Attached files

file filename
EX-31.2 - PS PROPERTIES LTD 1Q'11 EXHIBIT 31.1 - PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES LTDpsp3_exb312.htm
EX-31.1 - PS PROPERTIES LTD 1Q'11 EXHIBIT 31.1 - PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES LTDpsp3_exb311.htm
EX-32 - PS PROPERTIES LTD 1Q'11 EXHIBIT 32 - PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES LTDpsp3_exb32.htm


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, 2011
 
or
 
[   ] Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
 
For the transition period from ________________________ to ________________________.
 
Commission File Number: 0-8667
 
PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES, LTD.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

California
95-3196921
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)
Identification Number)
   
701 Western Avenue, Glendale, California
91201-2349
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (818) 244-8080.
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for at least the past 90 days.
 
[X]  Yes
[   ]  No
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
 
[   ]  Yes
[   ]  No
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large Accelerated Filer [  ]
Accelerated Filer [  ]
Non-accelerated Filer [X]
Smaller Reporting Company [  ]
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
 
[   ]  Yes
[X]  No
 
The Registrant is a limited partnership and issues units representing ownership of limited partner interests, with a par value of $500.00 per unit.  Number of units outstanding at May 13, 2011:  20,000.




 
 

 

PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES, LTD.
     
INDEX
     
     
PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Pages
     
Item 1.
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
 
     
 
Condensed Balance Sheets at March 31, 2011
and December 31, 2010
1
     
 
Condensed Statements of Income for the
Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010
2
     
 
Condensed Statement of Partners’ Equity for the
Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
3
     
 
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the
Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010
4
     
 
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
5 - 9
     
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations
10 - 14
     
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 15
     
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
15
     
PART II.
OTHER INFORMATION (Items 2, 3 and 5 are not applicable)
 
     
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
16
     
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
16
     
Item 4.
(Removed and reserved)
16
     
Item 6.
Exhibits
16
     
 






 
 

 



PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES, LTD.
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
 
   
March 31,
2011
   
December 31,
2010
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
ASSETS
           
             
             
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 298,000     $ 273,000  
Rent and other receivables
    65,000       50,000  
Due from affiliates
    162,000       -  
                 
Real estate facilities, at cost:
               
Buildings, land improvements and equipment
    10,399,000       10,397,000  
Land
    2,476,000       2,476,000  
      12,875,000       12,873,000  
Less accumulated depreciation
    (9,773,000 )     (9,738,000 )
      3,102,000       3,135,000  
                 
Other assets
    56,000       46,000  
                 
Total assets
  $ 3,683,000     $ 3,504,000  
                 
                 
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ EQUITY
               
                 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
  $ 210,000     $ 134,000  
Deferred revenue
    148,000       168,000  
Total liabilities
    358,000       302,000  
                 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)
               
                 
Partners’ equity:
               
Limited partners’ equity, $500 per unit, 20,000 units
     authorized, issued and outstanding
    2,469,000       2,377,000  
General partners’ equity
    856,000       825,000  
                 
Total partners’ equity
    3,325,000       3,202,000  
                 
Total liabilities and partners’ equity
  $ 3,683,000     $ 3,504,000  

 
 
See accompanying notes.
1

 

PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES, LTD.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(UNAUDITED)
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
REVENUES:
           
             
Rental income
  $ 1,788,000     $ 1,776,000  
Other income
    48,000       53,000  
                 
      1,836,000       1,829,000  
                 
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
               
                 
Cost of operations
    376,000       392,000  
Management fees paid to affiliate
    107,000       106,000  
Depreciation
    35,000       36,000  
General and administrative
    37,000       34,000  
                 
      555,000       568,000  
                 
NET INCOME
  $ 1,281,000     $ 1,261,000  
 
Allocation of Net Income:
               
Limited partners’ share of net income
  $ 981,000     $ 768,000  
General partners’ share of net income
    300,000       493,000  
                 
    $ 1,281,000     $ 1,261,000  
                 
Limited partners’ share of net income per unit
(20,000 units outstanding)
  $ 49.05     $ 38.40  
                 
                 



 
 
See accompanying notes.
2

 

PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES, LTD.
CONDENSED STATEMENT OF PARTNERS’ EQUITY
(UNAUDITED)
 
 
   
Limited
Partners’
   
General
Partners’
   
Total Partners’ Equity
 
                   
Balance at December 31, 2010
  $ 2,377,000     $ 825,000     $ 3,202,000  
                         
Net income
    981,000       300,000       1,281,000  
                         
Cash distributions
    (860,000 )     (298,000 )     (1,158,000 )
                         
Equity transfer
    (29,000 )     29,000       -  
                         
Balance at March 31, 2011
  $ 2,469,000     $ 856,000     $ 3,325,000  
                         

 
 
See accompanying notes.
3

 

PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES, LTD.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
 
   
For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
             
Net income
  $ 1,281,000     $ 1,261,000  
                 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
    provided by operating activities:
               
                 
Depreciation
    35,000       36,000  
(Increase) decrease in rent and other receivables
    (15,000 )     5,000  
(Increase) decrease in due from affiliates
    (162,000 )     559,000  
Increase  in other assets
    (10,000 )     (13,000 )
Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    76,000       101,000  
Decrease in deferred revenue
    (20,000 )     (15,000 )
                 
Total adjustments
    (96,000 )     673,000  
                 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    1,185,000       1,934,000  
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
                 
Additions to real estate facilities
    (2,000 )     (12,000 )
                 
Net cash used in investing activities
    (2,000 )     (12,000 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
                 
Distributions paid to partners
    (1,158,000 )     (1,939,000 )
                 
Net cash used in financing activities
    (1,158,000 )     (1,939,000 )
                 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    25,000       (17,000 )
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period
    273,000       422,000  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period
  $ 298,000     $ 405,000  

 
 
See accompanying ntoes
4

 
PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


 

1.  
Description of Partnership
 
Public Storage Properties, Ltd. (the “Partnership”, “we” or “our”) is a publicly held limited partnership formed under the California Uniform Limited Partnership Act in November 1976.  The Partnership raised $10,000,000 in gross proceeds by selling 20,000 units of limited partnership interest ("Units") in an interstate offering, which commenced in October 1977 and completed in January 1978.  The general partners in the Partnership are Public Storage, formerly Public Storage, Inc., (herein referred to as “Public Storage” or “PS”) and B. Wayne Hughes (“Hughes”).
 
The Partnership was formed to engage in the business of developing and operating self-storage facilities which offer storage spaces for lease, generally on a month-to-month basis, for personal and business use.  The Partnership owns nine self-storage facilities located in California which are managed pursuant to a management agreement by PS under the “Public Storage” name.
 
2.  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Partnership Matters
 
Basis of Presentation:
 
The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) as defined in the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (the “Codification”), including the related guidance with respect to interim financial information, and in conformity with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X.  Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal and recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been reflected in these unaudited condensed financial statements.  Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2011 due to seasonality and other factors.  The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements should be read together with the financial statements and related notes included in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
 
Use of Estimates:
 
The preparation of the condensed financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed financial statements and accompanying notes.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Financial Instruments:
 
We have estimated the fair value of financial instruments using available market information and generally accepted valuation methodologies.  Considerable judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop estimates of market value.  Accordingly, estimated fair values are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that could be realized in current market exchanges.
 
For purposes of financial statement presentation, we consider all highly liquid financial instruments such as short-term treasury securities, money market funds with daily liquidity and a rating of at least AAA by Standard and Poor’s, or investment grade (rated A1 by Standard and Poor’s) short-term commercial paper with remaining maturities of three months or less at the date of acquisition to be cash equivalents.
 
Due to the short maturity and the underlying characteristics of our cash and cash equivalents, other assets, due from affiliates, and accrued and other liabilities, we believe the carrying values as presented on the condensed balance sheets are reasonable estimates of fair value.
 
 
5


 


 
 
PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
 
 
 
Financial assets that are exposed to credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents as well as rent and other receivables.  Cash and cash equivalents, as described above, are only invested in instruments with an investment grade rating.  Our receivables consist of small individual amounts.  Accordingly, credit risk on these assets as a whole is minimal.
 
Real Estate Facilities and Evaluation of Asset Impairment:
 
Real estate facilities are recorded at cost.  Costs associated with the development, construction, renovation and improvement of properties are capitalized.  Interest, property taxes, and other costs associated with development incurred during the construction period are capitalized as building cost.  Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed when incurred.  Depreciation expense is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the buildings and improvements, which generally range from 5 to 25 years.  At March 31, 2011, all of the real estate facilities have been in service longer than 25 years, and accordingly the original development costs of such buildings are fully depreciated.
 
We evaluate our real estate for impairment on a quarterly basis.  We first evaluate these assets for indicators of impairment, and if any indicators of impairment are noted, we determine whether the carrying value of the real estate is in excess of the future estimated undiscounted cash flows attributable to the real estate.  If there is excess carrying value over such future undiscounted cash flows, an impairment charge is recorded for the excess of carrying value over the real estate’s estimated fair value.  Any real estate facility which we expect to sell or otherwise dispose of prior to its estimated useful life is stated at the lower of its estimated net realizable value (estimated fair value less cost to sell) or its carrying value.  No impairment was identified from our evaluations in any periods presented in the accompanying condensed financial statements.
 
Revenue and Expense Recognition:
 
Rental income, which is generally earned pursuant to month-to-month leases for storage space, as well as late charges and administrative fees, are recognized as earned.  Promotional discounts are recognized as a reduction to rental income over the promotional period, which is generally during the first month of occupancy.  Interest income is recognized as earned.
 
We accrue for property tax expense based upon actual amounts billed for the related time periods and, in some circumstances due to taxing authority assessment and billing timing and disputes of assessed amounts, estimates and historical trends.  If these estimates are incorrect, the timing and amount of expense recognition could be affected.
 
Cost of operations, general and administrative expense, as well as television, yellow page, and other advertising expenditures are expensed as incurred.
 
Allocation of Net Income:
 
The general partners' share of net income consists of amounts attributable to their 1% capital contribution and an additional percentage of cash flow (as defined) which relates to the general partners' share of cash distributions as set forth in the Partnership Agreement (Note 4).  All remaining net income is allocated to the limited partners.
 
Per unit data is based on the weighted average number of the limited partnership units (20,000) outstanding during the period.
 

 
6

 
 
PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)




Deferred Revenue:
 
Deferred revenue totaling $148,000 at March 31, 2011 ($168,000 at December 31, 2010), consists of prepaid rents, which are recognized as rental income when earned.
 
Environmental Cost:
 
Our policy is to accrue environmental assessments and/or remediation costs when it is probable that such efforts will be required and the related costs can be reasonably estimated.  Although there can be no assurance, we are not aware of any environmental contamination at any of our facilities, which, individually or in the aggregate, would be material to our overall business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
Income Taxes:
 
The Partnership is treated as a partnership for federal and state income tax purposes with the taxable income of the entity allocated to each partner in accordance with the Partnership Agreement.  Accordingly, no federal income tax expense is recorded by the Partnership.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Guidance:
 
As of May 13, 2011, there have been no recent accounting pronouncements and guidance, which were not effective for implementation at March 31, 2011, that we estimate would have a future material impact upon reporting the operations or financial position of the Partnership.
 
Segment Reporting:
 
The Partnership only has one reportable segment.
 
3.  
Cash Distributions
 
The Partnership Agreement requires that cash available for distribution (cash flow from all sources less cash necessary for any obligations or capital improvements) be distributed at least quarterly.  During the three months ended March 31, 2011, we paid distributions to the limited and general partners totaling $860,000 ($43.00 per unit) and $298,000, respectively, as compared to $1,440,000 ($72.00 per unit) and $499,000, respectively, for the same period in 2010.  Future distribution rates may be adjusted to levels which are supported by operating cash flow after provisions for capital improvements and any other obligations.
 
4.  
Partners' Equity
 
PS and Hughes are general partners of the Partnership.  In 1995, Hughes contributed his ownership and rights to distributions from the Partnership to BWH Marina Corporation II, a corporation wholly-owned by Hughes.  In 2002, BWH Marina Corporation II sold its limited partnership interests to H-G Family Corporation.  As such, Hughes continues to act as a general partner but receives no direct compensation or other consideration from the Partnership.
 
The general partners have a 1% interest in the Partnership.  In addition, the general partners have an 8% interest in cash distributions attributable to operations (exclusive of distributions attributable to sale and financing proceeds until the limited partners recover all of their initial investment).  Thereafter, the general partners have a 25% interest in all cash distributions (including sale and financing proceeds).  In 1985, the limited partners recovered all of their initial investment.  All subsequent cash distributions are being made 25.75% (including the 1% interest) to the general partners and 74.25% to the limited partners.  Transfers of equity are made periodically to reconcile the partners' equity accounts to the provisions of the Partnership Agreement.  These transfers have no effect on the results of operations or distributions to partners.
 
 
7


 
 
PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


 
 
5.  
Related Party Transactions
 
Management Agreement and Shared Expenses with PS
 
The Partnership has a management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with PS pursuant to which PS operates the self-storage facilities for a fee equal to 6% of the facilities' gross revenue (as defined).  For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, the Partnership paid PS $107,000 and $106,000, respectively, under this Management Agreement.
 
The Management Agreement between the Partnership and PS provides that the Management Agreement may be terminated without cause upon 60 days written notice by the Partnership or six months notice by PS.
 
The Partnership’s facilities, along with facilities owned by PS and its affiliates, are managed and marketed jointly by PS in order to take advantage of scale and other efficiencies.  Joint costs are allocated on a methodology meant to fairly allocate such costs based upon the related activities.  As a result, significant components of cost of operations, such as payroll costs, advertising and promotion, data processing and insurance expenses are shared and allocated among the properties using methodologies meant to fairly allocate such costs based upon the related activities.  The total of such expenses, substantially all of which are included in cost of operations in our accompanying condensed statements of income, amounted to $196,000 and $202,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 
Ownership of Limited Partnership Interest by the General Partners
 
As of March 31, 2011, PS owns 6,274 Units, as to which PS has sole voting and dispositive power and Hughes owns 6,000 Units.
 
In addition, as of March 31, 2011, 196 Units are owned by PS Orangeco Partnerships, Inc., a corporation in which the Hughes Family owns approximately 48% of the voting stock, PS owns 46% and members of PS management and related individuals own approximately 6%.
 
Captive Insurance Activities with PS
 
The Partnership has a 0.9% ownership interest in STOR-Re Mutual Insurance Corporation (“STOR-Re”), which was formed in 1994 as an association captive insurance company, and is controlled by PS.  The Partnership accounts for its investment in STOR-Re, which is included in other assets on our accompanying condensed balance sheets, on the cost method, and has received no distributions during the three months ended March 31, 2011 or 2010.
 
STOR-Re provides limited property and liability insurance coverage to the Partnership, PS, and affiliates for losses occurring before April 1, 2004.  STOR-Re was succeeded with respect to these activities for losses occurring after March 31, 2004 by PS Insurance Company - Hawaii, Ltd. (“PSICH”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of PS.
 
Premiums paid to PSICH for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 were $13,000 and $15,000, respectively.

 
 
8


 
 
PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES, LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


 
 
Other Activities with PS
 
PSICH also reinsures insurance policies providing certain coverage for losses to goods stored by tenants in the Partnership’s and PS’ storage facilities.  PSICH receives the premiums and bears the risks associated with the re-insurance.  The Partnership receives a fee (an “Access Fee”) from PSICH in return for providing tenant listings.  This Access Fee is based on the number of spaces the Partnership has to rent.  Included in other income are Access Fees totaling $48,000 and $52,000 for the three months ended    March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 
A subsidiary of PS sells locks and boxes to the general public and tenants to be used in securing their spaces and moving their goods.  The subsidiary of PS receives the revenues and bears the cost of the activities, and pays the Partnership rent for any space it uses at the Partnership’s facilities in conducting its activities.  Included in rental income is rent received by the Partnership with respect to this space totaling $1,000 for each of the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
Due from Affiliates
 
At March 31, 2011, the Partnership was owed $162,000 from affiliates of PS.  These amounts arose in March 2011 from the timing of the settlement of shared costs and were collected in April 2011.
 
 
6.  
Commitments and Contingencies
 
Legal Matters
 
PS and the Partnership are a party to various claims, complaints, and other legal actions that have arisen in the normal course of business from time to time.  We believe that it is unlikely that the outcome of these pending legal proceedings including employment and tenant claims, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse impact upon the results of our operations, financial position, or cash flows.
 

 

 
9

 

Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Partnership’s condensed financial statements and notes thereto.
 
Forward Looking Statements:  This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws.  All statements in this document, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements which may be identified by the use of the words "expects,"   "believes,"   "anticipates,"  "plans," "would," "should," "may," "estimates" and similar expressions.  These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause Public Storage Properties, Ltd.’s (the “Partnership”) actual results and performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.  As a result, you should not rely on any forward-looking statements in this report, or which management may make orally or in writing from time to time, as predictions of future events nor guarantees of future performance.  We caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report or as of the dates indicated in the statements.  All of our forward-looking statements, including those in this report, are qualified in their entirety by this statement.
 
Factors and risks that may impact our future results and performance include, but are not limited to, those described in Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 25, 2011 and in our other filings with the SEC and the following: 
 
·  
general risks associated with the ownership and operation of real estate including changes in demand, potential liability for environmental contamination, adverse changes in tax laws, including property tax, real estate and zoning laws and regulations, and the impact of natural disasters;
 
·  
risks associated with downturns in the local economies in the markets in which we operate, including risks related to current economic conditions and the economic health of our tenants;
 
·  
the impact of competition from new and existing self-storage and commercial facilities and other storage alternatives;
 
·  
the impact of the regulatory environment as well as national, state, and local laws and regulations including, without limitation, those governing environmental, tax and tenant insurance matters, and risks related to the impact of existing and potential new laws and regulations;
 
·  
disruptions or shutdowns of our automated processes and systems or breaches of our data security; and
 
·  
economic uncertainty due to the impact of war or terrorism.
 
We expressly disclaim any obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, new estimates, or other factors, events or circumstances after the date of this document, except where required by law.  Accordingly, you should use caution in relying on past forward-looking statements to anticipate future results.

 
10

 


Critical Accounting Policies
 
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations discusses our condensed financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).  The preparation of our condensed financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with GAAP and our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations requires management to make judgments, assumptions and estimates that affect the amounts reported in our condensed financial statements and accompanying notes.  The notes to the Partnership’s March 31, 2011 condensed financial statements, primarily Note 2, summarize the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of our condensed financial statements and related disclosures.
 
Management believes the following are critical accounting policies, the application of which has a material impact on the Partnership’s financial statement presentation.  That is, they are both important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results, and they require management to make judgments and estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain.
 
Impairment of Real Estate: Substantially all of our assets consist of real estate.  The evaluation of our real estate for impairment includes determining whether indicators of impairment exist, which is a subjective process.  When any indicators of impairment are found, the evaluation of such real estate then entails projections of future operating cash flows, which also involves significant judgment.  Future events, or facts and circumstances that currently exist, that we have not yet identified, could cause us to conclude in the future that our real estate is impaired.  Any resulting impairment loss could have a material adverse impact on the Partnership’s financial condition and results of operations.
 
Estimated Useful Lives of Long-Lived Assets: Substantially all of our assets consist of depreciable long-lived assets.  We record depreciation expense with respect to these assets based upon their estimated useful lives.  Any change in the estimated useful lives of those assets, caused by functional or economic obsolescence or other factors, could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition or results of operations.
 
Accruals for Contingencies: The Partnership is exposed to business and legal liability risks with respect to events that have occurred, but in accordance with GAAP, we have not accrued for certain potential liabilities because the loss is either not probable or not estimable or because we are not aware of the event.  Future events and the results of pending litigation could result in such potential losses becoming probable and estimable, which could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition or results of operations.  Significant unaccrued losses that we have determined are at least reasonably possible are described in Notes 5 and 6 to the Partnership’s March 31, 2011 condensed financial statements.
 
Accruals for Operating Expenses: We accrue for property tax expense and other operating expenses based upon estimates and historical trends and current and anticipated local and state government rules and regulations.  If these estimates and assumptions are incorrect, our expenses could be misstated.
 
Overview of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Operations
 
The self-storage industry is highly fragmented and is composed predominantly of numerous local and regional operators.  Competition in the markets in which the Partnership owns facilities is significant and has increased over the past several years due to additional development of self-storage facilities.  We believe that the increase in competition has had a negative impact on the Partnership’s occupancy levels and rental rates in many markets.
 
The self-storage industry is subject to general economic conditions, particularly those that affect the disposable income and spending of consumers, as well as those that affect moving trends.  Due to the recessionary pressures in the U.S., demand for self-storage space has been negatively impacted since the fourth quarter of 2008.  As a result, the Partnership’s properties have experienced downward pressure on occupancy levels, rental rates and revenues.  Rental income trends improved each quarter in 2010, with reduced levels of year-over-year rental income declines, and in the most recent quarter ended March 31, 2011 rental income increased 0.7%.  While trends have been improving, there can be no assurance that this trend will continue.
 
 
11

 
 
 
Results of Operations
 
Net Income
 
The Partnership's net income for the three months ended March 31, 2011 was $1,281,000, as compared to $1,261,000 for the same period in 2010, representing an increase of $20,000 or 1.6%.  This increase was due primarily to a $12,000 increase in rental income described below.
 
Rental Income
 
Rental income for the three months ended March 31, 2011 was $1,788,000, as compared to $1,776,000 for the same period in 2010, representing an increase of $12,000 or 0.7%.  The increase in rental income was primarily a result of a 1.5% increase in weighted average occupancy levels to 92.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2011, as compared to 91.1% for the same period in 2010.  Rental income for the three months ended March 31, 2011 decreased to $15.72 per occupied square foot, as compared to $15.86 per occupied square foot for the same period in 2010, representing a decrease of 0.9%.
 
Our operating strategy is to maintain occupancy levels at an average of 89% to 90% for the full year.  In order to achieve this strategy, PS adjusts rental rates and promotional discounts offered to new tenants, as well as the frequency of television advertising, increasing or decreasing each, depending on traffic patterns of new tenants renting space offset by existing tenants vacating.  We experience seasonal fluctuations in the occupancy levels with occupancies generally higher in the summer months than in the winter months.  Consequently, rates charged to new tenants are typically higher in the summer months than in the winter months.
 
We believe overall demand for self-storage space in the Partnership’s markets has been negatively impacted since late 2008 due to recessionary pressures, including increased unemployment, reduced housing sales, and reduced moving activity, in the markets in which we operate.  As occupancies declined, we reduced rental rates and increased promotional discounts in order to stimulate move-in activity and restore occupancies.  Year-over-year decreases in rental income peaked in the quarter ended December 31, 2009 at 6.9%, however the decreases have abated progressively each quarter since then as occupancies improved and year-over-year comparables became more favorable, such that rental income had a 0.7% increase in the quarter ended March 31, 2011.
 
The following chart sets forth our rental income, occupancy, and rental income per occupied square foot trends in our facilities in 2010 and the first quarter of 2011:

 
Year-over-Year Change for Partnership’s Properties
 
 
Three Months Ended:
 
Rental
income
Rental income
per occupied
square foot
 
Square foot occupancy
       
March 31, 2010
(4.4)%
(3.3)%
(1.2)%
June 30, 2010
(1.6)%
(2.4)%
0.8%
September 30, 2010
(1.0)%
(2.2)%
1.1%
December 31, 2010
0.0%
(1.4)%
1.5%
For entire year: 2010
(1.8)%
(2.3)%
0.4%
       
March 31, 2011
0.7%
(0.9)%
1.5%
       
Notwithstanding our increases in occupancy in 2010, we will continue to be competitive in our pricing and discounting in order to compete with other operators to attract new incoming tenants.  We expect to be more aggressive in increasing rental rates to existing tenants in 2011, as compared to 2010.  We expect the improved operating trends that have been experienced in the last year to continue in the quarter ending June 30, 2011.
 
 
12

 
 
 
Cost of Operations
 
Cost of operations includes management fees paid to PS, (see Note 5 to the Partnership’s March 31, 2011 condensed financial statements), and all other costs of operating the properties such as payroll, property tax, advertising and promotion expense, utilities, and repairs and maintenance.  Cost of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2011 was $483,000, as compared to $498,000 for the same period in 2010, representing a decrease of $15,000 or 3.0%, due to decreases in advertising and promotion and repairs and maintenance expenses.
 
Estimating future cost of operations is difficult, particularly with respect to (i) utility expense, which is dependent upon changes in demand driven by weather and temperature as well as fuel costs, (ii) repairs and maintenance, which varies based upon weather and the timing of periodic needs throughout our portfolio as well as random events, and (iii), advertising expense, which is driven in part by demand for self-storage space and current occupancy levels, which are not predictable.  Aggregate utility, repairs and maintenance, and advertising and promotion expenses totaled $91,000 and $107,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  Exclusive of utility, repairs and maintenance, and advertising and promotion expense, we expect inflationary increases in our cost of operations in the remainder of 2011.
 
Other Income
 
Other income includes interest earned on cash balances, as well as access fees paid by PS Insurance Company - Hawaii, Ltd. (“PSICH”), a corporation owned by PS (described more fully in Note 5 to the Partnership’s March 31, 2011 condensed financial statements).
 
Other income was $48,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2011, as compared to $53,000 for the same period in 2010, representing a decrease of $5,000 or 9.4%.  Included in other income are access fees totaling $48,000 and $52,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  Access fees are paid to the Partnership by PSICH in return for providing tenant listings in connection with PSICH’s reinsurance business.
 
Interest income on cash balances declined during the three months ended March 31, 2011, as compared to the same period in 2010 due to lower average cash balances.  The Partnership has $298,000 in cash at March 31, 2011 invested primarily in money-market funds, which earn nominal rates of interest in the current interest rate environment.
 
Future interest income will depend upon the level of interest rates.  Based upon current interest rates on our outstanding money-market fund investments of approximately 0.1%, earned interest is expected to be minimal.
 
Depreciation Expense
 
Depreciation expense was $35,000 and $36,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, representing a decrease of $1,000 or 2.8%.
 
General and Administrative Expense
 
General and administrative expense was $37,000 and $34,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, representing an increase of $3,000, or 8.8%.
 
We expect general and administrative expense to increase primarily based upon inflation in the remainder of 2011.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
At March 31, 2011, the Partnership had cash of $298,000 as compared to total liabilities of $358,000.  Cash generated from operations ($1,185,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2011) has been sufficient to meet all current obligations of the Partnership.  Capital improvements totaled $2,000 and $12,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  Capital improvements are budgeted at $113,000 for the year ending December 31, 2011.
 
 
13

 
 
 
The Partnership does not anticipate issuing securities, making loans to other persons, investing in the securities of other issuers for the purpose of exercising control, underwriting the securities of other issuers, engaging in the purchase and sale of investments, offering securities in exchange for property, or repurchasing or otherwise reacquiring its outstanding securities.  The Partnership may consider borrowing money with the intent of using the proceeds for distribution to partners.  As the capital and credit markets are currently constrained and in flux, there can be no assurance that the Partnership would be able to access any such borrowings in order to do so, if such a course of action were otherwise deemed necessary.
 
Distributions
 
The Partnership Agreement requires that cash available for distribution (cash flow from all sources less cash necessary for any obligations or capital improvement needs) be distributed at least quarterly.  During the three months ended March 31, 2011, we paid distributions to the limited and general partners totaling $860,000 ($43.00 per unit) and $298,000, respectively, as compared to $1,440,000 ($72.00 per unit) and $499,000, respectively, for the same period in 2010.  Future distribution rates will be adjusted to levels which are supported by operating cash flow after provisions for capital improvements and any other necessary obligations.
 

 

 
14

 


Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
       
As of March 31, 2011, the Partnership held no outstanding market risk sensitive instruments.

Item 4.    Controls and Procedures
 
Public Storage maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports the Partnership files and submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (“Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in accordance with SEC guidelines and that such information is communicated to the Partnership’s management, including Public Storage’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure based on the definition of "disclosure controls and procedures" in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act.  In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures in reaching that level of reasonable assurance.
 
Under the supervision and with the participation of the Partnership’s management, including Public Storage’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Public Storage evaluated the effectiveness of the Partnership’s disclosure controls and procedures, as required by Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(b), as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based on that evaluation, Public Storage’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective, at a reasonable assurance level.  There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2011 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 

 
15

 

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1.    Legal Proceedings
 
The information set forth under the heading “Legal Matters” in Note 6 to the Partnership’s March 31, 2011 condensed financial statements in this Form 10-Q is incorporated by reference in this Item 1.
 
Item 1A. Risk Factors
 
In addition to the other information in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, you should carefully consider the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 31, 2010, in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors.  These factors may materially affect our business, financial condition and operating results and could cause our actual results to differ materially from those stated in forward-looking statements in this Form 10-Q and elsewhere. In addition, in considering the forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-Q and elsewhere, you should refer to the qualifications and limitations on our forward-looking statements that are described in Forward Looking Statements at the beginning of Part I, Item 2.  
 
Item 4.    (Removed and reserved)
 
Item 6.    Exhibits
 
Exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K are filed herewith or incorporated herein by reference and are listed in the attached Exhibit Index which is incorporated herein by reference.
 

 
16

 


 
SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirement 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.
 
                                         DATED: May 13, 2011
 
                                          PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES, LTD.
 
                                        BY:    
Public Storage
 
General Partner
 
 
BY:  
/s/ John Reyes
   
John Reyes
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer

 
17

 


 
Exhibit No.
Exhibit Index
 
31.1

Rule 13a-14(a) Certification.  Filed herewith.

31.2
Rule 13a-14(a) Certification.  Filed herewith.

32
Section 1350 Certifications.  Filed herewith.

 
18