Company Website: http://www.writ.com
ROCKVILLE, Md. -- (Business Wire)

Washington Real Estate Investment Trust (“WRIT” or the “Company”) (NYSE: WRE), a leading owner and operator of diversified properties in the Washington, D.C. region, reported financial and operating results today for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2011:

• Core Funds from Operations⁽¹⁾, defined as Funds from Operations⁽¹⁾ (“FFO”) excluding acquisition expense, gains or losses on extinguishment of debt and impairment, was $1.95 for the year and $0.47 for the quarter ended December 31, 2011, respectively, as compared to $1.96 and $0.48 for the prior year periods. Included in fourth quarter 2011 results was a $0.01 per diluted share charge related to a lawsuit with a former tenant at Westminster Shopping Center. FFO for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $110.1 million, or $1.66 per diluted share, compared to $111.6 million, or $1.79 per diluted share, in 2010. FFO for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 was $15.6 million, or $0.23 per share, compared to $21.1 million, or $0.33 per share, in the same period one year ago. Included in full year 2011 and fourth quarter 2011 FFO is a real estate impairment of $14.5 million, or $0.22 per share, which reflects the write-down of WRIT's investment in the office development at Dulles Station, Phase II to its estimated fair market value.

• Net income attributable to the controlling interests for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $104.9 million, or $1.58 per diluted share, compared to $37.4 million, or $0.60 per diluted share, in 2010. Included in 2011 net income are acquisition costs of $3.6 million, or $0.05 per share, real estate impairment of $14.5 million, or $0.22 per share, loss on extinguishment of debt of $1.0 million, or $0.01 per share, and gains on sale of real estate of $97.5 million, or $1.48 per share. Included in 2010 net income are acquisition costs of $1.2 million, or $0.02 per share, loss on extinguishment of debt of $9.2 million, or $0.15 per share, and gains on sale of real estate of $21.6 million, or $0.35 per share.

• Net income attributable to the controlling interests for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 was $30.7 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, compared to $10.6 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, in the same period one year ago. Included in fourth quarter 2011 net income is real estate impairment of $14.5 million, or $0.22 per share, loss on extinguishment of debt of $1.0 million, or $0.01 per share, and gains on sale of real estate of $40.9 million, or $0.62 per share. Included in fourth quarter 2010 net income are acquisition costs of $0.7 million, or $0.01 per share, loss on extinguishment of debt of $8.9 million, or $0.14 per share, and gains on sale of real estate of $13.7 million, or $0.21 per share.

Strategic Initiatives

At the beginning of 2011, WRIT announced a strategic plan consisting of continued portfolio repositioning, by acquiring and developing high quality assets inside the Beltway, near major transportation nodes and in areas with strong employment drivers and superior growth demographics. Another part of this plan included disposing of the industrial portfolio, suburban office buildings, and other properties that do not fit the long-term strategy. As a result of this strategic plan focus, 2011 turned out to be a record year for WRIT in terms of both acquisition and disposition volume. WRIT acquired five income-producing properties totaling $360 million and entered into two joint ventures to develop 430 multifamily units. On the disposition side, WRIT completed the sale of its entire industrial portfolio along with three non-strategic office assets, for total proceeds of $409 million and GAAP gains of $97 million.

"2011 was marked by several key accomplishments that improved our portfolio, provided more stable long-term cash flow, and positioned us for future growth. Most notable of these accomplishments was completing the sale of our industrial portfolio, and repositioning all but $50 million of our sale proceeds into more stable, better located, higher quality assets. We are entering 2012 as a smaller but stronger company focused on upgrading our existing assets, beginning development of two multifamily projects and capitalizing on what we believe to be an improving economic climate," said George F. "Skip" McKenzie, President and Chief Executive Officer of WRIT.

Acquisitions and Dispositions

In the fourth quarter, WRIT announced a joint venture with Trammell Crow Company to develop a 15-story, 270 unit high-rise apartment community in Alexandria, Virginia. The joint venture purchased the proposed development site, a one-acre parcel located at 1219 First Street in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. The project is within walking distance of the Braddock Road Metro Station and is in close proximity to Braddock Metro Center, the 345,000 square foot office campus purchased by WRIT in September 2011. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $95 million, with a projected stabilized return on cost between 7.0% and 8.0%. WRIT is the 95% equity partner and Trammell Crow is the 5% sponsor/developer partner. Construction is projected to commence in the fourth quarter 2012 and will take approximately 24 months to complete. Stabilization is estimated by first quarter 2016.

WRIT also completed the final two sale transactions of its industrial portfolio disposition. The two transactions totaled $115.1 million of sales proceeds and included Northern Virginia Industrial Park II, 6100 Columbia Park Road, and Dulles Business Park.

Operating Results

The Company's overall portfolio Net Operating Income (“NOI”)⁽²⁾ was $50.6 million compared to $44.3 million in the same period one year ago and $47.9 million in the third quarter of 2011. Overall portfolio physical occupancy for the fourth quarter was 90.8%, compared to 88.3% in the same period one year ago and 89.0% in the third quarter of 2011.

Same-store⁽³⁾ portfolio physical occupancy for the fourth quarter was 91.3%, compared to 92.1% in the same period one year ago. Sequentially, same-store physical occupancy increased 40 basis points (bps) compared to the third quarter of 2011. Same-store^{portfolio NOI for the fourth quarter decreased 1.3% and rental rate growth was 2.0% compared to the same period one year ago.}

• Multifamily: 15.9% of Total NOI - Multifamily properties' same-store NOI for the fourth quarter increased 5.9% compared to the same period one year ago. Rental rate growth was 4.5% while same-store physical occupancy decreased 80 bps to 94.9%. Sequentially, same-store physical occupancy increased 40 bps compared to the third quarter of 2011.
• Office: 50.1% of Total NOI - Office properties' same-store NOI for the fourth quarter decreased 1.4% compared to the same period one year ago. Rental rate growth was 0.7% while same-store physical occupancy decreased 60 bps to 88.8%. Sequentially, same-store physical occupancy increased 40 bps compared to the third quarter of 2011.
• Medical: 15.3% of Total NOI - Medical office properties' same-store NOI for the fourth quarter decreased 2.2% compared to the same period one year ago. Rental rate growth was 2.9% while same-store physical occupancy decreased 320 bps to 90.6%. Sequentially, same-store physical occupancy decreased 70 bps compared to the third quarter of 2011.
• Retail: 18.7% of Total NOI - Retail properties' same-store NOI for the fourth quarter decreased 7.4% compared to the same period one year ago. Included in fourth quarter 2011 results was a $0.01 per diluted share charge related to a lawsuit with a former tenant at Westminster Shopping Center. Rental rate growth was 2.2% while same-store physical occupancy increased 50 bps to 93.0%. Sequentially, same-store physical occupancy increased 110 bps compared to the third quarter of 2011.

Leasing Activity

During the fourth quarter, WRIT signed commercial leases for 263,569 square feet with an average rental rate increase of 7.9% over expiring lease rates on a GAAP basis, an average lease term of 4.8 years, tenant improvement costs of $17.09 per square foot and leasing costs of $10.29 per square foot.

• Rental rates for new and renewed office leases increased 3.8% to $31.38 per square foot, with $21.09 per square foot in tenant improvement costs and $12.19 per square foot in leasing costs. Weighted average term for new and renewed leases was 4.8 years.

• Rental rates for new and renewed medical office leases increased 12.1% to $38.91 per square foot, with $12.10 per square foot in tenant improvement costs and $6.15 per square foot in leasing costs. Weighted average term for new and renewed leases was 4.4 years.

• Rental rates for new and renewed retail leases increased 30.6% to $28.89 per square foot, with $1.10 per square foot in tenant improvement costs and $7.62 per square foot in leasing costs. Weighted average term for new and renewed leases was 5.9 years.

Financing Activity

WRIT prepaid two mortgage notes with an aggregate principal amount of $17.5 million at interest rates of 7.09% and 5.94% in connection with the sale of Dulles Business Park. The prepayment penalty was approximately $1 million, the majority of which was reimbursed by the purchaser.

Earnings Guidance

For 2012, WRIT projects Core FFO per fully diluted share to be $1.87 - $1.97. The following assumptions are incorporated into this guidance:

• Same-store NOI growth is projected to range from -1% to 2%, with same-store occupancy remaining above 90%; any upside to NOI growth is dependent upon occupancy gains.
  • Same-store multifamily NOI growth is projected to range from 4% to 6%, with flat same-store occupancy.
  • Same-store office NOI growth is projected to range from -2% to 0%, with flat same-store occupancy.
  • Same-store medical office NOI growth is projected to range from 0% to 3%, with flat same-store occupancy.
  • Same-store retail NOI growth is projected to range from 0% to 3% excluding one-time write-offs related to Borders and costs related to a former tenant at Westminster Shopping Center, with flat same-store occupancy.

• Non-same-store pool is projected to generate approximately $0.01 per fully diluted share lower NOI per quarter due to the net $50 million in asset sales in 2011.
• Acquisition and disposition volume is projected to be $130 million and $80 million, respectively, the difference being to replace the net $50 million in asset sales in 2011.
• General and administrative expense is projected to remain steady at approximately $16.0 million.
• Interest expense is projected to remain consistent with fourth quarter 2011 levels, excluding any new acquisition financing activity.
• Financing activity may include the refinancing of approximately $71 million of debt maturities, the current $89 million in total line of credit balance, $20 - $25 million of planned major capital expenditures and $15 million of previously announced development activity.

Dividends

On December 31, 2011, WRIT paid a quarterly dividend of $0.43375 per share for its 200^th consecutive quarterly dividend at equal or increasing rates.

Conference Call Information

The Conference Call for 4^th Quarter Earnings is scheduled for Friday, February 17, 2012 at 11:00 A.M. Eastern time. Conference Call access information is as follows:

The instant replay of the Conference Call will be available until May 18, 2012 at 11:59 P.M. Eastern time. Instant replay access information is as follows:

The live on-demand webcast of the Conference Call will be available on the Investor section of WRIT's website at www.writ.com. On-line playback of the webcast will be available for two weeks following the Conference Call.

About WRIT

WRIT is a self-administered, self-managed, equity real estate investment trust investing in income-producing properties in the greater Washington metro region. WRIT owns a diversified portfolio of 71 properties totaling approximately 9 million square feet of commercial space and 2,540 residential units, and land held for development. These 71 properties consist of 26 office properties, 18 medical office properties, 16 retail centers and 11 multifamily properties. WRIT shares are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: WRE).

Note: WRIT's press releases and supplemental financial information are available on the company website at www.writ.com or by contacting Investor Relations at (301) 984-9400.

Certain statements in our earnings release and on our conference call are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, the potential for federal government budget reductions, changes in general and local economic and real estate market conditions, the timing and pricing of lease transactions, the effect of the current credit and financial market conditions, the availability and cost of capital, fluctuations in interest rates, tenants' financial conditions, levels of competition, the effect of government regulation, the impact of newly adopted accounting principles, and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in our filings with the SEC, including our 2010 Form 10-K and third quarter 2011 Form 10-Q. We assume no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events.

⁽¹⁾ Funds From Operations (“FFO”) - The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, Inc. (“NAREIT”) defines FFO (April, 2002 White Paper) as net income (computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”)) excluding gains (or losses) associated with sales of property, impairment of depreciable real estate and real estate depreciation and amortization. FFO is a non-GAAP measure and does not replace net income as a measure of performance or net cash provided by operating activities as a measure of liquidity. We consider FFO to be a standard supplemental measure for equity real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) because it facilitates an understanding of the operating performance of our properties without giving effect to real estate depreciation and amortization, which historically assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. Since real estate values have instead historically risen or fallen with market conditions, we believe that FFO more accurately provides investors an indication of our ability to incur and service debt, make capital expenditures and fund other needs.

Core Funds From Operations (“Core FFO”) is calculated by adjusting FFO for the following items (which we believe are not indicative of the performance of WRIT's operating portfolio and affect the comparative measurement of WRIT's operating performance over time): (1) gains or losses on extinguishment of debt, (2) real estate impairment not already excluded from FFO and (3) costs related to the acquisition of properties, as appropriate. These items can vary greatly from period to period, depending upon the volume of our acquisition activity and debt retirements, among other factors. We believe that by excluding these items, Core FFO serves as a useful, supplementary measure of WRIT's ability to incur and service debt and to distribute dividends to its shareholders. Core FFO is a non-GAAP and non-standardized measure, and may be calculated differently by other REITs.

⁽²⁾ Net Operating Income (“NOI”), defined as real estate rental revenue less real estate expenses, is a non-GAAP measure. NOI is calculated as net income, less non-real estate revenue and the results of discontinued operations (including the gain on sale, if any), plus interest expense, depreciation and amortization and general and administrative expenses. We provide NOI as a supplement to net income calculated in accordance with GAAP. As such, it should not be considered an alternative to net income as an indication of our operating performance. It is the primary performance measure we use to assess the results of our operations at the property level.

⁽³⁾ For purposes of evaluating comparative operating performance, we categorize our properties as “same-store” or “non-same-store”.^{A same-store property is one that was owned for the entirety of the periods being evaluated. A non-same-store property is one that was acquired or placed into service during either of the periods being evaluated.}

⁽⁴⁾ Funds Available for Distribution (“FAD”) is a non-GAAP measure. It is calculated by subtracting from FFO (1) recurring expenditures, tenant improvements and leasing costs that are capitalized and amortized and are necessary to maintain our properties and revenue stream and (2) straight-line rents, then adding (3) non-real estate depreciation and amortization, (4) amortization of restricted share and unit compensation, and adding or subtracting amortization of lease intangibles, as appropriate. We consider FAD to be a measure of a REIT's ability to incur and service debt and to distribute dividends to its shareholders. FAD is a non-standardized measure and may be calculated differently by other REITs.

(i) Same-Store properties include all stabilized properties that were owned for the entirety of the current and prior year reporting periods. For Q4 2011 and Q4 2010, same-store properties exclude:

Multifamily Acquisitions: none;

Office Acquisitions: 1140 Connecticut Ave, 1227 25th Street, Braddock Metro Center and John Marshall II;

Medical Office Acquisition: Lansdowne Medical Office Building;

Retail Acquisitions: Gateway Overlook Shopping Center and Olney Village Center.

Also excluded from Same-Store Properties in Q4 2011 and Q4 2010 are:

Sold Properties: The Ridges, Ammendale I & II, Amvax, Dulles Station I, and the Industrial Portfolio (all industrial properties and the Crescent and Albemarle Point).

Contacts:

Washington Real Estate Investment Trust
William T. Camp, 301-984-9400
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
E-Mail: bcamp@writ.com

Source: Washington Real Estate Investment Trust