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 September 30, 2009
Or
[ ] Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the transition period from ________________________ to ________________________
Commission File Number: 0-8908
PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES IV, LTD. |
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) |
California | 95-3192402 |
(State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. Employer |
incorporation or organization) | Identification Number) |
701 Western Avenue, Glendale, California | 91201-2349 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (818) 244-8080. |
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.
[X] Yes | [ ] 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 | [ ] No |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer” and “large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated Filer [ ] Accelerated Filer [ ] Non-accelerated Filer [X] 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 | [X] No |
The Registrant is a limited partnership and issues units representing ownership of limited partner interests, with a par value of $500.00 per unit. Number of units outstanding at November 12, 2009: 40,00
PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES IV, LTD. | ||
INDEX | ||
PART I | FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Item 3 not applicable) | Pages |
Item 1. | Financial Statements (Unaudited) | |
Condensed Balance Sheets at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2009 | 1 | |
Condensed Statements of Income for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 | 2 | |
Condensed Statements of Partners’ Equity for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009 | 3 | |
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 | 4 | |
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements | 5 - 10 | |
Item 2. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 11 - 15 |
Item 4. | Controls and Procedures | 16 |
PART II. | OTHER INFORMATION (Items 2 – 5 not applicable) | |
Item 1. | Legal Proceedings | 17 |
Item 1A. | Risk Factors | 17 |
Item 6. | Exhibits | 17 |
PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES IV, LTD.
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
September 30, 2009 | December 31, 2008 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,360,000 | $ | 1,139,000 | ||||
Rent and other receivables | 78,000 | 74,000 | ||||||
Real estate facilities, at cost: | ||||||||
Buildings and equipment | 20,719,000 | 20,358,000 | ||||||
Land | 5,021,000 | 5,021,000 | ||||||
25,740,000 | 25,379,000 | |||||||
Less accumulated depreciation | (18,964,000 | ) | (18,642,000 | ) | ||||
6,776,000 | 6,737,000 | |||||||
Other assets | 112,000 | 124,000 | ||||||
Total assets | $ | 8,326,000 | $ | 8,074,000 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 472,000 | $ | 270,000 | ||||
Deferred revenue | 242,000 | 297,000 | ||||||
Total liabilities | 714,000 | 567,000 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 6) | ||||||||
Partners’ equity: | ||||||||
Limited partners’ equity, $500 per unit, 40,000 units authorized, issued and outstanding | 5,652,000 | 5,574,000 | ||||||
General partners’ equity | 1,960,000 | 1,933,000 | ||||||
Total partners’ equity | 7,612,000 | 7,507,000 | ||||||
Total liabilities and partners’ equity | $ | 8,326,000 | $ | 8,074,000 |
See accompanying notes.
1
PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES IV, LTD.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(UNAUDITED)
Three Months Ended September 30 | Nine Months Ended September 30 | |||||||||||||||
2009 | 2008 | 2009 | 2008 | |||||||||||||
REVENUES: | ||||||||||||||||
Rental income | $ | 2,775,000 | $ | 2,975,000 | $ | 8,347,000 | $ | 8,674,000 | ||||||||
Other income | 138,000 | 202,000 | 395,000 | 367,000 | ||||||||||||
Revenues from affiliate under performance agreement | 372,000 | 369,000 | 1,047,000 | 1,004,000 | ||||||||||||
3,285,000 | 3,546,000 | 9,789,000 | 10,045,000 | |||||||||||||
COSTS AND EXPENSES: | ||||||||||||||||
Cost of operations | 693,000 | 696,000 | 2,141,000 | 2,191,000 | ||||||||||||
Management fees paid to affiliate | 172,000 | 179,000 | 506,000 | 520,000 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation | 113,000 | 133,000 | 322,000 | 335,000 | ||||||||||||
Administrative | 20,000 | 16,000 | 89,000 | 87,000 | ||||||||||||
998,000 | 1,024,000 | 3,058,000 | 3,133,000 | |||||||||||||
NET INCOME | $ | 2,287,000 | $ | 2,522,000 | $ | 6,731,000 | $ | 6,912,000 | ||||||||
Limited partners’ share of net income | $ | 1,704,000 | $ | 1,883,000 | $ | 5,023,000 | $ | 5,176,000 | ||||||||
General partners’ share of net income | 583,000 | 639,000 | 1,708,000 | 1,736,000 | ||||||||||||
$ | 2,287,000 | $ | 2,522,000 | $ | 6,731,000 | $ | 6,912,000 | |||||||||
Limited partners’ share of net income per unit (40,000 units outstanding) | $ | 42.60 | $ | 47.08 | $ | 125.58 | $ | 129.40 | ||||||||
See accompanying notes.
2
PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES IV, LTD.
CONDENSED STATEMENT OF PARTNERS’ EQUITY
(UNAUDITED)
Limited Partners’ | General Partners’ | Total Partners’ Equity | ||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2008 | $ | 5,574,000 | $ | 1,933,000 | $ | 7,507,000 | ||||||
Net income | 5,023,000 | 1,708,000 | 6,731,000 | |||||||||
Cash distributions | (4,920,000 | ) | (1,706,000 | ) | (6,626,000 | ) | ||||||
Equity transfer | (25,000 | ) | 25,000 | - | ||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2009 | $ | 5,652,000 | $ | 1,960,000 | $ | 7,612,000 |
See accompanying notes.
3
PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES IV, LTD.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||
2009 | 2008 | |||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 6,731,000 | $ | 6,912,000 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||
Depreciation | 322,000 | 335,000 | ||||||
Increase in rent and other receivables | (4,000 | ) | - | |||||
Decrease in other assets | 12,000 | 15,000 | ||||||
Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 202,000 | 449,000 | ||||||
Decrease in deferred revenue | (55,000 | ) | (38,000 | ) | ||||
Total adjustments | 477,000 | 761,000 | ||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 7,208,000 | 7,673,000 | ||||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||
Additions to real estate facilities | (361,000 | ) | (259,000 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (361,000 | ) | (259,000 | ) | ||||
Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||
Distributions paid to partners | (6,626,000 | ) | (6,734,000 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in financing activities | (6,626,000 | ) | (6,734,000 | ) | ||||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | 221,000 | 680,000 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period | 1,139,000 | 787,000 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period | $ | 1,360,000 | $ | 1,467,000 | ||||
See accompanying notes.
4
PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES IV, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
1. | Description of the Business and Basis of Presentation |
Public Storage Properties IV, Ltd., (the "Partnership") is a publicly held limited partnership formed under the California Uniform Limited Partnership Act in December 1977. The Partnership raised $20,000,000 in gross proceeds by selling 40,000 units of limited partnership interest ("Units") in an interstate offering, which commenced in May 1978 and completed in November 1978. The general partners in the Partnership are Public Storage, formerly Public Storage, Inc., (“PS”) and B. Wayne Hughes (“Hughes”).
The Partnership was formed to engage in the business of developing and operating self-storage facilities for personal and business use. The Partnership owns 17 self-storage properties in California and Florida.
The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements have been prepared by us pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on the same basis as our audited annual financial statements and, in our opinion reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial information set forth therein. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), as defined in the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (the “Codification”), have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although we believe that the following disclosures, when read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto as of December 31, 2008, are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.
The Partnership has evaluated subsequent events through November 13, 2009, which represents the filing date of this Form 10-Q with the SEC. As of November 13, 2009, there were no subsequent events which required recognition or disclosure.
2. | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Partnership Matters |
Use of Estimates:
The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Revenue and Expense Recognition:
Rental income, which is generally earned pursuant to month-to-month leases for storage space, is recognized as earned. Promotional discounts are recognized as a reduction to rental income over the promotional period, which is generally during the first month of occupancy. Late charges and administrative fees are recognized as income when collected. Interest income is recognized as earned.
We accrue for property tax expense based upon estimates and historical trends. If these estimates are incorrect, the timing of expense recognition could be affected.
Cost of operations, general and administrative expense, as well as television, yellow page, and other advertising expenditures are expensed as incurred. Casualty losses or gains are recognized in the period the casualty occurs, based upon the differential between the book value of assets destroyed, and estimated insurance proceeds, if any, that we expect to receive in accordance with our insurance contracts.
5
PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES IV, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
Allocation of Net Income:
The general partners' share of net income consists of amounts attributable to their 1% capital contribution and an additional percentage of cash flow (as defined) which relates to the general partners' share of cash distributions as set forth in the Partnership Agreement (Note 4). All remaining net income is allocated to the limited partners.
Per unit data is based on the weighted average number of the limited partnership units (40,000) outstanding during the period.
Financial Instruments:
The Partnership has estimated the fair value of its financial instruments using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. Considerable judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop estimates of market value. Accordingly, estimated fair values are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that could be realized in current market exchanges.
For purposes of financial statement presentation, the Partnership considers all highly liquid financial instruments such as short-term treasury securities, money market funds with daily liquidity and a rating in excess of AAA by Standard and Poor’s, or investment grade (rated A1 by Standard and Poor’s) short-term commercial paper with remaining maturities of three months or less at the date of acquisition to be cash equivalents.
Due to the short maturity and the underlying characteristics of our cash and cash equivalents, other assets, and accrued and other liabilities, the Partnership believes the carrying values as presented on the condensed balance sheets are reasonable estimates of fair value.
Financial assets that are exposed to credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents as well as rent and other receivables. Our cash and cash equivalents are invested in investment grade short-term investments and our receivables consist of small individual amounts. Accordingly, credit risk on these assets as a whole is minimal.
Real Estate Facilities and Evaluation of Asset Impairment:
Real estate facilities are recorded at cost. Costs associated with the development, construction, renovation and improvement of properties are capitalized. Interest, property taxes, and other costs associated with the development incurred during the construction period are capitalized as building cost. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the buildings and improvements, which are generally between 5 and 25 years. At September 30, 2009, all of the real estate facilities have been in service longer than 25 years, and accordingly the original development costs of such buildings are fully depreciated.
We evaluate our real estate for impairment on a quarterly basis. We first evaluate these assets for indicators of impairment, and when any such indicators of impairment are noted, we compare the carrying value of the real estate to the future estimated undiscounted cash flows attributable to the real estate. If the real estate’s recoverable amount is less than the carrying value, then an impairment charge is booked for the excess of carrying value over the real estate’s fair value. Our evaluations have identified no such impairments at September 30, 2009.
6
PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES IV, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
Any real estate facility, which we expect to sell or dispose of prior to its previously estimated useful life, is stated at the lower of its estimated net realizable value, less cost to sell, or its carrying value.
Deferred Revenue:
Deferred revenue totaling $242,000 at September 30, 2009 ($297,000 at December 31, 2008), consists of prepaid rents, which are recognized as rental income when earned.
Environmental Cost:
The Partnership’s policy is to accrue environmental assessments and/or remediation costs when it is probable that such efforts will be required and the related costs can be reasonably estimated. Although there can be no assurance, we are not aware of any environmental contamination at any of our facilities, which, individually or in the aggregate, would be material to our overall business, financial condition or results of operations.
Income Taxes:
Public Storage Properties IV, Ltd. is treated as a partnership for federal and state income tax purposes with the taxable income of the entity allocated to each partner in accordance with the partnership agreement. Accordingly, no federal income tax expense is recorded by the Partnership.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Guidance:
As of November 13, 2009, there have been no recent accounting pronouncements and guidance, which were not effective for implementation prior to September 30, 2009, that would have a material impact upon reporting the operations or financial position of the Partnership.
Segment Reporting:
The Partnership only has one reportable segment.
3. | Cash Distributions |
The Partnership Agreement requires that cash available for distribution (cash flow from all sources less cash necessary for any obligations or capital improvements) needs to be distributed at least quarterly. During the three months ended September 30, 2009, we paid cash distributions to the limited and general partners totaling $1,680,000 ($42.00 per unit) and $582,000, respectively, and $1,840,000 ($46.00 per unit) and $638,000, respectively, for the same period in 2008. During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, we paid cash distributions to the limited and general partners totaling $4,920,000 ($123.00 per unit) and $1,706,000, respectively, and $5,000,000 ($125.00 per unit) and $1,734,000, respectively, for the same period in 2008. Future distribution rates may be adjusted to levels, which are supported by operating cash flow after provisions for capital improvements and any other obligations.
4. | Partners' Equity |
PS and Hughes are general partners of the Partnership. In 1995, Hughes contributed his ownership and rights to distributions from the Partnership to BWH Marina Corporation II, a corporation wholly-owned by Hughes. As such, Hughes continues to act as a general partner of the Partnership but does not directly receive any compensation, distributions or other consideration from the Partnership.
7
PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES IV, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
The general partners have a 1% interest in the Partnership. In addition, the general partners had an 8% interest in cash distributions attributable to operations (exclusive of distributions attributable to sale and financing proceeds) until the limited partners recovered all of their investment. Thereafter, the general partners have a 25% interest in all cash distributions (including sale and financing proceeds). During 1986, the limited partners recovered all of their initial investment. All subsequent distributions are being made 25.75% (including the 1% interest) to the general partners and 74.25% to the limited partners. Transfers of equity are made periodically to reconcile the partners’ equity accounts to the provisions of the Partnership Agreement. These transfers have no effect on the results of operations or distributions to partners.
5. Related Party Transactions
Management Agreements and Shared Expenses with Affiliates
The Partnership has a management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with PS pursuant to which PS operates the self-storage facilities for a fee equal to 6% of the facilities' gross revenue (as defined). For the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, the Partnership paid PS $172,000 and $179,000, respectively, under this Management Agreement. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, the Partnership paid PS $506,000 and $520,000, respectively, under this Management Agreement.
The Management Agreement between the Partnership and PS provides that the Management Agreement may be terminated without cause upon 60 days written notice by the Partnership or six months notice by PS.
A real estate facility owned by the Partnership (the “Azusa Property”) is operated pursuant to a management and performance agreement (the “Performance Agreement”) with a subsidiary of PS (the “PS Sub”). Following the commencement of the Performance Agreement in March 2001, the facility was initially expanded to include industrial space, and this industrial space was subsequently converted to self-storage space. These improvements, along with any other subsequent improvements or capital expenditures during the term of the Performance Agreement, are entirely funded by the PS Sub. During the term of the Performance Agreement, the Partnership is guaranteed to receive the same net operating income it received with respect to the Azusa Property prior to the effective date of the Performance Agreement, with an annual increase of the greater of a) 1% or b) the percentage increase in net operating income achieved at the self-storage facilities managed by PS in the market in which this facility is located (the “Guaranteed Amounts”). The Performance Agreement expires on December 31, 2015, at which time the Partnership will commence collecting the actual net operating income currently earned by the PS Sub from operating the Azusa Property, and the Guaranteed Amounts will no longer apply. The PS Sub recorded revenues of $1,652,000 and $1,598,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and cost of operations totaling $520,000 and $510,000 in the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, with respect to the operation of the Azusa Property. Capital expenditures for the Azusa Property totaled $18,000 and $4,000 in the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Average occupancy of the Azusa Property was 89.1% and 83.4% during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The lower average occupancy during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 is primarily due to the fill-up of expanded self-storage space which was completed at the Azusa property, and paid for by the PS Sub, during 2006. Included in the line item “revenues from affiliate under performance agreement” in the Partnership’s accompanying condensed statements of income, is the Guaranteed Amounts earned by the Partnership under the Performance Agreement.
8
PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES IV, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
The Partnership’s facilities, along with facilities owned by PS and its affiliates, are managed and marketed jointly by PS in order to take advantage of scale and other efficiencies. Joint costs are allocated on a methodology meant to fairly allocate such costs based upon the related activities. As a result, significant components of cost of operations, such as payroll costs, advertising and promotion, data processing and insurance expenses are shared and allocated among the properties using methodologies meant to fairly allocate such costs based upon the related activities. The total of such expenses included in cost of operations on our accompanying condensed statements of income, amounted to $410,000 and $390,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $1,325,000 and $1,343,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Ownership Interest by the General Partners
In addition to the general partnership interests outlined in Note 4, PS owns 11,671 Limited Partnership Units (“Units”), as to which PS has sole voting and dispositive power.
At December 31, 2008, Hughes and members of his family (the “Hughes Family”) owned 6,198 Units. Hughes owned 5,892 Units, as to which Hughes had sole voting and dispositive power, through a wholly-owned corporation and Tamara Hughes Gustavson, an adult daughter of Hughes, owned 306 Units as to which Tamara Hughes Gustavson had sole voting and dispositive power. On January 1, 2009, PS exercised its option to acquire the 306 Units held by Tamara Hughes Gustavson for a cost of approximately $136,000. At September 30, 2009, Hughes owns 5,892 Units.
In addition, there are 7,299 Units owned by PS Orangeco Partnerships, Inc., a corporation in which Hughes Family owns approximately 48% of the voting stock, PS owns 46% and members of PS management and related individuals own approximately 6%.
Captive Insurance Activities with PS
The Partnership has a 1.8% ownership interest in STOR-Re Mutual Insurance Corporation (“STOR-Re”), which was formed in 1994 as an association captive insurance company, and is controlled by PS. The Partnership accounts for its investment in STOR-Re, which is included in other assets in our accompanying condensed balance sheets, on the cost method, and has received no distributions during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 or 2008.
STOR-Re provides limited property and liability insurance coverage to the Partnership, PS, and affiliates for losses occurring before April 1, 2004. STOR-Re was succeeded with respect to these activities for losses occurring after March 31, 2004 by a wholly owned subsidiary of PS (collectively, this entity and STOR-Re are referred to as the “Captive Entities”). Liabilities for losses and loss adjustment expenses include an amount determined from loss reports and individual cases and an amount, based on recommendations from an outside actuary that is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries, using a frequency and severity method, for losses incurred but not reported. Determining the liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expense is based upon estimates and while we believe that the amount is adequate, the ultimate loss may be in excess of or less than the amounts provided. The methods for making such estimates and for establishing the resulting liability are reviewed quarterly.
9
PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES IV, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
Other Activities with PS
PS Insurance Company – Hawaii, Ltd. (“PSICH”), a corporation that reinsures policies against losses to goods stored by tenants in the Partnership’s and PS’ storage facilities. PSICH receives the premiums and bears the risks associated with the re-insurance. The Partnership receives a fee (an “Access Fee”) from PSICH in return for providing tenant listings. This Access Fee is based on the number of spaces the Partnership has to rent. Included in other income on our accompanying condensed statements of income for these Access Fees are $135,000 and $190,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $287,000 and $306,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
A subsidiary of PS sells locks and boxes to the general public and tenants associated with securing their spaces and storing and moving their goods. The subsidiary of PS receives the revenues and bears the cost of the activities.
6. Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Proceedings:
Brinkley v. Public Storage, Inc. (filed April 2005) (Superior Court of California – Los Angeles County)
The plaintiff sued PS on behalf of a purported class of California non-exempt employees based on various California wage and hour laws and seeking monetary damages and injunctive relief. In May 2006, a motion for class certification was filed seeking to certify five subclasses. Plaintiff sought certification for alleged meal period violations, rest period violations, failure to pay for travel time, failure to pay for mileage reimbursement, and for wage statement violations. In October 2006, the Court declined to certify three out of the five subclasses. The Court did, however, certify subclasses based on alleged meal period and wage statement violations. Subsequently, PS filed a motion for summary judgment seeking to dismiss the matter in its entirety. On June 22, 2007, the Court granted PS’ summary judgment motion as to the causes of action relating to the subclasses certified and dismissed those claims. The only surviving claims are those relating to the named plaintiff. The plaintiff has filed an appeal to the Court’s June 22, 2007 summary judgment ruling. On October 28, 2008, the Court of Appeals sustained the trial court’s ruling. The plaintiff filed a petition for review with the California Supreme Court, which was granted but further action in this matter was deferred pending consideration and disposition of a related issue in Brinker Restaurant Corp. v. Superior Court which is currently pending before the California Supreme Court.
Other Items
PS and the Partnership are a party to various claims, complaints, and other legal actions that have arisen in the normal course of business from time to time, that are not described above. We believe that it is unlikely that the outcome of these other pending legal proceedings including employment and tenant claims, in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect upon the operations or financial position of the Partnership.
10
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following should be read in conjunction with the Partnership’s condensed financial statements and notes thereto.
Forward Looking Statements: This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements in this document, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements which may be identified by the use of the words "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "would," "should," "may," "estimates" and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause Public Storage Properties IV, Ltd.’s (the “Partnership”) actual results and performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. As a result, you should not rely on any forward-looking statements in this report, or which management may make orally or in writing from time to time, as predictions of future events nor guarantees of future performance. We caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as the date of this report or as of the dates indicated in the statements. All of our forward-looking statements, including those in this report, are qualified in their entirely 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 document, except where expressly required by law. Accordingly, you should use caution in relying on past forward-looking statements to anticipate future results.
Factors and risks that may impact our future results and performance include, but are not limited to, those described in Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in the Public Storage Properties IV, Ltd. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These risks include, among others, the following:
· | general risks associated with the ownership and operation of real estate including changes in demand, potential liability for environmental contamination, adverse changes in tax laws, including property tax rates and assessments, real estate and zoning laws and regulations, and the impact of natural disasters; |
· | risks associated with downturns in the local economies in the markets in which we operate, including risks related to current economic conditions; |
· | the impact of competition from new and existing self-storage and commercial facilities and other storage alternatives; |
· | the impact of the regulatory environment as well as national, state, and local laws and regulations including, without limitation, those governing environmental, tax and tenant insurance matters, and risks related to the impact of existing and potential new laws and regulations; |
· | disruptions or shutdowns of our automated processes and systems or breaches of our data security; and |
· | economic uncertainty due to the impact of war or terrorism. |
The risks included here are not exhaustive as it is not possible for management to predict all possible risk factors that may exist or emerge from time to time. Investors should refer to our future reports and other information filed from time to time with the SEC for additional information.
11
Critical Accounting Policies
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations discusses our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The preparation of our financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with GAAP and our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations requires management to make judgments, assumptions and estimates that affect the amounts reported in our condensed financial statements and accompanying notes. The notes to the Partnership’s September 30, 2009 condensed financial statements, primarily Note 2, summarize the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of our condensed financial statements and related disclosures.
Management believes the following are the critical accounting policies that have a material impact on the Partnership’s financial presentation. That is, they are both important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results, and they require management to make judgments and estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain.
Impairment of Real Estate: Substantially all of our assets consist of real estate. On a quarterly basis, we evaluate our real estate for impairment. The evaluation of our real estate for impairment includes determining whether indicators of impairment exist, which is a subjective process. When any indicators of impairment are found, the evaluation then entails projections of future operating cash flows, which also involves significant judgment. We identified no such impairments at September 30, 2009. However, future events, or facts and circumstances that currently exist, that we have not yet identified, could cause us to conclude in the future that our real estate is impaired. Any resulting impairment loss could have a material adverse impact on the Partnership’s financial condition and results of operations.
Estimated Useful Lives of Long-Lived Assets: Substantially all of our assets consist of depreciable, long-lived assets. We record depreciation expense with respect to these assets based upon their estimated useful lives. Any change in the estimated useful lives of those assets, caused by functional or economic obsolescence or other factors, could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition or results of operations.
Accruals for Contingencies: We are exposed to business and legal liability risks with respect to events that have occurred, but in accordance with GAAP, we have not accrued for such potential liabilities because the loss is either not probable or not estimable or because we are not aware of the event. Future events and the result of pending litigation could result in such potential losses becoming probable and estimable, which could have a material, adverse impact on our financial condition or results of operations. Some of these potential losses, which we are aware of, are described in Notes 5 and 6 to the Partnership’s September 30, 2009 condensed financial statements.
Accruals for Operating Expenses: We accrue for property tax expense and other operating expenses based upon estimates and historical trends and current and anticipated local and state government rules and regulations. If these estimates and assumptions are incorrect, our expenses could be misstated.
Overview of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Operations
The self-storage industry is highly fragmented and is composed predominantly of numerous local and regional operators. Competition in the markets in which we operate is significant and has increased over the past several years due to additional development of self-storage facilities. We believe that the increase in competition has had a negative impact to the Partnership’s occupancy levels and rental rates in many markets. However, we believe that the Partnership’s affiliation with Public Storage (“PS”) provides several distinguishing characteristics that enable the Partnership to compete effectively with other owners and operators.
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PS is the largest owner and operator of self-storage facilities in the U.S. All of the PS facilities in the U.S. are operated under the “Public Storage” brand name, which we believe is the most recognized and established name in the self-storage industry. Market concentration establishes PS as one of the dominant providers of self-storage space in most markets in which PS operates and enables PS to use a variety of promotional activities, such as television advertising as well as targeted discounting and referrals, which are generally not economically viable to most competitors of PS, as well as more substantial, well-placed yellow page advertisements than can many of its competitors.
The self-storage industry is not immune to the recessionary pressures in the general economic environment. Demand for self-storage space in the U.S. has softened and, as a result, the Partnership is experiencing downward pressure on occupancy levels, rental rates and revenue growth.
We will continue to focus our growth strategies on improving the operating performance of our existing self-storage properties primarily through increases in revenues achieved through the telephone reservation center and associated marketing efforts. We expect any potential future increases in rental income to come primarily from increases in realized rent rather than increases in occupancy, although there can be no assurance that we will experience such increases.
Results of Operations
Three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to three months ended September 30, 2008:
The Partnership's net income for the three months ended September 30, 2009 was $2,287,000, as compared to $2,522,000 for the same period in 2008, representing a decrease of $235,000 or 9.3%. Property net operating income (rental income less cost of operations, management fees paid to an affiliate and depreciation expense) decreased $170,000 or 8.6% from $1,967,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2008 to $1,797,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2009.
Rental income for the three months ended September 30, 2009 was $2,775,000 as compared to $2,975,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2008, representing a decrease of $200,000 or 6.7%. The decrease in rental income is attributable primarily to a 3.2% decrease in annualized realized rent for the three months ended September 30, 2009 to $15.64 per occupied square foot, as compared to $16.15 per occupied square foot for the same period in 2008. Additionally, weighted average occupancy levels at the self-storage facilities decreased slightly to 89.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2009, as compared to 90.4% for the same period in 2008. These amounts exclude the property operated pursuant to the management and performance agreement with a subsidiary of PS (the “PS Sub”). See Note 5 to the Partnership’s September 30, 2009 condensed financial statements for additional information.
We believe that demand for self-storage space has been negatively impacted by general economic conditions, the slowdown in housing sales and moving activity, as well as increased competition. Based upon certain comparative September 30, 2009 key operating metrics for the Partnership’s self-storage facilities including 7.5% lower in place annual rent per occupied square foot from $18.02 at September 30, 2008 to $16.67 at September 30, 2009, offset by a slight increase in square foot occupancy from 88.6% at September 30, 2008 to 89.1% at September 30, 2009, we expect that the revenue will decline for the Partnership’s facilities for the three months ending December 31, 2009, as compared to the same period in 2008. The Partnership’s operating strategy will be to continue to focus on maintaining occupancy levels by adjusting rental rates, promotional discounts and marketing activities. It is unclear to us how much the above mentioned factors will impact our revenues beyond the fourth quarter of 2009.
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Other income was $138,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2009, as compared to $202,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2008, representing a decrease of $64,000 or 31.7%. Included in other income are access fees paid by PS Insurance Company - Hawaii, Ltd. (“PSICH”), a corporation owned by PS (described more fully in Note 5 to the Partnership’s September 30, 2009 condensed financial statements), totaling $135,000 and $190,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The decline is due to adjustments in timing of the recording of income in 2008 due to changes in accounting estimates. Interest income on cash balances for the three months ended September 30, 2009 declined as compared to the same period in 2008 due to significant decreases in average interest rates. The Partnership has $1,360,000 in cash on hand at September 30, 2009 invested primarily in money-market funds, which earn nominal rates of interest in the current interest rate environment.
Revenues from Affiliates under the Performance Agreement increased $3,000 or 0.8% to $372,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2009 from $369,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2008. See Note 5 to the Partnership’s September 30, 2009 condensed financial statements for further discussion of the nature of these revenues.
Cost of operations, including management fees paid to an affiliate, (see Note 5 to the Partnership’s September 30, 2009 condensed financial statements) for the three months ended September 30, 2009 was $865,000 compared to $875,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2008, representing a decrease of $10,000 or 1.1%, as reductions in repairs and maintenance and payroll expenses, were mostly offset by increases in media advertising expense.
Depreciation expense was $113,000 and $133,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, representing a decrease of $20,000.
Administrative expense was $20,000 and $16,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to nine months ended September 30, 2008:
The Partnership's net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $6,731,000, as compared to $6,912,000 for the same period in 2008, representing a decrease of $181,000 or 2.6%. Property net operating income (rental income less cost of operations, management fees paid to an affiliate and depreciation expense) decreased $250,000 or 4.4% from $5,628,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 to $5,378,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.
Rental income for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $8,347,000 as compared to $8,674,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, representing a decrease of $327,000 or 3.8%. The decrease in rental income is attributable primarily to a 2.6% decrease in annualized realized rent for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 to $15.32 per occupied square foot, as compared to $15.73 per occupied square foot for the same period in 2008. Additionally, weighted average occupancy levels at the self-storage facilities decreased slightly to 90.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, as compared to 90.4% for the same period in 2008. These amounts exclude the property operated pursuant to the management and performance agreement with a subsidiary of PS (the “PS Sub”). See Note 5 to the Partnership’s September 30, 2009 condensed financial statements for additional information.
Other income was $395,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, as compared to $367,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, representing an increase of $28,000 or 7.6%. Included in other income are access fees paid by PSICH (described more fully in Note 5 to the Partnership’s September 30, 2009 condensed financial statements), totaling $287,000 and $306,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Included in other income for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 is $97,000 in nonrecurring income in settlement of a contractual issue. Interest income on cash balances for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 declined as compared to the same period in 2008 due to significantly lower interest rates.
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Revenues from Affiliates under the Performance Agreement increased $43,000 or 4.3% to $1,047,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 from $1,004,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. See Note 5 to the Partnership’s September 30, 2009 condensed financial statements for further discussion of the nature of these revenues.
Cost of operations, including management fees paid to an affiliate, (see Note 5 to the Partnership’s September 30, 2009 condensed financial statements) for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $2,647,000 compared to $2,711,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, representing a decrease of $64,000 or 2.4%, as reductions in repairs and maintenance, payroll costs and property insurance expenses, were partially offset by increases in property tax, media advertising and office expenses.
Depreciation expense was $322,000 and $335,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, representing a decrease of $13,000 or 3.9%.
Administrative expense was $89,000 and $87,000 in the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, representing an increase of $2,000 or 2.3%.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
At September 30, 2009, the Partnership had cash of $1,360,000 as compared to total liabilities of $694,000. Cash generated from operations ($7,208,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009) has been sufficient to meet all current obligations of the Partnership. Capital improvements totaled $361,000 and $259,000 in the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Capital improvements are budgeted at $414,000 for the year ending December 31, 2009.
The Partnership does not anticipate issuing senior securities, making loans to other persons, investing in the securities of other issuers for the purpose of exercising control, underwriting the securities of other issuers, engaging in the purchase and sale of investments, offering securities in exchange for property, or repurchasing or otherwise reacquiring its outstanding securities. The Partnership may consider borrowing money with the intent of using the proceeds for distribution to partners. As the capital and credit markets are currently constrained and in flux, there can be no assurance that the Partnership would be able to access any such borrowings in order to do so, if such a course of action were otherwise deemed necessary.
Distributions
The Partnership Agreement requires that cash available for distribution (cash flow from all sources less cash necessary for any obligations or capital improvement needs) be distributed at least quarterly. During the three months ended September 30, 2009, we paid cash distributions to the limited and general partners totaling $1,680,000 ($42.00 per unit) and $582,000, respectively, and $1,840,000 ($46.00 per unit) and $638,000, respectively, for the same period in 2008. During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, we paid cash distributions to the limited and general partners totaling $4,920,000 ($123.00 per unit) and $1,706,000, respectively, and $5,000,000 ($125.00 per unit) and $1,734,000, respectively, for the same period in 2008. Future distribution rates will be adjusted to levels which are supported by operating cash flow after provisions for capital improvements and any other necessary obligations.
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Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Public Storage maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports the Partnership files and submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (“Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in accordance with SEC guidelines and that such information is communicated to the Partnership’s management, including Public Storage’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure based on the definition of "disclosure controls and procedures" in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures in reaching that level of reasonable assurance.
As of the end of the fiscal quarter covered by this report, Public Storage carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Partnership’s management, including Public Storage’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Partnership’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act. Based on that evaluation, Public Storage’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Partnership’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
There have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter to which this report relates that have materially affected, or are reasonable likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
The information set forth under the heading “Legal Proceedings” in Note 6 to the Partnership’s September 30, 2009 condensed financial statements in this Form 10-Q is incorporated by reference in this Item 1.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
The risk factors set forth below update the corresponding risk factor in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Public Storage Properties IV, Ltd. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. In addition to the risk factor below, you should carefully consider the other risk factors discussed in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, which could materially affect the Partnership’s business, financial position and results of operations.
The Partnership is subject to governmental regulations and actions that affect its operating results and financial condition.
The Partnership’s business is subject to regulation under a wide variety of U.S. federal, state and local laws, regulations and policies. There can be no assurance that, in response to current economic conditions or the current political environment or otherwise, laws and regulations will not be implemented or changed in ways that adversely affect the Partnership’s operating results and financial condition, such as current federal legislative proposals to expand health care coverage costs or facilitate union activity or otherwise increase operating costs.
Item 6. Exhibits
Exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K are listed in the attached Exhibit Index, and are filed herewith or incorporated herein by reference.
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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.
DATED: November 13, 2009
PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES IV, LTD.
BY: Public Storage
General Partner
BY: /s/ John Reyes
John Reyes
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
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Exhibit No. Exhibit Index
31.1 | Rule 13a-14(a) Certification. Filed herewith. |
31.2 | Rule 13a-14(a) Certification. Filed herewith. |
32 | Section 1350 Certifications. Filed herewith. |
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