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Digital Realty Trust, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2009 Results

 
 

Strong performance drives FFO increase of 4.2% in the third quarter

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

Highlights:

  • Reported FFO of $0.74 per diluted share and unit for the quarter ended September 30, 2009;
  • Reported net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 of $23.9 million and net income available to common stockholders of $12.4 million, or $0.16 per diluted share;
  • Commenced leases on approximately 101,000 square feet during the third quarter at an average annualized GAAP rent of approximately $170 per square foot, including non technical space;
  • Completed three acquisitions, including a controlling interest in a joint venture redevelopment project in suburban Dallas, a fully leased facility in Silicon Valley, and the remaining noncontrolling ownership interest in a fully leased facility in Silicon Valley from the Company's joint venture partner;
  • Completed a pounds Sterling 23.8 million secured mortgage financing in October;
  • Received a $30.0 million commitment under the revolving credit facility from a new lender;
  • Completed a euro 30.0 million secured mortgage financing scheduled to fund in December 2009;
  • Announced initial quarterly common stock dividend increase of 9.1% to $0.36 per share paid September 30, 2009;
  • Announced second quarterly common stock dividend increase of 25.0% to $0.45 per share payable January 15, 2010; and
  • Raised the low end of 2009 annual FFO guidance range to $2.88 per diluted share and unit.

Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: DLR), the leading owner and manager of corporate and Internet gateway datacenter facilities, today announced financial results for the third quarter of 2009. The Company reported total operating revenues of $163.2 million in the third quarter of 2009, up 5.3% from $155.0 million in the second quarter of 2009 and up 14.9% from $142.0 million in the third quarter of 2008.

Funds from operations ("FFO") on a diluted basis was $74.7 million in the third quarter of 2009, or $0.74 on a diluted per share and unit basis, up 4.2% from $0.71 per diluted share and unit in the previous quarter, and up 8.8% from $0.68 per diluted share and unit in the third quarter of 2008.

"There were no material non-recurring items impacting FFO or net income in the quarters ended September 30 and June 30, 2009. For the quarter ended September 30, 2008, the FFO of $0.68 per diluted share and unit included additional FFO from certain significant items that do not represent ongoing revenue streams (primarily lease termination fees). After adjusting for these items, FFO would have been $0.62 per diluted share and unit. This represents an FFO increase of 19.4% over the same period last year after adjusting for these items," said A. William Stein, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Digital Realty Trust.

Net income for the third quarter was $23.9 million, up 12.7% from $21.2 million in the second quarter of 2009 and up 29.9% from $18.4 million in the third quarter of 2008. Net income available to common stockholders in the third quarter was $12.4 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, compared to $10.3 million, or $0.13 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2009, and up from $7.5 million, or $0.10 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2008.

"We are pleased to report another strong performance in the third quarter," commented Michael F. Foust, Chief Executive Officer of Digital Realty Trust. "Our strong balance sheet, leading global market position in the wholesale datacenter space and unmatched technical expertise continue to provide us with opportunities to expand our business. We expect income producing acquisitions will take a larger role in our investment strategy, contributing external earnings growth to complement internal growth from our ongoing development and leasing activities."

FFO is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure used by the real estate industry to measure the operating performance of real estate companies. FFO should not be considered as a substitute for net income determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP as a measure of financial performance. A reconciliation of U.S. GAAP net income available to common stockholders to FFO and a definition of FFO are included as an attachment to this press release.

Acquisitions and Leasing Activity

In September, the Company acquired a controlling interest in a joint venture redevelopment project. Digital Realty Trust Datacenter Park - Dallas, formerly known as Collins Technology Park, consists of seven buildings totaling approximately 796,000 square feet, ranging in size from 15,000 square feet to 250,000 square feet. The 69-acre property also contains several developable land sites and a private substation with 40 MW of immediate availability, which is expandable up to 125 MW. Concurrent with the acquisition, the joint venture assumed a $17 million secured loan on the property at an interest-only rate of 5.0%. Additionally, the Company acquired 444 Toyama Drive, a 42,000 square foot fully leased operating datacenter located in Sunnyvale, California, as well as the remaining noncontrolling ownership interest in 1525 Comstock Street, a 42,000 square foot property located in Santa Clara, California from its joint venture partner.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2009, the Company commenced leases totaling approximately 101,000 square feet of space. This includes approximately 90,000 square feet of Turn-Key Datacenter® space leased at an average annual GAAP rental rate of $187.00 per square foot and approximately 11,000 square feet of non-technical space leased at an average annual GAAP rental rate of $25.00 per square foot.

Balance Sheet Update

Total assets grew to approximately $3.5 billion at September 30, 2009, from $3.3 billion at December 31, 2008. Total debt at September 30, 2009 was approximately $1.6 billion and at December 31, 2008 was approximately $1.4 billion. Stockholders' equity was approximately $1.6 billion at September 30, 2009, up from $1.5 billion at December 31, 2008.

In August, the Company received a $30.0 million commitment under its revolving credit facility from a new lender, increasing total commitments from $720.0 million to $750.0 million, the maximum amount available under the terms of the revolving credit facility. Concurrently, the sub-facility for multicurrency advances increased from $485.0 million to $515.0 million.

In September the Company completed and executed documents for a five-year, euro 30.0 million interest-only secured mortgage financing for Clonshaugh Industrial Estate II located in Dublin, Ireland. The loan is scheduled to fund in early December 2009. Based on the current swap rate, the all-in interest rate is approximately 7.37%.

Subsequent to the end of the quarter, the Company closed a five-year pounds Sterling 23.8 million loan secured by two properties located in the United Kingdom, Cressex 1 in suburban London and Manchester Technopark in Manchester. The interest rate is 5.68%.

"Our strong liquidity position and conservative capital structure provide us with a solid platform to further expand our business in the coming year," said A. William Stein, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Digital Realty Trust. "As we approach the end of the year, we are raising the low end of our 2009 annual FFO guidance to $2.88 per diluted share and unit. We plan to provide 2010 guidance in November."

2009 Revised Outlook

FFO per diluted share and unit for the year ending December 31, 2009 is projected to be between $2.88 and $2.90, compared to the previous 2009 FFO guidance of between $2.80 and $2.90 per diluted share and unit. This revised guidance represents projected FFO growth of 11.2% to 12.0% over FFO per diluted share and unit of $2.59 for the year ended December 31, 2008. A reconciliation of the range of 2009 projected net income to projected FFO follows:


                                                                  (Low - High)
                                                                  ------------
    Net income available to common stockholders per share         $0.58 - 0.60
          Add:
    Real estate depreciation and amortization as adjusted for
     noncontrolling interests                                         $2.41
          Less:
    Dilutive impact of convertible stock and exchangeable
     Debentures                                                      $(0.11)

        Projected FFO per diluted share and unit                  $2.88 - 2.90

Investor Conference Call Details

Digital Realty Trust will host a conference call on Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 1:00 pm ET/10:00 am PT to discuss its third quarter 2009 financial results and operating performance. The conference call will feature Chief Executive Officer, Michael Foust and Chief Financial Officer and Chief Investment Officer, A. William Stein. To participate in the live call, investors are invited to dial 877-941-8609 (for domestic callers) or 480-629-9818 (for international callers) and quote the conference ID #4159375 at least five minutes prior to start time. A live webcast of the call will be available via the Investor Relations section of Digital Realty Trust's website at www.digitalrealtytrust.com. Please go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register and download and install any necessary audio software. If you are unable to listen to the live conference call, a telephone and webcast replay will be available until November 4, 2009. The telephone replay can be accessed by dialing 800-406-7325 (for domestic callers) or 303-590-3030 (for international callers) and using reservation code 4159375#. A replay of the webcast will also be archived on Digital Realty Trust's website.

About Digital Realty Trust, Inc.

Digital Realty Trust, Inc. owns, acquires, redevelops, develops and manages technology-related real estate. The Company is focused on providing Turn-Key Datacenter® and Powered Base Building® datacenter solutions for domestic and international tenants across a variety of industry verticals ranging from information technology and Internet enterprises, to manufacturing and financial services. Digital Realty Trust's 78 properties, excluding one property held as an investment in an unconsolidated joint venture, contain applications and operations critical to the day-to-day operations of technology industry tenants and corporate enterprise datacenter tenants. Comprising approximately 13.8 million rentable square feet as of September 30, 2009, including 1.9 million square feet of space held for redevelopment, Digital Realty Trust's portfolio is located in 27 markets throughout North America and Europe. For additional information, please visit Digital Realty Trust's website at http://www.digitalrealtytrust.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements which are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. Such forward looking statements include statements related to the Company's expected future financial and other results, and the assumptions underlying such results, as well as statements related to the company's future acquisitions, leasing and financing plans. These risks and uncertainties include the impact of the current deterioration in global economic and market conditions; adverse economic or real estate developments in our markets or the industry sectors that we sell to; decreases in information technology spending; our dependence upon significant tenants; bankruptcy or insolvency of a major tenant or a significant number of smaller tenants; downturn of local economic conditions in our geographic markets; our inability to comply with the rules and regulations applicable to public companies or to manage our growth effectively; difficulty acquiring or operating properties in foreign jurisdictions; defaults on or non-renewal of leases by tenants; increased interest rates and operating costs; our failure to obtain necessary outside financing; restrictions on our ability to engage in certain business activities; risks related to joint venture investments; decreased rental rates or increased vacancy rates; inability to successfully develop and lease new properties and space held for redevelopment; difficulties in identifying properties to acquire and completing acquisitions; increased competition or available supply of data center space; our failure to successfully operate acquired properties; our inability to acquire off-market properties; delays or unexpected costs in development or redevelopment of properties; our failure to maintain our status as a REIT; possible adverse changes to tax laws; environmental uncertainties and risks related to natural disasters; financial market fluctuations; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; changes in foreign laws and regulations, including those related to taxation and real estate ownership and operation; and changes in real estate and zoning laws and increases in real property tax rates. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports and other filings by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.


    For Additional Information:

    A. William Stein              Pamela Matthews
    Chief Financial Officer and   Director of Investor Relations
     Chief Investment Officer     Digital Realty Trust, Inc.
    Digital Realty Trust, Inc.    +1 (415) 738-6532
    +1 (415) 738-6520



                               Digital Realty Trust, Inc.
                          Condensed Consolidated Income Statements
                             (in thousands, except share data)
                                       (unaudited)


                          Three Months Ended           Nine Months Ended
                      ---------------------------- ---------------------------
                      September 30,  September 30, September 30, September 30,
                          2009           2008         2009          2008
    Operating Revenues:               (adjusted)                 (adjusted)

      Rental            $130,878        $102,449     $374,347      $293,161
      Tenant
       reimbursements     32,236          29,882       92,807        77,367
      Other                  113           9,685          214         9,811
                      ---------------------------- ---------------------------

        Total operating
         revenues        163,227         142,016      467,368       380,339
                      ---------------------------- ---------------------------

    Operating Expenses:

      Rental property
       operating
       and maintenance    45,278          39,859      130,152       107,483
      Property taxes       9,295           8,689       27,655        25,335
      Insurance            1,495           1,252        4,439         3,655
      Depreciation and
       amortization       50,439          46,548      145,926       125,292
      General and
       administrative     10,660          11,261       30,802        29,730
      Other                  404             749          689         1,058
                      ---------------------------- ---------------------------

        Total operating
         expenses        117,571         108,358      339,663       292,553
                      ---------------------------- ---------------------------

        Operating income  45,656          33,658      127,705        87,786

    Other Income (Expenses):
      Equity in earnings
       of unconsolidated
       joint venture       1,091             178        2,948           509
      Interest and other
       income                 90             453          736         1,515
      Interest
       expense           (22,559)        (15,716)     (63,991)      (45,874)
      Income tax expense    (333)           (154)      (1,061)         (969)
      Loss from early
        extinguishment
        of debt                -               -            -          (182)

    Net Income            23,945          18,419       66,337        42,785

      Net income
       attributable
       to noncontrolling
       interests          (1,438)           (833)      (3,062)       (1,426)

    Net Income
     Attributable
     to Digital Realty
     Trust, Inc.          22,507          17,586       63,275        41,359

      Preferred stock
       dividends         (10,101)        (10,102)     (30,303)      (28,462)
                      ---------------------------- ---------------------------

    Net Income
     Available to
     Common
     Stockholders        $12,406          $7,484      $32,972       $12,897
                      ============================ ===========================


      Net income per
       share available
       to common
       stockholders:
        Basic              $0.16           $0.11        $0.44         $0.19
        Diluted            $0.16           $0.10        $0.43         $0.19

      Weighted average
       shares
       outstanding:
        Basic         76,301,577      70,916,019   75,714,757    67,425,030
        Diluted       77,674,137      73,338,871   76,450,131    69,440,812



                                   Digital Realty Trust
                               Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                      (in thousands)

                                            September 30,        December 31,
                                                2009                 2008
                                            -------------        ------------
    ASSETS                                   (unaudited)
    Investments in real estate
      Properties:
        Land                                   $364,010            $316,318
        Acquired ground leases                    2,795               2,733
        Buildings and improvements            2,770,434           2,467,830
        Tenant improvements                     270,490             255,818
                                            -------------        ------------

      Investments in properties               3,407,729           3,042,699
      Accumulated depreciation and
       amortization                            (418,794)           (302,960)
                                            -------------        ------------

      Net investments in properties           2,988,935           2,739,739
      Investment in unconsolidated joint
       venture                                    8,354               8,481
                                            -------------        ------------
    Net investments in real estate            2,997,289           2,748,220
    Cash and cash equivalents                    41,152              73,334
    Accounts and other receivables, net          45,404              39,108
    Deferred rent                               134,458              99,957
    Acquired above market leases, net            27,255              31,352
    Acquired in place lease value and
     deferred leasing costs, net                213,239             222,389
    Deferred financing costs, net                21,357              16,275
    Restricted cash                              36,813              45,470
    Other assets                                 15,451               4,940
                                            -------------        ------------

    Total Assets                             $3,532,418          $3,281,045
                                            =============        ============

    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

    Revolving credit facility                  $149,838            $138,579
    Unsecured senior notes                       83,000              58,000
    Mortgage loans                              935,206           1,026,594
    4.125% exchangeable senior debentures
     due 2026, net of discount                  164,826             161,901
    5.50% exchangeable senior debentures
     due 2029                                   266,400                   -
    Accounts payable and other accrued
     liabilities                                153,072             171,176
    Accrued dividends and distributions               -              26,092
    Acquired below market leases, net            67,099              76,660
    Security deposits and prepaid rents          58,818              46,967
                                            -------------        ------------

    Total Liabilities                         1,878,259           1,705,969
                                            -------------        ------------

    Equity:
      Stockholders' equity                    1,573,859           1,503,921
      Noncontrolling interests                   80,300              71,155
                                            -------------        ------------
    Total Equity                              1,654,159           1,575,076
                                            -------------        ------------

    Total Liabilities and Equity             $3,532,418          $3,281,045
                                            =============        ============



                               Digital Realty Trust, Inc.
       Reconciliation of Net Income Available to Common Stockholders to Funds
                                 From Operations (FFO) (1)
                      (in thousands, except per share and unit data)
                                     (unaudited)

                     Three Months Ended               Nine Months Ended
              ------------------------------------ ---------------------------
              September 30, June 30, September 30, September 30, September 30,
                  2009        2009       2008          2009          2008
              ------------------------------------ ---------------------------
                                      (adjusted)                  (adjusted)
    Net income
     available to
     common
     stockholders $12,406    $10,271    $7,484       $32,972       $12,897
    Adjustments:
      Noncontrolling
       interests in
       operating
       partnership    898        757       637         2,448         1,180
      Real estate
       related
       depreciation
       and
       amortization
       (2)         50,163     48,900    46,359       145,150       124,767
      Real estate
       related
       depreciation
       and
       amortization
       related
       to
       investment
       in
       unconsolidated
       joint
       venture        543        858       859         2,047         2,625
              ------------------------------------ ---------------------------

    FFO available
     to common
     stockholders
     and
     unit-
     holders (3)  $64,010    $60,786   $55,339      $182,617      $141,469
              ==================================== ===========================

    Basic FFO per
     share and
     unit           $0.78      $0.74    $ 0.72         $2.24         $1.92
    Diluted FFO
     per share
     and unit (3)   $0.74      $0.71    $ 0.68         $2.14         $1.84

    Weighted average
     common stock
     and units
     outstanding
      Basic        82,094     81,999    76,953        81,553        73,839
      Diluted (3) 101,492     99,461    91,209        97,840        86,634

    (1)  Financial information for prior periods has been adjusted for the
    retroactive application of the following new accounting guidance adopted
    by the Company effective January 1, 2009: FASB ASC Subtopic 470-20,
    formerly Staff Position APB 14-1 "Accounting for Convertible Debt
    Instruments That May be Settled Upon Conversion (Including Partial Cash
    Settlement)"; FASB ASC Subtopic 810-10, formerly Statement of Financial
    Accounting Standard No. 160 "Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated
    Financial Statements - An Amendment of ARB No. 51".

    (2) Real estate depreciation and amortization was computed as follows:

    Depreciation
     and
     amortization
     per income
     statement     50,439     49,183    46,548       145,926       125,292
    Non real
     estate
     depreciation    (276)      (283)     (189)         (776)         (525)
              ------------------------------------ ---------------------------
                  $50,163    $48,900   $46,359      $145,150      $124,767
              ==================================== ===========================


    (3) At September 30, 2009, we had 7,000 series C convertible preferred
    shares and 13,796 series D convertible preferred shares outstanding that
    were convertible into 3,615 common shares and 8,215 common shares,
    respectively.  In addition, we had a balance of $266,400 of 5.50%
    exchangeable senior debentures that were exchangeable for 6,195 and
    3,722 common shares on a weighted average basis for the three and nine
    months ended September 30, 2009, respectively.  See below for calculations
    of diluted FFO available to common stockholders and unitholders and
    weighted average common stock and units outstanding.

                     Three Months Ended               Nine Months Ended
              ------------------------------------ ---------------------------
              September 30, June 30, September 30, September 30, September 30,
              ------------------------------------ ---------------------------
                  2009        2009       2008          2009          2008
    FFO available
     to common
     stockholders
     and
     unitholders  $64,010    $60,786   $55,339      $182,617      $141,469

    Add:  Series C
      convertible
     preferred
     dividends      1,914      1,914     1,914         5,742         5,742
    Add:  Series D
     convertible
     preferred
     dividends      4,742      4,742     4,744        14,226        12,387
    Add:  5.50%
     exchangeable
     senior
     debentures
     interest
     expense        4,050      3,148         -         7,198             -
              ------------------------------------ ---------------------------
    FFO available
     to common
     stockholders
     and
     unitholders
     -- diluted   $74,716    $70,590   $61,997      $209,783      $159,598
              ==================================== ===========================

    Weighted average
     common stock
     and units
     outstanding   82,094     81,999    76,953        81,553        73,839
    Add: Effect
     of dilutive
     securities
     (excluding
     series C
     and D
     convertible
     preferred
     stock)         1,373        730     2,423           735         2,016
    Add: Effect
     of dilutive
     series C
     convertible
     preferred
     stock          3,615      3,615     3,615         3,615         3,615
    Add: Effect
     of dilutive
     series D
     convertible
     preferred
     stock          8,215      8,215     8,218         8,215         7,164
    Add: Effect
     of dilutive
     5.50%
     exchangeable
     senior
     debentures     6,195      4,902         -         3,722             -
              ------------------------------------ ---------------------------
    Weighted average
     common stock
     and units
     outstanding
     -- diluted   101,492     99,461    91,209        97,840        86,634
              ==================================== ===========================


Note Regarding Funds From Operations

Digital Realty Trust calculates Funds from Operations, or FFO, in accordance with the standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or NAREIT. FFO represents net income (loss) available to common stockholders and unitholders (computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP), excluding gains (or losses) from sales of property, real estate related depreciation and amortization (excluding amortization of deferred financing costs) and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. Management uses FFO as a supplemental performance measure because, in excluding real estate related depreciation and amortization and gains and losses from property dispositions, it provides a performance measure that, when compared year over year, captures trends in occupancy rates, rental rates and operating costs. Digital Realty Trust also believes that, as a widely recognized measure of the performance of REITs, FFO will be used by investors as a basis to compare our operating performance with that of other REITs. However, because FFO excludes depreciation and amortization and captures neither the changes in the value of our properties that result from use or market conditions, nor the level of capital expenditures and leasing commissions necessary to maintain the operating performance of our properties, all of which have real economic effect and could materially impact our financial condition and results from operations, the utility of FFO as a measure of our performance is limited. Other REITs may not calculate FFO in accordance with the NAREIT definition and, accordingly, our FFO may not be comparable to such other REITs' FFO. Accordingly, FFO should be considered only as a supplement to net income as a measure of our performance.

SOURCE Digital Realty Trust, Inc.

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