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MHC Reports Fourth Quarter Results;
Acquisition Program Moves Forward

01/27/04

CHICAGO, Jan. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Manufactured Home Communities, Inc. (NYSE: MHC) today announced results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2003.

For the fourth quarter of 2003, Funds From Operations (FFO) were $9.7 million or $.34 per share on a fully diluted basis compared to $17.4 million or $.63 per fully diluted share in the same period in 2002. FFO for the fourth quarter of 2003 and for the year ended December 31, 2003 were reduced by approximately $0.29 per share as a result of the Company's $502 million recapitalization. Fourth quarter property operating revenues were $57.8 million compared to $55.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2002. For the fourth quarter of 2003, average occupancy was 90.3 percent and average monthly base rent per site for the Core Portfolio was $425.48, up 4.9 percent from $405.57 in the same period last year.

For the year ended December 31, 2003, FFO were $60.8 million or $2.17 per share on a fully diluted basis compared to $68.4 million or $2.48 per fully diluted share in the same period in 2002. Property operating revenues for the year ended December 31, 2003 were $228.8 million compared to $223.5 million for the same period of 2002. For the year ended December 31, 2003, average occupancy was 91.2 percent and average monthly base rent per site for the Core Portfolio was $421.49, up 5.1 percent from $401.11 in the same period last year. For the year ended December 31, 2003 the Company had 458 new home sales, a 9 percent increase over the year ended December 31, 2002.

Net income (loss) available to common stockholders totaled ($268,000) or ($.01) per fully diluted share for the quarter ended December 31, 2003. This compares to the net income available to common stockholders of $16.2 million or $.73 per fully diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2002. Net income available to common stockholders totaled $27 million or $1.20 per fully diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2003 compared to $36.4 million or $1.64 per fully diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2002. See the attachment to this press release for a reconciliation of FFO and FFO per share to net income and net income per share, respectively, the most directly comparable GAAP measures.

The Company's cash balance as of January 20, 2004 after the payment of the $8.00 per share special dividend was $97.5 million. The Company has $110 million of availability under its line of credit.

MHC's management projects continued growth in 2004 Core property performance. Core base rent rate growth is expected to be approximately 4 percent. Core portfolio operating expenses are expected to grow in excess of CPI due to increases in insurance, real estate taxes and utility expenses. These projections would result in Core NOI growth of approximately 2.5 percent.

Results for 2004 will be impacted by 1) acquisitions and investments as more fully described below, 2) continued competitive housing options and new home sales initiatives impacting occupancy levels at certain communities, and 3) variability in income from home sales operations.

Based upon these factors and prior to the impact of the acquisition program, if any, discussed below, MHC continues to project that fully diluted FFO per share will range between $1.70 and $1.75 for the year ended December 31, 2004. Any impact from its acquisition program will increase this expected result.

Acquisition Program

The Company expects to invest in 37 manufactured home and park model resort communities with an equity investment of approximately $140 million with an anticipated equity return of approximately 8.0%.

In aggregate, these acquisitions and investments will add 37 properties containing 17,040 sites to the Company's existing portfolio. Of these totals, 14 properties containing 7,444 sites are located in Arizona, 12 properties containing 4,612 sites are located in Florida and 11 properties containing 4,984 sites are located in East Coast and Midwest locations. The properties also contain over 2,000 expansion sites. Approximately 70% of the properties are park model or "village" resorts. These properties are generally highly amenitized resorts that are focused on providing sites for the placement of factory built park model homes, as well as sites for recreational vehicle owners.

The Company expects to close a substantial portion of this activity by June 30, 2004. If all of the investments and acquisitions were completed, pro forma annualized fully diluted FFO from this activity would add in excess of $0.30 per share. There can be no assurances that any of the acquisitions will be completed, or completed by June 30, 2004.

Commented MHC's CEO and President Thomas P. Heneghan, "We are extremely pleased with the success of the acquisition program. At the time of its initial public offering in February 1993, the Company had 41 properties and 12,312 sites. Approximately 30% of the Company's assets were age-qualified communities. On a pro forma basis for the acquisition program, the Company would have an interest in 177 properties with over 67,000 sites. The core retirement markets of Florida and Arizona would represent almost 60% of our total sites."

                                                 Pro Forma
                               1993    Acquisition Program
            Properties           41                    177
            Sites            12,312                 67,847
            FFO per Share     $1.11          $2.00 - $2.05

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are subject to certain risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the Company's ability to maintain rental rates and occupancy with respect to properties currently owned or pending acquisitions; the Company's assumptions about rental and home sales markets; the completion of pending acquisitions and timing with respect thereto; the effect of interest rates as well as other risks indicated from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events.

Manufactured Home Communities, Inc. owns or has an interest in 144 quality communities in 21 states consisting of 52,754 sites. MHC is a self- administered, self-managed, real estate investment trust (REIT) with headquarters in Chicago.

A live webcast of the Company's conference call discussing these results will be available via the Company's website in the Investor Info section at www.mhchomes.com at 10:00 a.m. Central today.

                     Manufactured Home Communities, Inc.
                           Selected Financial Data
                                 (Unaudited)
               (Amounts in thousands except for per share data)

                                         Quarters Ended    Twelve Months Ended
                                       Dec. 31,  Dec. 31,   Dec. 31,  Dec. 31,
                                         2003      2002       2003      2002
    Property Operations:
       Community base rental income    $49,243   $47,576   $196,919  $194,640
       Resort base rental income         3,704     3,722     11,780     9,146
       Utility and other income          4,823     4,533     20,150    19,684
          Property operating revenues   57,770    55,831    228,849   223,470

       Property operating
        and maintenance                 16,170    15,781     64,996    62,843
       Real estate taxes                 4,956     4,473     18,917    17,827
       Property management               2,381     2,289      9,373     9,292
          Property operating expenses   23,507    22,543     93,286    89,962
          Income from property
           operations                   34,263    33,288    135,563   133,508

    Home Sales Operations:
       Gross revenues from
        inventory home sales            11,548     11,761    36,606    33,537
       Cost of inventory home sales    (10,027)   (10,124)  (31,767)  (27,183)
          Gross profit from
           inventory home sales          1,521      1,637     4,839     6,354
       Brokered resale revenues, net       402        358     1,724     1,592
       Home selling expenses            (1,916)    (1,608)   (7,360)   (7,664)
       Ancillary services revenues, net    198        (84)      216       522
          Income (loss) from home
           sales and other                 205        303      (581)      804

    Other Income and Expenses:
       Interest income                     935        244     1,695       967
       Other corporate income              435        399     2,065     1,277
       General and administrative       (2,101)    (2,277)   (8,060)   (8,192)
          Operating income (EBITDA)     33,737     31,957   130,682   128,364

       Interest and related
        amortization                   (20,950)   (12,336)  (58,402)  (50,729)
       Income from discontinued
        operations                         --         911     1,043     3,286
       Depreciation on corporate assets   (310)      (320)   (1,240)   (1,277)
       Income allocated to
        Preferred OP Units              (2,813)    (2,813)  (11,252)  (11,252)
          Funds from operations (FFO)   $9,664    $17,399   $60,831   $68,392

       Depreciation on real estate
         and other costs                (9,997)    (9,046)  (38,169)  (36,035)
       Gain on sale of properties          --      11,744    10,826    13,014
       (Income) loss allocated
        to Common OP Units                  65     (3,917)   (6,474)   (8,926)
          Net Income (loss)              $(268)   $16,180   $27,014   $36,445

    Net income (loss)
     per Common Share - Basic            $(.01)      $.74     $1.22     $1.69
    Net income (loss)
     per Common Share - Fully Diluted    $(.01)      $.73     $1.20     $1.64

    FFO per Common Share - Basic          $.35       $.64     $2.22     $2.53
    FFO per Common Share - Fully Diluted  $.34       $.63     $2.17     $2.48

    Average Common Shares - Basic       22,247     21,794    22,077    21,617
    Average Common Shares
     and OP Units - Basic               27,568     27,163    27,419    27,020
    Average Common Shares
     and OP Units - Fully Diluted       28,276     27,678    28,002    27,632


                     Manufactured Home Communities, Inc.
                                 (Unaudited)

    Selected Balance Sheet Data:                As of              As of
                                            December 31,       December 31,
                                                2003               2002
                                        (amounts in 000's)  (amounts in 000's)

    Total real estate, net                  $1,042,599         $1,057,909
    Cash and cash equivalents                 $325,740             $7,270
    Total assets                            $1,473,610         $1,162,850

    Mortgage notes payable                  $1,076,183           $575,370
    Unsecured debt                                $113           $184,863
    Total liabilities                       $1,341,963           $816,730
    Minority interest                         $126,551           $168,501
    Total shareholder's equity                  $5,096           $177,619


    Total Shares and OP Units Outstanding:      As of              As of
                                            December 31,       December 31,
                                                2003               2002

    Total Common Shares Outstanding         22,563,348         22,093,240
    Total Common OP Units Outstanding        5,312,387          5,359,927


    Manufactured Home ("Community")
    and Park Model / Recreational               As of              As of
    Vehicle ("Resort")                       December 31,       December 31,
        Site Totals:                             2003               2002

    Community Sites Owned and Operated          43,143             43,906
    Community Sites Owned in Joint Ventures      1,521              1,521
    Resort Sites Owned and Operated              7,041              6,155
        Total Sites                             51,705             51,582


    Manufactured Home Site and         Quarters Ended     Twelve Months Ended
    Occupancy Averages:               Dec. 31,  Dec. 31,   Dec. 31,  Dec. 31,
                                        2003      2002       2003      2002

    Total Sites                        43,143    42,753     43,134    43,627
    Occupied Sites                     39,016    39,417     39,363    40,467
    Occupancy %                          90.4 %    92.2 %     91.3 %    92.8 %
    Monthly Base Rent Per Site        $420.71   $402.34    $416.89   $400.82
    Core* Monthly Base Rent Per Site  $425.48   $405.57    $421.49   $401.11

    (*) Represents rent per site for properties owned in both periods of
        comparison.


                     Manufactured Home Communities, Inc.
                                 (Unaudited)

    Home Sales:                         Quarters Ended     Twelve Months Ended
                                       Dec. 31,  Dec. 31,   Dec. 31,  Dec. 31,
                                         2003      2002       2003      2002

    New Home Sales Volume                  151       147        458       420
    New Home Sales Gross Revenues      $10,858   $10,561    $33,512   $30,618
    Used Home Sales Volume                  47        56        189       182
    Used Home Sales Gross Revenues        $690    $1,200     $3,094    $2,919
    Brokered Home Resale Volume            273       227      1,102       986
    Brokered Home Resale Revenues, net    $402      $358     $1,724    $1,592


    Funds available for
     distribution (FAD):                 Quarters Ended    Twelve Months Ended
                                       Dec. 31,  Dec. 31,   Dec. 31,  Dec. 31,
                                         2003      2002       2003      2002
       Funds from operations            $9,664   $17,399    $60,831   $68,392
       Non-revenue producing
        improvements to real estate      3,045     3,680     11,912    11,370
          Funds available for
           distribution                 $6,619   $13,719    $48,919   $57,022

    FAD per Common Share - Basic          $.24      $.51      $1.78     $2.11
    FAD per Common Share - Fully Diluted  $.23      $.50      $1.75     $2.06


The Company believes that Funds From Operations provide an indicator of its financial performance and is influenced by both the operations of the properties and the capital structure of the Company. FFO is defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ("NAREIT") as net income (computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ["GAAP"]), before allocation to minority interests, excluding gains (or losses) from sales of property, plus real estate depreciation. The Company computes FFO in accordance with the NAREIT definition, which may differ from the methodology for calculating FFO utilized by other equity REITs and, accordingly, may not be comparable to such other REIT's computations. Funds Available for Distribution ("FAD") is defined as FFO less non-revenue producing capital expenditures and amortization payments on mortgage loan principal. The Company believes that FFO and FAD are useful to investors as a measure of the performance of an equity REIT because, along with cash flows from operating activities, financing activities and investing activities, they provide investors an understanding of the ability of the Company to incur and service debt and to make capital expenditures. FFO and FAD in and of themselves do not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP and therefore should not be considered an alternative to net income as an indication of the Company's performance or to net cash flows from operating activities as determined by GAAP as a measure of liquidity and are not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs.

SOURCE Manufactured Home Communities, Inc.