FORM 10-Q

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

[ X ]  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2002

 

Commission file number: 1-13820

 

SOVRAN SELF STORAGE, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

          Maryland           

 

      16-1194043      

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

6467 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14221
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

(716) 633-1850
(Registrant's telephone number including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No ____

As of May 10, 2002 there were outstanding 12,515,503 shares of the registrant's Common Stock, $.01 par value.

 

 

 

 

 PART I.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

SOVRAN SELF STORAGE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS



(dollars in thousands, except share data)

March 31,
   2002   
  (unaudited) 

December 31, 
       2001        

 Assets

 

 

 Investment in storage facilities:

 

 

   Land

$ 122,533 

$ 117,069 

   Building and equipment

   520,302 

   494,220 

 

642,835 

611,289 

   Less:  accumulated depreciation

   (62,865)

   (59,091)

Investment in storage facilities, net

579,970 

552,198 

Cash and cash equivalents

9,175 

1,883 

Accounts receivable

1,107 

1,064 

Receivable from related parties

122 

122 

Notes receivable from joint ventures

710 

679 

Investment in joint ventures

4,064 

3,659 

Prepaid expenses

       2,853 

       2,505 

Other assets

       7,063 

       5,728 

  Total Assets

$ 605,064 

$ 567,838 

Liabilities

 

 

Line of credit

$122,000 

$134,000 

Term note

105,000 

105,000 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

4,775 

4,359 

Deferred revenue

3,684 

3,157 

Accrued dividends

7,379 

7,293 

Mortgage payable

    50,181 

     2,190 

  Total Liabilities

293,019 

  255,999 

Minority interest - Operating Partnership

14,530 

17,590 

Minority interest - consolidated joint venture

16,978 

17,085 

 

 

 

Shareholders' Equity

 

 

Series A Junior Participating Cumulative
  Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 250,000 shares
  authorized and no shares issued and outstanding



-   



-   

9.85% Series B Cumulative Preferred Stock, $.01
  par value, 1,700,000 shares authorized, 1,200,000   shares issued and outstanding, $30,000
  liquidation value

28,585 

28,585 

Common stock $.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares
  authorized, 12,504,753 shares outstanding
  (12,354,961 at December 31, 2001)



134 



132 

Additional paid-in capital

297,758 

293,835 

Unearned restricted stock

(1,818)

(1,978)

Dividends in excess of net income

(27,755)

(25,746)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

1,670 

373 

Treasury stock at cost, 839,453 shares

   (18,037)

  (18,037)

  Total Shareholders' Equity

   280,537 

  277,164 

  Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

$605,064 

$567,838 

See notes to financial statements.

 

 


SOVRAN SELF STORAGE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)



(dollars in thousands, except share data)

January 1, 2002
to          
March 31, 2002

January 1, 2001
to          
March 31, 2001

Revenues:

 

 

  Rental income

$   23,783    

$   21,800    

  Interest and other income

      466    

      442    

     Total revenues

24,249    

22,242    

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

 

  Property operations and maintenance

5,628    

5,168    

  Real estate taxes

2,326    

2,086    

  General and administrative

2,024    

1,598    

  Interest

3,483    

4,063    

  Depreciation and amortization

4,096    

3,648    

  Equity in losses (income) of joint ventures

         5    

          (43)   

     Total expenses

17,562    

     16,520    

 

 

 

  Income before minority interest

6,687    

5,722    

 

  Minority interest - Operating Partnership

        (302)   

        (361)   

  Minority interest - consolidated joint venture

        (276)   

             -     

 

 

 

  Net Income

6,109    

5,361    

  

  Series B preferred stock dividend

        (739)   

        (739)   

  Net income available to common shareholders

  $   5,370    

  $   4,622    

 

 

 

Per common share:

 

 

  Earnings per common share - basic

    $   0.43    

   $   0.38    

 

 

 

  Earnings per common share - diluted

    $   0.42    

   $   0.38    

 

 

 

  Common shares used in basic earnings
    per share calculation


12,434,310    


12,064,973    

  Common shares used in diluted earnings
    per share calculation


12,666,535    


12,075,717    

 

 

 

  Dividends declared per common share

$         0.59    

$         0.58    

See notes to financial statements.

 

SOVRAN SELF STORAGE, INC.

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOW
(unaudited)



(dollars in thousands)

January 1, 2002
to           
March 31, 2002

January 1, 2001
to            
March 31, 2001

Operating Activities

 

 

Net income

$   6,109    

$   5,361     

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
  provided by operating activities:

 

 

    Depreciation and amortization

4,096    

3,648     

    Equity in income of joint ventures

5    

(43)    

    Minority interest

578    

361     

    Restricted stock earned

160    

45     

    Changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

      Accounts receivable

(18)   

(113)    

      Prepaid expenses and other assets

(256)   

(431)    

      Accounts payable and other liabilities

342     

(1,086)    

      Deferred revenue

     233     

        361     

Net cash provided by operating activities

11,249     

     8,103     

 

 

 

Investing Activities

 

 

  Additions to storage facilities

(31,359)    

(2,690)    

  Advances to joint ventures

(441)    

(12,203)    

  Receipts from (advances to) related parties

            -      

         (49)    

Net cash used in investing activities

  (31,800)    

  (14,942)    

 

 

 

Financing Activities

 

 

  Net proceeds from issuance of common stock
    through Dividend Reinvestment and Stock
    Purchase Plan



3,925     



1,518     

  (Payment on) proceeds from line of credit

(12,000)    

16,500     

  Proceeds from mortgage financing

48,000     

-      

  Financing costs

(296)    

-      

  Dividends paid-common stock

(7,379)    

(6,977)    

  Dividends paid-preferred stock

(739)    

(739)    

  Minority interest distributions

(630)    

(461)    

  Purchase of treasury stock

-      

(449)    

  Redemption of Operating Partnership Units

(3,029)    

(1,276)    

  Mortgage principal payments

        (9)    

        (8)    

Net cash provided by financing activities

  27,843     

    8,108     

Net increase in cash

7,292     

1,269     

Cash at beginning of period

    1,883     

    1,421     

Cash at end of period

$    9,175     

$    2,690     

Supplemental cash flow information
  Cash paid for interest

$  3,237     

$  4,273     

  Fair value of net liabilities assumed on the
    acquisition of storage facilities

251     

-      

Dividends declared but unpaid were $7,379 at March 31, 2002 and $7,042 at March 31, 2001.

See notes to financial statements.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

1.

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited financial statements of Sovran Self Storage, Inc. (the Company) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2002 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ended December 31, 2002.

 

2.

ORGANIZATION

The Company, a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (a "REIT"), was formed on April 19, 1995 to own and operate self-storage facilities throughout the United States. On June 26, 1995, the Company commenced operations effective with the completion of its initial public offering of 5,890,000 shares. At March 31, 2002, the Company owned and/or managed 253 self-storage properties under the "Uncle Bob's Self Storage"&#174 trade name in 21 states.

All of the Company's assets are owned by, and all its operations are conducted through, Sovran Acquisition Limited Partnership (the "Operating Partnership"). Sovran Holdings, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the "Subsidiary"), is the sole general partner; and the Company is a limited partner of the Operating Partnership, and thereby controls the operations of the Operating Partnership holding a 95.68% ownership interest therein as of March 31, 2002. The remaining ownership interests in the Operating Partnership (the "Units") are held by certain former owners of assets acquired by the Operating Partnership subsequent to its formation.

The consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of the Company, the Operating Partnership, and Locke Sovran II, LLC, a majority owned joint venture. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. Investments in joint ventures which are not majority owned are reported using the equity method.

 

3.

INVESTMENT IN STORAGE FACILITIES

The following summarizes activity in storage facilities during the period ended March 31, 2002.

(dollars in thousands)                                                                              

Cost:

 

  Beginning balance

$   611,289 

  Property acquisitions

25,947 

  Improvements and equipment additions

5,727 

  Dispositions                                                                         

          (128)

Ending balance                                                                      

$   642,835 

Accumulated Depreciation:

 

  Beginning balance

$    59,091 

  Additions during the period

3,838 

  Dispositions                                                                        

             (64)

Ending balance                                                                     

$    62,865 

 

4.

UNSECURED LINE OF CREDIT AND TERM NOTE

The Company has a $150 million revolving line of credit due November 2003 at LIBOR plus 1.375%, a $75 million term loan due November 2003 (extendable, at the Company's option to November 2005) at LIBOR plus 1.75%, and a $30 million term loan due November 2002 at LIBOR plus 1.375%. The weighted average interest rate at March 31, 2002 on the Company's credit facility before the effect of interest rate swaps was approximately 3.4%. At March  31, 2002, there was $28 million available on the line of credit.

The Company has entered into three interest rate swap agreements, one in March 2001 for $50 million and two in September 2001 for $50 million and $30 million, to effectively convert a total of $130 million of variable-rate debt to fixed-rate debt. One of the $50 million interest rate swap agreements matures in November 2005, the other matures in October 2006, and the $30 million swap agreement matures in September 2008.

Based on current interest rates, the Company estimates that payments under the interest rate swaps will be approximately $3.9 million in 2002. Payments made under the interest rate swap agreements will be reclassified to interest expense as settlements occur. The fair value of the swap agreements at March 31, 2002 was a $1.7 million asset.

The net carrying amount of the Company's debt instruments approximates fair value.

 

5.

MORTGAGES PAYABLE

In February 2002, the consolidated joint venture (Locke Sovran II, LLC) entered into a mortgage note of $48 million. The note is secured by the 27 properties owned by the joint venture with a value of $80 million. The 10-year note bears interest at 7.19%.

The Company also has a $2 million note secured by a single property.

 

6.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company's current practice is to conduct environmental investigations in connection with property acquisitions. At this time, the Company is not aware of any environmental contamination of any of its facilities which individually or in the aggregate would be material to the Company's overall business, financial condition, or results of operations.

 

7.

INVESTMENT IN JOINT VENTURES

Investment in joint ventures includes an ownership interest in Locke Sovran I, LLC, which operates 11 self-storage facilities in various states, and an ownership interest in Iskalo Office Holdings, LLC, which owns the building that houses the Company's headquarters and other tenants.

In December 2000, the Company contributed seven self-storage properties to Locke Sovran I, LLC with a fair market value of $19.8 million, in exchange for a $15 million 1 year note receivable bearing interest at LIBOR plus 1.75% that was repaid in 2001, and a 45% interest in Locke Sovran I, LLC. This transaction resulted in a gain on the disposal of the properties of approximately $4.3 million; $1.9 million of this gain was deferred as a result of the Company's continuing ownership interest in Locke Sovran I, LLC, as such the initial investment, including cash funding, was recorded at $3.1 million. The deferred gain is being amortized over the life of the properties, consistent with the depreciation expense recorded by Locke Sovran I, LLC.

The Company also has a 49% ownership interest in Iskalo Office Holdings, LLC at March 31, 2002. The majority of the $1.3 million investment relates to interest bearing loans made by the Company to the joint venture.

 

8.

EARNINGS PER SHARE

The Company reports earnings per share in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings Per Share." In computing earnings per share, the Company excludes preferred stock dividends from net income to arrive at net income available to common shareholders. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share:


(in thousands except per share data)

Three Months Ended
    March 31, 2002    

Three Months Ended
    March 31, 2001    

Numerator:

 

 

  Net income available to common shareholders

$   5,370                 

$   4,622                 

 

 

 

Denominator:

 

 

  Denominator for basic earnings per share -
    weighted average shares


12,434                 


12,065                 

 

 

 

Effect of Diluted Securities:

 

 

  Stock options

233                 

11                 

  Denominator for diluted earnings per share -
    adjusted weighted average shares and
    assumed conversion



12,667                 



12,076                 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per common share

$      .43                  

$       .38                 

Diluted earnings per common share

$      .42                  

$       .38                 

 

ITEM 2.

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION

The following discussion and analysis of the consolidated financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this report.

The Company operates as a Real Estate Investment Trust ("REIT") and owns and/or manages a portfolio of 253 self-storage facilities, providing storage space for business and personal use to customers in 21 states. The Company's investment objective is to increase cash flow and enhance shareholder value by aggressively managing its portfolio, to expand and enhance the facilities in that portfolio and to selectively acquire new properties in geographic areas that will either complement or efficiently grow the portfolio.

When used in this discussion and elsewhere in this document, the words "intends," "believes," "expects", "anticipates," and similar expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933 and in Section 21F of Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the effect of competition from new self-storage facilities, which would cause rents and occupancy rates to decline; the Company's ability to evaluate, finance and integrate acquired businesses into the Company's existing business and operations; the Company's ability to form joint ventures and sell existing properties to those joint ventures; the Company's ability to effectively compete in the industry in which it does business; the Company's existing indebtedness may mature in an unfavorable credit environment, preventing refinancing or forcing refinancing of the indebtedness on terms that are not as favorable as the existing terms; interest rates may fluctuate, impacting costs associated with the Company's outstanding floating rate debt; the Company's ability to successfully implement its Uncle Bob's Flex-a-Space strategy; the Company's cash flow may be insufficient to meet required payments of principal and interest; and tax law changes which may change the taxability of future income.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company's unsecured credit facility provides availability up to $150 million, of which $122 million was drawn on March 31, 2002. The facility matures in November 2003 and bears interest at LIBOR plus 1.375%.

In addition to the credit facility, the Company has two unsecured term notes; one in the amount of $30 million due November 2002 bearing interest at LIBOR plus 1.375% and the other in the a mount of $75 million bearing interest at LIBOR plus 1.75%. The $75 million note has a maturity date of November 2003, but can be extended through November 2005 at the Company's option.

The credit facility and term notes currently have investment grade ratings from Standard and Poor's (BBB-), Moody's (Baa3), and Fitch (BBB-).

In July 1999 the Company issued 1,200,000 shares of 9.85% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock. The net proceeds of $28.6 million were used to repay a portion of the outstanding balance on the credit facility. The Series B Preferred Stock is currently rated by Standard and Poor's (BB+), Moody's (Ba2) and Fitch (BB+).

In February 2002, the consolidated joint venture (Locke Sovran II, LLC) entered into a mortgage note of $48 million. The note is secured by the 27 properties owned by the joint venture with a value of $80 million. The 10-year note bears interest at 7.19%.

The Company believes that its internally generated cash flows and borrowing capacity under the credit facility will be sufficient to fund ongoing operations, capital improvements, dividends, and share repurchases for the year 2002. The Company expects to fund its maturing $30 million term note with the availability on its unsecured credit facility and operating cash flow. Future growth is expected to be funded through issuance of secured or unsecured term notes, issuance of common or preferred stock, sale of Properties, private placement solicitation of joint venture equity and other sources of capital.

 

UMBRELLA PARTNERSHIP REIT

The Company was formed as an Umbrella Partnership Real Estate Trust ("UPREIT") and, as such, has the ability to issue Operating Partnership ("OP") units in exchange for properties sold by independent owners. By utilizing such OP units as currency in facility acquisitions, the Company may partially defer the seller's income-tax liability and obtain more favorable pricing or terms. As of March 31, 2002, 563,950 units are outstanding that were issued in exchange for property at the request of the sellers.

 

ACQUISITION OF PROPERTIES

The Company's external growth strategy is to increase the number of facilities it owns by acquiring suitable facilities in markets in which it already has an operating presence or to expand into new markets by acquiring several facilities at once in those new markets. During the three months ended March 31, 2002, the Company's consolidated joint venture (Locke Sovran II, LLC) purchased12 properties for $25.9 million. The properties are located in Houston, TX and Syracuse, NY.

 

REIT QUALIFICATION AND DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS

As a REIT, the Company is not required to pay federal income tax on income that it distributes to its shareholders, provided that the amount distributed is equal to at least 90% of taxable income. These distributions must be made in the year to which they relate or in the following year if declared before the Company files its federal income-tax return and if it is paid before the first regular dividend of the following year.

As a REIT, the Company must derive at least 95% of its total gross income from income related to real property, interest and dividends. In the three months ended March 31, 2002, the Company's percentage of revenue from such sources exceeded 97%, thereby passing the 95% test, and no special measures are expected to be required to enable the Company to maintain its REIT designation.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2002, COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 1, 2001 (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)

The following discussion compares the activities of the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2002 with the activities of the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2001.

Total revenues increased from $22,242 for the three months ended March 31, 2001 to $24,249 for the three months ended March 31, 2002, an increase of $2,007 or 9%. This increase consisted of $430 that was realized as a result of increased rental rates at the 222 properties owned by the Company at January 1, 2001, and $1,577 resulted from the operations of 20 properties acquired in 2001 and 2002. Overall, same-store revenues grew 2% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2002 as compared to the same period in 2001.

Property operating and real estate tax expense increased $700 or 9.6% during the period. $217 related to the operations of its sites operated more than one year, and $483 was a result of absorbing additional expenses from operating the newly acquired properties.

General and administrative expenses increased $426 principally as a result of increased administrative costs associated with managing the additional properties and the costs related to the Company's customer care center.

Interest expense decreased $580 due to a reduction of interest rates.

Income before minority interest increased from $5,722 to $6,687.

 

FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS

The Company believes that Funds From Operations ("FFO") is helpful to investors as a measure of the performance of an equity REIT because, when considered in conjunction with cash flows from operating activities, financing activities, and investing activities, it provides investors with an understanding of the ability of the Company to incur and service debt and to make capital expenditures. FFO is defined as income before minority interest and extraordinary item, computed in accordance with GAAP, plus depreciation of real estate assets and amortization of intangible assets exclusive of deferred financing fees, and excluding gains (losses) from debt restructuring and sales of property. FFO should not be considered a substitute for net income or cash flows, nor should it be considered an alternative to operating performance or liquidity. The following table sets forth the calculation of FFO:



(in thousands)

Three months ended
      March 31,        
       2002            

Three months ended
      March 31,        
         2001            

Net income

$   6,109           

$   5,361         

Minority interest in income

578           

361         

Depreciation of real estate and amortization
  of intangible assets exclusive of deferred
  financing fees



3,903           



3,391         

Depreciation and amortization from
  unconsolidated joint ventures


      114           


     76         

Preferred dividends

     (739)         

        (739)        

Funds from operations allocable to
  minority interest in Operating Partnership


    (446)         


       (533)        

Funds from operations allocable to
  minority interest in consolidated joint venture


      (460)         


             -           

FFO available to common shareholders

$   9,059          

$   7,917          

 

INFLATION

The Company does not believe that inflation has had or will have a direct adverse effect on its operations. Substantially all of the leases at the facilities allow for monthly rent increases, which provide the Company with the opportunity to achieve increases in rental income as each lease matures.

 

SEASONALITY

The Company's revenues typically have been higher in the third and fourth quarters, primarily because the Company increases its rental rates on most of its storage units at the beginning of May and, to a lesser extent, because self-storage facilities tend to experience greater occupancy during the late spring, summer and early fall months due to the greater incidence of residential moves during these periods. However, the Company believes that its tenant mix, diverse geographical locations, rental structure and expense structure provide adequate protection against undue fluctuations in cash flows and net revenues during off-peak seasons. Thus, the Company does not expect seasonality to affect materially distributions to shareholders.

 

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK

The Company manages its exposure to interest rate changes by entering into interest rate swap and cap agreements. At March 31, 2002, the Company has three outstanding interest rate swap agreements. The first, entered in March 2001, effectively fixes the LIBOR base rate at 5.36% through November 2005 on $50 million notional amount. The second, entered in September 2001, effectively fixes the LIBOR base rate at 4.485% through October 2006 on another $50 million notional amount. The third, also entered in September 2001, effectively fixes the LIBOR base rate at 4.805% through September 2008 on $30 million notional amount. The Company has an unsecured credit facility in place through November 2003 enabling the Company to borrow funds at rates of LIBOR plus 1.375% and 1.75%. Accordingly, as a result of the above described interest rate swap agreements, the Company has fixed its interest rate through November 2003 on $50 million at 6.735%, on another $50 million at 5.86%, and on $30 million at 6.555%. Upon renewal or replacement of the credit facility, the Company's total interest may change dependent on the terms it negotiates with its lenders; however, the LIBOR base rates have been contractually fixed on $130 million of the Company's debt through the interest rate swap termination dates.

Because all but $130 million of the Company's outstanding unsecured debt of $227 million is on a floating rate basis, changes in short term interest rates could have a significant impact on the Company's earnings and funds from operations. Should the Company enter into further rate swap agreements, earnings could be negatively affected, as short-term rates are presently significantly below the five and seven year cost of funds.

 

PART II.

OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

No disclosure required.

 

ITEM 2.

CHANGES IN SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

No disclosure required.

 

ITEM 3.

DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

No disclosure required.

 

ITEM 4.

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

No disclosure required.

 

ITEM 5.

OTHER INFORMATION

No disclosure required.

 

ITEM 6.

EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

None

 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

Sovran Self Storage, Inc.

 


By:     / S / David L. Rogers                        

           David L. Rogers
           Secretary, Chief Financial Officer

May 15, 2002      
Date