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 March 31, 2005
                                 or
o 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   01-13031   
 

American Retirement Corporation


(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Tennessee   62-1674303  


(State or Other Jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization) Identification No.)
   
111 Westwood Place, Suite 200, Brentwood, TN 37027  


(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (615) 221-2250

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 the past 90 days. Yes  x.   No o.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes  x  No o

As of June 6, 2005, 31,091,211 shares of the registrant’s common stock, $0.01 par value, were outstanding.




INDEX

PART I.    FINANCIAL INFORMATION


Item 1. Financial Statements Page  
         
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of
March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 (Unaudited) 3
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of
Operations for the Three Months Ended
March 31, 2005 and 2004 (Unaudited) 4
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash
Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31,
2005 and 2004 (Unaudited) 5
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements 7
 
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations 18
 
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 32
 
Item 4. Controls and Procedures 32
 
 
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 6. Exhibits 33
 
Signatures 34

2



PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.   Financial Statements

AMERICAN RETIREMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)
(in thousands, except share data)

 
March 31, December 31,

2005 2004


       
ASSETS            
Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 35,680   $ 28,454  
    Restricted cash   26,816     25,270  
    Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts   15,855     16,175  
    Inventory   1,323     1,364  
    Prepaid expenses   4,461     2,667  
    Deferred income taxes   1,847     2,873  
    Assets held-for-sale   4,600     321  
    Other current assets   8,029     8,169  


        Total current assets   98,611     85,293  
             
Restricted cash, excluding amounts classified as current   23,839     24,864  
Land, buildings and equipment, net   514,542     496,297  
Notes receivable   18,418     18,563  
Goodwill   36,463     36,463  
Leasehold acquisition costs, net of accumulated amortization   27,224     29,362  
Other assets   55,005     55,636  


        Total assets $ 774,102   $ 746,478  


         
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
    Current portion of long-term debt $ 5,916   $ 10,372  
    Current portion of capital lease and lease financing obligations   16,686     16,474  
    Accounts payable   5,425     5,937  
    Accrued interest   489     988  
    Accrued payroll and benefits   10,924     10,125  
    Accrued property taxes   5,940     8,872  
    Other accrued expenses   7,644     8,035  
    Other current liabilities   10,265     8,505  
    Tenant deposits   4,885     4,804  
    Refundable portion of entrance fees   81,886     79,148  
    Deferred entrance fee income   31,914     33,800  


        Total current liabilities   181,974     187,060  
             
Long-term debt, less current portion   101,806     125,584  
Capital lease and lease financing obligations, less current portion   178,436     182,652  
Deferred entrance fee income   122,981     111,386  
Deferred gains on sale-leaseback transactions   95,920     98,876  
Deferred income taxes   1,464     3,255  
Other long-term liabilities   18,945     17,751  


        Total liabilities   701,526     726,564  
             
Minority interest   13,163     14,213  
             
Commitments and contingencies (See notes)
             
Shareholders’ equity:
    Preferred stock, no par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized, no
      shares issued or outstanding
       
    Common stock, $.01 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized,
      30,944,988 and 25,636,429 shares issued and outstanding, respectively
  309     252  
    Additional paid-in capital   218,904     168,092  
    Accumulated deficit   (157,800 )   (160,425 )
    Deferred compensation, restricted stock   (2,000 )   (2,218 )


        Total shareholders’ equity   59,413     5,701  


        Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 774,102   $ 746,478  


 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

3



AMERICAN RETIREMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
Three months ended March 31,

2005 2004
 
 
 
      (restated)  
Revenues:        
      Resident and health care $ 117,689   $ 107,951  
      Management and development services   500     424  
      Reimbursed expenses   802     768  
 
 
 
                             Total revenues   118,991     109,143  
             
Operating expenses:
    Community operating expenses   79,337     73,852  
    General and administrative   6,591     6,588  
    Lease expense   15,510     14,821  
    Depreciation and amortization   9,271     6,913  
    Amortization of leasehold acquisition costs   699     718  
    Loss (gain) on sale of assets   12     (105 )
    Reimbursed expenses   802     768  
 
 
 
            Total operating expenses   112,222     103,555  
 
 
 
         
            Operating income   6,769     5,588  
 
Other income (expense):
    Interest expense   (3,557 )   (9,701 )
    Interest income   720     602  
    Other   139     111  
 
 
 
           Other expense, net   (2,698 )   (8,988 )
 
 
 
            Income (loss) before income taxes and minority interest   4,071     (3,400 )
             
Income tax expense   1,375     145  
 
 
 
            Income (loss) before minority interest   2,696     (3,545 )
             
Minority interest in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries, net of tax   (71 )   (962 )
 
 
 
             
            Net income (loss) $ 2,625   $ (4,507 )
 
 
 
         
 Basic earnings (loss) per share $ 0.09   $ (0.21 )
 
 
 
 Dilutive earnings (loss) per share $ 0.09   $ (0.21 )
 
 
 
         
Weighted average shares used for basic earnings (loss) per share data   28,899     21,258  
Effect of dilutive common stock options   1,801      
 
 
 
Weighted average shares used for dilutive earnings (loss) per share data   30,700     21,258  
 
 
 
 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

4



AMERICAN RETIREMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
(in thousands)

Three months ended March 31,

2005 2004
 
 
 
        (restated)  
Cash flows from operating activities:        
   Net income (loss) $ 2,625   $ (4,507 )
   Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash and cash
     equivalents provided by operating activities:
        Depreciation and amortization   9,970     7,631  
        Amortization of deferred financing costs   96     801  
        Deferred entrance fee items:
          Amortization of deferred entrance fee income   (4,064 )   (4,526 )
          Proceeds from entrance fee sales - deferred income   7,805     7,181  
        Deferred income tax benefit   (765 )    
        Accrual of deferred interest       1,988  
        Amortization of deferred gain on sale-leaseback transactions   (2,956 )   (2,546 )
        Amortization of deferred compensation   218      
        Minority interest in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries   71     962  
        Tax benefit from exercise of stock options   395      
        (Gains) losses from unconsolidated joint ventures   (66 )   144  
        Loss (gain) on sale of assets   12     (105 )
   Changes in assets and liabilities, exclusive of acquisitions
   and sale-leaseback transactions:
        Accounts receivable   334     (1,054 )
        Inventory   49     25  
        Prepaid expenses   (1,834 )   (1,059 )
        Other assets   441     4,406  
        Accounts payable   (517 )   (131 )
        Accrued interest   (499 )   (114 )
        Other accrued expenses and other current liabilities   (757 )   (4,355 )
        Tenant deposits   (9 )   (78 )
        Deferred lease liability   1,249     (315 )
        Other liabilities   57     1,803  
 
 
 
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by operating activities   11,855     6,151  
             
Cash flows from investing activities:
        Additions to land, buildings and equipment   (5,679 )   (4,665 )
        Acquisition of community and property   (13,950 )    
        Proceeds from the sale of assets   208      
        Purchase of restricted cash   (3,389 )   (3,136 )
        Proceeds from restricted cash   3,749     1,681  
        Net change in other restricted cash accounts   (1,181 )   481  
        Receipts from notes receivable   42     91  
        Other investing activities   233     366  
 
 
 
Net cash and cash equivalents used by investing activities   (19,967 )   (5,182 )
             
Cash flows from financing activities:
        Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt       43,645  
        Principal payments on long-term debt   (32,283 )   (45,851 )
        Principal reductions in master trust liability   (285 )   (322 )
        Refundable entrance fee items:
          Proceeds from entrance fee sales - refundable portion   4,996     3,484  
          Refunds of entrance fee terminations   (6,517 )   (3,112 )
        Expenditures for financing costs   (63 )   (165 )
        Distributions to minority interest holders   (984 )   (1,068 )
        Proceeds from the issuance of common stock   49,934     35  
        Proceeds from the exercise of stock options   540     81  
 
 
 
Net cash and cash equivalents provided (used) by financing activities   15,338     (3,273 )
 
 
 
 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

5



AMERICAN RETIREMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - CONTINUED
(UNAUDITED)
(in thousands)
 
Three months ended March 31,

2005 2004
 
 
 
        (restated)  
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents $ 7,226   $ (2,304 )
             
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   28,454     17,192  


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 35,680   $ 14,888  


Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
     Cash paid during the quarter for interest (including capitalized interest) $ 3,771   $ 6,574  


     Income taxes paid $ 611   $ 270  


 
During the three months ended March 31, 2005, the Company acquired an entrance-fee continuing care retirement community and a free-standing assisted living community for approximately $14.0 million of cash (including estimated closing costs of $0.6 million) plus the assumption of various liabilities, including existing entrance fee refund obligations. As a result of the transaction, assets and liabilities changed as follows: 
 
Three months ended March 31,

2005 2004
 
 
 
         
Land, buildings and equipment acquired, net $ 26,139   $  
Deferred entrance fee income   (9,779 )    
Refundable portion of entrance fees   (631 )    
Other   (1,779 )    


Cash paid for acquisition of community and property $ 13,950   $  


 
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash transactions:
 
During the three months ended March 31, 2004, the Company issued 3,892,728 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, to certain holders of the Company’s 10% Convertible Senior Subordinated Series B Notes. The holders elected to convert $8.8 million of the Series B Notes to common stock at the conversion price of $2.25 per share. On April 1, 2004, the Company elected to redeem the balance of the Series B Notes on April 30, 2004. As a result, debt and equity were changed as follows: 
 
Three months ended March 31,

2005 2004
 
 
 
Long-term debt $   $ (8,759 )
Common stock       39  
Additional paid-in capital       8,720  
 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

6



 

AMERICAN RETIREMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.   Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of American Retirement Corporation (the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2004. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals and other adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2005 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year ending December 31, 2005.

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.


2.   Restatement

The Company filed an amendment on Form 10-K/A to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, to restate its consolidated statements of operations, statements of shareholders’ equity and comprehensive loss and statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, and its balance sheets as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 and for the quarterly periods of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003. The information contained herein reflects such restatement.

The following is a summary of the impact of the restatement on the Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations and cash flows for quarter ended March 31, 2004 (in thousands, except per share data):


Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations

For the three months ended March 31, 2004
 
As previously
filed
Adjustments Restated
 


Total revenues   $ 109,143   $   —   $ 109,143  
 
Lease expense   15,114   (293 ) 14,821  
(Gain) loss on sale of assets     (105 ) (105 )
Total operating expenses   103,953   (398 ) 103,555  
Operating income   5,190   398   5,588  
 
(Gain) loss on sale of assets   (105 ) 105    
Other expense, net   (8,883 ) (105 ) (8,988 )
Loss before income taxes and minority interest   (3,693 ) 293   (3,400 )
Income tax expense   145     145  
Net loss   (4,800 ) 293   (4,507 )
 
Basic and diluted loss per share   (0.23 ) 0.02   (0.21 )

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

For the three months ended March 31, 2004
 
As previously
filed
Adjustments Restated
 


Net loss   (4,800 ) 293   (4,507 )
Entrance fee items:  
      Amortization of deferred entrance fee income   (4,526 )   (4,526 )
      Proceeds from entrance fee sales-deferred income   10,665   (3,484 ) 7,181  
      Refunds of entrance fee terminations   (3,112 ) 3,112    
Accrual of deferred interest     1,988   1,988  
Other assets   4,384   22   4,406  
Deferred lease liability     (315 ) (315 )
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by operating activities   4,535   1,616   6,151  
 
Net cash and cash equivalents used by investing activities   (5,182 )   (5,182 )
 
Accrual of deferred interest   1,988   (1,988 )  
Entrance fee items:  
      Proceeds from entrance fee sales-refundable portion     3,484   3,484  
      Refunds of entrance fee termination     (3,112 ) (3,112 )
Net cash and cash equivalents used by financing activities   (1,657 ) (1,616 ) (3,273 )
 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents   (2,304 )   (2,304 )
 
 

3.   Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of American Retirement Corporation and its wholly owned and majority owned subsidiaries that manage, own and operate senior living communities. The Company maintains each of its subsidiaries as a separate and distinct legal entity. Absent express contractual provisions or agreements to the contrary, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries are liable for, nor are any of their respective assets available to satisfy, the obligations or liabilities of any other subsidiary of the Company. The accounts of limited liability companies, joint ventures and partnerships are consolidated when the Company maintains effective control over such entities’ assets and operations, notwithstanding, in some cases, a lack of majority ownership. All significant inter-company balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

4.   Current Quarter Activity

Completion of Public Offering

On January 26, 2005, the Company completed a public offering of 5,175,000 shares of its common stock, including the underwriter’s over-allotment of 675,000 shares. The shares were priced at $10.25. The net proceeds of the offering, after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and expenses, approximated $49.9 million.


7



Acquisitions

On February 1, 2005, the Company acquired Galleria Woods, an entrance-fee continuing care retirement community with 207 units, located in Birmingham, Alabama. The Company acquired the community, whose occupancy at March 31, 2005 was 75%, for approximately $5.5 million of cash (including estimated closing costs) plus the assumption of existing entrance-fee refund obligations of approximately $10.4 million, generally repayable from the entrance fees of future residents. In addition, the Company has plans for significant physical improvements at Galleria Woods with a budget of approximately $2.0 million for planned upgrades at the community. As a result of this transaction, the Company expects that annual depreciation expense will increase approximately $0.5 million.

The transaction was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting as required by SFAS No. 141 and, accordingly, the results of operations of the acquired community will be included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. The cost to acquire Galleria Woods has been preliminarily allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed according to estimated fair values, and is subject to adjustment when additional information concerning asset and liability valuations are finalized. The initial allocation of the purchase price to the acquired net assets is as follows (in thousands):

 
 

Land, buildings and equipment

 

 $16,091

   
           
 

Other Assets

 

70

   
           
 

Deferred entrance fee income

 

      9,779

   
           
 

Refundable portion of entrance fees

 

 631

   
           
 

Fair value of other liabilities assumed

 

284

   
 

On February 10, 2005, the Company acquired a free-standing assisted living community located in Houston, Texas for $8.7 million. The Company had previously leased the community since 1999. At March 31, 2005, the 3-story building, with 100 units, was 84% occupied. As a result of this transaction, the Company expects that annual lease expense will be reduced by approximately $1.2 million, and annual depreciation expense will increase by approximately $0.3 million.

5.   Segment Information

The Company operates principally in three business segments: (1) retirement centers, (2) free-standing assisted living communities, and (3) management services. The Company currently operates 29 retirement centers, which provide a continuum of care services such as independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing care. Of the 29 retirement centers, the Company owns five, operates four pursuant to leases classified as lease financing obligations (which include purchase options), operates 19 pursuant to operating leases and consolidates one variable interest entity, a retirement center that the Company manages (Freedom Square). The Company operates seven retirement centers which are entrance fee communities for which the Company receives an upfront fee and provides housing and health care services under various types of entrance fee agreements with residents.

The Company currently operates 33 free-standing assisted living communities. Free-standing assisted living communities are generally comprised of stand-alone assisted living communities that are not located on a retirement center campus, most of which also provide some specialized care such as Alzheimer’s and memory enhancement programs. Free-standing assisted living communities are generally much smaller than retirement centers. Of the 33 free-standing assisted living communities operated by the Company, 12 are owned (two in joint ventures), six are operated pursuant to leases classified as lease financing obligations, and 15 are operated pursuant to operating leases.

The management services segment includes fees from management agreements for communities owned by others, and fees for other services including development services, and reimbursed expense revenues together with associated expenses. The management services segment does not include any managed communities that the Company consolidates. The Company has five management agreements for retirement centers with third parties. Of the managed communities, two are cooperatives that are owned by their residents and two are owned by not-for-profit sponsors. The remaining managed retirement center is owned by an unaffiliated third party.

The Company manages and evaluates the performance of its business segments principally based upon segment operating contributions, which the Company defines as revenue from the segment less operating expenses associated with the segment. The following is a summary of total revenues and operating contributions by segment for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, and total assets by segment at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 (in thousands).(1)(2)(3)


8



 
Three Months Ended March 31,
2005 2004
 
 
 
        (restated)  
Revenues        
     Retirement centers $ 91,482   $ 85,288  
     Free-standing assisted living communities   26,207     22,663  
     Management services (2)   1,302     1,192  
 
 
 
          Total revenue $ 118,991   $ 109,143  
 
 
 
         
Retirement centers
     Resident and healthcare revenues $ 91,482   $ 85,288  
     Community operating expense   60,890     56,791  
 
 
 
          Segment operating income (3)   30,592     28,497  
 
 
 
         
Free-standing assisted living communities
     Resident and healthcare revenues   26,207     22,663  
     Community operating expense   18,447     17,061  
 
 
 
          Segment operating income (3)   7,760     5,602  
 
 
 
         
 
 
 
Management services operating contribution   500     424  
 
 
 
         
General and administrative expense   6,591     6,588  
Lease expense   15,510     14,821  
Depreciation and amortization (4)   9,970     7,631  
Loss (gain) on sale of assets   12     (105 )
 
 
 
          Operating income $ 6,769   $ 5,588  
 
 
 

March 31,
2005
December 31,
2004


         
Total Assets            
     Retirement centers $ 516,646   $ 498,132  
     Free-standing assisted living communities   189,214     182,353  
     Management services   68,242     65,993  
 
 
 
          Total $ 774,102   $ 746,478  
 
 
 
   
(1) Segment financial and operating data does not include any inter-segment transactions or allocated costs.
 
(2) Management Services represent the Company’s management fee revenues and reimbursed expense revenue.
 
(3) Segment operating income is defined as segment revenues less segment operating expenses.
 
(4) The Company’s depreciation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2004 includes $0.5 million of depreciation expense which would have been recognized during 2003 while the assets were held-for-sale if the assets had been continuously classified as held-for-use.

9



6.   Stock Based Compensation

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123R, Accounting for Share Based Payment, an amendment to SFAS No. 148, Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure and a revision to SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. SFAS No. 123R requires alternative methods of transition for the change to the fair value method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and is effective as of the beginning of the first annual period that begins after June 15, 2005. The Company applies the intrinsic-value-based method of accounting prescribed by Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related interpretations including FASB Interpretation No. 44, Accounting for Certain Transactions involving Stock Compensation, an interpretation of APB Opinion No. 25, to account for its fixed plan stock options. Under this method, compensation expense is recorded on the date of grant only if the current market price of the underlying stock exceeded the exercise price. SFAS No. 123 established accounting and disclosure requirements using a fair-value-based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation plans. The following table illustrates the effect on net income (loss) if the fair-value-based method had been applied to all outstanding and unvested awards in each period (in thousands except per share data).

 
Three Months Ended March 31,
2005 2004
 
 
 
        (restated)  
Net income (loss), as reported $ 2,625   $ (4,507 )
     Deduct total stock-based employee compensation expense
     determined under fair-value-based method
  (28 )   (166 )


Pro forma net income (loss) $ 2,597   $ (4,673 )


Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic - as reported $ 0.09   $ (0.21 )
Diluted - as reported $ 0.09   $ (0.21 )
Basic - pro forma $ 0.09   $ (0.22 )
Diluted - pro forma $ 0.09   $ (0.22 )
 

As permitted by SFAS No. 123R, the Company has elected to continue to apply the intrinsic-value-based method of accounting described above, and has adopted only the disclosure requirements of these statements. The Company plans to expense stock options using the modified prospective transition method prescribed in SFAS 123 (Revised). The modified prospective transition method requires expense to be recognized for new grants or modifications issued in the period of adoption, plus the current period expense for non-vested awards issued prior to the adoption of this standard. No expense is recognized for awards vested in prior periods. The weighted average fair value of options granted during the quarters ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 was $5.61 and $2.31, respectively. Considering 2004 market trends, the Company expects this average to continue to increase. At March 31, 2005, the Company had 0.7 million unvested options outstanding, of which 0.1 million vest during the remainder of 2005. The Company is currently evaluating the use of various models, as well as the necessary assumptions for calculating the impact from adoption of this standard. Based on current guidance, the Company intends to adopt SFAS 123R and begin expensing share payments January 1, 2006.

On July 19, 2004, the Company granted certain members of management a total of 440,000 shares of restricted stock. This stock had a $5.95 market value at the date of grant. These grants will vest ratably over the next three years. Measured compensation related to those grants totaled $2.6 million which is being amortized as compensation expense over the period of vesting. For the three months ended March 31, 2005, the Company expensed $0.2 million as compensation expense related to the amortization of the restricted stock.


10



7.   Earnings (Loss) per Share

Basic and diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2005 has been computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. At March 31, 2005 and 2004, there were approximately 2.1 million and 1.6 million options to purchase shares of common stock outstanding which had an exercise price below the average market price of the common shares for the corresponding periods, respectively.

A computation of diluted earnings (loss) per share is as follows (in thousands):

 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2005 2004
 
 
        (restated)  
 Income (loss) before minority interest $ 2,696   $ (3,545 )
 Minority interest in earnings of consolidated
     subsidiaries, net of tax
  (71 )   (962 )


Adjusted net income (loss) $ 2,625   $ (4,507 )


             
Weighted average shares used for basic earnings per share data   28,899     21,258  
Effect of dilutive common securities:
     Employee stock options   1,801      


Weighted average shares used for diluted earnings per share data   30,700     21,258  


             
 Basic income (loss) per share $ 0.09   $ (0.21 )
 Effect of dilutive securities        


 Diluted income (loss) per share $ 0.09   $ (0.21 )


 

The following options outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the respective period because the options’ exercise price was greater than the average market price of the common shares and, therefore, the effect would be anti-dilutive.

 
Three Months Ended March 31,

2005 2004
   
 
   
  Number of options (in thousands)   111     598    
  Weighted-average exercise price $ 14.61   $ 6.64    
 

On April 1, 2004, the Company elected to redeem the balance of its 10% Series B Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 (Series B Notes). The notes were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2004 as the effect would be anti-dilutive.


11



8.   Long-term Debt and Other Transactions

A summary of long-term debt is as follows (in thousands):

 
March 31,
2005
December 31,
2004


Various mortgage notes, interest at variable and fixed rates, generally
payable monthly with any unpaid principal and interest due between
2005 and 2037. Interest rates at March 31, 2005 range from 5.47% to 9.5%.
The loans are secured by certain land, buildings and equipment.
$ 98,709   $ 109,401  
     
Various other long-term debt, generally payable monthly with any
unpaid principal and interest due between 2005 and 2008. Fixed
interest rate at March 31, 2005 was 1.21%. The loans are secured
by certain land, buildings and equipment.
  9,013     26,555  
 
 
 
Subtotal debt   107,722     135,956  
     
Capital lease and lease financing obligations with principal and interest
payable monthly bearing interest at fixed rates ranging from 2.93%
to 10.9%, with final payments due between 2009 and 2017. The
obligations are secured by certain land, buildings and equipment.
  195,122     199,126  
 
 
 
Total debt including capital lease and lease financing obligations   302,844     335,082  
             
Less current portion of debt   5,916     10,372  
             
Less current portion of capital lease and lease financing obligations   16,686     16,474  
 
 
 
Long-term debt, excluding current portion $ 280,242   $ 308,236  
 
 
 
 

The aggregate scheduled maturities of long-term debt were as follows (in thousands):

 
Long-term
Debt
Capital Lease
and Lease
Financing
Obligations
Total Debt
March 31,
2005



  For the twelve months ended March 31, 2006 $ 5,916   $ 16,686   $ 22,602  
  For the twelve months ended March 31, 2007   18,158     17,171     35,329  
  For the twelve months ended March 31, 2008   5,244     17,798     23,042  
  For the twelve months ended March 31, 2009   8,661     18,663     27,324  
  For the twelve months ended March 31, 2010   2,648     19,556     22,204  
  Thereafter   67,095     105,248     172,343  
   
 
 
 
    $ 107,722   $ 195,122   $ 302,844  
   
 
 
 
 

2005 Debt Repayments

The Company used the proceeds of its January 26, 2005 secondary offering to make certain debt repayments. During January 2005, the Company repaid in full the balance on a mortgage loan from HCPI in the amount of $5.7 million, bearing interest at 9%. In addition, during January 2005, the Company repaid in full the $17.2 million of 9.625% fixed interest-only mortgage notes, issued in 2001, due October 1, 2008. See Note 4.


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Other Activity

Approximately $64.6 million of the Company’s $195.1 million of lease financing obligations include contingent earn-out provisions under certain leases which expire between December 2005 and October 2006. The contingent earn-out provisions relate to one retirement center and six free-standing assisted living communities. When these provisions expire, the Company’s continuing involvement related to the initial sale-leaseback transactions will be relieved and the subject leases will no longer be accounted for as lease financing obligations, but will be accounted for as operating leases. As a result, lease financing obligations, depreciation expense and interest expense will decrease and operating lease obligations and lease expense will increase. The expected reduction of lease financing obligations as a result of these expirations, unless further extended, is:

 
  During the three months ended December 31, 2005 $ 5.7 million    
  During the three months ended March 31, 2006   8.2 million  
  During the three months ended December 31, 2006   50.7 million    
   
   
    $ 64.6 million    
   
   
 

During the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company elected to forgo earn-outs related to two free-standing assisted living communities. The expiration of these earn-outs relieved the continuing involvement for these leases and changed the accounting from lease financing obligations to operating leases. This resulted in a net gain of $0.4 million which was deferred and will be recognized over the remaining term of the leases.

In addition, the Company guarantees approximately $18.3 million of mortgage debt that is not reflected on the Company’s balance sheet, of which $9.9 million relates to a retirement center which the Company leases and $8.4 million relates to a joint venture which the Company manages. These guarantees require that the Company pay or perform the borrower’s obligation. Accordingly, the Company would be required to make any payments, and perform any obligations, if the relevant borrower fails to do so. To date, the Company has not been required to fund any debt guarantees, and at March 31, 2005, the Company does not believe that it will be required to make payments under its current outstanding guarantees. If it were required to fund a debt guarantee, the Company would be entitled to seek indemnity or contribution payments from the borrower and, if applicable, any co-guarantor.

Liquidity

The Company believes that its current cash and cash equivalents, expected cash flow from operations, and the proceeds from additional financing transactions will be sufficient to fund its operating requirements, ongoing capital expenditure requirements, periodic debt service requirements, and lease obligations during the next twelve months.

The Company has substantial debt and lease obligations. During the past twelve months, total debt decreased $59.2 million from $362.0 million at March 31, 2004 to $302.8 million at March 31, 2005. In addition, for the three months ended March 31, 2005, the Company recorded net income during the quarter of $2.6 million, and improved operating results from its retirement center, free-standing assisted living community and management services business segments. Approximately $244.6 million or 80.8% of the Company’s debt has fixed interest rates, which on a weighted average basis were 6.5% at March 31, 2005. The remaining $58.2 million or 19.2% of debt has variable interest rates, which on a weighted average basis were 5.75% at March 31, 2005. In addition, as of March 31, 2005, the Company had guaranteed $18.3 million of third-party senior debt in connection with a free-standing assisted living community that the Company manages and a retirement center that the Company leases.

The Company has scheduled current debt and lease principal payments of $22.6 million and minimum rental obligations of $69.3 million under long-term operating leases due during the twelve months ended March 31, 2006.

As of March 31, 2005, the Company had approximately $35.7 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and $50.7 million in restricted cash. At March 31, 2005, the Company had $83.4 million of negative working capital which includes the classification of $113.8 million of entrance fees and $4.9 million of tenant deposits as current liabilities as required by applicable accounting pronouncements. During 2002, 2003 and 2004, the Company has experienced that only 12%, 11%, and 9%, respectively of these entrance fee liabilities have become payable, and were required to be settled in cash, during the next twelve months. During this same period, entrance fee liabilities paid have been offset by proceeds generated by subsequent entrance fee sales. Entrance fee sales, net of refunds paid, provided $21.5 million, $26.7 million, and $31.2 million of cash during 2002, 2003, and 2004, respectively.


13



On January 26, 2005, the Company completed a public offering of 5,175,000 shares of common stock, including the underwriter’s over-allotment of 675,000 shares. The shares were priced at $10.25. The net proceeds of the offering, after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and expenses, were approximately $49.9 million.

Substantially all of the Company's assets are pledged (including first priority mortgages) to secure its indebtedness. Certain of the Company’s indebtedness and lease agreements are cross-collateralized or cross-defaulted. Any default with respect to such obligations could cause the Company’s lenders or lessors to declare defaults, accelerate payment obligations or foreclose upon the communities securing such indebtedness or exercise their remedies with respect to such communities, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company. Certain of the Company’s debt instruments and leases contain financial and other covenants, typically related to the specific communities financed or leased. The Company believes that its current cash and cash equivalents, expected cash flow from operations, and the proceeds from additional financing transactions will be sufficient to fund its operating requirements, ongoing capital expenditure requirements, periodic debt service requirements, and lease obligations during the next twelve months. Should the cash and cash flow not be sufficent, there is no guarantee that the Company will be able to obtain alternative financing under acceptable terms.

9.   Operating Leases

As of March 31, 2005, the Company operated 44 of its senior living communities under long-term leases (34 operating leases and ten capital lease or lease financing obligations). Of the 34 operating lease communities, 25 are operated under four master lease agreements, with the remaining communities leased under individual lease agreements. The Company also leases its corporate offices and is obligated under several ground leases for senior living communities. The remaining base lease terms vary from three to 19 years. Many of the leases provide for renewal, extension and purchase options. Many of the leases also provide for graduated lease payments, either based upon fixed rate increases or a specified formula. In addition, several leases have provisions for contingent lease payments based on occupancy levels or other measures. Contingent rent that depends on factors directly related to the future use of leased property is accrued when it is deemed probable such amounts will be due. In addition, a majority of the Company’s lease agreements impose certain restrictions or require authorizations for certain changes such as expansions or significant modifications.

Net lease expense for the three months ended March 31, 2005 was $15.5 million, which includes lease payments of $17.0 million, plus accruals for future lease escalators (straight-line lease expense) of $1.5 million, net of the amortization of the deferred gain from prior sale-leasebacks of $3.0 million. Net lease expense for the three months ended March 31, 2004 was $14.8 million, which includes lease payments of $15.8 million, plus accruals for future lease escalators of $1.5 million, net of the amortization of the deferred gain from prior sale-leasebacks of $2.5 million.

Future minimum lease payments at March 31, 2005 are as follows (in thousands): 

 
  Twelve months ended March 31, 2006 $ 69,335    
  Twelve months ended March 31, 2007   70,677    
  Twelve months ended March 31, 2008   71,498    
  Twelve months ended March 31, 2009   71,332    
  Twelve months ended March 31, 2010   72,796    
  Thereafter   459,452    
   
   
    $ 815,090    
   
   

14



The following table provides a summary of operating lease obligations at March 31, 2005 by lessor (in thousands):

 
Future Minimum Lease Payments

Twelve Months
Ended
March 31, 2006
Remaining
Lease Term
 
 
 
Master lease agreements for ten communities. Initial term ranging
from 10 to 15 years, with renewal options for two additional ten
year terms.
$ 23,940   $ 260,222  
     
Operating lease agreements for three communities with an initial
term of 15 years and renewal options for two additional five year
terms or two additional ten year terms.
  9,144     144,677  
     
Master lease agreement for nine communities. Initial 12 year term,
with renewal options for two additional five year terms.
  11,351     120,307  
     
Operating lease agreement for a community which has a 23 year
term, with a seven year renewal option. The Company also has
an option to purchase the community at the expiration of the
lease term.
  4,346     83,303  
     
Operating lease agreement for a community with an initial term
of 15 years with two five year renewal options and a right of
first refusal to repurchase the community. The Company recorded
a deferred gain of $11.7 million on the sale, which is being
amortized over the base term of the lease.
  3,981     49,337  
     
Master lease agreement for six communities with an initial ten
year term, with renewal options for four additional ten year terms.
  6,031     47,197  
     
Other lease agreements for four communities, as well as a lease
for the home office. Initial terms ranging from eight to 17 years,
with various renewal options.
  10,542     110,047  
 
 
 
Total operating lease obligations $ 69,335   $ 815,090  
 
 
 
 

10.   Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of its business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate liability with respect to those proceedings and claims will not materially affect the financial position, operations, or liquidity of the Company. The Company maintains commercial insurance on a claims-made basis for medical malpractice and professional liabilities.

Insurance

The delivery of personal and health care services entails an inherent risk of liability. Participants in the senior living and health care services industry have become subject to an increasing number of lawsuits alleging negligence or related legal theories, many of which involve large claims and result in the incurrence of significant exposure and defense costs. The Company currently maintains general and professional medical malpractice insurance policies for the Company’s owned, leased and certain of its managed communities under a master insurance program. Premiums and deductibles for this insurance coverage have risen dramatically in recent years, particularly during 2002 and 2003. In response to these conditions, the Company has significantly increased the staff and resources involved in quality assurance, compliance and risk management during the past several years, and have also modified its insurance programs.

The Company currently maintains single incident and aggregate liability protection in the amount of $25.0 million for general liability and $15.0 million for professional liability, with self-insured retention of $1.0 million and $5.0 million, respectively. The Company believes it has adequately accrued amounts to cover open claims not yet settled and incurred but not reported claims as of March 31, 2005.


15



The Company operates under a self-insured workers’ compensation program, with excess loss coverage provided by third party carriers. As of March 31, 2005, the Company’s coverage for workers’ compensation and related programs, excluding Texas, included excess loss coverage of $350,000 per individual claim and approximately $6.3 million in the aggregate. As of March 31, 2005, the Company provided cash collateralized letters of credit in the aggregate amount of $8.4 million related to this program, which are reflected as restricted cash on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. For work-related injuries in Texas, the Company is a non-subscriber under Texas state law, meaning that work-related losses are covered under a defined benefit program outside of the Texas Workers’ Compensation system. The Company carries excess loss coverage of $250,000 per individual under its non-subscriber program. Losses are paid as incurred and estimated losses are accrued on a monthly basis. The Company utilizes a third party administrator to process and pay filed claims.

The Company maintains a self-insurance program for employee medical coverage, with stop-loss insurance coverage of approximately $250,000 per associate. Estimated costs related to this self-insurance program are accrued based on known claims and projected settlements of unasserted claims incurred but not yet reported to the Company. Subsequent changes in actual experience (including claim costs, claim frequency, and other factors) could result in additional costs to the Company.

During the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, the Company expensed $4.2 million and $4.7 million, respectively, related to premiums, claims and costs for general liability and professional medical malpractice, workers’ compensation, and employee medical insurance related to multiple insurance years.

Management Agreements

The Company’s management agreements are generally for terms of three to 20 years, but certain of the agreements may be canceled by the owner of the community, without cause, on three to six months’ notice. One management agreement provides the Company with two ten year renewal options. Pursuant to the management agreements, the Company is generally responsible for providing management personnel, marketing, nursing, resident care and dietary services, accounting and data processing services, and other services for these communities in exchange for a monthly fee for its services based on either a contractually fixed amount, a percentage of revenues or income, or cash flows in excess of operating expenses and certain cash flows of the community. The Company’s existing management agreements expire at various times through June 2018.

In connection with these management agreements, the Company has guaranteed mortgage debt of $8.4 million related to a joint venture which the Company manages.

Regulatory Requirements

Federal and state governments regulate various aspects of the Company’s business. The development and operation of health care facilities and the provision of health care services are subject to federal, state, and local licensure, certification, and inspection laws that regulate, among other matters, the number of licensed beds, the provision of services, the distribution of pharmaceuticals, billing practices and policies, equipment, staffing (including professional licens­ing), operating policies and procedures, fire prevention measures, environmental matters, and compliance with building and safety codes. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations could result in the denial of reimbursement, the imposition of fines, temporary suspension of admission of new patients, suspension or decertification from the Medicare programs, restrictions on the ability to acquire new communities or expand existing communities, and, in extreme cases, the revocation of a community’s license or closure of a community. Management believes the Company was in compliance with such federal and state regulations at March 31, 2005.

Other

A portion of the Company’s skilled nursing revenues are attributable to reimbursements under Medicare. Certain per person annual limits on therapy services, which were effective September through December 2003, have been placed on moratorium for two years. These caps will be effective for the fourth quarter of 2006, unless revised or extended.


16



11.   Subsequent Events

Freedom Plaza Care Center (FPCC) is a 128-bed skilled nursing and 44-bed assisted living center with approximately 7,000 square feet of office space subleased to a third party, in Peoria, Arizona. W.E. Sheriff, the Company’s chairman, chief executive officer and president, owns 50% of Maybrook Realty, Inc., which owns FPCC. The Company has exercised its option for the purchase of the real estate interests of FPCC. The option provided for a fixed purchase price of approximately $20.3 million to Maybrook. The Company has also entered into a purchase agreement with the ground lessor to acquire its interest in the property for a purchase price of approximately $3.1 million, including an adjacent parcel of land. Upon closing (expected July 2005), the Company will simultaneously acquire the real estate interests of both Maybrook and the ground lessor in FPCC and own 100% of the community. The total purchase price for these two transactions is expected to be $23.7 million (including $0.3 million of transaction costs), which is supported by a fair market value appraisal. The Company intends to pay the purchase price with $4.7 million of cash and the proceeds of a $19.0 million mortgage loan obtained from a commercial bank.

During 2005, the Company intends to expand FPCC with the addition of 20 assisted living units and 18 dementia beds. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2004, the Company’s operating results for FPCC included revenues of $12.4 million, operating contribution of $3.5 million and $2.2 million of lease expense. During 2004, the community averaged 95.6% occupancy. As a result of this transaction, the Company expects that its annual lease expense will be reduced by approximately $2.2 million, which will be offset by an increase in depreciation expense of approximately $0.8 million and an estimated increase in interest expense of $1.0 million.


17



Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Overview

The senior living industry is experiencing growth as a result of demographic changes and various other factors. According to census data, the over age 75 population in the United States is growing much faster than the general population. We have seen increasing demand for services at both our retirement centers and our free-standing assisted living communities during the past year, and expect that this demand will continue over the next several years. As a general rule, economic factors that affect seniors will have a corresponding impact on the senior living industry. For example, general concerns regarding lower interest rates on savings and uncertainty of investment returns have impacted seniors during the past several years, as well as uncertainties related to world events such as the Iraqi war. On the other hand, the continuing strength of the home resale market in most areas of the country has been beneficial to seniors, since the equity from the sale of a home is a significant source of funding for senior living care in many cases. In addition, overall economic conditions and general consumer confidence can impact the senior living industry, since many adult children subsidize the cost for care of elderly parents, and share in decisions regarding their care.

The assisted living industry is maturing and rapidly evolving. The demand for assisted living services increased significantly beginning with the emergence of the industry segment in the mid-1990s. However, the development of new assisted living communities across the country outstripped demand during this period, resulting in oversupply of unit capacity, longer fill up times, price pressures and deep discounting. The steadily increasing demand for assisted living services, coupled with minimal new development activity, reduced much of the oversupply in many of our markets in 2002 and 2003. As a result, we were able to increase occupancy, increase rates and reduce promotional discounting for our free-standing assisted living communities during 2003 and 2004. Based on available industry data, we believe that new assisted living development in the near term will remain at sustainable levels and, accordingly, expect this trend to continue. The average length of stay in our free-standing assisted living community segment is approximately two years, which represents a challenge and an opportunity for us. We must find a number of new residents to maintain and build occupancy. However, we also have the opportunity to “mark-to-market” if we are able to attract new residents at higher current market rates, replacing prior residents with lower or discounted rates.

Our retirement center segment is a more mature segment of the industry, and has seen demand and price increases in recent years, with new unit capacity entering the market at sustainable levels. Management expects this growth in demand and selling rate increases to continue over the next several years. The average length of stay is much longer in our retirement centers, approximately five to seven years in the rental communities, and approximately ten to twelve years in the entrance fee communities. In addition, we believe that many of our retirement centers benefit from significant barriers to entry from competitors, including the significant cost and length of time to develop competitive communities, certificate of need requirements for nursing beds in certain states, the difficulty in finding acceptable development sites in the geographical areas in which our retirement centers are located, and the length of time and difficulty in developing strong competitive reputations.

We earn our revenues primarily by providing housing and services to our residents. Approximately 85% of our revenues come from private pay sources, meaning that residents or their families pay from their own funds (or from the proceeds of their privately funded long-term care policies). All private pay residents are billed in advance for the next month’s housing and care. In addition, we receive private pay revenues from the sale of entrance fee contracts at our entrance fee communities. While this cash is received at the time the resident moves in, the non-refundable portion of the entrance fee is primarily recognized as income for financial reporting purposes over the actuarial life of the resident.


18



Our most significant expenses are:

 
Community operating expenses  – Labor and labor related expenses for community associates represent approximately 63% of this line item. Other significant items in this category are food costs, property taxes, utility costs, marketing costs and insurance.
 
General and administrative  – Labor costs also represent the largest component for this category, comprising the home office and regional staff supporting community operations. Other significant items are liability reserve accruals and related costs, travel, and legal and professional service costs. In response to higher liability insurance costs and deductibles in recent years, and the inherent liability risk in providing personal and health-related services to seniors, we have significantly increased our staff and resources involved in quality assurance, compliance and risk management.
 
Lease expense  – Our lease expense has grown significantly over the past several years, as a result of the large number of sale-leaseback transactions completed in connection with various financing transactions. Our lease expense includes the rent expense for all operating leases, including an accrual for known lease escalators in future years (the impact of these future escalators is spread evenly over the lease term for financial reporting purposes), and is reduced by the amortization of deferred gains on previous sale-leaseback transactions.
 
Depreciation and amortization expense  – We incur significant depreciation expense on our fixed assets (primarily community buildings and equipment) and amortization expense related primarily to leasehold acquisition costs.
 
Interest expense  – Our interest expense is comprised of interest on our outstanding debt, capital lease and lease financing obligations.
 

Results of Operations

We filed an amendment on Form 10-K/A to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, to restate our consolidated statements of operations, statements of shareholders' equity and comprehensive loss and statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, and our balance sheets as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 and for the quarterly periods of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003. The information reflected herein for the quarter ended March 31, 2004 reflects such restatement.

Recent Events

During January 2005, we completed a secondary equity offering of 5,175,000 common shares, resulting in approximately $49.9 million of net proceeds to us. We used $37.1 million of these proceeds to further reduce certain high cost debt, to acquire a retirement center, and to acquire an assisted living community. We will use the remaining proceeds to acquire certain leased real estate at our communities, and for upcoming expansion and development activity at our communities or for working capital.

Highlights of Operating Results

Our statements of operations in recent years should be considered in light of the following factors, some of which are likely to influence our future operating results and financial outlook:

 
Our statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2005 show significant improvement versus the prior year quarter. Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2005 was $2.6 million versus net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2004 of $4.5 million. Cash provided by operating activities has increased $5.7 million, to $11.9 million from $6.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.
 
In order to continue to increase net income, we are focusing primarily on improving results in our free-standing assisted living and retirement center segments, while controlling our general and administrative costs and reducing our debt service costs. We plan to increase occupancy in our free-standing assisted living community segment and increase revenue per unit, while controlling our operating costs. We also intend to increase ancillary services and revenue per unit in our retirement center segment, increase occupancy at selected communities, and control our operating costs, including labor, insurance and liability related costs.

19



We are focusing on increasing our free-standing assisted living community operating contribution further primarily by increasing occupancy above the current 90% level, and by increasing revenue per unit through price increases, ancillary services, and the “mark-to-market” effect of turnover of units that are at lower rates, while maintaining control of our operating costs. Since monthly rates for new residents (current market selling rates) are generally higher than billing rates for current residents, turnover typically results in significantly increased monthly fees for the new resident. We believe that, absent unforeseen market or pricing pressures, occupancy increases above 90% should produce high incremental community operating contribution margins for this segment. The risks to improving occupancy in our free-standing assisted living community portfolio are unexpected increases in move outs in any period (due to health or other reasons) and the development of new unit capacity or renewed price discounting by competitors in our markets, which could make it more difficult to fill vacant units and which could result in lower revenue per unit.
 
Our free-standing assisted living communities have continued to increase revenue and community operating contribution during 2005, primarily as a result of a 8.6% increase in revenue per unit, as well as an increase in ending occupancy from 84% as of March 31, 2004, to 90% as of March 31, 2005.
 
The increased revenue per unit in our free-standing assisted living communities resulted primarily from selling rate increases, reduced discounting, and turnover of units resulting in new residents paying higher current market rates. In addition, our residency agreements provide for annual rate increases. The increased amount of ancillary services, including therapy services, also contributed to the increased revenue per unit.
 
Our free-standing assisted living community incremental increase in operating contribution as a percentage of revenue increase was 61% for the three months ended March 31, 2005 versus the three months ended March 31, 2004.
 
Our free-standing assisted living community operating contribution per unit per month increased 30% during the three months ended March 31, 2005, versus the same period last year to $1,020 per unit per month.
 
We are also focused on increasing the revenues and operating contribution of our retirement centers. Revenue per unit increases at our retirement centers resulted primarily from increases in selling rates, increased therapy and ancillary service revenues, as well as annual billing rate increases to existing residents (typically 2% to 4% under most resident agreements). In addition, a significant component of the average revenue per unit increase stems from the “mark-to-market” effect of resident turnover. Since monthly rates for new residents (current market selling rates) are generally higher than billing rates for current residents (since annual increases to billing rates are typically capped in resident agreements), turnover typically results in significantly increased monthly fees for the new resident. This “mark-to-market” increase is generally more significant in entrance fee communities due to much longer average length of stay (ten or more years).
 
Retirement center community operating contribution increased significantly over the prior year quarter, primarily as a result of increased revenue per unit and occupancy increases. Revenues were up 7.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2005 versus the three months ended March 31, 2004. Our retirement center operating contribution per unit per month increased 5.4% during 2005, to $1,195 per unit per month.

20



Segment Results

We operate in three business segments: retirement centers, free-standing assisted living communities, and management services.

The following table presents the number, total unit capacity and total ending and average occupancy percentages of our communities by operating segment at March 31, 2005 and 2004.

 
    Number of Communities /
Total Ending Capacity
March 31,
  Ending Occupancy % /
Ending Occupied Units
March 31,
  Average Occupancy % /
Average Occupied Units
Three Months Ended March 31,
 



    2005   2004   2005   2004   2005   2004  
             
Retirement Centers     29   28   95%   94 % 95% 94 %
      9,072   8,870   8,585   8,374   8,532   8,376  
                             
Free-standing ALs     33   33   90 % 84 % 89% 83 %
      3,007   3,002   2,694   2,520   2,668   2,505  
                             
Management Services     5   5   95 % 93 % 95 % 93 %
      1,187   1,190   1,131   1,101   1,125   1,051  
 
 
 
 
Total     67   66   94 % 92 % 94 % 91 %
      13,266   13,062   12,410   11,995   12,325   11,932  
 
 
 
 

21



We measure the performance of our three business segments, in part, based upon the operating contribution produced by these business segments. We compute operating contribution by deducting the operating expenses associated with a segment from the revenues produced by that segment. The following table sets forth certain selected financial and operating data on an operating segment basis(1) (dollars in thousands, except for per unit amounts).

 
    Three Months
Ended March 31,
  2005 vs. 2004  
 
 
 
    2005   2004   Change   %  
   
 
 
 
 
        (restated)              
Revenues:                  
      Retirement Centers   $ 91,482   $ 85,288   $ 6,194     7.3 %
      Free-standing ALs     26,207     22,663     3,544     15.6 %
      Management Services     1,302     1,192     110     9.2 %
 
 
 
           Total revenue   $ 118,991   $ 109,143   $ 9,848     9.0 %
 
 
 
                           
Retirement Centers                          
      Ending occupied units     8,585     8,374     211     2.5 %
      Ending occupancy %     95 %   94 %   1 %      
      Average occupied units     8,532     8,376     156     1.9 %
      Average occupancy %     95 %   94 %   1 %      
      Revenue per occupied unit (per month)   $ 3,574   $ 3,394   $ 180     5.3 %
      Operating contribution per unit (per month)     1,195     1,134     61     5.4 %
                           
      Resident and healthcare revenue     91,482     85,288     6,194     7.3 %
      Community operating expense     60,890     56,791     4,099     7.2 %
 
 
 
           Community operating contribution (2)     30,592     28,497     2,095     7.4 %
 
 
 
           Operating contribution margin (3)     33.4 %   33.4 %   0.0 %   0.1 %
   
Free-standing ALs                          
      Ending occupied units (4)     2,562     2,394     168     7.0 %
      Ending occupancy % (4)     90 %   84 %   6 %      
      Average occupied units (4)     2,537     2,384     153     6.4 %
      Average occupancy % (4)     89 %   84 %   5 %      
      Revenue per occupied unit   $ 3,443   $ 3,169   $ 274     8.6 %
      Operating contribution per unit (per month)     1,020     783     237     30.3 %
                           
      Resident and healthcare revenue     26,207     22,663     3,544     15.6 %
      Community operating expense     18,447     17,061     1,386     8.1 %
 
 
 
           Community operating contribution (2)     7,760     5,602     2,158     38.5 %
 
 
 
           Operating contribution margin (3)     29.6 %   24.7 %   4.9 %   19.8 %
                           
 
 
 
Management services operating contribution (2)   $ 500   $ 424   $ 76     17.9 %
 
 
 
         
Total segment operating contributions     38,852     34,523     4,329     12.5 %
      As a % of total revenue     32.7 %   31.6 %   1.0 %   3.2 %
                           
General and administrative   $ 6,591   $ 6,588   $ 3     0.0 %
Lease expense     15,510     14,821     689     4.6 %
Depreciation and amortization     9,271     6,913     2,358     34.1 %
Amortization of leasehold costs     699     718     (19 )   -2.6 %
Loss (gain) on the sale of assets     12     (105 )   117     -111.4 %
 
 
 
 
 
      Operating income   $ 6,769   $ 5,588   $ 1,181     21.1 %
 
 
 
 
 
   
(1)
Selected financial and operating data does not include any inter-segment transactions or allocated costs.
 
(2)
Segment Operating Contribution is calculated by subtracting the segment operating expenses from the segment revenues.
 
(3)
Segment Operating Contribution Margin is calculated by dividing the operating contribution of the segment by the respective segment revenues.
 
(4)
Excludes two free-standing assisted living communities we partially own through joint ventures. These joint ventures are not included in the consolidated free-standing assisted living segment results since we do not own a majority interest.

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Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 Compared with the Three Months Ended March 31, 2004

Retirement Centers

Revenue - Retirement center revenues were $91.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005, compared to $85.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, an increase of $6.2 million, or 7.3%, which was comprised of:

 
$0.8 million related to revenues from the February acquisition of Galleria Woods. At March 31, 2005, 156 units or 75% of the community was occupied. We expect to increase occupancy at this retirement center.
 
$0.6 million from other increases in occupancy. Occupancy of the retirement center segment at March 31, 2005 was 95%. Any occupancy gains above this level should produce significant incremental operating contributions. We are focused on maintaining this high level of occupancy across the portfolio, and making incremental occupancy gains at selected communities with below average occupancy levels for our retirement centers.
 
$4.8 million from increased revenue per occupied unit. This increase is comprised primarily of selling rate increases and increased ancillary services provided to residents (including a $2.3 million increase in therapy services). Rate increases include the impact of increased Medicare reimbursement rates for skilled nursing and therapy services, the mark-to-market effect from turnover of residents (reselling units at higher current selling rates) and annual increases in monthly service fees from existing residents. We expect that selling rates to new residents will generally continue to increase during 2005, absent an adverse change in market conditions.
 

Community operating expenses - Retirement center community operating expenses were $60.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005, compared to $56.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2004, an increase of $4.1 million, or 7.2%, which was comprised of:

 
$0.8 million related to operating expenses from the February acquisition of an entrance fee community with 207 units.
 
$2.5 million of increased labor and related costs. This increase is primarily a result of wage rate increases for associates and additional staffing costs, including approximately $2.2 million supporting the growth of our therapy services program. Although wage rates of associates are expected to increase each year, we do not expect significant changes in staffing levels in our retirement center segment, other than to support community expansions or the growth of ancillary programs such as therapy services.
 
$0.7 million of other year-to-year cost increases. This includes increases in operating expenses such as utilities, property taxes, marketing, food, ancillary costs and other property related costs.
 

Community operating contribution - Retirement center operating contribution was $30.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005, compared to $28.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, an increase of $2.1 million, or 7.4%.

 
The operating contribution margin remained at 33.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004.
 
The operating contribution margin in 2005 reflected continued operational improvements throughout the retirement center segment resulting from increased occupancy and revenue per occupied unit (including continued growth of the therapy services program), and control of community operating expenses including labor, employee benefits and insurance related costs. These margin improvements were offset by the break-even contribution of the Galleria Woods community acquired in February 2005. We expect continued operating margin improvement for this community, as it increases its occupancy above its current 75% level.

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Free-standing Assisted Living Communities

Revenue - Free-standing assisted living community revenues were $26.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005, compared to $22.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, an increase of $3.5 million, or 15.6%, which was comprised of:

 
$1.7 million from increased revenue per occupied unit. This increase includes the impact of price increases, reduced discounting and promotional allowances, and the mark-to-market effect from turnover of residents (reselling units at higher current rates), and includes $0.7 million related to increased revenues from therapy services. We will be focused on increasing revenue per occupied unit, subject to market constraints, through price increases, as well as the mark-to-market turnover of residents with prior discounted rates, and an increase in ancillary services such as therapy.
 
$1.8 million from increased occupancy, exclusive of acquisition-based increases. Total occupancy increased from 84% at March 31, 2004 to 90% at March 31, 2005, an increase of six percentage points. We are focused on continuing to increase the occupancy in the free-standing assisted living communities, and believe that over the long-term, this segment of the industry should be able to achieve average occupancy levels at or near those achieved in our retirement center segment. We are focused on increasing our number of move-ins, increasing average length of stay, and expanding our marketing efforts and sales training in order to increase occupancy.
 
These amounts exclude the revenue and occupancy for two free-standing assisted living communities partially owned through unconsolidated joint ventures.
 

Community operating expenses - Free-standing assisted living community operating expenses were $18.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005, compared to $17.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, an increase of $1.4 million or 8.1%, which was comprised of:

 
$0.9 million of additional labor and labor related costs. This increase is primarily a result of wage rate increases for associates and additional staffing costs of approximately $0.5 million supporting the growth of our therapy services programs. We do not expect significant increases in staffing levels in our free-standing assisted living communities as occupancy levels increase over the current 90%, since most of our communities are nearly fully staffed at current occupancy levels. However, growth of ancillary revenue programs such as therapy may require additional staff to support incremental activity. As a result of higher recruiting and retention costs of qualified personnel, we expect increased wage rates each year, subject to labor market conditions.
 
$0.5 million of other net cost increases. This includes increased community overhead costs, such as marketing and utilities, as well as food costs and various other cost increases.
 

Community operating contribution - Free-standing assisted living community operating contribution was $7.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005, compared to $5.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, an increase of $2.2 million, or 38.5%.

 
For the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2005, the operating contribution margin increased from 24.7% to 29.6%, an increase of 4.9 percentage points.
 
The increased margin primarily relates to strong increases in revenue per occupied unit and occupancy increases, coupled with control of community operating expenses. The incremental increase in operating contribution as a percentage of revenue increase was 61% for the three months ended March 31, 2005 versus the three months ended March 31, 2004.

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We believe that, absent unforeseen cost pressures, revenue increases resulting from occupancy increases should continue to produce high incremental community operating contribution margins (as a percentage of sales increase) for this segment.
 

Management Services.

Management services revenues and operating contribution were $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005, compared to $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, a slight increase of $0.1 million, or 17.9%.

General and Administrative.  General and administrative expense remained at $6.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2004.

 
General and administrative expense as a percentage of total consolidated revenues was 5.5% and 6.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.
 
We believe that measuring general and administrative expense as a percentage of total consolidated revenues and combined revenues (including unconsolidated managed revenues) provides insight as to the level of our overhead in relation to our total operating activities (including those that relate to management services). General and administrative expense as a percentage of total combined revenues was 5.0% and 5.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, calculated as follows:                    
   
        Three Months Ended March 31,
   
       
   
        2005   2004    
       
 
   
  Total consolidated revenues     $ 118,991   $ 109,143    
  Revenues of unconsolidated managed communities       13,244     12,086    
  Less management fees       500     424    
 
   
       Total combined revenue     $ 131,735   $ 120,805    
 
   
     
  Total general and administrative expense     $ 6,591   $ 6,588    
 
   
     
  General and administrative expense as a % of    
     total consolidated revenues       5.5 %   6.0 %  
 
   
  General and administrative expense as a % of
    total combined revenue
      5.0 %   5.5 %  
 
   
 

Lease Expense.   Lease expense was $15.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005, compared to $14.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, an increase of $0.7 million, or 4.6%.

 
As a result of sale-leaseback transactions completed in July 2004, a retirement center is currently operated pursuant to operating leases (previously owned), and two retirement centers and one free standing assisted living center are currently lease financing obligations (previously owned). For the first quarter of 2005, lease expense increased $0.5 million as a result of these transactions. These increases were offset by approximately $0.4 million of increased amortization of deferred gain on sale and $0.2 million in reduced lease expense associated with the February 10, 2005 acquisition of one free-standing assisted living community. This community was previously leased.
 
As a result of the expiration of contingent earn-outs included in lease agreements for two free-standing assisted living communities, these leases were accounted for as operating leases as of December 31, 2004 (versus lease financing obligation treatment for these leases in prior periods). Lease expense for the three months ended March 31, 2005 increased $0.4 million related to these two free-standing assisted living communities.

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Net lease expense for the three months ended March 31, 2005 was $15.5 million, which includes current lease payments of $17.0 million, plus straight-line accruals for future lease escalators of $1.5 million, net of the amortization of the deferred gain from prior sale-leasebacks of $3.0 million.
 
As of March 31, 2005, we had operating leases for 34 of our communities, including 19 retirement centers and 15 free-standing assisted living communities.
 
Depreciation and Amortization.  Depreciation and amortization expense was $9.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005, compared to $6.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, an increase of $2.4 million, or 34.1%. Approximately $2.3 million of the increase was related to the July 2004 transaction which reduced the depreciable asset lives to the ten year initial lease term for two retirement centers and one free-standing assisted living community. The remainder of the increase is primarily attributable to the depreciation impact of the February acquisitions of one continuing care retirement community and one free-standing assisted living community. Depreciation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2005 increased approximately $0.1 million as a result of these acquisitions. Depreciation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2005 was $9.3 million and is expected to remain at approximately that amount per quarter, absent any subsequent refinancing or transactional activity.
 
Amortization of Leasehold Acquisition Costs.  Amortization of leasehold acquisition costs was consistent at $0.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004.
 

Interest Expense.    Interest expense was $3.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005, compared to approximately $9.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, a decrease of $6.1 million, or 63.3%. This decrease was primarily the result of:

 
The redemption of $4.5 million in principal amount of our Series B Notes on April 30, 2004.   This transaction decreased the three months ended March 31, 2005 interest expense compared to the three months ended March 31, 2004 interest expense by approximately $0.5 million.
 
In connection with the sale-leaseback transactions completed in July 2004, we repaid the remaining $82.6 million balance of the mezzanine loan, and $18.9 million of first mortgage debt. These transactions decreased the three months ended March 31, 2005 interest expense compared to the three months ended March 31, 2004 interest expense by approximately $4.5 million.
 
In connection with the $49.9 million public equity offering completed in January 2005, we repaid $17.2 million of its 9.625% fixed interest only mortgage notes, issued in 2001, due October 1, 2008. In addition, during January 2005, we repaid a $5.7 million, 9% fixed interest mortgage note, issued in July 2004, due July 2006. These payments were made from the proceeds of the offering. These transactions decreased the three months ended March 31, 2005 interest expense compared to the three months ended March 31, 2004 interest expense by approximately $0.4 million.
 
Interest expense is expected to approximate a quarterly amount of $4.4 million, before the impact of any increase in the interest rates of our variable rate debt or other refinancing or transactional activity.
 

Other Income (Expense). Interest income was $0.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005, compared to $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004. Interest income may vary from these amounts in the future based on cash and restricted cash balances, as well as changes in interest rates.

Income Taxes.   The provision for income taxes was an expense of $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005, and $145,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2004. We have a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets of approximately $66.1 million as of March 31, 2005. As a result of our reported losses in the past several years, we do not meet the “more likely than not” recoverability criteria necessary to currently recognize the benefit of our deferred tax assets, except for those assets which will be recovered through known reversals of deferred tax liabilities. We will continue to assess our ability to generate sufficient taxable income (from positive income and


26



other factors) during future periods in which the deferred tax assets may be utilized. If we continue to improve our reported and expected results, we expect that we will meet the “more likely than not” recoverability criteria in the future. Upon meeting that criteria, we will reduce or eliminate our valuation allowance of approximately $66.1 million against deferred tax assets, resulting in a significant reduction of tax expense (or recording tax benefit) in such period, which will result in a corresponding increase to net income and shareholders’ equity.

Minority Interest in Earnings of Consolidated Subsidiaries, Net of Tax.  Minority interest in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries, net of tax, was $71,000 and $962,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. A $0.7 million reduction in minority interest was attributable to increased lifecare sales for the three months ended March 31, 2005 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2004 for Freedom Square. An additional $0.2 million reduction was attributable to the July 2004 sale-leaseback in which we sold a substantial majority of our interest in two retirement centers and one free-standing assisted living community (while retaining a 10% interest in those three communities).

Net Income. We experienced net income of $2.6 million, or $0.09 earnings per basic and diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2005, compared to a net loss of $4.5 million, or $0.21 loss per basic and diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2004.

Liquidity and Capital Resources  

We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents and expected cash flow from operations will be sufficient to fund our operating requirements, capital expenditure requirements, periodic debt service requirements, and lease obligations during the next twelve months.

Our primary sources of cash from operating activities are the collection of monthly and other billings for providing housing, healthcare services and ancillary services at our communities, the proceeds from the sale of entrance fees, and management fees from the communities we manage for third parties. These collections are primarily from residents or their families, with 16.2% coming from various reimbursement programs (primarily Medicare). The primary uses of cash for our ongoing operations include the payment of community operating expenses, including labor costs and related benefits, general and administrative costs, lease and interest payments, principal payments required under various debt agreements, refunds due upon termination of entrance fee contracts, working capital requirements, and capital expenditures necessary to maintain our buildings and equipment.

We have substantial payment commitments on our outstanding debt, capital leases and lease financing obligations and operating lease obligations. As shown in the Future Cash Commitments table below, we have significant payment obligations during the next five years. These commitments and our plans regarding them are described below:

 
We have total debt of $302.8 million at March 31, 2005. We also guaranty $18.3 million of third party senior debt in connection with a retirement center and a free-standing assisted living community that we operate.
 
Our long-term debt payments include recurring principal amortization and other amounts due each year plus various maturities of mortgages and other loans. We have scheduled debt principal payments of $107.7 million, including payments of $5.9 million of maturity payments due during the twelve months ended March 31, 2006. We intend to pay or these amounts as they come due primarily from cash provided by operations.
 
As of March 31, 2005, we lease 44 of our communities (34 operating leases and 10 leases accounted for as lease financing obligations). We also lease certain equipment. As a result, we have significant lease payments. Our capital lease and lease financing obligations include payments of $16.7 million that are due in the twelve months ended March 31, 2006. During the twelve months ending March 31, 2006, we are also obligated to make minimum rental payments of approximately $69.3 million under long-term operating leases. We intend to pay these capital lease and lease financing obligations primarily from cash provided by operations. See our Future Cash Commitments table below.

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Our cash needs for debt and capital lease and lease financing obligations, including interest payments, will remain a significant cost for the foreseeable future. In order to further increase our liquidity, we are focusing on increasing our cash flow from operations and reducing our leverage and debt service costs. We are focused on increasing our cash flow from operations primarily by increasing our occupancy levels and revenue per unit at our communities through periodic selling rate increases and additional ancillary services, while controlling operating expenses and maintaining strong entrance fee sales. We are continuously exploring opportunities to reduce our leverage and average debt cost by refinancing higher cost debt. In addition, we plan to reduce our leverage through scheduled amortization of debt and prepayments of certain additional amounts as funds are available.
 

As of March 31, 2005, we had approximately $35.7 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and $50.7 million in restricted cash. At March 31, 2005, we had $83.4 million of negative working capital, which includes the reclassification of $113.8 million of entrance fees as current liabilities and $4.9 million in tenant deposits as required by applicable accounting pronouncements. Based upon our historical operating experience, we anticipate that only approximately 10% to 12% of those entrance fee liabilities will actually come due, and be required to be settled in cash, during the next twelve months. We expect that any entrance fee liabilities due within the next twelve months will be fully offset by the proceeds generated by subsequent entrance fee sales. Entrance fee sales, net of refunds paid, provided $6.3 million of cash for the three months ended March 31, 2005.

On January 26, 2005, we completed a public offering of 5,175,000 shares of our common stock, including the underwriter’s over-allotment of 675,000 shares. The shares were priced at $10.25. The net proceeds of the offering, after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and expenses, were approximately $49.9 million.

We may consider, from time to time, development or acquisition of additional senior living communities or other assets. We also plan to add additional units to our portfolio, primarily through the expansion of our existing retirement center communities. We currently have expansion projects in various stages of development relating to our communities. Several of these are expected to begin construction during 2005, and would increase our unit capacity over the next several years (beginning in 2006). These projects are expected to be financed through a combination of our cash investment, lessor and lender financing, and entrance fee sale proceeds (for certain projects).

We also expect to selectively pursue the development and construction of new senior living communities and potential future acquisitions of senior living communities and businesses engaged in activities that are similar or complementary to our business. Such transactions, if significant, would generally require us to provide a portion of the funding and to arrange separate lease, mortgage or other financing for the remaining cost. Certain development projects may be structured as joint ventures with other third party capital partners.

We do not expect changes in interest rates to have a material effect on our income or cash flows in 2005, since 80.8% of our debt has fixed rates. There can be no assurances, however, that interest rates will not significantly change and increase our future debt service costs. As a result of operating losses, we have not incurred significant tax payments in recent years. Taxable gains on various sale-leaseback transactions fully utilized our federal tax loss carryforwards during 2004, and we expect to be a taxpayer for 2005 and future years.

Certain of our indebtedness and lease agreements are cross-collateralized or cross-defaulted. Any default with respect to such obligations could cause our lenders or lessors to declare defaults, accelerate payment obligations or foreclose upon the communities securing such indebtedness or exercise their remedies with respect to such communities, which could have a material adverse effect on us. Certain of our debt instruments and leases contain financial and other covenants, typically related to the specific communities financed or leased. We believe that projected results from operations and cash flows will be sufficient to satisfy these covenants. However, there can be no assurances that we will remain in compliance with those covenants, or in the event of future non-compliance, that our creditors will grant amendments or waivers.


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We have primarily used a combination of mortgage financing, lease financing, and convertible debentures to finance our cash needs over the past several years. In the future, subject to our performance and market conditions, we would expect to utilize various types of financing including mortgage financing, lease financing, and public debt or equity offerings as well.

Tax Valuation Allowance

As of March 31, 2005, we have a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets of approximately $66.1 million. As a result of our reported losses in the past several years, we do not meet the “more likely than not” recoverability criteria necessary to currently recognize the benefit of our deferred tax assets, except for those assets which will be recovered through known reversals of deferred tax liabilities. We will continue to assess our ability to generate sufficient taxable income (from positive income and other factors) during future periods in which the deferred tax assets may be utilized.

If we continue to improve our reported and expected results, we expect that we will meet the “more likely than not” recoverability criteria in the future. Upon meeting that criteria, we will reduce or eliminate our valuation allowance of approximately $66.1 million against deferred tax assets, resulting in a significant reduction of tax expense (or recording tax benefit) in such period, which will result in a corresponding increase to net income and shareholders’ equity.

Cash Flow, Investing and Financing Activity

During the three months ended March 31, 2005, we experienced a positive net cash flow of $7.2 million. Net cash provided by operating activities was $11.9 million, net cash used by investing activities was $20.0 million and net cash provided by financing activities was $15.3 million. Our unrestricted cash balance was $35.7 million as of March 31, 2005, as compared to $28.5 million as of December 31, 2004. Primarily, cash was provided from improved operating results and strong entrance fee sales, and proceeds from our January public offering, while cash was used primarily for acquisitions, debt service and lease obligations, debt repayments, capital expenditures and working capital.

Net cash provided by operating activities increased from $6.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 to $11.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005, an improvement of $5.7 million, primarily as a result of improved operational results and a reduction in interest paid associated with the repayment of various debt instruments, and increased net cash from entrance fee sales and refunds.

Net cash provided by entrance fee sales, net of refunds, decreased $1.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 as compared to March 31, 2004, as follows:

 
      Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
 
      2005   2004  
 
 
 
            (restated)  
Cash flows from operating activities:            
      Proceeds from entrance fee sales - deferred income     $ 7,805   $ 7,181  
     
Cash flows from financing activities:                
      Proceeds from entrance fee sales - refundable portion     $ 4,996   $ 3,484  
      Refunds of entrance fee terminations       (6,517 )   (3,112 )
         
 
 
 
Net cash provided by entrance fee sales     $ 6,284   $ 7,553  
 
 
 

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We are focused on maintaining strong entrance fee sales for the remainder of 2005. Excluding the February 2005 acquisition of Galleria Woods, our existing entrance fee communities average 95.6% occupancy, and additional growth of entrance fee sales at these communities may become a function of the available inventory of vacant units.

We routinely make capital expenditures to maintain or enhance communities under our control. Our maintenance capital spending is primarily for refurbishing apartments and maintaining the quality of our communities. Capital spending for the three months ended March 31, 2005 was $19.6 million, including $4.9 million of maintenance capital spending, and $14.7 million of capital expenditures related to expansion and development activities. Our expected 2005 maintenance capital spending is approximately $22.8 million. In addition, capital spending on expansion and development activities is expected to increase during 2005.

Net cash provided by financing activities was $15.3 million compared with a $3.3 million use from financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and March 31, 2004, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2005, we received proceeds of $49.9 million from the January 26, 2005 public offering of 5,175,000 shares of our common stock. Furthermore, we repaid $27.4 million on various mortgage notes (see Note 21 of the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in our Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2004), made principal payments on other indebtedness of $4.9 million and made distributions to minority interest holders of $1.0 million. In connection with certain entrance fee communities, we made principal payments under master trust agreements of $0.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2005.

Future Cash Commitments

The following tables summarize our total contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of March 31, 2005 (amounts in thousands):

 
    Payments Due by Twelve Months Ended March 31,  
   
 
    Total   2006   2007   2008   2009   2010   Thereafter  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                             
Long-term debt obligations   $ 107,722   $ 5,916   $ 18,158   $ 5,244   $ 8,661   $ 2,648   $ 67,095  
Capital Lease and Lease financing
obligations
    195,122     16,686     17,171     17,798     18,663     19,556     105,248  
Operating lease obligations     815,090     69,335     70,677     71,498     71,332     72,796     459,452  
Refundable entrance fee obligations(3)     81,886     9,007     9,007     9,007     9,007     9,007     36,851  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total contractual obligations   $ 1,199,820   $ 100,944   $ 115,013   $ 103,547   $ 107,663   $ 104,007   $ 668,646  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income on
     notes receivable(1)
    (23,622 )   (1,076 )   (1,065 )   (1,057 )   (1,042 )   (1,028 )   (18,354 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contractual obligations, net   $ 1,176,198   $ 99,868   $ 113,948   $ 102,490   $ 106,621   $ 102,979   $ 650,292  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

    Amount of Commitment Expiration Per Period  
   
 
    Total   2005   2006   2007   2008   2009   Thereafter  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Guaranties(2)   $ 18,338   $ 500   $ 8,642   $ 375   $ 407   $ 440   $ 7,974  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total commercial commitments   $ 18,338   $ 500   $ 8,642   $ 375   $ 407   $ 440   $ 7,974  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
(1)
A portion of the lease payments noted in the above table is repaid to us as interest income on a note receivable from the lessor.
 
(2)
Guarantees include mortgage debt related to two communities. The mortgage debt we guarantee relates to a retirement center under a long-term operating lease agreement, and to a free-standing assisted living community in which we have a joint venture interest.
 
(3)
Future refunds of entrance fees are estimated based on historical payment trends. These refund obligations are offset by proceeds received from resale of the vacated apartment units. Historically, proceeds from resale of entrance fee units each year completely offset refunds paid, and generate excess cash to us.

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Critical Accounting Policies

Certain critical accounting policies are complex and involve significant judgments by our management, including the use of estimates and assumptions, which affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. As a result, changes in these estimates and assumptions could significantly affect our financial position or results of operations. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. The significant and critical accounting policies used in the preparation of our financial statements are more fully described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2004 and our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto.

Risks Associated with Forward Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Those forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical statements of fact and those regarding the intent, belief or expectations of us or our management including, but not limited to, all statements concerning our anticipated improvement in operations and anticipated or expected cash flow; our expectations regarding trends in the senior living industry; the discussions of our operating and growth strategy; our expectations regarding the “mark-to-market” effect of resident turnover and the incremental operating margin from increasing occupancy at our free-standing assisted living communities; our liquidity and financing needs; our expectations regarding future entrance fee sales or increasing occupancy at our retirement centers or free-standing assisted living communities; our alternatives for raising additional capital and satisfying our periodic debt and lease financing obligations; the projections of revenue, income or loss, capital expenditures, interest rates and future operations; and the availability of insurance programs. All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, (i) the fact that we have generated losses prior to the fourth quarter of 2004, (ii) the risks associated with our financial condition and the fact that we are highly leveraged, (iii) the risk that we will be unable to improve operating results at our free-standing assisted living communities, sell our entrance fee units or increase our cash flow or generate expected levels of cash, (iv) the risk that alternative or replacement financing sources will not be available to us, (v) the risks associated with market conditions for the senior living industry, (vi) the risk that we will be unable to obtain liability insurance in the future or that the costs associated with such insurance or related losses (including the costs of deductibles) will be prohibitive, (vii) the likelihood of further and tighter governmental regulation, (viii) the risks and uncertainties associated with complying with new and evolving standards of corporate governance and regulatory requirements, as well as the costs and management time associated with these activities, (ix) the risk of adverse changes in governmental reimbursement programs, (x) the risk of rising interest rates, and (xi) the risks and uncertainties set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Should one or more of those risks materialize, actual results could differ materially from those forecasted or expected. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of these assumptions could prove to be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this Form 10-Q will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that our forecasts, expectations, objectives or plans will be achieved. We undertake no obligation to publicly release any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events and circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.


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Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Disclosure About Interest Rate Risk  We are subject to market risk from exposure to changes in interest rates based on our financing, investing, and cash management activities. We utilize a balanced mix of debt maturities along with both fixed-rate and variable-rate debt to manage our exposures to changes in interest rates. For fixed rate debt, changes in interest rates generally affect the fair market value of the debt, but not income or cash flows. Conversely, for variable rate debt, changes in interest rates generally do not impact the fair market value of the debt, but do affect future income and cash flows. We generally cannot prepay fixed rate debt prior to maturity without penalty. Therefore, interest rate risk and changes in fair market value should not have a significant impact on the fixed rate debt until we are required to refinance such debt. We have $58.2 million of variable rate debt at March 31, 2005. However, $47.8 million of the variable rate debt agreements contain interest rate floors which allow market interest rates to fluctuate without necessarily changing our interest rate. Therefore, a one percentage point increase in the market interest rate would result in an increase in interest expense for the coming year of approximately $0.5 million plus $0.1 million interest for variable rate debt not subject to rate floors. A one percentage point decrease in the market interest rate would result in an decrease in interest expense for the coming year of approximately $0.3 million plus $0.1 million for variable rate debt not subject to rate floors.

In addition, we have entered into an interest rate swap agreement with a major financial institution to manage our exposure. The swap involves the receipt of a fixed interest rate payment in exchange for the payment of a variable rate interest payment without exchanging the notional principal amount. Receipts on the agreement are recorded as a reduction to interest expense. Under the agreement, we receive a fixed rate of 6.87% on the $34.0 million of debt and pay a floating rate stated by the swap agreement based upon LIBOR and a foreign currency index with a maximum rate of 8.12%.

We do not expect changes in interest rates to have a material effect on income or cash flows in 2005, since 80.8% of our debt has fixed rates. There can be no assurances, however, that interest rates will not significantly change and increase our future debt service costs.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures


On June 6, 2005, the Company determined that it needed to restate certain of its previously issued financial statements. As a result of such financial statement restatement, management reassessed the Company’s internal control over financial reporting using the criteria in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) and identified material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, as follows:


   
The Company did not maintain adequate policies, procedures and personnel related to its interim and annual financial reporting processes. Specifically, the Company’s policies and procedures related to its financial reporting processes did not provide for effective management research and review by adequately qualified personnel of interim and annual financial statement classifications prior to issuance of the related financial statements. In addition, the Company lacked adequate personnel resources possessing sufficient expertise to effectively perform a review of interim and annual financial information prior to issuance.

    The Company did not maintain adequate policies and procedures to ensure accounting and reporting of certain leasing transactions in accordance with US generally accepted accounting principles. Specifically, the Company’s policies and procedures did not provide for the proper application of US generally accepted accounting principles for certain lease agreements that provide for variable lease payments over the terms of such lease agreements.

  As a result of the aforementioned material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, the Company failed to properly reflect: (1) certain entrance fee and tenant deposit liabilities, previously presented as long-term liabilities, as current liabilities, (2) gain (loss) on sale of assets, previously presented as an element of other income and expense, as an element of operating income or loss, (3) certain entrance fee and accrued interest amounts in the operating and financing sections of the consolidated statements of cash flows, and (4) certain amounts, previously netted, as gross amounts in the investing section of the consolidated statements of cash flows. In addition, these material weaknesses resulted in errors in the Company’s accounting for lease expense to properly reflect amounts associated with certain lease agreements that provide for variable lease payments over the terms of such lease agreements (see Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements for a discussion of our restatement to previously issued financial statements). These material weaknesses resulted in the restatement of the Company’s previously issued consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004, and the financial information for each of the quarterly periods in 2004 and 2003.

A material weakness in internal control over financial reporting is a control deficiency (within the meaning of Auditing Standard No. 2 of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or PCAOB), or combination of control deficiencies, that results in there being more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected.

In connection with the preparation of the Company’s amended Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2004, and this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report. Based on that evaluation, and solely because of the material weaknesses discussed above, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of March 31, 2005, and such disclosure controls and procedures did not timely provide them with material information relating to the Company and our consolidated subsidiaries required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2005 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. However, subsequent to quarter end, we determined that certain of our accounting policies were not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that, as such, a restatement of our previously issued financial statements was necessary. On June 9, 2005, we restated our previously issued consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004, and the financial information for each of the quarterly periods in 2004 and 2003. During the process of restating the Company’s previously issued financial statements, we conducted a review of our controls over the selection, application and monitoring of appropriate accounting policies and procedures.

In order to remediate the weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, subsequent to quarter end, we have conducted a detailed review of our controls over the selection, application and monitoring of appropriate accounting policies and procedures, and have added personnel and implemented additional review procedures. We are confident that, as of the date of this filing, we have taken steps that will fully remediate the material weaknesses (as described above) in our disclosure controls and our internal controls over financial reporting.


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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION 

Item 6. Exhibits

 
Exhibit
Number
Description
   
31.1
Certification of W.E. Sheriff pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
31.2 
Certification of Bryan D. Richardson pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
32.1
Certification of W.E. Sheriff, Chief Executive Officer of American Retirement Corporation, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
32.2
Certification of Bryan D. Richardson, Chief Financial Officer of American Retirement Corporation, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

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SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 
  AMERICAN RETIREMENT CORPORATION
     
Date:  June 9, 2005  By: /s/ Bryan D. Richardson 
   
    Bryan D. Richardson
    Executive Vice President - Finance and
    Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial
    and Accounting Officer)

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