UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-Q QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-07094 EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER) MARYLAND 13-2711135 (State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer of incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 300 ONE JACKSON PLACE 188 EAST CAPITOL STREET JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 39201 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code) Registrant's telephone number: (601) 354-3555 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 ( ) 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. (Check one) Large Accelerated Filer (x) Accelerated Filer ( ) Non-accelerated Filer ( ) 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 ( ) NO (x) The number of shares of common stock, $.0001 par value, outstanding as of November 4, 2008 was 25,070,518. EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. FORM 10-Q TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 Page PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION Item 1. Financial Statements Consolidated balance sheets, September 30, 2008 (unaudited) and December 31, 2007 3 Consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 (unaudited) 4 Consolidated statement of changes in stockholders' equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 (unaudited) 5 Consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 (unaudited) 6 Notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited) 7 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 13 Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 24 Item 4. Controls and Procedures 25 PART II. OTHER INFORMATION Item 1A. Risk Factors 25 Item 6. Exhibits 25 SIGNATURES Authorized signatures 26 EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT FOR SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA) September 30, 2008 December 31, 2007 ----------------------------------------------- (Unaudited) ASSETS Real estate properties........................................................ $ 1,225,973 1,114,966 Development................................................................... 145,074 152,963 ----------------------------------------------- 1,371,047 1,267,929 Less accumulated depreciation............................................. (299,658) (269,132) ----------------------------------------------- 1,071,389 998,797 Unconsolidated investment..................................................... 2,669 2,630 Cash.......................................................................... 1,265 724 Other assets.................................................................. 59,189 53,682 ----------------------------------------------- TOTAL ASSETS.............................................................. $ 1,134,512 1,055,833 =============================================== LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY LIABILITIES Mortgage notes payable........................................................ $ 531,132 465,360 Notes payable to banks........................................................ 137,527 135,444 Accounts payable and accrued expenses......................................... 33,067 34,179 Other liabilities............................................................. 15,076 16,153 ----------------------------------------------- 716,802 651,136 ----------------------------------------------- Minority interest in joint ventures............................................. 2,472 2,312 ----------------------------------------------- STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Series C Preferred Shares; $.0001 par value; 600,000 shares authorized; no shares issued............................................................ - - Series D 7.95% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares and additional paid-in capital; $.0001 par value; 1,320,000 shares authorized and issued at December 31, 2007; stated liquidation preference of $33,000 at December 31, 2007; redeemed July 2, 2008.................................... - 32,326 Common shares; $.0001 par value; 68,080,000 shares authorized; 25,070,718 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2008 and 23,808,768 at December 31, 2007............................................. 3 2 Excess shares; $.0001 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued............................................................ - - Additional paid-in capital on common shares................................... 527,757 467,573 Distributions in excess of earnings........................................... (112,396) (97,460) Accumulated other comprehensive loss.......................................... (126) (56) ----------------------------------------------- 415,238 402,385 ----------------------------------------------- TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY................................ $ 1,134,512 1,055,833 =============================================== See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited). EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA) (UNAUDITED) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, ---------------------------------------------------- 2008 2007 2008 2007 ---------------------------------------------------- REVENUES Income from real estate operations................................... $ 42,904 39,005 124,415 111,795 Other income......................................................... 16 20 232 65 ---------------------------------------------------- 42,920 39,025 124,647 111,860 ---------------------------------------------------- EXPENSES Expenses from real estate operations................................. 12,193 10,441 34,559 30,613 Depreciation and amortization........................................ 13,436 12,158 38,428 35,185 General and administrative........................................... 2,250 1,993 6,349 5,868 ---------------------------------------------------- 27,879 24,592 79,336 71,666 ---------------------------------------------------- OPERATING INCOME....................................................... 15,041 14,433 45,311 40,194 OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) Equity in earnings of unconsolidated investment...................... 80 65 239 214 Gain on sales of non-operating real estate........................... 301 9 313 23 Gain on sales of securities.......................................... - - 435 - Interest income...................................................... 125 38 189 94 Interest expense..................................................... (7,596) (7,086) (22,478) (20,162) Minority interest in joint ventures.................................. (169) (133) (462) (441) ---------------------------------------------------- INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS...................................... 7,782 7,326 23,547 19,922 ---------------------------------------------------- DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS Income from real estate operations................................... 7 88 130 211 Gain on sales of real estate investments............................. 83 300 2,032 300 ---------------------------------------------------- INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS.................................... 90 388 2,162 511 ---------------------------------------------------- NET INCOME............................................................. 7,872 7,714 25,709 20,433 Preferred dividends-Series D......................................... 14 656 1,326 1,968 Costs on redemption of Series D preferred shares..................... 682 - 682 - ---------------------------------------------------- NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS............................ $ 7,176 7,058 23,701 18,465 ==================================================== BASIC PER COMMON SHARE DATA Income from continuing operations.................................... $ .29 .28 .88 .76 Income from discontinued operations.................................. .00 .02 .09 .02 ---------------------------------------------------- Net income available to common stockholders.......................... $ .29 .30 .97 .78 ==================================================== Weighted average shares outstanding.................................. 24,908 23,562 24,362 23,548 ==================================================== DILUTED PER COMMON SHARE DATA Income from continuing operations.................................... $ .29 .28 .88 .76 Income from discontinued operations.................................. .00 .02 .09 .02 ---------------------------------------------------- Net income available to common stockholders.......................... $ .29 .30 .97 .78 ==================================================== Weighted average shares outstanding.................................. 25,069 23,778 24,517 23,767 ==================================================== Dividends declared per common share.................................... $ .52 .50 1.56 1.50 See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited). EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT FOR SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA) (UNAUDITED) Accumulated Additional Distributions Other Preferred Common Paid-In In Excess Comprehensive Stock Stock Capital Of Earnings Loss Total ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2007........................... $ 32,326 2 467,573 (97,460) (56) 402,385 Comprehensive income Net income....................................... - - - 25,709 - 25,709 Net unrealized change in fair value of interest rate swap............................. - - - - (70) (70) -------- Total comprehensive income..................... 25,639 -------- Common dividends declared - $1.56 per share........ - - - (38,637) - (38,637) Preferred dividends declared - $1.0048 per share... - - - (1,326) - (1,326) Redemption of 1,320,000 shares of Series D preferred stock.................................. (32,326) - - (682) - (33,008) Stock-based compensation, net of forfeitures....... - - 2,438 - - 2,438 Issuance of 1,198,700 shares of common stock, common stock offering, net of expenses .......... - 1 57,197 - - 57,198 Issuance of 25,720 shares of common stock, options exercised................................ - - 526 - - 526 Issuance of 4,667 shares of common stock, dividend reinvestment plan....................... - - 212 - - 212 4,519 shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of restricted stock................................. - - (189) - - (189) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BALANCE, SEPTEMBER 30, 2008.......................... $ - 3 527,757 (112,396) (126) 415,238 ============================================================================== See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited). EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (IN THOUSANDS) (UNAUDITED) Nine Months Ended September 30, ----------------------------------- 2008 2007 ----------------------------------- OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net income.................................................................................. $ 25,709 20,433 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization from continuing operations.................................. 38,428 35,185 Depreciation and amortization from discontinued operations................................ 71 277 Minority interest depreciation and amortization........................................... (151) (121) Amortization of mortgage loan premiums.................................................... (90) (87) Gain on sales of land and real estate investments......................................... (2,345) (323) Gain on sales of securities............................................................... (435) - Amortization of discount on mortgage loan receivable...................................... (52) - Stock-based compensation expense.......................................................... 1,668 1,476 Equity in earnings of unconsolidated investment, net of distributions..................... (39) 36 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accrued income and other assets......................................................... 2,442 5,318 Accounts payable, accrued expenses and prepaid rent..................................... 4,061 4,555 ----------------------------------- NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES..................................................... 69,267 66,749 ----------------------------------- INVESTING ACTIVITIES Real estate development..................................................................... (58,357) (78,747) Purchases of real estate.................................................................... (46,282) (51,711) Real estate improvements.................................................................... (10,705) (10,236) Proceeds from sales of land and real estate investments..................................... 11,720 323 Advances on mortgage loans receivable....................................................... (4,994) - Repayments on mortgage loans receivable..................................................... 863 23 Purchases of securities..................................................................... (7,534) - Proceeds from sales of securities........................................................... 7,969 - Changes in other assets and other liabilities............................................... (11,991) (5,863) ----------------------------------- NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES......................................................... (119,311) (146,211) ----------------------------------- FINANCING ACTIVITIES Proceeds from bank borrowings............................................................... 251,197 252,466 Repayments on bank borrowings............................................................... (249,114) (186,880) Proceeds from mortgage notes payable........................................................ 78,000 75,000 Principal payments on mortgage notes payable................................................ (12,138) (23,445) Debt issuance costs......................................................................... (1,686) (658) Distributions paid to stockholders.......................................................... (40,319) (37,439) Redemption of Series D preferred shares..................................................... (33,008) - Proceeds from common stock offerings........................................................ 57,198 - Proceeds from exercise of stock options..................................................... 526 1,365 Proceeds from dividend reinvestment plan.................................................... 212 209 Other....................................................................................... (283) (941) ----------------------------------- NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES..................................................... 50,585 79,677 ----------------------------------- INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS......................................................... 541 215 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD............................................ 724 940 ----------------------------------- CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD.................................................. $ 1,265 1,155 =================================== SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION Cash paid for interest, net of amount capitalized of $5,044 and $4,425 for 2008 and 2007, respectively........................................................... $ 22,122 19,363 Fair value of common stock awards issued to employees and directors, net of forfeitures..... 1,248 1,441 See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited). NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (1) BASIS OF PRESENTATION The accompanying unaudited financial statements of EastGroup Properties, Inc. ("EastGroup" or "the Company") have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In management's opinion, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements contained in the 2007 annual report on Form 10-K and the notes thereto. (2) PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of EastGroup Properties, Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiaries and its investment in any joint ventures in which the Company has a controlling interest. At December 31, 2007 and September 30, 2008, the Company had a controlling interest in two joint ventures: the 80% owned University Business Center and the 80% owned Castilian Research Center. The Company records 100% of the joint ventures' assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses with minority interests provided for in accordance with the joint venture agreements. The equity method of accounting is used for the Company's 50% undivided tenant-in-common interest in Industry Distribution Center II. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation. (3) USE OF ESTIMATES The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and revenues and expenses during the reporting period, and to disclose material contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. (4) REAL ESTATE PROPERTIES EastGroup has one reportable segment-industrial properties. These properties are concentrated in major Sunbelt markets of the United States, primarily in the states of Florida, Texas, Arizona and California, have similar economic characteristics and also meet the other criteria that permit the properties to be aggregated into one reportable segment. The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. Real estate properties held for investment are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value. Depreciation of buildings and other improvements, including personal property, is computed using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives of generally 40 years for buildings and 3 to 15 years for improvements and personal property. Building improvements are capitalized, while maintenance and repair expenses are charged to expense as incurred. Significant renovations and improvements that extend the useful life of or improve the assets are capitalized. Depreciation expense for continuing and discontinued operations was $10,953,000 and $31,473,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively, and $10,040,000 and $29,289,000 for the same periods in 2007. The Company's real estate properties at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 were as follows: September 30, 2008 December 31, 2007 ----------------------------------------- (In thousands) Real estate properties: Land................................................ $ 188,407 175,496 Buildings and building improvements................. 846,727 763,980 Tenant and other improvements....................... 190,839 175,490 Development............................................ 145,074 152,963 ----------------------------------------- 1,371,047 1,267,929 Less accumulated depreciation....................... (299,658) (269,132) ----------------------------------------- $ 1,071,389 998,797 ========================================= (5) DEVELOPMENT During the period in which a property is under development, costs associated with development (i.e., land, construction costs, interest expense during construction and lease-up, property taxes and other direct and indirect costs associated with development) are aggregated into the total capitalized costs of the property. Included in these costs are management's estimates for the portions of internal costs (primarily personnel costs) that are deemed directly or indirectly related to such development activities. As the property becomes occupied, costs are capitalized only for the portion of the building that remains vacant. When the property becomes 80% occupied or one year after completion of the shell construction (whichever comes first), capitalization of development costs ceases on properties developed for lease and properties developed for sale. Properties developed for lease are then transferred to real estate properties, and depreciation commences on the entire property (excluding the land). Properties developed for sale remain classified as development properties until the criteria for classifying the properties as held for sale, as discussed in Note 7, have been met. During this period, costs associated with the properties developed for sale (i.e., property taxes, insurance, and utilities) are expensed as incurred, and these properties are not depreciated. (6) BUSINESS COMBINATIONS AND ACQUIRED INTANGIBLES Upon acquisition of real estate properties, the Company applies the principles of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 141, Business Combinations, to determine the allocation of the purchase price among the individual components of both the tangible and intangible assets based on their respective fair values. The Company determines whether any financing assumed is above or below market based upon comparison to similar financing terms for similar properties. The cost of the properties acquired may be adjusted based on indebtedness assumed from the seller that is determined to be above or below market rates. Factors considered by management in allocating the cost of the properties acquired include an estimate of carrying costs during the expected lease-up periods considering current market conditions and costs to execute similar leases. The allocation to tangible assets (land, building and improvements) is based upon management's determination of the value of the property as if it were vacant using discounted cash flow models. The remaining purchase price is allocated among three categories of intangible assets consisting of the above or below market component of in-place leases, the value of in-place leases and the value of customer relationships. The value allocable to the above or below market component of an acquired in-place lease is determined based upon the present value (using a discount rate which reflects the risks associated with the acquired leases) of the difference between (i) the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to the lease over its remaining term, and (ii) management's estimate of the amounts that would be paid using fair market rates over the remaining term of the lease. The amounts allocated to above and below market leases are included in Other Assets and Other Liabilities, respectively, on the consolidated balance sheets and are amortized to rental income over the remaining terms of the respective leases. The total amount of intangible assets is further allocated to in-place lease values and to customer relationship values based upon management's assessment of their respective values. These intangible assets are included in Other Assets on the consolidated balance sheets and are amortized over the remaining term of the existing lease, or the anticipated life of the customer relationship, as applicable. Amortization expense for in-place lease intangibles was $927,000 and $2,630,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively, and $732,000 and $2,325,000 for the same periods in 2007. Amortization of above and below market leases was immaterial for all periods presented. The Company acquired five operating properties and 9.9 acres of developable land in a single transaction during the first quarter of 2008. In the third quarter, EastGroup acquired one property for redevelopment, one non-operating property (which was also sold during the third quarter), and 12.2 acres of developable land. The Company purchased these real estate investments for a total cost of $52,844,000, of which $44,242,000 was allocated to real estate properties and $6,562,000 to development. In accordance with SFAS No. 141, intangibles associated with the purchase of real estate were allocated as follows: $2,143,000 to in-place lease intangibles and $252,000 to above market leases (both included in Other Assets on the consolidated balance sheet) and $355,000 to below market leases (included in Other Liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet). These costs are amortized over the remaining lives of the associated leases in place at the time of acquisition. The Company periodically reviews (at least annually) the recoverability of goodwill and (on a quarterly basis) the recoverability of other intangibles for possible impairment. In management's opinion, no material impairment of goodwill and other intangibles existed at September 30, 2008, or December 31, 2007. (7) REAL ESTATE HELD FOR SALE/DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS The Company considers a real estate property to be held for sale when it is probable that the property will be sold within a year. A key indicator of probability of sale is whether the buyer has a significant amount of earnest money at risk. Real estate properties that are held for sale are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less estimated costs to sell and are not depreciated while they are held for sale. In accordance with the guidelines established under SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, the results of operations for the properties sold or held for sale during the reported periods are shown under Discontinued Operations on the consolidated income statements. Interest expense is not generally allocated to the properties that are held for sale or whose operations are included under Discontinued Operations unless the mortgage is required to be paid in full upon the sale of the property. During the second quarter of 2008, EastGroup received a condemnation award from the State of Texas for its North Stemmons I property in Dallas. The Company was awarded $4,698,000 as payment for the building and a portion of the land associated with the property, and a gain of $1,949,000 was recognized as a result of this transaction. During the third quarter of 2008, EastGroup sold one operating property, Delp Distribution Center III in Memphis. The Company sold this 20,000 square foot warehouse for $635,000 and recognized a gain of $83,000. In March 2007, EastGroup entered into a contract with United Stationers to acquire a 128,000 square foot warehouse in Tampa as part of the Orlando build-to-suit transaction between the two parties. In August 2008, EastGroup purchased the building through its taxable REIT subsidiary. The Company then sold the builing and recognized an after-tax gain of $294,000, which was included in earnings per share (EPS) and funds from operations available to common stockholders (FFO). In connection with the sale, EastGroup financed a portion of the sales proceeds. At September 30, 2008, the mortgage loan receivable, net of discount of $147,000, was $4,003,000. In addition, EastGroup sold 41 acres of residential land in San Antonio for $841,000, with no gain or loss. This property was acquired as part of the Company's Alamo Ridge industrial land acquisition in September 2007. The Company had no real estate properties that were considered to be held for sale at September 30, 2008. (8) OTHER ASSETS A summary of the Company's Other Assets is as follows: September 30, 2008 December 31, 2007 ----------------------------------------- (In thousands) Leasing costs (principally commissions), net of accumulated amortization... $ 20,977 18,693 Straight-line rent receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts...... 14,598 14,016 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts................ 2,671 3,587 Acquired in-place lease intangibles, net of accumulated amortization of $5,552 and $5,308 for 2008 and 2007, respectively..................... 4,982 5,303 Mortgage loans receivable, net of discount of $147 and $0 for 2008 and 2007, respectively....................................................... 4,115 132 Goodwill................................................................... 990 990 Prepaid expenses and other assets.......................................... 10,856 10,961 ----------------------------------------- $ 59,189 53,682 ========================================= (9) ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES A summary of the Company's Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses is as follows: September 30, 2008 December 31, 2007 ----------------------------------------- (In thousands) Property taxes payable.................................................. $ 15,437 9,744 Development costs payable............................................... 7,430 13,022 Dividends payable....................................................... 1,982 2,337 Other payables and accrued expenses..................................... 8,218 9,076 ----------------------------------------- $ 33,067 34,179 ========================================= (10) OTHER LIABILITIES A summary of the Company's Other Liabilities is as follows: September 30, 2008 December 31, 2007 ----------------------------------------- (In thousands) Security deposits....................................................... $ 7,600 7,529 Prepaid rent and other deferred income.................................. 5,905 6,911 Other liabilities....................................................... 1,571 1,713 ----------------------------------------- $ 15,076 16,153 ========================================= (11) REDEMPTION OF SERIES D PREFERRED SHARES On July 2, 2008, EastGroup redeemed all 1,320,000 shares of its 7.95% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock at a redemption price of $25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends of $.011 per share for the period from July 1, 2008, through and including the redemption date, for an aggregate redemption price of $25.011 per Series D Preferred Share. Original issuance costs of $674,000 and additional redemption costs of $8,000 were charged againste net income available to common stockholders in conjunction with the redemption of these shares. (12) COMPREHENSIVE INCOME Comprehensive income is comprised of net income plus all other changes in equity from non-owner sources. The components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 are presented in the Company's consolidated statement of changes in stockholders' equity and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 are summarized below. Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, ---------------------------------------------------- 2008 2007 2008 2007 ---------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS): Balance at beginning of period...................................... $ (99) 362 (56) 314 Change in fair value of interest rate swap...................... (27) (216) (70) (168) ---------------------------------------------------- Balance at end of period............................................ $ (126) 146 (126) 146 ==================================================== (13) EARNINGS PER SHARE Basic EPS represents the amount of earnings for the period available to each share of common stock outstanding during the reporting period. The Company's basic EPS is calculated by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted EPS represents the amount of earnings for the period available to each share of common stock outstanding during the reporting period and to each share that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares for all dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the reporting period. The Company calculates diluted EPS by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the dilutive effect of nonvested restricted stock and stock options had the options been exercised. The dilutive effect of stock options and their equivalents (such as nonvested restricted stock) was determined using the treasury stock method which assumes exercise of the options as of the beginning of the period or when issued, if later, and assumes proceeds from the exercise of options are used to purchase common stock at the average market price during the period. Reconciliation of the numerators and denominators in the basic and diluted EPS computations is as follows: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, ---------------------------------------------------- 2008 2007 2008 2007 ---------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) BASIC EPS COMPUTATION Numerator-net income available to common stockholders............. $ 7,176 7,058 23,701 18,465 Denominator-weighted average shares outstanding................... 24,908 23,562 24,362 23,548 DILUTED EPS COMPUTATION Numerator-net income available to common stockholders............. $ 7,176 7,058 23,701 18,465 Denominator: Weighted average shares outstanding............................. 24,908 23,562 24,362 23,548 Common stock options............................................ 56 81 60 95 Nonvested restricted stock...................................... 105 135 95 124 ---------------------------------------------------- Total Shares.................................................. 25,069 23,778 24,517 23,767 ==================================================== (14) STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION Management Incentive Plan The Company has a management incentive plan which was approved by the shareholders and adopted in 2004. This plan authorizes the issuance of up to 1,900,000 shares of common stock to employees in the form of options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock (limited to 570,000 shares), deferred stock units, performance shares, stock bonuses, and stock. Total shares available for grant were 1,685,794 at September 30, 2008. Typically, the Company issues new shares to fulfill stock grants or upon the exercise of stock options. Stock-based compensation was $929,000 and $2,195,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively, of which $310,000 and $666,000 were capitalized as part of the Company's development costs. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, stock-based compensation was $845,000 and $2,041,000, respectively, of which $246,000 and $681,000 were capitalized as part of the Company's development costs. Restricted Stock In the second quarter of 2008, the Company granted shares to executive officers contingent upon the attainment of certain annual performance goals. These goals are for the period ending December 31, 2008, so any shares issued upon attainment of these goals will be issued after that date. The number of shares to be issued could range from zero to 44,802. These shares will vest 20% on the date shares are determined and awarded and 20% per year on each January 1 for the subsequent four years. Following is a summary of the total restricted shares granted, forfeited and delivered (vested) to employees with the related weighted average grant date fair value share prices. The table does not include shares granted in 2006 that are contingent on market conditions and shares granted in 2008 that are contingent on the attainment of certain annual performance goals. As of the vesting date, the fair value of shares that vested during the first quarter of 2008 was $1,161,000. There were no shares that vested in the second or third quarters of 2008. Restricted Stock Activity: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 September 30, 2008 --------------------------------------------------- Weighted Weighted Average Average Grant Date Grant Date Shares Fair Value Shares Fair Value --------------------------------------------------- Nonvested at beginning of period.... 149,167 $ 33.42 144,089 $ 31.65 Granted (1)......................... - - 34,668 49.14 Forfeited........................... (500) 20.50 (2,320) 24.81 Vested.............................. - - (27,770) 44.33 ---------- ---------- Nonvested at end of period.......... 148,667 33.46 148,667 33.46 ========== ========== (1) Represents shares issued in March 2008 that were granted in 2007 subject to the satisfaction of annual performance goals. Directors Equity Plan The Company has a directors equity plan that was approved by shareholders and adopted in 2005 and was further amended by the Board of Directors in May 2008, which authorizes the issuance of up to 50,000 shares of common stock through awards of shares and restricted shares granted to non-employee directors of the Company. Stock-based compensation expense for directors was $61,000 and $139,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively, and $39,000 and $116,000 for the same periods in 2007. (15) RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, which provides guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 157 applies whenever other standards require (or permit) assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value but does not expand the use of fair value in any new circumstances. The Statement requires disclosure of the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall, including measurements using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1), quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active (Level 2), and significant valuation assumptions that are not readily observable in the market (Level 3). The provisions of Statement 157, with the exception of nonfinancial assets and liabilities, were effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The FASB deferred for one year the Statement's fair value measurement requirements for nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are not required or permitted to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. These provisions will be effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and the Company is in the process of evaluating the impact that the adoption of these provisions will have on the Company's overall financial position and results of operations. As required under SFAS No. 133, the Company accounts for its interest rate swap cash flow hedge on the Tower Automotive mortgage at fair value. At the end of each quarter, the fair value of the swap is determined by estimating the expected cash flows over the life of the swap using the mid-market rate and price environment as of the last trading day of the quarter. This market information is considered a Level 2 input as defined by SFAS No. 157. The application of Statement 157 to the Company in 2008 had an immaterial impact on the Company's overall financial position and results of operations. In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (Revised 2007), Business Combinations, which retains the fundamental requirements in SFAS No. 141 and requires the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree be measured at fair value as of the acquisition date. In addition, Statement 141(R) requires that any goodwill acquired in the business combination be measured as a residual, and it provides guidance in determining what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. The Statement also requires that acquisition-related costs be recognized as expenses in the periods in which the costs are incurred and the services are received. SFAS No. 141(R) applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008, and may not be applied before that date. Also in December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, which is an amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) No. 51. Statement 160 provides guidance for entities that prepare consolidated financial statements that have an outstanding noncontrolling interest in one or more subsidiaries or that deconsolidate a subsidiary. SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008, and may not be applied before that date. The Company anticipates that the adoption of Statement 160 on January 1, 2009, will have an immaterial impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, which is an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133. SFAS No. 161 requires all entities with derivative instruments to disclose information regarding how and why the entity uses derivative instruments and how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect the entity's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. The Statement is effective prospectively for periods beginning on or after November 15, 2008. (16) SUBSEQUENT EVENT EastGroup is under contract to purchase 130 acres of land in Orlando, Florida, for approximately $15 million, and plans to construct 1.2 million square feet on this development land. The first phase of this acquisition (approximately $9,750,000) is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2008. The second phase (approximately $5,250,000) is scheduled to close 12 months after the closing of the first phase. ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS. OVERVIEW EastGroup's goal is to maximize shareholder value by being the leading provider in its markets of functional, flexible, and quality business distribution space for location-sensitive tenants primarily in the 5,000 to 50,000 square foot range. The Company develops, acquires and operates distribution facilities, the majority of which are clustered around major transportation features in supply constrained submarkets in major Sunbelt regions. The Company's core markets are in the states of Florida, Texas, Arizona and California. The Company's primary revenue is rental income; as such, EastGroup's greatest challenge is leasing space. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, leases on 3,439,000 square feet (13.6%) of EastGroup's total square footage of 25,326,000 expired, and the Company was successful in renewing or re-leasing 2,874,000 square feet, representing 83.6% of that total. In addition, EastGroup leased 1,024,000 square feet of other vacant space during this period. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, average rental rates on new and renewal leases increased by 12.7%. EastGroup's total leased percentage was 95.1% at September 30, 2008, compared to 97.0% at September 30, 2007. Leases scheduled to expire for the remainder of 2008 were 1.9% of the portfolio on a square foot basis at September 30, 2008, and this figure was reduced to 1.1% as of November 4, 2008. Property net operating income from same properties decreased 2.5% for the quarter as compared to the same period of 2007. Excluding termination fee income for both periods, same property operating results increased 0.3%. Property results for the third quarter of 2007 included $966,000 of termination fee income mainly from one tenant's early termination, and lease termination fee income for the third quarter of 2008 was $186,000. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, property net operating income decreased 0.1% as compared to the same period of 2007. Excluding termination fee income for both periods, same property operating results increased 0.2% for the nine months. The Company generates new sources of leasing revenue through its acquisition and development programs. During the first nine months of 2008, EastGroup purchased five operating properties (669,000 square feet), one property for re-development (150,000 square feet), one non-operating property (which the Company also sold during the third quarter) and 22.1 acres of developable land for a total cost of $52.8 million. The five operating properties and 9.9 acres of developable land are located in metropolitan Charlotte, North Carolina, where the Company now owns over 1.6 million square feet. The property acquired for re-development (12th Street Distribution Center) is located in Jacksonville, Florida, and the remaining 12.2 acres of developable land are located in San Antonio, Texas. The non-operating property acquired by EastGroup is a 128,000 square foot vacant warehouse located in Tampa, Florida. EastGroup purchased this property in connection with the Company's Orlando build-to-suit transaction with United Stationers. EastGroup purchased the building through its taxable REIT subsidiary for $5.2 million and sold the building, recognizing an after-tax gain of $294,000. EastGroup continues to see targeted development as a major contributor to the Company's growth. The Company mitigates risks associated with development through a Board-approved maximum level of land held for development and by adjusting development start dates according to leasing activity. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company transferred 11 properties (1,105,000 square feet) with aggregate costs of $63.9 million at the date of transfer from development to real estate properties. These properties, which were collectively 94% leased as of November 4, 2008, are located in Fort Myers and Orlando, Florida; Phoenix, Arizona; and Houston and San Antonio, Texas. The Company primarily funds its acquisition and development programs through its four-year, $225 million lines of credit (as discussed in Liquidity and Capital Resources). As market conditions permit, EastGroup issues equity, including preferred equity, and/or employs fixed-rate, non-recourse first mortgage debt to replace the short-term bank borrowings. EastGroup has one reportable segment-industrial properties. These properties are primarily located in major Sunbelt regions of the United States, have similar economic characteristics and also meet the other criteria that permit the properties to be aggregated into one reportable segment. The Company's chief decision makers use two primary measures of operating results in making decisions: property net operating income (PNOI), defined as income from real estate operations less property operating expenses (before interest expense and depreciation and amortization), and funds from operations available to common stockholders (FFO), defined as net income (loss) computed in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), excluding gains or losses from sales of depreciable real estate property, plus real estate related depreciation and amortization, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. The Company calculates FFO based on the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts' (NAREIT) definition. PNOI is a supplemental industry reporting measurement used to evaluate the performance of the Company's real estate investments. The Company believes that the exclusion of depreciation and amortization in the industry's calculation of PNOI provides a supplemental indicator of the property's performance since real estate values have historically risen or fallen with market conditions. PNOI as calculated by the Company may not be comparable to similarly titled but differently calculated measures for other real estate investment trusts (REITs). The major factors that influence PNOI are occupancy levels, acquisitions and sales, development properties that achieve stabilized operations, rental rate increases or decreases, and the recoverability of operating expenses. The Company's success depends largely upon its ability to lease space and to recover from tenants the operating costs associated with those leases. Real estate income is comprised of rental income, pass-through income and other real estate income including lease termination fees. Property operating expenses are comprised of property taxes, insurance, utilities, repair and maintenance expenses, management fees, other operating costs and bad debt expense. Generally, the Company's most significant operating expenses are property taxes and insurance. Tenant leases may be net leases in which the total operating expenses are recoverable, modified gross leases in which some of the operating expenses are recoverable, or gross leases in which no expenses are recoverable (gross leases represent only a small portion of the Company's total leases). Increases in property operating expenses are fully recoverable under net leases and recoverable to a high degree under modified gross leases. Modified gross leases often include base year amounts and expense increases over these amounts are recoverable. The Company's exposure to property operating expenses is primarily due to vacancies and leases for occupied space that limit the amount of expenses that can be recovered. The Company believes FFO is a meaningful supplemental measure of operating performance for equity REITs. The Company believes that excluding depreciation and amortization in the calculation of FFO is appropriate since real estate values have historically increased or decreased based on market conditions. FFO is not considered as an alternative to net income (determined in accordance with GAAP) as an indication of the Company's financial performance, nor is it a measure of the Company's liquidity or indicative of funds available to provide for the Company's cash needs, including its ability to make distributions. The Company's key drivers affecting FFO are changes in PNOI (as discussed above), interest rates, the amount of leverage the Company employs and general and administrative expense. The following table presents on a comparative basis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 reconciliations of PNOI and FFO Available to Common Stockholders to Net Income. Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, ---------------------------------------------------- 2008 2007 2008 2007 ---------------------------------------------------- (In thousands, except per share data) Income from real estate operations........................................... $ 42,904 39,005 124,415 111,795 Expenses from real estate operations......................................... (12,193) (10,441) (34,559) (30,613) ---------------------------------------------------- PROPERTY NET OPERATING INCOME................................................ 30,711 28,564 89,856 81,182 Equity in earnings of unconsolidated investment (before depreciation)........ 113 98 338 313 Income from discontinued operations (before depreciation and amortization)... 10 171 201 488 Interest income.............................................................. 125 38 189 94 Gain on sales of securities.................................................. - - 435 - Other income................................................................. 16 20 232 65 Interest expense............................................................. (7,596) (7,086) (22,478) (20,162) General and administrative expense........................................... (2,250) (1,993) (6,349) (5,868) Minority interest in earnings (before depreciation and amortization)......... (220) (175) (613) (562) Gain on sales of non-operating real estate................................... 301 9 313 23 Dividends on Series D preferred shares....................................... (14) (656) (1,326) (1,968) Costs on redemption of Series D preferred shares............................. (682) - (682) - ---------------------------------------------------- FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS....................... 20,514 18,990 60,116 53,605 Depreciation and amortization from continuing operations..................... (13,436) (12,158) (38,428) (35,185) Depreciation and amortization from discontinued operations................... (3) (83) (71) (277) Depreciation from unconsolidated investment.................................. (33) (33) (99) (99) Minority interest depreciation and amortization.............................. 51 42 151 121 Gain on sales of depreciable real estate investments......................... 83 300 2,032 300 ---------------------------------------------------- NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS.................................. 7,176 7,058 23,701 18,465 Dividends on Series D preferred shares....................................... 14 656 1,326 1,968 Costs on redemption of Series D preferred shares............................. 682 - 682 - ---------------------------------------------------- NET INCOME................................................................... $ 7,872 7,714 25,709 20,433 ==================================================== Net income available to common stockholders per diluted share................ $ .29 .30 .97 .78 Funds from operations available to common stockholders per diluted share..... .82 .80 2.45 2.26 Diluted shares for earnings per share and funds from operations.............. 25,069 23,778 24,517 23,767 The Company analyzes the following performance trends in evaluating the progress of the Company: o The FFO change per share represents the increase or decrease in FFO per share from the same quarter in the current year compared to the prior year. FFO per share for the third quarter of 2008 was $.82 per share compared with $.80 per share for the same period of 2007, an increase of 2.5% per share. PNOI increased 7.5% primarily due to additional PNOI of $2,105,000 from newly developed properties and $782,000 from 2007 and 2008 acquisitions, offset by a decrease of $708,000 from same property growth resulting from a large termination fee in last year's third quarter. FFO for this quarter also included the expensing of $674,000 of original issuance costs due to the redemption of EastGroup's Series D Preferred Stock. The third quarter of 2008 was the seventeenth consecutive quarter of increased FFO per share as compared to the previous year's quarter. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, FFO was $2.45 per share compared with $2.26 for the same period of 2007, an increase of 8.4% per share. PNOI increased 10.7% mainly due to additional PNOI of $5,963,000 from newly developed properties and $2,863,000 from 2007 and 2008 acquisitions, offset by a decrease of $110,000 from same property growth. o Same property net operating income change represents the PNOI increase or decrease for operating properties owned during the entire current period and prior year reporting period. Excluding the termination fees mentioned above, PNOI from same properties increased 0.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2008, and 0.2% for the nine months. Excluding termination fees, the third quarter of 2008 was the twenty-first consecutive quarter of improved results of this measure. o Occupancy is the percentage of leased square footage for which the lease term has commenced as compared to the total leasable square footage as of the close of the reporting period. Occupancy at September 30, 2008, was 94.4%. Occupancy has ranged from 94.4% to 95.7% in the previous four quarters. o Rental rate change represents the rental rate increase or decrease on new and renewal leases compared to the prior leases on the same space. Rental rate increases on new and renewal leases (6.3% of total square footage) averaged 15.8% for the third quarter. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, rental rate increases on new and renewal leases (15.4% of total square footage) averaged 12.7%. CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES The Company's management considers the following accounting policies and estimates to be critical to the reported operations of the Company. Real Estate Properties The Company allocates the purchase price of acquired properties to net tangible and identified intangible assets based on their respective fair values. Factors considered by management in allocating the cost of the properties acquired include an estimate of carrying costs during the expected lease-up periods considering current market conditions and costs to execute similar leases. The allocation to tangible assets (land, buildings and improvements) is based upon management's determination of the value of the property as if it were vacant using discounted cash flow models. The remaining purchase price is allocated among three categories of intangible assets consisting of the above or below market component of in-place leases, the value of in-place leases and the value of customer relationships. The value allocable to the above or below market component of an acquired in-place lease is determined based upon the present value (using a discount rate which reflects the risks associated with the acquired leases) of the difference between (i) the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to the lease over its remaining term, and (ii) management's estimate of the amounts that would be paid using fair market rates over the remaining term of the lease. The amounts allocated to above and below market leases are included in Other Assets and Other Liabilities, respectively, on the consolidated balance sheets and are amortized to rental income over the remaining terms of the respective leases. The total amount of intangible assets is further allocated to in-place lease values and to customer relationship values based upon management's assessment of their respective values. These intangible assets are included in Other Assets on the consolidated balance sheets and are amortized over the remaining term of the existing lease, or the anticipated life of the customer relationship, as applicable. During the industrial development stage, costs associated with development (i.e., land, construction costs, interest expense during construction and lease-up, property taxes and other direct and indirect costs associated with development) are aggregated into the total capitalization of the property. Included in these costs are management's estimates for the portions of internal costs (primarily personnel costs) that are deemed directly or indirectly related to such development activities. The Company reviews its real estate investments for impairment of value whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If any real estate investment is considered permanently impaired, a loss is recorded to reduce the carrying value of the property to its estimated fair value. Real estate assets to be sold are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less selling costs. The evaluation of real estate investments involves many subjective assumptions dependent upon future economic events that affect the ultimate value of the property. Currently, the Company's management is not aware of any impairment issues nor has it experienced any significant impairment issues in recent years. In the event of impairment, the property's basis would be reduced and the impairment would be recognized as a current period charge on the income statement. Valuation of Receivables The Company is subject to tenant defaults and bankruptcies that could affect the collection of outstanding receivables. In order to mitigate these risks, the Company performs credit reviews and analyses on prospective tenants before significant leases are executed. On a quarterly basis, the Company evaluates outstanding receivables and estimates the allowance for doubtful accounts. Management specifically analyzes aged receivables, customer credit-worthiness, historical bad debts and current economic trends when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company believes that its allowance for doubtful accounts is adequate for its outstanding receivables for the periods presented. In the event that the allowance for doubtful accounts is insufficient for an account that is subsequently written off, additional bad debt expense would be recognized as a current period charge on the income statement. Tax Status EastGroup, a Maryland corporation, has qualified as a real estate investment trust under Sections 856-860 of the Internal Revenue Code and intends to continue to qualify as such. To maintain its status as a REIT, the Company is required to distribute at least 90% of its ordinary taxable income to its stockholders. The Company has the option of (i) reinvesting the sales price of properties sold through tax-deferred exchanges, allowing for a deferral of capital gains on the sale, (ii) paying out capital gains to the stockholders with no tax to the Company, or (iii) treating the capital gains as having been distributed to the stockholders, paying the tax on the gain deemed distributed and allocating the tax paid as a credit to the stockholders. The Company distributed all of its 2007 taxable income to its stockholders and expects to distribute all of its taxable income in 2008. Accordingly, no provision for income taxes was necessary in 2007, nor is it expected to be necessary for 2008. FINANCIAL CONDITION EastGroup's assets were $1,134,512,000 at September 30, 2008, an increase of $78,679,000 from December 31, 2007. Liabilities increased $65,666,000 to $716,802,000 and stockholders' equity increased $12,853,000 to $415,238,000 during the same period. The paragraphs that follow explain these changes in detail. ASSETS Real Estate Properties Real estate properties increased $111,007,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, primarily due to the purchase of five operating properties in a single transaction and the transfer of eleven properties from development, as detailed below. These increases were offset by the sale of two operating properties, North Stemmons I and Delp Distribution Center III, during the nine months. In addition, EastGroup sold 41 acres of residential land in San Antonio, Texas, for $841,000 with no gain or loss. This property was acquired as part of the Company's Alamo Ridge industrial land acquisition in September 2007. Date Real Estate Properties Acquired in 2008 Location Size Acquired Cost (1) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Square feet) (In thousands) Airport Commerce Center I & II, Interchange Park, Ridge Creek Distribution Center and Waterford Distribution Center.................... Charlotte, NC 669,000 02/29/08 $ 39,018 (1) Total cost of the properties acquired was $41,913,000, of which $39,018,000 was allocated to real estate properties as indicated above and $855,000 was allocated to development. Intangibles associated with the purchases of real estate were allocated as follows: $2,143,000 to in-place lease intangibles, $252,000 to above market leases (both included in Other Assets on the consolidated balance sheet) and $355,000 to below market leases (included in Other Liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet). All of these costs are amortized over the remaining lives of the associated leases in place at the time of acquisition. Real Estate Properties Transferred from Date Development in 2008 Location Size Transferred Cost at Transfer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Square feet) (In thousands) Beltway Crossing IV.................... Houston, TX 55,000 01/21/08 $ 3,365 Beltway Crossing III................... Houston, TX 55,000 02/01/08 2,866 Southridge XII......................... Orlando, FL 404,000 03/20/08 18,521 Arion 18............................... San Antonio, TX 20,000 03/31/08 2,593 Southridge VII......................... Orlando, FL 92,000 04/01/08 6,500 Wetmore II, Building C................. San Antonio, TX 69,000 05/29/08 3,682 Interstate Commons III................. Phoenix, AZ 38,000 06/01/08 3,093 SunCoast I ............................ Fort Myers, FL 63,000 07/01/08 5,225 World Houston 27....................... Houston, TX 92,000 07/01/08 4,248 Wetmore II, Building D................. San Antonio, TX 124,000 08/01/08 7,950 World Houston 24....................... Houston, TX 93,000 09/01/08 5,904 ------------ ------------------- Total Developments Transferred... 1,105,000 $ 63,947 ============ =================== The Company made capital improvements of $10,705,000 on existing and acquired properties (included in the Capital Expenditures table under Results of Operations). Also, the Company incurred costs of $2,616,000 on development properties subsequent to transfer to real estate properties; the Company records these expenditures as development costs on the consolidated statements of cash flows during the 12-month period following transfer. Development The investment in development at September 30, 2008, was $145,074,000 compared to $152,963,000 at December 31, 2007. Total capital invested for development during the first nine months of 2008 was $58,357,000, which primarily consisted of costs of $56,058,000 as detailed in the development activity table and costs of $2,616,000 on developments transferred to real estate properties during the 12-month period ended September 30, 2008. During 2007, the Company executed a ten-year lease for a 404,000 square foot build-to-suit development in its Southridge Commerce Park in Orlando. In March 2008, construction on this project was completed, and the tenant, United Stationers Supply Company, occupied the space. In connection with this transaction, EastGroup entered into contracts with United Stationers to purchase two of its existing properties in Jacksonville and Tampa, Florida. In July, EastGroup acquired 12th Street Distribution Center, a 150,000 square foot building in Jacksonville. The Company purchased the vacant property for $3,776,000 and plans to redevelop it for multi-tenant use for a projected total investment of $4,700,000. Also during the third quarter, EastGroup closed on the acquisition of a 128,000 square foot warehouse in Tampa through its taxable REIT subsidiary. The Company then sold the building, recognizing an after-tax gain of $294,000. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, EastGroup purchased 22.1 acres of developable land for $2,786,000. Costs associated with this acquisition are included in the development activity table. The Company transferred 11 developments to real estate properties during the first nine months of 2008 with a total investment of $63,947,000 as of the date of transfer. Costs Incurred ---------------------------------------------- Costs For the Cumulative Transferred Nine Months as of Estimated DEVELOPMENT Size in 2008 (1) Ended 9/30/08 9/30/08 Total Costs ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Square feet) (In thousands) LEASE-UP Oak Creek A & B, Tampa, FL(2)....................... 35,000 $ - 88 3,029 3,300 Centennial Park, Denver, CO......................... 68,000 - 690 5,437 5,500 World Houston 25, Houston, TX....................... 66,000 - 528 3,722 3,900 Beltway Crossing V, Houston, TX..................... 83,000 - 897 4,643 5,000 Wetmore II, Building A, San Antonio, TX............. 34,000 - 558 3,359 3,600 40th Avenue Distribution Center, Phoenix, AZ........ 89,000 - 453 5,600 6,100 Wetmore II, Building B, San Antonio, TX............. 55,000 - 640 3,523 3,700 Beltway Crossing VI, Houston, TX.................... 127,000 - 1,754 5,277 6,400 Oak Creek VI, Tampa, FL............................ 89,000 - 1,635 5,540 5,800 Southridge VIII, Orlando, FL........................ 91,000 - 1,845 5,885 6,700 Techway SW IV, Houston, TX.......................... 94,000 - 2,550 4,518 5,800 SunCoast III, Fort Myers, FL........................ 93,000 - 2,333 6,508 8,400 Sky Harbor, Phoenix, AZ............................. 261,000 - 8,395 22,403 22,800 World Houston 26, Houston, TX....................... 59,000 1,110 1,637 2,747 3,300 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Lease-up........................................ 1,244,000 1,110 24,003 82,191 90,300 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UNDER CONSTRUCTION 12th Street Distribution Center, Jacksonville, FL... 150,000 - 4,239 4,239 4,700 Country Club III & IV, Tucson, AZ................... 138,000 2,552 2,936 5,488 11,200 Oak Creek IX, Tampa, FL............................. 86,000 1,369 1,055 2,424 5,500 Blue Heron III, West Palm Beach, FL................. 20,000 863 185 1,048 2,300 Beltway Crossing VII, Houston, TX................... 95,000 2,123 - 2,123 5,900 World Houston 28, Houston, TX....................... 59,000 733 131 864 4,800 World Houston 29, Houston, TX....................... 70,000 849 82 931 4,700 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Under Construction.............................. 618,000 8,489 8,628 17,117 39,100 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- PROSPECTIVE DEVELOPMENT (PRIMARILY LAND) Tucson, AZ.......................................... 70,000 (2,552) 924 417 3,500 Tampa, FL........................................... 249,000 (1,369) 555 3,763 14,600 Orlando, FL......................................... 229,000 - 1,038 4,800 13,700 West Palm Beach, FL................................. - (863) 52 - - Fort Myers, FL...................................... 659,000 - 1,893 14,712 48,100 Dallas, TX.......................................... 70,000 - 554 554 5,000 El Paso, TX......................................... 251,000 - - 2,444 9,600 Houston, TX......................................... 1,074,000 (4,815) 2,625 12,359 65,900 San Antonio, TX..................................... 590,000 - 2,467 5,033 37,500 Charlotte, NC....................................... 95,000 - 978 978 7,100 Jackson, MS......................................... 28,000 - 1 706 2,000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Prospective Development......................... 3,315,000 (9,599) 11,087 45,766 207,000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5,177,000 $ - 43,718 145,074 336,400 ============================================================================ Costs Incurred ---------------------------------------------- Costs For the Cumulative Transferred Nine Months as of Estimated DEVELOPMENT Size in 2008 (1) Ended 9/30/08 9/30/08 Total Costs ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Square feet) (In thousands) DEVELOPMENTS COMPLETED AND TRANSFERRED TO REAL ESTATE PROPERTIES DURING 2008 Beltway Crossing IV, Houston, TX.................... 55,000 $ - 5 3,365 Beltway Crossing III, Houston, TX................... 55,000 - 14 2,866 Southridge XII, Orlando, FL......................... 404,000 - 3,421 18,521 Arion 18, San Antonio, TX........................... 20,000 - 638 2,593 Southridge VII, Orlando, FL......................... 92,000 - 414 6,500 Wetmore II, Building C, San Antonio, TX............. 69,000 - 185 3,682 Interstate Commons III, Phoenix, AZ................. 38,000 - 45 3,093 SunCoast I, Fort Myers, FL.......................... 63,000 - 149 5,225 World Houston 27, Houston, TX....................... 92,000 - 1,765 4,248 Wetmore II, Building D, San Antonio, TX............. 124,000 - 4,965 7,950 World Houston 24, Houston, TX....................... 93,000 - 739 5,904 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Total Transferred to Real Estate Properties........... 1,105,000 $ - 12,340 63,947 (3) ================================================================= (1) Represents costs transferred from Prospective Development (primarily land) to Under Construction during the period. (2) These buildings were developed for sale. (3) Represents cumulative costs at the date of transfer. Accumulated depreciation on real estate properties increased $30,526,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, primarily due to depreciation expense on real estate properties, offset by accumulated depreciation related to North Stemmons I and Delp Distribution Center III, which were sold during the same period. A summary of Other Assets is presented in Note 8 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. LIABILITIES Mortgage notes payable increased $65,772,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, as a result of a $78,000,000 mortgage loan signed by the Company during the first quarter, which was offset by regularly scheduled principal payments of $12,138,000 and mortgage loan premium amortization of $90,000. Notes payable to banks increased $2,083,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, as a result of advances of $251,197,000 exceeding repayments of $249,114,000. The Company's credit facilities are described in greater detail under Liquidity and Capital Resources. See Note 9 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a summary of Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses. See Note 10 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a summary of Other Liabilities. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY During the second quarter, the Company sold 1,198,700 shares of its common stock to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated. The net proceeds were $57.2 million. The Company used the proceeds to repay indebtedness outstanding under its revolving credit facility and for other general corporate purposes. On July 2, 2008, EastGroup redeemed all 1,320,000 shares of its 7.95% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock at a redemption price of $25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends of $.011 per share for the period from July 1, 2008, through and including the redemption date, for an aggregated redemption price of $25.011 per Series D Preferred Share. Distributions in excess of earnings increased $14,936,000 as a result of dividends on common and preferred stock of $39,963,000 and costs on the redemption of Series D Preferred Shares of $682,000 exceeding net income for financial reporting purposes of $25,709,000. See Note 14 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for information related to the changes in additional paid-in capital resulting from stock-based compensation. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Comments are for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007.) Net income available to common stockholders for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, was $7,176,000 ($.29 per basic and diluted share) and $23,701,000 ($.97 per basic and diluted share) compared to $7,058,000 ($.30 per basic and diluted share) and $18,465,000 ($.78 per basic and diluted share) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007. PNOI for the three months ended September 30, 2008, increased by $2,147,000, or 7.5%, as compared to the same period in 2007. The increase was primarily attributable to $2,105,000 from newly developed properties and $782,000 from 2007 and 2008 acquisitions, offset by a decrease of $708,000 from same property growth resulting from a large termination fee in last year's third quarter. PNOI for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, increased by $8,674,000, or 10.7%, as compared to the same period in 2007. The increase was mainly due to $5,963,000 from newly developed properties and $2,863,000 from 2007 and 2008 acquisitions, offset by a decrease of $110,000 from same property growth. The increases in PNOI were offset by increased depreciation and amortization expense and other costs as discussed below. Expense to revenue ratios for real estate operations were 28.4% and 27.8% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, compared to 26.8% and 27.4% for the same periods in 2007. The Company's percentages leased and occupied were 95.1% and 94.4%, respectively, at September 30, 2008, compared to 97.0% and 95.7%, respectively, at September 30, 2007. The following table presents the components of interest expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, -------------------------------------------------------------------- 2008 2007 Increase 2008 2007 Increase (Decrease) (Decrease) -------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands, except rates of interest) Average bank borrowings...................................... $ 126,113 108,221 17,892 125,051 94,893 30,158 Weighted average variable interest rates (excluding loan cost amortization) ........................ 3.50% 6.48% 3.99% 6.48% VARIABLE RATE INTEREST EXPENSE Variable rate interest (excluding loan cost amortization).... $ 1,111 1,767 (656) 3,737 4,602 (865) Amortization of bank loan costs.............................. 73 88 (15) 221 266 (45) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total variable rate interest expense......................... 1,184 1,855 (671) 3,958 4,868 (910) -------------------------------------------------------------------- FIXED RATE INTEREST EXPENSE Fixed rate interest (excluding loan cost amortization)....... 7,931 6,661 1,270 23,067 19,312 3,755 Amortization of mortgage loan costs.......................... 172 142 30 497 407 90 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total fixed rate interest expense............................ 8,103 6,803 1,300 23,564 19,719 3,845 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Total interest............................................... 9,287 8,658 629 27,522 24,587 2,935 Less capitalized interest.................................... (1,691) (1,572) (119) (5,044) (4,425) (619) -------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE....................................... $ 7,596 7,086 510 22,478 20,162 2,316 ==================================================================== Interest costs incurred during development of real estate properties are capitalized and offset against interest expense. The Company's weighted average variable interest rates in the first nine months of 2008 were significantly lower than in 2007. Although average bank borrowings were higher for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007, the Company experienced a decrease in variable rate interest expense due to the lower interest rates. The increase in mortgage interest expense in the first nine months of 2008 as compared to the same period of 2007 was primarily due to the new mortgages detailed in the table below. NEW MORTGAGES IN 2007 AND 2008 INTEREST RATE DATE AMOUNT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Broadway VI, World Houston 1 & 2, 21 & 23, Arion 16, Ethan Allen, Northpark I-IV, South 55th Avenue, East University I & II and Santan 10 II........................... 5.570% 08/08/07 $ 75,000,000 Beltway II, III & IV, Eastlake, Fairgrounds I-IV, Nations Ford I-IV, Techway Southwest III, Westinghouse, Wetmore I-IV and World Houston 15 & 22....................... 5.500% 03/19/08 78,000,000 ------------- --------------- Weighted Average/Total Amount................................ 5.534% $ 153,000,000 ============= =============== These increases were offset by regularly scheduled principal payments and the repayments of two mortgages in 2007 as shown in the following table: INTEREST DATE PAYOFF MORTGAGE LOANS REPAID IN 2007 RATE REPAID AMOUNT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- World Houston 1 & 2.................................... 7.770% 04/12/07 $ 4,023,000 E. University I & II, Broadway VI, 55th Avenue and Ethan Allen...................................... 8.060% 05/25/07 10,197,000 ---------- --------------- Weighted Average/Total Amount........................ 7.978% $ 14,220,000 ========== =============== Depreciation and amortization for continuing operations increased $1,278,000 and $3,243,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, as compared to the same periods in 2007. This increase was primarily due to properties acquired and transferred from development during 2007 and 2008. NAREIT has recommended supplemental disclosures concerning straight-line rent, capital expenditures and leasing costs. Straight-lining of rent for continuing operations increased income by $206,000 and $618,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, as compared to $248,000 and $655,000 in the same periods of 2007. Capital Expenditures Capital expenditures for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 were as follows: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, Estimated ---------------------------------------------------- Useful Life 2008 2007 2008 2007 ------------------------------------------------------------------ (In thousands) Upgrade on Acquisitions...................... 40 yrs $ 13 32 63 91 Tenant Improvements: New Tenants............................... Lease Life 1,725 1,529 5,081 4,843 New Tenants (first generation) (1)........ Lease Life 3 29 244 404 Renewal Tenants........................... Lease Life 173 793 1,335 1,623 Other: Building Improvements..................... 5-40 yrs 484 409 1,788 1,167 Roofs..................................... 5-15 yrs 276 485 1,107 1,446 Parking Lots.............................. 3-5 yrs 73 141 848 552 Other..................................... 5 yrs 136 58 239 110 ---------------------------------------------------- Total capital expenditures............. $ 2,883 3,476 10,705 10,236 ==================================================== (1) First generation refers to space that has never been occupied under EastGroup's ownership. Capitalized Leasing Costs The Company's leasing costs (principally commissions) are capitalized and included in Other Assets. The costs are amortized over the terms of the associated leases and are included in depreciation and amortization expense. Capitalized leasing costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 were as follows: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, Estimated ---------------------------------------------------- Useful Life 2008 2007 2008 2007 ------------------------------------------------------------------ (In thousands) Development.................................. Lease Life $ 667 827 2,796 2,457 New Tenants.................................. Lease Life 676 500 1,765 1,924 New Tenants (first generation) (1)........... Lease Life - 39 58 204 Renewal Tenants.............................. Lease Life 1,290 611 2,175 1,509 ---------------------------------------------------- Total capitalized leasing costs........ $ 2,633 1,977 6,794 6,094 ==================================================== Amortization of leasing costs (2)............ $ 1,559 1,469 4,396 3,848 ==================================================== (1) First generation refers to space that has never been occupied under EastGroup's ownership. (2) Includes discontinued operations. Discontinued Operations The results of operations, including interest expense (if applicable), for the properties sold or held for sale during the periods reported are shown under Discontinued Operations on the consolidated income statements. The following table presents the components of revenue and expense for the operating properties sold or held for sale during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007. EastGroup sold North Stemmons I and Delp Distribution Center III during the first nine months of 2008, as described below, and Delp Distribution Center I during the fourth quarter of 2007. The Company has reclassified the operations of these entities to Discontinued Operations as shown in the following table. Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, ---------------------------------------------- Discontinued Operations 2008 2007 2008 2007 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (In thousands) Income from real estate operations................................... $ 12 245 276 705 Expenses from real estate operations................................. (2) (74) (75) (217) ---------------------------------------------- Property net operating income from discontinued operations......... 10 171 201 488 Depreciation and amortization........................................ (3) (83) (71) (277) ---------------------------------------------- Income from real estate operations................................... 7 88 130 211 Gain on sales of real estate investments........................... 83 300 2,032 300 ---------------------------------------------- Income from discontinued operations.................................. $ 90 388 2,162 511 ============================================== In May, EastGroup received a condemnation award from the State of Texas for its North Stemmons I property in Dallas. The Company was awarded $4,698,000 as payment for the building and a portion of the land associated with the property, and a gain of $1,949,000 was recognized as a result of this transaction. The Company plans to develop a new business distribution building on the remaining 4.9 acres. In August, EastGroup sold Delp Distribution Center III in Memphis for $635,000 and recognized a gain of $83,000 during the third quarter. A summary of gain on sales of real estate investments for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 is as follows: Date Net Recognized Real Estate Properties Location Size Sold Sales Price Basis Gain --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) North Stemmons I................ Dallas, TX 123,000 SF 05/12/08 $ 4,633 2,684 1,949 Delp Distribution Center III.... Memphis, TN 20,000 SF 08/20/08 589 506 83 ------------------------------------------ $ 5,222 3,190 2,032 ========================================== RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, which provides guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 157 applies whenever other standards require (or permit) assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value but does not expand the use of fair value in any new circumstances. The provisions of Statement 157, with the exception of nonfinancial assets and liabilities, were effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The FASB deferred for one year the Statement's fair value measurement requirements for nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are not required or permitted to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. These provisions will be effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and the Company is in the process of evaluating the impact that the adoption of these provisions will have on the Company's overall financial position and results of operations. As required under SFAS No. 133, the Company accounts for its interest rate swap cash flow hedge on the Tower Automotive mortgage at fair value. The application of Statement 157 to the Company in 2008 had an immaterial impact on the Company's overall financial position and results of operations. In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (Revised 2007), Business Combinations, which retains the fundamental requirements in SFAS No. 141 and requires the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree be measured at fair value as of the acquisition date. In addition, Statement 141(R) requires that any goodwill acquired in the business combination be measured as a residual, and it provides guidance in determining what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. The Statement also requires that acquisition-related costs be recognized as expenses in the periods in which the costs are incurred and the services are received. SFAS No. 141(R) applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008, and may not be applied before that date. Also in December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, which is an amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) No. 51. Statement 160 provides guidance for entities that prepare consolidated financial statements that have an outstanding noncontrolling interest in one or more subsidiaries or that deconsolidate a subsidiary. SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008, and may not be applied before that date. The Company anticipates that the adoption of Statement 160 on January 1, 2009, will have an immaterial impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, which is an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133. SFAS No. 161 requires all entities with derivative instruments to disclose information regarding how and why the entity uses derivative instruments and how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect the entity's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. The Statement is effective prospectively for periods beginning on or after November 15, 2008. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES Net cash provided by operating activities was $69,267,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The primary other sources of cash were from bank borrowings, mortgage note proceeds, proceeds from common stock offerings, proceeds from sales of land and real estate investments, and proceeds from sales of securities. The Company distributed $38,337,000 in common and $1,982,000 in preferred stock dividends during the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Other primary uses of cash were for bank debt repayments, construction and development of properties, purchases of real estate, the redemption of the Company's Series D Preferred Stock, principal payments on mortgage notes payable, capital improvements at various properties, purchases of securities, and advances on mortgage loans receivable. Total debt at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 is detailed below. The Company's bank credit facilities have certain restrictive covenants, and the Company was in compliance with all of its debt covenants at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007. September 30, 2008 December 31, 2007 ------------------------------------------ (In thousands) Mortgage notes payable - fixed rate......... $ 531,132 465,360 Bank notes payable - floating rate.......... 137,527 135,444 ------------------------------------------ Total debt............................... $ 668,659 600,804 ========================================== EastGroup has a four-year, $200 million unsecured revolving credit facility with a group of seven banks that matures in January 2012. The Company customarily uses this line of credit for acquisitions and developments. The interest rate on the facility is based on the LIBOR index and varies according to total liability to total asset value ratios (as defined in the credit agreement), with an annual facility fee of 15 to 20 basis points. The interest rate on each tranche is usually reset on a monthly basis and is currently LIBOR plus 70 basis points with an annual facility fee of 20 basis points. The line of credit can be expanded by $100 million and has an option for a one-year extension. At September 30, 2008, the weighted average interest rate was 4.410% on a balance of $121,000,000. The Company also has a four-year, $25 million unsecured revolving credit facility with PNC Bank, N.A. that matures in January 2012. This credit facility is customarily used for working capital needs. The interest rate on this working cash line is based on the LIBOR index and varies according to total liability to total asset value ratios (as defined in the credit agreement). Under this facility, the Company's current interest rate is LIBOR plus 75 basis points with no annual facility fee. At September 30, 2008, the interest rate was 4.676% on a balance of $16,527,000. As market conditions permit, EastGroup issues equity, including preferred equity, and/or employs fixed-rate, non-recourse first mortgage debt to replace the short-term bank borrowings. During the first quarter of 2008, the Company closed on a $78 million, non-recourse first mortgage loan secured by properties containing 1,571,000 square feet. The loan has a fixed interest rate of 5.50%, a seven-year term and an amortization schedule of 20 years. The proceeds of this note were used to reduce variable rate bank borrowings. During the second quarter of 2008, EastGroup sold 1,198,700 shares of its common stock to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated. The net proceeds were $57.2 million after deducting the underwriting discount and other offering expenses. The Company used the proceeds to repay indebtedness outstanding under its revolving credit facility and for other general corporate purposes. Also during the second quarter, the Company called for redemption all 1,320,000 shares of its 7.95% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock. The redemption took place on July 2, 2008, at a redemption price of $25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends of $.011 per share for the period from July 1, 2008, through and including the redemption date, for an aggregated redemption price of $25.011 per Series D Preferred Share. Original issuance costs of $674,000 and additional redemption costs of $8,000 were charged against net income available to common stockholders in conjunction with the redemption of these shares. In September 2008, EastGroup executed an application on a $59 million, non-recourse first mortgage loan secured by properties containing 1.3 million square feet. The loan is expected to close in December 2008 and will have a fixed interest rate of 5.75%, a five-year term and a 20-year amortization schedule. The proceeds of this mortgage loan will be used to reduce variable rate bank borrowings. Contractual Obligations EastGroup's fixed, non-cancelable obligations as of December 31, 2007, did not materially change during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, except for the increase in bank borrowings and mortgage notes payable discussed above and the purchase of the properties in Charlotte. The Company anticipates that its current cash balance, operating cash flows, borrowings under its lines of credit, proceeds from new mortgage debt and/or proceeds from the issuance of equity instruments will be adequate for (i) operating and administrative expenses, (ii) normal repair and maintenance expenses at its properties, (iii) debt service obligations, (iv) distributions to stockholders, (v) capital improvements, (vi) purchases of properties, (vii) development, and (viii) any other normal business activities of the Company, both in the short- and long-term. INFLATION AND OTHER ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS Most of the Company's leases include scheduled rent increases. Additionally, most of the Company's leases require the tenants to pay their pro rata share of operating expenses, including real estate taxes, insurance and common area maintenance, thereby reducing the Company's exposure to increases in operating expenses resulting from inflation. EastGroup's financial results are affected by general economic conditions in the markets in which the Company's properties are located. An economic recession, or other adverse changes in general or local economic conditions, could result in the inability of some of the Company's existing tenants to make lease payments and may impact our ability to (i) renew leases or re-lease space as leases expire, or (ii) lease development space. In addition, an economic downturn or recession could also lead to an increase in overall vacancy rates or decline in rents we can charge to re-lease properties upon expiration of current leases. In all of these cases, our cash flow would be adversely affected. ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK. The Company is exposed to interest rate changes primarily as a result of its lines of credit and long-term debt maturities. This debt is used to maintain liquidity and fund capital expenditures and expansion of the Company's real estate investment portfolio and operations. The Company's objective for interest rate risk management is to limit the impact of interest rate changes on earnings and cash flows and to lower its overall borrowing costs. To achieve its objectives, the Company borrows at fixed rates but also has several variable rate bank lines as discussed under Liquidity and Capital Resources. The table below presents the principal payments due and weighted average interest rates for both the fixed rate and variable rate debt. Oct-Dec 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Thereafter Total Fair Value ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fixed rate debt (1) (in thousands)..... $ 4,317 47,696 16,477 82,977 60,201 319,464 531,132 532,500(2) Weighted average interest rate......... 6.10% 6.52% 5.89% 6.95% 6.64% 5.51% 5.97% Variable rate debt (in thousands)...... $ - - - - 137,527 - 137,527 137,527 Weighted average interest rate......... - - - - 4.44% - 4.44% (1) The fixed rate debt shown above includes the Tower Automotive mortgage, which has a variable interest rate based on the one-month LIBOR. EastGroup has an interest rate swap agreement that fixes the rate at 4.03% for the 8-year term. Interest and related fees result in an annual effective interest rate of 5.30%. (2) The fair value of the Company's fixed rate debt is estimated based on the quoted market prices for similar issues or by discounting expected cash flows at the rates currently offered to the Company for debt of the same remaining maturities, as advised by the Company's bankers. As the table above incorporates only those exposures that existed as of September 30, 2008, it does not consider those exposures or positions that could arise after that date. The ultimate impact of interest rate fluctuations on the Company will depend on the exposures that arise during subsequent periods. If the weighted average interest rate on the variable rate bank debt as shown above changes by 10% or approximately 44 basis points, interest expense and cash flows would increase or decrease by approximately $605,000 annually. The Company has an interest rate swap agreement to hedge its exposure to the variable interest rate on the Company's $9,365,000 Tower Automotive Center recourse mortgage, which is summarized in the table below. Under the swap agreement, the Company effectively pays a fixed rate of interest over the term of the agreement without the exchange of the underlying notional amount. This swap is designated as a cash flow hedge and is considered to be fully effective in hedging the variable rate risk associated with the Tower mortgage loan. Changes in the fair value of the swap are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss. The Company does not hold or issue this type of derivative contract for trading or speculative purposes. Current Maturity Fair Value Fair Value Type of Hedge Notional Amount Date Reference Rate Fixed Rate at 9/30/08 at 12/31/07 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In thousands) (In thousands) Swap $9,365 12/31/10 1 month LIBOR 4.03% ($126) ($56) FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain statements contained in this report may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will occur in the future, including statements relating to rent and occupancy growth, development activity, the acquisition or sale of properties, general conditions in the geographic areas where the Company operates and the availability of capital, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which the Company cannot predict, including, without limitation: changes in general economic conditions; the extent of tenant defaults or of any early lease terminations; the Company's ability to lease or re-lease space at current or anticipated rents; changes in the supply of and demand for industrial/warehouse properties; increases in interest rate levels; increases in operating costs; the availability of financing; natural disasters and the Company's ability to obtain adequate insurance; changes in governmental regulation, tax rates and similar matters; and other risks associated with the development and acquisition of properties, including risks that development projects may not be completed on schedule, development or operating costs may be greater than anticipated, or that acquisitions may not close as scheduled. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions at the time made, the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will be achieved. The Company assumes no obligation whatsoever to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. See also the Company's reports to be filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES. (i) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of September 30, 2008, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to the Company (including its consolidated subsidiaries) required to be included in the Company's periodic SEC filings. (ii) Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There was no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting during the Company's third fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2008, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting. PART II. OTHER INFORMATION. ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS. There have been no material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in EastGroup's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, except as noted below. For a full description of these risk factors, please refer to Item 1A-Risk Factors, in the 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The following has been added as a risk factor: The current turmoil in the credit markets may have an impact on our business and financial condition that we currently cannot predict. The current turmoil in the credit markets may have an impact on our business and our financial condition. Currently these conditions have not impaired our ability to access credit markets and finance our operations. However, our ability to access the capital markets may be restricted at a time when we would like, or need, to raise financing, which could have an impact on our flexibility to react to changing economic and business conditions. Additionally, the economic situation could have an impact on our lenders or customers, causing them to fail to meet their obligations to us. No assurances can be given that the effects of the current crisis will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. ITEM 6. EXHIBITS. (a) Form 10-Q Exhibits: (10) Material contracts 10.1 Amendment No. 2 to EastGroup Properties, Inc. 2005 Directors Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Form 8-K filed June 3, 2008). (31) Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications (pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) (a) David H. Hoster II, Chief Executive Officer (b) N. Keith McKey, Chief Financial Officer (32) Section 1350 Certifications (pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) (a) David H. Hoster II, Chief Executive Officer (b) N. Keith McKey, Chief Financial Officer SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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. Date: November 5, 2008 EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. By: /s/ BRUCE CORKERN ------------------------------ Bruce Corkern, CPA Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer By: /s/ N. KEITH MCKEY ------------------------------ N. Keith McKey, CPA Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary