Strategic Storage Trust, Inc. today announced operating results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2013.

“Strategic Storage Trust, Inc. continues to achieve strong results in 2013. Same store net operating income increased 17.2% for the year,” commented H Michael Schwartz, CEO of Strategic Storage Trust, Inc. “Our investment strategy is designed to provide investors with current income through highly occupied stabilized assets, augmented by growth provided through lease-up and development opportunities. Our continued growth coupled with our ability to operate our portfolio with more efficiencies has contributed to our success in 2013 and bodes well for the future.”

Key Highlights for the Year Ended December 31, 2013:

• Increased same-store revenues and net operating income (“NOI”) by 9.1% and 17.2%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to the year ended December 31, 2012.
• Increased same-store average occupancy by approximately 5% to 83% for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to 78% for the year ended December 31, 2012.
• Decreased property operating expenses as a percentage of revenue to 34.1% for the year ended December 31, 2013 from 38.9% for the year ended December 31, 2012.
• Increased IPA Modified Funds From Operations (“MFFO”) by 129% to $20.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 from $9.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.
• Increased cash flows from operations by 102% to $19.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 from $9.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.
• During 2013, we acquired 12 properties for a total purchase price of approximately $82 million.
• Reduced debt leverage to 54% as of December 31, 2013 from 56% as of December 31, 2012.

Key Highlights for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2013:

• Increased same-store revenues and NOI by 8.6% and 13.9%, respectively, for the three months ended December 31, 2013 compared to the three months ended December 31, 2012.
• Increased same-store average occupancy by approximately 4% to 83% for the three months ended December 31, 2013 compared to 79% for the three months ended December 31, 2012.
• Decreased property operating expenses as a percentage of revenue to 32.2% for the three months ended December 31, 2013 from 34.9% for the three months ended December 31, 2012.
• Increased MFFO by 33% to $5.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2013 from $4.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2012.
• Increased cash flows from operations by 67% to $5.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2013 from $3.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2012.
• During the three months ended December 31, 2013, we acquired nine properties for a total purchase price of approximately $65 million.

Acquisitions:

• On October 28, 2013 we acquired four self storage facilities (the “Knoxville Portfolio”). The Knoxville Portfolio, which consists of three properties in Knoxville, Tennessee and one property in Montgomery, Alabama, was purchased from an unaffiliated third party for a total purchase price of $36.5 million, plus closing costs and acquisition fees.
• During the fourth quarter of 2013, we purchased 100% of the beneficial interests in Southwest Colonial, DST, a Delaware statutory trust sponsored by our sponsor. Southwest Colonial, DST owns five self storage facilities in Texas. The consideration provided was based on an aggregate appraised value of approximately $27.9 million and consisted of approximately $9.0 million in cash along with the issuance of approximately 151,000 limited partnership units in our operating partnership and the assumption of an approximately $16.7 million loan.

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About Strategic Storage Trust, Inc.

Strategic Storage Trust, Inc. (SSTI) is comprised of industry veterans with extensive institutional experience in the acquisition and property management of self-storage properties. Since the launch of SSTI in 2008, the company’s portfolio of wholly-owned properties has expanded to include 124 properties in 17 states and Canada that are being branded as SmartStop® Self Storage. The portfolio includes approximately 78,000 self-storage units and 10.3 million rentable square feet of storage space. For more information about SSTI, please call 949-469-6600 or visit www.strategicstoragetrust.com

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