Primaris REIT Announces Strong Q1/24 and Raises Guidance

Primaris Real Estate Investment Trust (“Primaris” or “the Trust”) (TSX: PMZ.UN) announced today financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.

Quarterly Financial and Operating Results Highlights

• $119.2 million total rental revenue;
• +2.0% Same Properties Cash Net Operating Income** ("Cash NOI**") growth;
• 94.1% committed occupancy, 92.0% in-place occupancy, and 89.1% long-term occupancy;
• +7.4% weighted average spread on renewing rents across 277,000 square feet;
• +5.2% Fund from Operations** ("FFO**") per average diluted unit growth to $0.388;
• $3.9 billion total assets;
• 56.7% FFO Payout Ratio**;
• 5.7x Average Net Debt** to Adjusted EBITDA**;
• $684.3 million in liquidity;
• $3.3 billion in unencumbered assets; and
• $21.86 Net Asset Value** ("NAV**") per unit outstanding.

Business Update Highlights

• Raises 2024 FFO** per average diluted unit guidance to $1.61 to $1.64 from $1.60 to $1.63;
• Received BBB (high) with Stable trends rating confirmation from DBRS Morningstar;
• Reported total NCIB activity since inception of 8,553,300 Trust Units repurchased at an average price of $13.81, or a discount to NAV** per unit of approximately 36.8%; and
• Entered into an agreement to sell Garden City Square, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, an open air, non-grocery anchored property for $31.0 million, inclusive of a $4.8 million short-term, vendor-take-back loan at an interest rate of 6.0% per annum. The transaction is expected to close on May 23, 2024.

"Our business is performing very well with significant runway for internal growth," said Patrick Sullivan, President and Chief Operating Officer. "We are well positioned to capture this growth across our portfolio as we complete leasing deals at market rents with standard lease terms and drive occupancy towards stabilized levels. The macro environment for malls, including declining supply of retail GLA, population growth, rising tenant sales and increasing tenant demand for space, creates significant opportunity to drive rent growth and higher occupancy to quality tenants with the ability to pay increasing rents over time."

Chief Financial Officer, Rags Davloor added, “With unencumbered assets of $3.3 billion, full availability on our $600 million operating line, and only 3.5% of debt maturing in 2024, we are very well positioned with reduced refinancing risk and access to liquidity. Our total available liquidity at quarter end was $684 million, giving us excellent financial capacity for opportunities we see in the market. We have capacity for more than $1.5 billion of acquisitions, and require no financing conditions in our deals."

“We are very pleased to announce our first non-core disposition, aligned to our strategy of owning a growing, high-quality portfolio of market leading enclosed shopping centres,” said Alex Avery, Chief Executive Officer. “This disposition improves our overall portfolio quality and growth profile, and demonstrates Primaris’ ability to transact. We are currently engaged in discussions with prospective purchasers for further dispositions. Demonstrating disciplined capital allocation is a cornerstone of our strategy, with success measured in per unit growth in value and cash flow."

2024 Financial Outlook

Guidance: In the MD&A for the three months and year ended December 31, 2023, Primaris provided guidance for the full year of 2024. The previously published guidance for the full year of 2024 has been reproduced again below and updated for management's current expectations based on the most recent information available to management.

Readers are cautioned that there is a significant risk that actual results for the year ending December 31, 2024 will vary from the financial outlook statements provided in this news release and that such variations may be material. See Section 2, "Forward-Looking Statements and Future-Oriented Financial Information" in the Trust's management's discussion and analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (the "MD&A") for further cautions on material factors, assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could impact the financial outlook statements.

Select Financial and Operational Metrics

Operating Results

Same Properties Cash NOI** for the three month ended March 31, 2024 was $1.0 million, or 2.0%, higher than the same period of the prior year. Cash NOI** from Same Properties shopping centres increased $1.1 million, or 2.3%, over the same period of the prior year. The increase in Cash NOI** from the Same Properties shopping centres was primarily driven by higher revenues from base rent and net operating cost recoveries, partially offset by a decline in percentage rent in lieu of base rent and a bad debt recovery recorded in the prior year. Excluding the bad debt recovery, the Cash NOI** growth for the Same Properties shopping centres would be 3.7%. Completed redevelopment projects contributed $0.4 million incremental rent to the portfolio (see Section 7.4, "Redevelopment and Development" of the MD&A). Long-term leases typically include contractual rents steps. In 2024, the Same Property shopping centres earned incremental base rent of $0.5 million from these contractual increases.

The below table compares the composition of FFO** and AFFO** and calculates the drivers of the changes for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the same period in 2023.

FFO** for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was $0.019 per unit higher, or 5.2%, than the same period of the prior year. NOI** from Same Properties increased $0.008 per unit and NOI** from Acquisitions increased $0.116 per unit. These increases were partially offset by the $0.076 per unit decrease due to higher net interest and other financing charges and a $0.036 per unit decrease due to the net change in the units outstanding (unit issuances for the Acquisitions partially offset by NCIB activity).

Occupancy and Leasing Results

Primaris’ leasing activities are focused on driving value by actively managing the tenant and merchandising mix at its investment properties. Portfolio in-place occupancy at March 31, 2024 decreased 0.4% from December 31, 2023. Fourth quarter occupancy is typically higher due to seasonal tenants.

Impact of short -term leases: Primaris includes short-term and percentage rent in lieu leases in the calculation of in-place occupied GLA.

In the quarter, Primaris completed 149 leasing deals totaling 0.5 million square feet. The weighted average spread on renewing rents (for the 97 leases renewed in the quarter) was 7.4% (5.8% for commercial retail unit renewals and 15.8% for large format renewals).

Included in the leasing activity for the quarter were 28 leases that were for a lease term of less than one year, or for percentage rent in lieu of base rent. While these lease structures have always been a tool to manage tenant relocations and the timing of development plans, during the pandemic, leases structured as percentage rent in lieu of base rent were more prevalent to assist tenants and to maintain occupancy rates. As these leases mature, management anticipates moving tenants back to traditional lease structures. At March 31, 2024, percentage rent in lieu of base rent leases were in place for 0.6 million square feet of GLA, or 4.0% of in-place leases with an average remaining lease term of approximately 2.2 years.

Robust Liquidity and Differentiated Financial Model

Primaris’ differentiated financial model is core to its overall strategy, providing a best-in-class capital structure upon which to build the business, providing on-going financial stability and strength. The following table summarizes key metrics relating to Primaris' unencumbered assets and unsecured debt.

Liquidity at quarter end was $684.3 million, or 44.7% of Total Debt**.

Primaris' NAV** per unit outstanding at quarter end was $21.86.

Subsequent Events

Subsequent to March 31, 2024, Primaris purchased additional 57,500 Trust Units under the ASPP for consideration of $0.8 million as of May 1, 2024.

Primaris entered into an agreement to sell Garden City Square, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, an open air, non-grocery anchored income-producing property for $31.0 million, inclusive of a $4.8 million short-term, vendor-take-back loan at an interest rate of 6.0% per annum. The transaction is expected to close on May 23, 2024.

Conference Call and Webcast

The call will be accessible for replay until May 16, 2024, by dialing 1-866-813-9403 with access code 434178, or on the Investor Relations section of the website.

Annual General Meeting of Unitholders

Date: Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. (ET)

Webcast link: Please go to the Investor Relations section on Primaris’ website or click here.

The meeting will be accessible for replay until May 1, 2025 on the Investor Relations section of the website.

Refer to the section “General Proxy Information" in the Management Information Circular which can be viewed online on Primaris' website or by clicking here, or under Primaris REIT's SEDAR+ profile, for instructions on how to attend and vote at the meeting.

About Primaris Real Estate Investment Trust

Primaris is Canada’s only enclosed shopping centre focused REIT, with ownership interests primarily in leading enclosed shopping centres located in growing mid-sized markets. The current portfolio totals 12.5 million square feet valued at approximately $3.8 billion at Primaris’ share. Economies of scale are achieved through its fully internal, vertically integrated, full-service national management platform. Primaris is very well-capitalized and is exceptionally well positioned to take advantage of market opportunities at an extraordinary moment in the evolution of the Canadian retail property landscape.

Forward-Looking Statements and Future Oriented Financial Information Disclaimer

Certain statements included in this news release constitute ‘‘forward-looking information’’ or “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The words “will”, “expects”, “plans”, "estimates", “intends” and similar expressions are often intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Specific forward-looking statements made or implied in this news release include but are not limited to statements regarding: growth opportunities, estimated growth of Same Properties Cash NOI**, the Trust’s development activities, expected benefits from the Trust's normal course issuer bid activity, occupancy improvement, increasing rental rates, future acquisitions, reinvestment in select shopping centres, internal NOI** growth opportunity, refinancing risk, the Trust’s targets for managing its financial condition, the recovery of tenant sales, and the movement of tenants back to traditional lease structures. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of presenting information about management’s current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties. Primaris cautions that although it is believed that the assumptions are reasonable in the circumstances, actual results, performance or achievements of Primaris may differ materially from the expectations set out in the forward-looking statements. Material risk factors and assumptions include those set out in the MD&A which is available on SEDAR+, and in Primaris’ other materials filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities from time to time. Given these risks, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of their dates. Other than as specifically required by law, Primaris undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise.

Readers are cautioned that there is a significant risk that actual results for the year ending December 31, 2024 will vary from the financial outlook statements provided in this news release and MD&A and that such variations may be material.

Certain forward-looking information included in this news release may also be considered “future-oriented financial information” or “financial outlook” for purposes of applicable securities laws (collectively, “FOFI”). FOFI about the Trust’s prospective results of operations including, without limitation, anticipated FFO** per unit, anticipated NOI** growth, impact on rental revenue of contractual rent-steps, anticipated general and administrative expense levels, and anticipated capital spending, is subject to the same assumptions, risk factors, limitations and qualifications set out in the MD&A which is available on SEDAR+, and in Primaris’ other materials filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities from time to time. The Trust and management believe that such FOFI have been prepared on a reasonable basis, reflecting management’s best estimates and judgments. However, because this information is subjective and subject to numerous risks, it should not be relied on as necessarily indicative of future results. FOFI contained in this news release was made as of the date of this news release and was provided for the purpose of providing further information about the Trust’s prospective results of operations. Readers are cautioned that the FOFI contained herein should not be used for purposes other than for which it is disclosed herein.

Readers are also urged to examine the Trust’s materials filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities from time to time as they may contain discussions on risks and uncertainties which could cause the actual results and performance of Primaris to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. All forward-looking statements in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of May 1, 2024 and Primaris, except as required by applicable securities laws, assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new information or the occurrence of future events or circumstances.

Non-GAAP Measures

Information in this news release is a select summary of results. This news release should be read in conjunction with the MD&A and the Trust's unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (the “Financial Statements”).

The Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). However, Primaris also uses a number of measures which do not have a standardized meaning prescribed under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in accordance with IFRS. These non-GAAP measures, which are denoted in this news release by the suffix “**” include non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP ratios, each as defined in National Instrument 52-112, Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure ("NI 52-112"). None of these non-GAAP measures should be construed as an alternative to financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Furthermore, these non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other real estate entities and should not be construed as an alternative to financial measures determined in accordance with IFRS. A definition of each non-GAAP measure used herein and an explanation of management's reasons as to why it believes the measure is useful to investors can be found in the section entitled “Non-GAAP Measures” in the MD&A, which section is incorporated by reference into this news release, and a reconciliation to the most directly comparable financial measure in the Financial Statements, in each case, can be found below. The MD&A is available on the Trust’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Use of Operating Metrics

Primaris uses certain operating metrics to monitor and measure the operational performance of its portfolio. Operating metrics in this news release include, among others, investment property count, gross leasable area (“GLA”), in-place occupancy, committed occupancy, long-term occupancy and weighted average net rent per occupied square foot. Certain of these operating metrics, including weighted average net rent per occupied square foot, may constitute supplementary financial measures as defined in NI 52-112. These supplementary measures are not derived from directly comparable measures contained in the Financial Statements but may be used by management and disclosed on a periodic basis to depict the historical or future expected financial performance, financial position or cash flow of the Trust. For an explanation of the composition of weighted average net rent per occupied square foot, see Section 8.2, "Weighted Average Net Rent" and Section 8.7, "Operating Capital Expenditures" in the MD&A, respectively, which sections are incorporated by reference into this news release.

Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Measures

The following table reconciles NOI** to rental revenue and property operating costs as presented in the Financial Statements.

The following table is a further analysis of Cash NOI** above.

The following table illustrates the reconciliation of net income, as determined in accordance with GAAP, to FFO**.

The following table illustrates the reconciliation of FFO** to AFFO**.

The following tables illustrate the calculation of NAV** per unit outstanding.

The following tables illustrate the calculation of Total Debt** to Total Assets**

The following table illustrates the calculation of Average Net Debt** to Adjusted EBITDA**, Interest Coverage** and Debt Service Coverage** ratios. The below ratios are calculated on a rolling four-quarters basis.

The following table illustrates the reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA** for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.

The following tables illustrate Adjusted EBITDA** for the rolling four-quarters ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.

The following table illustrates Average Net Debt** for the periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 based on the average of the Net Debt** at the beginning of the period and each quarter end during the period included in the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA**.

The following tables illustrate interest expense, for the calculation of the Interest Coverage** and Debt Service Coverage** ratios, for the rolling four-quarters ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.

The following tables illustrate principal repayments, for the calculation of the Debt Service Coverage** ratio, for the rolling four-quarters ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240501965920/en/