News & Press

— Maintains strong balance sheet during period of economic uncertainty —

OTTAWA, May 6, 2020 /CNW/ - Minto Apartment Real Estate Investment Trust (the "REIT") (TSX: MI.UN) today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020 ("Q1 2020"). The Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for Q1 2020 are available on the REIT's website at www.mintoapartments.com and at www.sedarplus.ca.

Q1 2020 Highlights

• Total revenue was $31.5 million, an increase of 42.4% from the three months ended March 31, 2019 ("Q1 2019"); same property revenue² of $22.8 million increased 3.1% from Q1 2019;
• Net Operating Income ("NOI")¹ was $19.5 million, an increase of 46.4% from Q1 2019; same property NOI^1,2 of $13.9 million increased 4.7% from Q1 2019;
• NOI¹ margin was 61.8%, an increase of 170 basis points ("bps") from Q1 2019; same property NOI^1,2 margin was 61.1%, 100 bps higher than Q1 2019;
• Net income and comprehensive income was $87.9 million, compared to a net loss and comprehensive loss of $18.7 million in Q1 2019;
• Funds from Operations ("FFO")¹ increased by 65.6% to $12.1 million, compared to $7.3 million in Q1 2019; FFO¹ per unit³ increased by 3.0% to $0.2052 per unit³, compared to $0.1993 in Q1 2019;
• Adjusted Funds from Operations ("AFFO")¹ increased by 73.1% to $10.6 million, compared to $6.1 million in Q1 2019; AFFO¹ per unit³ increased by 7.6% to $0.1788, compared to $0.1661 in Q1 2019;
• The REIT declared distributions during the quarter totaling $0.1100 per unit³ compared to $0.1025 per unit³ in Q1 2019, an increase of 7.3%;
• The Q1 2020 AFFO¹ payout ratio was 61.5%, compared to 61.7% a year earlier;

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• Occupancy of available unfurnished suites as at March 31, 2020 was 97.3%, compared to 98.7% as at March 31, 2019; same property occupancy² as at March 31, 2020 was 97.2%, compared to 98.7% as at March 31, 2019;
• Average monthly rent as at March 31, 2020, excluding furnished and/or unoccupied suites, was $1,599, an increase of 12.8% compared to $1,417 as at March 31, 2019; average monthly rent for the same property portfolio², excluding furnished and/or unoccupied suites, was $1,501 as at March 31, 2020, an increase of 5.9% compared to $1,417 as at March 31, 2019;
• On March 31, 2020, the REIT completed a $100 million mortgage financing secured by one of its Ottawa properties, adding significantly to the REIT's liquidity;
• Debt to Gross Book Value ("Debt-to-GBV")¹ as at March 31, 2020 was 42.6%, compared to 39.3% at 2019 year end. Subsequent to Q1 2020, on April 3, 2020, the REIT used the proceeds from the $100 million mortgage financing completed on March 31, 2020 to repay amounts outstanding on the REIT's revolving credit facility and its Debt-to-GBV decreased to 39.8%;
• Subsequent to Q1 2020, on April 16, 2020, the REIT provided an operational update related to the impact of COVID-19. The REIT announced that its rent collections for the month of April 2020 were consistent with its normal collection cycle, and that it is not implementing at this time any rent increases that were scheduled to come into effect in April, May, or June. The REIT also announced that it has created deferred rental payment plans for tenants that are unable to pay as a result of the pandemic.
• Subsequent to Q1 2020, occupancy of available unfurnished suites as at April 30, 2020 was 96.8% compared to 98.8% as at April 30, 2019. May 2020 occupancy continues to be strong and as at May 5, 2020 the REIT has received collections of more than 90% of its May rents and are in line with normal collection patterns.

During Q1 2020, the REIT continued to generate significant organic growth through gain to lease activities. The REIT signed 353 new leases of unfurnished suites during the quarter that increased average monthly rent on the leased suites by 13.6%, resulting in an increase in annualized revenue by approximately $0.8 million. Management estimates that the REIT's portfolio holds an embedded gain-to-lease potential in its unfurnished suite portfolio of 13.5%, representing future annualized embedded potential revenue of approximately $14.7 million.

The REIT also continued to productively deploy capital through its repositioning program in Q1 2020, repositioning a total of 71 suites across its portfolio. The REIT has 2,039 suites remaining to be repositioned at the following properties: Minto Yorkville, Leslie York Mills, High Park Village, Carlisle, Castle Hill, Rockhill and the Edmonton portfolio. In addition, the REIT is in the process of developing repositioning plans for the recently acquired Haddon Hall and Le 4300 properties in Montreal.

"We capitalized on strong rental market conditions in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal during the first quarter of 2020, generating solid growth in all of our key financial metrics," said Michael Waters, the REIT's Chief Executive Officer and President. "Obviously, the economic outlook shifted very significantly in March due to the impact of COVID-19. Fortunately, the REIT has a strong financial position, with current liquidity, as at May 5, 2020, of $198.5 million through a combination of cash on hand and availability on our credit facility. While the financial impact from the virus has not been material to the REIT to date, we are continuing to monitor the situation closely and are committed to working with our tenants during this difficult period."

Q1 2020 Financial Summary

($000's except per unit amounts)

Q1 2020 Operating Results

Revenue in Q1 2020 totaled $31.5 million, an increase of 42.4% from $22.1 million in Q1 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to the contribution from the five property acquisitions the REIT completed subsequent to Q1 2019, in addition to higher rental rates.

As at March 31, 2020, occupancy in the REIT's available unfurnished suite portfolio was 97.3% and average monthly rent was $1,599 per occupied unfurnished suite. That compares to occupancy of 98.7% and average monthly rent of $1,417 per occupied unfurnished suite as at March 31, 2019.

NOI¹ for Q1 2020 totaled $19.5 million, representing 61.8% of revenue, an increase of 46.4% from $13.3 million, or 60.1% of revenue, in Q1 2019. The increase reflects higher NOI¹ for the same property portfolio² and the contribution from the property acquisitions completed subsequent to Q1 2019, comprising a total of 2,691 suites (1,531 suites at the REIT's proportionate share).

Same property revenue² increased 3.1% to $22.8 million in Q1 2020, compared to $22.1 million in Q1 2019, reflecting higher rents achieved on new leases, higher revenue earned from repositioned suites, and increased parking revenue due to new initiatives such as paid visitor parking. Same property NOI^1,2 increased 4.7% in Q1 2020 to $13.9 million, or 61.1% of revenue, compared to $13.3 million, or 60.1% of revenue, in Q1 2019. The increase in same property portfolio NOI^1,2 was attributable to higher rents achieved on suite turnover and repositioning compared to Q1 2019, as well as lower utility expenses. These positive factors were partially offset by higher property taxes and lower incremental income from furnished suites.

FFO¹ in Q1 2020 was $12.1 million, or $0.2052 per unit³, compared to $7.3 million, or $0.1993 per unit³, in Q1 2019. The 65.6% increase in FFO¹ in Q1 2020 primarily reflected the positive NOI¹ variance. AFFO¹ was $10.6 million in Q1 2020, or $0.1788 per unit³, compared to $6.1 million, or $0.1661 per unit³, in Q1 2019. The 73.1% positive variance in AFFO¹ for Q1 2020 primarily reflected the higher FFO¹, partially offset by an increase in the maintenance capital expenditure reserve due to the REIT's increased suite count.

The REIT declared cash distributions totaling $0.1100 per unit³ for Q1 2020, representing an AFFO¹ payout ratio of 61.5%. Cash distributions of $0.1025 per unit³ were declared in Q1 2019, representing an AFFO¹ payout ratio of 61.7%.

The REIT reported net income and comprehensive income for Q1 2020 of $87.9 million, compared to a net loss and comprehensive loss of $18.7 million in Q1 2019. The positive variance in Q1 2020 was primarily attributable to higher NOI¹ and a fair value gain on Class B LP Units of Minto Apartment Limited Partnership of $83.1 million, partially offset by a fair value loss on an interest rate swap of $2.3 million, and higher finance costs.

Balance Sheet

As of March 31, 2020, the REIT had total debt outstanding of $923.4 million, with a weighted average interest rate of 3.15% and a weighted average term to maturity of 5.72 years for its fixed-rate term debt. The Debt-to-GBV¹ ratio was 42.6%. Subsequent to quarter end, on April 3, 2020, the REIT used available cash-on-hand to pay down amounts outstanding on its revolving credit facility, which reduced its Debt-to-GBV¹ ratio to 39.8%.

Conference Call

Michael Waters, Chief Executive Officer and President, and Julie Morin, Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call for analysts and investors on Thursday, May 7, 2020 at 10:00 am ET. The dial-in numbers for participants are 416-764-8688 or 888-390-0546. In addition, the call will be webcast live at:

https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1299623&tp_key=a96506a7ce

A replay of the call will be available until Thursday, May 14, 2020. To access the replay, dial 416-764-8677 or 888-390-0541 (Passcode: 457755 #). A transcript of the call will be archived on the REIT's website.

Annual and Special Meeting

An Annual and Special Meeting of the unitholders of the REIT will be held virtually via live audio webcast on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time). This year, out of an abundance of caution, to proactively deal with the unprecedented public health impact of the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic and to mitigate risks to the health and safety of the REIT's communities, unitholders, employees and other stakeholders, the meeting will be in a virtual-only format, which will be conducted via live audio webcast over the Internet. Unitholders will have an equal opportunity to participate at the meeting online regardless of their geographic location. Unitholders who choose to attend the meeting will do so by accessing a live audio webcast of the meeting via the Internet by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/MI2020. For more details go to www.sedarplus.ca.

About Minto Apartment Real Estate Investment Trust

Minto Apartment Real Estate Investment Trust is an unincorporated, open-ended real estate investment trust established pursuant to a declaration of trust under the laws of the Province of Ontario to own income-producing multi-residential properties located in urban markets in Canada. The REIT owns a portfolio of high-quality income-producing multi-residential rental properties located in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton. For more information on Minto Apartment REIT, please visit the REIT's website at: www.mintoapartments.com.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflects the REIT's current expectations regarding future events and in some cases can be identified by such terms as "will" and "expects". Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the REIT's control that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the factors discussed under "Risks and Uncertainties" in the REIT's Management Discussion & Analysis dated May 6, 2020 (the "Q1 2020 MD&A"), which is available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). The REIT does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. This forward-looking information speaks only as of the date of this news release.

Non-IFRS Financial Measures

This news release contains certain financial measures which are not defined under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other real estate investment trusts or enterprises. The REIT believes that AFFO is an important measure of earnings performance, while NOI and FFO are important measures of operating performance of real estate businesses and properties and Debt-to-GBV is an important measure of financial leverage. Net asset value is an important measure of value creation. These measures, as well as any associated "per unit" amounts, are not defined by IFRS and do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS, and therefore should not be construed as alternatives to net income or cash flow from operating activities calculated in accordance with IFRS. The IFRS measurement most directly comparable to NOI, FFO and AFFO is net income. The IFRS measurement most directly comparable to net asset value is unitholders' equity. See the REIT's Q1 2020 MD&A for further discussion of these non-IFRS financial measures and for a reconciliation of NOI, FFO and AFFO to net income.

SOURCE Minto Apartment Real Estate Investment Trust