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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AMB PROPERTY CORPORATION ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2005 RESULTS
Financial results are driven by strong operations, development, and private capital
SAN FRANCISCO, January 23, 2006 — AMB Property Corporation (NYSE:AMB), a leading global developer and owner of industrial real estate, today reported results for the fourth quarter and full year 2005.
For the quarter ended December 31, 2005, funds from operations per fully diluted share and unit (“FFOPS”) was $1.15, as compared to $0.62 for the same period of 2004. For the full year ended December 31, 2005, FFOPS was $2.75, a record for the company, as compared to $2.30 for 2004. The quarterly and full year FFOPS results exceeded the high end of the company’s previous guidance, primarily as a result of strong core operations and better than expected gains from the company’s development-for-sale business.
Net income available to common stockholders per share (“EPS”) for the fourth quarter of 2005 was $1.56, as compared to $0.65 for the fourth quarter of 2004. EPS for the full year ended December 31, 2005, was $2.85, as compared to $1.39 for 2004. The increase in EPS is due to strong core operations, higher profits from the company’s development business, and gains on the sale of operating properties including the fourth quarter sale of the assets of AMB Institutional Alliance Fund I.
Operating Results
AMB’s industrial operating portfolio was 95.8% leased as of December 31, 2005, up 120 basis points from September 30, 2005, and up 100 basis points from December 31, 2004. Based on preliminary data provided by Torto Wheaton Research, AMB estimates that U.S. industrial vacancy at the end of the fourth quarter was 9.7%, representing a 40 basis point improvement from the prior quarter—the seventh consecutive quarter of improvement nationally.
Cash-basis same store net operating income increased 5.2% in the fourth quarter of 2005, driven primarily by occupancy gains and lease termination fees. Excluding lease termination fees, same store net operating income during the quarter increased 3.5%. For the full year 2005, same store net operating income increased 0.1%, which can be attributed to occupancy gains offset by lower lease termination fees and decreases in rental rates on leases renewed or rolled over. Excluding lease termination fees, same store net operating income for the full year 2005 increased 0.9%. Rents on lease renewals and rollovers in AMB’s same store pool declined 4.6% in the fourth quarter of 2005, an improvement from declines of 7.9% in the prior quarter and 13.6% in the fourth quarter of 2004.
Hamid R. Moghadam, AMB chairman and CEO, said, “Our strong financial results in 2005 benefited from the continuing improvement in real estate fundamentals in most of our global

 


 

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markets, combined with our growing development and private capital businesses. At 95.8%,
occupancy in our operating portfolio is at its highest since the third quarter of 2001. On a macro level, demand for U.S. industrial space is robust, as evidenced by a 170 basis points decline in availability for the year, to 9.7%, and our preliminary research indicates near record breaking net absorption during 2005. We believe we are well positioned to take advantage of this environment as we continue to expand our global franchise in 2006.”
Investment Activity
During the fourth quarter, AMB placed a development project and a renovation project into operations. The two industrial facilities total approximately 311,000 square feet and were completed for an aggregate investment of approximately $21 million. During 2005, development completed and added to AMB’s operating portfolio comprised approximately 2.5 million square feet with a total investment of $138 million.
New development and renovation starts in the quarter totaled approximately 2.4 million square feet in nine projects in North America, Europe, and Asia with an estimated total investment of $187 million. AMB began development on approximately 7.0 million square feet in 2005, the highest level of annual starts in the company’s history, with an estimated total investment at completion of $522 million. At year end, AMB’s industrial development and renovation pipeline comprised 47 projects totaling approximately 11.9 million square feet in North America, Europe, and Asia. Total investment in the pipeline’s development projects is estimated at approximately $1 billion.
During the fourth quarter, AMB acquired 2.1 million square feet of distribution facilities in 15 buildings at a total acquisition cost of approximately $179 million. The acquisitions expand AMB’s presence in several strategic North American markets and represent initial investments at the Port of Hamburg and in Shanghai. The transactions bring the company’s full year acquisition activity to approximately 6.9 million square feet of distribution facilities and ownership positions in G. Accion and IAT Air Cargo Facilities Income Fund for a total acquisition cost of approximately $604 million.
AMB’s president, W. Blake Baird, commented, “The build out of our global platform advanced significantly in 2005, with more than $1 billion of capital deployment split between development starts and acquisitions. In particular during the fourth quarter, we completed our first investment in Shanghai with an acquisition with future expansion potential; we entered Hamburg, Europe’s busiest port with a development start and acquisition of three buildings; and we began a build-to-suit development in Tokyo for a global target customer. In addition to our in-process development pipeline, which at year end was approximately $1 billion in nearly 12 million square feet, our land bank can now support an estimated 24 million square feet of future development.”
During the quarter, the company generated gross sale proceeds of approximately $114 million from its development-for-sale business. Included in this was the sale of Interstate Crossdock, a 617,000 square foot industrial redevelopment project in northern New Jersey for a gross sale price of approximately $70 million. Full year gross sale proceeds were approximately $208 million on development projects sold or contributed, and AMB’s recognized share of net cash gain was approximately $49 million.

 


 

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Also in the fourth quarter, AMB completed opportunistic sales of seven operating buildings that no longer fit the company’s property type or submarket focus. In the aggregate, the seven buildings comprise approximately 0.9 million square feet and represent approximately $56 million in gross disposition proceeds. Additionally, as announced during the quarter, the company sold the properties owned by AMB Institutional Alliance Fund I, comprising 100 operating buildings totaling approximately 5.8 million square feet. The gross disposition proceeds were approximately $618 million. AMB received cash and a distribution of an on-tarmac property, AMB DFW Air Cargo Center I, in exchange for its 21% interest in the fund. AMB also received a net incentive distribution of approximately $26 million in cash.
Private Capital
During 2005, a total of $558 million of third party equity was committed: $420 million for AMB Japan Fund I; $114 million for AMB Institutional Alliance Fund III; and $24 million for AMB Partners II. Subsequent to year end, AMB Institutional Alliance Fund III closed on an additional $63 million of third party equity. Fund III, the company’s open-end commingled fund, had its initial closing in the fourth quarter of 2004 and to date has raised approximately $314 million in third party equity. The Fund invests in operating and renovation properties in the United States and had investments in real estate of approximately $750 million at the end of fourth quarter 2005.
Promotions of Company Officers
The company announced five officer promotions effective January 1, 2006. Mike Evans and Ellen Hall have been promoted to senior vice president, and Deborah Briones, Jaime Cannon, and Tatsuya Nagasko have been promoted to vice president.
Commenting on these promotions, Mr. Moghadam said, “AMB has a strong commitment to recognizing and promoting individuals who demonstrate leadership and a high level of contribution and capability. These promotions reflect the confidence we have in each of these officers and recognize them for the contributions they continue to make to the long-term success of our global business.”
Supplemental Earnings Measure
AMB reports fund from operations per fully diluted share and unit in accordance with the standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts. Included in the footnotes to the company’s attached financial statements is a discussion of why management believes FFOPS is a useful supplemental measure of operating performance, ways in which investors might use FFOPS when assessing the company’s financial performance and FFOPS’s limitations as a measurement tool. Reconciliation from net income to funds from operations is provided in the attached tables and published in AMB’s quarterly supplemental analyst package, available on the company’s website at www.amb.com.
Conference Call and Supplemental Information
The company will host a conference call to discuss the quarterly and full year results on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 at 1:00 PM EST/10:00 AM PST. Stockholders and interested parties may listen to

 


 

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a live broadcast of the conference call by dialing +1 877 447 8218 and using reservation code 3968401. A webcast can be accessed through a link titled “Q4 2005 Earnings Conference Call” located on the home page of the company’s website at www.amb.com.
If you are unable to listen to the live conference call, a telephone and webcast replay will be available after 12:00 PM PST on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 until 5:00 PM PST on Tuesday, February 21, 2006. The telephone replay can be accessed by dialing +1 800 642 1687 or +1 706 645 9291 and using reservation code 3968401 or by webcast through the link on the company’s website at www.amb.com.
In addition, the company will post a summary of the guidance given on the call and a supplement detailing the components of net asset value to the Investor Information portion of its website on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 by 5:00 PM PST.
AMB Property Corporation. Local partner to global trade.™
AMB Property Corporation is a leading owner and operator of industrial real estate, focused on major hub and gateway distribution markets throughout North America, Europe and Asia. As of December 31, 2005, AMB owned, or had investments in, on a consolidated basis or through unconsolidated joint ventures, or managed buildings, properties and development projects expected to total approximately 115 million square feet (10.7 million square meters) and 1,057 buildings in 42 markets within eleven countries. AMB invests in properties located predominantly in the infill submarkets of its targeted markets. The company’s portfolio is comprised of High Throughput Distribution® facilities—industrial properties built for speed and located near airports, seaports and ground transportation systems.
AMB’s press releases are available on the company website at www.amb.com or by contacting the Investor Relations department at +1 877 285 3111.
Some of the information included in this report contains forward-looking statements, such as those related to the company’s interpretation of trends regarding national and portfolio industrial space absorption; the total expected investment in acquisitions; size and timing of deliveries and total investment in development projects; goals regarding amount of non-U.S. investment; and use of private capital funds for planned investment activity which are made pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, and you should not rely on the forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events or circumstances reflected in forward-looking statements might not occur. You can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “intends,” “plans,” “pro forma,” “estimates” or “anticipates” or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases. You can also identify forward-looking statements by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements are necessarily dependent on assumptions, data or methods that may be incorrect or imprecise and we may not be able to realize them. We caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect our analysis only and speak only as of the date of this report or the dates indicated in the statements. We assume no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those set forth or contemplated in the forward-looking statements: defaults on or non-renewal of leases by tenants, increased interest rates and operating costs, our failure to obtain necessary outside financing, difficulties in identifying properties to acquire and in effecting acquisitions, our failure to successfully integrate acquired properties and operations, our failure to divest properties we have contracted to sell or to timely reinvest proceeds from any divestitures, risks and uncertainties affecting property development and construction (including construction delays, cost overruns, our inability to obtain necessary permits and public

 


 

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opposition to these activities), our failure to qualify and maintain our status as a real estate investment trust,
environmental uncertainties, risks related to natural disasters, financial market fluctuations, changes in real estate and zoning laws, risks related to doing business internationally and increases in real property tax rates. Our success also depends upon economic trends generally, including interest rates, income tax laws, governmental regulation, legislation, population changes and certain other matters discussed under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Business Risks” and elsewhere in our most recent annual report for the year ended December 31, 2004 on Form 10-K.
AMB CONTACTS
Margan S. Mitchell
Vice President, Corporate Communications
Direct +1 415 733 9477
Fax +1 415 477 2177
Email            mmitchell@amb.com
Evaleen G. Andamo
Director, Investor Relations
Direct +1 415 733 9565
Fax +1 415 477 2065
Email            eandamo@amb.com

 


 

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in thousands)
                                         
    As of  
    December 31, 2005     September 30, 2005     June 30, 2005     March 31, 2005     December 31, 2004  
Assets
                                       
Investments in real estate:
                                       
Total investments in properties
  $ 6,798,294     $ 6,898,824     $ 6,680,432     $ 6,608,737     $ 6,526,144  
Accumulated depreciation
    (697,388 )     (721,892 )     (683,679 )     (652,085 )     (615,646 )
 
                             
Net investments in properties
    6,100,906       6,176,932       5,996,753       5,956,652       5,910,498  
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures
    118,653       115,624       121,000       105,127       55,166  
Properties held for contribution, net
    32,755       80,245                    
Properties held for divestiture, net
    17,936       45,742       75,472       49,455       87,340  
 
                             
Net investments in real estate
    6,270,250       6,418,543       6,193,225       6,111,234       6,053,004  
Cash and cash equivalents
    267,233       162,437       169,471       215,068       146,593  
Mortgages and loans receivable
    21,621       21,652       21,682       21,710       13,738  
Accounts receivable, net
    178,682       158,000       173,360       135,768       109,028  
Other assets
    64,953       75,605       66,633       71,304       64,580  
 
                             
Total assets
  $ 6,802,739     $ 6,836,237     $ 6,624,371     $ 6,555,084     $ 6,386,943  
 
                             
 
                                       
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
                                       
Secured debt
  $ 1,912,526     $ 2,051,480     $ 1,843,861     $ 1,915,702     $ 1,892,524  
Unsecured senior debt securities
    975,000       1,003,940       1,003,940       1,003,940       1,003,940  
Unsecured debt
    23,963       24,175       8,710       8,869       9,028  
Unsecured credit facilities
    490,072       472,291       549,397       422,616       351,699  
Accounts payable and other liabilities
    263,744       262,425       242,944       258,159       262,286  
 
                             
Total liabilities
    3,665,305       3,814,311       3,648,852       3,609,286       3,519,477  
Minority interests:
                                       
Joint venture partners
    853,643       933,262       906,527       884,188       828,622  
Preferred unitholders
    278,378       278,378       278,378       278,378       278,378  
Limited partnership unitholders
    89,114       86,719       89,601       89,377       89,326  
 
                             
Total minority interests
    1,221,135       1,298,359       1,274,506       1,251,943       1,196,326  
Stockholders’ equity:
                                       
Common equity
    1,740,751       1,620,363       1,597,809       1,590,651       1,567,936  
Preferred equity
    175,548       103,204       103,204       103,204       103,204  
 
                             
Total stockholders’ equity
    1,916,299       1,723,567       1,701,013       1,693,855       1,671,140  
 
                             
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 6,802,739     $ 6,836,237     $ 6,624,371     $ 6,555,084     $ 6,386,943  
 
                             


 

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(dollars in thousands, except share data)
                                 
    For the Quarters Ended     For the Years Ended  
    December 31,     December 31,  
    2005     2004     2005     2004  
Revenues
                               
 
                               
Rental revenues
  $ 168,926     $ 151,535     $ 632,207     $ 579,534  
Private capital income (1)
    31,422       4,818       43,942       12,895  
 
                       
Total revenues
    200,348       156,353       676,149       592,429  
 
                       
 
                               
Costs and expenses
                               
 
                               
Property operating costs
    (43,321 )     (38,238 )     (163,208 )     (148,258 )
Depreciation and amortization
    (43,557 )     (38,782 )     (165,438 )     (141,120 )
General and administrative
    (20,343 )     (13,961 )     (77,409 )     (58,843 )
Fund costs
    (409 )     (1,004 )     (1,482 )     (1,741 )
 
                       
Total costs and expenses
    (107,630 )     (91,985 )     (407,537 )     (349,962 )
 
                       
Operating income
    92,718       64,368       268,612       242,467  
 
                       
 
                               
Other income and expenses
                               
 
                               
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures
    811       525       10,770       3,781  
Other income and expenses, net
    3,342       509       6,499       3,758  
Gains from dispositions of real estate, net
    176       5,219       19,099       5,219  
Development profits, net of taxes
    34,489       3,772       54,811       8,528  
Interest expense, including amortization
    (38,445 )     (36,176 )     (149,492 )     (144,882 )
 
                       
Total other income and expenses
    373       (26,151 )     (58,313 )     (123,596 )
 
                       
Income before minority interests and discontinued operations
    93,091       38,217       210,299       118,871  
 
                       
Minority interests’ share of income:
                               
Joint venture partners’ share of income
    (9,349 )     (7,774 )     (36,398 )     (29,544 )
Joint venture partners’ share of development profits
    (3,366 )     (64 )     (13,492 )     (958 )
Preferred unitholders
    (5,369 )     (5,395 )     (21,473 )     (20,161 )
Limited partnership unitholders
    (2,054 )     (799 )     (3,681 )     (2,615 )
 
                       
Total minority interests’ share of income
    (20,138 )     (14,032 )     (75,044 )     (53,278 )
 
                       
Income from continuing operations
    72,953       24,185       135,255       65,593  
 
                       
Discontinued operations:
                               
Income attributable to discontinued operations, net of minority interests
    2,413       4,069       8,999       17,873  
Gain from disposition of real estate, net of minority interests
    65,817       29,680       113,553       42,005  
 
                       
Total discontinued operations
    68,230       33,749       122,552       59,878  
 
                       
Net income
    141,183       57,934       257,807       125,471  
Preferred stock dividends
    (2,039 )     (1,782 )     (7,388 )     (7,131 )
 
                       
Net income available to common stockholders
  $ 139,144     $ 56,152     $ 250,419     $ 118,340  
 
                       
Net income per common share (diluted)
  $ 1.56     $ 0.65     $ 2.85     $ 1.39  
 
                       
Weighted average common shares (diluted)
    88,981,657       86,263,305       87,873,399       85,368,626  
 
                       
(1)    Includes incentive distributions for 2005 of $26.4 million for the sale of AMB Institutional Alliance Fund I which is net of $2.7 million which has been deferred.


 

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS(1)
(dollars in thousands, except share data)
                                 
    For the Quarters Ended     For the Years Ended  
    December 31,     December 31,  
    2005     2004     2005     2004  
Net income
  $ 141,183     $ 57,934     $ 257,807     $ 125,471  
Gains from disposition of real estate, net of minority interests (2)
    (65,993 )     (34,899 )     (132,652 )     (47,224 )
Depreciation and amortization:
                               
Total depreciation and amortization
    43,557       38,782       165,438       141,120  
Discontinued operations’ depreciation
    2,985       5,837       14,866       26,230  
Non-real estate depreciation
    (949 )     (363 )     (3,388 )     (871 )
Adjustments to derive FFO from consolidated JVs:
                               
Joint venture partners’ minority interests (Net income)
    9,349       7,774       36,398       29,544  
Limited partnership unitholders’ minority interests (Net income)
    2,054       799       3,681       2,615  
Limited partnership unitholders’ minority interests (Development profits)
    1,704       213       2,262       435  
Discontinued operations’ minority interests (Net income)
    1,711       3,075       8,502       13,549  
FFO attributable to minority interests
    (27,641 )     (22,020 )     (100,275 )     (80,192 )
Adjustments to derive FFO from unconsolidated JVs:
                               
AMB’s share of net income
    (811 )     (525 )     (10,770 )     (3,781 )
AMB’s share of FFO
    2,633       1,460       14,441       7,549  
AMB’s share of development profits, net of taxes
                5,441        
Preferred stock dividends
    (2,039 )     (1,782 )     (7,388 )     (7,131 )
 
                       
Funds from operations
  $ 107,743     $ 56,285     $ 254,363     $ 207,314  
 
                       
FFO per common share and unit (diluted)
  $ 1.15     $ 0.62     $ 2.75     $ 2.30  
 
                       
Weighted average common shares and units (diluted)
    93,422,964       91,003,313       92,508,725       90,120,250  
 
                       

(1)  Funds From Operations (“FFO”). The Company believes that net income, as defined by GAAP, is the most appropriate earnings measure. However, the Company considers funds from operations, or FFO, as defined by NAREIT, to be a useful supplemental measure of its operating performance. FFO is defined as net income, calculated in accordance with GAAP, less gains (or losses) from dispositions of real estate held for investment purposes and real estate-related depreciation, and adjustments to derive the Company’s pro rata share of FFO of consolidated and unconsolidated joint ventures. Further, the Company does not adjust FFO to eliminate the effects of non-recurring charges. The Company believes that FFO, as defined by NAREIT, is a meaningful supplemental measure of its operating performance because historical cost accounting for real estate assets in accordance with GAAP implicitly assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time, as reflected through depreciation and amortization expenses. However, since real estate values have historically risen or fallen with market and other conditions, many industry investors and analysts have considered presentation of operating results for real estate companies that use historical cost accounting to be insufficient. Thus, NAREIT created FFO as a supplemental measure of operating performance for real estate investment trusts that excludes historical cost depreciation and amortization, among other items, from net income, as defined by GAAP. The Company believes that the use of FFO, combined with the required GAAP presentations, has been beneficial in improving the understanding of operating results of real estate investment trusts among the investing public and making comparisons of operating results among such companies more meaningful. The Company considers FFO to be a useful measure for reviewing comparative operating and financial performance because, by excluding gains or losses related to sales of previously depreciated operating real estate assets and real estate depreciation and amortization, FFO can help the investing public compare the operating performance of a company’s real estate between periods or as compared to other companies. While FFO is a relevant and widely used measure of operating performance of real estate investment trusts, it does not represent cash flow from operations or net income as defined by GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to those measures in evaluating the Company’s liquidity or operating performance. FFO also does not consider the costs associated with capital expenditures related to the Company’s real estate assets nor is FFO necessarily indicative of cash available to fund the Company’s future cash requirements. Further, the Company’s computation of FFO may not be comparable to FFO reported by other real estate investment trusts that do not define the term in accordance with the current NAREIT definition or that interpret the current NAREIT definition differently than the Company does.
(2)  2005 includes accumulated depreciation re-capture of approximately $1.1 million associated with the sale of the Interstate Crossdock redevelopment project.