COPT Reports First Quarter 2014 Results
COLUMBIA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Corporate Office Properties Trust (“COPT” or the “Company”) (NYSE: OFC) announced financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2014.
“During the quarter, occupancy increased modestly in nearly all of our submarkets, reflecting strong demand by customers in our strategic tenant niche and the gradual yet broad-based, improvement in local economic conditions,” stated Roger A. Waesche, Jr., COPT’s President & Chief Executive Officer. “We are at a positive inflection point, and expect 2014 will be a rewarding year for shareholders,” he added.
Results:
Diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) was $0.00 for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 as compared to $0.11 in the first quarter of 2013. Per NAREIT’s definition, diluted funds from operations per share (“FFOPS”) for the first quarter of 2014 was $0.48 versus $0.45 reported in the first quarter of 2013. FFOPS, as adjusted for comparability, was $0.48 for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 as compared to $0.48 reported for the first quarter of 2013. Adjustments for comparability could encompass items such as acquisition costs, impairment losses and gains on non-operating properties (net of related tax adjustments), losses (gains) on early extinguishment of debt and write-offs of original issuance costs for redeemed preferred stock. Please refer to the reconciliation tables that appear later in this press release.
Operating Performance:
Portfolio Summary – At March 31, 2014, the Company’s portfolio of 183 operating office properties totaled 17.5 million square feet. The Company’s portfolio was 89.8% occupied and 91.1% leased as of March 31, 2014.
Same Office Performance – The Company’s same office portfolio for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 represents 88% of the rentable square feet of the portfolio and consists of 170 properties. The Company’s same office portfolio was 89.9% occupied at March 31, 2014, up 50 basis points from year end 2013 occupancy. As of the same date, our same office portfolio was 91.4% leased. For the first quarter ended March 31, 2014, the Company’s same office property cash NOI, excluding gross lease termination fees, was essentially flat as compared to the first quarter of 2013.
Leasing – COPT completed approximately 446,000 square feet of total leasing in core office properties during the quarter ended March 31, 2014, and achieved a 56% renewal rate. For the quarter ended March 31, 2014, total rent on renewed space increased 1.6% on a GAAP basis and decreased 6.9% on a cash basis.
Investment Activity:
At March 31, 2014, the Company had eight properties totaling 1.2 million square feet under construction for a total projected cost of $300.3 million, of which $126.1 million had been incurred. These eight projects were 50% pre-leased at March 31, 2014. As of the same date, COPT had four properties under redevelopment representing a total projected cost of $75.6 million, of which $39.7 million has been incurred. The four redevelopment properties totaled approximately 400,000 square feet that, at March 31, 2014, were 68% pre-leased.
Balance Sheet and Capital Transactions:
As of March 31, 2014, the Company’s debt to adjusted book ratio was 43.5% and its adjusted EBITDA fixed charge coverage ratio was 2.9x. Also, the Company’s weighted average interest rate was 4.3% for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 and 89% of the Company’s debt was subject to fixed interest rates, including the effect of interest rate swaps.
2014 FFO Guidance:
Management is raising the low-end of previously issued guidance for 2014 FFOPS, as adjusted for comparability, by $0.01, to a new range of $1.85–$1.92. Management is establishing guidance for second quarter 2014 FFOPS, as adjusted for comparability, of $0.43–$0.45. A reconciliation of projected diluted EPS to projected FFOPS for the quarter ending June 30, 2014 and the year ending December 31, 2014 is provided, as follows:
| Quarter Ending | Year Ending | |||||||||||||||
| June 30, 2014 | December 31, 2014 | |||||||||||||||
| Low | High | Low | High | |||||||||||||
| EPS | $ | 0.07 | $ | 0.09 | $ | 0.97 | $ | 1.04 | ||||||||
| Real estate depreciation and amortization | 0.32 | 0.32 | 1.44 | 1.44 | ||||||||||||
| FFOPS, NAREIT definition | 0.39 | 0.41 | 2.41 | 2.48 | ||||||||||||
| Net operating income from properties to be conveyed (a) | (0.01 | ) | (0.01 | ) | (0.02 | ) | (0.02 | ) | ||||||||
| Interest expense on loan secured by properties to be conveyed (a) | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.14 | 0.14 | ||||||||||||
| Net gains on early extinguishment of debt (b) | - | - | (0.68 | ) | (0.68 | ) | ||||||||||
| FFOPS, as adjusted for comparability | $ | 0.43 | $ | 0.45 | $ | 1.85 | $ | 1.92 | ||||||||
|
a. |
The Company expects to transfer two operating properties in satisfaction of non-recourse secured indebtedness. These amounts represent the Company's forecast of net operating income generated by these assets and interest expense (accrued at the default rate) from April 1st through year-end, and assuming a transfer date of December 31, 2014. |
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b. |
Represents debt and accrued interest in excess of the book value of the assets to be conveyed. |
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1Q 2014 Conference Call Information:
Management will discuss first quarter 2014 earnings results, as well as its 2014 guidance, on its conference call on April 25, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time, details of which are listed below:
| Earnings Release Date: | Friday, April 25, 2014 at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time | ||
| Conference Call Date: | Friday, April 25, 2014 | ||
| Time: | 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time | ||
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Telephone Number: (within the U.S.) |
888-713-4213 |
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Telephone Number: (outside the U.S.) |
617-213-4865 |
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| Passcode: | 65527969 | ||
Please use the following link to pre-register and view important
information about this conference call. Pre-registering is not mandatory
but is recommended as it will provide you immediate entry into the call
and will facilitate the timely start of the conference. Pre-registration
only takes a few moments and you may pre-register at anytime, including
up to and after the call start time. To pre-register, please click on
the below link:
https://www.theconferencingservice.com/prereg/key.process?key=PC84V8CXU
You may also pre-register in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.copt.com. Alternatively, you may be placed into the call by an operator by calling the number provided above at least 5 to 10 minutes before the start of the call.
A replay of this call will be available beginning Friday, April 25 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time through Friday, May 9 at midnight Eastern Time. To access the replay within the United States, please call 888-286-8010 and use passcode 50491518. To access the replay outside the United States, please call 617-801-6888 and use passcode 50491518.
The conference call will also be available via live webcast in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.copt.com. A replay of the conference calls will be immediately available via webcast in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website.
Definitions:
For definitions of certain terms used in this press release, please refer to the information furnished in our Supplemental Information Package filed as a Form 8-K which can be found on our website (www.copt.com). Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are included in the attached tables.
Company Information
COPT is an office REIT that focuses primarily on serving the specialized requirements of U.S. Government agencies and defense contractors, most of which are engaged in defense information technology and national security-related activities. As of March 31, 2014, COPT derived 73% of its annualized revenue from its strategic tenant niche properties and 23% from its regional office properties. The Company generally acquires, develops, manages and leases office and data center properties concentrated in large office parks primarily located near knowledge-based government demand drivers and/or in targeted markets or submarkets in the Greater Washington, DC/Baltimore region. As of March 31, 2014, the Company’s consolidated portfolio consisted of 183 office properties totaling 17.5 million rentable square feet. COPT is an S&P MidCap 400 company.
Forward-Looking Information
This press release may contain “forward-looking” statements, as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, that are based on the Company’s current expectations, estimates and projections about future events and financial trends affecting the Company. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “plan” or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which the Company cannot predict with accuracy and some of which the Company might not even anticipate. Accordingly, the Company can give no assurance that these expectations, estimates and projections will be achieved. Future events and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements.
Important factors that may affect these expectations, estimates, and projections include, but are not limited to:
- general economic and business conditions, which will, among other things, affect office property and data center demand and rents, tenant creditworthiness, interest rates, financing availability and property values;
- adverse changes in the real estate markets including, among other things, increased competition with other companies;
- governmental actions and initiatives, including risks associated with the impact of a prolonged government shutdown or budgetary reductions or impasses, such as a reduction in rental revenues, non-renewal of leases, and/or a curtailment of demand for additional space by the Company's strategic customers;
- the Company’s ability to borrow on favorable terms;
- risks of real estate acquisition and development activities, including, among other things, risks that development projects may not be completed on schedule, that tenants may not take occupancy or pay rent or that development or operating costs may be greater than anticipated;
- risks of investing through joint venture structures, including risks that the Company’s joint venture partners may not fulfill their financial obligations as investors or may take actions that are inconsistent with the Company’s objectives;
- changes in the Company’s plans for properties or views of market economic conditions or failure to obtain development rights, either of which could result in recognition of significant impairment losses;
- the Company’s ability to satisfy and operate effectively under Federal income tax rules relating to real estate investment trusts and partnerships;
- the Company's ability to achieve projected results;
- the dilutive effects of issuing additional common shares; and
- environmental requirements.
The Company undertakes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements. For further information, please refer to the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.
| Corporate Office Properties Trust | ||||||||
| Summary Financial Data | ||||||||
| (unaudited) | ||||||||
| (in thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||
| For the Three Months Ended | ||||||||
| March 31, | ||||||||
| 2014 | 2013 | |||||||
| Revenues | ||||||||
| Real estate revenues | $ | 124,877 | $ | 111,957 | ||||
| Construction contract and other service revenues | 21,790 | 14,262 | ||||||
| Total revenues | 146,667 | 126,219 | ||||||
| Expenses | ||||||||
| Property operating expenses | 49,772 | 40,388 | ||||||
| Depreciation and amortization associated with real estate operations | 43,596 | 27,010 | ||||||
| Construction contract and other service expenses | 18,624 | 13,477 | ||||||
| General and administrative expenses | 6,158 | 5,984 | ||||||
| Leasing expenses | 1,985 | 1,836 | ||||||
| Business development expenses and land carry costs | 1,326 | 1,359 | ||||||
| Total operating expenses | 121,461 | 90,054 | ||||||
| Operating income | 25,206 | 36,165 | ||||||
| Interest expense | (20,827 | ) | (20,290 | ) | ||||
| Interest and other income | 1,285 | 946 | ||||||
| Loss on early extinguishment of debt | — | (5,184 | ) | |||||
| Income from continuing operations before equity in income of unconsolidated entities and income taxes | 5,664 | 11,637 | ||||||
| Equity in income of unconsolidated entities | 60 | 41 | ||||||
| Income tax expense | (64 | ) | (16 | ) | ||||
| Income from continuing operations | 5,660 | 11,662 | ||||||
| Discontinued operations | 11 | 1,261 | ||||||
| Income before gain on sales of real estate | 5,671 | 12,923 | ||||||
| Gain on sales of real estate, net of income taxes | — | 2,354 | ||||||
| Net income | 5,671 | 15,277 | ||||||
| Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | ||||||||
| Common units in the Operating Partnership | (16 | ) | (429 | ) | ||||
| Preferred units in the Operating Partnership | (165 | ) | (165 | ) | ||||
| Other consolidated entities | (749 | ) | 337 | |||||
| Net income attributable to COPT | 4,741 | 15,020 | ||||||
| Preferred share dividends | (4,490 | ) | (6,106 | ) | ||||
| Net income attributable to COPT common shareholders | $ | 251 | $ | 8,914 | ||||
| Earnings per share (“EPS”) computation: | ||||||||
| Numerator for diluted EPS: | ||||||||
| Net income attributable to common shareholders | $ | 251 | $ | 8,914 | ||||
| Amount allocable to restricted shares | (121 | ) | (118 | ) | ||||
| Numerator for diluted EPS | $ | 130 | $ | 8,796 | ||||
| Denominator: | ||||||||
| Weighted average common shares - basic | 87,080 | 81,397 | ||||||
| Dilutive effect of share-based compensation awards | 112 | 52 | ||||||
| Weighted average common shares - diluted | 87,192 | 81,449 | ||||||
| Diluted EPS | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.11 | ||||
| Corporate Office Properties Trust | ||||||||
| Summary Financial Data | ||||||||
| (unaudited) | ||||||||
| (in thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||
| For the Three Months Ended | ||||||||
| March 31, | ||||||||
| 2014 | 2013 | |||||||
| Net income | $ | 5,671 | $ | 15,277 | ||||
| Real estate-related depreciation and amortization | 43,596 | 28,252 | ||||||
| Impairment losses on previously depreciated operating properties | 1 | 1,857 | ||||||
| Loss on sales of previously depreciated operating properties | 4 | — | ||||||
| Funds from operations (“FFO”) | 49,272 | 45,386 | ||||||
| Noncontrolling interests - preferred units in the Operating Partnership | (165 | ) | (165 | ) | ||||
| FFO allocable to other noncontrolling interests | (761 | ) | (727 | ) | ||||
| Preferred share dividends | (4,490 | ) | (6,106 | ) | ||||
| Basic and diluted FFO allocable to restricted shares | (205 | ) | (183 | ) | ||||
| Basic and diluted FFO available to common share and common unit holders (“Basic and diluted FFO”) | 43,651 | 38,205 | ||||||
| Gain on sales of non-operating properties, net of income taxes | — | (2,354 | ) | |||||
| Loss on early extinguishment of debt | 23 | 5,184 | ||||||
| Diluted FFO available to common share and common unit holders, as adjusted for comparability | 43,674 | 41,035 | ||||||
| Straight line rent adjustments | 760 | (3,833 | ) | |||||
| Amortization of intangibles included in net operating income | 217 | 177 | ||||||
| Share-based compensation, net of amounts capitalized | 1,555 | 1,649 | ||||||
| Amortization of deferred financing costs | 1,167 | 1,528 | ||||||
| Amortization of net debt discounts, net of amounts capitalized | 171 | 628 | ||||||
| Amortization of settled debt hedges | 15 | 15 | ||||||
| Recurring capital expenditures | (11,052 | ) | (5,308 | ) | ||||
| Diluted adjusted funds from operations available to common share and common unit holders (“Diluted AFFO”) | $ | 36,507 | $ | 35,891 | ||||
| Diluted FFO per share | $ | 0.48 | $ | 0.45 | ||||
| Diluted FFO per share, as adjusted for comparability | $ | 0.48 | $ | 0.48 | ||||
| Dividends/distributions per common share/unit | $ | 0.275 | $ | 0.275 | ||||
| Corporate Office Properties Trust | ||||||||
| Summary Financial Data | ||||||||
| (unaudited) | ||||||||
| (Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||
| March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2014 | 2013 | |||||||
| Balance Sheet Data | ||||||||
| Properties, net of accumulated depreciation | $3,224,628 | $ | 3,214,301 | |||||
| Total assets | 3,605,897 | 3,629,952 | ||||||
| Debt, net | 1,931,831 | 1,927,703 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 2,115,208 | 2,114,945 | ||||||
| Redeemable noncontrolling interest | 17,654 | 17,758 | ||||||
| Equity | 1,473,035 | 1,497,249 | ||||||
| Debt to adjusted book | 43.5 | % | 43.6 | % | ||||
| Debt to total market capitalization | 41.7 | % | 44.3 | % | ||||
| Consolidated Property Data (as of period end) | ||||||||
| Number of operating properties | 183 | 183 | ||||||
| Total net rentable square feet owned (in thousands) | 17,473 | 17,370 | ||||||
| Occupancy % | 89.8 | % | 89.1 | % | ||||
| Leased % | 91.1 | % | 90.3 | % | ||||
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For the Three Months Ended |
||||||||
| 2014 | 2013 | |||||||
| Payout ratios | ||||||||
| Diluted FFO | 57.7 | % | 64.5 | % | ||||
| Diluted FFO, as adjusted for comparability | 57.6 | % | 60.1 | % | ||||
| Diluted AFFO | 69.0 | % | 68.7 | % | ||||
| Adjusted EBITDA interest coverage ratio | 3.6 | x | 3.5x | |||||
| Adjusted EBITDA fixed charge coverage ratio | 2.9 | x | 2.7x | |||||
| Adjusted debt to in-place adjusted EBITDA ratio (1) | 6.8 | x | 6.8x | |||||
| Reconciliation of denominators for diluted EPS and diluted FFO per share | ||||||||
| Denominator for diluted EPS | 87,192 | 81,449 | ||||||
| Weighted average common units | 3,958 | 3,893 | ||||||
| Denominator for diluted FFO per share | 91,150 | 85,342 | ||||||
| Reconciliation of FFO to FFO, as adjusted for comparability | ||||||||
| FFO, per NAREIT | $ | 49,272 | $ | 45,386 | ||||
| Gain on sales of non-operating properties | — | (2,354 | ) | |||||
| Loss on early extinguishment of debt, continuing and discontinued operations | 23 | 5,184 | ||||||
| FFO, as adjusted for comparability | $ | 49,295 | $ | 48,216 | ||||
| (1) | Represents debt as of period end divided by in-place adjusted EBITDA for the period, as annualized (i.e. three month periods are multiplied by four). | |
| Corporate Office Properties Trust | ||||||||
| Summary Financial Data | ||||||||
| (unaudited) | ||||||||
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||
| For the Three Months Ended | ||||||||
| March 31, | ||||||||
| 2014 | 2013 | |||||||
| Reconciliation of common share dividends to dividends and distributions for payout ratios | ||||||||
| Common share dividends | $ | 24,091 | $ | 23,594 | ||||
| Common unit distributions | 1,081 | 1,050 | ||||||
| Dividends and distributions for payout ratios | $ | 25,172 | $ | 24,644 | ||||
| Reconciliation of GAAP net income to adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) and in-place adjusted EBITDA | ||||||||
| Net income | $ | 5,671 | $ | 15,277 | ||||
| Interest expense on continuing operations | 20,827 | 20,290 | ||||||
| Interest expense on discontinued operations | — | 2,081 | ||||||
| Income tax expense | 64 | 16 | ||||||
| Real estate-related depreciation and amortization | 43,596 | 28,252 | ||||||
| Depreciation of furniture, fixtures and equipment | 505 | 530 | ||||||
| Impairment losses | 1 | 1,857 | ||||||
| Loss on early extinguishment of debt on continuing and discontinued operations | 23 | 5,184 | ||||||
| Loss on sales of operating properties | 4 | — | ||||||
| Gain on sales of non-operational properties | — | (2,354 | ) | |||||
| Net loss (gain) on investments in unconsolidated entities included in interest and other income | 20 | (60 | ) | |||||
| Adjusted and in-place adjusted EBITDA | $ | 70,711 | $ | 71,073 | ||||
| Reconciliation of interest expense from continuing operations to the denominators for interest coverage-Adjusted EBITDA and fixed charge coverage-Adjusted EBITDA | ||||||||
| Interest expense from continuing operations | $ | 20,827 | $ | 20,290 | ||||
| Interest expense from discontinued operations | — | 2,081 | ||||||
| Less: Amortization of deferred financing costs | (1,167 | ) | (1,528 | ) | ||||
| Less: Amortization of net debt discount, net of amounts capitalized | 171 | (628 | ) | |||||
| Denominator for interest coverage-Adjusted EBITDA | 19,831 | 20,215 | ||||||
| Preferred share dividends | 4,490 | 6,106 | ||||||
| Preferred unit distributions | 165 | 165 | ||||||
| Denominator for fixed charge coverage-Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 24,486 | $ | 26,486 | ||||
| Corporate Office Properties Trust | ||||||||
| Summary Financial Data | ||||||||
| (unaudited) | ||||||||
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||
| For the Three Months Ended | ||||||||
| March 31, | ||||||||
| 2014 | 2013 | |||||||
| Reconciliations of tenant improvements and incentives, capital improvements and leasing costs for operating properties to recurring capital expenditures | ||||||||
| Tenant improvements and incentives on operating properties | $ | 6,319 | $ | 2,291 | ||||
| Building improvements on operating properties | 3,982 | 1,600 | ||||||
| Leasing costs for operating properties | 1,528 | 1,669 | ||||||
| Less: Nonrecurring tenant improvements and incentives on operating properties | (16 | ) | 15 | |||||
| Less: Nonrecurring building improvements on operating properties | (568 | ) | (267 | ) | ||||
| Less: Nonrecurring leasing costs for operating properties | (193 | ) | — | |||||
| Recurring capital expenditures | $ | 11,052 | $ | 5,308 | ||||
| Reconciliation of same office property net operating income to same office property cash net operating income and same office property cash net operating income, excluding gross lease termination fees | ||||||||
| Same office property net operating income | $ | 65,789 | $ | 66,628 | ||||
| Less: Straight-line rent adjustments | (537 | ) | (1,588 | ) | ||||
| Less: Amortization of deferred market rental revenue | 8 | (29 | ) | |||||
| Add: Amortization of above-market cost arrangements | 272 | 319 | ||||||
| Same office property cash net operating income | 65,532 | 65,330 | ||||||
| Less: Lease termination fees, gross | (512 | ) | (224 | ) | ||||
| Same office property cash net operating income, excluding gross lease termination fees | $ | 65,020 | $ | 65,106 | ||||
| March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2014 | 2013 | |||||||
| Reconciliation of total assets to denominator for debt to adjusted book | ||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 3,605,897 | $ | 3,629,952 | ||||
| Accumulated depreciation | 635,178 | 597,649 | ||||||
| Accumulated amortization of real estate intangibles and deferred leasing costs | 199,500 | 193,142 | ||||||
| Denominator for debt to adjusted book | $ | 4,440,575 | $ | 4,420,743 | ||||
| Reconciliation of debt to numerator for adjusted debt to in-place adjusted EBITDA ratio | ||||||||
| Debt, net | $ | 1,931,831 | $ | 1,927,703 | ||||
| Less: Cash and cash equivalents | (18,374 | ) | (54,373 | ) | ||||
| Numerator for adjusted debt to in-place adjusted EBITDA ratio | $ | 1,913,457 | $ | 1,873,330 | ||||
Corporate Office Properties Trust
IR Contacts:
Stephanie
Krewson, 443-285-5453
stephanie.krewson@copt.com
or
Michelle
Layne, 443-285-5452
michelle.layne@copt.com
Source: Corporate Office Properties Trust
Released April 25, 2014