News Release
Public Storage
701 Western Avenue
Glendale, CA 91201-2349
www.publicstorage.com
| |
For Release | Immediately |
Date | February 20, 2018 |
Contact | Clemente Teng |
| (818) 244-8080, Ext. 1141 |
Public Storage Reports Results for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2017
GLENDALE, California – Public Storage (NYSE:PSA) announced today operating results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017.
Operating Results for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2017
For the three months ended December 31, 2017, net income allocable to our common shareholders was $334.1 million or $1.92 per diluted common share, compared to $352.8 million or $2.03 in 2016 representing a decrease of $18.7 million or $0.11. The decrease primarily reflects (i) a $29.2 million reduction due to the impact of foreign exchange translation gains and losses associated with our euro denominated debt and (ii) a $7.2 million increase in interest expense associated with higher outstanding debt balances offset partially by (iii) a $13.8 million increase in self-storage net operating income (described below).
The $13.8 million increase in self-storage net operating income is a result of a $8.7 million increase in our Same Store Facilities (as defined below) and a $5.1 million increase in our Non Same Store Facilities (as defined below). Revenues for the Same Store Facilities increased 2.1% or $11.6 million in the three months ended December 31, 2017 as compared to 2016, due primarily to higher realized annual rent per occupied square foot. Cost of operations for the Same Store Facilities increased by 2.6% or $2.9 million in the three months ended December 31, 2017 as compared to 2016, due primarily to increased property manager payroll and repairs and maintenance costs, offset partially by reduced advertising and selling costs. The increase in net operating income for the Non Same Store Facilities is due primarily to the impact of 345 self-storage facilities acquired, developed or expanded since January 2015.
Operating Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2017
In 2017, net income allocable to our common shareholders was $1,171.6 million or $6.73 per diluted common share, compared to $1,183.9 million or $6.81 per share in 2016 representing a decrease of $12.3 million or $0.08. The decrease primarily reflects (i) a $67.6 million reduction due to the impact of foreign exchange translation gains and losses associated with our euro denominated debt, (ii) an $8.5 million increase in interest expense associated with higher outstanding debt balances and (iii) a $7.8 million casualty loss and $5.2 million in incremental tenant reinsurance losses related to Hurricane Harvey and Irma offset partially by (iv) a $66.9 million increase in self-storage net operating income (described below) and (v) an $18.9 million increase in our equity in earnings of unconsolidated real estate entities.
The $66.9 million increase in self-storage net operating income is a result of a $44.6 million increase in our Same Store Facilities and a $22.3 million increase in our Non Same Store Facilities. Revenues for the Same Store Facilities increased 3.0% or $63.0 million in 2017 as compared to 2016, due primarily to higher realized annual rent per occupied square foot. Cost of operations for the Same Store Facilities increased by 3.4% or $18.4 million in 2017 as compared to 2016, due primarily to increased property taxes, advertising and selling expense and repairs and maintenance costs, offset partially by lower snow removal costs. The increase in net operating income for the Non Same Store Facilities is due primarily to the impact of 345 self-storage facilities acquired, developed or expanded since January 2015.
Funds from Operations
For the three months ended December 31, 2017, funds from operations (“FFO”) was $2.70 per diluted common share, as compared to $2.77 in 2016, representing a decrease of 2.5%. FFO is a non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) term defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts and generally represents net income before depreciation, gains and losses and impairment charges with respect to real estate assets.
For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, FFO was flat at $9.70 per diluted common share.
We also present “Core FFO per share,” a non-GAAP measure that represents FFO per share excluding the impact of (i) foreign currency exchange gains and losses, (ii) EITF D-42 charges related to the redemption of preferred securities, (iii) reversals of accruals with respect to share based awards forfeited by executive officers and (iv) certain other non-cash and/or nonrecurring income or expense items. We review Core FFO per share to evaluate our ongoing operating performance, and we believe it is used by investors and REIT analysts in a similar manner. However, Core FFO per share is not a substitute for net income per share. Because other REITs may not compute Core FFO per share in the same manner as we do, may not use the same terminology or may not present such a measure, Core FFO per share may not be comparable among REITs.
The following table reconciles from FFO per share to Core FFO per share (unaudited):
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| | Three Months Ended December 31, | | Year Ended December 31, |
| | | | | | | | Percentage | | | | | | | | Percentage |
| | 2017 | | 2016 | | Change | | 2017 | | 2016 | | Change |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
FFO per share | $ | 2.70 | | $ | 2.77 | | (2.5)% | | $ | 9.70 | | $ | 9.70 | | 0.0% |
Eliminate the per share impact of | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
items excluded from Core FFO, including | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
our equity share from investments: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Foreign currency exchange loss (gain), net | | 0.03 | | | (0.14) | | | | | 0.29 | | | (0.11) | | |
Application of EITF D-42 | | 0.01 | | | 0.02 | | | | | 0.19 | | | 0.17 | | |
Casualty losses and tenant claims due | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
to hurricanes | | - | | | - | | | | | 0.07 | | | - | | |
Reversals of accruals on forfeited executive | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
share-based awards | | - | | | - | | | | | (0.03) | | | - | | |
Other items | | 0.01 | | | - | | | | | 0.01 | | | 0.03 | | |
Core FFO per share | $ | 2.75 | | $ | 2.65 | | 3.8% | | $ | 10.23 | | $ | 9.79 | | 4.5% |
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Property Operations – Same Store Facilities
The Same Store Facilities represent those facilities that have been owned and operated on a stabilized level of occupancy, revenues and cost of operations since January 1, 2015. We review the operations of our Same Store Facilities, which excludes facilities whose operating trends are significantly affected by factors such as casualty events, as well as recently developed or acquired facilities, to more effectively evaluate the ongoing performance of our self-storage portfolio in 2015, 2016 and 2017. We believe the Same Store information is used by investors and analysts in a similar manner. The following table summarizes the historical operating results of these 2,042 facilities (130.3 million net rentable square feet) that represent approximately 82% of the aggregate net rentable square feet of our U.S. consolidated self-storage portfolio at December 31, 2017.
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Selected Operating Data for the Same | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Store Facilities (2,042 facilities) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(unaudited): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended December 31, | | Year Ended December 31, |
| | | | | | | Percentage | | | | | | | | Percentage |
| 2017 | | 2016 | | Change | | 2017 | | 2016 | | Change |
| (Dollar amounts in thousands, except for per square foot amounts) |
Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Rental income | $ | 527,011 | | $ | 515,653 | | 2.2% | | $ | 2,098,780 | | $ | 2,035,701 | | 3.1% |
Late charges and administrative fees | | 24,719 | | | 24,494 | | 0.9% | | | 97,593 | | | 97,655 | | (0.1)% |
Total revenues (a) | | 551,730 | | | 540,147 | | 2.1% | | | 2,196,373 | | | 2,133,356 | | 3.0% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cost of operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Property taxes | | 31,665 | | | 31,113 | | 1.8% | | | 199,628 | | | 191,912 | | 4.0% |
On-site property manager payroll | | 24,707 | | | 23,438 | | 5.4% | | | 107,535 | | | 106,460 | | 1.0% |
Supervisory payroll | | 8,542 | | | 8,580 | | (0.4)% | | | 38,041 | | | 36,966 | | 2.9% |
Repairs and maintenance | | 11,122 | | | 10,260 | | 8.4% | | | 43,233 | | | 39,943 | | 8.2% |
Snow removal | | 812 | | | 866 | | (6.2)% | | | 3,061 | | | 4,235 | | (27.7)% |
Utilities | | 9,162 | | | 9,158 | | 0.0% | | | 39,135 | | | 39,424 | | (0.7)% |
Advertising and selling expense | | 6,749 | | | 7,266 | | (7.1)% | | | 28,443 | | | 25,824 | | 10.1% |
Other direct property costs | | 14,435 | | | 14,099 | | 2.4% | | | 57,853 | | | 55,797 | | 3.7% |
Allocated overhead | | 9,874 | | | 9,374 | | 5.3% | | | 42,010 | | | 39,963 | | 5.1% |
Total cost of operations (a) | | 117,068 | | | 114,154 | | 2.6% | | | 558,939 | | | 540,524 | | 3.4% |
Net operating income (b) | $ | 434,662 | | $ | 425,993 | | 2.0% | | $ | 1,637,434 | | $ | 1,592,832 | | 2.8% |
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Gross margin | | 78.8% | | | 78.9% | | (0.1)% | | | 74.6% | | | 74.7% | | (0.1)% |
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Weighted average for the period: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Square foot occupancy | | 93.1% | | | 93.8% | | (0.7)% | | | 93.8% | | | 94.5% | | (0.7)% |
Realized annual rental income per (c): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Occupied square foot | $ | 17.40 | | $ | 16.89 | | 3.0% | | $ | 17.19 | | $ | 16.54 | | 3.9% |
Available square foot (“REVPAF”) | $ | 16.18 | | $ | 15.83 | | 2.2% | | $ | 16.11 | | $ | 15.63 | | 3.1% |
At December 31: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Square foot occupancy | | | | | | | | | | 91.2% | | | 92.5% | | (1.4)% |
Annual contract rent per occupied | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
square foot (d) | | | | | | | | | $ | 17.97 | | $ | 17.44 | | 3.0% |
| (a) | | Revenues and cost of operations do not include ancillary revenues and expenses generated at the facilities with respect to tenant reinsurance and retail sales. |
| (b) | | See attached reconciliation of self-storage net operating income (“NOI”) to operating income. |
| (c) | | Realized annual rent per occupied square foot is computed by dividing annualized rental income, before late charges and administrative fees, by the weighted average occupied square feet for the period. Realized annual rent per available square foot (“REVPAF”) is computed by dividing annualized rental income, before late charges and administrative fees, by the total available rentable square feet for the period. These measures exclude late charges and administrative fees in order to provide a better measure of our ongoing level of revenue. Late charges are dependent upon the level of delinquency and administrative fees are dependent upon the level of move-ins. In addition, the rates charged for late charges and administrative fees can vary independently from rental rates. These measures take into consideration promotional discounts, which reduce rental income. |
| (d) | | Contract rent represents the applicable contractual monthly rent charged to our tenants, excluding the impact of promotional discounts, late charges and administrative fees. |
The following table summarizes selected quarterly financial data with respect to the Same Store Facilities (unaudited):
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| For the Quarter Ended | | | |
| March 31 | | June 30 | | September 30 | | December 31 | | Entire Year |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (Amounts in thousands, except for per square foot amounts) |
Total revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2017 | $ | 533,706 | | $ | 546,543 | | $ | 564,394 | | $ | 551,730 | | $ | 2,196,373 |
2016 | $ | 512,971 | | $ | 528,820 | | $ | 551,418 | | $ | 540,147 | | $ | 2,133,356 |
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Total cost of operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2017 | $ | 148,032 | | $ | 146,341 | | $ | 147,498 | | $ | 117,068 | | $ | 558,939 |
2016 | $ | 142,437 | | $ | 138,788 | | $ | 145,145 | | $ | 114,154 | | $ | 540,524 |
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Property taxes: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2017 | $ | 55,889 | | $ | 56,200 | | $ | 55,874 | | $ | 31,665 | | $ | 199,628 |
2016 | $ | 53,555 | | $ | 53,765 | | $ | 53,479 | | $ | 31,113 | | $ | 191,912 |
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Repairs and maintenance, including | | | | | | | | | | | | |
snow removal expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2017 | $ | 11,639 | | $ | 11,341 | | $ | 11,380 | | $ | 11,934 | | $ | 46,294 |
2016 | $ | 11,420 | | $ | 10,590 | | $ | 11,042 | | $ | 11,126 | | $ | 44,178 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Advertising and selling expense: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2017 | $ | 6,741 | | $ | 8,052 | | $ | 6,901 | | $ | 6,749 | | $ | 28,443 |
2016 | $ | 5,187 | | $ | 5,678 | | $ | 7,693 | | $ | 7,266 | | $ | 25,824 |
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REVPAF: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2017 | $ | 15.65 | | $ | 16.05 | | $ | 16.56 | | $ | 16.18 | | $ | 16.11 |
2016 | $ | 15.01 | | $ | 15.52 | | $ | 16.14 | | $ | 15.83 | | $ | 15.63 |
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Weighted average realized annual | | | | | | | | | | | | |
rent per occupied square foot: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2017 | $ | 16.83 | | $ | 17.00 | | $ | 17.52 | | $ | 17.40 | | $ | 17.19 |
2016 | $ | 16.04 | | $ | 16.29 | | $ | 16.95 | | $ | 16.89 | | $ | 16.54 |
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Weighted average occupancy levels | | | | | | | | |
for the period: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2017 | | 93.1% | | | 94.6% | | | 94.5% | | | 93.1% | | | 93.8% |
2016 | | 93.6% | | | 95.4% | | | 95.3% | | | 93.8% | | | 94.5% |
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Property Operations – Non Same Store Facilities
The Non Same Store Facilities at December 31, 2017 represent 345 facilities that were not stabilized with respect to occupancies or rental rates since January 1, 2015 or that we did not own as of January 1, 2015. The following table summarizes operating data with respect to the Non Same Store Facilities (unaudited):
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NON SAME STORE | Three Months Ended December 31, | | Year Ended December 31, |
FACILITIES | 2017 | | 2016 | | Change | | 2017 | | 2016 | | Change |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (Dollar amounts in thousands, except for per square foot amounts) |
Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2017 acquisitions | $ | 2,704 | | $ | - | | $ | 2,704 | | $ | 5,577 | | $ | - | | $ | 5,577 |
2016 acquisitions | | 9,427 | | | 7,779 | | | 1,648 | | | 36,336 | | | 18,174 | | | 18,162 |
2015 acquisitions | | 4,368 | | | 4,126 | | | 242 | | | 16,935 | | | 15,574 | | | 1,361 |
Developed facilities | | 12,780 | | | 7,375 | | | 5,405 | | | 42,301 | | | 23,405 | | | 18,896 |
Other facilities | | 53,209 | | | 54,271 | | | (1,062) | | | 214,911 | | | 215,319 | | | (408) |
Total revenues | | 82,488 | | | 73,551 | | | 8,937 | | | 316,060 | | | 272,472 | | | 43,588 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cost of operations before depreciation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
and amortization expense: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2017 acquisitions | | 993 | | | - | | | 993 | | | 2,006 | | | - | | | 2,006 |
2016 acquisitions | | 3,345 | | | 2,793 | | | 552 | | | 13,693 | | | 6,455 | | | 7,238 |
2015 acquisitions | | 1,188 | | | 1,081 | | | 107 | | | 5,298 | | | 5,010 | | | 288 |
Developed facilities | | 5,066 | | | 3,510 | | | 1,556 | | | 19,526 | | | 10,932 | | | 8,594 |
Other facilities | | 13,485 | | | 12,912 | | | 573 | | | 58,171 | | | 54,984 | | | 3,187 |
Total cost of operations | | 24,077 | | | 20,296 | | | 3,781 | | | 98,694 | | | 77,381 | | | 21,313 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net operating income: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2017 acquisitions | | 1,711 | | | - | | | 1,711 | | | 3,571 | | | - | | | 3,571 |
2016 acquisitions | | 6,082 | | | 4,986 | | | 1,096 | | | 22,643 | | | 11,719 | | | 10,924 |
2015 acquisitions | | 3,180 | | | 3,045 | | | 135 | | | 11,637 | | | 10,564 | | | 1,073 |
Developed facilities | | 7,714 | | | 3,865 | | | 3,849 | | | 22,775 | | | 12,473 | | | 10,302 |
Other facilities | | 39,724 | | | 41,359 | | | (1,635) | | | 156,740 | | | 160,335 | | | (3,595) |
��Net operating income (a) | $ | 58,411 | | $ | 53,255 | | $ | 5,156 | | $ | 217,366 | | $ | 195,091 | | $ | 22,275 |
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At December 31: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Square foot occupancy: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2017 acquisitions (b) | | | | | | | | | | | 87.3% | | | - | | | - |
2016 acquisitions | | | | | | | | | | | 85.9% | | | 82.9% | | | 3.6% |
2015 acquisitions | | | | | | | | | | | 92.4% | | | 90.8% | | | 1.8% |
Developed facilities | | | | | | | | | | | 63.5% | | | 58.6% | | | 8.4% |
Other facilities | | | | | | | | | | | 82.8% | | | 89.0% | | | (7.0)% |
| | | | | | | | | | | 79.9% | | | 82.8% | | | (3.5)% |
Annual contract rent per occupied square foot: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2017 acquisitions (b) | | | | | | | | | | $ | 14.63 | | $ | - | | | - |
2016 acquisitions | | | | | | | | | | | 10.23 | | | 9.99 | | | 2.4% |
2015 acquisitions | | | | | | | | | | | 14.17 | | | 13.73 | | | 3.2% |
Developed facilities | | | | | | | | | | | 13.33 | | | 13.51 | | | (1.3)% |
Other facilities | | | | | | | | | | | 17.16 | | | 16.89 | | | 1.6% |
| | | | | | | | | | $ | 15.03 | | $ | 15.07 | | | (0.3)% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NON SAME STORE | | | Year Ended December 31, |
FACILITIES (Continued) | | | | | | | 2017 | | 2016 | | Change |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
At December 31: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Number of facilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2017 acquisitions (b) | | | | | | | | | | | 34 | | | - | | | 34 |
2016 acquisitions | | | | | | | | | | | 55 | | | 55 | | | - |
2015 acquisitions | | | | | | | | | | | 17 | | | 17 | | | - |
Developed facilities | | | | | | | | | | | 52 | | | 36 | | | 16 |
Other facilities | | | | | | | | | | | 187 | | | 187 | | | - |
| | | | | | | | | | | 345 | | | 295 | | | 50 |
Net rentable square feet (in thousands): | | | | | | |
2017 acquisitions (b) | | | | | | | | | | | 2,114 | | | - | | | 2,114 |
2016 acquisitions | | | | | | | | | | | 4,177 | | | 4,121 | | | 56 |
2015 acquisitions | | | | | | | | | | | 1,285 | | | 1,285 | | | - |
Developed facilities | | | | | | | | | | | 6,059 | | | 4,019 | | | 2,040 |
Other facilities | | | | | | | | | | | 14,677 | | | 14,069 | | | 608 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 28,312 | | | 23,494 | | | 4,818 |
| (a) | | See attached reconciliation of self-storage NOI to operating income. |
| (b) | | Amounts at December 31, 2017 for the 2017 acquisitions include 22 properties acquired from third parties and 12 properties we commenced consolidating at December 31, 2017 in connection with acquiring the 74.25% interest we did not own in a legacy institutional partnership. |
Investing and Capital Markets Activities
During the three months ended December 31, 2017, we acquired eight self-storage facilities (six in Texas and one each in Alabama and Kentucky) with 0.5 million net rentable square feet for $68.1 million. During 2017, we acquired 22 self-storage facilities (six in Texas, three in Ohio, two each in Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina and South Carolina and one each in Alabama, Minnesota and New York) with 1.4 million net rentable square feet for $149.8 million. Subsequent to December 31, 2017, we acquired or were under contract to acquire two self-storage facilities (one each in Nebraska and Tennessee) with 0.2 million net rentable square feet for $18 million.
During the three months ended December 31, 2017, we completed four newly developed facilities and various expansion projects (0.6 million net rentable square feet) costing $56 million. During 2017, we completed 16 newly developed facilities and various expansion projects (2.7 million net rentable square feet) costing an aggregate of $312 million. At December 31, 2017, we had various facilities in development (2.7 million net rentable square feet) estimated to cost $367 million and various expansion projects (1.9 million net rentable square feet) estimated to cost $247 million. The remaining $350 million of development costs for these projects is expected to be incurred primarily in the next 18 months.
On December 31, 2017, we acquired the 74.25% interest we did not own in 12 stabilized self-storage facilities (three in California, two in Minnesota, Nevada and New York, and one each in New Jersey, Ohio and Virginia) with 0.7 million net rentable square feet for $135.5 million in cash. Our existing 25.75% interest in the earnings of the legacy institutional partnership that owned these properties, and that we managed, was reflected as Equity in Earnings of Real Estate Entities. We commenced consolidating these properties effective December 31, 2017.
During 2017, we raised $1,580.0 million in gross proceeds from public offerings comprised of a) two series of Preferred Shares for $580.0 million in gross proceeds with an average coupon rate of 5.1% and b) a public offering of senior notes, comprised of $500 million maturing in five years at a 2.370% coupon rate and $500 million maturing in ten years at a 3.094% coupon rate. During 2017, we redeemed two series of Preferred Shares with an average coupon rate of 5.8% at par for $922.5 million.
Distributions Declared
On February 20, 2018, our Board of Trustees declared a regular common quarterly dividend of $2.00 per common share. The Board also declared dividends with respect to our various series of preferred shares. All the dividends are payable on March 29, 2018 to shareholders of record as of March 14, 2018.
Fourth Quarter Conference Call
A conference call is scheduled for February 21, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. (PST) to discuss the fourth quarter earnings results. The domestic dial-in number is (866) 406-5408, and the international dial-in number is (973) 582-2770 (conference ID number for either domestic or international is 1389368). A simultaneous audio webcast may be accessed by using the link at www.publicstorage.com under “Company Info, Investor Relations, News and Events, Events Calendar.” A replay of the conference call may be accessed through March 7, 2018 by calling (800) 585-8367 (domestic) or (404) 537-3406 (international) or by using the link at www.publicstorage.com under “Company Info, Investor Relations, News and Events, Events Calendar.” All forms of replay utilize conference ID number 1389368.
About Public Storage
Public Storage, a member of the S&P 500 and FT Global 500, is a REIT that primarily acquires, develops, owns and operates self-storage facilities. The Company’s headquarters are located in Glendale, California. At December 31, 2017, we had interests in 2,386 self-storage facilities located in 38 states with approximately 159 million net rentable square feet in the United States and 222 storage facilities located in seven Western European nations with approximately 12 million net rentable square feet operated under the “Shurgard” brand. We also own a 42% common equity interest in PS Business Parks, Inc. (NYSE:PSB) which owned and operated approximately 28 million rentable square feet of commercial space at December 31, 2017.
Additional information about Public Storage is available on our website, www.publicstorage.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements which may be identified by the use of the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “should,” “estimates” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause our actual results and performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Factors and risks that may impact future results and performance include, but are not limited to, those described in Part 1, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 27, 2017 and in our other filings with the SEC and the following: general risks associated with the ownership and operation of real estate, including changes in demand, risk related to development of self-storage facilities, potential liability for environmental contamination, natural disasters and adverse changes in laws and regulations governing property tax, real estate and zoning; risks associated with downturns in the national and local economies in the markets in which we operate, including risks related to current economic conditions and the economic health of our customers; the impact of competition from new and existing self-storage and commercial facilities and other storage alternatives; difficulties in our ability to successfully evaluate, finance, integrate into our existing operations and manage acquired and developed properties; risks associated with international operations including, but not limited to, unfavorable foreign currency rate fluctuations, changes in tax laws, and local and global economic uncertainty that could adversely affect our earnings and cash flows; risks related to our participation in joint ventures; the impact of the regulatory environment as well as national, state and local laws and regulations including, without limitation, those governing environmental, taxes, our tenant reinsurance business and labor, and risks related to the impact of new laws and regulations; risks of increased tax expense associated either with a possible failure by us to qualify as a REIT, or with challenges to the determination of taxable income for our taxable REIT subsidiaries; changes in federal or state tax laws related to the taxation of REITs and other corporations; security breaches or a failure of our networks, systems or technology could adversely impact our business, customer and employee relationships; risks associated with the self-insurance of certain business risks, including property and casualty insurance, employee health insurance and workers compensation liabilities; difficulties in raising capital at a reasonable cost; delays in the development process; ongoing litigation and other legal and regulatory actions which may divert management’s time and attention, require us to pay damages and expenses or restrict the operation of our business; and economic uncertainty due to the impact of war or terrorism. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. All of our forward-looking statements, including those in this press release, are qualified in their entirety by this statement. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, new estimates, or other factors, events or circumstances after the date of this press release, except where expressly required by law. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not rely on any forward-looking statements in this press release, or which management may make orally or in writing from time to time, as predictions of future events nor guarantees of future performance.
