Stratus Properties Inc. Reports Third-Quarter and Nine-Month 2009 Results and Updates W Austin Hotel & Residences Development Activities

• Press Release
• Source: Stratus Properties Inc.
• On 4:25 pm EST, Friday November 6, 2009

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Stratus Properties Inc. (NASDAQ: STRS - News):

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HIGHLIGHTS

• On October 21, 2009, Stratus’ joint venture with Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund II, L.P. closed on a $120 million construction loan with Beal Bank Nevada for the W Austin Hotel & Residences project.
• W Austin Hotel & Residences project in downtown Austin, Texas, continues to be on schedule and within budgeted cost of $300 million.
• At September 30, 2009, Stratus had $24.9 million of cash and cash equivalents and $31.8 million in available borrowing capacity under its revolving credit facility.
• As of September 30, 2009, there are 30 Meridian lots in the Circle C community remaining under homebuilder contracts. Future sales of these lots are expected to approximate 24 lots for $1.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2009 and six lots for $0.4 million in the first quarter of 2010.

SUMMARY FINANCIAL RESULTS

Stratus Properties Inc. (NASDAQ: STRS - News) reported a net loss attributable to common stock of $1.6 million, $0.21 per share, for the third quarter of 2009, compared to $0.4 million, $0.06 per share, for the third quarter of 2008. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, Stratus reported a net loss attributable to common stock of $4.7 million, $0.64 per share, compared to $1.9 million, $0.24 per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2008.

Stratus sold one courtyard home at Calera Court, one lot at Verano Drive and 16 lots at its Meridian development in the third quarter of 2009, compared with one courtyard home at Calera Court, three lots at Verano Drive and 48 lots at Meridian in the third quarter of 2008. For the first nine months of 2009, Stratus sold two courtyard homes at Calera Court, one lot at Verano Drive and 39 lots at Meridian, compared with two courtyard homes at Calera Court, three lots at Verano Drive and 125 total lots at Meridian, Deerfield and Wimberly Lane during the first nine months of 2008. Rental income from commercial leasing properties totaled $1.2 million in the third quarters of 2009 and 2008, and $3.3 million for the first nine months of 2009 and 2008. While rental income for the 2009 periods approximated the 2008 periods, rental income from 7500 Rialto was $0.1 million lower in each of the 2009 periods because of higher vacancies, compared to the 2008 periods; however, these 2009 decreases were offset by additional rental income from the new leases in 2009 at Barton Creek Village and 5700 Slaughter. Stratus is actively pursuing tenants to fill the available office space at 7500 Rialto Boulevard. At September 30, 2009, occupancy was 71 percent for the original office building at 7500 Rialto Boulevard and 94 percent for the second building.

W Austin Hotel & Residences. As previously announced, in May 2008, Stratus entered into a joint venture with Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund II, L.P. (Canyon-Johnson) for the development of the W Austin Hotel & Residences in downtown Austin. Stratus, the manager of the project, has an approximate 40 percent interest in the joint venture and Canyon-Johnson has an approximate 60 percent interest in the joint venture. As of September 30, 2009, capital contributions totaled $42.2 million for Stratus and $59.1 million for Canyon-Johnson.

The joint venture originally obtained a $165 million construction loan with Corus Bank N.A. (Corus) to finance project costs after the required capital contributions were made. On June 26, 2009, the loan agreement with Corus was assigned to a subsidiary of Stratus, which is managed by Stratus and Canyon-Johnson, in exchange for a pay down of $250,000 of the outstanding principal balance of $2.1 million. As a result, Corus was no longer the lender and in the second quarter of 2009 Stratus recognized a $0.2 million loss on extinguishment of debt, which includes the write-off of unamortized deferred loan costs in the amount of $2.1 million.

On October 21, 2009, the subsidiary assigned and transferred the construction loan agreement documents to Beal Bank Nevada (Beal Bank). In connection with the assignment, the joint venture executed an amended and restated loan agreement, an amended and restated promissory note and related loan documents with Beal Bank (Beal Bank loan agreement). Pursuant to the Beal Bank loan agreement, the joint venture may borrow up to an aggregate of $120 million to fund the construction, development and marketing costs of the W Austin Hotel & Residences project.

An initial advance under the Beal Bank loan agreement of $3.4 million was made at closing. The next advance is expected to occur in mid-2010 and thereafter advances are expected to be made monthly until the loan is fully funded. As a condition to further funding from the Beal Bank loan agreement, the joint venture must invest at least $180 million. Previously, when Corus was the construction lender, the joint venture was required to invest total equity of $128 million ($53 million from Stratus and $75 million from Canyon-Johnson). As a result of changing construction lenders, $52 million of additional equity is now required. The joint venture is currently pursuing third parties to fund all or a portion of the $52 million. To the extent acceptable third-party or other financing is not secured, the joint venture may be obligated to fund the additional capital necessary to meet the $180 million pre-funding requirement under the Beal Bank loan agreement.

Stratus is a diversified real estate company engaged in the acquisition, development, management, operations and sale of commercial, multi-family and residential real estate properties located primarily in the Austin, Texas area.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements in which we discuss factors we believe may affect our performance in the future. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than historical facts, such as statements regarding proposed real estate sales, commercial leasing activities and development and financing activities at the W Austin Hotel & Residences project. Important factors that might cause future results to differ from those projections include economic and business conditions, the availability of financing, regulatory approvals, environmental regulations and other factors which are described in more detail in Stratus’ 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A copy of this release is available on Stratus’ web site, www.stratusproperties.com.

Stratus Properties Inc.
William H. Armstrong III, 512-478-5788