Ventas Reports Fourth Quarter FFO of $0.40 Per Share

2003 FFO Per Share Increases 13 Percent to $1.54

Ventas Increases First Quarter 2004 Dividend 21.5 Percent to $0.325 Per Share

LOUISVILLE, KY (February 26, 2004) - Ventas, Inc. (NYSE:VTR) ("Ventas" or the "Company") said today that normalized Funds From Operations ("FFO") for the 2003 fourth quarter rose 33 percent to $32.3 million, compared with $24.2 million in the comparable 2002 period. Normalized FFO per diluted share increased 18 percent to $0.40 from $0.34 per diluted share for the comparable 2002 period. In the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2003, the Company had 81.2 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding, compared to 71.2 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding a year earlier.

The quarter benefited from increased rents resulting from Ventas's annual lease escalations, income from the Company's 2002 investments with Trans Healthcare, Inc. ("THI"), decreased interest expense due to lower debt balances and the early pay-off of the United States Settlement.

Normalized FFO per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2003 was $1.54, a 13 percent increase from the year ended December 31, 2002 level of $1.36 per diluted share. Normalized FFO for 2003 grew 29 percent year-over- year, to $123.5 million in 2003 from $95.6 million in 2002.

Normalized FFO for all periods excludes (a) gains on sales of common stock in the Company's primary tenant, Kindred Healthcare, Inc. (Nasdaq:KIND) ("Kindred"), (b) the benefit of a $20.2 million reversal of a previously recorded contingent liability, which was recorded as income in the first quarter of 2003, (c) losses from early extinguishment of debt and (d) a one-time swap breakage expense incurred in connection with the Company's debt refinancing in April 2002.

"In the fourth quarter, Ventas was hitting on all cylinders," Ventas Chairman, President and CEO Debra A. Cafaro said. "Our strategic diversification program moved forward with our announcement of the acquisition of ElderTrust (NYSE:ETT), which closed February 5, 2004. We also completed the sale of ten underperforming facilities to Kindred, generating $85 million in proceeds," she added. "Our shareholders are benefiting from our double-digit FFO per share growth. We will continue to manage the Company to deliver consistent, superior total shareholder return while we broaden the Company's tenant and asset base."

GAAP NET INCOME

After discontinued operations of $61.8 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, Ventas reported fourth quarter 2003 net income of $77.1 million, or $0.95 per diluted share. After discontinued operations of $1.2 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, net income for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2002 was $9.4 million, or $0.13 per diluted share. A breakdown of discontinued operations is included in a schedule attached to this Press Release.

After discontinued operations of $66.0 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, net income for the year ended December 31, 2003 was $162.8 million, or $2.03 per diluted share. Net income for the year ended 2002 was $65.7 million, or $0.93 per diluted share, after discontinued operations of $28.4 million, or $0.40 per diluted share.

DIVIDEND INCREASE

Ventas also said its Board of Directors voted to increase the Company's first quarter 2004 dividend to $0.325 per share, an increase of 21.5 percent from the quarterly dividend of $0.2675 it paid for 2003. The first quarter 2004 dividend is payable on March 25, 2004 to stockholders of record on March 15, 2004.

"We are delighted to begin the year by increasing our dividend by over 21 percent," Cafaro said. "We want to share the benefits of our cash flow growth with our shareholders and at the same time maintain a conservative, secure dividend payout ratio of approximately 75 percent of anticipated 2004 FFO."

    FOURTH QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS AND OTHER RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
     --   Ventas announced the acquisition of ElderTrust for $184 million,
          adding 18 new properties including nine assisted living facilities,
          one independent living facility, five skilled nursing facilities,
          two medical office buildings and one financial building to the
          Company's extensive portfolio.  The acquisition was completed
          February 5, 2004.  At the closing of the transaction, ElderTrust had
          approximately $33.5 million in unrestricted and restricted cash on
          hand, effectively reducing the net purchase price.
     --   Early in 2004, Ventas announced the acquisition of 14 assisted and
          independent living facilities for $115 million that will be leased
          to nationally recognized Brookdale Living Communities, Inc.
          ("Brookdale").  The facilities are located in ten states, contain
          about 2,000 private pay units and have an average occupancy of
          93 percent.  Ventas has closed on seven of the properties, and
          expects to complete the remaining transactions shortly.
     --   Ventas sold 10 underperforming properties to its primary tenant,
          Kindred, for total consideration of $85 million.  The transaction
          resulted in a gain of $54.9 million.  Included in the sale were two
          hospitals and eight skilled nursing facilities.  Proceeds from the
          sale were redeployed into Ventas's strategic diversification
          program, including the acquisition of ElderTrust.
     --   On a pro forma basis for 2004, assuming the completion of the
          ElderTrust and Brookdale transactions on January 1, 2004, Kindred
          rent would represent 83 percent of the Company's expected revenue in
          2004.
     --   At December 31, 2003, the Company's net debt: EBITDA ratio stood at
          2.8x, as a result of the Company's consistent efforts to strengthen
          its balance sheet.
     --   Each of Moody's and Standard and Poor's rating agencies raised its
          outlook for Ventas to positive in the fourth quarter.
     --   The 227 skilled nursing facilities and hospitals leased to Kindred
          produced EBITDAR to rent coverage of 1.7 times (after management
          fees) for the trailing twelve month period ended September 30, 2003
          (the latest date available).
     --   On October 1, 2003, Medicare reimbursement for skilled nursing
          facilities increased by 6.26 percent.
     --   Ventas reduced the notional amount of its swap to $330 million from
          $450 million in December 2003.
     --   Ventas finished 2003 with Total Shareholder Return ("TSR") of
          106 percent, and 70 percent compound annual TSR for the three years
          ended December 31, 2003, making it the top performing Real Estate
          Investment Trust ("REIT") in the Morgan Stanley REIT Index for both
          periods.
     --   The Company opened its Distribution Reinvestment and Stock Purchase
          Plan ("DRIP") to permit shareholders to invest in Ventas stock
          directly and through dividend reinvestment, with a two percent
          discount.
     --   Consistent with the Company's focus on sound corporate governance,
          the Company terminated its Shareholders Rights Plan (which had an
          anti-takeover effect) in 2003.

FOURTH QUARTER 2003 RESULTS

Revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2003 was $50.5 million, of which $47.4 million (or 93.7 percent) resulted from leases with Kindred. Fourth quarter expenses totaled $35.3 million, and included $9.9 million of depreciation expense, $15.9 million of interest expense on debt financing and $5.2 million loss on swap breakage. General, administrative and professional expenses for the 2003 fourth quarter totaled $3.9 million.

2003 RESULTS

Revenue for 2003 was $205.0 million, of which $183.2 million (or 89.4 percent) resulted from leases with Kindred. Expenses of $108.3 million for the year were reduced by the $20.2 million reversal of a contingent liability and included $39.7 million of depreciation expense, $61.8 million of interest expense and $4.9 million of interest expense on the United States Settlement, which was paid in full in June 2003 without prepayment penalty or premium. General and administrative and professional expenses for the year totaled $15.2 million.

VENTAS AFFIRMS 2004 NORMALIZED FFO GUIDANCE

Ventas affirmed its 2004 normalized FFO guidance of between $1.70 and $1.74 per diluted share. If achieved, these results would represent approximately 12 percent per share growth in normalized FFO in 2004. The Company's guidance includes the impact of the recently completed merger with ElderTrust and the acquisition and leasing of the remaining seven Brookdale properties that are currently under contract for purchase. There can be no assurance that the remaining Brookdale transactions will occur or when they will occur. Any failure or delay in completing these transactions will reduce the amount of 2004 FFO Ventas expects to achieve. Consistent with its practice, Ventas's FFO guidance (and related GAAP earnings projections) for 2004 exclude the impact of additional acquisitions and divestitures, gains and losses on the sales of assets, and capital transactions. Its guidance also excludes the future impact of (a) any expense the Company records for non-cash "swap ineffectiveness," and (b) any expenses related to the write-off of unamortized deferred financing fees or additional costs, expenses or premiums incurred as a result of early debt retirement.

Reconciliation of the Company's normalized FFO guidance to the Company's projected GAAP earnings is provided on a schedule attached to this Press Release. The Company may from time to time update its publicly announced FFO guidance, but it is not obligated to do so.

ASSUMPTIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS

The declaration and payment of future dividends remains subject to the oversight and approval of the Company's Board of Directors and is generally reviewed quarterly. The Company may from time to time update its publicly announced expectations regarding future dividends but it is not obligated to do so.

The Company's FFO guidance and expectation regarding future dividends are based on a number of assumptions, which are subject to change and many of which are outside the control of the Company. If actual results vary from these assumptions, the Company's expectations may change. There can be no assurance that the Company will achieve the projected FFO results or the timing or amount of future dividends.

FOURTH QUARTER CONFERENCE CALL

Ventas will hold a conference call to discuss this earnings release on Friday morning, February 27, 2004, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (9:00 a.m. Central Time). The conference call is being web cast by CCBN and can be accessed at the Ventas website at www.ventasreit.com or www.fulldisclosure.com. An online replay of the web cast will be available at approximately 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time and will be archived for thirty (30) days.

Ventas, Inc. is a healthcare real estate investment trust that owns 42 hospitals, 199 nursing facilities, 18 senior housing facilities and 11 other facilities in 38 states. The Company also has investments in 25 additional healthcare and senior housing facilities. More information about Ventas can be found on its website at www.ventasreit.com.

This Press Release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements regarding Ventas, Inc.'s ("Ventas" or the "Company") and its subsidiaries' expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, funds from operations, dividends and dividend plans, financing plans, business strategy, budgets, projected costs, capital expenditures, competitive positions, growth opportunities, expected lease income, continued qualification as a real estate investment trust ("REIT"), plans and objectives of management for future operations and statements that include words such as "anticipate," "if," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "could," "should," "will" and other similar expressions are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and security holders must recognize that actual results may differ from the Company's expectations. The Company does not undertake a duty to update such forward-looking statements.

Actual future results and trends for the Company may differ materially depending on a variety of factors discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Factors that may affect the plans or results of the Company include, without limitation, (a) the ability and willingness of Kindred Healthcare, Inc. ("Kindred") and certain of its affiliates to continue to meet and/or perform their obligations under their contractual arrangements with the Company and the Company's subsidiaries, including without limitation the lease agreements and various agreements entered into by the Company and Kindred at the time of the Company's spin off of Kindred on May 1, 1998 (the "1998 Spin Off"), as such agreements may have been amended and restated in connection with Kindred's emergence from bankruptcy on April 20, 2001, (b) the ability and willingness of Kindred to continue to meet and/or perform its obligation to indemnify and defend the Company for all litigation and other claims relating to the healthcare operations and other assets and liabilities transferred to Kindred in the 1998 Spin Off, (c) the ability of Kindred and the Company's other operators to maintain the financial strength and liquidity necessary to satisfy their respective obligations and duties under the leases and other agreements with the Company, and their existing credit agreements, (d) the Company's success in implementing its business strategy and the Company's ability to identify and consummate diversifying acquisitions or investments, (e) the nature and extent of future competition, (f) the extent of future healthcare reform and regulation, including cost containment measures and changes in reimbursement policies, procedures and rates, (g) increases in the cost of borrowing for the Company, (h) the ability of the Company's operators to deliver high quality care and to attract patients, (i) the results of litigation affecting the Company, (j) changes in general economic conditions and/or economic conditions in the markets in which the Company may, from time to time, compete, (k) the ability of the Company to pay down, refinance, restructure, and/or extend its indebtedness as it becomes due, (l) the movement of interest rates and the resulting impact on the value of and the accounting for the Company's interest rate swap agreement, (m) the ability and willingness of the Company to maintain its qualification as a REIT due to economic, market, legal, tax or other considerations, (n) final determination of the Company's taxable net income for the year ending December 31, 2003, (o) the ability and willingness of the Company's tenants to renew their leases with the Company upon expiration of the leases and the Company's ability to relet its properties on the same or better terms in the event such leases expire and are not renewed by the existing tenants, and (p) the impact on the liquidity, financial condition and results of operations of Kindred and the Company's other operators resulting from increased operating costs and uninsured liabilities for professional liability claims, and the ability of Kindred and the Company's other operators to accurately estimate the magnitude of such liabilities. Many of such factors are beyond the control of the Company and its management.

                         CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                (In thousands)

                                           December 31,     December 31,
                                               2003             2002

    Assets
    Real estate investments:
      Land                                   $104,300         $119,559
      Building and improvements               985,881        1,101,847
                                            1,090,181        1,221,406
      Accumulated depreciation               (408,891)        (409,132)
        Total net real estate property        681,290          812,274
      Loan receivable, net                     16,455           16,528
        Total net real estate investments     697,745          828,802
    Cash and cash equivalents                  82,104            2,455
    Restricted cash                             7,575           19,953
    Investment in Kindred common stock              -           16,713
    Deferred financing costs, net              13,465           17,704
    Notes receivable from employees,
     former employees and accrued interest      3,772            4,139
    Other assets                                8,189            6,014
        Total assets                         $812,850         $895,780
    Liabilities and stockholders'
     equity (deficit)
    Liabilities:
      Senior Notes payable and other debt    $640,562         $707,709
      United States Settlement                      -           43,992
      Securities settlement due
       (purchase of Senior Notes)                   -           37,366
      Deferred revenue                         15,308           18,883
      Interest rate swap agreements            27,868           47,672
      Accrued dividend                         21,614           16,596
      Accrued interest                          5,821            7,237
      Accounts payable and other
       accrued liabilities                     14,562           25,402
      Other liabilities - disputed
       refunds and accumulated interest           406           14,156
      Deferred income taxes                    30,394           30,394
        Total liabilities                     756,535          949,407

    Commitments and contingencies

    Stockholders' equity (deficit):
      Preferred stock, unissued                     -                -
      Common stock                             20,652           20,652
      Capital in excess of par value          162,466          191,779
      Unearned compensation
       on restricted stock                       (748)            (793)
      Accumulated other comprehensive loss    (18,294)         (26,116)
      Retained earnings (deficit)             (56,790)        (134,279)
                                              107,286           51,243
      Treasury stock                          (50,971)        (104,870)
        Total stockholders' equity (deficit)   56,315          (53,627)

        Total liabilities and
         stockholders' equity (deficit)      $812,850         $895,780


                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

             For the Years Ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001
                   (In thousands, except per share amounts)

                                                2003              2002
    Revenues:
      Rental income                          $191,232         $175,950
      Interest income from loan receivable      3,036              995
      Gain on sale of Kindred common stock      9,039            5,014
      Interest and other income                 1,696            1,178
        Total revenues                        205,003          183,137
    Expenses:
      General and administrative               12,724            9,763
      Professional fees                         2,434            3,150
      Amortization of restricted stock grants   1,274            1,853
      Depreciation                             39,720           38,459
      Net loss on swap breakage                 5,168            5,407
      Swap ineffectiveness                        296            1,850
      Loss on extinguishment of debt               84           11,077
      Interest                                 61,790           71,027
      Interest on United States Settlement      4,943            5,461
      Reversal of contingent liability        (20,164)               -
        Total expenses                        108,269          148,047
    Income before provision (benefit)
     for income taxes, gain on disposal
     of real estate assets and
     discontinued operations                   96,734           35,090
    Provision (benefit) for income taxes            -           (2,200)
    Income before gain on disposal of
     real estate assets and
     discontinued operations                   96,734           37,290
    Net gain on real estate disposals               -               64
    Income before discontinued operations      96,734           37,354
    Discontinued operations (including
     gain/loss on sale of assets)              66,019           28,352
    Net income                               $162,753          $65,706
    Earnings per common share:
      Basic:
        Income before discontinued operations   $1.22            $0.54
        Net income                              $2.05            $0.95
      Diluted:
        Income before discontinued operations   $1.21            $0.53
        Net income                              $2.03            $0.93

    Weighted average number of
     shares outstanding, basic                 79,340           69,336
    Weighted average number of
     shares outstanding, diluted               80,094           70,290

    Dividend declared per common share          $1.07            $0.95


                    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                For the Years Ended December 31, 2003 and 2002
                                (In thousands)

                                                2003             2002
    Cash flows from operating activities:
      Net income                             $162,753          $65,706
      Adjustments to reconcile net income
       to net cash provided by
       operating activities:
        Depreciation (including amounts
         in discontinued operations)           41,943           42,107
        Amortization of deferred
         financing costs                        4,095            3,706
        Amortization of restricted
         stock grants                           1,274            1,853
        Reversal of contingent liability      (20,164)               -
        Normalized rents                         (108)            (188)
        Gain on sale of assets (including
         amounts in discontinued operations)  (60,820)         (28,528)
        Loss on impairment of assets
         (included in discontinued operations)    845                -
        Loss on extinguishment of debt             84           11,077
        Amortization of deferred revenue       (3,707)          (2,711)
        Net loss on swap breakage               5,168            5,407
        Swap ineffectiveness                      296            1,850
        Other                                    (508)             174
      Changes in operating assets
       and liabilities:
        Decrease in restricted cash            12,378              820
        Increase in accounts receivable
         and other assets                      (1,892)          (1,338)
        Increase (decrease) in accounts
         payable and accrued and
         other liabilities                     (4,271)          16,450
          Net cash provided by
           operating activities               137,366          116,385
    Cash flows from investing activities:
      Purchase of furniture and equipment        (258)            (308)
      Investment in real estate property            -          (53,000)
      Investment in loan receivable                 -          (64,931)
      Proceeds from sale of loan
       receivable, net                              -           49,033
      Sale of real estate properties          139,164           28,620
      Proceeds from sale of Kindred
       Healthcare, Inc. common stock           20,223            6,950
      Proceeds from loan receivable               205                -
      Repayment (issuance) of notes
       receivable from employees                  367             (504)
          Net cash provided by (used in)
           investing activities               159,701          (34,140)
    Cash flows from financing activities:
      Net change in borrowings under
       revolving line of credit               (59,900)        (101,301)
      Proceeds from debt                            -          620,300
      Purchase of senior notes                (37,366)               -
      Repayment of debt                        (7,247)         (18,590)
      Repayment of debt through refinancing         -         (607,106)
      Payment of swap breakage fee             (8,575)         (12,837)
      Payment of deferred financing costs         (40)         (15,127)
      Payment on the United
       States Settlement                      (46,647)         (10,755)
      Issuance of common stock                 22,604           97,155
      Cash distribution to stockholders       (80,247)         (50,125)
          Net cash used in
           financing activities              (217,418)         (98,386)

    Net increase (decrease) in cash
     and cash equivalents                      79,649          (16,141)
    Cash and cash equivalents
     at beginning of year                       2,455           18,596

    Cash and cash equivalents
     at end of year                           $82,104           $2,455

    Supplemental disclosure of
     cash flow information:
      Interest paid including swap
       payments and receipts                  $70,342          $60,790
    Supplemental disclosure of
     non cash activity:
      Dividend distribution of
       Kindred common stock                        $-          $17,086


                              SUPPLEMENTAL DATA

Funds from Operations

FFO and Normalized FFO for the four quarters and year ended December 31, 2003 (in thousands, except per share amounts):

                    First       Second      Third       Fourth       Year

    Net income      $37,288      $16,129     $32,212     $77,124   $162,753
    Adjustments:
     Depreciation
      on real
      estate
      assets          9,864        9,861       9,878       9,833     39,436
    Other items:
     Discontinued
      operations:
       Real estate
        depreciation -
        discontinued    873          873         286         191      2,223
       (Gain) loss on
        sale of real
        estate            -        5,254      (2,065)    (54,970)   (51,781)
    FFO              48,025       32,117      40,311      32,178    152,631

    Realized gain on
     sale of Kindred
     common stock         -         (922)     (8,117)          -     (9,039)
    Reversal of
     contingent
     liability      (20,164)           -           -           -    (20,164)
    Loss on
     extinguishment
     of debt              -            -           -          84         84
    Normalized
     FFO            $27,861      $31,195     $32,194     $32,262   $123,512

    Per diluted
     share:
      Net income      $0.47        $0.20       $0.40       $0.95      $2.03
      Adjustments:
       Depreciation
       on real
       estate
       assets          0.12         0.12        0.12        0.12       0.49
      Other items:
        Discontinued
         operations:
         Real estate
         depreciation -
         discontinued  0.02         0.01        0.00        0.00       0.03
        (Gain) loss
         on sale of
         real estate      -         0.07       (0.02)      (0.67)     (0.64)
    FFO                0.61         0.40        0.50        0.40       1.91

    Realized gain
     on sale of
     Kindred common
     stock                -        (0.01)      (0.10)          -      (0.11)
    Reversal of
     contingent
     liability        (0.26)           -           -           -      (0.26)
    Loss on
     extinguishment
     of debt              -            -           -        0.00       0.00
    Normalized FFO    $0.35        $0.39       $0.40       $0.40      $1.54


     Projected FFO per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2004:

                                          2004 Projected
    Per diluted share:
    Net income                        $1.14     -    $1.18
    Adjustments:
      Depreciation on real
       estate assets                   0.56     -     0.56
    FFO                               $1.70     -    $1.74

    Adjustments:                          -              -
    Normalized FFO                    $1.70     -    $1.74


Historical cost accounting for real estate assets implicitly assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. Since real estate values instead have historically risen or fallen with market conditions, many industry investors have considered presentations of operating results for real estate companies that use historical cost accounting to be insufficient by themselves. To overcome this problem, the Company considers FFO an appropriate measure of performance of an equity REIT and uses the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ("NAREIT") definition of FFO. NAREIT defines FFO as net income (computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles), excluding gains (or losses) from sales of property, plus depreciation and amortization and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. Adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures will be calculated to reflect funds from operations on the same basis.

FFO presented herein is not necessarily comparable to FFO presented by other real estate companies due to the fact that not all real estate companies use the same definition. FFO should not be considered as an alternative to net income (determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP")), as an indicator of the Company's financial performance, as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP), as a measure of the Company's liquidity, nor is FFO necessarily indicative of sufficient cash flow to fund all of the Company's needs. The Company believes that in order to facilitate a clear understanding of the consolidated historical operating results of the Company, FFO should be examined in conjunction with net income as presented elsewhere in this Press Release.

Net Debt to EBITDA

Earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") and Normalized EBITDA for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 (dollars in thousands):

                                           Year Ended          Year Ended
                                       December 31, 2003   December 31, 2002
    Net income                             $162,753             $65,706
    Add Back:
      Interest                               61,790              71,027
      Interest on United States Settlement    4,943               5,461
      Depreciation                           39,720              38,459
      Swap ineffectiveness                      296               1,850
      Amortization of restricted
       stock grants                           1,274               1,853
      Benefit for income taxes                    -              (2,200)
      Net loss on swap breakage               5,168               5,407
      Loss on extinguishment of debt             84              11,077
      Discontinued Operations add back:
        Depreciation                          2,223               3,648
        Interest                              3,075               5,732
    EBITDA                                  281,326             208,020
    Adjustments:
      Gain on sale of Kindred
       common stock                          (9,039)             (5,014)
      Reversal of contingent liability      (20,164)                  -
      Discontinued operations:
        (Gain) loss on sale of
         real estate                        (51,781)            (23,450)
        Loss on impairment of asset             845                   -
    Normalized EBITDA                      $201,187            $179,556

    Debt                                   $640,562            $707,709
      Kindred common stock                        -             (16,713)
      Cash                                  (82,104)             (2,455)
    Net debt                               $558,458            $688,541

    Net debt to EBITDA                          2.8x                3.8x


The Company considers EBITDA a profitability measure which indicates the Company's ability to service debt. Normalized EBITDA excludes income and expense items that are nonrecurring in the Company's core business. The Company considers the Net Debt to EBITDA ratio a useful measure to evaluate the Company's ability to pay its indebtedness. EBITDA presented herein is not necessarily comparable to EBITDA presented by other companies due to the fact that not all companies use the same definition. EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income (determined in accordance with GAAP), as an indicator of the Company's financial performance, as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP), as a measure of the Company's liquidity, nor is EBITDA necessarily indicative of sufficient cash flow to fund all of the Company's needs. The Company believes that in order to facilitate a clear understanding of the consolidated historical operating results of the Company, EBITDA should be examined in conjunction with net income as presented elsewhere in this Press Release.

                                 Ventas, Inc.
                     2003 QUARTERLY STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                       ($000, except per share amounts)

                        First       Second      Third     Fourth      Year
    Revenues:
      Rental income    $45,764     $46,705    $49,355   $49,408   $191,232
      Interest income
       from loan
       receivable          747         758        766       765      3,036
      Gain on sale of
       Kindred common
       stock                 -         922      8,117         -      9,039
      Interest and
       other income        492         553        280       371      1,696
        Total
         revenues       47,003      48,938     58,518    50,544    205,003

    Expenses:
      General and
       administrative    3,140       3,080      3,136     3,368     12,724
      Professional fees    760         702        416       556      2,434
      Amortization of
       restricted stock
       grants              291         310        309       364      1,274
      Depreciation       9,928       9,925      9,952     9,915     39,720
      Net loss on
       swap breakage         -           -          -     5,168      5,168
      Swap
       ineffectiveness       -         369          -       (73)       296
      Loss on
       extinguishment
       of debt               -           -          -        84         84
      Interest          15,932      15,662     14,313    15,883     61,790
      Interest on
       United States
       Settlement        1,182       3,761          -         -      4,943
      Reversal of
       contingent
       liability       (20,164)          -          -         -    (20,164)
        Total
         expenses       11,069      33,809     28,126    35,265    108,269
    Income before
     discontinued
     operations         35,934      15,129     30,392    15,279     96,734
    Discontinued
     operations          1,354       1,000      1,820    61,845     66,019
    Net income         $37,288     $16,129    $32,212   $77,124   $162,753

    Weighted average
     number of shares
     outstanding,
     basic              78,834      78,935     79,389    80,187     79,340
    Weighted average
     number of shares
     outstanding,
     diluted            79,296      79,575     80,258    81,232     80,094
    Earnings per
     common share:
      Basic:
        Income before
         discontinued
         operations      $0.46       $0.19      $0.38     $0.19      $1.22
        Discontinued
         operations       0.01        0.01       0.03      0.77       0.83
          Net income     $0.47       $0.20      $0.41     $0.96      $2.05
      Diluted:
        Income before
         discontinued
         operations      $0.45       $0.19      $0.38     $0.19      $1.21
        Discontinued
         operations       0.02        0.01       0.02      0.76       0.82
          Net income     $0.47       $0.20      $0.40     $0.95      $2.03
    Discontinued
     Operations
      Revenues          $3,420      $4,195     $1,261    $1,389    $10,265
      Interest and
       other income          -       4,116          -     6,000     10,116
      Interest           1,193       1,184        375       323      3,075
      Depreciation         873         873        286       191      2,223
      Loss on
       impairment of
       asset held
       for sale              -           -        845         -        845
      Income before
       gain on sale
       of real estate    1,354       6,254       (245)    6,875     14,238
      Gain on sale
       of real estate        -      (5,254)     2,065    54,970     51,781
        Discontinued
         operations     $1,354      $1,000     $1,820   $61,845    $66,019


                                 Ventas, Inc.
                     2002 QUARTERLY STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                   (In thousands, except per share amounts)

                        First       Second      Third     Fourth      Year
    Revenues:
      Rental Income    $42,786     $43,759    $44,221   $45,184   $175,950
      Interest income
       from loan
       receivable            -           -          -       995        995
      Gain on sale of
       Kindred common
       stock                 -       3,822      1,192         -      5,014
      Interest and
       other income        342         373        237       226      1,178
        Total
         revenues       43,128      47,954     45,650    46,405    183,137

    Expenses:
      General and
       administrative    2,311       2,601      2,410     2,441      9,763
      Professional fees    565         936        900       749      3,150
      Amortization of
       restricted stock
       grants              422         715        354       362      1,853
      Depreciation       9,518       9,527      9,527     9,887     38,459
      Loss on
       extinguishment
       of debt               -       6,919          -     4,158     11,077
      Net loss on swap
       breakage              -       5,407          -         -      5,407
      Swap
       ineffectiveness       -         180        118     1,552      1,850
      Interest          18,331      17,594     17,322    17,780     71,027
      Interest on
       United States
       Settlement        1,471       1,402      1,331     1,257      5,461
        Total
         expenses       32,618      45,281     31,962    38,186    148,047
    Income before
     benefit for
     income taxes,
     gain on disposal
     of real estate
     assets and
     discontinued
     operations         10,510       2,673     13,688     8,219     35,090
    Benefit for
     income taxes            -           -     (2,200)        -     (2,200)
    Income before
     gain on disposal
     of real estate
     assets and
     discontinued
     operations         10,510       2,673     15,888     8,219     37,290
    Net gain on
     real estate
     disposals               -           -          -        64         64
    Income before
     discontinued
     operations         10,510       2,673     15,888     8,283     37,354
    Discontinued
     operations          2,191      23,795      1,205     1,161     28,352
    Net income         $12,701     $26,468    $17,093    $9,444    $65,706

    Weighted average
     number of shares
     outstanding,
     basic              68,698      68,850     69,098    70,637     69,336
    Weighted average
     number of shares
     outstanding,
     diluted            69,844      70,002     70,047    71,204     70,290
    Earnings per
     common share:
      Basic:
        Income before
         discontinued
         operations      $0.15       $0.04      $0.23     $0.12      $0.54
        Discontinued
         operations       0.03        0.34       0.02      0.01       0.41
          Net income     $0.18       $0.38      $0.25     $0.13      $0.95
      Diluted:
        Income before
         discontinued
         operations      $0.15       $0.04      $0.23     $0.12      $0.53
        Discontinued
         operations       0.03        0.34       0.01      0.01       0.40
          Net income     $0.18       $0.38      $0.24     $0.13      $0.93
    Discontinued
     Operations
      Revenues          $3,611      $3,812     $3,429    $3,430    $14,282
      Interest           1,529       1,485      1,337     1,381      5,732
      Depreciation         948         925        887       888      3,648
      Income before
       gain on sale
       of real estate    1,134       1,402      1,205     1,161      4,902
      Gain on sale
       of real estate    1,057      22,393          -         -     23,450
        Discontinued
         operations     $2,191     $23,795     $1,205    $1,161    $28,352


Portfolio of Properties

The following information provides an overview of the Company's portfolio of healthcare properties as of and for the year ended December 31, 2003, excluding discontinued operations ($'s in thousands):

                     As of and for the Year Ended December 31, 2003 (1)
                                                        Percent
       Portfolio     # of        # of                   of Rental      # of
        by Type   Properties     Beds       Revenue       Revenue     States
    Healthcare
     Property
    Skilled Nursing
     Facilities       194       24,399     $124,628         65%          30
    Hospitals          42        3,629       65,493         34%          19
    Other Facilities    9          181        1,111          1%           2
      Total           245       28,209     $191,232        100%          37
    Other Real Estate
     Investments
    Loan Receivable    25        1,983       $3,036

  • (1) The information presented above does not give effect to the consummation of the ElderTrust merger or the Brookdale acquisitions.

    Kindred Coverage Ratios

    The following is based on data provided by Kindred to the Company or obtained from Kindred's public filings. This information reflects Kindred's EBITDAR coverage by Master Lease after management fees and excluding the 26 facilities sold to Kindred in 2003:

                              TTM (1)
                Master        EBITDAR
                 Lease      Coverage (2)
                   1             2.0
                   2             1.9
                   3             1.4
                   4             1.5
                   5             1.3
               Portfolio         1.7
    
    
    • (1) Trailing Twelve Months EBITDAR ended September 30, 2003 (the latest available data provided by Kindred) to the sum of (a) the Company's Trailing Twelve Months cash rental revenue, plus (b) the $8.6 million in annual rental revenue added by the June 30, 2003 Master Lease amendments.
    • (2) Coverage reflects the ratio of Kindred's EBITDAR to rent. EBITDAR is defined as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and rent but after deducting a 5 percent management fee. EBITDAR is adjusted by $4.4 million in order to normalize certain of Kindred's professional liability insurance expenses.
         Scheduled Maturities of Borrowing Arrangements
         The Company's indebtedness has the following maturities (in thousands):
    
         2004          $3,412
         2005           3,690
         2006         210,122
         2007          57,300
         2008               -
         Thereafter   366,038
           Total     $640,562
    

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