Lanesborough REIT Reports 2014 Operating Results

News provided by

Lanesborough Real Estate Investment Trust

Mar 11, 2015, 17:00 ET

WINNIPEG, March 11, 2015 /CNW/ - Lanesborough Real Estate Investment Trust ("LREIT") (TSX: LRT.UN) today reported its operating results for the year ended December 31, 2014. The following comments in regard to the financial position and operating results of LREIT should be read in conjunction with Management's Discussion & Analysis and the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014, which may be obtained from the LREIT website at www.lreit.com or the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.

Highlights

During 2014, LREIT continued to improve its financial and liquidity position. Key accomplishments include:

  • Extension of Series G Debentures: The maturity date of the Series G debentures was extended from February 2015 to June 2018.

  • Completion of Parsons Landing Acquisition: On March 6, 2014, the purchase of Parsons Landing was completed, resolving uncertainties regarding the finalization of property ownership and interest forgiveness. In May 2014, 27 months after the fire, the lease up of Parsons Landing achieved 94% occupancy.

  • Upward Re-financing of Mortgage Loans: LREIT generated net proceeds of $1.6 million from the upward re-financing of Elgin Lodge and, subsequent to December 31, 2014, generated net proceeds of $7.4 million from the upward refinancing of Beck Court. The proceeds have been used to pay down higher interest rate debt and for general working capital purposes.

  • Collection of Mortgage Loans: The collection of mortgage loans receivable of $9 million provided an infusion of funds during Q2-2014.

  • Elimination of Mortgage Bond Debt: In 2014, the Trust repaid $10 million of the 9% mortgage bonds. Subsequently, in February of 2015, the remaining mortgage bonds with a face value of $6 million were repaid. The repayments were funded using proceeds from the sale of Nova Court and the upward refinancing of Beck Court, respectively.

  • Reduction in Mortgage Loan Debt Service: The cash component of interest expense, including discontinued operations, decreased by 15% or $3.8 million, compared to 2013. The majority of the decrease is due to mortgage re-financings at more favourable rates, as well as the reduction in the mortgage bond debt

  • Overall Debt Reduction: Total long‑term debt, combined with the acquisition payable on Parsons Landing, decreased by $15.7 million during 2014, compared to 2013. As of December 31, 2014, the total debt, including the revolving loan, was equal to 78% of the IFRS carrying value of the total property portfolio.

Income Results

During 2014, LREIT incurred a loss from investment properties of $20.9 million compared to income of $14.7 million during 2013. The variance is mainly due to a variance in fair value adjustments, including the fair value adjustments on Parsons Landing, and a decrease in the combined total of net operating income and insurance recoveries, partially offset by a decrease in interest expense.

During 2013, the fair value of the investment property portfolio increased by $15.9 million, largely as a result of the return of suites to active rental operations at Parsons Landing and favourable changes in key valuation assumptions including cap and discount rates. The fair value loss of $16.5 million that occurred in 2014 is almost entirely due to unfavourable changes in revenue and occupancy expectations for the Fort McMurray portfolio that occurred as a result of the decline in oil prices during Q4-2014.

Excluding the impact of properties sold, NOI combined with insurance recoveries on Parsons Landing decreased by $3.0 million during 2014, compared to 2013.  After accounting for the decline in net operating income related to the sale of the Purolator Building and Nova Court in 2013, the decrease in operating income is largely attributable to a weakening of market conditions in Q1-2014. Conditions improved substantially in the second and third quarters of the year, but softened again in the fourth quarter, due largely to seasonal factors.

Interest expense decreased by $2.7 million, or 10%, during 2014, largely as a result of the refinancing of debt at lower interest rates during 2013, the effect of which were fully realized in 2014. The reduction in the combined total of long‑term debt and the acquisition payable of $17 million also served to reduce interest expense.

Income from discontinued operations decreased $2.2 million primarily due to the write‑down of Elgin Lodge to its fair value based on a new appraisal prepared during 2014. Overall, LREIT completed 2014 with a comprehensive loss of $22.2 million compared to comprehensive income of $15.5 million in 2013.

Cash Flow Results

During 2014, the cash outflow from operating activities, excluding working capital adjustments, amounted to $0.6 million, compared to a cash inflow of $2.0 million during 2013. Including working capital adjustments, LREIT completed 2014 with a cash outflow from operating activities of $0.8 million, compared to a cash inflow of $1.6 million during 2013.

Outlook

The recent decline in oil prices and lower occupancies will make 2015 a challenging year for the Fort McMurray property portfolio. LREIT intends to expand its divestiture program in 2015 and will pursue upward re-financing opportunities in an effort to further improve its overall liquidity position. Despite current headwinds, the long‑term prospects for continued growth in oil sands production and development activity remain. Even during periods of price volatility, oil sands production has continued to increase steadily over time, reflecting the long‑term nature of the oil sands resource.

FINANCIAL AND OPERATING SUMMARY

December 31



2014

2013

2012

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION









Total assets

$

442,773,600

$

468,072,319

$

481,552,578

Total long‑term financial liabilities(1)

$

327,980,499

$

302,335,837

$

324,501,221

Weighted average interest rate










‑ Mortgage loan debt

5.7%

5.4%

7.1%


‑ Total debt

6.3%

5.9%

7.4%












Year Ended December 31


2014

2013

2012

KEY FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS








Operating Results









Rentals from investment properties

$

38,291,698

$

40,328,764

$

38,410,992

Net operating income


$

21,775,464

$

24,208,769

$

22,429,229

Income (loss) before discontinued operations

$

(20,878,092)

$

14,689,374

$

601,545

Income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss)

$

(22,238,581)

$

15,519,586

$

20,098,308

Cash Flows









Cash provided by (used in) operating activities

$

(806,632)

$

1,625,477

$

(4,538,612)

Funds from Operations (FFO)

$

(4,047,931)

$

(887,528)

$

(7,138,217)

Adjusted Funds from Operations (AFFO)

$

(6,083,144)

$

(3,863,140)

$

(10,207,994)

(1)            Long‑term financial liabilities consist of mortgage loans, debentures, a defeased liability, an interest rate swap liability and mortgage bonds.   The mortgage bonds are included at face value.

2014 COMPARED TO 2013

Analysis of Income (Loss)


Year Ended December 31

Increase (Decrease)

in Income


2014

2013

Amount

%

Rentals from investment properties

$

38,291,698

$

40,328,764

$

(2,037,066)

(5)%

Property operating costs

16,516,234

16,119,995

(396,239)

(2)%

Net operating income



21,775,464

24,208,769

(2,433,305)

(10)%

Interest income

657,609

1,272,740

(615,131)

(48)%

Interest expense

(24,480,925)

(27,223,579)

2,742,654

10%

Trust expense

(2,472,215)

(2,312,565)

(159,650)

(7)%

Income recovery on Parsons Landing

98,499

2,622,629

(2,524,130)

(96)%

Loss before the following

(4,421,568)

(1,432,006)

(2,989,562)

(209)%

Gain on sale of investment properties

71,235

221,642

(150,407)

(68)%

Fair value adjustments ‑ Investment properties

(16,527,759)

6,970,031

(23,497,790)

(337)%

Fair value adjustment ‑ Parsons Landing

-

8,929,707

(8,929,707)

(100)%

Income (loss) before discontinued operations

(20,878,092)

14,689,374

(35,567,466)

(242)%

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

(1,360,489)

830,212

(2,190,701)

(264)%

Income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss)

$

(22,238,581)

$

15,519,586

$

(37,758,167)

(243)%













Analysis of Rental Revenue


Year Ended December 31








Increase (Decrease)

% of Total


2014

2013

Amount

%

2014

2013

Fort McMurray

$

22,737,066

$

24,422,889

$

(1,685,823)

(7)%

59%

61%

Other investment properties

11,003,126

10,892,024

111,102

1%

29%

27%

Sub‑total

33,740,192

35,314,913

(1,574,721)

(4)%

88%

88%

Properties sold (1)

1,065

3,425,499

(3,424,434)

(100)%

- %

8%

Parsons Landing (2)

4,550,441

1,588,352

2,962,089

186%

12%

4%

Total

$

38,291,698

$

40,328,764

$

(2,037,066)

(5)%

100%

100%



















1.

Represents revenue from the Purolator Building and Nova Court.

2.

For 2013, results represent revenue from Parsons Landing for 84 suites which were reconstructed and returned to rental operations on October 1, 2013.

As disclosed in the chart above, total revenue from the investment properties, excluding properties sold and Parsons Landing, decreased by $1.57 million in 2014, compared to 2013. The decrease is mainly due to a decrease in revenue from investment properties in Fort McMurray, particularly during Q1-2014. Specifically, during 2014, rental revenues for the Fort McMurray property portfolio decreased by $1.69 million, comprised of a decrease of $0.81 million in Q1, a decrease of $0.30 million in Q2, a decrease of $0.35 million in Q3, and a decrease of $0.24 million in Q4.

The 2014 decrease in revenue from the Fort McMurray property portfolio is attributable to a decrease in both the average occupancy level and the average rental rate. As disclosed in the charts below, the average occupancy level for the Fort McMurray portfolio decreased from 91% during 2013 to 86% during 2014, while the average monthly rental rate decreased by $37 or 1.6%.

The revenue results for the Fort McMurray property portfolio generally reflect a more competitive rental market characterized by a slowdown in oil sands development activity, reduced demand for residential rental units and an increase in the supply of available rental units as well as increased competition from temporary housing units. Specifically, the first quarter results reflect abnormal variations in seasonal demand that resulted from a delay in the commencement of municipal and oil sands infrastructure projects.

In contrast to the average rental rate increases that occurred during 2013, average rental rates decreased steadily throughout 2014.  As a result, revenue in Q4-2014 was comparatively low relative to Q4-2013.

Occupancy Level, by Quarter


2014


Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

12-Month

Average

Fort McMurray

80%

90%

89%

86%

86%

Other investment properties

89%

92%

94%

93%

92%

Total

82%

91%

91%

88%

88%











Properties sold

       n/a

        n/a

        n/a

       n/a

       n/a

Parsons Landing

69%

89%

93%

81%

83%













2013


Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

12-Month

Average

Fort McMurray

93%

95%

92%

84%

91%

Other investment properties

95%

94%

92%

90%

93%

Total

94%

94%

92%

85%

91%











Properties sold

100%

100%

100%

99%

100%

Parsons Landing

       n/a


        n/a


         n/a


       n/a


      n/a

The occupancy level represents the portion of potential revenue that was achieved

Average Monthly Rents, by Quarter


2014


Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

12-Month

Average

Fort McMurray

$2,337

$2,309

$2,285

$2,233

$2,292

Other investment properties

$933

$927

$919

$933

$928

Total

$1,672

$1,654

$1,638

$1,617

$1,645

Properties sold

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Parsons Landing

$2,744

$2,742

$2,734

$2,626

$2,712













2013


Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

12-Month

Average

Fort McMurray

$2,259

$2,275

$2,318

$2,387

$2,329

Other investment properties

$922

$929

$931

$934

$929

Total

$1,627

$1,638

$1,661

$1,699

$1,666

Properties sold

$2,550

$2,546

$2,692

$2,299

$2,521

Parsons Landing

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Analysis of Property Operating Costs


Year Ended December 31

Increase (Decrease)


2014

2013

Amount

%













Fort McMurray

$

9,237,202

$

8,707,915

$

529,287

6%

Other investment properties

5,608,388

5,277,117

331,271

6%

Sub‑total

14,845,590

13,985,032

860,558

6%

Properties sold

103,437

1,593,323

(1,489,886)

(94)%

Parsons Landing

1,567,207

541,640

1,025,567

189%

Total

$

16,516,234

$

16,119,995

$

396,239

2%













During 2014, property operating costs for the portfolio of investment properties, excluding properties sold and Parsons Landing, increased by $0.86 million, compared to 2013, comprised of an increase of $0.53 million in the operating costs of the Fort McMurray portfolio and an increase of $0.33 million in the Other investment properties portfolio.

The increase in the operating costs of the Fort McMurray portfolio is mainly due to an increase in maintenance costs, including an increase in repair costs related to water damage, net of insurance recoveries and a decrease in property taxes.

Analysis of Net Operating Income


Net Operating Income



Year Ended December 31

Increase (Decrease)

Percent of Total

Operating Margin


2014

2013

Amount

%

2014

2013

2014

2013

Fort McMurray

$ 13,499,864

$ 15,714,974

$ (2,215,110)

(14)%

62%

65%

59%

64%

Other investment properties

5,394,738

5,614,907

(220,169)

(4)%

25%

23%

49%

52%

Sub‑total

18,894,602

21,329,881

(2,435,279)

(11)%

87%

88%

56%

60%

Properties sold

(102,372)

1,832,176

(1,934,548)

(106)%

(1)%

8%

      n/a


53%

Parsons Landing

2,983,234

1,046,712

1,936,522

185%

14%

4%

66%

66%

Total

$ 21,775,464

$ 24,208,769

$ (2,433,305)

(10)%

100%

100%

57%

60%

















After considering the decrease in rental revenue and the increase in property operating costs, as analyzed in the preceding sections of this press release, net operating income for the portfolio of investment properties, excluding properties sold and Parsons Landing, decreased by $2.44 million or 11% during    2014, compared to 2013. The decrease in NOI is attributable to a decrease of $2.22 million in the NOI of the Fort McMurray properties and a decrease of $0.22 million in the NOI of the Other investment properties.

After accounting for the decrease in net operating income related to both properties that were sold and Parsons Landing, total net operating income decreased by $2.43 million during 2014, compared to 2013.

During 2014, net operating income from Parsons Landing combined with the income recovery on Parsons Landing amounted to $3.08 million, compared to $3.67 million during 2013, representing a decrease of $0.59 million or 16%. The decrease is attributable to the change in the operational status of the property.  During 2013, revenue losses from un-leased or un-reconstructed suites were fully covered by insurance proceeds, whereas, at the beginning of 2014, the property was in the lease‑up phase and insurance recoveries ended on February 5, 2014.  The lease‑up phase was essentially completed in May 2014 when the property achieved an occupancy level of 94%.

Overall, the operating margin for the property portfolio, excluding properties sold and Parsons Landing, decreased from 60% in 2013, to 56% in 2014.

COMPARISON TO PREVIOUS AND COMPARATIVE QUARTERS

Analysis of Loss


Q4-2014

Q3-2014

Increase
(Decrease) in
Income

Q4-2013

Increase
(Decrease) in
income

Rentals from investment properties

$

9,483,539

$

9,924,262

$

(440,723)

$

10,115,906

$

(632,367)

Property operating costs

4,240,746

3,820,309

(420,437)

4,092,631

(148,115)

Net operating income



5,242,793

6,103,953

(861,160)

6,023,275

(780,482)

Interest income

37,842

27,770

10,072

340,701

(302,859)

Interest expense

(5,540,625)

(6,240,075)

699,450

(6,490,178)

949,553

Trust expense

(697,733)

(554,533)

(143,200)

(550,238)

(147,495)

Income recovery on Parsons Landing

-

-

-

350,295

(350,295)

Loss before the following

(957,723)

(662,885)

(294,838)

(326,145)

(631,578)

Gain on sale of investment properties

-

-

-

56,714

(56,714)

Fair value adjustments

(15,685,280)

(157,887)

(15,527,393)

(2,107,277)

(13,578,003)

Fair value adjustment of Parsons Landing

-

-

-

1,707,628

(1,707,628)

Loss for the period before discontinued operations

(16,643,003)

(820,772)

(15,822,231)

(669,080)

(15,973,923)

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

(1,653,429)

25,304

(1,678,733)

159,916

(1,813,345)

Comprehensive loss

$

(18,296,432)

$

(795,468)

$

(17,500,964)

$

(509,164)

(17,787,268)

Comparison to Q3-2014

During Q4-2014, LREIT incurred a loss of $0.96 million, before fair value adjustment and discontinued operations, compared to a loss of $0.66 million during Q3-2014. The increase in the loss mainly reflects a decrease in net operating income of $0.86 million, partially offset by a decrease in interest expense of $0.70 million. The decrease in net operating income is mainly due to a decrease in the net operating income of the Fort McMurray portfolio. The decrease in interest expense mainly reflects a reduction in interest charges related to the change in fair value of the interest rate swap liability.

After accounting for the variance in fair value adjustments in the amount of $15.53 million, the loss before discontinued operations increased by $15.82 million during Q4-2014, compared to Q3-2014.  The variance in fair value adjustments is mainly due to reduced revenue and occupancy expectations related to the decline in oil prices that occurred during Q4-2014.

Income from discontinued operations decreased by $1.68 million in Q4-2014 compared to Q3-2014. The decrease is mainly due to a fair value adjustment for Elgin Lodge recorded in Q4-2014 reducing its fair value by $1.73 million. Including discontinued operations, Q4-2014 had a comprehensive loss of $18.30 million, compared to a comprehensive loss of $0.80 million during Q3-2014. 

ABOUT LREIT
LREIT is a real estate investment trust, which is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols LRT.UN (Trust Units), LRT.DB.G (Series G Debentures) and LRT.WT.A (Warrants expiring December 23, 2015).  The objective of LREIT is to provide Unitholders with stable cash distributions from investment in a diversified portfolio of quality real estate properties.  For further information on LREIT, please visit our website at www.lreit.com.

This press release contains certain statements that could be considered as forward-looking information.  The forward-looking information is subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could result in actual results differing materially from the forward-looking statements. 

The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed or approved the contents of this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

SOURCE Lanesborough Real Estate Investment Trust

Arni Thorsteinson, Chief Executive Officer, or Gino Romagnoli, Investor Relations, Tel: (204) 475-9090, Fax: (204) 452-5505, Email: [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.lreit.com

Organization Profile

Lanesborough Real Estate Investment Trust