CT REIT Increases Distribution; Reports Strong Third Quarter 2018 Results

• Increases annual distribution by 4%, beginning January 2019
• Delivers 5.2% growth in AFFO per unit over the same period last year
• Announces six new investments, totalling $72 million
• Announces insourcing initiative

TORONTO, Nov. 5, 2018 /CNW/ - CT Real Estate Investment Trust ("CT REIT") (TSX: CRT.UN) today reported its consolidated financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018.

"On the fifth anniversary of CT REIT's IPO, I am delighted to announce another quarter of strong operating results, our fifth consecutive annual distribution increase, and an attractive pipeline of investments that will contribute to our future growth," said Ken Silver, President and CEO, CT REIT. "In addition, in 2019, we will insource much of our third party property management activities and are investing in the requisite systems and resources. This reflects the growth of our business and will drive improved productivity and efficiency. We continue to have a high degree of confidence in our low risk business model and our prospects for the future."

"As per our earlier announcement, Lesley Gibson joined the REIT on October 9, 2018 and has been appointed CFO effective November 12, 2018 replacing Louis Forbes. Louis will continue as SVP, Finance until his retirement at the end of this year. We thank Louis for his significant contributions to the REIT's inception and successful track record and are delighted to have Lesley on the team," added Silver.

New Investment Activity

Today, CT REIT announced six new investments, which will require an estimated total investment of $72 million. The investments are, in the aggregate, expected to earn a weighted average cap rate of 8.1% when completed and represent approximately 238,000 square feet of incremental gross leasable area ("GLA"). CT REIT is funding these investments through the issuance of Class B LP Units and/or Class C LP Units to Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited ("CTC"), cash and/or draws on its credit facility or any combination thereof.

The table below summarizes the new investments and anticipated completion dates:

Property	Type	GLA (sf.)	Timing	Activity
St. Hyacinthe, QC	Third party acquisition	Land Lease	Q4 2018	Third party acquisition of a Canadian Tire Gas+ gas bar
Matane, QC	Vend-in	53,000	Q1 2019	Existing Canadian Tire store and Canadian Tire Gas+ gas bar
Atholville, NB	Intensification	21,000	Q4 2019	Expansion of an existing Canadian Tire store
Fort St. John, BC – Phase 1	Development	154,000	Q2 2020	Development of a new Canadian Tire store, Mark's, Canadian Tire Gas+ gas bar and ancillary retail
Rouyn-Noranda, QC	Intensification	10,000	Q2 2020	Expansion of an existing Canadian Tire store
Orillia, ON – Phase 1/Phase 2	Redevelopment	321,000	Q2 2020/Q4 2022	Redevelopment of an existing enclosed mall including the on-site replacement of a Canadian Tire store

Update on Previously Announced Investments

CT REIT invested $50 million in the third quarter of 2018 which included the acquisition of development lands in Val-d'Or, Quebec, from a third party, for the expansion of an existing Canadian Tire store.

The table below provides activity updates on two previously announced investments, the timing of which have advanced:

Property	Type	GLA (sf.)	Timing	Activity
Sherwood Park North, AB	Development	120,000	Q2 2019	Development of a new Canadian Tire store
Grande Prairie, AB	Development	149,000	Q2 2019	Development of a new Canadian Tire store

Financial and Operational Summary

Summary of Selected Information
(in thousands of Canadian dollars, except unit, per unit and square footage amounts)		Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2018		2017		Change	2018		2017		Change
Property revenue		$	117,662	$	109,290	7.7 %	$	353,161	$	332,039	6.4 %
Net operating income ^1		$	86,814	$	80,928	7.3 %	$	257,507	$	240,345	7.1 %
Net income		$	79,147	$	70,562	12.2 %	$	226,405	$	220,183	2.8 %
Net income per unit (basic) ^2		$	0.369	$	0.330	11.8 %	$	1.058	$	1.046	1.1 %
Net income per unit (diluted) ^4		$	0.296	$	0.275	7.6 %	$	0.855	$	0.854	0.1 %
Funds from operations^1		$	62,171	$	59,691	4.2 %	$	183,995	$	177,176	3.8 %
Funds from operations per unit (diluted, non-GAAP) ^1,2,3		$	0.289	$	0.279	3.6 %	$	0.859	$	0.841	2.1 %
Adjusted funds from operations ^1		$	51,884	$	48,884	6.1 %	$	153,325	$	144,735	5.9 %
Adjusted funds from operations per unit (diluted, non-GAAP) ^1,2,3		$	0.241	$	0.229	5.2 %	$	0.716	$	0.687	4.2 %
Distributions per unit - paid ^2		$	0.182	$	0.175	4.0 %	$	0.546	$	0.525	4.0 %
AFFO payout ratio^1		76 %		76 %		—%	76 %		76 %		—%
Cash generated from operating activities		$	82,836	$	72,227	14.7 %	$	247,835	$	231,682	7.0 %
Adjusted cashflow from operations ^1		$	55,227	$	48,408	14.1 %	$	153,081	$	142,604	7.3 %
Weighted average number of units outstanding ^2
Basic		214,654,925		213,551,876		0.5 %	214,086,218		210,498,977		1.7 %
Diluted ^4		325,372,565		318,825,160		2.1 %	324,794,910		318,578,987		2.0 %
Diluted (non-GAAP) ^1,3		214,842,060		213,706,652		0.5 %	214,264,405		210,639,855		1.7 %
Indebtedness ratio ^6							45.7 %		45.5 %		NM
Interest coverage (times)^6		3.36		3.45		NM	3.35		3.46		NM
Gross leasable area (square feet) ^5							26,423,801		25,201,449		4.9 %
Occupancy rate ^5,6,7							98.7 %		99.6 %		NM

¹Non-GAAP measure. Refer to section 10.0 of the MD&A for further information.

²Total units means Units and Class B LP Units outstanding.

³Diluted units used in calculating non-GAAP measures include restricted and deferred units issued under various plans and exclude the effect of assuming that all of the Class C LP Units will be settled with Class B LP Units. Refer to section 7.0 of the MD&A.

⁴Diluted units determined in accordance with IFRS includes restricted and deferred units issued under various plans and the effect of assuming that all of the Class C LP Units will be settled with Class B LP Units. Refer to section 7.0 of the MD&A.

⁵Refers to retail, mixed-use commercial and distribution centre properties and excludes properties under development.

⁶NM - not meaningful.

⁷Occupancy and other leasing key performance measures have been prepared on a committed basis which includes the impact of existing lease
   agreements contracted on or before September 30, 2018 and  September 30, 2017.

 

Financial Highlights

Net Income – Net income was $79.1 million for the third quarter, up 12.2% over the prior year, primarily due to increased NOI resulting from investment activity and an increase in the fair market value adjustment on investment properties, partially offset by an increase in net interest and other financing charges.

Net Operating Income (NOI)* – In the third quarter, NOI increased $5.9 million or 7.3% over the same period last year, primarily from investment activity completed in 2018 and 2017. These acquisitions contributed a total of $4.3 million to NOI growth. Same store NOI and same property NOI for the quarter increased $1.4 million or 1.7% and $1.6 million or 2.0%, respectively, primarily due to the contractual rent escalations built into the property leases, recovery of capital expenditures and intensifications completed in 2018 and 2017, partially offset by the impact of changes in tenancies at 11 Dufferin Place SE and 25 Dufferin Place SE, Calgary, Alberta.

Funds from Operations (FFO)* – FFO for the third quarter amounted to $62.2 million or $0.289 per unit (diluted non-GAAP), which was $2.5 million (4.2%) or $0.01 per unit (3.6%) higher than the same period in 2017 due to the impact of NOI variances, partially offset by higher interest expense. 

Adjusted Funds from Operations (AFFO)* – AFFO for the third quarter amounted to $51.9 million or $0.241 per unit (diluted non-GAAP), which was $3.0 million (6.1%) or $0.012 per unit (5.2%) higher than the same period in 2017 primarily due to the impact of NOI variances, partially offset by higher interest expense.

Adjusted Cash Flow From Operations (ACFO)* – ACFO for the third quarter amounted to $55.2 million, $6.8 million or 14.1% higher than the same period in 2017, primarily due to the impact of NOI variances, partially offset by higher interest expense.

Distributions – Distributions in the quarter amounted to $0.182 per unit, 4.0% higher than the same period in 2017 due to the increase in the annual rate of distributions effective with the first distribution paid in 2018.

*NOI, FFO, AFFO and ACFO are non-GAAP measures. Refer to Non-GAAP section 10.0 in the Q3 2018 Management's Discussion & Analysis, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and at www.ctreit.com.

Operating Results

Leasing – CTC is CT REIT's largest tenant. At September 30, 2018, CTC represented 94.5% of total GLA and 92.7% of annualized base minimum rent.

Occupancy – At September 30, 2018, CT REIT's portfolio occupancy rate remained unchanged from the prior quarter at 98.7%.

Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) and Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes

Information in this press release is a select summary of results. This press release should be read in conjunction with CT REIT's MD&A for the period ended September 30, 2018 ("the Q3 MD&A") and Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes for the period ended September 30, 2018, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and at www.ctreit.com.  

To view a PDF version of CT REIT's 2018 third quarter results please see: http://files.newswire.ca/665/CT_REIT_Q3_Results.pdf

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking information that reflects management's current expectations related to matters such as future financial performance and operating results of CT REIT. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purposes of providing information about CT REIT's future outlook and anticipated events or results. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this document may constitute forward–looking information, including but not limited to, statements concerning the REIT's insourcing of some of its third party property management activities and the expected timing and effects thereof, its ability to complete any of the investments in acquisitions and property intensifications under the headings "New Investment Activity" and "Update on Previously Announced Development Activity", the timing and terms of any such investments and the benefits expected to result from such investments and other statements concerning developments, intensifications, results, performance, achievements, prospects or opportunities for CT REIT. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions, estimates, analyses, beliefs and opinions of management made in light of its experience and perception of prospects and opportunities, current conditions and expected trends, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable at the date such information is provided.

By its very nature forward-looking information requires us to make assumptions and is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, which give rise to the possibility that the REIT's assumptions, estimates, analyses, beliefs and opinions may not be correct and that the REIT's expectations and plans will not be achieved. Although the forward-looking information contained in this press release is based on information, assumptions and beliefs which are reasonable and complete, this information is necessarily subject to a number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's expectations and plans as set forth in such forward-looking information.

For more information on the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause the REIT's actual results to differ from current expectations, refer to Section 4 "Risk Factors" of our Annual Information Form for fiscal 2017, and to Section 11 "Enterprise Risk Management" and all subsections thereunder of our 2017 Management's Discussion and Analysis, as well as the REIT's other public filings, available at www.sedar.com and at www.ctreit.com. 

The forward-looking statements and information contained herein are based on certain factors and assumptions as of the date hereof. CT REIT does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by it or on its behalf, to reflect new information, future events or otherwise, except as is required by applicable securities laws.

Information contained in or otherwise accessible through the websites referenced in this press release (other than CT REIT's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com) does not form part of this press release and is not incorporated by reference into this press release. All references to such websites are inactive textual references and are for information only.

Additional information about CT REIT has been filed electronically with various securities regulators in Canada through SEDAR and is available at www.sedar.com and at www.ctreit.com.

Conference Call

CT REIT will conduct a conference call to discuss information included in this news release and related matters at 8:00 a.m. ET on November 6, 2018. The conference call will be available simultaneously and in its entirety to all interested investors and the news media by dialing 416-340-2218 or 1-800-478-9326 or through a webcast at https://www.ctreit.com/English/news-and-events/events-and-webcasts/default.aspx, and will be available through replay for 12 months.

About CT Real Estate Investment Trust

CT Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX:CRT.UN) is an unincorporated, closed end real estate investment trust formed to own income producing commercial properties primarily located in Canada. Its portfolio is comprised of over 325 properties totaling approximately 26 million square feet of GLA, consisting primarily of retail properties located across Canada. Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited is CT REIT's most significant tenant. For more information, visit www.ctreit.com.

SOURCE CT Real Estate Investment Trust (CT REIT)

Media: Jane Shaw, 416-480-8581, [email protected]; Investors: Marina Davies, 416-544-6134, [email protected]