Unlock stock picks and a broker-level newsfeed that powers Wall Street.
Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust Reports Results for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2024

In This Article:

TORONTO, July 18, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust ("Choice Properties" or the "Trust") (TSX: CHP.UN) today announced its consolidated financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024. The 2024 Second Quarter Report to Unitholders is available in the Investors section of the Trust’s website at www.choicereit.ca, and has been filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

"This was another solid quarter operationally, as we continued to operate at a high level of occupancy and delivered strong leasing and same asset NOI growth," said Rael Diamond, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Trust. "We further strengthened our balance sheet, completing $788 million in financings with an average term of 9.6 years and an average interest rate of approximately 5.0%. We also received a credit rating upgrade, citing the strength of our grocery anchored retail properties and our strategic relationship with Loblaw."

2024 Second Quarter Highlights

  • Reported net income for the quarter of $513.2 million as compared to net income of $535.7 million in the same prior year period.

  • Reported FFO per unit diluted(1) of $0.255, an increase of 0.4% compared to the same prior year period.

    • FFO per unit diluted(1) excluding certain non-recurring items and timing differences, increased by $0.014 or 5.7%.

  • Period end occupancy was 98.0%.

    • Retail at 97.7%, industrial at 98.8% and mixed-use & residential at 94.7%.

  • Same-Asset NOI on a cash basis(1) increased by 4.4% compared to the same prior year period.

    • Retail increased by 3.0%;

    • Industrial increased by 11.8%; and

    • Mixed-use & residential increased by 0.8%.

  • Completed $113.5 million of transactions in the quarter, including:

    • Acquisition of our partner’s interest in a retail property in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta for $21.1 million, following which the Trust owns 100% of the property;

    • Acquisition of a standalone retail property in midtown Toronto, Ontario for $12.0 million. Concurrent with the transaction, Choice entered into a lease with Loblaw for this property; and

    • Disposition of our interest in four retail properties in Alberta and Saskatchewan for proceeds of $80.4 million on a proportionate share basis(1). Consideration included three vendor take-back mortgages totalling $11.1 million, bearing interest at an average rate of 6.81%.

  • Completed $788.2 million of debt financing in the quarter, including:

    • The issuance of $500.0 million Series U senior unsecured debentures, bearing interest at 5.03% with a 6.8-year term. Proceeds were invested in a GIC earning 5.50% interest;

    • Completion of $243.0 million of mortgage financings at share secured by three industrial properties, with an average rate of 5.309% and an average term of 16.9 years. Proceeds were partially used to repay $71.7 million of construction loans secured by two of the properties.

    • Assumption of $45.2 million of mortgages from our partner at an average rate of 3.407%, with an average remaining term of 2.7 years in connection with acquisition and disposition transactions completed in the quarter.

  • Transferred $8.3 million of properties under development to income producing status, delivering approximately 44,000 square feet of new commercial GLA on a proportionate share basis(1) through retail intensifications.

  • Invested $31.7 million of capital in development projects on a proportionate share basis(1).

  • Received a credit rating upgrade from S&P Global Ratings to BBB+.

  • Subsequent to the quarter end, Choice and Loblaw renewed 46 of a tranche of 48 leases expiring in 2025, comprising 3.08 million of 3.20 million square feet, at a weighted average spread of 8.4% and a weighted average extension term of 5.0 years. The 46 renewals included one industrial lease.

  • Ended the quarter in a strong liquidity position with $1.5 billion of available credit under the Trust’s revolving credit facility, a $12.8 billion pool of unencumbered assets and Adjusted Debt to EBITDAFV(1) of 7.6x (net of cash 6.9x).