25.06.2008 20:01:00
|
Post Properties Ends Process to Seek Potential Sale Citing Difficult Market Conditions and Receipt of No Definitive Acquisition Proposals
Post Properties, Inc. (NYSE: PPS) today announced that after five months
of actively pursuing a formal process to sell the Company in an
increasingly difficult market environment, it has received no definitive
acquisition proposals. All potential bidders have withdrawn from the
sale process and, as a result, the Board has brought the process to an
end. At the same time, the Board reaffirmed its commitment to actively
pursue other strategies to enhance shareholder value.
Said David P. Stockert, the Company’s
president and chief executive officer, "We
conducted an open and thorough sales process, but conditions in the
economy and the financial markets combined to produce a difficult
transaction environment.” Mr. Stockert added, "Post’s
portfolio consists of high-quality assets in desirable, in-fill
locations, with a widely-recognized brand. We have a strong balance
sheet and an experienced and capable management team committed to moving
the Company forward. We remain optimistic about the longer term
fundamentals for our business. We intend to actively pursue strategies
to enhance shareholder value and to position the Company so that the
value of its assets, business and brand is more fully realized.”
The Company intends to continue pursuing other strategies to enhance the
value of its shares. Such strategies are expected to include:
realizing value through asset sales, the proceeds of which can be used
to repay debt, pay potential special dividends or repurchase shares,
and fund committed investments;
cutting costs by reducing corporate overhead, development and property
management expenses;
pursuing construction loan financing and joint venture equity to fund
development activity; and
focusing the Company by evaluating the number of markets within which
it operates, and the appropriate size of its development pipeline.
The Company expects to provide additional details on these strategies
during its second quarter earnings call in early August.
During the sale process, the Company’s
financial advisor contacted numerous prospective buyers, including
pension funds, financial sponsors, foreign capital providers, public and
private multifamily companies and large conglomerates. Additionally, the
Company engaged a financial intermediary to underwrite the Company’s
assets in connection with prospective financing from Fannie Mae and
Freddie Mac, and allowed prospective buyers to solicit other investors
or other prospective buyers to provide equity financing, to form bidding
groups or to acquire certain of the Company’s
assets. During the course of the sale process, several potential bidders
indicated an interest in pursuing an acquisition of the Company, but
none submitted a definitive acquisition proposal.
About Post Properties
Post Properties (www.postproperties.com),
founded more than 36 years ago, is one of the largest developers and
operators of upscale multifamily communities in the United States. The
Company’s mission is delivering superior
satisfaction and value to its residents, associates and investors, with
a vision of being the first choice in quality multifamily living.
Operating as a real estate investment trust ("REIT"), the Company
focuses on developing and managing Post(R) branded resort-style garden
and high density urban apartments. In addition, the Company develops
high-quality condominiums and converts existing apartments to for-sale
multifamily communities. Post Properties is headquartered in Atlanta,
Georgia, and has operations in ten markets across the country.
Post Properties owns 22,437 apartment homes in 62 communities, including
1,747 apartment units in five communities held in unconsolidated
entities, and 2,266 apartment units in seven communities (and the
expansion of one community) currently under construction and/or in
lease-up. The Company is also developing and selling 535 for-sale
condominium homes in four communities (including 137 units in one
community held in an unconsolidated entity) and is converting apartment
units in two communities initially consisting of 349 units into for-sale
condominium homes through a taxable REIT subsidiary.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this press release and other written or oral
statements made by or on behalf of the Company, may constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal
securities laws. Statements regarding future events and developments and
the Company’s future performance, as well as
management’s expectations, beliefs, plans,
estimates or projections relating to the future, are forward-looking
statements within the meaning of these laws. Examples of such statements
in this press release include those related to the Company’s
expectations with respect to strategies to enhance shareholder value and
the timing of the announcement of additional details regarding these
strategies. All forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual events to differ materially
from those projected. Management believes that these forward-looking
statements are reasonable; however, you should not place undue reliance
on such statements. These statements are based on current expectations
and speak only as of the date of such statements. The Company undertakes
no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
statement, whether as a result of future events, new information or
otherwise.
The following are some of the factors that could cause the Company’s
expectations with respect to its strategies to enhance shareholder value
and the timing of the announcement of additional details regarding these
strategies to differ materially from the expectations described in this
press release: future local and national economic conditions, including
changes in job growth, interest rates, the availability of mortgage and
other financing and related factors; demand for apartments in the Company’s
markets and the effect on occupancy and rental rates; the impact of
competition on the Company’s business;
uncertainties associated with the timing and amount of asset sales, the
market for asset sales and the resulting gains/losses associated with
such asset sales; the Company’s ability to
enter into new joint ventures and the availability of equity financing
from traditional real estate investors to fund development activities;
the Company’s ability to obtain construction
loan financing to fund development activities; uncertainties associated
with the Company’s current and planned future
real estate development; uncertainties associated with the Company’s
condominium conversion and for-sale housing business; uncertainties
associated with loss of personnel in connection with an anticipated
reduction of the Company’s cost structure;
conditions affecting ownership of residential real estate and general
conditions in the multifamily residential real estate market;
uncertainties associated with environmental and other regulatory
matters; the impact of our ongoing litigation with the Equal Rights
Center regarding compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and
the Fair Housing Act as well as the impact of other litigation; and the
Company’s ability to continue to qualify as a
REIT under the Internal Revenue Code. Other important risk factors
regarding the Company are included under the caption "Risk Factors" in
the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
dated December 31, 2007, as amended, and may be discussed in subsequent
filings with the SEC. The risk factors discussed in Form 10-K, as
amended, under the caption "Risk Factors" are specifically incorporated
by reference into this press release.
Der finanzen.at Ratgeber für Aktien!
Wenn Sie mehr über das Thema Aktien erfahren wollen, finden Sie in unserem Ratgeber viele interessante Artikel dazu!
Jetzt informieren!
Wenn Sie mehr über das Thema Aktien erfahren wollen, finden Sie in unserem Ratgeber viele interessante Artikel dazu!
Jetzt informieren!
Nachrichten zu Post Properties Inc.mehr Nachrichten
Keine Nachrichten verfügbar. |