Press Release BRE PROPERTIES, INC. (NYSE - BRE)

BRE Properties Reports First Quarter 2005 Results; FFO $0.50 per Share for the Quarter

Company Release - 04/21/2005 16:45

SAN FRANCISCO, April 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BRE Properties, Inc., (NYSE: BRE) today reported operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2005.

Funds from operations (FFO), the generally accepted measure of operating performance for real estate investment trusts, totaled $26.2 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, during first quarter 2005 as compared with $26.9 million, or $0.52 per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, 2004. (A reconciliation of net income available to common shareholders to FFO is provided at the end of this release.)

Net income available to common shareholders for the first quarter totaled $28.8 million, or $0.56 per diluted share, as compared with $11.6 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, for the same period 2004. First quarter 2005 results included a net gain on sale totaling $21.5 million, or $0.42 per diluted share. No property sales were recorded during first quarter 2004.

Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter totaled $49.3 million, as compared with $45.5 million in first quarter 2004. (A reconciliation of net income available to common shareholders to Adjusted EBITDA is provided at the end of this release.) For first quarter 2005, revenues totaled $75.5 million as compared with $67.2 million a year ago, which excludes revenues from discontinued operations of $2.0 million in the current period and $4.2 million in the prior period.

BRE's year-over-year comparative earnings and FFO results were influenced by increased property-level same-store performance, income from acquisitions completed during 2004 and properties in the lease-up phase of development. First quarter 2005, same-store net operating income (NOI) increased 3.2% as compared with the 2004 period. (A reconciliation of net income available to common shareholders to NOI is provided at the end of this release.)

First quarter 2005 results also include income from the settlement of bankruptcy proceedings associated with VelocityHSI, Inc., totaling $1.0 million or $0.02 per share. VelocityHSI was an Internet business spun off by BRE in 2000, which later filed for bankruptcy. BRE was a creditor in the bankruptcy proceedings, which were finalized during first quarter 2005. The positive overall NOI variances were offset by: increased interest expense; increased G&A expenses; and preferred stock dividends on our Series D cumulative redeemable preferred stock that was issued in December 2004.

Interest expense increased to $18.1 million during first quarter 2005, from $15.7 million in first quarter 2004. The increase was primarily due to the issuance of $100 million in medium term notes at the end of first quarter 2004, and an overall increase in average debt balances. General and administrative expense increased to $4.8 million in first quarter 2005 from $3.3 million in first quarter 2004. The year-over-year increase in G&A expense included anticipated amounts for the company's long-term incentive compensation program, increased estimates for professional fees, and additional staffing expense. The G&A increase also included approximately $550,000 in audit and legal fees incurred during the first quarter, including fees related to the implementation of Sarbanes 404.


                      Level of Investment and NOI by Region
                           Quarter Ended March 31, 2005

                                            Gross
     Region                                # Units   Investment   % Investment
% NOI

    Southern California         10,660   $1,258,748        48%         51%
    Northern California          5,880      599,648        23%         24%
    Mountain/Desert              4,382      383,296        14%         13%
    Pacific Northwest            3,572      389,852        15%         12%
     ($ amounts in 000s) Total  24,494   $2,631,544       100%        100%

Acquisition activities during 2004 increased first quarter 2005 NOI by $3.5 million as compared with first quarter 2004. Development and lease-up properties generated $1.2 million in additional NOI during the quarter as compared with first quarter 2004 levels. Disposition activities during fourth quarter 2004 and first quarter 2005 reduced first quarter 2005 NOI $1.5 million as compared with first quarter 2004.

Same-Store Property Results

BRE defines same-store properties as stabilized apartment communities owned by the company for at least five full quarters. Of the 24,006 apartment units owned directly by BRE, same-store units totaled 20,470 for the quarter.

    On a year-over-year basis, overall same-store operating results were
affected by increased market rents and decreased real estate expenses,
consistent with management's expectations. Average same-store market rent for
first quarter 2005 increased 2% to $1,125 per unit, from $1,100 per unit in
first quarter 2004. Same-store physical occupancy levels averaged 93.8% during
first quarter 2005 as compared with 94.1% in the same period 2004. Annualized
resident turnover averaged 55% during the quarter as compared with 58% first
quarter last year.


                         Same-Store % Growth Results
                        Q1 2005 Compared with Q1 2004

                                         % Change

                        % NOI    Revenue    Expenses       NOI    # Units

    L.A./Orange
     County,
     California          26%       6.3%      -1.4%        10.2%      4,901
    San Diego,
     California          23%       5.5%       3.7%         6.2%      3,711
    San Francisco,
     California          18%      -3.7%      -0.4%        -5.1%      3,035
    Seattle,
     Washington          12%      -0.2%       1.0%        -0.9%      3,149
    Sacramento,
     California           9%      -1.8%      -9.5%         2.4%      2,156
    Phoenix, Arizona      6%      -2.0%      -2.5%        -1.6%      1,898
    Denver, Colorado      6%       1.7%      -6.2%         6.1%      1,620

          Total        100%       1.8%      -1.2%         3.2%     20,470


                  Same-Store Average Occupancy and Turnover Rates

                            Physical Occupancy              Turnover Ratio

                     Q1 2005    Q4 2004    Q1 2004      Q1 2005   Q1 2004

    L.A./Orange
     County,
     California        94.7%      95.9%      93.2%          53%        56%
    San Diego,
     California        94.4%      96.1%      94.6%          58%        59%
    San Francisco,
     California        92.7%      93.0%      93.9%          50%        56%
    Sacramento,
     California        93.2%      94.6%      93.2%          60%        71%
    Seattle,
     Washington        93.3%      93.2%      95.1%          52%        53%
    Phoenix, Arizona   94.0%      95.3%      96.1%          66%        60%
    Denver, Colorado   92.7%      92.9%      92.8%          55%        55%

           Average     93.8%      94.7%      94.1%          55%        58%

On a sequential basis, same-store NOI improved 0.8% during first quarter 2005, as compared with fourth quarter 2004. Sequential same-store revenue increased 1.6% and expenses increased 3.2%.

Acquisition and Development Activity

During first quarter 2005, BRE entered into a lease with a purchase option for Sterling Downs, a recently developed apartment community with 124 units in Chino Hills, California. Under the terms of the lease, the company has an option to purchase the property for an aggregate price of $26 million. At March 31, 2005, this lease-up community had physical occupancy of 80%. Due to the lease and option terms, the asset has been consolidated in accordance with GAAP. The company also acquired a parcel of land for the future development of 288 units located in Los Angeles, California. The land purchase totaled $32.5 million.

During first quarter 2005, the company had one additional community in the lease-up phase, Pinnacle Westridge, with 234 units, located in Valencia, California. The community had average physical occupancy of 91% during the quarter.

BRE currently has five communities with a total of 1,312 units under construction, for a total estimated investment of $278.3 million, and an estimated balance to complete totaling $152.6 million. Expected delivery dates for these units range from fourth quarter 2005 through third quarter 2007. All development communities are in Southern California. At March 31, 2005, BRE owned four parcels of land, including the first quarter 2005 acquisition, representing 1,027 units of future development, for an estimated aggregate cost of $295.9 million upon completion. The land parcels are located in Northern and Southern California, and the Seattle, Washington metro area.

In addition, at March 31, 2005, the company had entered into agreements providing options to purchase or lease four parcels of land, and was actively pursuing local development approvals. Three sites are located in Northern California, representing 992 units of future development and an estimated total cost of $245.3 million. One site is located in Southern California, representing 320 units of future development, and an estimated cost of $77.2 million. Anticipated construction start dates range from the second half 2006 to the second half 2007.

Disposition Activity

During first quarter 2005, the company sold one apartment community: Scottsdale Cove, located in Scottsdale, Arizona. The sales price totaled $36.5 million, generating a net gain on sale of $21.5 million. The property was sold at a market capitalization rate of 5.0%; the property-level internal rate of return was 16%. At March 31, 2005, the company also had two properties classified as "held for sale," both in Salt Lake City, Utah, with expected sale dates during second quarter 2005.

Financial and Other Information

At March 31, 2005, BRE's combination of debt and equity resulted in a total market capitalization of approximately $3.5 billion, with a debt-to-total market capitalization ratio of 41%. BRE's outstanding debt of $1.4 billion carried a weighted average interest rate of 5.8% for the quarter ended March 31, 2005. BRE's coverage ratio of Adjusted EBITDA to interest expense was 2.7 times for the quarter. The weighted average maturity for outstanding debt is four and a half years. At March 31, 2005, outstanding borrowings under the company's unsecured and secured lines of credit totaled $385 million, with a weighted average interest cost of 3.8%.

For first quarter 2005, cash dividend payments to common shareholders totaled $25.3 million, or $0.50 per share, which represents an increase of 2.5% over prior year per share dividend levels.

Earnings Outlook

At April 14th, 13 research analysts had contributed quarterly FFO estimates on BRE to First Call(TM), a widely referenced source of consensus earnings. Current analyst estimates of BRE's per share FFO for first quarter 2005 range from $0.47 to $0.51, for a consensus average of $0.49 per share.

For the year 2005, 15 analysts have contributed FFO estimates for BRE to First Call ranging from $2.04 to $2.25, for a consensus average of $2.17. Given current expectations and judgment, the company continues to believe that FFO estimates for 2005 should be maintained in a range of $2.17 to $2.27 per share, which includes litigation costs classified as Other Expenses that are estimated to range from $0.05 to $0.07 per share. BRE believes EPS estimates for 2005 should be maintained in a range of $1.30 to $1.45 per share to reflect a higher level of gains on the sale of properties. EPS estimates may be subject to fluctuation as a result of several factors, including timing of transactions and any gains or losses associated with disposition activity.

BRE expects FFO per share for the second quarter 2005 to range from $0.49 to $0.52, which includes litigation costs to be classified as Other Expenses that are estimated to range from $0.01 to $0.02 per share. BRE expects second quarter 2005 EPS to range from $0.27 to $0.30. The projected ranges for second quarter 2005 reflect sequential same-store NOI growth and a sequential decline in corporate G&A expense.

FFO and EPS estimates may be subject to fluctuation as a result of several factors, including any change to underlying operating fundamentals, the timing associated with acquisition and disposition activity, the incurrence of any unexpected charges, and any gains or losses associated with disposition activity.

Q1 2005 Analyst Conference Call

The company will hold a conference call on Friday, April 22 at 8:30 a.m. PDT (11:30 a.m. EDT) to review these results. The dial-in number to participate in the U.S. and Canada is 888-290-1473; the international number is 706-679-8398. Enter Conf. ID# 5051125. A telephone replay of the call will be available April 22-May 22, 2005 at 800-642-1687 or 706-645-9291 international, using the same ID#. A link to the live webcast of the call will be posted on breproperties.com, in Investors, on the Corporate Profile page. A webcast replay will be available for 30 days following the call.

About BRE Properties

BRE Properties-a real estate investment trust-develops, acquires and manages apartment communities convenient to its residents' work, shopping, entertainment and transit in supply-constrained Western U.S. markets. BRE directly owns and operates 85 apartment communities totaling 24,006 units in California, Arizona, Washington and Colorado. The company currently has nine other properties in various stages of development and construction, totaling 2,339 units, and joint venture interests in two additional apartment communities, totaling 488 units.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the Company's capital resources, portfolio performance and results of operations, and is based on the company's current expectations and judgment. You should not rely on these statements as predictions of future events because there is no assurance that the events or circumstances reflected in the statements can be achieved or will occur. Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "peeks" "approximately," "intends," "plans," "pro forma," "estimates," or "anticipates" or their negative form or other variations, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intonations. The following factors, among others, could affect actual results and future events: defaults or non-renewal of leases, increased interest rates and operating costs, failure to obtain necessary outside financing, difficulties in identifying properties to acquire and in affecting acquisitions, failure to successfully integrate acquired properties and operations, inability to dispose of assets of assets that no longer meet our investment criteria under applicable terms and conditions, risks and uncertainties affecting property development and construction (including construction delays, cost overruns, liability to obtain necessary permits and public opposition to such activities), failure to qualify as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Rescue Code of 1986, as amended, and increases in real property tax rates. The Company's success also depends on general economic trends, including interest rates, tax laws, governmental regulation, legislation, population changes and other factors, including those risk factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K as they may be updated from time to time by the Company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Do not rely solely on forward-looking statements, which only reflect management's analysis. The company assumes no liability to update this information. For more details, please refer to the company's SEC filings, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on form 10-Q.

BRE Properties, Inc.
    Consolidated Balance Sheets
    First Quarter 2005
    (Unaudited, dollar amounts in thousands except per share data)

                                                  March 31,         March 31,
    ASSETS                                          2005              2004
                                                                   (Restated)
    Real estate portfolio:
    Direct investments in real estate:

      Investments in rental properties          $2,568,723        $2,298,862
      Construction in progress                     125,686            96,695
      Less: accumulated depreciation              (297,985)         (243,464)
                                                 2,396,424         2,152,093
    Equity interests in and advances to
     real estate joint ventures:
      Investments in rental properties              10,175            10,338

    Real estate held for sale, net                  45,296            60,903

    Land under development                          79,388            49,089

    Total real estate portfolio                  2,531,283         2,272,423

    Other assets                                    55,189            49,135

    TOTAL ASSETS                                $2,586,472        $2,321,558


    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

    Liabilities:
    Unsecured senior notes                        $848,092          $848,763
    Unsecured line of credit                       245,000           135,000
    Secured line of credit                         140,000           140,000
    Mortgage loans                                 192,111           131,782
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses           48,100            37,674

    Total liabilities                            1,473,303         1,293,219

    Minority interests                              61,675            38,862

    Shareholders' equity:
    Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value;
     10,000,000 shares authorized:
     10,000,000 and 7,000,000 shares with
     $25 liquidation preference; issued
     and outstanding at December 31, 2004
     and December 31, 2003, respectively.              100                70

    Common stock, $0.01 par value,
     100,000,000 shares authorized.
     Shares issued and outstanding:
     50,776,267 and 50,116,947 at
     March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.            508               501

    Additional paid-in capital                   1,050,886           988,906

    Total shareholders' equity                   1,051,494           989,477

    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS'
     EQUITY                                     $2,586,472        $2,321,558


    BRE Properties, Inc.
    Consolidated Statements of Income
    Quarters Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
     (Unaudited, dollar and share amounts in thousands)

                                               Quarter ended     Quarter ended
    REVENUE                                   March 31, 2005March 31, 2004
                                                                    (Restated)
    Rental income                                  $72,239           $64,262
    Ancillary income                                 3,230             2,987

    Total revenue                                   75,469            67,249

    EXPENSES

    Real estate expenses                            24,178            21,771
    Depreciation                                    18,220            13,651
    Interest expense                                18,059            15,677
    General and
     administrative                                  4,760             3,310
    Other expenses                                     448               850

    Total expenses                                  65,665            55,259

    Other income                                     1,204               307

    Income before minority interests,
     partnership income
     and discontinued operations                    11,008            12,297

    Minority interests                                (790)             (718)
    Partnership income                                 145               165
    Income from continuing operations               10,363            11,744

    Discontinued operations:
        Discontinued operations, net (1)             1,420             2,038
        Net gain on sales                           21,523                 -
    Total discontinued operations                   22,943             2,038

        NET INCOME                                 $33,306           $13,782

    Dividends attributable to
     preferred stock                                 4,468             2,183

        NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON
         SHAREHOLDERS                              $28,838           $11,599

    Net income per common share - basic              $0.57             $0.23

    Net income per common share -
     assuming dilution                               $0.56             $0.23


    Weighted average shares outstanding -
     basic                                          50,595            50,065

    Weighted average shares outstanding -
     assuming dilution                              51,330            50,500

    (1) Details of net earnings from discontinued operations.  Quarter ended
        March 31, 2005 include results from the community sold during first
        quarter 2005 and the two communities classified as held for sale at
        March 31, 2005.  Quarter ended March 31, 2004 include results from the
        community sold during first quarter 2005 and the two communities
        classified as held for sale at March 31, 2005 and the three
        communities sold during fourth quarter 2004.


                                               Quarter ended     Quarter ended
                                                   3/31/053/31/04

       Rental and ancillary
        income                                     $2,057            $4,204
       Real estate expenses                          (637)           (1,301)
       Depreciation                                    --              (865)
         Income from discontinued
          operations, net                          $1,420            $2,038


    BRE Properties, Inc.
    Non-GAAP Financial Measure Reconciliations and Definitions
    (Dollar amounts in thousands)

This document includes certain non-GAAP financial measures that management believes are helpful in understanding our business, as further described below. BRE's definition and calculation of non-GAAP financial measures may differ from those of other REITs, and may, therefore, not be comparable. The non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered an alternative to net income or any other GAAP measurement of performance and should not be considered an alternative to cash flows from operating,investing or financing activities as a measure of liquidity.

Funds from Operations (FFO)

FFO is used by industry analysts and investors as a supplemental performance measure of an equity REIT. FFO is defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts as net income or loss (computed in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States) excluding extraordinary items as defined under GAAP and gains or losses from sales of previously depreciated real estate assets, plus depreciation and amortization of real estate assets and adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. We calculate FFO in accordance with the NAREIT definition.

We believe that FFO is a meaningful supplemental measure of our operating performance because historical cost accounting for real estate assets in accordance with GAAP assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time, as reflected through depreciation. Because real estate values have historically risen or fallen with market conditions, management considers FFO an appropriate supplemental performance measure because it excludes historical cost depreciation, as well as gains or losses related to sales of previously depreciated property, from GAAP net income. By excluding depreciation and gains or losses on sales of real estate, management uses FFO to measure returns on its investments in real estate assets. However, because FFO excludes depreciation and amortization and captures neither the changes in the value of our properties that result from use or market conditions nor the level of capital expenditures to maintain the operating performance of our properties, all of which have real economic effect and could materially impact our results from operations, the utility of FFO as a measure of our performance is limited.

Management also believes that FFO, combined with the required GAAP presentations, is useful to investors in providing more meaningful comparisons of the operating performance of a company's real estate between periods or as compared to other companies. FFO does not represent net income or cash flows from operations as defined by GAAP and is not intended to indicate whether cash flows will be sufficient to fund cash needs. It should not be considered an alternative to net income as an indicator of the REIT's operating performance or to cash flows as a measure of liquidity. Our FFO may not be comparable to the FFO of other REITs due to the fact that not all REITs use the NAREIT definition.

                                                    Quarter          Quarter
                                                     Ended            Ended
                                                    3/31/053/31/04

    Net income available to common shareholders     $28,838           $11,599
    Depreciation from continuing operations          18,220            13,651
    Depreciation from discontinued operations            --               865
    Minority interests                                  790               718
    Depreciation from unconsolidated entities           202               270
    Net gain on investments                         (21,523)               --
    Less: Minority interests not
     convertible to common                             (280)             (244)
      Funds from operations                         $26,247           $26,859

    Diluted shares outstanding - EPS                 51,330            50,500

    Net income per common share - diluted             $0.56             $0.23

    Diluted shares outstanding - FFO                 52,350            51,470
    FFO per common share - diluted                    $0.50             $0.52


    BRE Properties, Inc.
    Non-GAAP Financial Measure Reconciliations and Definitions
    (Dollar amounts in thousands)

    Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA)
     and Adjusted EBITDA

EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined by BRE as EBITDA, excluding minority interests, gains or losses from sales of investments, preferred stock dividends and other expenses. We consider EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to be appropriate supplemental measures of our performance because they eliminate depreciation, interest, and, with respect to Adjusted EBITDA, gains (losses) from property dispositions and other charges, which permits investors to view income from operations without the impact of noncash depreciation or the cost of debt, or with respect to Adjusted EBITDA, other non-operating items described above.

Because EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA exclude depreciation and amortization and capture neither the changes in the value of our properties that result from use or market conditions nor the level of capital expenditures to maintain the operating performance of our properties, all of which have real economic effect and could materially impact our results from operations, the utility of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as measures of our performance is limited. Below is a reconciliation of net income available to common shareholders to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:

                                                Quarter ended    Quarter ended
                                                    3/31/053/31/04

    Net income available to common shareholders     $28,838           $11,599
    Interest                                         18,059            15,677
    Depreciation                                     18,220            14,516
      EBITDA                                         65,117            41,792
    Minority interests                                  790               718
    Net gain on sales                               (21,523)               --
    Dividends on preferred stock                      4,468             2,183
    Other expenses                                      448               850
      Adjusted EBITDA                               $49,300           $45,543


    Net Operating Income (NOI)

We consider community level and portfolio-wide NOI to be an appropriate supplemental measure to net income because it helps both investors and management to understand the core property operations prior to the allocation of general and administrative costs. This is more reflective of the operating performance of the real estate, and allows for an easier comparison of the operating performance of single assets or groups of assets. In addition, because prospective buyers of real estate have different overhead structures, with varying marginal impact to overhead by acquiring real estate, NOI is considered by many in the real estate industry to be a useful measure for determining the value of a real estate asset or groups of assets.

Because NOI excludes depreciation and does not capture the change in the value of our communities resulting from operational use and market conditions, nor the level of capital expenditures required to adequately maintain the communities (all of which have real economic effect and could materially impact our results from operations), the utility of NOI as a measure of our performance is limited. Other equity REITs may not calculate NOI consistently with our definition and, accordingly, our NOI may not be comparable to such other REITs' NOI. Accordingly, NOI should be considered only as a supplement to net income as a measure of our performance. NOI should not be used as a measure of our liquidity, nor is it indicative of funds available to fund our cash needs, including our ability to pay dividends or make distributions. NOI also should not be used as a supplement to or substitute for cash flow from operating activities (computed in accordance with GAAP).

                                                 Quarter ended   Quarter ended
                                                    3/31/053/31/04

    Net income available to common shareholders     $28,838           $11,599
    Interest                                         18,059            15,677
    Depreciation                                     18,220            14,516
    Minority interests                                  790               718
    Net gain on sales                               (21,523)               --
    Dividends on preferred stock                      4,468             2,183
    General and administrative expense                4,760             3,310
    Other expenses                                      448               850
    NOI                                             $54,060           $48,853
    Less Non Same-Store NOI                          10,003             6,154
    Same-Store NOI                                  $44,057           $42,699

SOURCE  BRE Properties, Inc.
    -0-                             04/21/2005
    /CONTACT:  investors, Edward F. Lange, Jr., +1-415-445-6559, or media,
Thomas E. Mierzwinski, +1-415-445-6525, both of BRE Properties, Inc./
    /Web site:  http://www.breproperties.com /
    (BRE)

CO:  BRE Properties, Inc.
ST:  California
IN:  RLT FIN REA
SU:  ERN CCA ERP

MP-HD
-- SFTH092 --
9109 04/21/200516:45 EDThttp://www.prnewswire.com
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