HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA
-- (Marketwired)
-- 11/03/15
Killam Properties Inc. (TSX:KMP) ("Killam") today reported funds from operations ("FFO") per share of $0.24, up from $0.23 in Q3-2014. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, Killam earned $0.59 in FFO per share, up 9.3% from $0.54 in the same period in 2014.
"It's been another strong quarter for Killam. Our Q3-2015 FFO per share of $0.24 marks our highest quarterly earnings on record," noted Philip Fraser, Killam's President and CEO. "We're achieving success in all areas of our growth strategy, driving increased FFO every quarter of 2015."
Financial and Operating Highlights
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For the three months For the nine months
ended ended
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Sept 30, Sept 30, Sept 30, Sept 30,
2015 2014 2015 2014
FFO per Share (diluted) $0.24 $0.23 $0.59 $0.54
AFFO per Share (diluted) (1) $0.21 $0.21 $0.51 $0.46
AFFO Payout Ratio (diluted) 71% 73% 88% 99%
Apartment Occupancy 95.3% 94.7% 95.5% 94.8%
Same Store Revenue Growth 2.6% 2.4%
Same Store Net Operating
Income Growth 4.0% 4.3%
(1) Adjusted funds from
operations
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As at
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Sept 30, Sept 30,
2015 2014
Total Debt to Total Assets 55.4% 53.6%
Weighted Avg. Mortgage
Interest Rate 3.32% 3.76%
Weighted Avg. Term to Debt
Maturity 4.3 years 4.5 years
Interest Coverage Ratio 2.33x 2.20x
Same store properties have been a leading contributor to Killam's earnings growth in 2015, generating a 4.0% increase in net operating income ("NOI") over Q3-2014, following 4.0% growth in Q2-2015 and 5.0% growth in Q1-2015. Improved occupancy, rental growth, operating efficiencies and lower energy costs all contributed to the increase.
Mr. Fraser expressed optimism about the year ahead, saying, "We see economic strength in the Atlantic Canadian economy, with Halifax leading the way. Killam will benefit from a stronger economy, increased employment and population growth in our core markets."
In 2016, Killam anticipates interest expense savings on refinancings, and expects recently completed developments and acquisitions to contribute to FFO per share growth. Successful completion of the conversion to Killam Apartment REIT, a structure that should maximize Killam's future cash flows, will round out the year. The shareholder meeting to approve the conversion is scheduled for December 8, 2015, in Halifax.
Summary of Q3 Results and Operations
Growing rental rates and improved occupancy drive same store revenue growth
Same store revenue growth of 2.6% was achieved through 1.2% and 4.4% increases in rental rates related to the apartment and manufactured home community ("MHC") portfolios, respectively, as well as a 60 basis point ("bps") increase in apartment occupancy and a 50 bps reduction in rental incentives. All regions contributed positively to revenue growth with Killam's largest rental market, Halifax, generating a 2.2% increase in same store property revenue during Q3-2015.
Lower energy costs and operating efficiencies curb expense growth
Same store property operating expenses increased a modest 0.3% in Q3-2015, mitigated by a 2.4% reduction in utility and fuel costs from lower pricing for oil and natural gas, as well as boiler replacements and lighting retrofits. Killam benefited from reduced water consumption through its ongoing water-fixture replacement program, resulting in a 0.7% decrease in same store apartment water costs in Q3-2015.
Developments and acquisitions contribute to FFO
Acquisitions and developments completed throughout 2015 and 2014, along with two previous developments that were stabilized part way through 2014, contributed $1.6 million to FFO growth in the quarter. This growth was partially offset by an increase in the number of weighted average shares outstanding.
Interest savings locked in on refinancings
Killam successfully refinanced $32.0 million of maturing apartment mortgages with $43.8 million of new debt at a weighted average interest rate of 2.12%, 203 bps lower than the weighted average interest rate prior to refinancing, all for 5-year terms. The Company also refinanced one MHC mortgage at 3.41%, 147 bps lower than the weighted average interest rate prior to refinancing.
Expansion of development pipeline with $8.4 million acquisition in Halifax
During the third quarter, Killam acquired a combination of commercial and residential assets located directly across from Killam's Spring Garden Terrace property in Halifax. The largest of the properties is known as the Medical Arts Building, an 18,000 square foot office building. Killam plans to redevelop the properties. The total purchase price of $8.4 million was satisfied with the issuance of $2.5 million of common shares of Killam, and the balance in cash. A new, three-year term, $6.3 million mortgage was placed on the properties during the quarter.
Financial Summary (in thousands, except per share amounts)
The following chart provides a summary of Killam's financial position and results for the periods ending September 30, 2015, per International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). A reconciliation of net income to FFO is also disclosed. FFO is recognized as the industry-wide standard measure of operating performance for real estate entities, however it is not a measure defined by IFRS.
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Consolidated Financial For the three months For the nine months
Highlights ended ended
Sept 30, Sept 30, Sept 30, Sept 30,
(unaudited) 2015 2014 2015 2014
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Property revenue $43,193 $37,777 $124,181 $109,360
Net operating income $27,178 $23,773 $73,029 $62,834
Income before fair value
gain, gain (loss) on
disposition, and income
taxes $15,010 $13,145 $37,085 $30,492
Fair value gain $1,368 $13,382 $1,548 $21,582
Net income $11,621 $21,466 $27,731 $41,221
Net income attributable to
common shareholders $11,462 $20,491 $27,137 $39,031
Earnings per share (diluted) $0.17 $0.33 $0.42 $0.66
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Reconciliation of Net Income For the three months For the nine months
to FFO ended ended
Sept 30, Sept 30, Sept 30, Sept 30,
2015 2014 2015 2014
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Net Income $11,621 $21,466 $27,731 $41,221
Fair value gains (1,368) (13,382) (1,548) (21,582)
Non-controlling interest
(before fair value gains) (284) (277) (793) (794)
Deferred tax expense 4,831 5,061 10,793 10,947
Depreciation of owner-
occupied building 53 44 146 124
(Gain) Loss on disposition (74) - 109 (94)
Tax planning costs - - 177 89
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FFO $14,779 $12,912 $36,615 $29,911
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FFO per share $0.24 $0.23 $0.59 $0.54
Financial Statements
Killam's Consolidated Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, are posted under Financial Reports in the Investor Relations section of Killam's website at www.killamproperties.com/investor-relations. Readers are directed to these documents for financial details and a discussion around Killam's results.
Results Conference Call
Management will host a conference call to discuss these results on Wednesday, November 4, 2015, at 11:00 AM Eastern. The dial-in numbers for the conference call are 416-340-2220 (in Toronto) or 866-225-6564 (toll free, within North America).
A live audio webcast of the conference call will be accessible on the Company's website at www.killamproperties.com/investor-relations/events-and-presentations and at http://www.gowebcasting.com/6951.
Corporate Profile
Killam Properties Inc., based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, is one of Canada's largest residential landlords, owning, operating and developing multi-family apartments and manufactured home communities.
Non-IFRS Measures
There are measures included in this press release that do not have a standardized meaning under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other publicly traded companies. The Company includes these measures as a means of measuring financial performance.
-- Net operating income is calculated by the Company as income from
property operations.
-- FFO is calculated by the Company as net income plus deferred tax
expense, fair value losses, depreciation on owner-occupied property,
loss on disposition and tax planning costs relating to the Company's
potential REIT conversion, less fair value gains, gain on disposition
and non-controlling interest.
-- AFFO is a calculated by subtracting the capital spend related to
maintaining the earnings capacity of the portfolio from FFO; Killam uses
the industry standard to $450 per apartment unit per year, and $100 per
MHC site.
-- Same store results in relation to the Company are revenues and property
operating expenses for stabilized properties the Company has owned for
equivalent periods in 2015 and 2014.
-- Interest coverage is calculated by dividing the earnings before
interest, tax, depreciation, gain or loss on disposition and fair value
adjustments by interest expense.
See the Q3-2015 Management's Discussion and Analysis for further details on these non-IFRS measures.
Note: The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved of the information contained herein. Certain statements in this report may constitute forward-looking statements relating to our operations and the environment in which we operate, which are based on our expectations, estimates, forecast and projections, which we believe are reasonable as of the current date. Such forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of Killam to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For more exhaustive information on these risks and uncertainties, you should refer to our most recently filed annual information form which is available at www.sedar.com. Readers, therefore, should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, a forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made and should not be relied upon as of any other date. Other than as required by law, Killam does not undertake to update any of such forward-looking statements.
Contacts:
Killam Properties Inc.
Dale Noseworthy, CPA, CA, CFA
Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Planning
dnoseworthy@killamproperties.com
(902) 442-0388
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