| • | | Balance Sheet: Combined capacity to fund significant future growth at a more advantageous cost of capital utilizing Public Storage’s industry leading balance sheet and A / A2 credit rating while maintaining prudent leverage. |
“Our proposal would create a combined company with significant advantages, more robust operational capabilities, and a strong trajectory of profitable growth,” said Joe Russell, Public Storage’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our compelling offer to Life Storage shareholders includes a substantial immediate equity premium, a turbo-charged share of the combined company, and the opportunity to participate in the upside we intend to create together. We have been disappointed that Life Storage’s board has refused to engage constructively with us. Life Storage explicitly wrote on December 29, 2022 that Life Storage is ‘not for sale,’ reaffirmed that stance in a January 31, 2023 letter without offering any avenue for further dialogue, and has been unresponsive to our outreach.”
“Public Storage has a long and proven track record of delivering shareholder value through strategic growth, and we are confident in our ability to deliver significant operating efficiencies and capitalize on expanded ancillary and capital allocation opportunities. We strongly urge the Life Storage board to act in the best interests of its shareholders and enter into good faith discussions with us regarding the proposed transaction’s benefits.”
Public Storage also today announced that its Board of Trustees has increased Public Storage’s regular common quarterly dividend by 50%, from $2.00 to $3.00 per share.
The full text of Public Storage’s February 5, 2023 and January 12, 2023 letters is included below.
Advisors
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is serving as Public Storage’s financial advisor and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is serving as Public Storage’s legal advisor.
Public Storage’s February 5, 2023 Letter to Life Storage
February 5, 2023
Mark G. Barberio, Chairman of the Board
Joseph V. Saffire, Chief Executive Officer
Life Storage, Inc.
6467 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14221
Dear Mark and Joe,
We are writing to reiterate our proposal to acquire Life Storage, Inc. for consideration consisting of Public Storage common stock at an exchange ratio of 0.4192 shares of Public Storage common stock for each outstanding Life Storage share or unit. Our offer represents a 19% premium based on the 20-day trailing VWAPs of Public Storage and Life Storage as of February 3, 2023. This substantial offer provides Life Storage shareholders not only an immediate, highly attractive equity premium, but also a superior opportunity to unlock near-, medium-, and long-term growth, profitability, and value creation.
We believe your shareholders deserve to be informed of our proposed transaction and to have the opportunity to make their views known, and we are making this letter public in light of your refusal to engage in any meaningful dialogue, including your declaration in writing on December 29, 2022 that Life Storage “is not for sale.”
As we have stated multiple times, we admire your business and respect the strides your management team and board have made, particularly in recent years. Your success, coupled with Public Storage’s proven ability to deliver industry-leading performance through superior operational capabilities and strategic growth, is the reason we are so