Mitchell Cohen, Chief Executive Officer and President of Urbanfund
Corp. (TSX-V: UFC) (“Urbanfund” or the “Company”), confirmed today
that the Company has filed its financial statements for the year
ended December 31, 2023 (the “Consolidated Financial Statements”)
and corresponding Management’s Discussion and Analysis
(“MD&A”).
BUSINESS OVERVIEW AND STRATEGY
Business Overview
Urbanfund Corp. is an incorporated entity listed on the TSX
Venture Exchange (“TSX-V”) under the symbol UFC. The Company is a
reporting issuer in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario.
Urbanfund’s focus is to invest in Canadian real estate and real
estate related projects with a focus on a mix of both residential
and commercial properties. The Company’s assets are located in
Toronto, Brampton, Belleville, Kitchener and London, Ontario,
Quebec City and Montreal, Quebec and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
Operational Highlights
Part of Urbanfund’s strength is its ability to attract partners
with proven track records with both residential and commercial
development expertise. Urbanfund continues to build alliances with
its strategic partners:
- 270-330 Esna Park Drive, Markham – In June 2023, Urbanfund
invested $1,660,000 into TREI (270-330 Esna Park) LP which holds a
20% interest in 270-330 Esna Park LP (“Esna Park LP”) that owns an
industrial complex located at 270-330 Esna Park Drive, Markham,
Ontario. Urbanfund owns 76.9% of TREI (270-330 Esna Park) LP,
effecting an indirect 15.4% ownership in Esna Park LP. The complex
is approximately 100,524 sq ft with 37 industrial units. The
purpose of Esna Park LP is to convert property to condominium and
sell individual units into market.
- Weber Investments LP (“Weber LP”) – In May 2023, the general
partners of Weber LP, which holds Urbanfund’s investment of 63
Scott Street, Kitchener, Ontario (the “Scott”), issued a return of
capital to the Company in the amount of $1,343,333, as a result of
excess cashflow generated from the operations of the Scott.
- 1040 Martin Grove Road, Toronto – In April 2023, Urbanfund
invested $1,870,000 into TREI (1040) LP which holds a 50% interest
in 1040 Martin Grove LP (“1040 LP”) that owns an industrial complex
located at 1040 Martin Grove Road, Toronto, Ontario. Urbanfund owns
56.7% of TREI (1040) LP, effecting an indirect 28.4% ownership in
1040 LP. The complex is approximately 75,727 sq ft with 25
industrial units. The purpose of 1040 LP is to convert the property
to condominium title and sell individual units into market.
- One Bloor Project – During the year ended December 31, 2023,
Urbanfund received distributions relating to profit on sales of One
Bloor Street totaling $188,000. Total profits received as of the
date of this MD&A were $4,804,667.
- 2074-84 Steeles Avenue East – In December 2022, Urbanfund,
along with its joint venture partners, completed the sale of 36
units within the industrial complex. Total profits received as of
the date of this MD&A were $5,125,000.
- 67-69 Westmore - In January 2022, Urbanfund formed a joint
venture Takol 67-69 Westmore Inc., which acquired an industrial
complex located at 67-69 Westmore Drive, Etobicoke, Ontario. The
joint venture intends to renovate, change to condominium title and
sell units in the complex. Urbanfund holds a 40% interest and its
joint venture partner, Kolt Investment Inc. (formerly Takol Real
Estate Inc.), and two private investors hold the remainder. The
purchase price was $23,425,000 plus customary closing costs, funded
by a $17,568,750 mortgage and $5,856,250 in equity
contributions.
PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND NON-IFRS
MEASURES
Presentation of Financial Information
Unless otherwise specified herein, financial results, including
historical comparatives, contained in this press release are based
on Urbanfund’s 2023 Annual Consolidated Financial Statements, which
have been prepared in accordance with International Financial
Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International
Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and interpretations of the IFRS
Interpretations Committee (“IFRIC”). Unless otherwise specified,
amounts are in Canadian dollars and percentage changes are
calculated using whole numbers.
RESULTS FROM OPERATIONS
In addition to reported IFRS measures, industry practice is to
evaluate real estate entities giving consideration to certain
non-IFRS performance measures such as funds from operations,
adjusted cash flows from operations and net operating income, as
reported below. For further details, please refer to Non-IFRS
Measures.
Selected Annual Information
As at December 31, |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
2021 |
|
Operating results |
|
|
|
|
Rental Revenue |
|
$ |
8,638,426 |
|
$ |
8,484,928 |
|
$ |
6,450,982 |
|
Income before taxes |
|
|
7,963,575 |
|
|
9,692,503 |
|
|
12,386,266 |
|
Net income and comprehensive income |
|
6,789,930 |
|
|
7,584,503 |
|
|
10,677,266 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per share basis, attributable to shareholders |
|
|
|
Basic income per share |
|
$ |
0.122 |
|
$ |
0.143 |
|
$ |
0.204 |
|
Diluted income per share |
|
$ |
0.107 |
|
$ |
0.125 |
|
$ |
0.178 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-IFRS measures (i) |
|
|
|
|
FFO |
|
$ |
3,771,695 |
|
$ |
6,839,231 |
|
$ |
2,753,707 |
|
ACFO |
|
|
217,983 |
|
|
6,159,348 |
|
|
(4,330,835 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
As at, |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
2021 |
|
Financial position |
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
155,407,220 |
|
$ |
150,775,195 |
|
$ |
144,472,975 |
|
Total investment properties |
|
|
107,252,000 |
|
|
104,437,000 |
|
|
101,537,000 |
|
Total mortgages payable |
|
|
65,103,388 |
|
|
65,073,329 |
|
|
65,777,147 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-IFRS measures (i) |
|
|
|
|
Debt to total assets |
|
|
42 |
% |
|
43 |
% |
|
46 |
% |
Debt to Adjusted EBITDA (ii) |
|
|
10.78 |
|
|
5.13 |
|
|
13.65 |
|
Interest coverage ratio (ii) |
|
|
2.36 |
|
|
4.18 |
|
|
2.38 |
|
Debt service ratio (ii) |
|
|
1.44 |
|
|
2.52 |
|
|
1.33 |
|
(i) Represents non-IFRS measures. For definitions and
basis of presentation for non-IFRS measures, refer to Non-IFRS
Measures section below. (ii) Calculated on a trailing
12-month basis
Summary of Quarterly Results
For the three months ended, |
|
Revenue |
Net income attributable to shareholders |
Basic income per share |
Diluted income per share |
December 31, 2023 |
|
$ |
2,198,679 |
$ |
3,200,591 |
$ |
0.061 |
$ |
0.053 |
September 30, 2023 |
|
|
2,162,878 |
|
904,469 |
|
0.017 |
|
0.015 |
June 30, 2023 |
|
|
2,206,479 |
|
1,056,505 |
|
0.020 |
|
0.018 |
March 31, 2023 |
|
|
2,070,390 |
|
1,219,047 |
|
0.023 |
|
0.021 |
December 31, 2022 |
|
|
2,167,779 |
|
5,097,851 |
|
0.098 |
|
0.086 |
September 30, 2022 |
|
|
2,179,616 |
|
735,796 |
|
0.014 |
|
0.012 |
June 30, 2022 |
|
|
2,157,990 |
|
662,847 |
|
0.013 |
|
0.011 |
March 31, 2022 |
|
|
1,979,543 |
|
846,801 |
|
0.017 |
|
0.014 |
Funds from Operations (“FFO”)
|
|
Three months ended December 31, |
Year ended December 31, |
|
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
Net income attributable to shareholders |
$ |
3,200,591 |
|
$ |
5,097,850 |
|
$ |
6,380,612 |
|
$ |
7,343,295 |
|
|
Add back /
(deduct): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred
income tax expense |
|
|
439,000 |
|
|
240,000 |
|
|
1,077,000 |
|
|
891,000 |
|
|
Fair value
adjustment on equity accounted investments |
|
|
(1,231,800 |
) |
|
549,400 |
|
|
(1,878,200 |
) |
|
125,200 |
|
|
Fair value adjustment on investment properties |
|
(1,871,157 |
) |
|
(1,550,453 |
) |
|
(2,087,919 |
) |
|
(1,688,271 |
) |
|
Fair value adjustment on non-controlling interest |
|
271,856 |
|
|
93,997 |
|
|
292,921 |
|
|
150,221 |
|
|
Straight-line of rental revenue |
|
|
(6,219 |
) |
|
25,286 |
|
|
(12,719 |
) |
|
17,786 |
|
|
FFO |
|
$ |
802,271 |
|
$ |
4,456,080 |
|
$ |
3,771,695 |
|
$ |
6,839,231 |
|
|
Weighted average number of shares - basic |
|
52,765,405 |
|
|
51,774,323 |
|
|
52,409,795 |
|
|
51,444,726 |
|
|
Weighted average number of shares - diluted |
|
60,190,405 |
|
|
59,199,323 |
|
|
59,834,795 |
|
|
58,869,726 |
|
|
FFO
per share - basic |
|
$ |
0.015 |
|
$ |
0.086 |
|
$ |
0.072 |
|
$ |
0.133 |
|
|
FFO per share - diluted |
|
$ |
0.013 |
|
$ |
0.075 |
|
$ |
0.063 |
|
$ |
0.116 |
|
|
Adjusted Cash Flows from Operations
(“ACFO”)
|
|
|
|
Three months ended December 31, |
Year ended December 31, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
Cash provided by operating activities |
|
|
$ |
793,799 |
|
$ |
8,476,912 |
|
$ |
2,482,389 |
|
$ |
8,048,766 |
|
|
Adjustments to working capital changes for ACFO (i) |
|
(107,529 |
) |
|
(53,590 |
) |
|
(464,406 |
) |
|
(89,418 |
) |
|
Normalized capital expenditures (ii) |
|
|
|
(600,000 |
) |
|
(600,000 |
) |
|
(1,800,000 |
) |
|
(1,800,000 |
) |
|
ACFO |
|
|
$ |
86,270 |
|
$ |
7,823,322 |
|
$ |
217,983 |
|
$ |
6,159,348 |
|
|
(i) Includes working capital changes that based on
REALpac February 2019 whitepaper, are not indicative of sustainable
cash flow for distribution. Also includes income taxes not relating
to operating activities, tenant deposits, and deferred financing
charges.(ii) Normalized capital expenditures are
management's estimate of ongoing capital investment required to
maintain the condition of the property and current rental revenues.
Refer to Non-IFRS Measures section below.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Urbanfund expects to meet all of its obligations, including
dividends to shareholders, property maintenance, capital
expenditures and other commitments as they become due. The Company
has various financing sources to fund future acquisitions and
continues to fund working capital needs from cash flows generated
from operating activities. Cash flows from operating activities are
dependent on the occupancy levels of our income properties.
The following table presents liquidity as a percentage of
debt:
|
|
|
|
|
As at |
|
December 31, 2023 |
December 31, 2022 |
|
Cash |
|
$ |
3,567,974 |
|
$ |
12,992,706 |
|
|
Accounts
receivable (i) |
|
|
5,293,041 |
|
|
460,784 |
|
|
Liquidity |
|
$ |
8,861,015 |
|
$ |
13,453,490 |
|
|
Mortgages payable |
|
|
65,194,379 |
|
|
65,181,642 |
|
|
Debt |
|
$ |
65,194,379 |
|
$ |
65,181,642 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liquidity expressed as a percentage of debt |
|
|
13.6 |
% |
|
20.6 |
% |
|
(i) As of the date of this press release, Urbanfund
has collected its outstanding amounts due as at December 31, 2023
and therefore accounts receivable has been factored in
Liquidity.The Company’s liquidity will be impacted by contractual
commitments as outlined in Urbanfund’s MD&A. Urbanfund’s debt
obligations can be funded by the Company’s cash and cash
equivalents, marketable securities, rental revenue from property
operations.
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN (“DRIP”)
On June 17, 2015, Urbanfund adopted a dividend policy (the
“Dividend Policy”) and implemented a dividend reinvestment plan for
the holders of common shares and Series A preferred shares
(collectively, the “DRIP”). The DRIP is a voluntary program
permitting holders of Series A, first preferred shares and common
shares to automatically and without charge, reinvest dividends into
additional common shares at a specified discount to the
volume-weighted average market price calculated as the date of
payment.
On June 22, 2021, Urbanfund amended its Dividend Policy to
increase the annual dividend rate to $0.05 per common share and
$0.05 per Series A preferred share, or 67% increase from the
previous year, payable quarterly in the amount of $0.0125 per
common share and Series A preferred share.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, Urbanfund issued 988,816
common shares valued at $840,834 to participants enrolled in the
DRIP (December 31, 2022 – 826,326 and $795,823). The average
participant rate of the DRIP was 31.54% (December 31, 2022 –
31.44%).
The record date for dividends is typically the last business day
of each quarter and payment is approximately two weeks from the
record date. The following table summarizes our quarterly
distributions as at December 31, 2023:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payment date |
Shareholders of record |
2022, quarter 4 distribution |
|
|
|
|
Jan. 16,
2023 |
Dec. 31,
2022 |
2023, quarter 1 distribution |
|
|
|
|
Apr. 17,
2023 |
Mar. 31,
2023 |
2023, quarter 2 distribution |
|
|
|
|
Jul. 17,
2023 |
Jun. 30,
2023 |
2023, quarter 3 distribution |
|
|
|
|
Oct. 16,
2023 |
Sep. 30,
2023 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NON-IFRS MEASURES
In addition to reported IFRS measures, industry practice is to
evaluate real estate entities giving consideration to certain
non-IFRS performance measures such as funds from operations,
adjusted cash flows from operations and net operating income.
Management believes that these measures are helpful to investors
because they are widely recognized measures of Urbanfund’s
performance and provide a relevant basis of comparison to other
real estate entities. In addition to IFRS results, these measures
are also used internally to measure the operating performance of
our property portfolio. These measures are not in accordance with
IFRS and have no standardized definitions, as such, our
computations of these non-IFRS measures may not be comparable to
measures by other reporting issuers. In addition, Urbanfund’s
method of calculating non-IFRS results may differ from other
reporting issuers, and, accordingly, may not be comparable.
The Real Property Association of Canada (“REALpac”) issued a
white paper in February 2019 prescribing revised definitions for
certain non-IFRS financial measures of cash flow and operating
performance commonly used by the Canadian real estate industry.
Urbanfund has reviewed these guidelines and adopted certain
measures, where appropriate, commencing with our fourth quarter
2017 reporting.
Funds From Operations (“FFO”)
Funds from Operations (“FFO”) is a non-IFRS financial measure of
operating performance widely used by the Canadian real estate
industry based on a white paper published in April 2014 and
subsequently revised in February 2019. In the view of management,
FFO better presents operating performance over IFRS net income and
comprehensive income, which does not necessarily provide a complete
view on performance. IFRS’s net income and comprehensive income
includes items such as fair value adjustments on investment
properties which are subject to market fluctuations, which is not
representative of the Company’s year-over-year operating
performance.
FFO is computed as IFRS consolidated net income and
comprehensive income attributable to Urbanfund’s shareholders
adjusted for items such as, but not limited to, fair value
adjustments on investment properties, transaction gains and losses
and fair market value adjustments on marketable securities. FFO
should not be construed as an alternative to net income or cash
flows provided by or used in operating activities as determined in
accordance with IFRS. A reconciliation of FFO to IFRS net income is
presented under the Results from Operations section above.
Adjusted Cash Flows from Operations
(“ACFO”)
In February 2019, REALpac introduced a new non-IFRS measure
called Adjusted Cash Flow from Operations (“ACFO”), which is
intended to measure sustainable economic cash flow available for
distributions. ACFO is used by management as an input, together
with FFO to assess Urbanfund’s distribution payout ratios.
ACFO is computed as cash provided by or used in operating
activities per IFRS plus, but not limited to adjustments for
working capital items not considered to be indicative of
sustainable economic cash flows for distributions, such as changes
to other assets, indirect taxes payable and income taxes payable,
cash distributions from investments, realized gains or losses from
available-for-sale marketable securities and deducts capital
expenditures. ACFO should not be construed as an alternative to
cash flows provided by or used in operating activities as
determined in accordance with IFRS. A reconciliation of ACFO to
IFRS cash flow from or used in operating activities is presented
under the Results from Operations section above.
Normalized Capital Expenditures
Normalized capital expenditures are an estimate made by
management of the amount of ongoing capital investment required to
maintain the condition of the physical property and the current
rental revenues. Management will consider a number of items in
estimating normalized capital expenditures given the age and size
of the property portfolio, such as a review of historical capital
expenditures and comparison of budgeted to actual on a quarterly
basis.
Urbanfund does not obtain support from independent sources for
normalized capital expenditures but relies on management’s
expertise in arriving at this estimate. Both the Chief Financial
Officer and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company have
extensive experience in residential and commercial real estate and
in-depth knowledge of the property portfolio.
Actual capital expenditures can vary widely from quarter to
quarter depending on a number of factors, management believes that
normalized capital expenditures are a more relevant input than
actual capital expenditures in assessing the Company’s ACFO and for
determining appropriate levels of dividends over time. A number of
factors affect variations in capital expenditures, including, lease
expiries, tenant vacancies, age and location of the properties, and
market conditions.
Net Operating Income (“NOI”)
NOI is a non-IFRS measure and is defined by Urbanfund as rental
revenue from income properties less direct property costs such as
utilities, property taxes adjusted to normalize the impact of the
application requirements of IFRIC 21, Levies, repairs and
maintenance, salaries, insurance, bad debt expenses, property
management fees and other property specific costs. Management
believes that NOI is a meaningful supplementary measure of the
income generated from the Company’s income properties and is used
in evaluating the portfolio, as well as a key input in determining
the value of the income properties.
Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation
and Amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”)
Adjusted EBIDTA is a non-IFRS measure used by management as
input in several of the debt metrics to measure Urbanfund’s debt
profile in assessing the ability of the Company to satisfy
obligations, including servicing of our debt. Adjusted EBITDA is
used as an alternative to net income because it excludes major
non-cash items such as fair value adjustments to investment
properties and unrealized gains or losses on available-for-sale
marketable securities, interest costs, current and deferred income
tax expenses and recoveries, equity accounted investments and other
items that management considers to be non-operating in nature. A
reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to IFRS net income is presented
under the Debt Profile of the MD&A.
Debt to Adjusted EBITDA
Debt to Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS measure calculated on a
trailing 12-month basis and is defined as quarterly average total
debt (net of cash and cash equivalents) divided by Adjusted EBITDA
as is calculated under the Debt Profile section of the
MD&A.
Debt Service Ratio
Debt service ratio is a non-IFRS measure calculated on a
trailing 12-month basis and is defined as Adjusted EBITDA divided
by the sum of total interest costs (including interest costs
capitalized) and scheduled mortgage principal repayments. It
measures Urbanfund’s ability to meet debt obligations. Debt service
ratio is calculated under the Debt Profile section of the
MD&A.
Interest Coverage Ratio
Interest coverage ratio is a non-IFRS measure calculated on a
trailing 12-month basis and is defined as Adjusted EBITDA divided
by the sum of total interest costs (including interest costs
capitalized) It measures Urbanfund’s ability to meet interest cost
obligations. Interest coverage ratio is calculated under the Debt
Profile section of the MD&A.
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
Certain information included in this press release contains
forward-looking information with the meaning of applicable Canadian
securities laws. This information includes, but is not limited to,
statements made in Business Overview and Strategy, Results from
Operations, Liquidity and Capital Resources, and other statements
concerning Urbanfund’s objectives, its strategies to achieve those
objectives, as well as statements with respect to management’s
beliefs, plans, estimates, and intentions, and similar statements
concerning anticipated future events, results, circumstances,
performance or expectations that are not historical facts.
Forward-looking information generally can be identified by the use
of forward-looking terminology such as “outlook”, “objective”,
“may”, “will”, “would”, “expect”, “intend”, “estimate”,
“anticipate”, “believe”, “should”, “plan”, “continue”, or similar
expressions suggesting future outcomes or events or the negative
thereof. Such forward-looking information reflects management’s
beliefs and is based on information currently available. All
forward-looking information in this Press Release is qualified by
the following cautionary statements.
Forward-looking information necessarily involve known and
unknown risks and uncertainties, which may be general or specific
and which give rise to the possibility that expectations,
forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove
to be accurate, assumptions may not be correct and objectives,
strategic goals and priorities may not be achieved. A variety of
factors, many of which are beyond Urbanfund’s control, affect the
operations, performance and results of the Company and its
subsidiaries, and cause actual results to differ materially from
current expectations of estimated or anticipated events or
results.
A more detailed assessment of the risks that could cause actual
results to materially differ than current expectations is contained
in Risks and Uncertainties section of Urbanfund’s Management
Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023.
The forward-looking information included in this press release
is made as of the date hereof and should not be relied upon as
representing Urbanfund’s views as of any date subsequent to the
date hereof. Management undertakes no obligation, except as
required by applicable law, to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking information, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For comprehensive disclosure of Urbanfund’s performance
reference should be made to the Company’s Consolidated Financial
Statements and notes thereto and Management’s Discussion and
Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023, which have been
filed electronically with the Canadian securities regulators
through the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval
(“SEDAR”) and may be accessed through the SEDAR website at
www.sedar.com.
For further information, please contact:
Mitchell CohenPresident, Chief Executive Officer and
DirectorUrbanfund Corp.406-703-1877 extension 2025Neither the TSX
Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as defined in
the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility
for the adequacy or accuracy of this Press Release.
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