Edgefront Real Estate Investment Trust Announces Continued Strong Results, an Increase to the Discount to Issuance Price Under the DRIP, the June Distribution, and a New Independent Trustee
CALGARY, May 25, 2015 /CNW/ -Â Edgefront Real Estate Investment Trust (the "REIT") (TSXV: ED.UN) announced today its results for the three months ended March 31, 2015, the June 2015 Distribution, an increase to the discount to issuance price under the DRIP, a new independent trustee and voting results from 2015 annual and special meeting.
Highlights
- Brian Felesky, a seasoned board member, joins the REIT as an independent trustee; the Board is now comprised of a majority of independent members
- REIT completes its annual and special meeting; all resolutions passed; all nominated trustees elected
- Discount to the issuance price under the DRIP increased from 3 percent to 4 percent
- REIT's rental revenues derived from stable, industry leading tenants with strong earnings
- Conservative AFFO payout Ratio of 77.8% and debt to total assets ratio of 48.2%
- AFFO per unit of $0.051; distributions per unit of $0.04 for the quarter
Summary of Results
Included in the table that follows and elsewhere in this news release are non-IFRS measures that should not be construed as an alternative to net income / loss, cash from operating activities or other measures of financial performance calculated in accordance with IFRS, and may not be comparable to similar measures as reported by other issuers. Readers are encouraged to refer to the REIT's MD&A for further discussion of the non-IFRS measures presented.
Three months ended  March 31,
2015 2014
Financial Highlights $ $
Funds from operations (FFO) 1,258,600 637,694
Adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) 1,487,544 785,640
Distributions declared (1) 1,157,839 673,083
Weighted average units outstanding â" basic (2) 28,910,053 17,134,655
Weighted average units outstanding â" diluted (2) 28,910,053 17,134,655
Distributions per unit (1) (2) 0.040 0.039
FFO per unit (2)
Basic 0.044 0.037
Diluted 0.044 0.037
AFFO per unit (2)
Basic 0.051 0.046
Diluted 0.051 0.046
AFFO payout ratio (1) 77.8% 85.7%
Debt to total assets ratio 48.2% 46.8%
(1)Includes distributions payable to holders of Class B LP Units which are accounted for as interest expense in the audited consolidated financial statements.
(2)Weighted average number of units includes the Class B LP Units.
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Three months ended  March 31,
2015 2014
Financial Results$ $
Rental revenue 2,714,375 1,528,471
Net rental income2,203,093 1,264,439
Net income (loss)1,219,336 (288,921)
Net income for the three month ended March 31, 2014 was reduced by a fair value adjustment of investment properties of $915,346. Excluding this item, net income for the three months ended March 31, 2014 would have been $626,425.
"We are pleased with the continued strength of our platform of properties" stated Kelly Hanczyk CEO. "The REIT's properties are long-term leased, mission critical real estate which provides stability for our investors. We are seeing a robust pipeline of acquisition opportunities and are looking forward to announcing significant growth for 2015 in the near term."
Revenues and Results from Operations In Line with Expectations
Rental revenue increased to $2,714,375 in the quarter as compared to $1,528,471 in the same quarter of 2014. Net rental income grew to $2,203,093 in the quarter as compared to $1,264,439 in same quarter of 2014.
The REIT generated FFO and AFFO of $1,258,600 and $1,487,544, respectively, in the quarter ended March 31, 2015, with FFO and AFFO per unit of $0.044 and $0.051 respectively.
Distributions of $0.04 per unit were declared for the quarter. The AFFO payout ratio for the quarter was 77.8%.
Balance Sheet and Liquidity
The REIT's debt to total assets ratio was 48.2% at March 31, 2015. The REIT intends to maintain a debt to total assets ratio of less than 55%.
New Independent Trustee Elected to Board of Trustees
Brian Felesky, CM, QC was elected to the REIT's Board at the annual and special meeting held May 22, 2015. Mr. Felesky is the past Vice-Chairman, Investment Banking (Canada), of Credit-Suisse. He was a founding partner of Felesky Flynn LP, where he specialized in corporate tax law. Mr. Felesky is active on a number of boards, including Aspen Properties and is involved in a number of charitable and community based organizations. Mr. Felesky will serve as a member of the REIT's Audit Committee.
"We're pleased to have Brian join our Board" stated Kelly Hanczyk CEO. "In addition to an impressive career of general business experience, Brian has extensive real estate and board member experience and will complement our existing Board well. We would like to thank Chad Danard, who served as a trustee of the REIT from January 14, 2014 through May 22, 2015, for his contributions to the Board and the REIT in general. Mr. Danard did not seek re-election to the Board, allowing the addition of an independent trustee, such that the Board is now comprised of a majority of independent trustees."
Distribution Reinvestment Program
The REIT's current distribution per unit continues to be $0.01333 per month. The REIT's distribution reinvestment program ("DRIP") entitles eligible unitholders to elect to receive all, or a portion of the cash distributions of the REIT reinvested in units of the REIT. Commencing with the June distribution, eligible unitholders who so elect will receive a bonus distribution of units equal to 4% of each distribution that was reinvested by them under the DRIP.
June 2015 Distribution
The REIT will make a cash distribution in the amount of $0.01333 per unit, representing $0.16 on an annualized basis, payable July 15, 2015 to unitholders of record as of June 30, 2015.
Annual and Special Meeting Voting Results
The REIT is pleased to announce that each of the matters set out in the REIT's management information circular dated April 24, 2015 (the "Circular") for the annual and special meeting of unitholders held on May 22, 2015 (the "Meeting") was approved by the requisite majority of unitholders.
Further, each of the trustee nominees listed in the Circular was elected as a trustee of the REIT. Voting results for the individual trustees are as follows:
Name of Nominee Votes For Votes Withheld
Cody Church 14,587,29315,400
Robert E. Dickson14,465,041137,652
Brian Felesky 14,586,39316,300
Mario Forgione 14,431,533171,160
Kelly C. Hanczyk 14,596,1936,500
Lorne Jacobson 14,587,29315,400
Ted Manziaris 14,563,79138,902
Final results on all matters voted at the Meeting will be filed shortly with the Canadian securities regulators.
About the REIT
Edgefront REIT is a growth oriented real estate investment trust focused on increasing unitholder value through the acquisition, ownership and management of industrial properties located in primary and secondary markets in North America. Edgefront REIT currently owns a portfolio of 15 properties comprising approximately 748,000 square feet of rentable area.
The REIT has approximately 28,732,458 units issued and outstanding. Additionally, there are 360,000 Class B LP units of Edgefront Limited Partnership issued and outstanding.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements contained in this new release constitute forward-looking statements which reflect the REIT's current expectations and projections about future results. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the REIT to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions that may prove to be incorrect.
While the REIT anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause its views to change, the REIT specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the REIT's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this news release. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The factors identified above are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect the REIT.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
SOURCE Edgefront Real Estate Investment Trust
For further information: Please contact Kelly C. Hanczyk, President and CEO at (403) 817-9497; or Rob Chiasson, CFO at (403) 817-9496