UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-Q

[X]Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2014

or

[   ]Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from to .

Commission File Number:  001-33519

PUBLIC STORAGE
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (818) 244-8080.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for at least the past 90 days.

[X]  Yes  [   ]  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

[X]  Yes  [   ]  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

[   ]  Yes  [X]  No

 

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Indicate the number of the registrant’s outstanding common shares of beneficial interest, as of November 2, 2014:

Common Shares of beneficial interest, $.10 par value per share – 172,725,666 shares

 

 

 

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1.Description of the Business

Public Storage (referred to herein as “the Company”, “we”, “us”, or “our”), a Maryland real estate investment trust, was organized in 1980.  Our principal business activities include the acquisition, development, ownership and operation of self-storage facilities which offer storage spaces for lease, generally on a month-to-month basis, for personal and business use. 

At September 30, 2014, we have direct and indirect equity interests in 2,234 self-storage facilities (with approximately 144 million net rentable square feet) located in 38 states in the United States (“U.S.”) operating under the “Public Storage” name.  We also own one self-storage facility in London, England and we have a 49% interest in Shurgard Europe, which owns 187 self-storage facilities (with approximately 10 million net rentable square feet) located in seven Western European countries, all operating under the “Shurgard” name.  We also have direct and indirect equity interests in approximately 31 million net rentable square feet of commercial space located in 11 states in the U.S. primarily owned and operated by PS Business Parks, Inc. (“PSB”) under the “PS Business Parks” name.  At September 30, 2014, we have an approximate 42% common equity interest in PSB.

Disclosures of the number and square footage of properties, as well as the number and coverage of tenant reinsurance policies are unaudited and outside the scope of our independent registered public accounting firm’s review of our financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (U.S.).

2.Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited interim financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) as defined in the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (the “Codification”), including guidance with respect to interim financial information and in conformity with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X.  While they do not include all of the disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements, we believe that we have included all adjustments (consisting of normal and recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation.  Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2014 due to seasonality and other factors.  These interim financial statements should be read together with the audited financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

Consolidation and Equity Method of Accounting

We consider entities to be Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”) when they have insufficient equity to finance their activities without additional subordinated financial support provided by other parties, or where the equity holders as a group do not have a controlling financial interest.  We have no investments or other involvement in any VIEs. 

We consolidate all entities that we control (these entities, for the period in which the reference applies, are referred to collectively as the “Subsidiaries”), and we eliminate intercompany transactions and balances.  We account for our investments in entities that we have significant influence over, but do not control, using the

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equity method of accounting (these entities, for the periods in which the reference applies, are referred to collectively as the “Unconsolidated Real Estate Entities”), eliminating intra-entity profits and losses and amortizing any differences between the cost and the underlying equity in net assets against equity in earnings as if the Unconsolidated Real Estate Entity were a consolidated subsidiary.  When we obtain control of an Unconsolidated Real Estate Entity, we commence consolidating the entity and record a gain representing the differential between the book value and fair value of our preexisting equity interest.  All changes in consolidation status are reflected prospectively.

When we are general partner, we control the partnership unless the third-party limited partners can dissolve the partnership or otherwise remove us as general partner without cause, or if the limited partners have the right to participate in substantive decisions of the partnership. 

Collectively, at September 30, 2014, the Company and the Subsidiaries own 2,221 self-storage facilities in the U.S., one self-storage facility in London, England and five commercial facilities in the U.S.  At September 30, 2014, the Unconsolidated Real Estate Entities are comprised of PSB, Shurgard Europe, as well as limited partnerships that own an aggregate of 13 self-storage facilities in the U.S. (these limited partnerships, for the periods in which the reference applies, are referred to as the “Other Investments”).

Use of Estimates

The financial statements and accompanying notes reflect our estimates and assumptions.  Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.

Income Taxes

We have elected to be treated as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”), as defined in the Internal Revenue Code.  As a REIT, we do not incur federal income tax if we distribute 100% of our REIT taxable income (generally, net rents and gains from real property, dividends, and interest) each year, and if we meet certain organizational and operational rules.  We believe we will meet these REIT requirements in 2014, and that we have met them for all other periods presented herein.  Accordingly, we have recorded no federal income tax expense related to our REIT taxable income.

Our merchandise and tenant reinsurance operations are subject to corporate income tax and such taxes are included in ancillary cost of operations.  We also incur income and other taxes in certain states, which are included in general and administrative expense. 

We recognize tax benefits of uncertain income tax positions that are subject to audit only if we believe it is more likely than not that the position would ultimately be sustained assuming the relevant taxing authorities had full knowledge of the relevant facts and circumstances of our positions.  As of September 30, 2014, we had no tax benefits that were not recognized. 

Real Estate Facilities

Real estate facilities are recorded at cost.  We capitalize all costs incurred to develop, construct, renovate and improve properties, including interest and property taxes incurred during the construction period.  We expense internal and external transaction costs associated with acquisitions or dispositions of real estate, as well as repairs and maintenance costs, as incurred.  We depreciate buildings and improvements on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives ranging generally between 5 to 25 years.

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We allocate the net acquisition cost of acquired operating self-storage facilities to the underlying land, buildings, identified intangible assets, and remaining noncontrolling interests based upon their respective individual estimated fair values.  Any difference between the net acquisition cost and the estimated fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired is recorded as goodwill.    

Other Assets

Other assets primarily consist of prepaid expenses, accounts receivable, land held for sale and restricted cash. 

Accrued and Other Liabilities

Accrued and other liabilities consist primarily of trade payables, property tax accruals, tenant prepayments of rents, accrued interest payable, accrued payroll, accrued tenant reinsurance losses, casualty losses, and contingent loss accruals which are accrued when probable and estimable.  We disclose the nature of significant unaccrued losses that are reasonably possible of occurring and, if estimable, a range of exposure.

Cash Equivalents, Marketable Securities and Other Financial Instruments

Cash equivalents represent highly liquid financial instruments such as money market funds with daily liquidity or short-term commercial paper or treasury securities maturing within three months of acquisition.  Cash and cash equivalents which are restricted from general corporate use are included in other assets.  Commercial paper not maturing within three months of acquisition, which we intend and have the capacity to hold until maturity, are included in marketable securities and accounted for using the effective interest method.  Transfers of financial assets are recorded as sales when the asset is put presumptively beyond our and our creditors’ reach, there is no impediment to the transferee’s right to pledge or exchange the asset, we have surrendered effective control of the asset, we have no actual or effective right or requirement to repurchase the asset and, in the case of a transfer of a participating interest, there is no impediment to our right to pledge or exchange the participating interest we retain.

Fair Value Accounting

As used herein, the term “fair value” is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants.  We prioritize the inputs used in measuring fair value based upon a three-tier hierarchy described in Codification Section 820-10-35. 

We believe that, during all periods presented, the carrying values approximate the fair values of our cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, other assets, and accrued and other liabilities, based upon our evaluation of the underlying characteristics, market data, and short maturity of these financial instruments, which involved considerable judgment.  The estimated fair values are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that could be realized in current market exchanges.  The characteristics of these financial instruments, market data, and other comparative metrics utilized in determining these fair values are “Level 2” inputs as the term is defined in Codification Section 820-10-35-47.

We use significant judgment to estimate fair values in recording our business combinations, to evaluate real estate, investments in unconsolidated real estate entities, goodwill, and other intangible assets for impairment, and to determine the fair values of notes payable and receivable.  In estimating fair values, we consider significant unobservable inputs such as market prices of land, market capitalization rates and earnings

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multiples for real estate facilities, projected levels of earnings, costs of construction, functional depreciation, and market interest rates for debt securities with a similar time to maturity and credit quality, which are “Level 3” inputs as the term is defined in Codification Section 820-10-35-52. 

Currency and Credit Risk

Financial assets that are exposed to credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, loans receivable, and restricted cash.  Cash equivalents and marketable securities we invest in are either money market funds with a rating of at least AAA by Standard and Poor’s, commercial paper that is  rated A1 by Standard and Poor’s or deposits with highly rated commercial banks.

At September 30, 2014, due primarily to our investment in Shurgard Europe, our operating results and financial position are affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates between the Euro, and to a lesser extent, other European currencies, against the U.S. Dollar.  In July 2014, Shurgard Europe fully repaid its €311.0 million shareholder loan with financing proceeds it received from third parties.  We received a total of $204.9 million for our 49% share of the loan, based upon the foreign exchange rates at the date of repayment.  As the loan is repaid, no further foreign exchange gains or losses on the loan are expected. 

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Intangible assets are comprised of goodwill, the “Shurgard” trade name, acquired customers in place, and leasehold interests in land.

Goodwill totaled $174.6 million at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.  The “Shurgard” trade name, which is used by Shurgard Europe pursuant to a fee-based licensing agreement, has a book value of $18.8 million at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.  Goodwill and the “Shurgard” trade name have indefinite lives and are not amortized.

Acquired customers in place and leasehold interests in land are finite-lived and are amortized relative to the benefit of the customers in place or the benefit to land lease expense for each period.  At September 30, 2014, these intangibles have a net book value of $36.6 million ($53.4 million at December 31, 2013).  Accumulated amortization totaled $59.8 million at September 30, 2014 ($35.1 million at December 31, 2013), and amortization expense of $37.4 million and $9.8 million was recorded in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  The estimated future amortization expense for our finite-lived intangible assets at September 30, 2014 is $9.1 million in the remainder of 2014, $16.9 million in 2015 and $10.6 million thereafter.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, intangibles were increased $20.5 million and $17.5 million, respectively, in connection with the acquisition of self-storage facilities and leasehold interests. 

Evaluation of Asset Impairment

We evaluate our real estate, finite-lived intangible assets, investments in unconsolidated real estate entities, and loan receivable from Shurgard Europe for impairment on a quarterly basis.  We evaluate indefinite-lived assets (including goodwill) for impairment on an annual basis, or more often if there are indicators of impairment.

In evaluating our real estate assets and finite-lived intangible assets for impairment, if there are indicators of impairment, and we determine that the asset is not recoverable from future undiscounted cash

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flows, an impairment charge is recorded for any excess of the carrying amount over the asset’s estimated fair value.  For long-lived assets that we expect to dispose of prior to the end of their estimated useful lives, we record an impairment charge for any excess of the carrying value of the asset over the expected net proceeds from disposal.

If we determine, based upon the relevant events and circumstances and other such qualitative factors, that it is more likely than not that the “Shurgard” trade name is unimpaired, we do not record an impairment charge and no further analysis is performed.  Otherwise, we record an impairment charge for any excess of carrying amount over quantitatively assessed fair value. 

In evaluating goodwill for impairment, we first evaluate, based upon the relevant events and circumstances and other such qualitative factors, whether the fair value of the reporting unit that the goodwill pertains to is greater than its aggregate carrying amount.  If based upon this evaluation it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is in excess of its aggregate carrying amount, no impairment charge is recorded and no further analysis is performed.  Otherwise, we estimate the goodwill’s implied fair value based upon what would be allocated to goodwill if the reporting unit were acquired at estimated fair value in a transaction accounted for as a business combination, and record an impairment charge for any excess of book value over the goodwill’s implied fair value. 

For our investments in unconsolidated real estate entities, if we determine that a decline in the estimated fair value of the investments below carrying amount is other than temporary, we record an impairment charge for any excess of carrying amount over the estimated fair value. 

For our loan receivable from Shurgard Europe, if we determine that it is probable we will be unable to collect all amounts due based on the terms of the loan agreement, we record an impairment charge for any excess of book value over the present value of expected future cash flows.  In July 2014, Shurgard Europe fully repaid our loan receivable from them. 

No impairments were recorded in any of our evaluations for any period presented herein.

Revenue and Expense Recognition

Rental income, which is generally earned pursuant to month-to-month leases for storage space, as well as late charges and administrative fees, are recognized as earned.  Promotional discounts reduce rental income over the promotional period.  Ancillary revenues and interest and other income are recognized when earned.  Equity in earnings of unconsolidated real estate entities represents our pro-rata share of the earnings of the Unconsolidated Real Estate Entities. 

We accrue for property tax expense based upon actual amounts billed and, in some circumstances, estimates and historical trends when bills or assessments have not been received from the taxing authorities or such bills and assessments are in dispute.  If these estimates are incorrect, the timing and amount of expense recognition could be incorrect.  Cost of operations, general and administrative expense, interest expense, as well as television and other advertising expenditures are expensed as incurred. 

Foreign Currency Exchange Translation

The local currency (primarily the Euro) is the functional currency for our interests in foreign operations.  The related balance sheet amounts are translated into U.S. Dollars at the exchange rates at the

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respective financial statement date, while amounts on our statements of income are translated at the average exchange rates during the respective period.  The Euro was translated at exchange rates of approximately 1.269 U.S. Dollars per Euro at September 30, 2014 (1.377 at December 31, 2013), and average exchange rates of 1.326 and 1.324 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and average exchange rates of 1.356 and 1.317 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  Cumulative translation adjustments, to the extent not included in cumulative net income, are included in equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Total comprehensive income (loss) represents net income, adjusted for changes in other comprehensive income (loss) for the applicable period.  The aggregate foreign currency exchange gains and losses reflected on our statements of comprehensive income are comprised primarily of foreign currency exchange gains and losses on our investment in, and loan receivable from, Shurgard Europe.

Discontinued Operations

In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) revised standards to limit the presentation as discontinued operations only to those facility disposals that represent a strategic shift and have a major impact upon operations, rather than to all facility disposals under previous standards.  This change applies to disposals occurring after our early adoption date (as encouraged by the standard) of January 1, 2014.  This change has no material impact on our financial statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Guidance

In May 2014, the FASB issued an accounting standard (ASU No. 2014-09), requiring an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers.  ASU No. 2014-09 will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective and permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method.  The new standard is effective for us on January 1, 2017.  Early adoption is not permitted.  We have not yet selected a transition method.  We do not believe the adoption of ASU No. 2014-09 will have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition.

Net Income per Common Share

Net income is allocated to (i) noncontrolling interests based upon their share of the net income of the Subsidiaries, (ii) preferred shareholders, to the extent redemption cost exceeds the related original net issuance proceeds (an “EITF D-42 allocation”), and (iii) the remaining net income is allocated to each of our equity securities based upon the dividends declared or accumulated during the period, combined with participation rights in undistributed earnings. 

Basic net income per share is computed using the weighted average common shares outstanding.  Diluted net income per share is computed using the weighted average common shares outstanding, adjusted for the impact, if dilutive, of stock options outstanding (Note 10). 

The following table reflects our net income allocable to common shareholders and the weighted average common shares and equivalents outstanding, as used in our calculations of basic and diluted net income per share:

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3.Real Estate Facilities

Activity in real estate facilities is as follows:  

 

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we acquired 31 self-storage facilities from third parties  (2,238,000 net rentable square feet), for a total cost of $276.3 million, consisting of $271.2 million in 

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cash and loan assumption of $5.1 million.  Approximately $20.5 million of the aggregate cost was allocated to intangible assets.  We completed expansion and development activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2014, adding 686,000 net rentable square feet of self-storage space, at an aggregate cost of $59.8 million.  Construction in process at September 30, 2014 consists of projects to develop new self-storage facilities and expand existing self-storage facilities, which would add a total of 3.0 million net rentable square feet of storage space, for an aggregate estimated cost of approximately $342.2 million.  We received approximately $2.6 million in disposition proceeds during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

 

 

 

4.Investments in Unconsolidated Real Estate Entities

The following table sets forth our investments in, and equity earnings of, the Unconsolidated Real Estate Entities (amounts in thousands):

 

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, we received cash distributions from our investments in the Unconsolidated Real Estate Entities totaling $35.5 million and $33.8 million, respectively.  At September 30, 2014, our investment in the Unconsolidated Real Estate Entities exceeds our pro rata share of the underlying equity by approximately $78 million.  This differential is being amortized as a reduction in equity in earnings of the Unconsolidated Real Estate Entities based upon allocations to the underlying net assets.  Such amortization was approximately $1.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.     

Investment in PSB

PSB is a REIT traded on the New York Stock Exchange.  We have an approximate 42% common equity interest in PSB as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, comprised of our ownership of 7,158,354 shares of PSB’s common stock, which includes 406,748 shares that we purchased in open-market transactions at an average cost of $73.15 per share during the three months ended September 30, 2013, and 7,305,355 limited partnership units (“LP Units”) in an operating partnership controlled by PSB.  The LP Units are convertible at our option, subject to certain conditions, on a one-for-one basis into PSB common stock.  Based upon the closing price at September 30, 2014 ($76.14 per share of PSB common stock), the shares and units we owned had a market value of approximately $1.1 billion.    

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The following table sets forth selected financial information of PSB.  The amounts represent all of PSB’s balances and not our pro-rata share.

Investment in Shurgard Europe

For all periods presented, we had a 49% equity investment in Shurgard Europe and our joint venture partner owns the remaining 51% interest.   In addition, Shurgard Europe pays a license fee to Public Storage for the use of the “Shurgard” trademark, and in the three months ended September 30, 2014, repaid a shareholder loan (see Note 5).      

Changes in foreign currency exchange rates caused our investment in Shurgard Europe to decrease by approximately $26.4 million and $3.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.     

The following table sets forth selected consolidated financial information of Shurgard Europe based upon all of Shurgard Europe’s balances for all periods,  rather than our pro rata share.  Such amounts are based upon our historical acquired book basis.

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