First quarter highlights include:

  • Funds from Operations $0.62 per share
  • Same store operating income increased by 2.1%
  • Same store operating income for the industrial distribution portfolio increased by 6.7%
  • Industrial distribution rents increased 12.2%
  • 1.9 million square feet of non-core, primarily suburban office dispositions
  • 1.4 million shares repurchased for $40.9 million, an average price of $29.28 per share

Malvern, Pa., April 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Liberty Property Trust reported that funds from operations available to common shareholders (diluted) (“FFO”) for the first quarter of 2016 was $0.62 per share, compared to $0.70 per share for the first quarter of 2015.

Net income per share (diluted) was $0.39 for the first quarter of 2016, compared to $0.21 for the first quarter of 2015. Net income for the 2016 period reflects gain on sale of $0.14 per share, compared with $0.02 per share for the 2015 period.

“Liberty’s results reflect the continued benefits of strong industrial demand coupled with measured supply,” said Bill Hankowsky, chairman, president, and chief executive officer. “We continue to see outstanding growth in rents, incremental growth in already-high occupancy, and opportunities for development across our entire platform.”

Portfolio Performance 
Occupancy: At March 31, 2016, Liberty’s in-service portfolio of 103 million square feet was 93.8% occupied, compared to 93.7% at the end of the fourth quarter of 2015. During the quarter, Liberty completed lease transactions totaling 5.4 million square feet of space.

Same Store Performance: Property level operating income for same store properties increased by 3.4% on a cash basis and by 2.1% on a straight line basis for the first quarter of 2016 compared to the same quarter in 2015.

Real Estate Investments
Development Deliveries: In the first quarter, Liberty brought into service five development properties for a total investment of $94.5 million. The properties contain 716,000 square feet of leasable space and were 59.9% occupied as of the end of the quarter. The yield on these properties at March 31, 2016 was 4.4% and the projected stabilized yield is 8.4%.

Development Starts: In the first quarter, Liberty began development of two distribution properties in West Palm Beach, FL, totaling 218,000 square feet of leasable space at a projected investment of $24.3 million.

Acquisitions: In the first quarter, Liberty acquired one industrial property in the O’Hare submarket of Chicago for $8.0 million. The 73,000 square foot building was 52.8% leased as of March 31, 2016 and is expected to yield 6.7% at stabilization.

Real Estate Dispositions
During the first quarter, Liberty sold eight operating properties which contained 849,000 square feet of leasable space and 3.5 acres of land for $131.1 million. These properties were 86.3% leased at the time of sale. In addition, a joint venture in which Liberty holds a 25% interest disposed of seven properties, which contained 1,050,000 square feet of leasable space, for $146.6 million. These properties were 59.1% leased at the time of sale.

Liberty has previously indicated that it intends to sell approximately $900 million - $1.2 billion of non-core suburban office and flex properties in 2016. In addition, Liberty has publicly announced that it has entered into discussions with a potential purchaser for a large portfolio of suburban assets, consistent with this intent. Discussions are ongoing and no binding sale agreement has been reached.

Capital and Balance Sheet Activity
During the first quarter, Liberty repurchased 1.4 million common shares for $40.9 million, an average price of $29.28 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 103 million square foot portfolio includes 683 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 first quarter results, on Tuesday, April 26, 2016, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time.  To access the conference call, please dial 855-277-7530. The passcode needed for access is 70954608. A replay of the call will be available until May 26, 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,” “projected,” “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 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.

 
 Liberty Property Trust 
 Statement of Operations 
March 31, 2016
 (Unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts) 
        
        
    Quarter Ended   
   March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015  
      
Operating Revenue       
Rental $139,054  $148,585   
Operating expense reimbursement  51,086   58,316   
 Total operating revenue  190,140   206,901   
        
Operating Expenses       
Rental property  28,509   35,571   
Real estate taxes  25,320   26,164   
General and administrative  20,990   18,802   
Depreciation and amortization  54,078   58,796   
Impairment - real estate assets  -   15,739   
 Total operating expenses  128,897   155,072   
        
 Operating Income  61,243   51,829   
        
Other Income/Expense       
Interest and other income  4,598   6,371   
Interest expense  (31,412)  (34,670)  
 Total other income/expense  (26,814)  (28,299)  
        
Income before gain on property dispositions, income taxes, noncontrolling interest      
and equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures  34,429   23,530   
Gain on property dispositions  20,521   2,271   
Income taxes  (801)  (845)  
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures  4,914   6,906   
        
Net Income   59,063   31,862   
 Noncontrolling interest - operating partnerships  (1,509)  (853)  
 Noncontrolling interest - consolidated joint ventures  -   (58)  
Net income available to common shareholders  $57,554  $30,951   
        
 Net income $59,063  $31,862   
 Other comprehensive loss - foreign currency translation  (5,087)  (10,410)  
 Other comprehensive loss - derivative instruments  (1,360)  (947)  
Comprehensive income   52,616   20,505   
 Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest  (1,357)  (648)  
Comprehensive income attributable to common shareholders  $51,259  $19,857   
        
Basic income per common share  $0.39  $0.21   
        
Diluted income per common share  $0.39  $0.21   
        
Weighted average shares       
 Basic  146,071   148,315   
 Diluted  146,531   149,031   
        

 

 
 Liberty Property Trust 
 Statement of Funds From Operations 
March 31, 2016
 (Unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts) 
         
         
    Quarter Ended  
   March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 
    Per   Per  
    Weighted  Weighted 
     Average    Average  
   DollarsShare DollarsShare 
        
Reconciliation of net income available to common shareholders to NAREIT FFO - basic:        
Basic - income available to common shareholders  $57,554 $0.39  $30,951 $0.21  
         
Adjustments:        
Depreciation and amortization of unconsolidated joint ventures  2,676    2,952   
Depreciation and amortization  53,752    58,365   
Gain on property dispositions of unconsolidated joint ventures  (1,840)   -   
Gain on property dispositions / impairment - real estate assets  (20,521)   13,468   
Noncontrolling interest share in addback for depreciation and amortization       
 and gain on property dispositions / impairment - real estate assets  (804)   (1,735)  
NAREIT Funds from operations available to common shareholders - basic $90,817 $0.62  $104,001 $0.70  
         
Reconciliation of net income available to common shareholders to NAREIT FFO - diluted:        
Diluted - income available to common shareholders  $57,554 $0.39  $30,951 $0.21  
         
Adjustments:        
Depreciation and amortization of unconsolidated joint ventures  2,676    2,952   
Depreciation and amortization  53,752    58,365   
Gain on property dispositions of unconsolidated joint ventures  (1,840)   -   
Gain on property dispositions / impairment - real estate assets  (20,521)   13,468   
Noncontrolling interest excluding preferred unit distributions  1,391    735   
NAREIT Funds from operations available to common shareholders - diluted $93,012 $0.62  $106,471 $0.70  
         
Reconciliation of weighted average shares:        
Weighted average common shares - all basic calculations  146,071    148,315   
Dilutive shares for long term compensation plans  460    716   
Diluted shares for net income calculations  146,531    149,031   
Weighted average common units  3,539    3,541   
Diluted shares for NAREIT Funds from operations calculations  150,070    152,572   
         
         
         
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 
March 31, 2016
(Unaudited and in thousands, except share and unit amounts)
    
 March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015
Assets   
Real estate:   
Land and land improvements$1,186,960  $1,183,411 
Building and improvements 5,127,287   5,124,521 
Less: accumulated depreciation (1,159,991)  (1,148,228)
    
Operating real estate 5,154,256   5,159,704 
    
Development in progress 335,927   360,948 
Land held for development 341,356   336,967 
    
Net real estate 5,831,539   5,857,619 
    
Cash and cash equivalents 43,663   35,353 
Restricted cash 6,606   9,018 
Accounts receivable 18,319   14,343 
Deferred rent receivable 121,278   118,787 
Deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated   
amortization (2016, $170,558; 2015, $175,243) 183,813   192,038 
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures 210,341   218,454 
Assets held for sale 7,918   12,968 
Prepaid expenses and other assets 94,821   99,049 
    
Total assets$6,518,298  $6,557,629 
    
Liabilities   
Mortgage loans, net$304,360  $307,908 
Unsecured notes, net 2,580,910   2,580,108 
Credit facility 260,000   259,000 
Accounts payable 60,328   51,382 
Accrued interest 43,130   26,154 
Dividend and distributions payable 71,317   71,787 
Other liabilities 228,868   243,806 
Total liabilities 3,548,913   3,540,145 
    
Noncontrolling interest - operating partnership - 301,483 preferred units   
outstanding as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 7,537   7,537 
    
Equity   
Shareholders' equity   
Common shares of beneficial interest, $.001 par value, 283,987,000 shares   
authorized, 146,603,946 and 147,577,984 shares issued and outstanding as of   
March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively 147   148 
Additional paid-in capital 3,640,341   3,669,627 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (24,188)  (17,893)
Distributions in excess of net income (711,034)  (698,954)
Total shareholders' equity 2,905,266   2,952,928 
    
Noncontrolling interest - operating partnership   
3,539,075 common units outstanding as of March 31, 2016 and   
December 31, 2015 52,663   53,100 
Noncontrolling interest - consolidated joint ventures 3,919   3,919 
    
Total equity 2,961,848   3,009,947 
    
Total liabilities, noncontrolling interest - operating partnership and equity$6,518,298  $6,557,629 
    

 

Inquiries: Jeanne Leonard, Liberty Property Trust, 610.648.1704

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