Exhibit 99.1

 

SAUL CENTERS, INC.

7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1500, Bethesda, Maryland 20814-6522

(301) 986-6200

 

Saul Centers, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter

and Annual 2004 Operating Results

 

February 23, 2005, Bethesda, MD.

 

Saul Centers, Inc. (NYSE: BFS), an equity real estate investment trust (REIT), announced its operating results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2004. Total revenues for the quarter ended December 31, 2004 increased 13.2% to $29,569,000 compared to $26,129,000 for the 2003 quarter. Operating income, defined as net income available to common stockholders before gain on property sold, minority interests and preferred stock dividends increased 9.3% to $8,256,000 compared to $7,556,000 for the comparable 2003 quarter. After preferred stock dividends, the Company reported net income available to common stockholders of $4,228,000 or $0.26 per share (basic & fully diluted) for the 2004 quarter, a per share decrease of 7.1% compared to net income available to common stockholders of $4,471,000 or $0.28 per share (basic & fully diluted) for the 2003 quarter. Increased operating income in the 2004 fourth quarter was more than offset by (1) a full quarter of preferred stock dividends in 2004 ($2,000,000) versus a partial quarter in 2003 ($1,244,000); (2) increased accounting and administrative expenses related primarily to new Sarbanes-Oxley documentation and compliance requirements; and (3) the 2003 fourth quarter gain of $182,000 resulting from the State of Maryland’s condemnation and purchase of a piece of land at Avenel Business Park for improvement of an interchange on I-270, adjacent to the property.

 

Overall same property revenues for the total portfolio increased 2.3% for the 2004 fourth quarter compared to the same quarter in 2003 and same property operating income increased 2.8%. The same property comparisons exclude the results of operations of properties not in operation for each of the comparable reporting periods. Property operating income is calculated as total property revenue less property operating expenses, provision for credit losses and real estate taxes. Same center operating income in the shopping center portfolio decreased 2.2% for the 2004 fourth quarter, due primarily to a $425,000 lease termination fee collected from a former shopping center tenant in the prior year’s quarter. Same property operating income in the office portfolio grew 14.9% for the 2004 quarter, due primarily to the completion of lease-up of space and new tenant occupancy at 601 Pennsylvania Avenue contributing an incremental $240,000, and the collection of a lease termination fee and a payment from a former bankrupt tenant at Avenel Business Park and a lease termination fee at Washington Square totaling a combined $264,000. Excluding the impact of 601 Pennsylvania Avenue, overall portfolio same property operating growth was 1.8% for the 2004 quarter.

 

LOGO

www.SaulCenters.com


For the year ended December 31, 2004, total revenues increased 15.3% to $112,842,000 compared to $97,884,000 for the 2003 year. Operating income before gain on property sold, minority interests and preferred stock dividends increased 24.2% to $33,707,000 compared to $27,146,000 for the 2003 year. After preferred stock dividends, the Company reported net income available to common stockholders of $18,174,000 or $1.13 per share (basic) and $1.12 per share (fully diluted) for the 2004 year, resulting in a fully diluted per share decrease of 2.6% compared to net income available to common stockholders of $17,998,000 or $1.15 per share (basic & fully diluted) for the 2003 year. Increased operating income in the 2004 year was more than offset by (1) a full year of preferred stock dividends in 2004 ($8,000,000) versus a partial year in 2003 ($1,244,000); (2) increased personnel expenses particularly related to the Company’s acquisition and development program; and (3) increased accounting and administrative expenses related primarily to new Sarbanes-Oxley documentation and compliance requirements.

 

Overall same property revenues for the total portfolio increased 4.2% for the 2004 year compared to the 2003 year and same property operating income increased 5.0%. Same center operating income in the shopping center portfolio increased 2.2% for the 2004 year. Same property operating income in the office portfolio grew 11.2% for the 2004 year, due primarily to the completion of lease-up of space and new tenant occupancy at 601 Pennsylvania Avenue. Excluding the impact of 601 Pennsylvania Avenue, overall portfolio same property operating income growth was 2.5% for the 2004 year.

 

As of December 31, 2004, 93.9% of the portfolio was leased, compared to 94.4% a year earlier. On a same property basis, 94.0% of the portfolio was leased, compared to the prior year level of 94.4%. The comparative decrease in the year end 2004 same property leasing percentage is largely attributable to the departure of a 39,000 square foot local grocer at Southside Plaza in suburban Richmond, Virginia.

 

Funds From Operations (FFO) available to common shareholders (after deducting preferred stock dividends) increased 7.2% to $12,084,000 in the 2004 fourth quarter compared to $11,274,000 for the same quarter in 2003. The $810,000 increase in FFO available to common shareholders in the 2004 quarter resulted from the combination of (1) increased operating income from retail acquisition and development properties and (2) successful leasing efforts in the core portfolio, primarily at 601 Pennsylvania Avenue; offset in part by the payment of $2,000,000 (compared to $1,244,000 for a portion of the 2003 quarter) in preferred dividends relating to the November 2003 offering. On a fully diluted per share basis, FFO available to common shareholders increased 3.7% to $.56 per share in 2004 compared to $.54 for the 2003 quarter. FFO available to common shareholders for the 2004 year increased by $3,291,000 (7.5%) to $47,031,000. Fully diluted per share FFO available to common shareholders increased 4.8% to $2.20 per share in 2004 compared to $2.10 for the 2003 year. FFO, a widely accepted non-GAAP financial measure of operating performance for real estate investment trusts, is defined as net income plus minority interests, extraordinary items and real estate depreciation and amortization, excluding gains and losses from property sales.

 

LOGO

www.SaulCenters.com


Saul Centers is a self-managed, self-administered equity real estate investment trust headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. Saul Centers currently operates and manages a real estate portfolio of 40 community and neighborhood shopping center and office properties totaling approximately 7.2 million square feet of leasable area. Over 80% of the Company’s cash flow is generated from properties in the metropolitan Washington, DC/Baltimore area.

 

Contact:

  

Scott V. Schneider

    

(301) 986-6220

 

LOGO

www.SaulCenters.com


Saul Centers, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

($ in thousands)

 

     December 31,
2004


    December 31,
2003


 
     (Unaudited)        

Assets

                

Real estate investments

                

Land

   $ 119,029     $ 82,256  

Buildings

     521,161       436,371  

Construction in progress

     42,618       33,488  
    


 


       682,808       552,115  

Accumulated depreciation

     (181,420 )     (164,823 )
    


 


       501,388       387,292  

Cash and cash equivalents

     33,561       45,244  

Accounts receivable and accrued income, net

     20,654       14,642  

Lease acquisition costs, net

     17,745       15,344  

Prepaid expenses

     2,421       2,609  

Deferred debt costs, net

     5,011       4,224  

Other assets

     2,616       2,261  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 583,396     $ 471,616  
    


 


Liabilities

                

Mortgage notes payable

   $ 453,646     $ 357,248  

Dividends and distributions payable

     10,424       9,454  

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities

     12,318       7,793  

Deferred income

     6,044       4,478  
    


 


Total liabilities

     482,432       378,973  
    


 


Stockholders’ Equity

                

Preferred stock

     100,000       100,000  

Common stock

     164       159  

Additional paid in capital

     106,886       91,469  

Accumulated deficit

     (106,086 )     (98,985 )
    


 


Total stockholders’ equity

     100,964       92,643  
    


 


Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 583,396     $ 471,616  
    


 



Saul Centers, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Three Months Ended December 31,

    Year Ended December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 
     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)        

Revenue

                        

Base rent

   $ 23,774     $ 20,434     $ 91,125     $ 78,167  

Expense Recoveries

     4,352       3,965       16,712       14,438  

Percentage Rent

     491       593       1,635       1,695  

Other

     952       1,137       3,370       3,584  
    


 


 


 


Total revenue

     29,569       26,129       112,842       97,884  
    


 


 


 


Operating Expenses

                                

Property operating expenses

     3,122       3,102       12,070       11,363  

Provision for credit losses

     189       53       488       171  

Real estate taxes

     2,585       2,189       9,789       8,580  

Interest expense and deferred debt amortization

     7,114       6,449       27,022       26,573  

Depreciation and amortization

     5,828       4,962       21,324       17,838  

General and administrative

     2,475       1,818       8,442       6,213  
    


 


 


 


Total operating expenses

     21,313       18,573       79,135       70,738  
    


 


 


 


Operating Income

     8,256       7,556       33,707       27,146  

Gain on property disposition

     —         182       572       182  

Minority Interests

     (2,028 )     (2,023 )     (8,105 )     (8,086 )
    


 


 


 


Net Income

     6,228       5,715       26,174       19,242  

Preferred Dividends

     (2,000 )     (1,244 )     (8,000 )     (1,244 )
    


 


 


 


Net Income Available to Common Stockholders

   $ 4,228     $ 4,471     $ 18,174     $ 17,998  
    


 


 


 


Per Share Amounts:

                                

Net income available to common stockholders (basic)

   $ 0.26     $ 0.28     $ 1.13     $ 1.15  
    


 


 


 


Net income available to common stockholders (fully diluted)

   $ 0.26     $ 0.28     $ 1.12     $ 1.15  
    


 


 


 


Weighted average common stock outstanding:

                                

Common stock

     16,352       15,817       16,154       15,591  

Effect of dilutive options

     100       25       57       17  
    


 


 


 


Fully diluted weighted average common stock

     16,452       15,842       16,211       15,608  
    


 


 


 



Saul Centers, Inc.

Supplemental Information

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Three Months Ended December 31,

    Year Ended December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 

Reconciliation of Net Income to Funds From Operations (FFO)(1)

                                

Net Income

   $ 6,228     $ 5,715     $ 26,174     $ 19,242  

Less:      Gain on sale of property

     —         (182 )     (572 )     (182 )

Add:      Real property depreciation & amortization

     5,828       4,962       21,324       17,838  

Add:      Minority Interests

     2,028       2,023       8,105       8,086  
    


 


 


 


FFO

     14,084       12,518       55,031       44,984  

Less:      Preferred dividends

     (2,000 )     (1,244 )     (8,000 )     (1,244 )
    


 


 


 


FFO available to common shareholders

   $ 12,084     $ 11,274     $ 47,031     $ 43,740  
    


 


 


 


Weighted average shares outstanding:

                                

Fully diluted weighted average common stock

     16,452       15,842       16,211       15,608  

Convertible limited partnership units

     5,198       5,187       5,194       5,182  
    


 


 


 


Fully diluted & converted weighted average shares

     21,650       21,029       21,405       20,790  
    


 


 


 


Per Share Amounts:

                                

FFO available to common shareholders

   $ 0.56     $ 0.54     $ 2.20     $ 2.10  
    


 


 


 


Reconciliation of Net Income to Same Property Operating Income

                                

Net Income

   $ 6,228     $ 5,715     $ 26,174     $ 19,242  

Add:      Interest expense and deferred debt amortization

     7,114       6,449       27,022       26,573  

Add:      Depreciation and amortization

     5,828       4,962       21,324       17,838  

Add:      General and administrative

     2,475       1,818       8,442       6,213  

Less:      Gain on property disposition

     —         (182 )     (572 )     (182 )

Less:      Interest income

     (82 )     (53 )     (257 )     (91 )

Add:      Minority Interests

     2,028       2,023       8,105       8,086  
    


 


 


 


Property operating income

     23,591       20,732       90,238       77,679  

Less:      Acquisitions & developments

     (2,834 )     (537 )     (9,684 )     (985 )
    


 


 


 


Total same property operating income

   $ 20,757     $ 20,195     $ 80,554     $ 76,694  
    


 


 


 


Total Shopping Centers

   $ 14,014     $ 14,328     $ 53,997     $ 52,811  

Total Office Properties

     6,743       5,867       26,557       23,883  
    


 


 


 


Total same property operating income

   $ 20,757     $ 20,195     $ 80,554     $ 76,694  
    


 


 


 



(1) FFO is a widely accepted non-GAAP financial measure of operating performance of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). FFO is defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts as net income, computed in accordance with GAAP, plus minority interests, extraordinary items and real estate depreciation and amortization, excluding gains or losses from property sales. FFO does not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP and is not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs, which is disclosed in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows in the Company’s SEC reports for the applicable periods. FFO should not be considered as an alternative to net income, its most directly comparable GAAP measure, as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance, or as an alternative to cash flows as a measure of liquidity. Management considers FFO a supplemental measure of operating performance and along with cash flow from operating activities, financing activities and investing activities, it provides investors with an indication of the ability of the Company to incur and service debt, to make capital expenditures and to fund other cash needs. FFO may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other REITs.