresponding periods in 2012. For the three months and year ended December 31, 2013, same-store property operating income increased 0.5% and 4.3%, respectively, on a GAAP basis compared to the corresponding periods in 2012. The same-store property operating income by segment was as follows (in thousands):

Three Months Ended (1) Year Ended (2)
December 31, December 31,
2013 2012 Change 2013 2012 Change
Cash Basis:
Retail $ 17,301 $ 17,676 (2.1) % $ 68,049 $ 65,270 4.3 %
Office 9,967 8,867 12.4 25,430 24,250 4.9
Multifamily 2,587 2,418 7.0 10,208 8,938 14.2
Mixed-Use 4,837 4,491 7.7 21,908 19,572 11.9
$ 34,692 $ 33,452 3.7 % $ 125,595 $ 118,030 6.4 %
GAAP Basis:
Retail $ 17,535 $ 17,827 (1.6) % $ 68,311 $ 67,063 1.9 %
Office 11,180 11,286 (0.9) 27,816 27,489 1.2
Multifamily 2,587 2,418 7.0 10,208 8,938 14.2
Mixed-Use 4,771 4,371 9.2 21,475 19,057 12.7
$ 36,073 $ 35,902 0.5 % $ 127,810 $ 122,547 4.3 %

(1)        Same-store portfolio excludes (i) 2012 acquisition of Geary Marketplace, (ii) Torrey Reserve Campus and Lloyd District Portfolio due to significant redevelopment activity during the period and (iii) land held for development.

(2)        Same-store portfolio excludes (i) 2012 acquisitions of One Beach Street, City Center Bellevue and Geary Marketplace, (ii) Torrey Reserve Campus and Lloyd District Portfolio due to significant redevelopment activity during the period and (iii) land held for development.

On a same-store basis, retail property operating income decreased for the three months ended December 31, 2013 compared to the three months ended December 31, 2012 primarily due to the expiration of the Ross Dress for Less lease at Lomas Santa Fe Plaza on January 31, 2013 and a lease amendment fee paid by a tenant at Rancho Carmel Plaza during the fourth quarter of 2012.

On a same-store basis, retail property operating income increased for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to the corresponding period in 2012 primarily due to a decrease in property tax expense, substantially related to tax refunds received for Lomas Santa Fe Plaza and Alamo Quarry Market.  The increase was also attributed to supplemental property taxes for fiscal year 2011 that were paid during 2012.  

On a same-store basis, office property operating income increased for the three months ended December 31, 2013 compared to the three months ended December 31, 2012 due to the expiration of rent abatements for tenants at City Center Bellevue. The increase was offset by higher real estate taxes primarily related to higher tax assessments and a decrease in tenant tax exemptions during the three months ended December 31, 2013.

On a same-store basis, office property operating income increased for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to the corresponding period in 2012 primarily due to the expiration of above-market leases at the Landmark at One Market.  The increase was also attributed to supplemental property taxes for fiscal year 2011 that were paid during 2012.  

On a same-store basis, multifamily property operating income increased for the three months and year ended December 31, 2013 compared to the corresponding periods in 2012 primarily due to an increase in average occupancy during 2013 and an increase in monthly base rent per leased unit.  

On a same-store basis, mixed-use property operating income increased for the three months and year ended December 31, 2013 compared to the corresponding periods in 2012 primarily due to higher revenue per available room of $239 and $261, respectively, for the three months and year ended December 31, 2013 compared to $223 and $235, respectively, for the three months and year ended December 31, 2012.  

Development

Our redevelopment efforts at Lloyd District Portfolio and Torrey Reserve Campus are ongoing. Both projects remain within budget and on schedule, with the newly completed building at Torrey Reserve Campus being ahead of schedule on leasing activity.  Projected costs of the redevelopment at Lloyd District Portfolio are approximately $192 million, of which approximately $31 million has been incurred to date. We expect to incur the remaining costs for redevelopment of the Lloyd District Portfolio in 2014 and 2015. Projected costs of the redevelopment at Torrey Reserve Campus are approximately $34 million, of which approximately $20 million has been incurred to date. We expect to incur the remaining costs for this project in 2014.

Our redevelopment and development opportunities are subject to market conditions and may not ultimately come to fruition.

Credit Facility

On January 9, 2014, we entered into an amended and restated credit agreement, which provides for aggregate, unsecured borrowing of $350 million, consisting of a revolving line of credit of $250 million and a term loan of $100 million. The revolver loan and term loan initially mature on January 9, 2018 and January 9, 2016, respectively, with extension options through January 9, 2019 that are exercisable by us subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions.

Concurrent with the closing of the amended and restated credit facility, we drew down on the entirety of the $100 million term loan and entered into an interest rate swap agreement that is intended to fix the interest rate associated with the term loan at approximately 3.08% through its maturity date and extension options, subject to adjustments based on our consolidated leverage ratio.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

At December 31, 2013, the Company had gross real estate assets of $2.0 billion and liquidity of $178.3 million, comprised of cash and cash equivalents of $49.0 million and approximately $129.3 million of availability on its line of credit.  

For the three months ended December 31, 2013, we issued 22,738 shares of common stock through the ATM equity program at a weighted average price per share of $32.25, resulting in net proceeds of $0.6 million.  For the year ended December 31, 2013, we issued 741,452 shares of common stock through the ATM equity program at a weighted average price per share of $35.00, resulting in net proceeds of $24.9 million.  As of December 31, 2013, we had the capacity to issue up to an additional $124.0 million in shares of common stock under our ATM equity program.  Actual future sales will depend on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, market conditions, the trading price of our common stock and our capital needs.  We have no obligation to sell the remaining shares available for sale under the ATM equity program.

Dividends

The Company declared dividends on its shares of common stock of $0.22 per share for the fourth quarter of 2013.  The dividends were paid on December 27, 2013.  

In addition, the Company has declared a dividend on its common stock of $0.22 per share for the quarter ending March 31, 2014. The dividend will be paid on March 28, 2014 to stockholders of record on March 14, 2014.

Guidance

The Company's guidance for full year 2014 FFO per diluted share is a range of $1.54 to $1.62 per share. The Company's guidance excludes any impact from future acquisitions, dispositions, equity issuances or repurchases, debt financings or repayments. The Company will discuss key assumptions regarding the guidance tomorrow on the conference call.

The foregoing estimates are forward-looking and reflect management's view of current and future market conditions, including certain assumptions with respect to leasing activity, rental rates, occupancy levels, interest rates and the amount and timing of acquisition and development activities.  The Company's actual results may differ materially from these estimates.

Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call to discuss the results for the fourth quarter and year end 2013 on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time ("PT").  To participate in the event by telephone, please dial 1-866-318-8615 and use the pass code 75494535. A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available beginning at 12:00 p.m. PT on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 through Wednesday, February 26, 2014. To access the replay, dial 1-888-286-8010 and use the pass code 42861311.  A live on-demand audio webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's website at www.americanassetstrust.com. A replay of the call will also be available on the Company's website.

Supplemental Information

Supplemental financial information regarding the Company's fourth quarter 2013 results may be found in the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website at www.americanassetstrust.com.  This supplemental information provides additional detail on items such as property occupancy, financial performance by property and debt maturity schedules.

Financial Information

American Assets Trust, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In Thousands, Except Share Data)

December 31, 2013 December 31, 2012
Assets
Real estate, at cost
Operating real estate $ 1,919,015 $ 1,891,549
Construction in progress 67,389 32,183
Held for development 9,013 14,944
1,995,417 1,938,676
Accumulated depreciation (318,581) (270,494)
Net real estate 1,676,836 1,668,182
Cash and cash equivalents 48,987 42,479
Restricted cash 9,124 7,421
Accounts receivable, net 7,295 6,440
Deferred rent receivables, net 32,531 29,395
Other assets, net 57,670 73,670
Total assets $ 1,832,443 $ 1,827,587
Liabilities and equity
Liabilities:
Secured notes payable $ 952,174 $ 1,044,682
Line of credit 93,000 -
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 37,063 29,509
Security deposits payable 5,163 4,856
Other liabilities and deferred credits 58,465 62,811
Total liabilities 1,145,865 1,141,858
Commitments and contingencies
Equity:
American Assets Trust, Inc. stockholders' equity
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 490,000,000 shares authorized, 40,512,563 and 39,664,212 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively 405 397
Additional paid-in capital 692,196 663,589
Accumulated dividends in excess of net income (44,090) (25,625)
Total American Assets Trust, Inc. stockholders' equity 648,511 638,361
Noncontrolling interests 38,067 47,368
Total equity 686,578 685,729
Total liabilities and equity $ 1,832,443 $ 1,827,587

American Assets Trust, Inc.

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income

(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)

Three Months Ended December 31, Year Ended December 31,
2013 2012 2013 2012
Revenue:
Rental income $ 61,425 $ 60,191 $ 242,757 $ 225,249
Other property income 3,220 2,929 12,300 10,217
Total revenue 64,645 63,120 255,057 235,466
Expenses:
Rental expenses 18,206 17,287 68,608 64,089
Real estate taxes 5,334 4,947 21,378 22,025
General and administrative 4,537 4,063 17,195 15,593
Depreciation and amortization 16,161 16,576 66,775 61,853
Total operating expenses 44,238 42,873 173,956 163,560
Operating income 20,407 20,247 81,101 71,906
Interest expense (13,776) (15,152) (58,020) (57,328)
Other income (expense), net 276 (273) (487) (629)
Income from continuing operations 6,907 4,822 22,594 13,949
Discontinued operations
Income from discontinued operations - 279 - 932
Gain on sale of real estate property - 36,720 - 36,720
Results from discontinued operations - 36,999 - 37,652
Net income 6,907 41,821 22,594 51,601
Net income attributable to restricted shares (139) (133) (536) (529)
Net income attributable to unitholders in the Operating Partnership (2,086) (13,111) (6,838) (16,133)
Net income attributable to American Assets Trust, Inc. stockholders $ 4,682 $ 28,577 $ 15,220 $ 34,939
Basic income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders per share $ 0.11 $ 0.08 $ 0.38 $ 0.24
Basic income from discontinued operations attributable to common stockholders per share - 0.65 - 0.66
Basic income attributable to common stockholders per share $ 0.11 $ 0.73 $ 0.38 $ 0.90
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding - basic 39,836,104 38,952,816 39,539,457 38,736,113
Diluted income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders per share $ 0.11 $ 0.08 $ 0.38 $ 0.24
Diluted income from discontinued operations attributable to common stockholders per share - 0.65 - 0.66
Diluted income attributable to common stockholders per share $ 0.11 $ 0.73 $ 0.38 $ 0.90
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding - diluted 57,788,365 57,054,425 57,515,810 57,053,909
Dividends declared per common share $ 0.22 $ 0.21 $ 0.85 $ 0.84

Reconciliation of Net Income to Funds From Operations

The Company's FFO attributable to common stockholders and operating partnership unitholders and reconciliation to net income is as follows (in thousands except shares and per share data, unaudited):

Three Months Ended Year Ended
December 31, 2013 December 31, 2013
Funds From Operations (FFO)
Net income $ 6,907 $ 22,594
Depreciation and amortization of real estate assets 16,161 66,775
FFO, as defined by NAREIT $ 23,068 $ 89,369
Less: Nonforfeitable dividends on incentive stock awards (92) (357)
FFO attributable to common stock and units $ 22,976 $ 89,012
FFO per diluted share/unit $ 0.40 $ 1.54
Weighted average number of common shares and units, diluted 57,998,249 57,726,012

Reported results are preliminary and not final until the filing of the Company's Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission and, therefore, remain subject to adjustment.

Use of Non-GAAP Information

The Company calculates FFO in accordance with the standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or NAREIT. FFO represents net income (loss) (computed in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains (or losses) from sales of depreciable operating property, impairment losses, real estate related depreciation and amortization (excluding amortization of deferred financing costs) and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures.

FFO is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure. Management uses FFO as a supplemental performance measure because it believes that FFO is beneficial to investors as a starting point in measuring the Company's operational performance. Specifically, in excluding real estate related depreciation and amortization and gains and losses from property dispositions, which do not relate to or are not indicative of operating performance, FFO provides a performance measure that, when compared year over year, captures trends in occupancy rates, rental rates and operating costs. The Company also believes that, as a widely recognized measure of the performance of REITs, FFO will be used by investors as a basis to compare the Company's operating performance with that of other REITs. However, because FFO excludes depreciation and amortization and captures neither the changes in the value of the Company's properties that result from use or market conditions nor the level of capital expenditures and leasing commissions necessary to maintain the operating performance of the Company's properties, all of which have real economic effects and could materially impact the Company's results from operations, the utility of FFO as a measure of the Company's performance is limited. In addition, other equity REITs may not calculate FFO in accordance with the NAREIT definition as the Company does, and, accordingly, the Company's FFO may not be comparable to such other REITs' FFO.  Accordingly, FFO should be considered only as a supplement to net income as a measure of the Company's performance. FFO should not be used as a measure of the Company's liquidity, nor is it indicative of funds available to fund the Company's cash needs, including the Company's ability to pay dividends or service indebtedness. FFO also should not be used as a supplement to or substitute for cash flow from operating activities computed in accordance with GAAP.

About American Assets Trust, Inc.

American Assets Trust, Inc. (the "Company") is a full service, vertically integrated and self-administered real estate investment trust, or REIT, headquartered in San Diego, California. For over 40 years, the Company has been acquiring, improving, developing and managing premier retail, office and residential properties throughout the United States in some of the nation's most dynamic, high-barrier-to-entry markets primarily in Southern California, Northern California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii. The Company's retail portfolio comprises approximately 3.1 million rentable square feet, and its office portfolio comprises approximately 2.6 million square feet. In addition, the Company owns one mixed-use property (including approximately 97,000 rentable square feet of retail space and a 369-room all-suite hotel) and over 900 multifamily units. In 2011, the Company was formed to succeed to the real estate business of American Assets, Inc., a privately held corporation founded in 1967 and, as such, has significant experience, long-standing relationships and extensive knowledge of its core markets, submarkets and asset classes. For additional information, please visit www.americanassetstrust.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially.  Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," or "potential" or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases which are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and which do not relate solely to historical matters.  While forward-looking statements reflect the Company's good faith beliefs, assumptions and expectations, they are not guarantees of future performance.  For a further discussion of these and other factors that could cause the Company's future results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements, see the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K, and other risks described in documents subsequently filed by the Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, of new information, data or methods, future events or other changes.

Source:  American Assets Trust, Inc.

Investor and Media Contact:

American Assets Trust

Robert F. Barton

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

858-350-2607


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