Exhibit 99.1
American Retirement Corporation Reports First Quarter 2006 Results
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 4, 2006--American
Retirement Corporation (NYSE: ACR):
-- Reported diluted earnings per share of $.14 for the quarter,
including $.03 of non-cash equity compensation.
-- Community revenue increased 10% and community operating
contribution increased 16% over the prior year's first
quarter.
-- For the first quarter, free cash flow was $10.8 million, an
increase of 300% versus the prior year.
-- Completed or announced $271 million of transactions - one
transaction involving 4 communities completed during the first
quarter, another acquisition of 2 communities completed at the
beginning of the second quarter and another community to be
purchased during the second quarter.
American Retirement Corporation (NYSE: ACR) today reported first
quarter 2006 diluted earnings of $.14 per share, compared with $.09
per share for the prior year's first quarter.
Bill Sheriff, Chairman, President and CEO of the company,
commented, "Our operations had a very good first quarter by all
measures. Our same community results showed an 8% increase in revenues
and a 15% increase in operating contribution. Occupancies remained
strong with our assisted living portfolio reaching over 92%. Monthly
revenue per unit continued to increase and, at the same time, we
controlled operating expenses to produce record levels of operating
contribution per unit - well above the industry average. We
accomplished this despite the lack of clarity regarding therapy caps
early in the period, which dampened our ancillary revenue in the
beginning of the first quarter - although the volume was close to
targeted levels by the end of the quarter."
"We also had a good start for the year regarding our growth
strategy," he added. "We acquired the four Town Village communities
during the quarter, which are in targeted strategic markets. We added
a continuum component to our market presence in Kansas City with the
acquisition of two communities at the beginning of the second quarter,
which will be accretive. We also announced an agreement to acquire a
very large entry-fee community in Florida that we expect to close
before the end of the second quarter. We believe this acquisition will
fit well with our current portfolio in the Tampa area and will be
accretive. Additionally, we now have three of the eventual seven joint
venture pharmacies started and, though we incurred about $.01 per
share of start-up costs in the quarter, we are very excited about
their prospects. We also made progress on the start-up of home health
agencies in seven of our markets and on our various development
projects."
(All references to growth rate percentage compare the results of
the current period to the prior year comparable period).
Financial Highlights
-- $131 million of total revenue for the first quarter of 2006,
an 11% increase.
-- Net income of $5 million ($.14 per diluted share) for the
first quarter of 2006 versus $3 million ($.09 per diluted
share) for the first quarter of 2005.
-- Community operating contribution from the company's three
business segments of $46 million for the first quarter, an
increase of 17%.
-- First quarter 2006 income from operations of $10 million, a
51% increase.
-- Completed equity offering of $90 million.
Operational Highlights
-- Occupancy was 94%, with the company's large retirement
communities ending the quarter at 95% and the free-standing
assisted living communities ending at 92%.
-- Same community results showed an 8% increase in revenue and a
15% increase in operating contribution for the year.
-- Retirement Center communities produced a 7% increase in
average monthly revenue per occupied unit and an 11% increase
in monthly operating contribution per occupied unit.
-- Free-standing assisted living communities produced a 9%
increase in average monthly revenue per occupied unit and a
24% increase in monthly operating contribution per occupied
unit.
Operating Review
The company operates in three business segments:
-- The Retirement Centers ("Retirement Centers") include CCRCs
(continuing care retirement centers), Entrance-Fee Communities
("EF Communities") and congregate living residences.
-- Free-standing assisted living communities ("Free-standing
AL's") are smaller than Retirement Centers and provide
assisted living and specialized care such as Alzheimer's and
memory enhancement programs.
-- The Management Services segment includes fees from management
agreements for communities owned by others and joint ventures,
development fees and reimbursed expenses.
For the first quarter of 2006, the results for the company's three
operating segments were as follows:
Three months ended:
Mar. 31,
-------------------- $ %
2006 2005 Change Change
- ------------------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Resident & Healthcare revenue $127,786 $116,653 11,133 9.5%
- ------------------------------- -------- -------- ------- --------
Community operating expense $ 83,454 $ 78,301 5,153 6.6%
- ------------------------------- -------- -------- ------- --------
Community operating
contribution(1) $ 44,332 $ 38,352 5,980 15.6%
- ------------------------------- -------- -------- ------- --------
Community contribution margin 34.7% 32.9%
- ------------------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Management Services op.
contribution $ 1,224 $ 500 724 144.8%
- ------------------------------- -------- -------- ------- --------
(1) The company evaluates the performance of its business
segments primarily based upon their operating contributions,
which the company defines as revenue from the segment less
operating expenses, excluding depreciation, associated with
that segment.
Retirement Centers Segment
The company's 29 Retirement Centers exhibited strong increases in
revenue and operating contribution for the first quarter of 2006 as
follows:
Retirement Centers ($ in 000's):
- -------------------------------------- Three months ended:
Mar. 31,
- ------------------------------------------------------ $ %
2006 2005 Change Change
- -------------------------------------- ------- -----------------------
Resident & Healthcare revenue $98,606 $91,046 $ 7,560 8.3%
- -------------------------------------- ------- ------- ---------------
Community operating contribution $34,255 $30,592 $ 3,663 12.0%
- -------------------------------------- ------- ------- ---------------
Community contribution margin 34.7% 33.6%
- -------------------------------------- ------- -----------------------
% Ending Occupancy 95% 95%
- -------------------------------------- ------- -----------------------
The Retirement Center segment continued to produce strong revenue
gains.
-- Average occupancy was 96%, up from first quarter 2005's 95%.
-- Ending occupancy was 95%, level with the first quarter of
2005, with 97% occupancy in the independent living, 95% in the
assisted living and 91% in the skilled nursing components of
the segment.
-- Average monthly revenue per occupied unit increased 7% during
the quarter versus the prior year to $3,815 - due to increases
in monthly service fees and per diem rates in skilled nursing,
turnover of residents (the "Mark-to-Market" effect of
reselling or reletting units at higher current rates) and
increased ancillary services, primarily driven by the
company's Innovative Senior Care therapy, education and
wellness programs.
The operating contribution for Retirement Centers was $34 million
for the first quarter of 2006. This represented a $4 million or 12%
increase over the prior year's first quarter. The Retirement Centers
continue to produce increased monthly operating contribution per
occupied unit, attaining $1,325 per unit in the first quarter of 2006,
an 11% improvement from the prior year's first quarter. For the first
quarter of 2006, 48% of the incremental revenue from the Retirement
Center segment fell to operating contribution.
Free-standing AL's Segment
The company's 32 Free-standing AL's exhibited strong increases in
revenue and operating contribution for the first quarter of 2006 as
follows:
Free-standing AL's ($ in 000's)(1):
- -------------------------------- Three months ended:
Mar. 31,
- ------------------------------------------------------- $ %
2006 2005 Change Change
- -------------------------------- -------------- ------- ------ ------
Resident & Healthcare revenue $ 29,180 $25,607 3,573 14.0%
- -------------------------------- -------------- ------- ------ ------
Community operating
contribution $ 10,077 $ 7,760 2,317 29.9%
- -------------------------------- -------------- ------- ------ ------
Community contribution margin 34.5% 30.3%
- -------------------------------- -------------- ------- ------ ------
% Ending Occupancy 92% 90%
- -------------------------------- -------------- ------- ------ ------
(1) Includes results of 32 Free-standing AL's and excludes
nine non-consolidated Free-standing AL's held in joint
ventures.
The revenue increase in the Free-standing AL segment of 14% to $29
million was driven by the following factors:
-- Average occupancy for the Free-standing AL portfolio was 92%
for the first quarter, up from 89% a year ago and up from 91%
in the fourth quarter of 2006.
-- The average monthly revenue per occupied unit increased 9% to
$3,666, up from $3,364 per month in the first quarter of 2005.
The revenue per occupied unit increase was due to rate
increases, reduced promotional allowances, increased care
services and turnover of residents (the "Mark-to-Market"
effect of reletting units at higher current rates).
-- The increased use of ancillary services, particularly
Innovative Senior Care therapy, education and wellness
services, also contributed significantly to the revenue
increase for this segment.
The operating contribution for Free-standing AL's was $10.1
million for the first quarter of 2006, a $2 million or 30% increase
over the prior year's first quarter. The Free-standing AL's continue
to increase the monthly operating contribution per occupied unit,
reaching $1,266 per unit in the first quarter of 2006, a 24%
improvement from the prior year's first quarter. For the first quarter
of 2006, 65% of the incremental revenue from the Free-standing AL
segment fell to operating contribution.
Management Services Segment
The Management Services segment had an operating contribution of
$1.2 million in the first quarter of 2006, an increase of $.7 million.
The company's Management Services business segment includes management
contracts on six third party managed communities (6 Retirement
Centers), management contracts on 13 communities owned in joint
venture structures (4 Retirement Centers and 9 Free-standing AL's) and
development fees on development projects for third parties and joint
ventures.
Financial Review
Revenues for the quarter increased 11% to $131 million versus the
prior year quarter, reflecting the increased average occupied units,
the incremental rate increase from the Mark-to-Market effect for new
residents, rate increases to existing residents and increased
ancillary services. Ancillary services revenue was over $21 million
for the quarter, up from $18 million a year ago. Ancillary services
revenue currently comprises 16% of total revenue.
Community operating expenses increased 6% for the quarter versus
the prior year period, while community revenue increased 10%,
evidencing good cost control in spite of an increase in utility costs.
General and administrative expenses increased $3 million from the
first quarter of 2005 as a result of $1.6 million of non-cash
compensation expense and the growth of the Company's business.
Net income for the first quarter of 2006 was $5 million or $.14
per diluted share, compared with $3 million or $.09 per share for the
prior year's first quarter. Free cash flow was $10.8 million for the
first quarter, versus $2.7 million for the first quarter of 2005.
2006 Earnings Outlook
The company expects to report net earnings per diluted share for
2006 in a range of $.69 to $.72 per diluted share, which includes an
estimated $.12 of share-based, non-cash compensation expense. This
guidance includes the impact of previously announced transactions, but
does not include the impact of potential future acquisitions.
Conference Call Information
American Retirement Corporation will hold a conference call with
Bill Sheriff, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and
Bryan Richardson, Chief Financial Officer, to discuss the company's
2006 first quarter results and the other matters described above. The
call will be held Thursday, May 4, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. ET (10:00 a.m.
Central) and parties may participate by either calling (877) 252-6354
or through the company's website at www.arclp.com. Click on the
broadcast icon to listen to the earnings call - Windows Media
Player(TM) is required to listen to this webcast. In addition, the
call will be archived on the company's website until the next
regularly scheduled earnings conference call. If any material
information is disclosed on the conference call that has not been
previously disclosed publicly, that information will also be available
at the Investors Welcome portion of the company's website.
Additional Filings
The company will file on or about May 4, 2006 a Form 8-K with the
SEC which includes supplemental information relating to the company's
first quarter 2006 results. This filing will also be available through
the Investors Welcome section of the company's website -
www.arclp.com.
Company Profile
American Retirement Corporation is a national senior living and
health care services provider offering a broad range of care and
services to seniors, including independent living, assisted living,
skilled nursing and Alzheimer's care. Established in 1978, the company
believes that it is a leader in the operation and management of senior
living communities, including independent living communities,
continuing care retirement communities, Free-standing AL's, and the
development of specialized care programs for residents with
Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. The company's operating
philosophy is to enhance the lives of seniors by striving to provide
the highest quality of care and services in well-operated communities
designed to improve and protect the quality of life, independence,
personal freedom, privacy, spirit, and dignity of its residents. The
company currently operates 82 senior living communities in 19 states,
with an aggregate unit capacity of approximately 15,200 units and
resident capacity of approximately 17,100. The company owns 33
communities (including 13 communities in joint ventures), leases 43
communities, and manages six communities pursuant to management
agreements. Approximately 83% of the company's revenues come from
private pay sources.
Risks of Forward Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release and statements made by
or on behalf of American Retirement Corporation relating hereto may be
deemed to constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. Those forward-looking statements include all statements that
are not historical statements of fact and those regarding the intent,
belief or expectations of the company or its management, including,
without limitation, all statements regarding the company's future
earnings and results of operations and future share-based compensation
expenses, all statements regarding the financial effects of recently
completed acquisitions, and all statements regarding potential
acquisitions and planned expansions and development. These
forward-looking statements may be affected by certain risks and
uncertainties, including without limitation the following: (i) the
risk associated with the company's debt and lease obligations, (ii)
the company's ability to sell its entrance fee units and to increase
occupancy at the company's communities, (iii) the risk that the
company will be unable to improve the company's results of operations,
increase cash flow and reduce expenses, (iv) the risks associated with
adverse market conditions of the senior housing industry and the
United States home resale market and economy in general, (v) the risk
that the company is unable to obtain liability insurance in the future
or that the costs thereof (including deductibles) will be prohibitive,
(vi) the company's ability to obtain new financing or extend and/or
modify existing debt, (vii) the risk that the company will not be able
to successfully integrate acquired communities into the company's
operations, (viii) the risk of changes in government reimbursement
programs including caps on therapy reimbursements, (ix) the risk that
the company will be unable to locate acquisition opportunities at
prices that the company deems acceptable or to successfully complete
planned expansions and developments of new units, (x) the company's
ability to derive expected financial results from new developments and
expansions and (xi) the risk factors described in the company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 under the
caption "Risk Factors" and in the company's other filings with the
SEC. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the
forward-looking statements included herein, the company's actual
results could differ materially from such forward-looking statements.
The company does not undertake any obligation to publicly release any
revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to
reflect events and circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to
reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
AMERICAN RETIREMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
(in thousands, except per share data)
Three months ended Increase
March 31, (Decrease)
---------------------- ----------------
2006 2005 $ %
-------- ----------- ------- -------
Revenues:
Resident and health care $127,786 $ 116,653 $11,133 9.5%
Management services 1,224 500 724 144.8%
Reimbursed expenses 2,083 802 1,281 159.7%
-------- ----------- ------- -------
Total revenues 131,093 117,955 13,138 11.1%
Operating expenses:
Cost of community service
revenue, exclusive of
depreciation 83,454 78,301 5,153 6.6%
Lease expense 15,333 15,510 (177) -1.1%
Depreciation and
amortization, inclusive of
general and administrative
depreciation and
amortization of $364 and
$943 9,407 9,271 136 1.5%
Amortization of leasehold
acquisition costs 592 699 (107) -15.3%
Loss on sale of assets 84 12 72 600.0%
Reimbursed expenses 2,083 802 1,281 159.7%
General and administrative 9,942 6,591 3,351 50.8%
-------- ----------- ------- -------
Total operating expenses 120,895 111,186 9,709 8.7%
-------- ----------- ------- -------
Income from operations 10,198 6,769 3,429 50.7%
Other income (expense):
Interest expense (4,270) (3,557) (713) -20.0%
Interest income 1,626 720 906 125.8%
Other (214) 139 (353) -254.0%
-------- ----------- ------- -------
Other expense, net (2,858) (2,698) (160) -5.9%
-------- ----------- ------- -------
Income before income taxes
and minority interest 7,340 4,071 3,269 80.3%
Income tax expense 2,714 1,375 1,339 -97.4%
-------- ----------- ------- -------
Income from continuing
operations before
minority interest 4,626 2,696 1,930 71.6%
Minority interest in (earnings)
losses of consolidated
subsidiaries, net of tax 176 (71) 247 347.9%
-------- ----------- ------- -------
Net income $ 4,802 $ 2,625 $ 2,177 82.9%
======== =========== ======= =======
Basic income per share $ 0.14 $ 0.09
======== ===========
Diluted income per share $ 0.14 $ 0.09
======== ===========
Weighted average shares used
for basic earnings per share
data 33,798 28,899
Effect of dilutive common stock
options 1,098 1,801
-------- -----------
Weighted average shares used
for diluted earnings per share
data 34,896 30,700
======== ===========
- ----------------------------------------------------
March 31, December 31,
2006 2005
-------- -----------
Selected Balance Sheet Data:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 84,245 $ 40,771
Restricted cash 32,570 28,435
Working capital deficit (31,830) (90,509)
Land, buildings and
equipment, net 558,257 551,298
Total assets 945,081 879,474
Long-term debt, including
current portion 125,028 146,583
Capital lease and lease
financing obligations,
including
current portion 173,227 177,417
Refundable portion of
entrance fees 85,434 85,164
Current portion of
deferred entrance fee
income 37,591 38,407
Long-term deferred
entrance fee income 125,112 122,417
Deferred gain on sale
lease-back transactions 86,392 89,012
Shareholders' equity 229,619 132,755
AMERICAN RETIREMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
GAAP RECONCILIATION
FREE CASH FLOW
($'s in thousands)
Free cash flow is presented to provide additional information
concerning cash flow available to meet future debt service
obligations and working capital requirements. Free cash flow should
not be considered as a measure of financial performance or liquidity
under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Free cash flow
should not be considered in isolation or as alternative to financial
statement data presented in the Company's consolidated financial
statements as an indicator of financial performance or liquidity.
Free cash flow, as presented, may not be comparable to similarly
titled measures of other companies.
The following table reconciles Free cash flow, as
described above, to net income as reflected in the
Company's consolidated statements of earnings.
Three months
ended
March 31, 2006
Net income $ 4,802
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash and cash
equivalents
provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 9,999
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense 1,495
Amortization of deferred financing costs 197
Non-cash interest income (36)
Amortization of deferred gain on sale-leaseback
transactions (2,961)
Loss (gain) on sale of assets 84
(Gains) losses from unconsolidated joint ventures 346
Minority interest in earnings of consolidated
subsidiaries (176)
Entrance fee items
Amortization of deferred entrance fee revenue (4,639)
Proceeds from entrance fee sales 8,789
--------------
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by operating
activities (before changes in assets and liabilities,
exclusive of acquisitions and sale leaseback
transactions) 17,900
Adjustments for lease escalators and other accruals 1,094
Additions to land, building and equipment, including
development expenditures (13,985)
Remove development expenditures 11,304
Distributions received from joint ventures 324
Net deferred tax effect 885
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options 448
Proceeds from refundable entrance fee sales, net of
refunds (1,474)
Distributions to minority interest holders (762)
Principal reductions in master trust liability (244)
--------------
Free cash flow 15,490
Principal payments on long-term debt (4,721)
--------------
Free cash flow after principal payments $ 10,769
==============
CONTACT: American Retirement Corporation
Ross C. Roadman, 615-376-2412