Liberty Property Trust Announces Second Quarter Results

MALVERN, Pa., July 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Liberty Property Trust (NYSE: LRY) reported that net income per common share (diluted) was $0.35 per share for the quarter ended June 30, 2009, compared to $0.34 per share (diluted) for the quarter ended June 30, 2008. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2009, net income per common share (diluted) was $0.62, compared to $.67 per share for the same period in 2008.

Funds from operations available to common shareholders (diluted) ("FFO") for the second quarter of 2009 was $0.72 per share, compared to $0.80 per share for the second quarter of 2008. FFO per share for the six-month period ended June 30, 2009 was $1.44, compared to $1.60 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 second quarter include termination fees of $1.1 million, and an impairment charge of $3.8 million.

"Liberty's solid performance during the second quarter on both the operational and capital fronts is a reflection of the resiliency of the company's operating strategy and balance sheet, despite the pressures of a very tough economic environment," said Bill Hankowsky, chief executive officer. "Liberty's tenants understand the value of our high-quality, well-managed portfolio, and they are confident in our ability and dedication to making their workplaces work for them in a time of uncertainty."

Portfolio Performance

Leasing: At June 30, 2009 Liberty's in-service portfolio of 77.3 million square feet was 89.4% occupied, compared to 90.1% at the end of the first quarter. The decrease in occupancy was primarily driven by two large industrial distribution leases. During the quarter, Liberty completed lease transactions totaling 4.5 million square feet of space.

Same Store Performance: Property level operating income for same store properties increased by 0.5% on a cash basis and by 1.2% on a straight line basis for the second quarter of 2009 compared to the same quarter in 2008.

Capital Activities and Balance Sheet Management

Common Share Sales: During the second quarter of 2009, Liberty sold 5.5 million shares pursuant to a continuous offering program, generating net proceeds of $122.2 million.

Senior Note Obligations: During the quarter, Liberty purchased $3.5 million of its March 2011 Senior Notes and $4.9 million of its August 2012 Senior Notes. These notes were purchased at a $0.6 million discount. This discount is included in FFO as a debt extinguishment gain. Liberty repaid $238.6 million of 7.75% medium term notes which matured on April 15, 2009.

Property Sales: Liberty sold 10 operating properties, which contained 461,000 square feet of leaseable space, for $34.7 million.

Real Estate Investments

Development: During the second quarter, Liberty brought into service three development properties totaling 1.1 million square feet for a total investment of $73.6 million. These properties were 52.6% occupied at June 30(th ). Leases have been signed for an additional 126,000 square feet in these properties, and these leases will commence during the third and fourth quarters.

During the second quarter Liberty commenced development on a $12.3 million, 75,000 square foot build-to-suit expansion for an existing tenant at 180 South Warner Road in King of Prussia, PA.

As of June 30, 2009, Liberty had 3.4 million square feet of wholly-owned and joint venture properties under development. This activity represents a total projected investment of $487.7 million, with an expected yield of 7.4%. The properties were 61.1% leased at June 30.

Acquisitions: Liberty acquired no properties during the quarter.

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 second quarter results, on Tuesday, July 28, 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: 16828993. 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
                                 June 30, 2009
             (Unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts)


                                       Quarter             Six Months
                                        Ended                Ended
                                    ------------          -------------
                                June 30,   June 30,   June 30,   June 30,
                                   2009       2008       2009       2008
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

    Operating Revenue
    Rental                      $130,846   $123,557   $260,045   $254,847
     Operating expense
      reimbursement               54,818     56,438    112,773    112,513
                                  ------     ------    -------    -------
      Total operating revenue    185,664    179,995    372,818    367,360
                                 -------    -------    -------    -------

    Operating Expenses
     Rental property              35,368     35,534     74,515     74,219
    Real estate taxes             22,119     22,961     44,244     43,104
    General and administrative    11,659     13,047     27,222     27,083
    Depreciation and
     amortization                 42,571     42,508     85,705     85,174
                                  ------     ------     ------     ------
      Total operating
       expenses                  111,717    114,050    231,686    229,580
                                 -------    -------    -------    -------

      Operating Income            73,947     65,945    141,132    137,780

    Other Income/Expense
    Interest and other             2,520      3,009      5,624      6,096
    Debt extinguishment gain         563          -      1,092          -
    Interest                     (37,300)   (36,330)   (75,420)   (77,679)
                                 -------    -------    -------    -------
      Total other income/
       expense                   (34,217)   (33,321)   (68,704)   (71,583)
                                 -------    -------    -------    -------

    Income before property
     dispositions, income
     taxes, minority interest
     and equity in earnings of
     unconsolidated joint
     ventures                     39,730     32,624     72,428     66,197
    (Loss) gain on property
     dispositions                 (2,050)       835     (2,344)     1,476
    Income taxes                    (127)      (580)      (344)    (1,064)
    Equity in earnings of
     unconsolidated joint
     ventures                      1,192      1,010      1,609      1,387
                                   -----      -----      -----      -----

    Income from continuing
     operations                   38,745     33,889     71,349     67,996

    Discontinued operations
     (including net gain on
     property dispositions
     of $3,670 and $2,793 for
     the quarters ended June
     30, 2009 and 2008 and
     $3,869 and $3,403 for
     the six month periods
     ended June 30, 2009 and
     2008)                         4,467      4,489      5,705      6,778
                                   -----      -----      -----      -----
    Net Income                    43,212     38,378     77,054     74,774
     Less: Net income
      attributable to minority
      interest                    (6,541)    (6,749)   (12,494)   (13,184)
                                  ------     ------    -------    -------
    Net Income available to
     common shareholders         $36,671    $31,629    $64,560    $61,590
                                 =======    =======    =======    =======

    Basic income per common share
      Continuing operations        $0.31      $0.29      $0.58      $0.60
                                   =====      =====      =====      =====
      Discontinued operations      $0.04      $0.05      $0.05      $0.07
                                   =====      =====      =====      =====
    Total basic income per
     common share                  $0.35      $0.34      $0.63      $0.67
                                   =====      =====      =====      =====

    Diluted income per common share
      Continuing operations        $0.31      $0.29      $0.57      $0.60
                                   =====      =====      =====      =====
      Discontinued operations      $0.04      $0.05      $0.05      $0.07
                                   =====      =====      =====      =====
    Total diluted income per
     common share                  $0.35      $0.34      $0.62      $0.67
                                   =====      =====      =====      =====

    Weighted average shares
      Basic                      105,768     92,322    103,244     92,001
                                 =======     ======    =======     ======
      Diluted                    106,245     92,701    103,625     92,248
                                 =======     ======    =======     ======

    Amounts attributable to
     common shareholders
      Income from continuing
       operations                $32,362    $27,333    $59,062    $55,105
      Discontinued operations      4,309      4,296      5,498      6,485
                                   -----      -----      -----      -----
      Net income                 $36,671    $31,629    $64,560    $61,590
                                 =======    =======    =======    =======


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


                                            Quarter Ended
                                 June 30, 2009          June 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             $36,671       $0.35    $31,629       $0.34
                                            =====                  =====

    Adjustments:
    Depreciation and
     amortization of
     unconsolidated joint
     ventures                   4,132                  4,329
    Depreciation and
     amortization              42,364                 43,252
    Gain on property
     dispositions              (5,067)                (3,164)
    Minority interest
     share in addback for
     depreciation and
     amortization
     and gain on property
     dispositions              (1,467)                (1,914)
                               ------                 ------
      Funds from operations
       available to common
       shareholders - basic   $76,633       $0.72    $74,132       $0.80
                              =======       =====    =======       =====

    Reconciliation of net
     income to FFO - diluted:
      Diluted - income
       available to common
       shareholders           $36,671       $0.35    $31,629       $0.34
                                            =====                  =====

    Adjustments:
    Depreciation and
     amortization of
     unconsolidated joint
     ventures                   4,132                  4,329
    Depreciation and
     amortization              42,364                 43,252
    Gain on property
     dispositions              (5,067)                (3,164)
    Minority interest
     excluding preferred unit
     distributions              1,345                  1,428
                                -----                  -----
      Funds from operations
       available to common
       shareholders -
       diluted                $79,445       $0.72    $77,474       $0.80
                              =======       =====    =======       =====

    Reconciliation of weighted
     average shares:
    Weighted average common
     shares - all basic
     calculations             105,768                 92,322
    Dilutive shares for long
     term compensation
     plans                        477                    379
                                  ---                    ---
    Diluted shares for net
     income calculations      106,245                 92,701
    Weighted average common
     units                      4,017                  4,190
                                -----                  -----
    Diluted shares for funds
     from operations
     calculations             110,262                 96,891
                              =======                 ======



                                           Six Months Ended
                                         --------------------
                                 June 30, 2009          June 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   $64,560       $0.63    $61,590       $0.67
                                            =====                  =====

    Adjustments:
    Depreciation and
     amortization of
     unconsolidated joint
     ventures                   8,122                  7,877
    Depreciation and
     amortization              85,386                 86,630
    Gain on property
     dispositions              (5,375)                (4,132)
    Minority interest share
     in addback for
     depreciation and
     amortization and gain
     on property
     dispositions              (3,204)                (3,909)
                               ------                 ------
      Funds from operations
      available to common
      shareholders - basic   $149,489       $1.45   $148,056       $1.61
                             ========       =====   ========       =====

    Reconciliation of net
     income to FFO - diluted:
     Diluted - income
     available to common
     shareholders             $64,560       $0.62    $61,590       $0.67
                                            =====                  =====

    Adjustments:
    Depreciation and
     amortization of
     unconsolidated joint
     ventures                   8,122                  7,877
    Depreciation and
     amortization              85,386                 86,630
    Gain on property
     dispositions              (5,375)                (4,132)
    Minority interest
     excluding preferred unit
     distributions              2,409                  2,780
                                -----                  -----
      Funds from operations
       available to common
       shareholders -
       diluted               $155,102       $1.44   $154,745       $1.60
                             ========       =====   ========       =====

    Reconciliation of
     weighted average shares:
    Weighted average common
     shares - all basic
     calculations             103,244                 92,001
    Dilutive shares for long
     term compensation
     plans                        381                    247
                                  ---                    ---
    Diluted shares for net
     income calculations      103,625                 92,248
    Weighted average common
     units                      4,019                  4,190
                                -----                  -----
    Diluted shares for funds
     from operations
     calculations             107,644                 96,438
                              =======                 ======

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


                                          June 30, 2009  December 31, 2008
                                          -------------  -----------------
    Assets                                 (unaudited)
    Real estate:
      Land and land improvements               $824,906           $806,122
      Building and improvements               4,301,270          4,218,839
      Less: accumulated depreciation         (1,040,218)          (972,831)
                                             ----------           --------

    Operating real estate                     4,085,958          4,052,130

    Development in progress                     215,155            245,463
    Land held for development                   222,324            209,551
                                                -------            -------

    Net real estate                           4,523,437          4,507,144

    Cash and cash equivalents                   124,536             15,794
    Restricted cash                              40,351             39,726
    Accounts receivable                           6,636             12,985
    Deferred rent receivable                     89,291             83,498
    Deferred financing and leasing costs,
     net of accumulated
     amortization (2009, $149,723;
     2008, $139,346)                            134,700            133,293
    Investment in unconsolidated joint
     ventures                                   255,419            266,602
    Assets held for sale                         25,750             75,526
    Prepaid expenses and other assets            74,369             82,467
                                                 ------             ------

    Total assets                             $5,274,489         $5,217,035
                                             ==========         ==========

    Liabilities
    Mortgage loans                             $471,820           $198,560
    Unsecured notes                           1,846,339          2,131,607
    Credit facility                             140,000            260,000
    Accounts payable                             35,262             32,481
    Accrued interest                             31,315             36,474
    Dividend and distributions payable           54,057             48,858
    Other liabilities                           169,880            182,549
                                                -------            -------

    Total liabilities                         2,748,673          2,890,529
                                              ---------          ---------

    Equity
    Shareholders' equity:
    Common shares of beneficial interest,
     $.001 par value, 183,987,000
     shares authorized, 110,847,466
     (includes 1,249,909 in treasury)
     and 100,034,404 (includes 1,249,909
     in treasury) shares issued and
     outstanding as of June 30, 2009 and
     December 31, 2008, respectively                111                101
    Additional paid-in capital                2,391,615          2,162,820
    Accumulated other comprehensive
     income (loss)                                4,120             (5,378)
    Distributions in excess of net income      (222,739)          (185,721)
    Common shares in treasury, at cost,
     1,249,909 shares as of June 30, 2009
     and December 31, 2008                      (51,951)           (51,951)
                                                -------            -------
    Total shareholders' equity                2,121,156          1,919,871

    Minority interest - operating
     partnership                                403,950            405,505
    Minority interest - consolidated
     joint ventures                                 710              1,130
                                                    ---              -----

    Total equity                              2,525,816          2,326,506
                                              ---------          ---------

    Total liabilities & equity               $5,274,489         $5,217,035
                                             ==========         ==========



SOURCE Liberty Property Trust

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