Ventas Third Quarter Normalized FFO Rises 24 Percent to $39.8 Million; Per Share Normalized FFO Increases 18 Percent to $0.47 Per Share

Company Updates 2004 Normalized FFO Guidance to $1.78 to $1.80 Per Share

Issues 2005 Normalized FFO Guidance of $1.89 to $1.93 Per Share

LOUISVILLE, KY (October 27, 2004) - Ventas, Inc. (NYSE:VTR) ("Ventas" or the "Company") said today that third quarter 2004 normalized Funds from Operations ("FFO") rose 24 percent to $39.8 million, compared with $32.2 million in the third quarter 2003. Normalized FFO per diluted share in the third quarter 2004 increased 18 percent to $0.47 from $0.40 per diluted share for the comparable 2003 period. In the third quarter ended September 30, 2004, the Company had 84.9 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding, compared to 80.3 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding a year earlier.

Normalized FFO for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 was $111.6 million, or $1.33 per diluted share, a 22 percent increase from $91.3 million, or $1.14 per diluted share, for the comparable 2003 period.

Normalized FFO for all periods excludes the benefit of a $20.2 million reversal of a previously recorded contingent liability, which increased operating income in the first quarter of 2003, an $8.1 million and a $9.0 million gain on sales of common stock of the Company's primary tenant, Kindred Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:KND) ("Kindred"), which the Company realized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, respectively, and a $1.4 million loss on extinguishment of debt recognized during the third quarter of 2004 due to the Company's refinancing of its credit facility.

The third quarter and first nine months of 2004 benefited from the Company's recent acquisition activity and increased rent from its master lease agreements with Kindred.

"Our shareholders will benefit from another quarter of excellent growth. Normalized FFO rose 18 percent per share and we improved our future earnings power by completing two important capital markets transactions," Chairman, President and CEO Debra A. Cafaro said. "With our new bank facility and senior note offering completed on attractive terms, Ventas has a strong platform to support its further investment in healthcare and senior housing assets and enhance its ability to create long-term value for shareholders."

GAAP NET INCOME

Ventas reported third quarter 2004 net income of $25.3 million, or $0.30 per diluted share. In the third quarter of 2003, Ventas reported net income of $32.2 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, after discontinued operations of $1.8 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, related to the sale of 27 facilities.

Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 was $74.2 million, or $0.88 per diluted share, compared with net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 of $85.6 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, after discontinued operations of $4.2 million, or $0.05 per diluted share.

    THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS AND OTHER RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
    -- Two of Ventas's wholly owned subsidiaries issued $125 million of
       6-5/8 percent unsecured senior notes, maturing on October 15, 2014,
       locking in the Company's long-term debt costs and giving it greater
       capacity to continue its growth and diversification plan. Proceeds were
       used to pay down borrowings under the Company's revolving credit
       facility.
    -- Ventas closed its new $300 million secured revolving credit facility
       initially priced at 125 basis points over LIBOR, significantly better
       than its previous revolving credit facility which was initially priced
       at 275 basis points over LIBOR.  The improvement reflects upgrades in
       the Company's credit ratings, the success of its diversification
       program, increased cash flows and profits, and lower leverage.  Ventas
       currently has $36.0 million drawn under this facility.
    -- Ventas entered into a sale/leaseback transaction with Summerville
       Senior Living, Inc. on two assisted living facilities located in Ohio
       and Connecticut containing 166 units.  The purchase price was
       $26.8 million, and cash rent on these investments approximates
       9.15 percent, increasing annually by approximately 2.5 percent over the
       term of the lease.
    -- Ventas also invested $15.7 million in the acquisition of five medical
       office buildings (MOBs), one in Texas and four in Florida. The MOBs are
       projected to produce a yield in excess of 9 percent.  One of these
       assets was acquired on October 7, 2004.
    -- With the completed acquisitions, annualized expected rent from Kindred
       represents approximately 79 percent of the Company's annualized
       expected revenue, assuming a full quarter effect of all acquisitions.
       Annualized rent from market rate, non-government reimbursed assets in
       the Company's portfolio represents 14 percent of the Company's
       annualized expected revenue, on the same basis.  These assets include
       independent living facilities, assisted living facilities and
       medical/office buildings.
    -- In addition, assets leased to Kindred now represent 68 percent of the
       Company's total assets, measured on a gross book value basis.
    -- Ventas said its acquisition pipeline remains active, with approximately
       $100 million of additional senior housing and healthcare assets under
       contract and/or nonbinding letters of intent.  The anticipated yield on
       these investments is at least 9 percent.  While the Company expects
       these acquisitions to close, there can be no assurances that these
       transactions will be completed, or if they are completed, when they
       might occur.
    -- The Company maintained a strong balance sheet at September 30, 2004,
       with a third quarter pro forma annualized net debt-to-EBITDA ratio of
       3.7 times.
    -- Ventas appointed Christopher T. Hannon, Senior Vice President and Chief
       Financial Officer of Province Healthcare Company (NYSE:PRV), to its
       Board of Directors, where he will serve on the Company's Audit and
       Compliance Committee.  Hannon's election underscores Ventas's ongoing
       commitment to an independent, experienced Board of Directors and best
       practices in corporate governance.
    -- The 227 skilled nursing facilities and hospitals leased by the Company
       to its primary tenant, Kindred, produced EBITDAR to rent coverage of
       1.7 times (after management fees) for the trailing twelve month period
       ended June 30, 2004 (the latest date available).  Further information
       detailing these rent coverages is contained on a schedule attached to
       this Press Release.
    -- Ventas obtained a disbursement of $750,000 from its joint tax escrow
       with Kindred, which contains proceeds of various refunds for the
       pre-1999 tax periods.

THIRD QUARTER 2004 RESULTS

Rental revenue for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 was $60.7 million, of which $49.0 million (or 80.7 percent) resulted from leases with Kindred. Third quarter expenses totaled $36.3 million, and included $13.3 million of depreciation expense and $16.9 million of interest expense. General and administrative and professional expenses for the 2004 third quarter totaled $4.0 million. Property level operating expenses for the period were $0.4 million.

NINE MONTH 2004 RESULTS

Rental revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 was $172.6 million, of which $144.8 million (or 83.9 percent) resulted from leases with Kindred. Expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 totaled $101.4 million and included $36.2 million of depreciation expense, $49.3 million of interest expense and $12.8 million of general and administrative and professional expenses. Property level operating expenses for the period were $0.9 million.

VENTAS UPDATES 2004 NORMALIZED FFO GUIDANCE AND ISSUES 2005 GUIDANCE

Ventas also stated that it expects 2004 normalized FFO to be between $1.78 and $1.80 per diluted share, updated from the previous guidance of $1.75 to $1.79 per diluted share.

The Company also said it expects to achieve 2005 normalized FFO of between $1.89 and $1.93 per diluted share.

The Company's normalized FFO guidance assumes that all of the Company's tenants and borrowers continue to meet all of their obligations to the Company and that the Company closes all acquisitions currently subject to contract and/or non-binding letters of intent by March 31, 2005. There can be no assurance that these transactions will occur or when they will occur. Any failure or delay in completing these transactions could reduce the amount of 2004 and 2005 FFO that Ventas actually achieves.

In addition to the previously stated assumptions, the Company's normalized FFO guidance (and related GAAP earnings projections) for all periods exclude gains and losses on the sales of assets, and the impact of additional, unannounced future acquisitions, divestitures 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 asset impairment, the write-off of unamortized deferred financing fees or additional costs, expenses or premiums incurred as a result of early debt retirement.

The Company's normalized FFO guidance is based on a number of other 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 these results. 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 normalized FFO guidance, but it is not obligated to do so.

THIRD QUARTER CONFERENCE CALL

Ventas will hold a conference call to discuss this earnings release on Thursday, October 28, 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 http://www.ventasreit.com or http://www.fulldisclosure.com . An online replay of the web cast will be available at approximately 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time and will be archived for thirty (30) days.

Ventas, Inc. is a leading healthcare real estate investment trust that owns healthcare and senior housing assets in 39 states. Its properties include 42 hospitals, 201 skilled nursing facilities, 29 assisted and independent living facilities, 8 medical/office buildings and 8 other healthcare assets. More information about Ventas can be found on its website at http://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, tenants and borrowers 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, underwrite, consummate and integrate 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, 2004, (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.

                             CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    As of September 30, 2004, June 30, 2004, March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003
                                           (In thousands)

                      September 30,     June 30,     March 31,    December 31,
                          2004            2004         2004            2003
                       (Unaudited)    (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)     (Audited)

    Assets
    Real estate
     investments:
      Land              $ 140,969     $ 136,634     $ 132,433      $ 104,300
      Building and
       improvements     1,333,310     1,299,660     1,233,827        985,881
                        1,474,279     1,436,294     1,366,260      1,090,181
      Accumulated
       depreciation      (444,859)     (431,707)     (419,664)      (408,891)
        Total net
         real estate
         property       1,029,420     1,004,587       946,596        681,290
      Loan receivable,
       net                 16,309        16,423        16,437         16,455
        Total net
         real estate
         investments    1,045,729     1,021,010       963,033        697,745
    Cash and cash
     equivalents            3,805         8,880         1,723         82,104
    Restricted cash        16,757        18,358        18,984          7,575
    Deferred financing
     costs, net            11,738        11,423        12,443         13,465
    Notes receivable
     from employees         3,269         3,251         3,609          3,772
    Other                  10,047        10,081         7,527          8,189
        Total
         assets       $ 1,091,345   $ 1,073,003   $ 1,007,319      $ 812,850

    Liabilities and
     stockholders'
     equity
    Liabilities:
      Senior Notes
       payable and
       other debt       $ 853,774     $ 851,675     $ 782,362      $ 640,562
      Deferred revenue     13,536        14,204        14,718         15,308
      Interest rate
       swap agreements     21,133        18,251        32,041         27,868
      Accrued dividend         -             -             -          21,614
      Accrued interest     15,261         6,718        14,525          5,821
      Accounts payable
       and other accrued
       liabilities         27,074        22,133        19,386         14,968
      Deferred income
       taxes               30,394        30,394        30,394         30,394
        Total
         liabilities      961,172       943,375       893,426        756,535

    Commitments and
     contingencies

    Stockholders' equity:
      Preferred stock,
       10,000 shares
       authorized,
       unissued               -              -             -              -
      Common stock,
       $0.25 par value;
       authorized 180,000
       shares; 84,934
       shares issued at
       September 30,
       2004                21,233        21,190        21,157         20,652
      Capital in excess
       of par value       204,393       201,482       199,945        162,466
      Unearned
       compensation on
       restricted stock      (968)       (1,235)       (1,339)          (748)
      Accumulated other
       comprehensive
       loss               (13,588)      (10,129)      (23,341)       (18,294)
      Retained earnings
       (deficit)          (64,473)      (62,377)      (60,740)       (56,790)
                          146,597       148,931       135,682        107,286
      Treasury stock,
       586 shares at
       September 30,
       2004               (16,424)      (19,303)      (21,789)       (50,971)
        Total
         stockholders'
         equity           130,173       129,628       113,893         56,315

        Total
         liabilities and
         stockholders'
         equity       $ 1,091,345   $ 1,073,003   $ 1,007,319      $ 812,850


                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
       For the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004 and 2003
                   (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                 (Unaudited)

                              Three Months Ended         Nine Months Ended
                                 September 30,             September 30,
                               2004         2003         2004         2003
    Revenues:
      Rental income          $60,656      $49,355     $172,606     $141,824
      Interest income from
       loan receivable           763          766        2,274        2,271
      Interest and other
       income                    189          280          772        1,325
        Total revenues        61,608       50,401      175,652      145,420
    Expenses:
      Property level
       operating expenses        372           -           869           -
      General and
       administrative          3,563        3,136       10,947        9,356
      Professional fees          484          416        1,854        1,878
      Reversal of
       contingent liability       -            -            -       (20,164)
      Amortization of
       restricted stock grants   321          309          871          910
      Depreciation            13,255        9,952       36,249       29,805
      Interest                16,946       14,313       49,266       45,907
      Loss on extinguishment
       of debt                 1,370           -         1,370           -
      Swap ineffectiveness        -            -            -           369
      Interest on United
       States Settlement          -            -            -         4,943
        Total expenses        36,311       28,126      101,426       73,004

    Operating income          25,297       22,275       74,226       72,416
    Gain on sale of
     Kindred common stock         -         8,117           -         9,039
    Income before
     discontinued operations  25,297       30,392       74,226       81,455
    Discontinued operations       -         1,820           -         4,174
    Net income              $ 25,297     $ 32,212     $ 74,226     $ 85,629

    Earnings per common share:
      Basic:
       Income before
        discontinued
        operations             $0.30       $0.38         $0.89        $1.03
       Net income              $0.30       $0.41         $0.89        $1.08
      Diluted:
       Income before
        discontinued
        operations             $0.30       $0.38         $0.88        $1.02
       Net income              $0.30       $0.40         $0.88        $1.07

    Shares used in
     computing earnings
     per common share:
      Basic                   84,073      79,389        83,202       79,055
      Diluted                 84,889      80,258        84,074       79,711

    Dividend declared per
     common share            $0.3250      $0.2675      $0.9750      $0.8025

               CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
            For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004 and 2003
                                (In thousands)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                                          Nine Months Ended
                                                            September 30,
                                                         2004           2003
    Cash flows from operating activities:
      Net income                                       $74,226        $85,629
      Adjustments to reconcile net income to
       net cash provided by operating activities:
        Depreciation (including discontinued
         operations)                                    36,249         31,837
        Amortization of deferred financing costs         3,016          3,068
        Amortization of restricted stock grants            871            910
        Reversal of contingent liability                    -         (20,164)
        Normalized rents                                (1,728)          (115)
        Gain on sale of Kindred common stock                -          (9,039)
        Loss on extinguishment of debt                   1,370             -
        Loss on sale of real estate assets
         (included in discontinued operations)              -           3,189
        Loss on impairment of asset (included in
         discontinued operations)                           -             845
        Amortization of deferred revenue                (1,886)        (2,671)
        Non-cash interest on the United States
         Settlement                                         -           2,655
        Other                                           (1,907)        (2,437)
        Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
         (Increase) decrease in restricted cash            (12)        11,923
         Increase in other assets                         (829)          (586)
         Increase in accrued interest                    9,440          6,718
         Increase (decrease) in accounts payable
          and accrued and other Liabilities              5,745         (3,914)
            Net cash provided by
             operating activities                      124,555        107,848
    Cash flows from investing activities:
      Net investment in real estate property          (280,666)            -
      Net proceeds from sale of real estate                 -          61,159
      Proceeds from sale of Kindred common stock            -          20,223
      Proceeds from loan receivable                        260            151
      Purchase of furniture and equipment                 (170)          (258)
      Decrease in proceeds from notes receivable
       from employees                                      503            317
            Net cash (used in) provided by
             investing activities                     (280,073)        81,592
    Cash flows from financing activities:
      Net change in borrowings under revolving
       line of credit facility                         173,500        (26,450)
      Purchase of Senior Notes                              -         (37,366)
      Repayment of debt                                (65,915)        (1,897)
      Payment on the United States Settlement               -         (46,647)
      Payment of deferred financing costs               (2,659)           (40)
      Issuance of common stock                          58,903         10,847
      Proceeds from stock option exercises              16,913             -
     Cash dividends to stockholders                   (103,523)       (80,247)
            Net cash provided by (used in)
             financing activities                       77,219       (181,800)
    Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash
     equivalents                                       (78,299)         7,640
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period    82,104          2,455
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period          $3,805        $10,095
    Supplemental schedule of noncash activities:
      Assets and liabilities assumed from acquisitions:
       Real estate investments                       $ 103,432            $-
       Restricted cash                                   9,170             -
       Other assets acquired                               206             -
       Debt                                            105,627             -
       Other liabilities assumed                         7,181             -



                              SUPPLEMENTAL DATA

    Funds from Operations

FFO and normalized FFO for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands, except per share amounts):

                               Three Months Ended         Nine Months Ended
                                  September 30,             September 30,
                               2004         2003         2004         2003

    Net income              $ 25,297     $ 32,212      $74,226      $85,629
    Adjustments:
      Depreciation on
       real estate assets     13,153        9,878       35,968       29,603
    Other items:
      Discontinued operations:
       Depreciation on real
        estate assets             -           286           -         2,032
       (Gain) loss on sale of
        real estate               -        (2,065)          -         3,189
    FFO                       38,450       40,311      110,194      120,453

    Realized gain on sale of
     Kindred common stock         -        (8,117)          -        (9,039)
    Reversal of contingent
     liability                    -            -            -       (20,164)
    Loss on extinguishment
     of debt                  1,370            -         1,370           -
    Normalized FFO         $ 39,820      $ 32,194    $ 111,564      $91,250

    Per diluted share:
    Net income                $0.30         $0.40        $0.88        $1.07
    Adjustments:
      Depreciation on real
       estate assets           0.15          0.12         0.43         0.37
    Other items:
      Discontinued operations:
       Depreciation on real
        estate assets            -           0.01           -          0.03
       (Gain) loss on sale
        of real estate           -          (0.03)          -          0.04
    FFO                        0.45          0.50         1.31         1.51

    Realized gain on sale of
     Kindred common stock        -          (0.10)          -         (0.11)
    Reversal of contingent
     liability                   -             -            -         (0.26)
    Loss on extinguishment
     of debt                   0.02            -          0.02           -
    Normalized FFO            $0.47         $0.40        $1.33        $1.14


    Projected FFO per diluted share for the year ended:


                         NEW GUIDANCE     PRIOR GUIDANCE       GUIDANCE
                         December 31,      December 31,      December 31,
                            2004               2004              2005

    Net income        $ 1.18 - $ 1.20    $ 1.18 - $1.22     $1.25 - $1.28
    Adjustments:
      Depreciation
       on real estate
       assets           0.58 -   0.58      0.57 -  0.57      0.64 -  0.65
    FFO                 1.76 -   1.78      1.75 -  1.79      1.89 -  1.93
      Loss on
       extinguishment
       of debt          0.02 -   0.02        -  -    -         -  -    -
    Normalized FFO    $ 1.78 - $ 1.80    $ 1.75 - $1.79     $1.89 - $1.93


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 accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"), 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 FFO 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 GAAP), as an indicator of the Company's financial performance, as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP) or 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.

Pro Forma Net Debt to EBITDA

The following pro forma information considers the effect on net income, interest and depreciation as if the Company had consummated the acquisition of the six properties during the third quarter 2004 as of the beginning of the three month period ended September 30, 2004. The following table illustrates net debt to pro forma earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") for the three months ended September 30, 2004 (dollars in thousands):

                                                  Three Months
                                                      Ended
                                                  September 30,
                                                      2004
    Pro forma net income                             $25,663
    Add back:
      Pro forma interest                              17,264
      Pro forma depreciation                          12,887
      Loss on extinguishment of debt                   1,370
      Amortization of restricted stock grants            321
    Pro forma EBITDA                                 $57,505
    Pro forma annualized EBITDA                     $230,020

    Debt                                            $853,774
      Cash                                            (3,805)
      Restricted cash pertaining to debt              (6,992)
    Net debt                                        $842,977

    Net debt to pro forma annualized EBITDA             3.7x


The Company considers EBITDA a profitability measure which indicates the Company's ability to service debt. 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.

Portfolio of Properties

The following information provides an overview of the Company's portfolio of healthcare properties as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 (dollars in thousands):

                       As of and for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004
                            # of       # of                Percent of    # of
    Portfolio by Type    Properties  Beds/Units   Revenue    Revenue    States
    Healthcare
     properties:
    Skilled nursing
     facilities             201       25,551     $101,197      58.6%      31
    Hospitals                42        3,635       53,713      31.1%      19
    Senior housing
     facilities              29        3,463       14,961       8.7%      13
    Other facilities         15          122        2,735       1.6%       4
       Total                287       32,771     $172,606     100.0%      39
    Other real estate
     investments:
    Loan receivable          25        1,983       $2,274


    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 EBITDARM and EBITDAR coverage by Master Lease:

                       TTM (1)         TTM (1)
         Master     EBITDARM         EBITDAR
          Lease     Coverage (2)    Coverage (3)
            1           2.9           2.2
            2           2.7           2.1
            3           2.1           1.4
            4           1.9           1.3
            5           1.9           1.4
        Portfolio       2.3           1.7

    (1)  Trailing Twelve Months EBITDARM and EBITDAR for the period ended
         June 30, 2004 (the latest available data provided by Kindred) to the
         Company's Trailing Twelve Months cash rental revenue.

    (2)  Coverage reflects the ratio of Kindred's EBITDARM to rent.  EBITDARM
         is defined as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation,
         amortization and rent. In the calculation of Trailing Twelve Months
         EBITDARM, intercompany profit pertaining to Kindred's new PeopleFirst
         Rehabilitation Division for the six months ended June 30, 2004 has
         been eliminated from purchased ancillary expenses within the Ventas
         skilled nursing portfolio.

    (3)  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 five percent management
         fee.  In the calculation of Trailing Twelve Months EBITDAR,
         intercompany profit pertaining to Kindred's new PeopleFirst
         Rehabilitation Division for the six months ended June 30, 2004 has
         been eliminated from purchased ancillary expenses within the Ventas
         skilled nursing portfolio.


    Scheduled Maturities of Borrowing Arrangements

The Company's indebtedness has the following maturities as of September 30, 2004 (in thousands):

    2004       $     10,326
    2005              4,623
    2006            215,562
    2007            175,179
    2008              1,799
    Thereafter      446,285
       Total      $ 853,774

- END -