Getty Realty Corp. 10-Q
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D. C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
(Mark
one)
x
QUARTERLY REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
For
the
quarterly period ended September
30, 2006
OR
o
TRANSITION REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the
transition period from __________ to __________
Commission
file number 001-13777
GETTY
REALTY CORP.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
MARYLAND
|
11-3412575
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
|
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification
No.)
|
125
Jericho Turnpike, Suite 103
Jericho,
New York 11753
(Address
of principal executive offices)
(Zip
Code)
(516)
478 - 5400
(Registrant's
telephone number, including area code)
_________________________________________________________________
(Former
name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last
report)
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 o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated
filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act.
Large
Accelerated Filer o
Accelerated Filer
x
Non-Accelerated Filer o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes
o
No x
Registrant
had outstanding 24,749,229 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share,
as
of November 2, 2006.
GETTY
REALTY CORP.
INDEX
|
Page
Number
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26
|
|
|
|
28
|
|
|
|
28
|
|
|
|
29
|
GETTY
REALTY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
|
|
|
(in
thousands, except share data)
|
|
(unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September
30,
|
|
December
31,
|
|
Assets:
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Real
Estate:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Land
|
|
$
|
180,569
|
|
$
|
171,839
|
|
Buildings
and improvements
|
|
|
203,694
|
|
|
198,656
|
|
|
|
|
384,263
|
|
|
370,495
|
|
Less
- accumulated depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
(114,520
|
)
|
|
(109,800
|
)
|
Real
estate, net
|
|
|
269,743
|
|
|
260,695
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred
rent receivable
|
|
|
31,632
|
|
|
29,287
|
|
Cash
and equivalents
|
|
|
953
|
|
|
1,247
|
|
Recoveries
from state underground storage tank funds, net
|
|
|
4,058
|
|
|
4,264
|
|
Mortgages
and accounts receivable, net
|
|
|
4,213
|
|
|
3,129
|
|
Prepaid
expenses and other assets
|
|
|
1,005
|
|
|
1,359
|
|
Total
assets
|
|
$
|
311,604
|
|
$
|
299,981
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities
and Shareholders' Equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Debt
|
|
$
|
46,701
|
|
$
|
34,224
|
|
Environmental
remediation costs
|
|
|
17,242
|
|
|
17,350
|
|
Dividends
payable
|
|
|
11,277
|
|
|
11,009
|
|
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
|
|
|
9,502
|
|
|
9,515
|
|
Total
liabilities
|
|
|
84,722
|
|
|
72,098
|
|
Commitments
and contingencies
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholders'
equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
stock, par value $.01 per share; authorized 50,000,000 shares;
issued 24,749,166 at September 30,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006 and
24,716,614 at December 31, 2005
|
|
|
247
|
|
|
247
|
|
Paid-in
capital
|
|
|
258,550
|
|
|
257,766
|
|
Dividends
paid in excess of earnings
|
|
|
(31,021
|
)
|
|
(30,130
|
)
|
Accumulated
other comprehensive loss
|
|
|
(894
|
)
|
|
—
|
|
Total
shareholders' equity
|
|
|
226,882
|
|
|
227,883
|
|
Total
liabilities and shareholders' equity
|
|
$
|
311,604
|
|
$
|
299,981
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
GETTY
REALTY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
|
|
|
(in
thousands, except per share amounts)
|
|
(unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three
months ended September 30,
|
|
Nine
months ended September 30,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
from rental properties
|
|
$
|
18,087
|
|
$
|
17,768
|
|
$
|
54,334
|
|
$
|
53,036
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rental
property expenses
|
|
|
2,425
|
|
|
2,551
|
|
|
7,397
|
|
|
7,735
|
|
Environmental
expenses, net
|
|
|
1,642
|
|
|
375
|
|
|
3,553
|
|
|
1,786
|
|
General
and administrative expenses
|
|
|
1,383
|
|
|
1,167
|
|
|
4,123
|
|
|
3,767
|
|
Depreciation
and amortization expense
|
|
|
1,891
|
|
|
2,015
|
|
|
5,803
|
|
|
6,029
|
|
Total
operating expenses
|
|
|
7,341
|
|
|
6,108
|
|
|
20,876
|
|
|
19,317
|
|
Operating
income
|
|
|
10,746
|
|
|
11,660
|
|
|
33,458
|
|
|
33,719
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
income, net
|
|
|
809
|
|
|
179
|
|
|
1,368
|
|
|
370
|
|
Interest
expense
|
|
|
(979
|
)
|
|
(567
|
)
|
|
(2,607
|
)
|
|
(1,167
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
earnings before income taxes
|
|
|
10,576
|
|
|
11,272
|
|
|
32,219
|
|
|
32,922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income
tax benefit
|
|
|
700
|
|
|
1,494
|
|
|
700
|
|
|
1,494
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
earnings
|
|
$
|
11,276
|
|
$
|
12,766
|
|
$
|
32,919
|
|
$
|
34,416
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
earnings per common share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
.46
|
|
$
|
.52
|
|
$
|
1.33
|
|
$
|
1.39
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
.46
|
|
$
|
.52
|
|
$
|
1.33
|
|
$
|
1.39
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average shares outstanding:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
24,739
|
|
|
24,715
|
|
|
24,727
|
|
|
24,710
|
|
Stock
options and restricted stock units
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
15
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
24,764
|
|
|
24,734
|
|
|
24,752
|
|
|
24,725
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends
declared per share
|
|
$
|
.455
|
|
$
|
.445
|
|
$
|
1.365
|
|
$
|
1.315
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
GETTY
REALTY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
|
|
|
(in
thousands)
|
|
(unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine
months ended September 30,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
Cash
flows from operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
earnings
|
|
$
|
32,919
|
|
$
|
34,416
|
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net earnings to
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
net
cash provided by operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
and amortization expense
|
|
|
5,803
|
|
|
6,029
|
|
Deferred
rental revenue
|
|
|
(2,345
|
)
|
|
(2,738
|
)
|
Gain
on dispositions of real estate
|
|
|
(1,152
|
)
|
|
(177
|
)
|
Accretion
expense
|
|
|
576
|
|
|
639
|
|
Stock-based
employee compensation expense
|
|
|
137
|
|
|
102
|
|
Changes
in assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recoveries
from state underground storage tank funds, net
|
|
|
457
|
|
|
856
|
|
Mortgages
and accounts receivable, net
|
|
|
(1,000
|
)
|
|
1,241
|
|
Prepaid
expenses and other assets
|
|
|
354
|
|
|
(930
|
)
|
Environmental
remediation costs
|
|
|
(935
|
)
|
|
(2,196
|
)
|
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
|
|
|
(207
|
)
|
|
(855
|
)
|
Accrued
income taxes
|
|
|
(700
|
)
|
|
(1,494
|
)
|
Net
cash provided by operating activities
|
|
|
33,907
|
|
|
34,893
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from investing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property
acquisitions and capital expenditures
|
|
|
(15,512
|
)
|
|
(29,571
|
)
|
Collection
(issuance) of mortgages receivable, net
|
|
|
(84
|
)
|
|
308
|
|
Proceeds
from dispositions of real estate
|
|
|
1,813
|
|
|
895
|
|
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(13,783
|
)
|
|
(28,368
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
dividends paid
|
|
|
(33,542
|
)
|
|
(32,016
|
)
|
Borrowings
under credit agreement, net
|
|
|
12,500
|
|
|
10,700
|
|
Repayment
of mortgages payable
|
|
|
(23
|
)
|
|
(278
|
)
|
Proceeds
from stock issued
|
|
|
647
|
|
|
323
|
|
Net
cash used in financing activities
|
|
|
(20,418
|
)
|
|
(21,271
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
decrease in cash and equivalents
|
|
|
(294
|
)
|
|
(14,746
|
)
|
Cash
and equivalents at beginning of period
|
|
|
1,247
|
|
|
15,700
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and equivalents at end of period
|
|
$
|
953
|
|
$
|
954
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
disclosures of cash flow information
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
paid (refunded) during the period for:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
$
|
1,785
|
|
$
|
977
|
|
Income
taxes, net
|
|
|
472
|
|
|
446
|
|
Recoveries
from state underground storage tank funds
|
|
|
(1,396
|
)
|
|
(1,495
|
)
|
Environmental
remediation costs
|
|
|
3,283
|
|
|
3,534
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
|
GETTY
REALTY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(Unaudited)
1.
General:
The
accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America
(“GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Getty
Realty Corp. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the "Company"). The Company
is a
real estate investment trust (“REIT”) specializing in the ownership and leasing
of retail motor fuel and convenience store properties and petroleum distribution
terminals. The Company manages and evaluates its operations as a single segment.
All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been
eliminated.
The
financial
statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP, which requires management
to make its best estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial statements and revenues and expenses
during the period reported. While all available information has been considered,
actual results could differ from those estimates, judgments and assumptions.
Estimates, judgments and assumptions underlying the accompanying consolidated
financial statements include, but are not limited to, deferred rent receivable,
recoveries from state underground storage tank funds, environmental remediation
costs, real estate, depreciation and amortization, impairment of long-lived
assets, litigation, accrued expenses, income taxes and exposure to paying an
earnings and profits deficiency dividend.
The
consolidated financial statements are unaudited but, in the opinion of
management, reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals)
necessary for a fair presentation. These statements should be read in
conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes, which
appear in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2005.
In
September
2006, the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Staff") issued
Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108 (“SAB 108”), "Considering the Effects of Prior
Year Misstatements When Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial
Statements." In SAB 108, the Staff established an approach that requires
quantification of financial statement misstatements based on the effects of
the
misstatements on each of the company's financial statements and the related
financial statement disclosures. This model is commonly referred to as the
"dual
approach" because it requires quantification of errors under both the iron
curtain and the roll-over methods. The roll-over method focuses primarily on
the
impact of a misstatement on the income statement—including the reversing effect
of prior year misstatements—but its use can lead to the accumulation of
misstatements in the balance sheet. The iron-curtain method focuses primarily on
the effect of correcting the period-end balance sheet with less emphasis on
the
reversing effects of prior year errors on the income statement.
There
currently are no financial statement misstatements that have been identified
by
the Company for which correcting adjustments have not been made. Historically
the Company has used the dual approach for quantifying identified financial
statement misstatements. The Company will initially apply the provisions of
SAB
108 in connection with the preparation of its annual financial statements for
the year ending December 31, 2006. The Company does not expect that the
provisions of SAB 108 will have any material impact on its financial position
or
results of operation.
2.
Commitments and Contingencies:
In
order to
minimize the Company’s exposure to credit risk associated with financial
instruments, the Company places its temporary cash investments with high credit
quality institutions. Temporary cash investments, if any, are held in an
institutional money market fund or federal agency discount notes.
As
of
September 30, 2006, the Company leased nine hundred twenty-three
of
its one thousand fifty-eight properties on a long-term net basis to Getty
Petroleum Marketing Inc. (“Marketing”) under a master lease (“Master Lease”) and
a coterminous supplemental lease for one property (collectively the “Marketing
Leases”) (see note 2 to the consolidated financial statements which appear in
the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005).
Marketing operated substantially all of the Company’s petroleum marketing
businesses when it was spun-off to the Company’s shareholders as a separate
publicly held company in March 1997 (the “Spin-Off”). In December 2000,
Marketing was acquired by a subsidiary of OAO Lukoil, one of Russia’s largest
oil companies. The Company’s financial
results depend largely on rental income from Marketing, and to a lesser extent
on rental income from other tenants, and are therefore materially dependent
upon
the ability of Marketing to meet its obligations under the Marketing Leases.
A
substantial portion of the deferred rental revenue of $31,632,000 recorded
as of
September 30, 2006 is due to recognition of rental revenue on a straight-line
basis under the Marketing Leases. Marketing’s financial results depend largely
on retail petroleum marketing margins and rental income from its dealers. The
petroleum marketing industry has been and continues to be volatile and highly
competitive. Marketing has made all required monthly rental payments under
the
Marketing Leases when due.
Under
the
Master Lease, the Company has agreed to provide limited environmental
indemnification to Marketing, capped at $4,250,000 and expiring in 2010, for
certain pre-existing conditions at six of the terminals which are owned by
the
Company. Under the agreement, Marketing will pay the first $1,500,000 of costs
and expenses incurred in connection with remediating any such pre-existing
conditions, Marketing and the Company will share equally the next $8,500,000
of
those costs and expenses and Marketing will pay all additional costs and
expenses over $10,000,000. The Company has accrued $300,000 as of September
30,
2006 and December 31, 2005 in connection with this indemnification
agreement.
The
Company
is subject to various legal proceedings and claims which arise in the ordinary
course of its business. In addition, the Company has retained responsibility
for
all pre-spin-off legal proceedings and claims relating to the petroleum
marketing business. As of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005 the Company
had accrued $2,795,000 and $2,667,000, respectively, for certain of these
matters which it believes were appropriate based on information then currently
available. The ultimate resolution of these matters is not expected to have
a
material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of
operations.
In
September
2003, the Company was notified by the State of New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection that the Company is one of approximately sixty
potentially responsible parties for natural resource damages resulting from
discharges of hazardous substances into the Lower Passaic River. The definitive
list of potentially responsible parties and their actual responsibility for
the
alleged damages, the aggregate cost to remediate the Lower Passaic River, the
amount of natural resource damages and the method of allocating such amounts
among the potentially responsible parties have not been determined. In September
2004, the Company received a General Notice Letter from the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA Notice”), advising the Company that it
may be a potentially responsible party for costs of remediating certain
conditions resulting from discharges of hazardous substances into the Lower
Passaic River. ChevronTexaco received the same EPA Notice regarding those same
conditions. Additionally, the Company believes that ChevronTexaco is
contractually obligated to indemnify the Company, pursuant to an indemnification
agreement, for most of the conditions at the property identified by the New
Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the EPA. Accordingly, the
ultimate legal and financial liability of the Company, if any, cannot be
estimated with any certainty at this time.
From
October
2003 through September 2006 the Company was notified that the Company was made
party to forty cases in Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
New
Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia brought
by
local water providers or governmental agencies. These cases allege various
theories of liability due to contamination of groundwater with MTBE as the
basis
for claims seeking compensatory and punitive damages. Each case names as
defendants approximately fifty petroleum refiners, manufacturers, distributors
and retailers of MTBE, or gasoline containing MTBE. The accuracy of the
allegations as they relate to the Company, its defenses to such claims, the
aggregate amount of damages, the definitive list of defendants and the method
of
allocating such amounts among the defendants have not been determined.
Accordingly, the ultimate legal and financial liability of the Company, if
any,
cannot be estimated with any certainty at this time.
Prior
to the
spin-off, the Company was self-insured for workers’ compensation, general
liability and vehicle liability up to predetermined amounts above which
third-party insurance applies. As of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005,
the Company’s consolidated balance sheets included, in accounts payable and
accrued expenses, $334,000 and $291,000 relating to insurance obligations.
The
Company estimates its loss reserves for claims, including claims incurred but
not reported, by utilizing actuarial valuations provided annually by its
insurance carriers. The Company is required to deposit funds for these loss
reserves with its insurance carriers, and it may be entitled to refunds of
amounts previously funded as the claims are evaluated on an annual basis.
Although loss reserve adjustments may have a significant impact on results
of
operations for any single fiscal year or interim period, the Company currently
believes that such costs will not have a material adverse effect on the
Company’s long-term financial position. Since the spin-off, the Company has
maintained insurance coverage subject to certain deductibles.
In
order to
qualify as a REIT, among other items, the Company paid a $64,162,000 special
one-time “earnings and profits” (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code) cash
distribution to shareholders in August 2001. Determination of accumulated
earnings and profits for federal income tax purposes is extremely complex.
Should the Internal Revenue Service successfully assert that the Company’s
accumulated earnings and profits were greater than the amount distributed,
the
Company may fail to qualify as a REIT; however, the Company may avoid losing
its
REIT status by paying a deficiency dividend to eliminate any remaining
accumulated earnings and profits. The Company may have to borrow money or sell
assets to pay such a deficiency dividend. As of December 31, 2005 the Company
had $700,000 accrued for this and certain other uncertain tax matters which
it
believed was appropriate based on information then currently available. The
accrual for uncertain tax positions is adjusted as circumstances change and
as
the uncertainties become more clearly defined, such as when audits are settled
or exposures expire. Accordingly, an income tax benefit of $700,000 was recorded
in the third quarter of 2006 due to the elimination of the amount accrued for
uncertain tax positions since the Company believes that the uncertainties
regarding these exposures have been resolved or that it is no longer likely
that
the exposure will result in a liability upon review. However, the ultimate
resolution of these matters may have a significant impact on the results of
operations for any single fiscal year or interim period. In June 2006 the
Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48
(“FIN 48”) “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” FIN 48 addresses the
recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken
in a
tax return. The Company does not believe that the adoption of FIN 48 in January
2007 will have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results
of operation.
3.
Environmental Expenses
The
Company
is subject to numerous existing federal, state and local laws and regulations,
including matters relating to the protection of the environment, such as the
remediation of known contamination and the retirement and decommissioning or
removal of long-lived assets including building containing hazardous material,
UST’s and other equipment. Environmental expenses are primarily attributable to
remediation costs which include installing, operating, maintaining and
decommissioning remediation systems, monitoring contamination, and governmental
agency reporting incurred in connection with contaminated properties.
Environmental remediation liabilities and related assets are measured at fair
value based on their expected future cash flows which have been adjusted for
inflation and discounted to present value. For the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2006, the net changes in estimated remediation costs included
in
environmental expenses in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations
were $1,159,000 and $1,985,000, respectively, as compared to $46,000 and
$1,338,000, respectively, for the comparable prior year periods, which amounts
were net of changes in estimated recoveries from state underground storage
tank
(“UST”) remediation funds. Environmental expenses also include project
management fees, legal fees and provisions for environmental litigation loss
reserves.
In
accordance
with leases with certain tenants, the Company has agreed to bring the leased
properties with known environmental contamination to within applicable standards
and to regulatory or contractual closure (“Closure”) in an efficient and
economical manner. Generally, upon achieving Closure at each individual
property, the Company’s environmental liability under the lease for that
property will be satisfied and future remediation obligations will be the
responsibility of the Company’s tenant. Generally, the liability for the
retirement and decommissioning or removal of UST’s and other equipment is the
responsibility of the tenants. The Company is contingently liable for these
obligations in the event that the tenants do not satisfy their responsibilities.
A liability has not been accrued for obligations that are the responsibility
of
its tenants. Of the nine hundred twenty-three properties leased to Marketing
as
of September 30, 2006, the Company has agreed to pay all costs
relating to, and to indemnify Marketing for, certain environmental liabilities
and obligations for the remaining two hundred twenty-six properties that are
scheduled in the Master Lease and have not achieved Closure. The Company will
continue to seek reimbursement from state UST remediation funds related to
these
environmental expenditures where available.
The
estimated
future costs for known environmental remediation requirements are accrued when
it is probable that a liability has been incurred and a reasonable estimate
of
fair value can be made. The environmental remediation liability is estimated
based on the level and impact of contamination at each property. The accrued
liability is the aggregate of the best estimate of the fair value of cost for
each component of the liability. Recoveries of environmental costs from state
UST remediation funds, with respect to both past and future environmental
spending, are accrued at fair value as income, net of allowance for collection
risk, based on estimated recovery rates developed from prior experience with
the
funds when such recoveries are considered probable.
Environmental
exposures are difficult to assess and estimate for numerous reasons, including
the extent of contamination, alternative treatment methods that may be applied,
location of the property which subjects it to differing local laws and
regulations and their interpretations, as well as the time it takes to remediate
contamination. In developing the Company’s liability for probable and reasonably
estimable environmental remediation costs, on a property by property basis,
the
Company considers among other things, enacted laws and regulations, assessments
of contamination
and
surrounding geology, quality of information available, currently available
technologies for treatment, alternative methods of remediation and prior
experience. These accrual estimates are subject to significant change, and
are
adjusted as the remediation treatment progresses, as circumstances change and
as
these contingencies become more clearly defined and reasonably estimable. As
of
September 30, 2006, the Company had remediation action plans in
place for
280
(94%)
of
the 299
properties for which it retained environmental responsibility
and has
not received a no further action letter and the remaining 19 properties
(6%) remain in the assessment phase.
As
of
September 30, 2006, December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the Company had
accrued $17,242,000, $17,350,000 and $20,626,000, respectively, as management’s
best estimate of the fair value of reasonably estimable environmental
remediation costs. As of September 30, 2006, December 31, 2005 and December
31,
2004, the Company had also recorded $4,058,000, $4,264,000 and $5,437,000,
respectively, as management’s best estimate for recoveries from state UST
remediation funds, net of allowance, related to environmental obligations and
liabilities. Accrued environmental remediation costs and recoveries from state
UST remediation funds have been accreted for the change in present value due
to
the passage of time and, accordingly, $576,000 and $639,000 of net accretion
expense is included in environmental expenses for the nine months ended
September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
In
view of
the uncertainties associated with environmental expenditures, however, the
Company believes it is possible that the fair value of future actual net
expenditures could be substantially higher than these estimates. Adjustments
to
accrued liabilities for environmental remediation costs will be reflected in
the
Company’s financial statements as they become probable and a reasonable estimate
of fair value can be made. Although future environmental expenses may have
a
significant impact on results of operations for any single fiscal year or
interim period, the Company currently believes that such costs will not have
a
material adverse effect on the Company’s long-term financial
position.
4. Shareholders'
Equity:
A
summary
of the changes in shareholders' equity for the nine months ended September
30,
2006 is as follows (in thousands, except share amounts):
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paid
In
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
Stock
|
|
Paid-in
|
|
Excess
Of
|
|
Comprehensive
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
Amount
|
|
Capital
|
|
Earnings
|
|
Loss
|
|
Total
|
|
Balance,
December 31, 2005
|
|
|
24,716,614
|
|
$
|
247
|
|
$
|
257,766
|
|
$
|
(30,130
|
)
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
227,883
|
|
Net
earnings
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32,919
|
|
|
|
|
|
32,919
|
|
Dividends
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(33,810
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
(33,810
|
)
|
Stock-based
employee
compensation
expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
137
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
137
|
|
Net
unrealized loss on
interest
rate swap
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(894
|
)
|
|
(894
|
)
|
Stock
issued
|
|
|
32,552
|
|
|
|
|
|
647
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
647
|
|
Balance,
September 30, 2006
|
|
|
24,749,166
|
|
$
|
247
|
|
$
|
258,550
|
|
$
|
(31,021
|
)
|
$
|
(894
|
)
|
$
|
226,882
|
|
The
Company is authorized to issue 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value
$.01 per share, of which none were issued as of December 31, 2005 or September
30, 2006.
5.
Acquisitions
On
February
28, 2006, the Company acquired eighteen retail motor fuel and convenience store
properties located in Western New York for $13,389,000. Simultaneous with the
closing on the acquisition, the Company entered into a triple-net lease with
a
single tenant for all of the properties. The lease provides for annual rentals
at a competitive rate and provides for escalations thereafter. The lease has
an
initial term of fifteen years and provides the tenant options for three renewal
terms of five years each. The lease also provides that the tenant is responsible
for all existing and future environmental conditions at the
properties.
On
March 25,
2005 the Company acquired twenty-three convenience store and retail motor fuel
properties in Virginia for $28,960,000. All of the properties are
triple-net-leased to a single tenant who previously leased the properties from
the seller and operates the locations under its proprietary convenience store
brand in its network of over 200 locations. The lease provides for annual
rentals at a competitive rate and provides for escalations thereafter. The
lease
has an initial term of fifteen years and provides the tenant options for three
renewal terms of five years each. The lease also provides that the tenant is
responsible for all existing and future environmental conditions at the
properties.
6.
Derivative Financial Instruments
In
April 2006
the Company entered into a $45,000,000 LIBOR based interest rate swap, effective
May 1, 2006 through June 30, 2011. The interest rate swap is intended to hedge
the Company’s current exposure to market interest rate risk by effectively
fixing, at 5.44%, the LIBOR component of the interest rate determined under
its
existing credit agreement or future exposure to variable interest rate risk
due
to borrowing arrangements that may be entered into prior to the expiration
of
the interest rate swap. The Company’s borrowings under its credit agreement bear
interest at a rate equal to the sum of a base rate or a LIBOR rate plus an
applicable margin based on the Company’s leverage ratio ranging from 0.25% to
1.75%. Effective May 1, 2006, $45,000,000 of the Company’s LIBOR based
borrowings under the credit agreement bear interest at an effective rate of
6.69%.
The
Company
entered into the $45,000,000 notional five year interest rate swap agreement
designated and qualifying as a cash flow hedge to reduce its exposure to the
variability in future cash flows attributable to changes in the LIBOR rate.
The
Company’s primary objective when undertaking hedging transactions and derivative
positions is to reduce its variable interest rate risk by effectively fixing
a
portion of the interest rate for existing debt and anticipated refinancing
transactions.
The
Company
determined, as of both the hedging instrument’s inception and as of September
30, 2006, that the derivative used in the hedging transaction is highly
effective in offsetting changes in cash flows associated with the hedged items
and that no gain or loss was required to be recognized in earnings during the
quarter representing the hedge’s ineffectiveness. At September 30, 2006, the
Company’s consolidated balance sheets include, in accounts payable and accrued
expenses, an obligation for the fair value of the derivative of $894,000. The
fair value of the interest rate swap obligation is based upon the estimated
amounts the Company would receive or pay to terminate the contract at the
reporting date and is determined using an interest rate market pricing model.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company has recorded the
loss
in fair value of the swap contract related to the effective portion of the
interest rate contract totaling approximately $894,000 in accumulated other
comprehensive loss in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. The accumulated
comprehensive loss will be reclassified as an increase in interest expense
over
the term of the five year interest rate swap agreement since it is expected
that
the Credit Agreement will be refinanced with variable interest rate debt at
its
maturity. The Company does not expect to settle the interest rate swap prior
to
its maturity and expects to reclassify approximately $179,000 of the amount
recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss relating to the interest rate
swap contract as an increase in interest expense within the next twelve months.
The Company will reclassify the amount recorded in accumulated other
comprehensive loss relating to the interest rate swap into earnings if the
interest rate swap agreement is not effective for accounting purposes or if
the
$45,000,000 notional amount of the interest rate swap agreement exceeded the
Company’s projected debt outstanding under variable interest rate borrowing
arrangements.
This
discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should
be read in conjunction with the sections entitled “Part I, Item 1A. Risk
Factors” and “Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations,” which appear in our Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, and the unaudited consolidated
financial statements and related notes which appear in this Quarterly Report
on
Form 10-Q.
General
We
are a real
estate investment trust specializing in the ownership and leasing of retail
motor fuel and convenience store properties and petroleum distribution
terminals. We elected to be taxed as a REIT under the federal income tax laws
beginning January 1, 2001. As a REIT, we are not subject to federal corporate
income tax on the taxable income we distribute to our shareholders. In order
to
continue to qualify for taxation as a REIT, we are required, among other things,
to distribute at least ninety percent of our taxable income to shareholders
each
year.
We
lease or
sublet our properties primarily to distributors and retailers engaged in the
sale of gasoline and other motor fuel products, convenience store products
and
automotive repair services. These tenants are responsible for the payment of
taxes, maintenance, repair, insurance and other operating expenses and for
managing the actual operations conducted at these properties. As of September
30, 2006, we leased nine hundred twenty-three of our one thousand fifty-eight
properties on a long-term basis under a master lease (the “Master Lease”) and a
coterminous supplemental lease for one property, (collectively the “Marketing
Leases”) to Getty Petroleum Marketing Inc. (“Marketing”) which was spun-off to
our shareholders as a separate publicly held company in March 1997. In December
2000, Marketing was acquired by a subsidiary of OAO Lukoil (“Lukoil”), one of
Russia’s largest integrated oil companies.
A
substantial
portion of our revenues (86% for the nine months ended September 30, 2006),
are
derived from the Marketing Leases. Accordingly, our revenues are dependent
to a
large degree on the economic performance of Marketing and of the petroleum
marketing industry and any factor that adversely affects Marketing or our other
lessees may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and
results of operations. Marketing’s financial results depend largely on retail
petroleum marketing margins and rental income from subtenants who operate our
properties. The petroleum marketing industry has been and continues to be
volatile and highly competitive. Factors that could adversely affect Marketing
or our other lessees include those described under “Part I, Item 1A. Risk
Factors”, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. In the event that Marketing cannot
or will not perform its monetary obligations under the Marketing Leases with
us,
our financial condition and results of operations would be materially adversely
affected. Although Marketing is wholly owned by a subsidiary of Lukoil, no
assurance can be given that Lukoil will cause Marketing to fulfill any of its
monetary obligations under the Marketing Leases.
We
periodically receive and review Marketing’s financial statements and other
financial data. We receive this information from Marketing pursuant to the
terms
of the Master Lease. Certain of this information is not publicly available
and
the terms of the Master Lease prohibit us from including this
financial information in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports
on Form 10-Q or in our Annual Reports to Shareholders. The financial performance
of Marketing may deteriorate, and Marketing may ultimately default on its
monetary obligations to us before we receive financial information from
Marketing that would indicate the deterioration or before we would have the
opportunity to advise our shareholders of any increased risk of
default.
Certain
financial and other information concerning Marketing is available from Dun
&
Bradstreet and may be accessed by their web site (www.dnb.com) upon payment
of
their fee.
Selected
balance sheet data of Marketing at December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 and selected
operating data of Marketing for each of the three years in the period ending
December 31, 2004, which is publicly available, has been provided in “Part II,
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations,” which appears in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2005.
The
audited
consolidated financial statements of Marketing for their fiscal year ended
December 31, 2005 have been provided to us. Selected balance sheet data of
Marketing at December 31, 2005 is publicly available and is provided below.
Selected operating data of Marketing for the year ended December 31, 2005
is not
publicly available. Neither we, nor our auditors, were involved in the
preparation of any of Marketing’s financial data and as a result can provide no
assurance thereon. Additionally, our auditors have not been engaged to review
or
audit this data.
Getty
Petroleum Marketing Inc.
|
|
Selected
Balance Sheet Data
|
|
(unaudited,
in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December
31, 2005
|
|
ASSETS:
|
|
|
|
Cash
and equivalents
|
|
$
|
103,815
|
|
Other
assets
|
|
|
625,947
|
|
Total
assets
|
|
$
|
729,762
|
|
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY:
|
|
|
|
|
Total
liabilities
|
|
$
|
617,780
|
|
Total
stockholder’s equity
|
|
|
111,982
|
|
Total
liabilities and stockholder’s equity
|
|
$
|
729,762
|
|
Based
on our
review of the financial statements and other financial data Marketing has
provided to us to date, we believe that Marketing has the liquidity and
financial ability to continue to pay timely its monetary obligations under
the
Marketing Leases, as it has since the inception of the Master Lease in 1997.
As
part of a
periodic review by the Division of Corporation Finance of the Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”) of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2003, we received and responded to a number of comments. The only
comment that remains unresolved pertains to the SEC’s position that we must
include the financial statements and summarized financial data of Marketing
in
our periodic filings. The SEC subsequently indicated that, unless
we
file Marketing’s financial statements and summarized financial data with our
periodic reports: (i) it will not consider our Annual Reports on Forms 10-K
for
the years beginning with 2000 to be compliant; (ii) it will not consider us
to
be current in our reporting requirements; (iii) it will not be in a position
to
declare effective any registration statements we may file for public offerings
of our securities; and (iv) we should consider how the SEC’s conclusion impacts
our ability to make offers
and
sales of our securities under existing registration statements and if we have
a
liability for such offers and sales made pursuant to registration statements
that did not contain the financial statements of Marketing.
We
believe
that the SEC’s position is based on their interpretation of certain provisions
of their internal Accounting Disclosure Rules and Practices Training Material,
Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 71 and Rule 3-13 of Regulation S-X. We do not
believe that any of this guidance is clearly applicable to our particular
circumstances and that, even if it were, we believe that we should be entitled
to certain relief from compliance with such requirements. Marketing subleases
our properties to approximately nine hundred independent, individual service
station/convenience store operators (subtenants), most of whom were our tenants
when Marketing was spun-off to our shareholders. Consequently, we believe
that
we, as the owner of these properties and the Getty brand, and our prior
experience with Marketing’s tenants, could relet these properties to the
existing subtenants or others at market rents. Because of this particular
aspect
of our landlord-tenant relationship with Marketing, we do not believe that
the
inclusion of Marketing’s financial statements in our filings is necessary to
evaluate our financial condition. Our position was included in a written
response to the SEC. To date, the SEC has not accepted our position regarding
the inclusion of Marketing’s financial statements in our filings. We are
endeavoring to achieve a resolution of this issue that will be acceptable
to the
SEC. We can not accurately predict the consequences if we are ultimately
unsuccessful in achieving an acceptable resolution.
We
do not
believe that offers or sales of our securities made pursuant to existing
registration statements that did not or do not contain the financial statements
of Marketing constitute, by reason of such omission, a violation of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Additionally, we
believe that, if there ultimately is a determination that such offers or
sales,
by reason of such omission, resulted in a violation of those securities laws,
we
would not have any material liability as a consequence of any such
determination.
We
manage our
business to enhance the value of our real estate portfolio and, as a REIT,
place
particular emphasis on minimizing risk and generating cash sufficient to
make
required distributions to shareholders of at least ninety percent of our
taxable
income each year. In addition to measurements defined by generally accepted
accounting principles (“GAAP”), our management also focuses on funds from
operations available to common shareholders (“FFO”) and adjusted funds from
operations available to common shareholders (“AFFO”) to measure our performance.
FFO is generally considered to be an appropriate supplemental non-GAAP measure
of the performance of REITs. FFO is defined by the National Association of
Real
Estate Investment Trusts as net earnings before depreciation and amortization
of
real estate assets, gains or losses on dispositions of real estate, non-FFO
items reported in discontinued operations and extraordinary items and cumulative
effect of accounting change. Other REITS may use definitions of FFO and/or
AFFO
that are different than ours and, accordingly, may not be
comparable.
We
believe
that FFO is helpful to investors in measuring our performance because FFO
excludes various items included in GAAP net earnings that do not relate to,
or
are not indicative of, our fundamental operating performance such as gains
or
losses from property dispositions and depreciation and amortization of real
estate assets. In our case, however, GAAP net earnings and FFO include the
significant impact of deferred rental revenue (straight-line rental revenue)
on
our recognition of revenues from rental properties, which results primarily
from
fixed rental increases scheduled under certain leases with our tenants. In
accordance with GAAP, the aggregate minimum rent due over the initial term
of
these leases are recognized on a straight-line basis rather than when due.
GAAP
net earnings and FFO for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006
and
2005 also include income tax benefits recognized due to the elimination of,
or
net reduction in, amounts accrued for uncertain tax positions related to
being
taxed as a C-Corp., prior to 2001. As a result, management pays particular
attention to AFFO, a supplemental non-GAAP performance measure that we define
as
FFO less straight-line rental revenue and income tax benefit. In management’s
view, AFFO provides a more accurate depiction than FFO of the impact of
scheduled rent increases under these leases and our election to be taxed
as a
REIT beginning in 2001. Neither FFO nor AFFO represent cash generated from
operating activities calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles and therefore these measures should not be considered an alternative
for GAAP net earnings or as a measure of liquidity.
A
reconciliation of net earnings to FFO and AFFO for the three and nine months
ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 is as follows (in thousands, except per
share
amounts):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three
months ended September 30,
|
|
Nine
months ended September 30,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
Net
earnings
|
|
$
|
11,276
|
|
$
|
12,766
|
|
$
|
32,919
|
|
$
|
34,416
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
and amortization of real estate assets
|
|
|
1,891
|
|
|
2,015
|
|
|
5,803
|
|
|
6,029
|
|
Gains
on dispositions of real estate
|
|
|
(695
|
)
|
|
(105
|
)
|
|
(1,152
|
)
|
|
(177
|
)
|
Funds
from operations
|
|
|
12,472
|
|
|
14,676
|
|
|
37,570
|
|
|
40,268
|
|
Deferred
rental revenue (straight-line rent)
|
|
|
(749
|
)
|
|
(853
|
)
|
|
(2,345
|
)
|
|
(2,738
|
)
|
Income
tax benefit
|
|
|
(700
|
)
|
|
(1,494
|
)
|
|
(700
|
)
|
|
(1,494
|
)
|
Adjusted
funds from operations
|
|
$
|
11,023
|
|
$
|
12,329
|
|
$
|
34,525
|
|
$
|
36,036
|
|
Diluted
per share amounts:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings
per share
|
|
$
|
.46
|
|
$
|
.52
|
|
$
|
1.33
|
|
$
|
1.39
|
|
Funds
from operations per share
|
|
$
|
.50
|
|
$
|
.59
|
|
$
|
1.52
|
|
$
|
1.63
|
|
Adjusted
funds from operations per share
|
|
$
|
.45
|
|
$
|
.50
|
|
$
|
1.39
|
|
$
|
1.46
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted
weighted average shares outstanding
|
|
|
24,764
|
|
|
24,734
|
|
|
24,752
|
|
|
24,725
|
|
Results
of
operations
Three
months ended September 30, 2006 compared to the three months ended September
30,
2005
Revenues
from
rental properties were $18.1 million for the three months ended September 30,
2006 compared to $17.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005.
We
received approximately $15.0 million in the three months ended September 30,
2006 and $14.9 million in the three months ended September 30, 2005 from
properties leased to Marketing under the Marketing Leases. We also received
rent
of $2.4 million in the three months ended September 30, 2006 and $2.0 million
in
the three months ended September 30, 2005 from other tenants. The increase
in
rent received was primarily due to rent from properties acquired in February
2006 and rent escalations, partially offset by the effect of dispositions of
real estate. In addition, revenues from rental properties include deferred
rental revenues of $0.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006
as
compared to $0.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005, recorded
as required by GAAP, related to the fixed rent increases scheduled under certain
leases with tenants. The aggregate minimum rent due over the initial term of
these leases are recognized on a straight-line basis rather than when
due.
Rental
property expenses, which are primarily comprised of rent expense and real estate
and other state and local taxes, were $2.4 million for the three months ended
September 30, 2006 as compared to $2.6 million recorded for the three months
ended September 30, 2005.
Environmental
expenses, net for the three months ended September 30, 2006 were $1.6 million
as
compared to $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The
increase was primarily due to a $0.2 million increase in environmental related
litigation expenses as compared to the prior year period and a $1.1 million
increase in change in estimated environmental costs, net of estimated
recoveries. Environmental related litigation expenses and legal fees were $0.3
million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 compared to $0.1 million
for 2005, which prior period includes a $0.1 million net reduction in
environmental related litigation loss reserve estimates.
General
and
administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2006 were
$1.4
million as compared to $1.2 million recorded for the three months ended
September 30, 2005.
Depreciation
and amortization expense for the three months ended September 30, 2006 was
$1.9
million which was comparable to $2.0 million recorded for the three months
ended
September 30, 2005.
As
a result,
total operating expenses increased by approximately $1.2 million for the three
months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to the three months ended September
30, 2005.
Other
income,
net was $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 as compared
to $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The increase
was
primarily due to $0.6 million of increased gains on dispositions of real
estate.
Interest
expense was $1.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 as
compared to $0.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The
increase was primarily due to increased
borrowings used to finance the acquisition of properties in February 2006.
Interest expense also increased due to higher interest rates which averaged
6.74% for the three months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to 4.80 % for
the three months ended September 30, 2005.
In
April 2006
we entered into a $45.0 million LIBOR based interest rate swap, effective
May 1,
2006 through June 30, 2011. The
interest rate swap is intended to hedge our current exposure to market interest
rate risk by effectively fixing, at 5.44%, the LIBOR component of the interest
rate determined under our existing credit agreement or future exposure to
variable interest rate risk due to borrowing arrangements that may be entered
into prior to the expiration of the interest rate swap. Our
borrowings
under the credit agreement bear interest at a rate equal to the sum of a
base
rate or a LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin based on our leverage ratio
ranging from 0.25% to 1.75%. Effective May 1, 2006, $45.0 million of our
LIBOR
based borrowings under the credit agreement bear interest at a 6.69% effective
rate.
Income
tax
benefit was $0.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 as
compared to $1.4 million for the prior year period. The tax benefit of $0.7
million recorded in the third quarter of 2006 was recognized due to the
elimination of the accrual for uncertain tax positions since management believes
that the uncertainties regarding the exposures have been resolved or that it is
no longer likely that the exposure will result in a liability upon review.
However, the ultimate resolution of these matters may have a significant
impact
on the results of operations for any single fiscal year or interim
period.
As
a result,
net earnings were $11.3 million for the three months ended September 30,
2006, a
decreased of 11.7%, or $1.5 million as compared to $12.8 million for the
comparable prior year period. For the same period, FFO decreased by 15.0%,
or
$2.2 million, to $12.5 million and AFFO decreased by 10.6%, or $1.3 million,
to
$11.0 million. The decreases in FFO and AFFO for the quarter were primarily
due
to the changes in net earnings described above but exclude the improvement
in
earnings due to higher gains on dispositions of properties of $0.6 million.
AFFO
decreased less than FFO on both a dollar and percentage basis due to a $0.9
million aggregate decrease in deferred rental revenue and income tax benefit
(which are included in net earnings and FFO but are excluded from AFFO) recorded
for the three months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to the three months
ended September 30, 2005.
Diluted
earnings per share for the three months ended September 30, 2006 was $0.46
per
share, a decrease of $0.06 per share, or 11.5%, as compared to the three
months
ended September 30, 2005. Diluted FFO per share for the three months ended
September 30, 2006 was $0.50 per share, a decrease of $0.09 per share, or
15.3%,
as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2005. Diluted AFFO per
share
for the three months ended September 30, 2006 was $0.45 per share, a decrease
of
$0.05 per share, or 10.0%, as compared to the three months ended September
30,
2005.
Results
of
operations
Nine
months ended September 30, 2006 compared to the nine months ended September
30,
2005
Revenues
from
rental properties were $54.3 million for the nine months ended September 30,
2006 compared to $53.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005.
We
received approximately $45.1 million in the nine months ended September 30,
2006
and $44.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2005 from properties
leased to Marketing under the Marketing Leases. We also received rent of $6.9
million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and $5.6 million in the
nine
months ended September 30, 2005 from other tenants. The increase in rent
received was primarily due to rent from properties acquired in March 2005 and
February 2006 and rent escalations, partially offset by the effect of
dispositions of real estate. In addition, revenues from rental properties
include deferred rental revenues of $2.3 million for the nine months ended
September 30, 2006 as compared with $2.7 million for the nine months ended
September 30, 2005.
Rental
property expenses, which are primarily comprised of rent expense and real estate
and other state and local taxes, were $7.4 million for the nine months ended
September 30, 2006, as compared to $7.7 million recorded for the nine months
ended September 30, 2005.
Environmental
expenses, net for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 were $3.6 million
as
compared to $1.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The
increase was primarily due to a $1.1 million increase in environmental
related litigation expenses and legal fees as compared to the prior year
period and a $0.6 million increase in change in estimated environmental costs,
net of estimated recoveries. Environmental related litigation expenses and
legal fees were $1.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006
compared to a credit of $0.1 million for 2005, which prior period includes
a
$0.6 million net reduction in environmental related litigation loss reserve
estimates.
General
and
administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 were $4.1
million as compared to the $3.8 million recorded for the nine months ended
September 30, 2005.
Depreciation
and amortization expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $5.8
million as compared to the $6.0 million recorded for the nine months ended
September 30, 2005.
As
a result,
total operating expenses increased by approximately $1.6 million for the nine
months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to the nine months ended September
30, 2005.
Other
income,
net was $1.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared
to
$0.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The increase was
primarily due to $1.0 million of increased gains on dispositions of real
estate.
Interest
expense was $2.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as
compared with $1.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The
increase was primarily due to increased borrowings used to finance the
acquisition of properties in March 2005 and February 2006. Interest expense
also
increased due to higher interest rates which averaged 6.39% for the nine months
ended September 30, 2006 as compared to 4.42% for the nine months ended
September 30, 2005.
Income
tax
benefit was $0.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as
compared to $1.4 million for the prior year period. The tax benefit of $0.7
million recorded in the third quarter of 2006 was recognized due to the
elimination of the accrual for uncertain tax positions since management believes
that the uncertainties regarding the exposures have been resolved or that it
is
no longer likely that the exposure will result in a liability upon review.
However, the ultimate resolution of these matters may have a significant impact
on the results of operations for any single fiscal year or interim
period.
As
a result,
net earnings were $32.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006
a
decrease of 4.4%, or $1.5 million as compared to $34.4 million reported for
the
prior year period. For the same period, FFO decreased by 6.7%, or $2.7 million,
to $37.6 million and AFFO decreased by 4.2%, or $1.5 million, to $34.5 million.
The decreases in FFO and AFFO for the nine months ended September 30, 2006
were
primarily due to the changes in net earnings described above but exclude the
improvement in earnings due to higher gains on dispositions of properties of
$1.0 million. FFO decreased more than AFFO on both a dollar and percentage
basis
due to a $1.2 million aggregate decrease in deferred rental revenue and income
tax benefit (which is included in net earnings and FFO but is excluded from
AFFO) recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to
the
nine months ended September 30, 2005.
Diluted
earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $1.33 per
share, a decrease of $0.06 per share, or 4.3%, compared to the nine months
ended
September 30, 2005. Diluted FFO per share for the nine months ended September
30, 2006 was $1.52 per share, a decrease of $0.11 per share or, 6.7%, as
compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005. Diluted AFFO per share
for
the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $1.39 per share, a decrease of
$0.07 per share, or 4.8%, as compared to the nine months ended September 30,
2005.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Our
principal
sources of liquidity are the cash flows from our business, funds available
under
a revolving credit agreement that expires in 2008 and available cash and
equivalents. Management believes that dividend payments and cash requirements
for our business for the next twelve months, including environmental remediation
expenditures, capital expenditures and debt service, can be met by cash flows
from operations, borrowings under the credit agreement and available cash and
equivalents.
On
June 30,
2005, we entered into an unsecured three-year senior revolving $100.0 million
credit agreement (“Credit Agreement”) with a group of six domestic commercial
banks. Subject to the terms of the Credit Agreement, we have the right to
increase the Credit Agreement by $25.0 million and to extend the term of the
Credit Agreement for one additional year. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement
bear interest at a rate equal to the sum of a base rate or a LIBOR rate plus
an
applicable margin based on our leverage ratio ranging from 0.25% to 1.75%.
The
annual commitment fee on the unused Credit Agreement ranges from 0.10% to 0.20%
based on the amount of borrowings. The Credit Agreement includes customary
terms
and conditions, including financial covenants such as leverage and coverage
ratios and other customary covenants, including limitations on our ability
to
incur debt and pay dividends and maintenance of tangible net worth, and
events
of default, including a change of control and failure to maintain REIT status.
We do not believe that these covenants will limit our current business
practices.
In
April 2006
we entered into a $45.0 million LIBOR based interest rate swap, effective
May 1,
2006 through June 30, 2011. The
interest rate swap is intended to hedge our current exposure to market interest
rate risk by effectively fixing, at 5.44%, the LIBOR component of the interest
rate determined under our existing credit agreement or future exposure to
variable interest rate risk due to borrowing arrangements that may be entered
into prior to the expiration of the interest rate swap. Effective May 1,
2006,
$45.0 million of our LIBOR based borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear
interest at an effective rate of 6.69%.
Total
borrowings outstanding under the Credit Agreement at September 30, 2006 were
$46.5 million, bearing interest at an average effective rate of 6.70% per
annum.
Total borrowings increased to $48.6 million as of November 1, 2006 primarily
due
to additional borrowings used to pay $11.0 million of dividends that were
accrued as of September 30, 2006 and paid in October 2006, net of repayments
from positive cash flows provided by rental operations. Accordingly, we had
$51.4 million available under the terms of the Credit Agreement as of November
1, 2006 or $76.4 million available assuming exercise of our right to increase
the Credit Agreement by $25.0 million.
We
elected to
be taxed as a REIT under the federal income tax laws with the year beginning
January 1, 2001. As a REIT, we are required, among other things, to distribute
at least ninety percent of our taxable income to shareholders each year.
Payment
of dividends is subject to market conditions, our financial condition and
other
factors, and therefore cannot be assured. Dividends paid to our shareholders
aggregated $33.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and
$32.0
million for the prior year period. We presently intend to pay common stock
dividends of $0.455 per share each quarter ($1.82 per share on an annual
basis),
and commenced doing so with the quarterly dividend declared in February
2006.
As
part of
our overall growth strategy, we regularly review opportunities to acquire
additional properties and we expect to continue to pursue acquisitions that
we believe will benefit our financial performance. To the extent that our
current sources of liquidity are not sufficient to fund such acquisitions
we
will require other sources of capital, which may or may not be available
on
favorable terms or at all.
Critical
Accounting Policies
Our
accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include the
accounts of Getty Realty Corp. and our wholly-owned subsidiaries. The
preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management
to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect amounts reported in
its
financial statements. Although we have made our best estimates, judgments and
assumptions regarding future uncertainties relating to the information included
in our financial statements, giving due consideration to the accounting policies
selected and materiality, actual results could differ from these estimates,
judgments and assumptions. We do not believe that there is a great likelihood
that materially different amounts would be reported related to the application
of the accounting policies described below.
Estimates,
judgments and assumptions underlying the accompanying consolidated financial
statements include, but are not limited to, deferred rent receivable, recoveries
from state underground storage tank funds, environmental remediation costs,
real
estate, depreciation and amortization, impairment of long-lived assets,
litigation, accrued expenses, income taxes and exposure to paying an earnings
and profits deficiency dividend. The information included in our financial
statements that is based on estimates, judgments and assumptions is subject
to
significant change and is adjusted as circumstances change and as the
uncertainties become more clearly defined. Our accounting policies are described
in note 1 to the consolidated financial statements that appear in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. We believe that the
more critical of our accounting policies relate to revenue recognition,
impairment of long-lived assets, income taxes, environmental costs and
recoveries from state underground storage tank funds and litigation, each of
which is discussed in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2005.
In
June 2006
the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No.
48 (“FIN 48”) “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” FIN 48 addresses the
recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken
in a
tax return. We do not believe that the adoption of FIN 48 in January 2007 will
have a material impact on our financial position or results of
operation.
In
September
2006, the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Staff") issued
Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108 (“SAB 108”), "Considering the Effects of Prior
Year Misstatements When Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial
Statements." In SAB 108, the Staff established an approach that requires
quantification of financial statement misstatements based on the effects of
the
misstatements on each of the company's financial statements and the related
financial statement disclosures. This model is commonly referred to as the
"dual
approach" because it requires quantification of errors under both the iron
curtain and the roll-over methods. The roll-over method focuses primarily on
the
impact of a misstatement on the income statement—including the reversing effect
of prior year misstatements—but its use can lead to the accumulation of
misstatements in the balance sheet. The iron-curtain method focuses primarily
on
the effect of correcting the period-end balance sheet with less emphasis on
the
reversing effects of prior year errors on the income statement.
We
currently
do not have any financial statement misstatements that have been identified
for
which correcting adjustments have not been made. Historically we have used
the
dual approach for quantifying identified financial statement misstatements.
We
will initially apply the provisions of SAB 108 in connection with the
preparation of our annual financial statements for the year ending December
31,
2006. We do not expect that the provisions of SAB 108 will have any material
impact on our financial position or results of operation.
Environmental
Matters
We
are
subject to numerous existing federal, state and local laws and regulations,
including matters relating to the protection of the environment such as the
remediation of known contamination and the retirement and decommissioning or
removal of long-lived assets including buildings containing hazardous materials,
USTs and other equipment. In accordance with the leases with
certain of our tenants, we have agreed to bring the leased properties with
known
environmental contamination to within applicable standards and to regulatory
or
contractual closure (“Closure”) in an efficient and economical manner.
Generally, upon achieving Closure at an individual property, our environmental
liability under the lease for that property will be satisfied and future
remediation obligations will be the responsibility of our tenant. We will
continue to seek reimbursement from state UST remediation funds related to
these
environmental liabilities where available. Generally the liability for the
retirement and decommissioning or removal of USTs and other equipment is the
responsibility of our tenants. We are contingently liable for these obligations
in the event that our tenants do not satisfy their responsibilities. A liability
has not been accrued for obligations that are the responsibility of our tenants.
As of September 30, 2006, we had remediation action plans in place for 280
(94%)
of the 299 properties for which we retained environmental responsibility and
the
remaining 19 properties (6%) remain in the assessment phase.
As
of
September 30, 2006, December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, we had accrued
$17.2 million, $17.4 million and $20.6 million, respectively, as management’s
best estimate of the fair value of reasonably estimable environmental
remediation costs. As of September 30, 2006, December 31, 2005 and December
31,
2004, we had also recorded $4.1 million, $4.3 million and $5.4 million,
respectively, as management’s best estimate for net recoveries from state UST
remediation funds, net of allowance, related to environmental obligations and
liabilities. The net environmental liabilities of $13.1 million as of December
31, 2005 and $15.2 million as of December 31, 2004 were subsequently accreted
for the change in present value due to the passage of time and, accordingly,
$0.6 million of accretion expense is included in environmental expenses for
each
of the nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005. Environmental
expenditures and recoveries from underground storage tank funds were $3.3
million and $1.4 million, respectively, for the nine month period ended
September 30, 2006.
Environmental
liabilities and related assets are currently measured at fair value based on
their expected future cash flows which have been adjusted for inflation and
discounted to present value. We also use probability weighted alternative cash
flow forecasts to determine fair value. We assumed a 50% probability factor
that
the actual environmental expenses will exceed engineering estimates for an
amount assumed to equal one year of net expenses aggregating $5.9 million.
Accordingly, the environmental accrual as of September 30, 2006 was increased
by
$2.3 million, net of assumed recoveries and before inflation and present value
discount adjustments. The resulting net environmental accrual as of September
30, 2006 was then further increased by $1.1 million for the assumed impact
of
inflation using an inflation rate of 2.75%. Assuming a credit-adjusted risk-free
discount rate of 7.0%, we then reduced the net environmental accrual, as
previously adjusted, by a $2.3 million discount to present value. Had we assumed
an inflation rate that was 0.5% higher and a discount rate that was 0.5% lower,
net environmental liabilities as of September 30, 2006 would have increased
by
$0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively, for an aggregate increase in the
net environmental accrual of $0.3 million. However, the aggregate net change
in
environmental estimates recorded during the nine months ended September 30,
2006
would not have changed significantly if these changes in the assumptions were
made effective December 31, 2005.
In
view of
the uncertainties associated with environmental expenditures, however, we
believe it is possible that the fair value of future actual net expenditures
could be substantially higher than these estimates. Adjustments to accrued
liabilities for environmental remediation costs will be reflected in our
financial statements as they become probable and a reasonable estimate of fair
value can be made. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, the
aggregate of the net change in estimated remediation costs included in our
consolidated statement of operations amounted to $2.0 million and $1.3 million,
respectively, which amounts were net of probable recoveries from state UST
remediation funds. Although future environmental costs may have a significant
impact on results of operations for any single fiscal year or interim period,
we
believe that such costs will not have a material adverse effect on our long-term
financial position.
We
cannot
predict what environmental legislation or regulations may be enacted in the
future or how existing laws or regulations will be administered or interpreted
with respect to products or activities to which they have not previously been
applied. We cannot predict if state underground storage tank fund programs
will
be administered and funded in the future in a manner that is consistent with
past practices and if future environmental spending will continue to be eligible
for reimbursement at historical recovery rates under these programs. Compliance
with more stringent laws or regulations, as well as more vigorous enforcement
policies of the regulatory agencies or stricter interpretation of existing
laws,
which may develop in the future, could have an adverse effect on our financial
position, or that of our tenants, and could require substantial additional
expenditures for future remediation.
Our
discussion of environmental matters should be read in conjunction with “Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations” which appears in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2005 and the unaudited consolidated financial statements
and related notes (including notes 2 and 3) which appear in this Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q.
Forward
Looking Statements
Certain
statements in this Quarterly Report may constitute “forward-looking statements”
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
When
we use the words “believes,” “expects,” “plans,” “projects,” “estimates” and
similar expressions, we intend to identify forward-looking statements. Examples
of forward-looking statements include statements regarding our expectations
regarding future payments from Marketing; the expected effect of regulations
on
our long-term performance; our expected ability to maintain compliance with
applicable regulations; our
ability to renew expired leases; the adequacy of our current and anticipated
cash flows; our belief that we do not have a material liability for offers
and
sales of our securities made pursuant to registration statements that did not
contain the financial statements or summarized financial data of Marketing;
our
expectations regarding future acquisitions; the impact of the covenants included
in the Credit Agreement on our current business practices; our ability to
maintain our REIT status; the probable outcome of litigation or regulatory
actions; our expected recoveries from underground storage tank funds; our
exposure to environmental remediation expenses; our estimates regarding
remediation costs; our expectations as to the long-term effect of environmental
liabilities on our financial condition; our exposure to interest rate
fluctuations; our expectations regarding corporate level federal income taxes;
the indemnification obligations of the Company and others; our intention to
consummate future acquisitions; our assessment of the likelihood of future
competition; assumptions regarding the future applicability of accounting
estimates, assumptions and policies; our intention to pay future dividends;
and
our beliefs about the reasonableness of our accounting estimates, judgments
and
assumptions.
These
forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and assumptions
and
information currently available to us and involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors, which may cause our actual results, performance
and achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance
or achievements, expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
Information concerning factors that could cause our actual results to materially
differ from those forward looking results can be found in “Part I, Item 1A. Risk
Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005,
as well as in other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission
and include, but are not limited to risks associated with owning and leasing
real estate generally; dependence on Marketing as a tenant and on rentals from
companies engaged in the petroleum marketing and convenience store businesses;
our unresolved SEC comment; competition for properties and tenants; risk of
tenant non-renewal; the effects of taxation and other regulations; potential
litigation exposure; our expectations as to the cost of completing environmental
remediation; the risk of loss of our management team; the impact of our electing
to be taxed as a REIT, including subsequent failure to qualify as a REIT; risks
associated with owning real estate concentrated in one region of the United
States; risks associated with potential future acquisitions; losses not covered
by insurance; future dependence on external sources of capital; our potential
inability to pay dividends and terrorist attacks and other acts of violence
and
war.
As
a result
of these and other factors, we may experience material fluctuations in future
operating results on a quarterly or annual basis, which could materially and
adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results and stock
price. An investment in our stock involves various risks, including those
mentioned above and elsewhere in this report and those that are detailed from
time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
You
should
not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect our view
only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly release
revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or
circumstances or reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
We
are
exposed to interest rate risk, primarily as a result of our $100.0 million
Credit Agreement. Our Credit Agreement, which expires in June 2008, bears
interest at a rate equal to the sum of a base rate or a LIBOR rate plus an
applicable margin based on our leverage ratio ranging from 0.25% to 1.75%.
At September 30, 2006, we had borrowings outstanding of $46.5 million under
our
Credit Agreement bearing interest at a rate of 6.70% per annum. We use
borrowings under the Credit Agreement to finance acquisitions and for general
corporate purposes.
We
manage our
exposure to interest rate risk by minimizing, to the extent feasible, our
overall borrowing and monitoring available financing alternatives. Our interest
rate risk as of September 30, 2006 increased due to increased borrowings under
the Credit Agreement as compared to December 31, 2005. Due to the increased
exposure, in April 2006 we entered into a $45.0 million LIBOR based interest
rate swap, effective May 1, 2006 through June 30, 2011, to manage a portion
of
our interest rate risk. The interest rate swap is intended to hedge our current
exposure to variable interest rate risk by effectively fixing, at 5.44%, the
LIBOR component of the interest rate determined under our existing Credit
Agreement or future exposure to variable interest rate risk due to borrowing
arrangements that may be entered into prior to the expiration of the interest
rate swap. Effective May 1, 2006, $45.0 million of our LIBOR based borrowings
under the Credit Agreement bear interest at an effective rate of 6.69%. As
a result, we will be exposed to interest rate risk to the extent that our
borrowings exceed the $45.0 million notional amount of the interest rate swap.
As
of
September 30, 2006, our borrowings exceeded the notional amount of the interest
rate swap by $1.5 million. We
do not
foresee any significant changes in our exposure or in how we manage this
exposure in the near future.
We
entered
into the $45.0 million notional five year interest rate swap agreement
designated and qualifying as a cash flow hedge to reduce our exposure to the
variability in future cash flows attributable to changes in the LIBOR rate.
Our
primary objective when undertaking hedging transactions and derivative positions
is to reduce our variable interest rate risk by effectively fixing a portion
of
the interest rate for existing debt and anticipated refinancing transactions.
This in turn, reduces the risks that the variability of cash flows imposes
on
variable rate debt. Our strategy protects us against future increases in
interest rates. While this agreement is intended to lessen the impact
of rising interest rates, it also exposes us to the risk that the other
party to the agreement will not perform, the agreement will be
unenforceable and the underlying transactions will fail
to qualify as a highly-effective cash flow hedge for accounting
purposes.
In
the event
that we were to settle the interest rate swap prior to its maturity, if the
corresponding LIBOR swap rate for the remaining term of the agreement is below
the 5.44% fixed strike rate at the time we settle the swap, we
would be required to make a payment to the swap counter-party; if the
corresponding LIBOR swap rate is above the fixed strike rate at the time we
settle the swap, we would receive a payment from the swap
counter-party. The amount that we would either pay or receive would
equal the present value of the basis point differential between the fixed strike
rate and the corresponding LIBOR swap rate at the time we settle the
swap.
Based
on our
projected average outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement for 2006,
if
market interest rates increase by an average of 0.5% more than the market
interest rates as of September 30, 2006, the additional annualized interest
expense caused by market interest rate increases since December 31, 2005 would
decrease 2006 net income and cash flows by approximately $286,000. This amount
is the sum of (i) the actual impact of increased market interest rates for
the
nine months ended September 30, 2006 of $279,000 and (ii) $7,000 for the effect
of a hypothetical interest rate change on the portion of our average outstanding
borrowings of $50.5 million projected for the remainder of 2006 under our Credit
Agreement that is not covered by our $45.0 million interest rate swap. The
projected average outstanding borrowings are before considering additional
borrowings required for future acquisitions. The calculation also assumes that
there are no other changes in our financial structure or the terms of our
borrowings.
Management believes that the fair value of its debt equals its carrying value
at
September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005. Our exposure to fluctuations in
interest rates will increase or decrease in the future with increases or
decreases in the amount of borrowings outstanding under our Credit
Agreement.
In
order to
minimize our exposure to credit risk associated with financial instruments,
we
place our temporary cash investments with high-credit-quality
institutions. Temporary cash investments, if any, are held in an
institutional money market fund and short-term federal agency discount
notes.
The
Company
maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure
that
information required to be disclosed in the Company's reports filed under
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized
and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission's rules
and
forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the
Company's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures,
management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well
designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving
the
desired control objectives, and management necessarily was required to apply
its
judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls
and procedures.
As
required
by Rule 13a-15(b), the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision
and with the participation of the Company's management, including the Company's
Chief Executive Officer and the Company's Chief Financial Officer, of the
effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls
and procedures as of the end of the quarter covered by this report. Based
on the
foregoing, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
have concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were
effective at a reasonable assurance level as of September 30, 2006.
There
have
been no changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting
during the latest fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are
reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over
financial reporting.
In
June 2006,
we were notified by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
(“NYDEC”) of the discovery of soil and groundwater contamination at a terminal
property formerly owned by us and at an adjacent property. The NYDEC alleges
that the contamination at the adjacent property emanated from the terminal
property. Additionally, we have been notified by the current owner of the
terminal property that, pursuant to an indemnification agreement entered into
at
the time of the sale of the terminal property to them, we are responsible for
the costs of cleaning up and remediating such contamination.
In
August
2006, we were advised by the State of Maryland Department of the Environment
of
the discovery of contaminated soil at a retail motor fuel property that was
supplied by us with gasoline. We believe that, under the terms of the Master
Lease, Marketing is responsible for this liability.
In
August
2006, we were notified by the New Jersey Schools Corporation (NJSC) of their
discovery of abandoned USTs and soil contamination at a retail motor fuel
property that they acquired from us by eminent domain. NJSC is seeking
reimbursement of cleanup costs allegedly incurred in connection with removal
of
the USTs and soil remediation. Prior to the taking the property was leased
to
and operated by Marketing. We believe that, under the terms of the Master Lease,
Marketing is responsible for this liability.
In
August
2006, an action was commenced against us and our subsidiary in the Circuit
Court, Madison County, Illinois seeking a recovery of damages arising out of
the
death of a person allegedly exposed to asbestos at our subsidiary’s premises. We
do not believe that there is any basis for a claim against us and are in the
process of determining whether there is any basis at all for the claim against
our subsidiary.
In
September
2006, we were made party to an action in the US District Court by South
Huntington Water District that is nearly identical to the other thirty-nine
cases pending in Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey,
New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia, brought by local
water providers or governmental agencies. These cases allege various theories
of
liability due to contamination of groundwater with MTBE as the basis for claims
seeking compensatory and punitive damages. Each case names as defendants
approximately fifty petroleum refiners, manufacturers, distributors and
retailers of MTBE, or gasoline containing MTBE. The accuracy of the allegations
as they relate to us, our defenses to such claims, the aggregate amount of
damages, the definitive list of defendants and the method of allocating such
amounts among the defendants have not been determined. Accordingly, our ultimate
legal and financial liability, if any, cannot be estimated with any certainty
at
this time.
In
October
2006, an action was commenced against us in the New York State Supreme Court
in
Albany County by a property owner seeking reimbursement of the costs of cleanup
and remediation of petroleum contamination at property that was supplied by
us
with gasoline.
Please
refer
to “Item 3. Legal Proceedings” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2005, and note 3 to our consolidated financial statements
in
such Form 10-K, to our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for 2006, and note 2
to
our accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements which appear in
such Quarterly Reports and in this Form 10-Q for additional
information.
See
“Part
I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2005 for factors that could affect the Company’s results of
operations, financial condition and liquidity. There has been no material change
in such factors since December 31, 2005.
Exhibit
No.
|
Description
of Exhibit
|
|
|
31(i).1
|
Rule
13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
31(i).2
|
Rule
13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
32.1
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350
(a)
|
|
|
32.2
|
Certifications
of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350
(a)
|
(a)
These
certifications are being furnished solely to accompany the Report pursuant
to 18
U.S.C. § 1350, and are not being filed for purposes of Section 18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are not to be incorporated
by
reference into any filing of the Company, whether made before or after the
date
hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such
filing.
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.
GETTY
REALTY CORP.
(Registrant)
Dated:
November 2, 2006
|
BY:
/s/ Thomas J. Stirnweis
|
|
(Signature)
|
|
THOMAS
J. STIRNWEIS
|
|
Vice
President, Treasurer and
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
|
|
|
|
Dated:
November 2, 2006
|
BY:
/s/ Leo Liebowitz
|
|
(Signature)
|
|
LEO
LIEBOWITZ
|
|
Chairman
and Chief Executive
|
|
Officer
|