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LIFE STORAGE, INC. - Quarter Report: 2015 March (Form 10-Q)

10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2015

Commission file number: 1-13820

SOVRAN SELF STORAGE, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Maryland   16-1194043
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

6467 Main Street

Williamsville, NY 14221

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

(716) 633-1850

(Registrant’s telephone number including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large Accelerated Filer   x    Accelerated Filer   ¨
Non-accelerated Filer   ¨    Smaller Reporting Company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

As of April 24, 2015, 35,562,772 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share, were outstanding.


Part I. Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

SOVRAN SELF STORAGE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

(dollars in thousands, except share data)

   March 31,
2015
(unaudited)
    December 31,
2014
 

Assets

    

Investment in storage facilities:

  

Land

   $ 433,026     $ 397,642  

Building, equipment, and construction in progress

     1,883,571       1,780,341  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
  2,316,597     2,177,983  

Less: accumulated depreciation

  (424,764   (411,701
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investment in storage facilities, net

  1,891,833     1,766,282  

Cash and cash equivalents

  10,312     8,543  

Accounts receivable

  5,745     5,758  

Receivable from unconsolidated joint ventures

  728     583  

Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures

  57,659     57,803  

Prepaid expenses

  6,976     6,533  

Other assets

  8,925     9,298  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Assets

$ 1,982,178   $ 1,854,800  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities

Line of credit

$ 63,000   $ 49,000  

Term notes

  750,000     750,000  

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

  33,324     43,551  

Deferred revenue

  7,679     7,290  

Fair value of interest rate swap agreements

  17,318     13,341  

Mortgages payable

  2,095     2,127  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

  873,416     865,309  

Noncontrolling redeemable Operating Partnership Units at redemption value

  16,987     13,622  

Shareholders’ Equity

Common stock $.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 35,562,772 shares outstanding at March 31, 2015 (34,105,955 at December 31, 2014)

  367     353  

Additional paid-in capital

  1,307,653     1,183,388  

Dividends in excess of net income

  (172,078   (167,692

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

  (16,992   (13,005

Treasury stock at cost, 1,171,886 shares

  (27,175   (27,175
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Shareholders’ Equity

  1,091,775     975,869  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

$ 1,982,178   $ 1,854,800  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

- 2 -


SOVRAN SELF STORAGE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited)

 

(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

   January 1, 2015
to
March 31, 2015
    January 1, 2014
to
March 31, 2014
 

Revenues

    

Rental income

   $ 78,886     $ 69,953  

Other operating income

     6,522       5,504  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating revenues

  85,408     75,457  

Expenses

Property operations and maintenance

  20,559     18,484  

Real estate taxes

  8,920     8,066  

General and administrative

  9,406     8,536  

Acquisition costs

  582     2,778  

Operating leases of storage facilities

  683     1,997  

Depreciation and amortization

  14,181     11,942  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

  54,331     51,803  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from operations

  31,077     23,654  

Other income (expenses)

Interest expense

  (9,161   (7,343

Interest income

  2     6  

Loss on sale of storage facility

  (7   —    

Equity in income of joint ventures

  646     458  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

  22,557     16,775  

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

  (106   (102
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to common shareholders

$ 22,451   $ 16,673  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings per common share attributable to common shareholders – basic

$ 0.65   $ 0.51  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings per common share attributable to common shareholders – diluted

$ 0.65   $ 0.51  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Common shares used in basic earnings per share calculation

  34,329,768     32,383,996  

Common shares used in diluted earnings per share calculation

  34,554,871     32,538,429  

Dividends declared per common share

$ 0.75   $ 0.68  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

- 3 -


SOVRAN SELF STORAGE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(unaudited)

 

    

Three months ended

March 31,

 
(dollars in thousands)    2015     2014  

Net income

   $ 22,557     $ 16,775  

Other comprehensive income:

    

Change in fair value of derivatives net of reclassification to interest expense

     (3,987     (1,929
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

  18,570     14,846  

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest

  (87   (90
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income attributable to common shareholders

$ 18,483   $ 14,756  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

- 4 -


SOVRAN SELF STORAGE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited)

 

(dollars in thousands)

   January 1, 2015
to
March 31, 2015
    January 1, 2014
to
March 31, 2014
 

Operating Activities

    

Net income

   $ 22,557     $ 16,775  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     14,181       11,937  

Amortization of deferred financing fees

     296       195  

Loss on sale of storage facility

     7       —     

Equity in income of joint ventures

     (646     (458

Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures

     1,017       618  

Non-vested stock earned

     1,612       1,223  

Stock option expense

     36       36  

Changes in assets and liabilities (excluding the effects of acquisitions):

    

Accounts receivable

     13       356  

Prepaid expenses

     (443     (1,588

(Advances to) receipts from joint ventures

     (145     72  

Accounts payable and other liabilities

     (7,887     (10,794

Deferred revenue

     342       224  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

  30,940     18,596  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing Activities

Acquisitions of storage facilities

  (134,040   (89,101

Improvements, equipment additions, and construction in progress

  (5,335   (4,631

Net proceeds from the sale of storage facility

  711     —    

Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures

  (285   —    

Property deposit

  (1,095   (1,161
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

  (140,044   (94,893
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financing Activities

Net proceeds from sale of common stock

  122,631     29,360  

Proceeds from line of credit

  144,000     92,000  

Repayments of line of credit

  (130,000   (26,000

Financing costs

  —       (50

Dividends paid-common stock

  (25,609   (22,111

Distributions to noncontrolling interest holders

  (117   (135

Mortgage principal payments

  (32   (31
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

  110,873     73,033  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash

  1,769     (3,264

Cash at beginning of period

  8,543     9,524  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash at end of period

$ 10,312   $ 6,260  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental cash flow information

Cash paid for interest, net of interest capitalized

$ 5,307   $ 6,140  

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

- 5 -


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited financial statements of Sovran Self Storage, Inc. have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three month period ended March 31, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2015.

Reclassification: Certain amounts from the 2014 financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation. See Note 15.

 

2. ORGANIZATION

Sovran Self Storage, Inc. (the “Company,” “We,” “Our,” or “Sovran”), a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (a “REIT”), was formed on April 19, 1995 to own and operate self-storage facilities throughout the United States. On June 26, 1995, the Company commenced operations effective with the completion of its initial public offering. At March 31, 2015, we had an ownership interest in, leased, and/or managed 521 self-storage properties in 25 states under the name Uncle Bob’s Self Storage ®. Among our 521 self-storage properties are 39 properties that we manage for an unconsolidated joint venture (Sovran HHF Storage Holdings LLC) of which we are a 20% owner, 30 properties that we manage for an unconsolidated joint venture (Sovran HHF Storage Holdings II LLC) of which we are a 15% owner, and 19 properties that we manage and have no ownership interest. Approximately 40% of the Company’s revenue is derived from stores in the states of Texas and Florida. In addition, approximately 12% of the Company’s revenue is derived from the Houston, Texas market.

All of the Company’s assets are owned by, and all its operations are conducted through, Sovran Acquisition Limited Partnership (the “Operating Partnership”). Sovran Holdings, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Subsidiary”), is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership; the Company is a limited partner of the Operating Partnership, and through its ownership of the Subsidiary and its limited partnership interest controls the operations of the Operating Partnership, holding a 99.5% ownership interest therein as of March 31, 2015. The remaining ownership interests in the Operating Partnership (the “Units”) are held by certain former owners of assets acquired by the Operating Partnership subsequent to its formation.

We consolidate all wholly owned subsidiaries. Partially owned subsidiaries and joint ventures are consolidated when we control the entity. Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, the Operating Partnership, Uncle Bob’s Management, LLC (the Company’s taxable REIT subsidiary), Locke Sovran I, LLC (a wholly-owned subsidiary), and Locke Sovran II, LLC (a wholly-owned subsidiary). All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. Investments in joint ventures that we do not control but for which we have significant influence over are accounted for using the equity method.

 

- 6 -


Included in the consolidated balance sheets are noncontrolling redeemable operating partnership units. These interests are presented in the “mezzanine” section of the consolidated balance sheet because they do not meet the functional definition of a liability or equity under current accounting literature. These represent the outside ownership interests of the limited partners in the Operating Partnership. At March 31, 2015, there were 178,866 noncontrolling redeemable operating partnership Units outstanding (155,484 at December 31, 2014). These unitholders are entitled to receive distributions per unit equivalent to the dividends declared per share on the Company’s common stock. The Operating Partnership is obligated to redeem each of these limited partnership Units in the Operating Partnership at the request of the holder thereof for cash equal to the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common stock, at the time of such redemption, provided that the Company at its option may elect to acquire any such Unit presented for redemption for one common share or cash. The Company accounts for these noncontrolling redeemable Operating Partnership Units under the provisions of EITF D-98, “Classification and Measurement of Redeemable Securities” which was codified in FASB ASC Topic 480-10-S99. The application of the FASB ASC Topic 480-10-S99 accounting model requires the noncontrolling interest to follow normal noncontrolling interest accounting and then be marked to redemption value at the end of each reporting period if higher (but never adjusted below that normal noncontrolling interest accounting amount). The offset to the adjustment to the carrying amount of the noncontrolling redeemable Operating Partnership Units is reflected in dividends in excess of net income. Accordingly, in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet, noncontrolling redeemable Operating Partnership Units are reflected at redemption value at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, equal to the number of Units outstanding multiplied by the fair market value of the Company’s common stock at that date. Redemption value exceeded the value determined under the Company’s historical basis of accounting at those dates.

 

(dollars in thousands)

   Three Months
Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
 

Beginning balance noncontrolling redeemable Operating Partnership Units

   $ 13,622  

Issuance of Operating Partnership Units

     2,148  

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests – consolidated joint venture

     106  

Distributions

     (117

Adjustment to redemption value

     1,228  
  

 

 

 

Ending balance noncontrolling redeemable Operating Partnership Units

$ 16,987   
  

 

 

 

In March 2015 the Operating Partnership issued 23,382 Units with a fair market value of $2.1 million to acquire one self-storage property. The fair value of the Units on the date of issuance was determined based upon the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on that date.

 

3. STOCK BASED COMPENSATION

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation under the provisions of ASC Topic 718, “Compensation—Stock Compensation”. The Company recognizes compensation cost in its financial statements for all share based payments granted, modified, or settled during the period. For awards with graded vesting, compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the related vesting period.

For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company recorded compensation expense (included in general and administrative expense) of $36,000 and $36,000, respectively, related to stock options and $1,612,000 and $1,193,000, respectively, related to amortization of non-vested stock grants.

 

- 7 -


During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, employees and directors exercised 9,500 and 1,500 stock options respectively, and 5,234 and 9,880 shares of non-vested stock, respectively, vested.

 

4. INVESTMENT IN STORAGE FACILITIES

The following summarizes our activity in storage facilities during the three months ended March 31, 2015.

 

(dollars in thousands)

Cost:

Beginning balance

$ 2,177,983  

Acquisition of storage facilities

  134,043  

Improvements and equipment additions

  5,242  

Net increase in construction in progress

  157  

Dispositions

  (828
  

 

 

 

Ending balance

$ 2,316,597  
  

 

 

 

 

Accumulated Depreciation:

Beginning balance

$ 411,701  

Depreciation expense during the period

  13,172  

Dispositions

  (109
  

 

 

 

Ending balance

$ 424,764  
  

 

 

 

The four facilities acquired in Connecticut and New York on February 2, 2015 had been leased by the Company since November 1, 2013. The acquisitions of these four stores were accounted for as asset acquisitions. The cost of these four stores was assigned to their land, building, equipment and improvements components based upon their fair values. The assets and liabilities of the other two acquired storage facilities, which primarily consist of tangible and intangible assets, are measured at fair value on the date of acquisition in accordance with the principles of FASB ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.” The purchase price of the six facilities has been assigned as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)

            Consideration paid     Acquisition Date Fair Value  

State

   Number of
Properties
     Date of
Acquisition
     Purchase
Price
     Cash Paid      Value of
Operating
Partnership
Units Issued
     Net Other
Liabilities
(Assets)
Assumed
    Land      Building,
Equipment, and
Improvements
     In-Place
Customer
Leases
     Closing
Costs
Expensed
 

2015

                            

Connecticut

     2         2/2/2015       $ 61,116       $ 62,377       $ —         $ (1,261   $ 19,389       $ 41,727       $ —         $ —     

New York

     2         2/2/2015         57,900         59,103         —           (1,203     10,084         47,816         —           —     

Illinois

     1         2/5/2015         6,800         6,652         —           148        2,579         4,066         155         273   

Illinois

     1         3/9/2015         8,382         6,158         2,148         76        1,658         6,724         —           309   
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total acquired 2015

  6    $ 134,198    $ 134,290    $ 2,148    $ (2,240 $ 33,710    $ 100,333    $ 155    $ 582   

All of the properties acquired were purchased from unrelated third parties. The operating results of the four facilities which had been leased since November 1, 2013 have been included in the Company’s operations since that date. The operating results of the two facilities acquired in Illinois have been included in the Company’s operations since the respective acquisition dates. Of the $134.3 million paid at closing for the properties acquired during the three months ended

 

- 8 -


March 31, 2015, $250,000 represented deposits that were paid in 2014 when certain of these properties originally went under contract. Non-cash investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2015 include the issuance of $2.1 million in Operating Partnership Units, the assumption of $0.2 million of other net liabilities and $2.4 million for the settlement of a straight-line rent liability in connection with the acquisition of self-storage facilities.

The Company measures the fair value of in-place customer lease intangible assets based on the Company’s experience with customer turnover. The Company amortizes in-place customer leases on a straight-line basis over 12 months (the estimated future benefit period). In-place customer leases are included in other assets on the Company’s balance sheet as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

   Mar. 31,
2015
     Dec. 31,
2014
 

In-place customer leases

   $ 19,927      $ 19,867  

Accumulated amortization

     (18,645      (17,663
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net carrying value at the end of period

$ 1,282   $ 2,204  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Amortization expense related to in-place customer leases was $1.0 million and $0.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company expects to record $2.3 million and $13,000 of amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2016, respectively.

Property Dispositions

During the three months ended March 31, 2015 the Company sold a non-strategic property purchased in May 2014 with a carrying value of $698,000 and received cash proceeds of approximately $691,000, resulting in a $7,000 loss on sale. The following table summarizes the revenues and expenses up to the date of sale of the property sold in 2015 that are included in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for 2015 and 2014.

 

(Dollars in thousands)    Jan. 31, 2015
to
Mar. 31, 2015
     Jan. 31, 2014
to
Mar. 31, 2014
 

Total revenues

   $ 40      $ —    

Property operations and maintenance expense

     (16      —    

Real estate tax expense

     (5      —    

Depreciation and amortization expense

     (9      —    

Loss on sale of storage facilities

     (7      —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
$ 3   $ —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

5. UNSECURED LINE OF CREDIT AND TERM NOTES

Borrowings outstanding on our unsecured line of credit and term notes are as follows:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

   Mar. 31,
2015
     Dec. 31,
2014
 

Revolving line of credit borrowings

   $ 63,000      $ 49,000  

Term note due April 13, 2016

     150,000        150,000  

Term note due June 4, 2020

     325,000        325,000  

Term note due August 5, 2021

     100,000        100,000  

Term note due April 8, 2024

     175,000        175,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total term notes payable

$ 750,000   $ 750,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

- 9 -


On December 10, 2014, the Company amended its existing unsecured credit agreement. As part of the amended agreement, the Company increased its revolving credit limit from $175 million to $300 million. The interest rate on the revolving credit facility bears interest at a variable rate equal to LIBOR plus a margin based on the Company’s credit rating (at March 31, 2015 the margin is 1.30%), and requires a 0.20% facility fee. The amended agreement also reduced the interest rate on the $325 million unsecured term note maturing June 4, 2020, with the term note bearing interest at LIBOR plus a margin based on the Company’s credit rating (at March 31, 2015 the margin is 1.40%). The interest rate at March 31, 2015 on the Company’s line of credit was approximately 1.48% (1.46% at December 31, 2014). At March 31, 2015, there was $237 million available on the unsecured line of credit. The revolving line of credit has a maturity date of December 10, 2019. The amended agreement also provides for an increase in the revolving credit facility and the bank term notes at the Company’s request to an aggregate amount up to $850 million.

On April 8, 2014, the Company entered into a $175 million term note maturing April 2024 bearing interest at a fixed rate of 4.533%. The interest rate on the term note increases to 6.283% if the Company is not rated by at least one rating agency or if the Company’s credit rating is downgraded. The proceeds from this term note were used to repay the $115 million outstanding on the Company’s line of credit at April 8, 2014, with the excess proceeds used for acquisitions.

In 2011, the Company entered into a $100 million term note maturing August 5, 2021 bearing interest at a fixed rate of 5.54%. The interest rate on the term note increases to 7.29% if the notes are not rated by at least one rating agency, the credit rating on the notes is downgraded or if the Company’s credit rating is downgraded. The proceeds from this term note were used to fund acquisitions and investments in unconsolidated joint ventures.

The Company also maintains a $150 million unsecured term note maturing April 13, 2016 bearing interest at 6.38%. The interest rate on the $150 million unsecured term note increases to 8.13% if the notes are not rated by at least one rating agency, the credit rating on the notes is downgraded or the Company’s credit rating is downgraded.

The line of credit and term notes require the Company to meet certain financial covenants, measured on a quarterly basis, including prescribed leverage, fixed charge coverage, minimum net worth, limitations on additional indebtedness and limitations on dividend payouts. At March 31, 2015, the Company was in compliance with its debt covenants.

We believe that if operating results remain consistent with historical levels and levels of other debt and liabilities remain consistent with amounts outstanding at March 31, 2015 the entire availability on the line of credit could be drawn without violating our debt covenants.

The Company’s fixed rate term notes contain a provision that allows for the noteholders to call the debt upon a change of control of the Company at an amount that includes a make whole premium based on rates in effect on the date of the change of control.

 

- 10 -


6. MORTGAGES PAYABLE AND DEBT MATURITIES

Mortgages payable at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 consist of the following:

 

(dollars in thousands)

   March 31,
2015
     December 31,
2014
 

5.99% mortgage notes due May 1, 2026, secured by one self-storage facility with an aggregate net book value of $4.4 million, principal and interest paid monthly (effective interest rate 6.22%)

     2,095        2,127  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total mortgages payable

$ 2,095   $ 2,127  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The table below summarizes the Company’s debt obligations and interest rate derivatives at March 31, 2015. The estimated fair value of financial instruments is subjective in nature and is dependent on a number of important assumptions, including discount rates and relevant comparable market information associated with each financial instrument. The fair value of the fixed rate term notes and mortgage notes were estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings and for the same remaining maturities. These assumptions are considered Level 2 inputs within the fair value hierarchy as described in Note 8. The carrying values of our variable rate debt instruments approximate their fair values as these debt instruments bear interest at current market rates that approximate market participant rates. This is considered a Level 2 input within the fair value hierarchy. The use of different market assumptions and estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the reported estimated fair value amounts. Accordingly, the estimates presented below are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company would realize in a current market exchange.

 

     Expected Maturity Date Including Discount         

(dollars in thousands)

   2015      2016      2017      2018      2019      Thereafter      Total      Fair
Value
 

Line of credit - variable rate LIBOR + 1.30% (1.48% at March 31, 2015)

     —          —          —          —        $ 63,000         —        $ 63,000       $ 63,000   

Notes Payable:

                 

Term note - fixed rate 6.38%

     —        $ 150,000         —          —          —          —        $ 150,000       $ 161,143   

Term note - variable rate LIBOR+1.40% (1.57% at March 31, 2015)

     —          —          —          —          —        $ 325,000       $ 325,000       $ 325,000   

Term note - fixed rate 5.54%

     —          —          —          —          —        $ 100,000       $ 100,000       $ 112,324   

Term note - fixed rate 4.533%

     —          —          —          —          —        $ 175,000       $ 175,000       $ 184,578   

Mortgage note - fixed rate 5.99%

   $ 102       $ 142       $ 151      $ 160      $ 170      $ 1,370       $ 2,095       $ 2,266   

Interest rate derivatives - liability

     —          —          —          —          —          —          —        $ 17,318   

 

7. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Interest rate swaps are used to adjust the proportion of total debt that is subject to variable interest rates. The interest rate swaps require the Company to pay an amount equal to a specific fixed rate of interest times a notional principal amount and to receive in return an amount equal to a variable rate of interest times the same notional amount. The notional amounts are not exchanged. No other cash payments are made unless the contract is terminated prior to its maturity, in which case the contract would likely be settled for an amount equal to its fair value. The Company enters into interest rate swaps with a number of major financial institutions to minimize counterparty credit risk.

 

- 11 -


The interest rate swaps qualify and are designated as hedges of the amount of future cash flows related to interest payments on variable rate debt. Therefore, the interest rate swaps are recorded in the consolidated balance sheet at fair value and the related gains or losses are deferred in shareholders’ equity as Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (“AOCL”). These deferred gains and losses are recognized in interest expense during the period or periods in which the related interest payments affect earnings. However, to the extent that the interest rate swaps are not perfectly effective in offsetting the change in value of the interest payments being hedged, the ineffective portion of these contracts is recognized in earnings immediately. Ineffectiveness was de minimis for the three months ended March 31, 2015, and 2014.

The Company has interest rate swap agreements in effect at March 31, 2015 as detailed below to effectively convert a total of $325 million of variable-rate debt to fixed-rate debt.

 

Notional Amount

   Effective
Date
     Expiration
Date
     Fixed Rate
Paid
    Floating
Rate Received

$125 Million

     9/1/2011         8/1/18         2.3700   1 month LIBOR

$100 Million

     12/30/11         12/29/17         1.6125   1 month LIBOR

$100 Million

     9/4/13         9/4/18         1.3710   1 month LIBOR

$100 Million

     12/29/17         11/29/19         3.9680   1 month LIBOR

$125 Million

     8/1/18         6/1/20         4.1930   1 month LIBOR

The interest rate swap agreements are the only derivative instruments, as defined by FASB ASC Topic 815 “Derivatives and Hedging”, held by the Company. During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the net reclassification from AOCL to interest expense was $1.4 million and $1.4 million, respectively, based on payments made under the swap agreements. Based on current interest rates, the Company estimates that payments under the interest rate swaps will be approximately $5.5 million for the 12 months ended March 31, 2016. Payments made under the interest rate swap agreements will be reclassified to interest expense as settlements occur. The fair value of the swap agreements, including accrued interest, was a liability of $17.3 million and $13.3 million at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

The Company’s agreements with its interest rate swap counterparties contain provisions pursuant to which the Company could be declared in default of its derivative obligations if the Company defaults on any of its indebtedness, including default where repayment of the indebtedness has not been accelerated by the lender. The interest rate swap agreements also incorporate other loan covenants of the Company. Failure to comply with the loan covenant provisions would result in the Company being in default on the interest rate swap agreements. As of March 31, 2015, the Company had not posted any collateral related to the interest rate swap agreements. If the Company had breached any of these provisions as of March 31, 2015, it could have been required to settle its obligations under the agreements at their net termination value of $17.3 million.

 

- 12 -


The changes in AOCL for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and March 31, 2014 are summarized as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)

   Jan. 1, 2015
to
Mar. 31, 2015
     Jan. 1, 2014
to
Mar. 31, 2014
 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss beginning of period

   $ (13,005    $ (6,402

Realized loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to interest expense

     1,358         1,360   

Unrealized loss from changes in the fair value of the effective portion of the interest rate swaps

     (5,345      (3,289
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Loss included in other comprehensive loss

  (3,987   (1,929
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss end of period

$ (16,992 $ (8,331
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

8. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The Company applies the provisions of ASC Topic 820 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” in determining the fair value of its financial and nonfinancial assets and liabilities. ASC Topic 820 establishes a valuation hierarchy for disclosure of the inputs to valuation used to measure fair value. This hierarchy prioritizes the inputs into three broad levels as follows. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly through market corroboration. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs based on our own assumptions used to measure assets and liabilities at fair value. A financial asset or liability’s classification within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Refer to Note 6 for presentation of the fair values of debt obligations which are disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis.

The following table provides the assets and liabilities carried at fair value measured on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 (in thousands):

 

     Asset (Liability)      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3  

March 31, 2015

           

Interest rate swaps

     (17,318      —          (17,318      —    

December 31, 2014

           

Interest rate swaps

     (13,341      —          (13,341      —    

Interest rate swaps are over the counter securities with no quoted readily available Level 1 inputs, and therefore are measured at fair value using inputs that are directly observable in active markets and are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy, using the income approach.

 

- 13 -


During 2015, assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis included the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with the acquisition of six storage facilities (see note 4). To determine the fair value of land, the Company used prices per acre derived from observed transactions involving comparable land in similar locations, which is considered a Level 2 input. To determine the fair value of buildings, equipment and improvements, the Company used current replacement cost based on information derived from construction industry data by geographic region which is considered a Level 2 input. The replacement cost is then adjusted for the age, condition, and economic obsolescence associated with these assets, which are considered Level 3 inputs. The fair value of in-place customer leases is based on the rent lost due to the amount of time required to replace existing customers which is based on the Company’s historical experience with turnover at its facilities, which is a Level 3 input. Other assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the acquisitions consist primarily of prepaid or accrued real estate taxes and deferred revenues from advance monthly rentals paid by customers. The fair values of these assets and liabilities are based on their carrying values as they typically turn over within one year from the acquisition date and these are Level 3 inputs.

 

9. INVESTMENT IN JOINT VENTURES

The Company has a 20% ownership interest in Sovran HHF Storage Holdings LLC (“Sovran HHF”), a joint venture that was formed in May 2008 to acquire self-storage properties that are managed by the Company. The carrying value of the Company’s investment at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was $45.2 million. 25 properties were acquired by Sovran HHF in 2008 for approximately $171.5 million and 14 additional properties were acquired by Sovran HHF in 2014 for $187.2 million. In 2008, the Company contributed $18.6 million to the joint venture as its share of capital required to fund the acquisitions. In 2012 the Company contributed an additional $1.2 million to the joint venture. In 2013 the Company received a return of capital distribution of $3.4 million as part of the refinancing of Sovran HHF. In 2014 the Company contributed an additional $28.6 million in cash to the joint venture as its share of capital required to fund acquisitions. As of March 31, 2015, the carrying value of the Company’s investment in Sovran HHF exceeds its share of the underlying equity in net assets of Sovran HHF by approximately $1.7 million as a result of the capitalization of certain acquisition related costs in 2008. This difference is included in the carrying value of the investment, which is assessed for other-than-temporary impairment on a periodic basis. No other-than-temporary impairments have been recorded on this investment.

The Company has a 15% ownership interest in Sovran HHF Storage Holdings II LLC (“Sovran HHF II”), a joint venture that was formed in 2011 to acquire self-storage properties that are managed by the Company. The carrying value of the Company’s investment at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was $12.5 million and $12.6 million, respectively. 20 properties were acquired by Sovran HHF II during 2011 for approximately $166.1 million. During 2011, the Company contributed $12.8 million to the joint venture as its share of capital required to fund the acquisitions. Ten additional properties were acquired by Sovran HHF II during 2012 for approximately $29 million. During 2012, the Company contributed $2.4 million to the joint venture as its share of capital required to fund the acquisitions. The carrying value of this investment is assessed for other-than-temporary impairment on a periodic basis and no such impairments have been recorded on this investment.

 

- 14 -


As manager of Sovran HHF and Sovran HHF II, the Company earns a management and call center fee of 7% of gross revenues which totaled $1.2 million and $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company’s share of Sovran HHF and Sovran HHF II’s income for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 was $0.6 million and $0.4 million, respectively.

The Company also has a 49% ownership interest in Iskalo Office Holdings, LLC, which owns the building that houses the Company’s headquarters and other tenants. The carrying value of the Company’s investment is a liability of $0.5 million at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, and is included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. For the three months ended March 31, 2015, and 2014, the Company’s share of Iskalo Office Holdings, LLC’s income was $58,000 and $32,000, respectively. The Company paid rent to Iskalo Office Holdings, LLC of $0.3 million and $0.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

A summary of the unconsolidated joint ventures’ financial statements as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2015 is as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)

   Sovran HHF
Storage
Holdings LLC
     Sovran HHF
Storage
Holdings II LLC
     Iskalo Office
Holdings, LLC
 

Balance Sheet Data:

        

Investment in storage facilities, net

   $ 340,176      $ 184,204      $  —    

Investment in office building

     —          —          4,956  

Other assets

     5,758        4,210        3,423  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Assets

$ 345,934   $ 188,414   $ 8,379  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Due to the Company

$ 386   $ 355   $  —    

Mortgages payable

  124,520     102,696     9,177  

Other liabilities

  3,710     2,259     360  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

  128,616     105,310     9,537  

Unaffiliated partners’ equity (deficiency)

  173,854     70,644     (666 )

Company equity (deficiency)

  43,464     12,460     (492 )
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Partners’ Equity (Deficiency)

  217,318     83,104     (1,158 )
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Liabilities and Partners’ Equity (Deficiency)

$ 345,934   $ 188,414   $ 8,379  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income Statement Data:

Total revenues

$ 9,435   $ 7,170   $ 397  

Property operating expenses

  (3,216 )   (2,704 )   (144 )

Administrative, management and call center fees

  (700 )   (532 )   —    

Depreciation and amortization of customer list

  (2,164 )   (1,048 )   (57 )

Income tax expense

  (53 )   (100 )   —    

Interest expense

  (1,465 )   (1,313 )   (78 )
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

$ 1,837   $ 1,473   $ 118  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company does not guarantee the debt of Sovran HHF, Sovran HHF II, or Iskalo Office Holdings, LLC.

We do not expect to have material future cash outlays relating to these joint ventures outside our share of capital for future acquisitions of properties.

 

- 15 -


10. INCOME TAXES

The Company qualifies as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and will generally not be subject to corporate income taxes to the extent it distributes its taxable income to its shareholders and complies with certain other requirements.

The Company has elected to treat one of its subsidiaries as a taxable REIT subsidiary. In general, the Company’s taxable REIT subsidiary may perform additional services for tenants and generally may engage in certain real estate or non-real estate related business. A taxable REIT subsidiary is subject to corporate federal and state income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities.

For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company recorded federal and state income tax expense of $0.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively. At March 31, 2015 and 2014, there were no material unrecognized tax benefits. Interest and penalties relating to uncertain tax positions will be recognized in income tax expense when incurred. As of March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company had no interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions. Net income taxes payable and the deferred tax liability of our taxable REIT subsidiary are classified within accounts payable and accrued liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet. As of March 31, 2015, the Company’s taxable REIT subsidiary has a current prepaid taxes of $0.3 million and a deferred tax liability of $1.3 million. The tax years 2011-2014 remain open to examination by the major taxing jurisdictions to which the Company is subject.

 

11. EARNINGS PER SHARE

The Company reports earnings per share data in accordance ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share.” Effective January 1, 2009, FASB ASC Topic 260 was updated for the issuance of FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) EITF 03-6-1, “Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities”, or FSP EITF 03-6-1, with transition guidance included in FASB ASC Topic 260-10-65-2. Under FSP EITF 03-6-1, unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents, whether paid or unpaid, are participating securities and shall be included in the computation of earnings-per-share pursuant to the two-class method. The Company has calculated its basic and diluted earnings per share using the two-class method. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share utilizing the two-class method.

 

(in thousands except per share data)

   Three Months
Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
     Three Months
Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
 

Numerator:

     

Net income attributable to common shareholders

   $ 22,451      $ 16,673  

Denominator:

     

Denominator for basic earnings per share – weighted average shares

     34,330         32,384  

Effect of Dilutive Securities:

     

Stock options and non-vested stock

     225         154  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Denominator for diluted earnings per share – adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversion

  34,555      32,538  

Basic earnings per common share attributable to common shareholders

$ 0.65   $ 0.51   

Diluted earnings per common share attributable to common shareholders

$ 0.65    $ 0.51   

 

- 16 -


Not included in the effect of dilutive securities above are 171,220 unvested restricted shares for the three months ended March 31, 2015, and 168,878 unvested restricted shares for the three months ended March 31, 2014, because their effect would be antidilutive.

 

12. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

The following is a reconciliation of the changes in total shareholders’ equity for the period:

 

(dollars in thousands)

   Three Months
Ended
March 31, 2015
 

Beginning balance of total shareholders’ equity

   $ 975,869  

Net proceeds from the issuance of common stock

     122,129  

Exercise of stock options

     502  

Earned portion of non-vested stock

     1,612  

Stock option expense

     36  

Adjustment to redemption value on noncontrolling redeemable Operating Partnership units

     (1,228

Net income attributable to common shareholders

     22,451  

Change in fair value of derivatives

     (3,987

Dividends

     (25,609
  

 

 

 

Ending balance of total shareholders’ equity

$ 1,091,775  
  

 

 

 

On March 3, 2015, the Company completed the public offering of 1,380,000 shares of its common stock at $90.40 per share. Net proceeds to the Company after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses were approximately $119.5 million. The Company used the net proceeds from the offering to repay a portion of the indebtedness outstanding on the Company’s unsecured line of credit.

For the three months ended March 31, 2015, 9,500 shares of common stock were issued upon the exercise of stock options.

 

- 17 -


On May 12, 2014, the Company entered into a continuous equity offering program (“Equity Program”) with Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (“Wells Fargo”), Jefferies LLC (“Jefferies”), SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. (“SunTrust”), Piper Jaffray & Co. (“Piper”), HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. (“HSBC”), and BB&T Capital Markets, a division of BB&T Securities, LLC (“BB&T”), pursuant to which the Company may sell from time to time up to $225 million in aggregate offering price of shares of the Company’s common stock. Actual sales under the Equity Program will depend on a variety of factors and conditions, including, but not limited to, market conditions, the trading price of the Company’s common stock, and determinations of the appropriate sources of funding for the Company. The Company expects to continue to offer, sell, and issue shares of common stock under the Equity Program from time to time based on various factors and conditions, although the Company is under no obligation to sell any shares under the Equity Program.

During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company did not issue any shares of common stock under the Equity Program. As of March 31, 2015, the Company had $151.3 million available for issuance under the Equity Program.

During the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company issued 359,102 shares of common stock under a previous equity program at a weighted average issue price of $74.32 per share, generating net proceeds of $26.4 million after deducting $0.3 million of sales commissions payable to SunTrust.

In 2013, the Company implemented a Dividend Reinvestment Plan. The Company issued 28,317 shares under the plan during the three months ended March 31, 2015.

 

13. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08, “Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and disclosures of Components of an Entity”. Under this ASU, only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations should be presented as discontinued operations. Those strategic shifts should have a major effect on the organization’s operations and financial results. The ASU also requires new disclosures of both discontinued operations and certain other disposals that do not meet the definition of a discontinued operation. It is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2014, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2014 and the adoption is expected to significantly reduce the classification of property sales by the Company as discontinued operations.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in “Revenue Recognition (Topic 605),” and requires an entity to recognize revenue in a way that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company has the option to apply the provisions of ASU 2014-09 either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the new guidance recognized at the date of initial application. The Company has not yet completed its assessment of the impact that the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

- 18 -


In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-12, “Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period,” which requires a reporting entity to treat a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period as a performance condition. ASU 2014-12 is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. ASU 2014-12 may be adopted either prospectively for share-based payment awards granted or modified on or after the effective date, or retrospectively, using a modified retrospective approach. The modified retrospective approach would apply to share-based payment awards outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements on adoption, and to all new or modified awards thereafter. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-12 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis. This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015 including interim periods within that reporting period. ASU 2015-02 amends the current consolidation model specifically as it relates to variable interest entities (“VIE’s”) and provides reporting entities with a revised consolidation analysis procedure. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on its financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income, cash flows and/or disclosures.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, “Interest—Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs” (“ASU 2015-03”). ASU 2015-03 requires debt issuance costs to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the associated debt liability, consistent with the presentation of a debt discount. Prior to the issuance of the standard, debt issuance costs were required to be presented in the balance sheet as an asset. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures. ASU 2015-03 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Accordingly, the standard is effective for the Company on January 1, 2016.

 

- 19 -


14. COMMITMENT AND CONTINGENCIES

At March 31, 2015, the Company was under contract to acquire nine self-storage facilities for cash consideration of approximately $72.4 million. Seven of the facilities were acquired in April and May of 2015 for $56.3 million. The Company has not yet determined the assignment of the purchase prices of these three facilities to the individual assets acquired. These acquisitions were funded with draws on the Company’s line of credit. The line of credit balance outstanding after the funding of the seven acquisitions was $138 million. The following is a summary of the second quarter 2015 acquisitions (dollars in thousands):

 

State

   Number of
Properties
     Date of
Acquisition
     Purchase
Price
 

Florida

     1        4/1/2015      $ 6,300  

Texas

     1        4/16/2015        8,800  

Florida

     1        4/21/2015        8,750  

Florida

     4        5/1/2015        32,465  
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total acquired second quarter of 2015

  7   $ 56,315  

The purchase of the remaining facilities by the Company is subject to customary conditions to closing, and there is no assurance that these facilities will be acquired.

On or about August 25, 2014, a putative class action was filed against the Company in the Superior Court of New Jersey Law Division Burlington County. The action seeks to obtain declaratory, injunctive and monetary relief for a class of consumers based upon alleged violations by the Company of the New Jersey Truth in Customer Contract, Warranty and Notice Act, the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act and the New Jersey Insurance Producer Licensing Act. On October 17, 2014, the action was removed from the Superior Court of New Jersey Law Division Burlington County to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. The Company intends to vigorously defend the action, and the possibility of any adverse outcome cannot be determined at this time.

 

15. RECLASSIFICATION

Internet advertising expense, which had been included in the general and administrative expense line in prior year financial statements, has been reclassified to property operations and maintenance expense to conform with the current year presentation. The Company believes the classification of internet advertising expenses as property operations and maintenance expense is more consistent with industry trends. The amount of internet advertising expense that was reclassified for the three months ended March 31, 2014 was $1,420 (dollars in thousands).

 

- 20 -


If such reclassification was in effect for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the consolidated statements of operations of the Company for such periods would show an increase in property operations and maintenance expense and a reduction of general and administrative expenses of (dollars in thousands) $5,570 for 2014, $4,803 for 2013, and $3,848 for 2012. There would be no effect on any other line items of the consolidated statements of operations. The consolidated statements of operations of the Company for such periods would have been presented as follows:

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)    2014      2013      2012  

Revenues

        

Rental income

   $ 302,044      $ 253,384      $ 217,906  

Other operating income

     24,036        20,123        16,176  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total operating revenues

  326,080     273,507     234,082  

Expenses

Property operations and maintenance

  75,333     66,119     59,011  

Real estate taxes

  32,097     26,496     22,076  

General and administrative

  35,222     30,136     28,465  

Acquisition costs

  7,359     3,129     4,328  

Operating leases of storage facilities

  7,987     1,331     —    

Depreciation and amortization

  51,749     45,233     40,542  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

  209,747     172,444     154,422  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from operations

  116,333     101,063     79,660  

Other income (expenses)

Interest expense

  (34,578   (32,000   (33,166

Interest income

  40     40     4  

Gain on sale of storage facilities

  5,176     —       —    

Gain on sale of real estate

  —       421     687  

Equity in income of joint ventures

  2,086     1,948     936  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

  89,057     71,472     48,121  

Income from discontinued operations (including a gain on disposal of $2,431 in 2013 and $4,498 in 2012)

  —       3,123     7,520  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

  89,057     74,595     55,641  

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

  (526   (469   (513
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income attributable to common shareholders

$ 88,531   $ 74,126   $ 55,128  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Earnings per common share attributable to common shareholders—basic

Continuing operations

$ 2.68   $ 2.27   $ 1.62  

Discontinued operations

  —       0.10     0.26  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Earnings per share—basic

$ 2.68   $ 2.37   $ 1.88  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Earnings per common share attributable to common shareholders—diluted

Continuing operations

$ 2.67   $ 2.26   $ 1.61  

Discontinued operations

  —       0.10     0.26  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Earnings per share—diluted

$ 2.67   $ 2.36   $ 1.87  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

16. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On April 2, 2015, the Company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.75 per common share. The dividend was paid on April 27, 2015 to shareholders of record on April 17, 2015. The total dividend paid amounted to $26.6 million.

 

- 21 -


Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s consolidated financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the unaudited financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this report.

DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

When used in this discussion and elsewhere in this document, the words “intends,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” and similar expressions are intended to identify “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the effect of competition from new self-storage facilities, which would cause rents and occupancy rates to decline; the Company’s ability to evaluate, finance and integrate acquired businesses into the Company’s existing business and operations; the Company’s ability to effectively compete in the industry in which it does business; the Company’s existing indebtedness may mature in an unfavorable credit environment, preventing refinancing or forcing refinancing of the indebtedness on terms that are not as favorable as the existing terms; interest rates may fluctuate, impacting costs associated with the Company’s outstanding floating rate debt; the Company’s ability to comply with debt covenants; any future ratings on the Company’s debt instruments; regional concentration of the Company’s business may subject it to economic downturns in the states of Florida and Texas; the Company’s reliance on its call center; the Company’s cash flow may be insufficient to meet required payments of operating expenses, principal, interest and dividends; and tax law changes that may change the taxability of future income.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 1, 2015 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2015, COMPARED TO THE PERIOD JANUARY 1, 2014 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2014

We recorded rental revenues of $78.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, an increase of $8.9 million or 12.8% when compared to rental revenues of $70.0 million for the same period in 2014. Of the increase in rental revenue, $3.7 million resulted from a 5.4% increase in rental revenues at the 399 core properties considered in same store sales (those properties included in the consolidated results of operations since January 1, 2014). The increase in same store rental revenues was a result of a 100 basis point increase in average quarterly occupancy and a 3.4% increase in rental income per square foot. The remaining increase in rental revenue of $5.2 million was a result of the revenues from the acquisition of 35 properties completed since January 1, 2014. Other operating income, which includes merchandise sales, insurance commissions, truck rentals, management fees and acquisition fees, increased by $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 primarily as a result of increased commissions earned on customer insurance.

 

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Property operations and maintenance expenses increased $2.1 million or 11.2% in the three months ended March 31, 2015 as compared to the same period in 2014. The 399 core properties considered in the same store pool experienced a $0.5 million or 2.8% increase in operating expenses as a result of higher costs for snow removal, repairs and maintenance, bank charges and payroll expenses. The same store pool benefited from reduced property insurance and utility expenses. The remaining increase in property operating expenses of $1.6 million resulted from the acquisition of 35 properties completed since January 1, 2014. Real estate tax expense increased $0.9 million as a result of a 1.9% increase in property taxes on the 399 same store pool and the inclusion of taxes on the properties acquired in 2014 and 2015.

Net operating income increased $7.0 million or 14.4% as a result of a 7.5% increase in our same store net operating income and the acquisitions completed since January 1, 2014.

Net operating income or “NOI” is a non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) financial measure that we define as total continuing revenues less continuing property operating expenses. NOI also can be calculated by adding back to net income: interest expense, impairment and casualty losses, depreciation and amortization expense, acquisition related costs, general and administrative expense, and deducting from net income: income from discontinued operations, interest income, gain on sale of real estate, and equity in income of joint ventures. We believe that NOI is a meaningful measure of operating performance because we utilize NOI in making decisions with respect to capital allocations, in determining current property values, and in comparing period-to-period and market-to-market property operating results. NOI should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP, such as total revenues, operating income and net income. There are material limitations to using a measure such as NOI, including the difficulty associated with comparing results among more than one company and the inability to analyze certain significant items, including depreciation and interest expense, that directly affect our net income. We compensate for these limitations by considering the economic effect of the excluded expense items independently as well as in connection with our analysis of net income. Internet advertising expense, which had been included in the general and administrative expense line in prior year financial statements, has been reclassified to property operations and maintenance expense to conform with the current year presentation. The following table reconciles NOI generated by our self-storage facilities to our net income presented in the consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.

 

     Three Months ended March 31,  
(dollars in thousands)    2015      2014  

Net operating income

     

Same store

   $ 49,325      $ 45,902  

Other stores and management fee income

     6,604        3,005  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net operating income

  55,929     48,907  

General and administrative

  (9,406   (8,536

Acquisition related costs

  (582   (2,778

Operating leases of storage facilities

  (683   (1,997

Depreciation and amortization

  (14,181   (11,942

Interest expense

  (9,161   (7,343

Interest income

  2     6  

Loss on sale of real estate

  (7   —     

Equity in income of joint ventures

  646     458  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

$ 22,557   $ 16,775  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Our 2015 same store results consist of only those properties that were included in our consolidated results since January 1, 2014, and exclude the three properties we sold since January 1, 2014. The following table sets forth operating data for our 399 same store properties. These results provide information relating to property operating changes without the effects of acquisitions.

Same Store Summary

 

    

Three Months ended

March 31,

     Percentage  

(dollars in thousands)

   2015      2014      Change  

Same store rental income

   $ 71,849      $ 68,159        5.4 %

Same store other operating income

     3,902        3,522        10.8 %
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total same store operating income

  75,751     71,681     5.7 %

Payroll and benefits

  6,748     6,550     3.0 %

Real estate taxes

  7,938     7,791     1.9 %

Utilities

  2,906     3,086     -5.8 %

Repairs and maintenance

  3,627     2,886     25.7 %

Office and other operating expenses

  2,433     2,605     -6.6 %

Insurance

  1,015     1,099     -7.6 %

Internet marketing, advertising and yellow pages

  1,759     1,762     -0.2 %
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total same store operating expenses

  26,426     25,779     2.5 %
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Same store net operating income

$ 49,325   $ 45,902     7.5 %
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
                   Change  

Quarterly same store move ins

     39,665        39,830        (165

Quarterly same store move outs

     35,179        36,127        (948

We believe the decrease in same store move ins was a byproduct of our increased occupancy, leaving fewer spaces to rent. We believe the decrease in move outs is a byproduct of customers staying longer with us.

General and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2015 increased $0.9 million or 10.2% compared with the three months ended March 31, 2014. The key driver of the increase was a $0.5 million increase in salaries and benefits. The remaining $0.4 million increase is the result of various other administrative costs related to managing the increased number of stores in our portfolio as compared to the 2014 period.

Acquisition related costs were $0.6 million in the three months ended March 31, 2015 as a result of the acquisition of six stores during that period. Acquisition related costs for the three months ended March 31, 2014 were $2.8 million for the seven stores acquired during that period, and included a $1.3 million loan defeasance cost paid by the Company.

The operating lease expense for storage facilities in the 2015 and 2014 periods relates to leases which commenced in November 2013 with respect to four self storage facilities in New York (2) and Connecticut (2). Such leases had annual lease payments of $6 million with a provision for 4% annual increases, and an exclusive option to purchase the facilities for $120 million. We completed the purchase these four facilities on February 2, 2015, which eliminated the lease payment at that time.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased to $14.2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2015 from $11.9 million in the same period of 2014, primarily as a result of depreciation on the properties acquired in 2014 and 2015.

 

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Interest expense increased from $7.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 2014 to $9.2 million in the same period in 2015. The increase was due the additional $175 million term note borrowings in April 2014 which were used to fund a portion of our acquisitions and to repay our line of credit balance.

During the three months ended March 31, 2015 we sold one storage facility in Missouri for net proceeds of approximately $691,000, resulting in a loss on sale of $7,000.

Reclassification

Internet advertising expense, which had been included in the general and administrative expense line in prior year financial statements, has been reclassified to property operations and maintenance expense to conform with the current year presentation. The Company believes the classification of internet advertising expenses as property operations and maintenance expense is more consistent with industry trends. If such reclassification was in effect for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company’s financial statements would show an increase in property operations and maintenance expense and a reduction of general and administrative expenses of (dollars in thousands) $5,570 for 2014, $4,803 for 2013, and $3,848 for 2012. The Company’s same store results and net operating income reconciliation to net income for such periods would have been presented as follows:

Year Ended December 31, 2014 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2013

Our 2014 same store results consist of only those properties that were included in our consolidated results since January 1, 2013, excluding the properties we sold in 2014 and 2013. The following table sets forth operating data for our 384 same store properties after the reclassification of the internet advertising expense. These results provide information relating to property operating changes without the effects of acquisition.

2014 Same Store Summary

 

     Year ended December 31,      Percentage  

(dollars in thousands)

   2014      2013      Change  

Same store rental income

   $ 265,788      $ 247,678        7.3 %

Same store other operating income

     14,426        12,923        11.6 %
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total same store operating income

  280,214     260,601     7.5 %

Payroll and benefits

  25,178     24,505     2.7 %

Real estate taxes

  27,289     25,671     6.3 %

Utilities

  10,608     10,155     4.5 %

Repairs and maintenance

  10,540     9,448     11.6 %

Office and other operating expenses

  9,783     9,555     2.4 %

Insurance

  3,987     4,303     -7.3 %

Internet marketing, advertising and yellow pages

  6,498     6,201     4.8 %
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total same store operating expenses

  93,883     89,838     4.5 %
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Same store net operating income

$ 186,331   $ 170,763     9.1 %
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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The following table reconciles NOI generated by our self-storage facilities to our net income presented in the 2014 and 2013 consolidated financial statements after the reclassification of the internet advertising expense.

 

     Year ended December 31,  

(dollars in thousands)

   2014      2013  

Net operating income

     

Same store

   $ 186,331      $ 170,763  

Other stores and management fee income

     32,319        10,129  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net operating income

  218,650     180,892  

General and administrative

  (35,222   (30,136

Acquisition related costs

  (7,359   (3,129

Operating leases of storage facilities

  (7,987   (1,331

Depreciation and amortization

  (51,749   (45,233

Interest expense

  (34,578   (32,000

Interest income

  40     40  

Gain on sale of real estate

  5,176     421  

Equity in income of joint ventures

  2,086     1,948  

Income from discontinued operations

  —       3,123  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

$ 89,057   $ 74,595  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2013 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2012

Our 2013 same store results consist of only those properties that were included in our consolidated results since January 1, 2012, excluding the properties we sold in 2013 and 2012. The following table sets forth operating data for our 358 same store properties after the reclassification of the internet advertising expense. These results provide information relating to property operating changes without the effects of acquisition.

2013 Same Store Summary

 

     Year ended December 31,      Percentage  

(dollars in thousands)

   2013      2012      Change  

Same store rental income

   $ 228,357      $ 212,596        7.4 %

Same store other operating income

     12,284        10,745        14.3 %
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total same store operating income

  240,641     223,341     7.7 %

Payroll and benefits

  22,521     22,277     1.1 %

Real estate taxes

  22,999     21,417     7.4 %

Utilities

  9,262     9,167     1.0 %

Repairs and maintenance

  8,734     8,488     2.9 %

Office and other operating expenses

  8,776     8,339     5.2 %

Insurance

  3,819     3,435     11.2 %

Internet marketing, advertising and yellow pages

  5,768     5,359     7.6 %
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total same store operating expenses

  81,879     78,482     4.3 %
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Same store net operating income

$ 158,762   $ 144,859     9.6 %
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

- 26 -


The following table reconciles NOI generated by our self-storage facilities to our net income presented in the 2013 and 2012 consolidated financial statements after the reclassification of the internet advertising expense.

 

     Year ended December 31,  

(dollars in thousands)

   2013      2012  

Net operating income

     

Same store

   $ 158,762      $ 144,859  

Other stores and management fee income

     22,130        8,136  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net operating income

  180,892     152,995  

General and administrative

  (30,136   (28,465

Acquisition related costs

  (3,129   (4,328

Operating leases of storage facilities

  (1,331   —     

Depreciation and amortization

  (45,233   (40,542

Interest expense

  (32,000   (33,166

Interest income

  40     4  

Gain on sale of real estate

  421     687  

Equity in income of joint ventures

  1,948     936  

Income from discontinued operations

  3,123     7,520  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

$ 74,595   $ 55,641  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS

We believe that Funds from Operations (“FFO”) provides relevant and meaningful information about our operating performance that is necessary, along with net earnings and cash flows, for an understanding of our operating results. FFO adds back historical cost depreciation, which assumes the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably in the future. In fact, real estate asset values increase or decrease with market conditions. Consequently, we believe FFO is a useful supplemental measure in evaluating our operating performance by disregarding (or adding back) historical cost depreciation.

FFO is defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, Inc. (“NAREIT”) as net income available to common shareholders computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), excluding gains or losses on sales of properties, plus impairment of real estate assets, plus depreciation and amortization and after adjustments to record unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures on the same basis. We believe that to further understand our performance FFO should be compared with our reported net income and cash flows in accordance with GAAP, as presented in our consolidated financial statements.

In October and November of 2011, NAREIT issued guidance for reporting FFO that reaffirmed NAREIT’s view that impairment write-downs of depreciable real estate should be excluded from the computation of FFO. This view is based on the fact that impairment write-downs are akin to and effectively reflect the early recognition of losses on prospective sales of depreciable property or represent adjustments of previously charged depreciation. Since depreciation of real estate and gains/losses from sales are excluded from FFO, it is NAREIT’s view that it is consistent and appropriate for write-downs of depreciable real estate to also be excluded. Our calculation of FFO excludes impairment write-downs of investments in storage facilities.

 

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Our computation of FFO may not be comparable to FFO reported by other REITs or real estate companies that do not define the term in accordance with the current NAREIT definition or that interpret the current NAREIT definition differently. FFO does not represent cash generated from operating activities determined in accordance with GAAP, and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (determined in accordance with GAAP) as an indication of our performance, as an alternative to net cash flows from operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP) as a measure of our liquidity, or as an indicator of our ability to make cash distributions.

Reconciliation of Net Income to Funds From Operations (unaudited)

 

(in thousands)

   Three Months
Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
     Three Months
Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
 

Net income attributable to common shareholders

   $ 22,451      $ 16,673  

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

     106        102  

Depreciation of real estate and amortization of intangible assets

     13,911        11,716  

Depreciation and amortization from unconsolidated joint ventures

     618        376  

Loss on sale of storage facility

     7        —    

Funds from operations allocable to noncontrolling redeemable Operating Partnership Units

     (174      (176
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

FFO available to common shareholders

$ 36,919   $ 28,691  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our line of credit and term notes require us to meet certain financial covenants measured on a quarterly basis, including prescribed leverage, fixed charge coverage, minimum net worth, limitations on additional indebtedness, and limitations on dividend payouts. At March 31, 2015, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants. The most sensitive covenant is the leverage ratio covenant contained in certain of our term note agreements. This covenant limits our total consolidated liabilities to 55% of our gross asset value. At March 31, 2015, our leverage ratio as defined in the agreements was approximately 39.2%. The agreements define total consolidated liabilities to include the liabilities of the Company plus our share of liabilities of unconsolidated joint ventures. The agreements also define a prescribed formula for determining gross asset value which incorporates the use of a 9.25% capitalization rate applied to annualized earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and other items (“Adjusted EBITDA”) as defined in the agreements. In the event that the Company violates its debt covenants in the future, the amounts due under the agreements could be callable by the lenders and could adversely affect our credit rating requiring us to pay higher interest and other debt-related costs. We believe that if operating results remain consistent with historical levels and levels of other debt and liabilities remain consistent with amounts outstanding at March 31, 2015, the entire availability under our line of credit could be drawn without violating our debt covenants.

Our ability to retain cash flow is limited because we operate as a REIT. In order to maintain our REIT status, a substantial portion of our operating cash flow must be used to pay dividends to our shareholders. We believe that our internally generated net cash provided by operating activities and the availability on our line of credit will be sufficient to fund ongoing operations, capital improvements, dividends and debt service requirements through April 2016, at which time $150 million of term notes mature.

 

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Cash flows from operating activities were $30.9 million and $18.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, and 2014, respectively. The increase in operating cash flows in the 2015 period compared to the 2014 period was primarily due to the increase in net income and an increase in accrued interest in 2015 as compared to the same period in 2014. The accrued interest is associated with the 2014 $175 million 10 year term note which requires interest payments in October and April each year. Accrued interest is included in accounts payable and other liabilities.

Cash used in investing activities was $140.0 million and $94.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The increase in cash used in investing activities in the 2015 period compared to the 2014 period was due to the acquisition of six storage facilities in the three months ended March 31, 2015 for $134.0 million as compared to seven storage facilities in the same period of 2014 for $89.1 million.

Cash provided by financing activities was $110.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to $73.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014. On March 3, 2015, the Company completed the public offering of 1,380,000 shares of its common stock at $90.40 per share. Net proceeds to the Company after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses were approximately $119.5 million, and when combined with proceeds from the exercise of stock options and the sale of common stock through our dividend reinvestment plan, resulted in net cash proceeds from the sale of common stock of $122.6 million. The Company used the net proceeds from the offering to repay a portion of the indebtedness outstanding on the Company’s unsecured line of credit. In the 2014 period we made net borrowings of $66.0 million on our line of credit primarily to fund acquisitions. In the 2014 period we also issued shares under our continuous equity offering program to fund acquisitions which, when combined with proceeds from the exercise of stock options and the sale of common stock through our dividend reinvestment plan, resulted in net cash proceeds from the sale of common stock of $29.4 million. We paid dividends of $25.6 million in the 2015 period which increased in comparison to dividends of $22.1 million in the 2014 period primarily because of an increase in our common shares outstanding and an increase in our dividend rate.

On December 10, 2014, the Company amended its existing unsecured credit agreement. As part of the amended agreement, the Company increased its revolving credit limit from $175 million to $300 million. The interest rate on the revolving credit facility bears interest at a variable rate equal to LIBOR plus a margin based on the Company’s credit rating (at March 31, 2015 the margin is 1.30%), and requires a 0.20% facility fee. The amended agreement also reduced the interest rate on the $325 million unsecured term note maturing June 4, 2020, with the term note bearing interest at LIBOR plus a margin based on the Company’s credit rating (at March 31, 2015 the margin is 1.40%). The interest rate at March 31, 2015 on the Company’s line of credit was approximately 1.48% (1.46% at December 31, 2014). At March 31, 2015, there was $237 million available on the unsecured line of credit. The revolving line of credit has a maturity date of December 10, 2019. The amended agreement also provides for an increase in the revolving credit facility and the bank term notes at the Company’s request to an aggregate amount up to $850 million.

On April 8, 2014, the Company entered into a $175 million term note maturing April 2024 bearing interest at a fixed rate of 4.533%. The interest rate on the term note increases to 6.283% if the Company is not rated by at least one rating agency or if the Company’s credit rating is downgraded. The proceeds from this term note were used to repay the $115 million outstanding on the Company’s line of credit at April 8, 2014, with the excess proceeds used for acquisitions.

 

- 29 -


On August 5, 2011, the Company entered into a $100 million term note maturing August 5, 2021 bearing interest at a fixed rate of 5.54%. The interest rate on the term note increases to 7.29% if the notes are not rated by at least one rating agency, the credit rating on the notes is downgraded or if the Company’s credit rating is downgraded. The proceeds from this term note were used to fund acquisitions and investments in unconsolidated joint ventures.

The Company also maintains a $150 million unsecured term note maturing April 13, 2016 bearing interest at 6.38%. The interest rate on the $150 million unsecured term note increases to 8.13% if the notes are not rated by at least one rating agency, the credit rating on the notes is downgraded or the Company’s credit rating is downgraded.

Our line of credit facility and term notes have an investment grade rating from Standard and Poor’s and Fitch Ratings (BBB-).

In addition to the unsecured financing mentioned above, our consolidated financial statements also include a $2.1 million mortgage payable that is secured by a storage facility.

On May 12, 2014, the Company entered into a continuous equity offering program (“Equity Program”) with Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (“Wells Fargo”), Jefferies LLC (“Jefferies”), SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. (“SunTrust”), Piper Jaffray & Co. (“Piper”), HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. (“HSBC”), and BB&T Capital Markets, a division of BB&T Securities, LLC (“BB&T”), pursuant to which the Company may sell from time to time up to $225 million in aggregate offering price of shares of the Company’s common stock. Actual sales under the Equity Program will depend on a variety of factors and conditions, including, but not limited to, market conditions, the trading price of the Company’s common stock, and determinations of the appropriate sources of funding for the Company. The Company expects to continue to offer, sell, and issue shares of common stock under the Equity Program from time to time based on various factors and conditions, although the Company is under no obligation to sell any shares under the Equity Program.

During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company did not issue any shares of common stock under the Equity Program. As of March 31, 2015, the Company had $151.3 million available for issuance under the Equity Program.

During the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company issued 359,102 shares of common stock under a previous equity program at a weighted average issue price of $74.32 per share, generating net proceeds of $26.4 million after deducting $0.3 million of sales commissions payable to SunTrust.

In 2013, the Company implemented a Dividend Reinvestment Plan. The Company issued 28,317 shares under the plan during the three months ended March 31, 2015.

During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, we did not acquire any shares of our common stock via the Share Repurchase Program authorized by the Board of Directors. From the inception of the Share Repurchase Program through March 31, 2015, we have reacquired a total of 1,171,886 shares pursuant to this program. From time to time, subject to market price and certain loan covenants, we may reacquire additional shares.

 

- 30 -


Future acquisitions, our expansion and enhancement program, and share repurchases are expected to be funded with draws on our line of credit, issuance of common and preferred stock, the issuance of unsecured term notes, sale of properties, and private placement solicitation of joint venture equity. Should the capital markets deteriorate, we may have to curtail acquisitions, our expansion and enhancement program, and share repurchases as we approach April 2016, when certain term notes mature.

ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION OF PROPERTIES

In the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company acquired six self-storage facilities comprising 0.6 million square feet in Connecticut (2), Illinois (2), and New York (2) for a total purchase price of $134.2 million. Based on the trailing financial information of the entities from which the properties were acquired, the weighted average capitalization rate was 5.6% on these purchases and ranged from 0% on a recently constructed facility to 6.0% on mature facilities. The four facilities acquired in Connecticut and New York in 2015 had been leased by the Company since November 1, 2013 and the operating results of these four facilities have been included in the Company’s operations since that date.

In 2014, we acquired 33 self storage facilities comprising 2.4 million square feet in Florida (4), Georgia (1), Illinois (3), Louisiana (1), Maine (2), Missouri (7), New Jersey (6), New York (1), Texas (6), Tennessee (1), and Virginia (1) for a total purchase price of $291.9 million. Sovran HHF Holdings LLC, a joint venture in which the Company is a 20% owner, acquired 14 self-storage facilities in 2014 for approximately $187.2 million. The Company’s share of the capital required for these purchases was approximately $28.6 million.

During the three months ended March 31, 2015 we sold one non-strategic storage facility in Missouri for net proceeds of approximately $691,000, resulting in a loss on sale of $7,000.

During 2014, we sold two non-strategic storage facilities in Texas for net proceeds of approximately $11.0 million resulting in a gain of approximately $5.2 million.

We may seek to sell additional properties to third parties or joint venture partners in 2015.

FUTURE ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT PLANS

Our external growth strategy is to increase the number of facilities we own by acquiring suitable facilities in markets in which we already have operations, or to expand into new markets by acquiring several facilities at once in those new markets. We are actively pursuing acquisitions in 2015, and at March 31, 2015 we had nine properties under contract to be purchased for approximately $72.4 million. Seven of these facilities were acquired in April and May of 2015 for $56.3 million.

In the three months ended March 31, 2015, we added 46,000 square feet to existing properties for a total cost of approximately $2.2 million. In 2014, we added 272,000 square feet to existing Properties and converted 9,000 square feet to premium storage for a total cost of approximately $18.3 million. Although we do not expect to construct any new facilities in 2015, we do plan to complete an additional $27.8 million of expansions and enhancements to our existing facilities.

 

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We also expect to continue making capital expenditures on our properties. This includes roofing, paving, and remodeling of store offices. For the first three months of 2015 we spent approximately $3.0 million on such improvements and we expect to spend approximately $16.4 million for the remainder of 2015.

REIT QUALIFICATION AND DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS

As a REIT, we are not required to pay federal income tax on income that we distribute to our shareholders, provided that we satisfy certain requirements, including distributing at least 90% of our REIT taxable income for a taxable year. These distributions must be made in the year to which they relate, or in the following year if declared before we file our federal income tax return, and if they are paid not later than the date of the first regular dividend of the following year. As a REIT, we must derive at least 95% of our total gross income from income related to real property, interest and dividends.

Although we currently intend to operate in a manner designed to qualify as a REIT, it is possible that future economic, market, legal, tax or other considerations may cause our Board of Directors to revoke our REIT election.

UMBRELLA PARTNERSHIP REIT

We are formed as an Umbrella Partnership Real Estate Investment Trust (“UPREIT”) and, as such, have the ability to issue Operating Partnership Units in exchange for properties sold by independent owners. By utilizing such Units as currency in facility acquisitions, we may obtain more favorable pricing or terms due to the seller’s ability to partially defer their income tax liability. As of March 31, 2015, 178,866 Units are outstanding. These Units had been issued in exchange for self-storage properties at the request of the sellers.

INTEREST RATE RISK

The primary market risk to which we believe we are exposed is interest rate risk, which may result from many factors, including government monetary and tax policies, domestic and international economic and political considerations, and other factors that are beyond our control.

We have entered into interest rate swap agreements in order to mitigate the effects of fluctuations in interest rates on our variable rate debt. The LIBOR base rates have been contractually fixed on $325 million of our debt through the interest rate swap termination dates. See Note 7 to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.

Based on our outstanding unsecured floating rate debt of $388 million at March 31, 2015, and taking into account our interest rate swap agreements, a 100 basis point increase in interest rates would have a $0.6 million effect on our annual interest expense. These amounts were determined by considering the impact of the hypothetical interest rates on our borrowing cost and our interest rate swap agreements in effect on March 31, 2015. These analyses do not consider the effects of the reduced level of overall economic activity that could exist in such an environment. Further, in the event of a change of such magnitude, we would consider taking actions to further mitigate our exposure to the change. However, due to the uncertainty of the specific actions that would be taken and their possible effects, the sensitivity analysis assumes no changes in our capital structure.

 

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INFLATION

We do not believe that inflation has had or will have a direct effect on our operations. Substantially all of the leases at the facilities are on a month-to-month basis which provides us with the opportunity to increase rental rates as each lease matures.

SEASONALITY

Our revenues typically have been higher in the third and fourth quarters, primarily because self-storage facilities tend to experience greater occupancy during the late spring, summer and early fall months due to the greater incidence of residential moves and college student activity during these periods. However, we believe that our customer mix, diverse geographic locations, rental structure and expense structure provide adequate protection against undue fluctuations in cash flows and net revenues during off-peak seasons. Thus, we do not expect seasonality to affect materially distributions to shareholders.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

See Note 13 to the financial statements.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The information required is incorporated by reference to the information appearing under the caption “Interest Rate Risk” in “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” above.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

An evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, has been conducted under the supervision of and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Based on that evaluation, our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at March 31, 2015. There have not been changes in the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls during the quarter ended March 31, 2015.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II. Other Information

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

On or about August 25, 2014, a putative class action was filed against the Company in the Superior Court of New Jersey Law Division Burlington County. The action seeks to obtain declaratory, injunctive and monetary relief for a class of consumers based upon alleged violations by the Company of the New Jersey Truth in Customer Contract, Warranty and Notice Act, the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act and the New Jersey Insurance Producer Licensing Act. On October 17, 2014, the action was removed from the Superior Court of New Jersey Law Division Burlington County to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. The Company intends to vigorously defend the action.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks facing our Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

During the quarterly period ended March 31, 2015, the Company issued 4,000 shares of common stock as a result of the exercise of stock options issued under the Company’s 2009 Outside Directors’ Stock Option and Award Plan. The Company received aggregate proceeds of $250,980 in connection with the exercise of the stock options. The issuance of such common stock was exempt from registration pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, among other reasons, by virtue of Section 4(2) as transactions not involving a public offering.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not Applicable

 

Item 5. Other Information

None

 

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Item 6. Exhibits

 

  31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended.
  31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended.
  32 Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101

The following financial statements from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form

 

10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, formatted in XBRL, as follows:

 

(i) Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014;

 

(ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014;

 

(iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014;

 

(iv) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014; and

 

(v) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Sovran Self Storage, Inc.
By:

/S/ Andrew J. Gregoire

Andrew J. Gregoire

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer)

May 4, 2015

Date

 

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