GLENDALE, Calif. -- (Business Wire)

PS Business Parks, Inc. (NYSE:PSB) reported operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2014.

Funds from operations (“FFO”) were $43.2 million, or $1.26 per share, as adjusted, for the three months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $3.7 million, or 1.6% per share, from the three months ended September 30, 2013 of $39.5 million, or $1.24 per share, as adjusted. FFO was $128.4 million, or $3.74 per share, as adjusted, for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $10.8 million, or 1.4% per share, from the nine months ended September 30, 2013 of $117.5 million, or $3.69 per share, as adjusted. The three and nine month increases in FFO were primarily the result of an increase in net operating income (“NOI”). Reported FFO per share for the three months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 was flat, while the nine months ended September 30, 2014 decreased 0.3% compared to the same period in 2013. Both adjusted and reported FFO per share were impacted by an increase in shares outstanding as a result of the November, 2013 common equity offering.

In order to provide meaningful period-to-period comparisons of FFO derived from the Company’s ongoing business operations, the following table reconciles reported FFO to adjusted FFO, which excludes Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan (“LTEIP”) amortization due to the change in plans and acquisition transaction costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:

Noted in the table above are the following adjustments to reconcile adjusted FFO to reported FFO. In March, 2014, the Company put in place a new LTEIP and recorded $1.9 million and $5.1 million of amortization for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to $1.0 million and $3.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 related to the previous LTEIP. Acquisition transaction costs were $124,000 and $153,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Same Park rental income increased $1.5 million, or 1.8%, and $6.5 million, or 2.6%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the same periods in 2013 as a result of an increase in occupancy. Non-Same Park rental income increased $4.2 million and $12.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the same periods in 2013 due to a combination of an increase in occupancy and the acquisition of additional parks during the latter half of 2013.

Same Park operating expenses increased $901,000, or 3.3%, from $27.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 to $28.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 primarily as a result of higher repairs and maintenance and utility costs. Same Park operating expenses increased $3.6 million, or 4.5%, from $80.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 to $83.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 primarily as a result of a $1.6 million increase in snow removal costs due to the severe winter in Virginia and Maryland.

Net income allocable to common shareholders increased $2.3 million, or 25.2%, from $9.0 million, or $0.37 per share, for the three months ended September 30, 2013 to $11.3 million, or $0.42 per share, for the three months ended September 30, 2014. Net income allocable to common shareholders increased $4.8 million, or 18.2%, from $26.3 million, or $1.07 per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 to $31.0 million, or $1.15 per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. These increases were due to an increase in NOI combined with a decrease in interest expense, partially offset by an increase in depreciation expense.

All per share amounts noted above are presented on a diluted basis.

Property Operations

To evaluate the performance of the Company’s portfolio over comparable periods, management analyzes the operating performance of properties owned and operated throughout both periods (herein referred to as “Same Park”). The Same Park portfolio includes all operating properties owned or acquired prior to January 1, 2012 (excludes the 1.2 million square feet of assets sold subsequent to September 30, 2014). Operating properties that the Company acquired subsequent to January 1, 2012 are referred to as “Non-Same Park.” For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the Same Park facilities constitute 25.8 million rentable square feet, representing 89.5% of the 28.8 million square feet in the Company’s portfolio as of September 30, 2014.

The following table presents the operating results of the Company’s properties for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 in addition to other income and expense items affecting income from continuing operations (unaudited, in thousands, except per square foot amounts):

⁽¹⁾ NOI is an important measurement in the commercial real estate industry for determining the value of the real estate generating the NOI. The Company’s calculation of NOI may not be comparable to those of other companies and should not be used as an alternative to measures of performance in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).

⁽²⁾ The Company sold two business parks located in Beaverton, Oregon, on October 1, 2014. These assets generated rental income of $4.6 million and $13.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, compared to $4.4 million and $13.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013. Cost of operations for the sold assets was $1.8 million and $5.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, compared to $1.6 million and $4.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013.

⁽³⁾ Computed by dividing Same Park NOI by Same Park rental income.

⁽⁴⁾ Represents the annualized Same Park rental income earned per occupied square foot.

Property Acquisitions

On August 21, 2014, the Company acquired five multi-tenant flex buildings adjacent to its existing Springlake Business Center in the Valwood submarket of Dallas, Texas, for $5.1 million. The buildings, which comprise 145,000 square feet, were 35.4% leased at the time of acquisition.

As previously announced, during the third quarter of 2014, the Company acquired a 19,000 square foot multi-tenant flex building in Dallas, Texas, for $1.1 million and a 149,000 square foot building in Miami, Florida, for $12.7 million.

Financial Condition

The following are key financial ratios with respect to the Company’s leverage as of and for the three months ended September 30, 2014:

⁽¹⁾ Fixed charges include interest expense and capitalized interest of $3.6 million.

Regular and Special Distributions Declared

On October 27, 2014, the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.50 per common share. As a result of the net taxable gains generated by the sale of two business parks in Beaverton, Oregon, on October 1, 2014 as well as additional anticipated asset sales, the Board of Directors declared a one-time special cash dividend of $2.75 per common share. Combined, the regular and special dividend will result in a total dividend of $3.25 per common share. The dividends are payable on December 30, 2014 to shareholders of record on December 15, 2014.

Distributions were also declared on the various series of depositary shares, each representing 1/1,000 of a share of preferred stock listed below.

Distributions are payable on December 30, 2014 to shareholders of record on December 15, 2014.

Company Information

PS Business Parks, Inc., a member of the S&P SmallCap 600, is a self-advised and self-managed real estate investment trust (“REIT”) that acquires, develops, owns and operates commercial properties, primarily multi-tenant flex, office and industrial space. The Company defines “flex” space as buildings that are configured with a combination of office and warehouse space and can be designed to fit a number of uses (including office, assembly, showroom, laboratory, light manufacturing and warehouse space). As of October 1, 2014, the Company wholly owned 28.8 million rentable square feet with approximately 5,140 customers located in eight states, concentrated in California (11.5 million sq. ft.), Texas (4.8 million sq. ft.), Virginia (4.0 million sq. ft.), Florida (3.9 million sq. ft.), Maryland (2.3 million sq. ft.), Washington (1.5 million sq. ft.), Arizona (0.7 million sq. ft.) and Oregon (0.1 million sq. ft.).

Forward-Looking Statements

When used within this press release, the words “may,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “intends” and similar expressions are intended to identify “forward-looking statements.” Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results and performance of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include the impact of competition from new and existing commercial facilities which could impact rents and occupancy levels at the Company’s facilities; the Company’s ability to evaluate, finance and integrate acquired and developed properties into the Company’s existing operations; the Company’s ability to effectively compete in the markets that it does business in; the impact of the regulatory environment as well as national, state and local laws and regulations including, without limitation, those governing REITs; the impact of general economic conditions upon rental rates and occupancy levels at the Company’s facilities; the availability of permanent capital at attractive rates, the outlook and actions of Rating Agencies and risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s SEC reports, including quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, reports on Form 8-K and annual reports on Form 10-K.

Additional information about PS Business Parks, Inc., including more financial analysis of the third quarter operating results, is available on the Internet. The Company’s website is www.psbusinessparks.com.

A conference call is scheduled for Tuesday, October 28, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. (PDT) to discuss the third quarter results. The toll free number is (888) 299-3246; the conference ID is 19314826. The call will also be available via a live webcast on the Company’s website. A replay of the conference call will be available through November 4, 2014 at (855) 859-2056. A replay of the conference call will also be available on the Company’s website.

Additional financial data attached.

⁽¹⁾ FFO is computed in accordance with the White Paper on FFO approved by the Board of Governors of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”). The White Paper defines FFO as net income, computed in accordance with GAAP, before depreciation, amortization, gains or losses on asset dispositions, net income allocable to noncontrolling interests — common units, net income allocable to restricted stock unit holders, impairment charges and nonrecurring items. FFO should be analyzed in conjunction with net income. However, FFO should not be viewed as a substitute for net income as a measure of operating performance or liquidity as it does not reflect depreciation and amortization costs or the level of capital expenditure and leasing costs necessary to maintain the operating performance of the Company’s properties, which are significant economic costs and could materially impact the Company’s results from operations. Other REITs may use different methods for calculating FFO and, accordingly, the Company’s FFO may not be comparable to other real estate companies.

⁽²⁾ Per share amounts are computed using additional dilutive shares related to noncontrolling interests and restricted stock units.

⁽³⁾ FAD is computed by adjusting consolidated FFO for recurring capital improvements, which the Company defines as those costs incurred to maintain the assets’ value, tenant improvements, lease commissions, straight-line rent, stock compensation expense, in-place lease adjustment, amortization of lease incentives and tenant improvement reimbursements, capitalized interest and the effect of redemption/repurchase of preferred equity. Like FFO, the Company considers FAD to be a useful measure for investors to evaluate the operations and cash flows of a REIT. FAD does not represent net income or cash flow from operations as defined by GAAP.

Contacts:

PS Business Parks, Inc.
Edward A. Stokx
(818) 244-8080, Ext. 1649

Source: PS Business Parks, Inc.