Exhibit 99.1

 

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CONTACT:

Sara Grootwassink

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

Direct Dial: 301-255-0820

E-Mail: sgrootwassink@writ.com

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6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 800

Rockville, Maryland 20852

Tel 301-984-9400

Fax 301-984-9610

www.writ.com

 

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  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   July 18, 2007

WASHINGTON REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST ANNOUNCES

SECOND QUARTER 2007 RESULTS

Washington Real Estate Investment Trust (WRIT) (NYSE: WRE) reported financial and operating results today for the second quarter ended June 30, 2007:

 

   

Net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 was $8.3 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, compared to $7.7 million, or $0.18 per diluted share in the same period one year ago.

 

 

 

Funds from Operations (FFO) (1) for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 was $25.2 million, or $0.55 per diluted share, an increase of $4.5 million, or $0.07 per diluted share from the same period last year.

Operating Results

Core Net Operating Income (NOI) (3) for the second quarter increased by 3.2%, or $1.1 million, compared to the same period one year ago. The increase in Core NOI is due to rental rate growth of 3.3% and economic occupancy increase of 1.1%. Rental rate growth was achieved in all sectors; the increase in economic occupancy was primarily achieved in the office and industrial sectors.

 

   

Industrial properties’ Core NOI increased 7.4% compared to the same period one year ago due to rental rate growth of 3.4% and economic occupancy increasing by 1.4%. Rental rate growth was primarily achieved by annual rent increases at Northern Virginia Industrial Park and other industrial properties.

 

   

General purpose office properties’ Core NOI increased 4.9% compared to the same period one year ago. The gain is primarily due to increased occupancy, 3.0% higher than the same period the prior year. Rental rates for the office sector increased 1.7%.

 

   

Medical office properties’ Core NOI increased 1.3% compared to the same period one year ago. Rental rate growth was 3.5% and economic occupancy remains high for the medical office sector at 98.3%.

 

   

Multifamily properties’ Core NOI increased 1.2% compared to the same period one year ago. Rental rate increases resulted in $0.5 million increase in rental rates, or 5.8%, and economic occupancy increased by 40 bps.

 

   

Retail properties’ Core NOI decreased 1.6% compared to the same period one year ago. The decrease is primarily due to a decline in economic occupancy from 99.0% to 96.1%.

Core occupancy was 94.8% during the second quarter of 2007, an increase of 110 bps from the same period the prior year.


Washington Real Estate Investment Trust

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Leasing Activity

During the second quarter, WRIT signed commercial leases for 534,000 square feet, with an average rental rate increase of 20.7% and tenant improvements of $6.67 per square foot. Residential rental rates increased 5.8%.

 

   

Rental rates for new and renewed retail leases increased 40.6%, with $2.27 per square foot in tenant improvement costs. New and renewed leases at Westminster, Bradlee and Wheaton shopping centers had the most impact on the increase.

 

   

Rental rates for new and renewed industrial/flex leases increased 18.3%, with $3.78 per square foot in tenant improvement costs. The rental rate increase primarily results from new and renewed leases at Dulles Business Park and Pickett Industrial Park.

 

   

Rental rates for new and renewed medical office leases increased 17.8%, with $6.04 per square foot in tenant improvement costs. Leases at Prosperity Medical Center and 15001 Shady Grove Road were mostly responsible for the 17.8% increase.

 

   

Rental rates for new and renewed office leases increased 14.4%, with $17.80 per square foot in tenant improvement costs. New and renewed leases signed at 7900 Westpark Drive and 6565 Arlington Boulevard were the primary contributors of the rate increase.

Acquisition Activity

During the second quarter of 2007, WRIT acquired three properties for $72.0 million, including one class A, general purpose office building and two medical office properties. The acquisitions were financed with proceeds from June’s equity offering, borrowings on our line of credit, and cash from operations.

 

   

On June 1, 2007, WRIT acquired Woodholme Medical Office Building and Woodholme Center, totaling 198,000 net rentable square feet and 844 parking spaces for $49.0 million. The properties are located off the Baltimore Beltway (I-695) in the Pikesville/Owings Mill submarket of Baltimore County, Maryland. Woodholme Medical Office Building and Woodholme Center are part of a mixed-use development that includes retail, restaurants, and a rehabilitation center and are 97% and 95% leased, respectively.

 

   

On June 1, 2007, WRIT acquired Ashburn Farm Office Park, a portfolio consisting of three multi-story medical office buildings for $23.0 million. The 100% leased portfolio totals 75,400 net rentable square feet and 250 parking spaces. The buildings are located three miles south of the 155-bed INOVA Loudoun Hospital in Loudoun County, Virginia, one of the wealthiest and fastest growing counties in the United States.

Development Activity

At quarter end, three development projects were in progress:

 

   

Bennett Park, formerly Rosslyn Towers, is a ground-up development project in Arlington, VA consisting of high-rise and mid-rise class A apartment buildings with a total of 224 units and 5,900 square feet of retail space. Construction is anticipated to be substantially complete on the high-rise building in fourth quarter 2007 and on the mid-rise in third quarter 2007.

 

   

The Clayborne Apartments, formerly South Washington Street, is a ground-up development project in Alexandria, VA, adjacent to our 800 South Washington retail property. This project is a 75-unit high-end apartment building that will include 2,600 square feet of additional retail space. Construction is anticipated to be substantially complete on the building in third quarter 2007.

 

   

Phase One of Dulles Station is a 180,000 square foot office development project located in Herndon, VA. Development is anticipated to be complete in the third quarter 2007.


Washington Real Estate Investment Trust

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Capital Structure

For the 37th consecutive year, WRIT increased its quarterly dividend rate to an indicated annual rate of $1.69 per share for its 182nd consecutive quarterly dividend at equal or increasing rates.

On June 1, 2007, WRIT raised $59 million by issuing 1.6 million common shares at a price of $37 per share. WRIT used the net proceeds from the offerings to repay borrowings under its lines of credit.

On June 29, 2007, WRIT entered into an unsecured revolving credit facility with SunTrust Bank as agent. The facility has a committed capacity of $75 million, improved pricing, and a maturity date of June 29, 2011. The $75 million facility replaces WRIT’s unsecured revolving credit facility with SunTrust Bank, which had a committed capacity of $70 million.

On June 29, 2007, WRIT successfully completed its consent solicitation to amend the terms of its outstanding unsecured notes. WRIT requested the modifications due to the restrictive total assets definition; WRIT believes the change to a market based asset definition will more accurately reflect the value of these assets.

As of June 30, 2007 WRIT had a total capitalization of $2.8 billion.

Earnings Guidance

WRIT is maintaining its previously issued 2007 FFO per share guidance of $2.23-$2.26.

Conference Call Information

The Conference Call for 2nd Quarter Earnings is scheduled for Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time. Conference Call access information is as follows:

 

USA Toll Free Number:      1-888-271-8857
International Toll Number:      1-706-679-7697
Leader:      Sara Grootwassink
Conference ID:      4034714

The instant replay of the Conference Call will be available until August 2, 2007 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Instant Replay access information is as follows:

 

USA Toll Free Number:      1-800-642-1687
International Toll Number:      1-706-645-9291
Conference ID:      4034714

The live on-demand webcast of the Conference Call will also be available on WRIT’s website at www.writ.com. On-line playback of the webcast will be available at http://www.writ.com for two weeks following the Conference Call.

About WRIT

WRIT is a self-administered, self-managed, equity real estate investment trust investing in income-producing properties in the greater Washington/Baltimore metropolitan region. WRIT owns a diversified portfolio of 88 properties consisting of 14 retail centers, 26 general purpose office properties, 16 medical office properties, 23 industrial/flex properties, 9 multi-family properties and land for development. WRIT’s dividends have increased every year for 37 consecutive years and FFO per share has increased every year for 34 consecutive years. WRIT shares are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: WRE).

Note: WRIT’s press releases and supplemental financial information are available on the company website at www.writ.com or by contacting Investor Relations at (301) 984-9400.

Certain statements in this press release and the supplemental disclosures attached hereto are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in interest rates, availability of raw materials and labor costs, levels of competition, the effect of government regulation, the availability of capital, weather conditions, the timing and pricing of lease transactions and changes in general and local economic and


Washington Real Estate Investment Trust

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real estate market conditions, and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in our filings with the SEC, including our 2006 Form 10-K. We assume no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events.

(1) Funds From Operations (“FFO”) – The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, Inc. (“NAREIT”) defines FFO (April, 2002 White Paper) as net income (computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”)) excluding gains (or losses) from sales of property plus real estate depreciation and amortization. We consider FFO to be a standard supplemental measure for equity real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) because it facilitates an understanding of the operating performance of our properties without giving effect to real estate depreciation and amortization, which historically assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. Since real estate values have instead historically risen or fallen with market conditions, we believe that FFO more accurately provides investors an indication of our ability to incur and service debt, make capital expenditures and fund other needs.

(2) Funds Available for Distribution (“FAD”) is calculated by subtracting from FFO (1) recurring expenditures, tenant improvements and leasing costs that are capitalized and amortized and are necessary to maintain our properties and revenue stream and (2) straight line rents, then adding (3) non-real estate depreciation and amortization, (4) amortization of restricted share and unit compensation, and adding or subtracting amortization of lease intangibles, as appropriate. FAD is included herein, because we consider it to be a measure of a REIT’s ability to incur and service debt and to distribute dividends to its shareholders. FAD is a non-GAAP and non-standardized measure, and may be calculated differently by other REITs.

(3) For purposes of evaluating comparative operating performance, we categorize our properties as “core” or “non-core”. Core Operating NOI is calculated as real estate rental revenue less real estate operating expenses for those properties owned for the entirety of the periods being evaluated. Core Operating NOI is a non-GAAP measure.

Economic Occupancy Levels by Core Portfolio (i) and All Properties

 

     Core Portfolio     All Properties  
Sector   

2nd QTR

2007

   

2nd QTR

2006

   

2nd QTR

2007

   

2nd QTR

2006

 

Multifamily

   90.8 (ii)   90.4 %   90.8 %   90.4 %

Office Buildings

   95.6 %   92.6 %   95.1 %   92.4 %

Medical Office

   98.3 %   98.5 %   96.1 %   98.7 %

Retail Centers

   96.1 %   99.0 %   95.1 (iii)   96.1 %

Industrial/Flex Centers

   94.0 %   92.6 %   94.0 %   92.5 %

Overall Portfolio

   94.8 %   93.7 %   94.4 %   93.3 %

(i)

Core portfolio properties include all properties that were owned for the entirety of the current and prior year reporting periods. For Q2 2007 and Q2 2006, core portfolio properties exclude:

Office Acquisitions: Woodholme Center, Monument II, 6565 Arlington Blvd, West Gude Office Park and The Ridges;

Medical Office Acquisitions: Ashburn Farm Office Park, Woodholme Medical Office Building, 2440 M Street, Alexandria Professional Center, 9707 Medical Center Drive, 15001 Shady Grove Rd, Plumtree Medical Center, 15005 Shady Grove Rd and The Crescent;

Retail Acquisitions: Randolph Shopping Center and Montrose Shopping Center, and

Industrial Acquisitions: 270 Technology Park and 9950 Business Parkway.

(ii)

Multifamily occupancy level for Q207 is 90.9% without the impact of units off-line for planned renovations. The overall portfolio occupancy was not impacted.

(iii)

Montrose Shopping Center was 58% leased when purchased in May 2006.


Washington Real Estate Investment Trust

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WASHINGTON REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,  

OPERATING RESULTS

   2007     2006     2007     2006  

Revenue

        

Real estate rental revenue

   $ 64,202     $ 51,351     $ 125,000     $ 100,572  

Expenses

        

Real estate expenses

     19,756       14,841       38,715       29,618  

Depreciation and amortization

     16,880       12,462       33,258       23,958  

General and administrative

     5,367       5,276       8,250       7,931  
                                
     42,003       32,579       80,223       61,507  
                                

Other (expense) income:

        

Interest expense

     (15,298 )     (11,604 )     (29,674 )     (21,926 )

Other income

     420       175       1,038       344  

Other income from life insurance proceeds

     —         —         1,303       —    
                                
     (14,878 )     (11,429 )     (27,333 )     (21,582 )
                                

Income from continuing operations

     7,321       7,343       17,444       17,483  

Discontinued operations:

        

Income from operations of properties sold or held for sale

     1,016       376       1,605       868  
                                

Net Income

   $ 8,337     $ 7,719     $ 19,049     $ 18,351  
                                

Income from continuing operations

   $ 7,321     $ 7,343     $ 17,444     $ 17,483  

Other income from life insurance proceeds

     —         —         (1,303 )     —    

Continuing operations real estate depreciation and amortization

     16,880       12,462       33,258       23,958  
                                

Funds from continuing operations

   $ 24,201     $ 19,805     $ 49,399     $ 41,441  
                                

Income from discontinued operations before gain on disposal

     1,016       376       1,605       868  

Discontinued operations real estate depreciation and amortization

     —         528       397       1,001  
                                

Funds from discontinued operations

     1,016       904       2,002       1,869  
                                

Funds from operations(1)

   $ 25,217     $ 20,709     $ 51,401     $ 43,310  
                                

Tenant improvements

     (5,185 )     (2,033 )     (7,346 )     (4,728 )

External and internal leasing commissions capitalized

     (1,165 )     (1,477 )     (3,233 )     (2,437 )

Recurring capital improvements

     (3,425 )     (2,724 )     (5,361 )     (5,018 )

Straight-line rents, net

     (1,088 )     (686 )     (2,259 )     (1,499 )

Non real estate depreciation & amortization of debt costs

     824       554       1,574       1,048  

Amortization of lease intangibles, net

     (280 )     (17 )     (875 )     (4 )

Amortization and expensing of restricted share and unit compensation

     1,574       1,487       2,356       1,827  

Other

     1,201       —         1,201       —    
                                

Funds Available for Distribution (2)

   $ 17,673     $ 15,813     $ 37,458     $ 32,499  
                                

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.


Washington Real Estate Investment Trust

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         Three Months Ended June 30,    Six Months Ended June 30,

Per Share Data

       2007    2006    2007    2006

Income from continuing operations

   (Basic)   $ 0.16    $ 0.17    $ 0.39    $ 0.41
   (Diluted)   $ 0.16    $ 0.17    $ 0.38    $ 0.41

Net income

   (Basic)   $ 0.18    $ 0.18    $ 0.42    $ 0.43
   (Diluted)   $ 0.18    $ 0.18    $ 0.42    $ 0.43

Funds from continuing operations

   (Basic)   $ 0.53    $ 0.46    $ 1.09    $ 0.98
   (Diluted)   $ 0.53    $ 0.46    $ 1.09    $ 0.97

Funds from operations

   (Basic)   $ 0.55    $ 0.48    $ 1.14    $ 1.02
   (Diluted)   $ 0.55    $ 0.48    $ 1.13    $ 1.02

Dividends paid

     $ 0.4225    $ 0.4125    $ 0.8350    $ 0.8150

Weighted average shares outstanding

       45,490      42,852      45,212      42,454

Fully diluted weighted average shares outstanding

       45,658      43,037      45,407      42,620


Washington Real Estate Investment Trust

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WASHINGTON REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

 

    

(Unaudited)

June 30,

2007

   

December 31,

2006

 
    
    

Assets

    

Land

   $ 326,452     $ 288,821  

Income producing property

     1,474,874       1,264,442  
                
     1,801,326       1,553,263  

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (305,647 )     (277,016 )
                

Net income producing property

     1,495,679       1,276,247  

Development in progress (4)

     151,393       120,656  
                

Total investment in real estate, net

     1,647,072       1,396,903  

Investment in real estate sold or held for sale

     29,341       29,551  

Cash and cash equivalents

     8,133       8,721  

Restricted cash

     6,835       4,151  

Rents and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $4,134 and $3,464, respectively

     35,435       31,649  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     68,439       58,192  

Other assets related to properties sold or held for sale

     1,940       2,098  
                

Total Assets

   $ 1,797,195     $ 1,531,265  
                

Liabilities

    

Notes payable

   $ 879,064     $ 728,255  

Mortgage notes payable

     254,324       237,073  

Lines of credit

     95,500       61,000  

Accounts payable and other liabilities

     66,529       45,089  

Advance rents

     6,666       5,894  

Tenant security deposits

     10,376       9,231  

Other liabilities related to property sold or held for sale

     818       1,053  
                

Total Liabilities

     1,313,277       1,087,595  
                

Minority interest

     1,776       1,739  
                

Shareholders’ Equity

    

Shares of beneficial interest, $.01 par value; 100,000 shares authorized: 46,665 and 45,042 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

     467       451  

Additional paid-in capital

     560,276       500,727  

Distributions in excess of net income

     (78,601 )     (59,247 )
                

Total Shareholders’ Equity

     482,142       441,931  
                

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

   $ 1,797,195     $ 1,531,265  
                

Note: Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

(4)

Includes cost of land acquired for development.