TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 11/09/15 -- This news release contains forward-looking information that is based upon assumptions and is subject to risks and uncertainties as indicated in the cautionary note contained within this press release.
DREAM INDUSTRIAL REIT (TSX: DIR.UN) today announced its financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015.
HIGHLIGHTS
-- Adjusted Funds From Operations ("AFFO") per unit increased by 5.1% from
Q3 2014 - Largely as a result of acquisitions completed in September
2014, comparative properties growth, and interest savings on
refinancings.
-- Comparative Properties Net Operating Income increased by 1.2% over Q3
2014 - Driven by contractual rent growth and positive leasing spreads.
-- Decreased level of debt (debt-to-total assets) by 60 basis points to
52.2% over Q3 2014 - Stable capital structure with interest coverage
ratio of 3.1 times and a weighted average term to maturity of 4.0 years.
-- Capital recycling program - With the sale of a 17,000 square foot
single-tenant property in British Columbia, the Trust has now completed
$15 million in dispositions year-to-date. In addition, it has a 59,000
square foot single-tenant property in the Greater Toronto Area ("GTA")
under contract for sale expected to close before year end. Subsequent to
the quarter, the Trust acquired a 207,000 square foot single-tenant
property in the GTA for total of $12 million at a 7.1% cap rate,
bringing total acquisitions year-to-date to $22 million at an average
cap rate of 7.0%.
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SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(unaudited) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
($000's except unit
and per unit September June 30, September September September
amounts) 30, 2015 2015 30, 2014 30, 2015 30, 2014
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Investment
properties revenue $ 43,634 $ 44,955 $ 40,319 $ 132,529 $ 121,661
Net operating income
("NOI")(1) 29,872 29,958 28,026 89,533 82,775
Funds from
operations
("FFO")(1) 18,742 18,731 17,345 56,094 51,651
Adjusted funds from
operations
("AFFO")(1) 16,044 16,137 14,276 47,784 42,487
Investment
properties 1,689,412 1,695,598 1,687,005 1,689,412 1,687,005
Debt 911,425 921,165 918,029 911,425 918,029
Per unit data(1),
(2)
FFO - diluted(1) $ 0.238 $ 0.238 $ 0.233 $ 0.713 $ 0.704
AFFO - diluted(1) 0.206 0.208 0.196 0.615 0.592
Distributions 0.175 0.175 0.175 0.525 0.525
FFO payout ratio(1),
(3) 73.5% 73.5% 75.1% 73.6% 74.6%
AFFO payout
ratio(1), (3) 85.0% 84.1% 89.3% 85.4% 88.7%
Units (period-end)
REIT Units 58,484,305 58,332,810 57,936,869 58,484,305 57,936,869
LP Class B Units 18,551,855 18,551,855 18,551,855 18,551,855 18,551,855
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Total number of
units 77,036,160 76,884,665 76,488,724 77,036,160 76,488,724
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Portfolio gross
leasable area
(square feet) 16,928,397 16,995,177 17,026,940 16,928,397 17,026,940
Occupied and
committed space 94.6% 95.0% 95.5% 94.6% 95.5%
Average occupancy
for the period 93.4% 94.2% 93.9% 94.1% 94.8%
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See footnotes.
"Dream Industrial maintained its track record of delivering year over year internal growth," said Brent Chapman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Amid an uncertain economy, the Trust and the Canadian industrial market continue to display stable fundamentals."
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
-- Increase in FFO per unit - FFO for the quarter was $18.7 million or 23.8
cents per unit. FFO per unit for the quarter increased by 2.1% compared
to the same period in the prior year and remained stable at 23.8 cents
compared to the second quarter of 2015. The year over year increase was
largely a result of our September 2014 acquisitions, comparative
properties NOI growth, and interest savings on refinancings.
-- AFFO Growth - AFFO for the quarter was $16.0 million, or 20.6 cents on a
per unit basis. AFFO per unit for the quarter was 5.1% higher compared
to the same period in the prior year and remained relatively flat
compared to the second quarter of 2015. The increase in AFFO was driven
by the same factors as FFO growth.
-- Total NOI of $29.9 million for the quarter - Total NOI has grown by 6.6%
compared to the same period last year, primarily as a result of
acquisitions completed in September 2014 and comparative properties NOI
growth of 1.2%.
-- Stable capital structure - Level of debt (debt-to-total assets)
decreased to 52.2%, with interest coverage of 3.1 times and a weighted
average term to maturity of 4.0 years.
OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
-- Leasing Profile - Leasing activity during the third quarter included
183,000 square feet of new leases, 396,000 square feet of renewals, and
lease commitments of 236,000 square feet, compared to 675,000 square
feet of expiries and early terminations. The average remaining lease
term at September 30, 2015 was 4.3 years.
-- Portfolio occupancy at 94.6% - Overall occupancy (including committed
space) was 94.6% compared to 95.0% at June 30, 2015 and 95.5% at
September 30, 2014. Leasing commitments on vacant space for the quarter
totalled 236,000 square feet.
-- Positive leasing spreads on renewals - In-place rents remained stable at
$7.15 per square foot compared to June 30, 2015. Renewals for the
quarter were completed at $7.59 per square foot, which is $0.42 or 5.9%
above the expiring rates.
-- Estimated market rents 2.9% above average in-place rents - At quarter-
end, estimated market rents were approximately 2.9% above the Trust's
current average in-place rents of $7.15 per square foot (June 30, 2015 -
$7.15).
Average in- Estimated
GLA Average place rent market rent
(million Occupancy lease term (per sq. (per sq.
sq. ft.) (%) (years) ft.) ft.)
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Western Canada 4.8 96.9 4.1 $ 9.03 $ 9.58
Ontario 5.0 97.0 3.9 6.05 6.13
Quebec 4.3 93.0 5.6 6.18 6.21
Eastern Canada 2.8 88.7 3.2 7.23 7.38
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Total 16.9 94.6 4.3 $ 7.15 $ 7.36
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-- Acquisition of a 207,000 square foot single-tenant building in the GTA -
On October 16, we acquired a distribution centre in Burlington, Ontario,
through a sale-leaseback transaction for $12 million (7.1% cap rate).
The property is 100% occupied and the term of the lease is 10 years with
contractual rent steps.
CAPITAL STRUCTURE
The Trust's capital structure remained relatively stable during the quarter, with its level of debt (debt-to-total assets) decreasing to 52.2% and interest coverage of 3.1 times.
September 30, June 30, September 30, Key performance indicators 2015 2015 2014 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Level of debt (debt-to-total assets)(1) 52.2% 52.6% 52.8% Interest coverage ratio(1) 3.1 times 3.1 times 3.0 times Weighted average face interest rate on all debt(4) 3.94% 3.94% 4.11% Weighted average effective interest rate on all debt(4) 3.83% 3.80% 3.86% Debt - weighted average term to maturity (years) 4.0 3.7 4.1 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
During the quarter, the Trust completed a $20 million mortgage refinancing for a term of five years at a rate of 2.71%, secured by a portfolio of four properties in Ontario. In addition, the Trust completed a $50 million mortgage refinancing for a term of seven years at a rate of 2.93%, secured by a portfolio of eleven properties in Quebec. The Trust continues to improve its financial metrics, and is strategically evaluating opportunities to take advantage of the current favourable interest rate environment, while continuing to maintain a balanced debt maturity profile.
CONFERENCE CALL
Senior management will host a conference call to discuss the results tomorrow, November 10, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. (ET). To access the conference call, please dial 1-888-465-5079 in Canada and the United States or 416-216-4169 elsewhere and use passcode 9411 711#. To access the conference call via webcast, please go to Dream Industrial REIT's website at www.dreamindustrialreit.ca and click on the link for News & Events, then click on Calendar of Events. A taped replay of the conference call and the webcast will be available for ninety (90) days following the call.
Other information
Information appearing in this news release is a select summary of results. The condensed consolidated financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for the Trust will be available at www.dreamindustrialreit.ca and on www.sedar.com.
Dream Industrial REIT is an unincorporated, open-ended real estate investment trust. Dream Industrial REIT owns a portfolio of 220 primarily light industrial properties comprising approximately 16.9 million square feet of gross leasable area in key industrial markets across Canada. Its objective is to build upon and grow its portfolio and to provide stable, sustainable and growing cash distributions to its unitholders. For more information, please visit www.dreamindustrialreit.ca.
FOOTNOTES
(1) AFFO, FFO, comparative properties NOI, NOI, FFO and AFFO payout ratios,
level of debt (debt-to-total assets) and interest coverage ratio are
non-GAAP measures used by Management in evaluating operating performance
and debt management. Please refer to the cautionary statements under the
heading "Non-GAAP Measures" in this press release.
(2) A description of the determination of diluted amounts per unit can be
found in our Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three and nine
months ended September 30, 2015 under the heading "Non-GAAP Measures and
Other Disclosures".
(3) Payout ratios for FFO and AFFO (non-GAAP measures) are calculated as the
ratio of distribution rate to diluted FFO and AFFO per unit,
respectively.
(4) Weighted average effective interest rate is calculated as the weighted
average face rate of interest net of amortization of fair value
adjustments and financing costs of all interest bearing debt. Weighted
average face interest rate is calculated as the weighted average face
interest rate of all interest bearing debt.
Non-GAAP Measures
The Trust's condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). In this press release, as a complement to results provided in accordance with IFRS, the Trust discloses and discusses certain non-GAAP financial measures, including net operating income ("NOI"), comparative properties NOI, funds From operations ("FFO"), adjusted funds from operations ("AFFO"), FFO payout ratio, AFFO payout ratio, level of debt (debt-to-total assets) and interest coverage ratio as well as other measures discussed elsewhere in this release. These non-GAAP measures are not defined by IFRS, do not have a standardized meaning and may not be comparable with similar measures presented by other income trusts. The Trust has presented such non-GAAP measures as Management believes they are relevant measures of the Trust's underlying operating performance and debt management. Non-GAAP measures should not be considered as alternatives to net income, cash generated from (utilized in) operating activities or comparable metrics determined in accordance with IFRS as indicators of the Trust's performance, liquidity, cash flow, and profitability. For a full description of these measures, please refer to the "Non-GAAP Measures and Other Disclosures" in Dream Industrial REIT's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015.
Forward looking information
This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including statements regarding the timing of certain transactions. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Dream Industrial REIT's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general and local economic and business conditions; the financial condition of tenants; our ability to refinance maturing debt; leasing risks, including those associated with the ability to lease vacant space; and interest and currency rate functions. Our objectives and forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions, including that the general economy remains stable, interest rates remain stable, conditions within the real estate market remain consistent, competition for acquisitions remains consistent with the current climate and that the capital markets continue to provide ready access to equity and/or debt. All forward-looking information in this press release speaks as of the date of this press release. Dream Industrial REIT does not undertake to update any such forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by law. Additional information about these assumptions and risks and uncertainties is contained in Dream Industrial REIT's filings with securities regulators, including its latest annual information form and MD&A. These filings are also available at Dream Industrial REIT's website at www.dreamindustrialreit.ca.
Contacts:
Dream Industrial REIT
Brent Chapman
President and Chief Executive Officer
(416) 365-5265
bchapman@dream.ca
Dream Industrial REIT
Lenis Quan
Chief Financial Officer
(416) 365-2353
lquan@dream.ca
www.dreamindustrialreit.ca
