[October 24, 2014]

Ventas Reports Eight Percent Increase in Third Quarter to Record Normalized FFO of $1.12 Per Diluted Share

Ventas, Inc. (NYSE: VTR) ("Ventas" or the "Company") said today that normalized Funds From Operations ("FFO") for the quarter ended September 30, 2014 increased eight percent to $332.8 million, from $307.2 million for the comparable 2013 period. Normalized FFO per diluted common share was $1.12 for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, an eight percent increase from $1.04 for the comparable 2013 period. Normalized FFO per share grew nine percent in the third quarter of 2014 over the third quarter of 2013, excluding non-cash items, computed on a consistent basis with prior periods. Weighted average diluted shares outstanding for the quarter increased slightly to 296.5 million, compared to 295.2 million in 2013.

"Our momentum to build the leading global brand in healthcare and senior living real estate is bolstered by our steady stream of accretive acquisitions. Our HCT acquisition is on track to close by year end and we have an active pipeline of investment opportunities," Ventas Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Debra A. Cafaro said. "Our company, built on a balance between consistent superior growth and active enterprise management, continues to benefit from an aging population, a rapidly changing healthcare environment, and an increase in the number of insured individuals. With our record third quarter earnings, the continued expansion of our high-quality customer base, and our diverse, productive portfolio, we are pleased to increase our full-year guidance. Our team looks forward to continuing our long track record of excellence and success for our constituents."

Ventas's continued growth in normalized FFO per diluted common share is due primarily to the Company's accretive investments, net of capital costs, and same-store growth from its high-quality, diverse portfolio.

Normalized FFO for the quarter ended September 30, 2014 excludes the net expense (totaling $28.7 million, or $0.10 per diluted share) from merger-related expenses and deal costs (including integration and transition-related costs), net losses on extinguishment of debt, non-cash changes in the fair value of financial instruments, costs relating to the re-audit of Ventas's historical financial statements and non-cash amortization of other intangibles, partially offset by non-cash income tax benefit. Normalized FFO for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 excluded the net expense (totaling $3.5 million, or $0.01 per diluted share) from merger-related expenses and deal costs (including integration and transition-related costs) and amortization of other intangibles, partially offset by non-cash income tax benefit and net gains on extinguishment of debt.

Net income attributable to common stockholders for the quarter ended September 30, 2014 was $109.1 million, or $0.37 per diluted common share, including discontinued operations. Net income attributable to common stockholders for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 was $118.3 million, or $0.40 per diluted common share, including discontinued operations. This change in net income attributable to common stockholders compared to third quarter 2013 is primarily due to accretive investments, net of capital costs, and same-store growth in the Company's portfolio and gains on the sale of real estate, more than offset by higher depreciation and amortization expense, merger-related expenses and deal costs, re-audit-related expenses, non-cash changes in the fair value of financial instruments and loss on extinguishment of debt.

FFO, as defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ("NAREIT"), for the quarter ended September 30, 2014 increased to $304.1 million, from $303.7 million in the comparable 2013 period. This increase in NAREIT FFO is due primarily to accretive investments, net of capital costs, and same-store growth in the Company's portfolio, partially offset by higher merger-related expenses and deal costs, re-audit-related expenses, non-cash changes in the fair value of financial instruments and loss on extinguishment of debt. NAREIT FFO per diluted common share for the quarters ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was $1.03.

PRIVATE PAY SENIORS HOUSING OPERATING PORTFOLIO

4.4 Percent Growth in Third Quarter 2014 NOI in 217 Same-Store Stabilized Communities Versus the Third Quarter of 2013 in Local Currency

At September 30, 2014, the Company's seniors housing operating portfolio included 270 communities managed by Atria Senior Living, Inc. ("Atria"), Sunrise Senior Living, LLC ("Sunrise") or Brookdale Senior Living Inc. ("Brookdale"). Third quarter 2014 Net Operating Income ("NOI") after management fees for this portfolio (in local currency) totaled $132.2 million, an increase of 15 percent over the third quarter of 2013. Average unit occupancy for these 270 communities was 91.4 percent in the third quarter versus 90.3 percent for the 239 total managed seniors housing communities in the second quarter.

Same-store NOI in local currency after management fees grew 4.4 percent and revenue per occupied room ("REVPOR") grew 2.5 percent in the 217 stabilized private pay seniors housing communities owned by the Company for the full third quarters of 2014 and 2013.

For the twelve stabilized communities located in Canada and managed by Sunrise, NOI in local currency after management fees was $7 million in the third quarter, a nine percent increase sequentially and a 2.9 percent increase over the third quarter of 2013.

THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS AND OTHER RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Investments and Dispositions

• In August 2014, Ventas completed its acquisition of 29 independent living communities located in Canada from Holiday Retirement ("Holiday") for a purchase price of CAD 957 million. Atria began managing these communities at closing.
• Since July 1, 2014, Ventas made additional investments with existing customers having an aggregate purchase price of $259 million, excluding development and redevelopment projects and at a first-year cash NOI yield of nearly seven percent. Of these investments, $14 million closed after the end of the third quarter and $118 million were disclosed in the Company's earnings release dated August 11, 2014.
• The Company currently has $188 million of development and redevelopment projects underway at an expected stabilized unlevered yield over eight percent.
• Since July 1, 2014, Ventas sold seven properties for $60 million and received loans receivable repayments of $53 million.
• The Company expects to close by year end its acquisition of American Realty Capital Healthcare Trust, Inc. ("HCT") in a stock and cash transaction valued at approximately $2.9 billion. The transaction is expected to be funded with Ventas common stock valued at $67.13 per share (between $1.8 billion and $2.0 billion of the consideration), cash and the assumption of debt. However, this transaction remains subject to various conditions and there can be no assurances as to whether or, if so, when it will close.

Liquidity, Capital Raising and Balance Sheet

• In September 2014, Ventas issued and sold CAD 650 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes, with a weighted average interest rate of 3.5 percent and a weighted average maturity of 6.9 years.
• Currently, Ventas's debt to total capitalization is 34 percent.
• The Company's net debt to Adjusted Pro Forma EBITDA (as defined herein) at September 30, 2014 was 5.8x.
• Currently, the Company has $1.8 billion of availability under its revolving credit facility and $70 million of cash on hand.

PORTFOLIO UPDATE AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Same-store cash NOI growth for the Company's total portfolio (1,323 assets) was three percent in local currency for the quarter ended September 30, 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013.
• Ventas was named a global sector leader in its peer group by the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) for improving the energy efficiency of its seniors housing and medical office building portfolios, which also reduced property operating expenses. Additionally, Ventas ranked in the top half in the financial sector for the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).
• Robert F. Probst will join Ventas as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer on October 27, 2014. He will also be a member of the Company's executive leadership team and have responsibility for leading the Company's accounting, treasury, capital markets, investor relations and information technology functions. He served as SVP and CFO for Beam, Inc. from 2008-2014.
• Melody C. Barnes was appointed as an independent member of the Ventas Board of Directors. She served as the Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council from 2009-2012 and currently is a Vice Provost of New York University.
• Supplemental information regarding the Company can be found on the Company's website under the "Investor Relations" section or at www.ventasreit.com/investor-relations/financial-information/supplemental-information.

VENTAS RAISES 2014 NORMALIZED FFO PER DILUTED SHARE GUIDANCE TO $4.44 TO $4.47 WITHOUT HCT, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO CLOSE BY YEAR END

Ventas currently expects its 2014 normalized FFO per diluted share to range between $4.44 and $4.47, an increase from previously announced 2014 guidance of between $4.39 and $4.43 per diluted share. The Company's improved guidance range constitutes approximately eight to nine percent per share growth in 2014, excluding non-cash items (projected to be $0.12 per diluted share), computed on a consistent basis with prior periods, and seven to eight percent on an as-reported basis. A reconciliation of the Company's guidance, and the non-cash items, to the Company's projected GAAP earnings is included in this press release.

The Company's normalized FFO guidance (and related GAAP earnings projections) for all periods assumes, with certain immaterial exceptions: all of the Company's tenants and borrowers continue to meet all of their obligations to the Company; full-year same-store NOI growth for the Company's total portfolio of 3.5 to four percent; full-year 2014 NOI from its 270 managed seniors housing communities of between $512 million and $520 million; and no material changes to applicable foreign currency exchange rates.

The Company's normalized FFO guidance (and related GAAP earnings projections) for all periods excludes the impact from the closing and funding of its pending acquisition of HCT. It also excludes, other than as specifically stated, (a) net gains on the sales of real property assets, including gain on re-measurement of equity method investments, (b) merger-related costs and expenses, including amortization of intangibles, transition and integration expenses, and deal costs and expenses, (c) the impact of any expenses related to asset impairment and valuation allowances, the write-off of unamortized deferred financing fees, or additional costs, expenses, discounts, make-whole payments, penalties or premiums incurred as a result of early retirement or payment of debt, (d) the non-cash effect of income tax benefits or expenses and derivative transactions that have non-cash mark-to-market impacts on the Company's income statement, (e) the impact of future unannounced acquisitions or divestitures (including pursuant to tenant options to purchase) and capital transactions, (f) the financial impact of contingent consideration, charitable donations made to the Ventas Charitable Foundation, gains and losses for non-operational foreign currency hedge agreements and changes in the fair value of financial instruments, and (g) expenses related to the re-audit and re-review of the Company's historical financial statements and related matters.

The Company's guidance is based on a number of other assumptions that 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 assurances that the Company will achieve these results. The Company may from time to time update its publicly announced guidance, but it is not obligated to do so.

THIRD QUARTER CONFERENCE CALL

Ventas will hold a conference call to discuss this earnings release today at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (9:00 a.m. Central Time). The dial-in number for the conference call is (877) 415-3182 (or (857) 244-7325 for international callers). The participant passcode is "Ventas." The conference call is being webcast live by NASDAQ OMX and can be accessed at the Company's website at www.ventasreit.com. A replay of the webcast will be available following the call online, or by calling (888) 286-8010 (or (617) 801-6888 for international callers), passcode 61721309, beginning at approximately 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time and will remain for 35 days.

Ventas, Inc., an S&P 500 company, is a leading real estate investment trust. Its diverse portfolio of more than 1,500 assets in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom consists of seniors housing communities, medical office buildings, skilled nursing facilities, hospitals and other properties. Through its Lillibridge subsidiary, Ventas provides management, leasing, marketing, facility development and advisory services to highly rated hospitals and health systems throughout the United States. More information about Ventas and Lillibridge can be found at www.ventasreit.com and www.lillibridge.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 the Company's or its tenants', operators', borrowers' or managers' expected future financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, funds from operations, dividends and dividend plans, financing opportunities and plans, capital markets transactions, business strategy, budgets, projected costs, operating metrics, capital expenditures, competitive positions, acquisitions, investment opportunities, dispositions, merger integration, 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. These forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and actual results may differ from the Company's expectations. The Company does not undertake a duty to update these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made.

The Company's actual future results and trends may differ materially from expectations depending on a variety of factors discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These factors include without limitation: (a) the ability and willingness of the Company's tenants, operators, borrowers, managers and other third parties to satisfy their obligations under their respective contractual arrangements with the Company, including, in some cases, their obligations to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company from and against various claims, litigation and liabilities; (b) the ability of the Company's tenants, operators, borrowers and managers to maintain the financial strength and liquidity necessary to satisfy their respective obligations and liabilities to third parties, including without limitation obligations under their existing credit facilities and other indebtedness; (c) the Company's success in implementing its business strategy and the Company's ability to identify, underwrite, finance, consummate and integrate diversifying acquisitions and investments, including the Company's pending acquisition of HCT and investments in different asset types and outside the United States; (d) macroeconomic conditions such as a disruption of or lack of access to the capital markets, changes in the debt rating on U.S. government securities, default or delay in payment by the United States of its obligations, and changes in the federal or state budgets resulting in the reduction or nonpayment of Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement rates; (e) the nature and extent of future competition, including new construction in the markets in which the Company's seniors housing communities and MOBs are located; (f) the extent of future or pending healthcare reform and regulation, including cost containment measures and changes in reimbursement policies, procedures and rates; (g) increases in the Company's borrowing costs as a result of changes in interest rates and other factors; (h) the ability of the Company's operators and managers, as applicable, to comply with laws, rules and regulations in the operation of the Company's properties, to deliver high-quality services, to attract and retain qualified personnel and to attract residents and patients; (i) changes in general economic conditions or economic conditions in the markets in which the Company may, from time to time, compete, and the effect of those changes on the Company's revenues, earnings and funding sources; (j) the Company's ability to pay down, refinance, restructure or extend its indebtedness as it becomes due; (k) the Company's ability and willingness to maintain its qualification as a REIT in light of economic, market, legal, tax and other considerations; (l) final determination of the Company's taxable net income for the year ending December 31, 2014; (m) the ability and willingness of the Company's tenants to renew their leases with the Company upon expiration of the leases, the Company's ability to reposition its properties on the same or better terms in the event of nonrenewal or in the event the Company exercises its right to replace an existing tenant or manager, and obligations, including indemnification obligations, the Company may incur in connection with the replacement of an existing tenant or manager; (n) risks associated with the Company's senior living operating portfolio, such as factors that can cause volatility in the Company's operating income and earnings generated by those properties, including without limitation national and regional economic conditions, costs of food, materials, energy, labor and services, employee benefit costs, insurance costs and professional and general liability claims, and the timely delivery of accurate property-level financial results for those properties; (o) changes in exchange rates for any foreign currency in which the Company may, from time to time, conduct business; (p) year-over-year changes in the Consumer Price Index or the UK Retail Price Index and the effect of those changes on the rent escalators contained in the Company's leases and the Company's earnings; (q) the Company's ability and the ability of its tenants, operators, borrowers and managers to obtain and maintain adequate property, liability and other insurance from reputable, financially stable providers; (r) the impact of increased operating costs and uninsured professional liability claims on the Company's liquidity, financial condition and results of operations or that of the Company's tenants, operators, borrowers and managers, and the ability of the Company and the Company's tenants, operators, borrowers and managers to accurately estimate the magnitude of those claims; (s) risks associated with the Company's MOB portfolio and operations, including the Company's ability to successfully design, develop and manage MOBs, to accurately estimate its costs in fixed fee-for-service projects and to retain key personnel; (t) the ability of the hospitals on or near whose campuses the Company's MOBs are located and their affiliated health systems to remain competitive and financially viable and to attract physicians and physician groups; (u) the Company's ability to build, maintain and expand its relationships with existing and prospective hospital and health system clients; (v) risks associated with the Company's investments in joint ventures and unconsolidated entities, including its lack of sole decision-making authority and its reliance on its joint venture partners' financial condition; (w) the impact of market or issuer events on the liquidity or value of the Company's investments in marketable securities; (x) merger and acquisition activity in the seniors housing and healthcare industries resulting in a change of control of, or a competitor's investment in, one or more of the Company's tenants, operators, borrowers or managers or significant changes in the senior management of the Company's tenants, operators, borrowers or managers; (y) the impact of litigation or any financial, accounting, legal or regulatory issues that may affect the Company or its tenants, operators, borrowers or managers; (z) changes in accounting principles, or their application or interpretation, and the Company's ability to make estimates and the assumptions underlying the estimates, which could have an effect on the Company's earnings; and (aa) the impact of expenses related to the re-audit and re-review of the Company's historical financial statements and related matters. Many of these factors are beyond the control of the Company and its management.

Historical cost accounting for real estate assets implicitly assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. However, since real estate values have historically risen or fallen with market conditions, many industry investors deem presentations of operating results for real estate companies that use historical cost accounting to be insufficient by themselves. For that reason, the Company considers FFO and normalized FFO to be appropriate measures of operating performance of an equity REIT. In particular, the Company believes that normalized FFO is useful because it allows investors, analysts and Company management to compare the Company's operating performance to the operating performance of other real estate companies and between periods on a consistent basis without having to account for differences caused by unanticipated items and other events such as transactions and litigation. In some cases, the Company provides information about identified non-cash components of FFO and normalized FFO because it allows investors, analysts and Company management to assess the impact of those items on the Company's financial results.

The Company uses the NAREIT definition of FFO. NAREIT defines FFO as net income (computed in accordance with GAAP) excluding gains (or losses) from sales of real estate property, including gain on re-measurement of equity method investments, and impairment write-downs of depreciable real estate, plus real estate 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. The Company defines normalized FFO as FFO excluding the following income and expense items (which may be recurring in nature): (a) merger-related costs and expenses, including amortization of intangibles, transition and integration expenses, and deal costs and expenses, including expenses and recoveries relating to acquisition lawsuits; (b) the impact of any expenses related to asset impairment and valuation allowances, the write-off of unamortized deferred financing fees, or additional costs, expenses, discounts, make-whole payments, penalties or premiums incurred as a result of early retirement or payment of the Company's debt; (c) the non-cash effect of income tax benefits or expenses and derivative transactions that have non-cash mark-to-market impacts on the Company's income statement; (d) except as specifically stated in the case of guidance, the impact of future acquisitions or divestitures (including pursuant to tenant options to purchase) and capital transactions; (e) the financial impact of contingent consideration, charitable donations made to the Ventas Charitable Foundation, gains and losses for non-operational foreign currency hedge agreements and changes in the fair value of financial instruments; and (f) expenses related to the re-audit and re-review of the Company's historical financial statements and related matters.

FFO and normalized FFO presented herein may not be identical to FFO and normalized FFO presented by other real estate companies due to the fact that not all real estate companies use the same definitions. FFO and normalized FFO should not be considered as alternatives to net income (determined in accordance with GAAP) as indicators of the Company's financial performance or as alternatives to cash flow from operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP) as measures of the Company's liquidity, nor are FFO and normalized 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 and normalized FFO should be examined in conjunction with net income as presented elsewhere herein.

The following information considers the pro forma effect on net income, interest, depreciation and merger-related expenses and deal costs of the Company's investments and other capital transactions that were completed during the three months ended September 30, 2014, as if the transactions had been consummated as of the beginning of the period. The following table illustrates net debt to pro forma earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (including non-cash stock-based compensation expense), excluding gains or losses on extinguishment of debt, income or loss from noncontrolling interest and unconsolidated entities, merger-related expenses and deal costs, expenses related to the re-audit and re-review of our historical financial statements, net gains on real estate activity and changes in the fair value of financial instruments (including amounts in discontinued operations) ("Adjusted Pro Forma EBITDA") (dollars in thousands):

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