WPT Industrial REIT Announces Strong Operating Performance in the Second Quarter of 2015 and Distribution Increase of 8.6%

TORONTO, Aug. 12, 2015 /CNW/ – WPT Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust (the “REIT“) (TSX: WIR.U – OTCQX: WPTIF) announced today continued strong growth and operating performance for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015. All dollar amounts are stated in US funds.

Q2 2015 HIGHLIGHTS:

• Portfolio growth and solid operating performance drive 26.8% increase in revenues over Q2 2014
• Occupancy strengthens to 98.9% from 97.0% at June 30, 2014
• FFO and AFFO are up 24.5% and 38.8% from Q2 2014
• Growth is accretive as AFFO per Unit is up 12.8% from Q2 2014
• AFFO payout ratio strengthens to 82.5% for Q2 2015 from 95.0% in Q2 2014
• Asset manager remains fully aligned with Unitholders through 47.3% retained interest

“Our solid operating performance continued in the second quarter of 2015, driven by stable occupancies, strong property management, and the significant contribution from our portfolio growth over the prior twelve months,” stated Scott Frederiksen, Chief Executive Officer.

STRONG OPERATING PERFORMANCE
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, investment properties revenue was $17.6 million and $33.9 million, respectively, representing a 26.8% and 27.2% increase, respectively, compared to the same periods last year. The increases in revenue in 2015 are due primarily to the full period’s contribution from property acquisitions completed over the last twelve months, the purchase of a six-property portfolio in Memphis, Tennessee on February 20, 2015, and increased occupancy.

With the strong increases in revenue, Net Operating Income (“NOI”) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 increased 27.5% and 29.6%, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2014.

Funds from Operations (“FFO”) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 were $8.1 million ($0.241 per Unit) and $16.1 million ($0.488 per Unit), respectively, representing a 24.5% and 29.4% increase, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2014. Adjusted Funds from Operations (“AFFO”) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 were $7.2 million ($0.212 per Unit) and $13.9 million ($0.419 per Unit), up 38.8% and 38.9%, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2014. The REIT’s AFFO payout ratio strengthened to 85.2% for the six months ended June 30, 2015 compared to 90.8% last year. Per Unit amounts were impacted by the 23.0% and 29.1% increase in the weighted average number of Units outstanding in the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, respectively, compared to the same periods last year.

SOLID FINANCIAL & LIQUIDITY POSITION
As at June 30, 2015 the REIT’s debt-to-gross-book-value ratio was a conservative 50.4% with an interest coverage ratio of 3.3 times, a debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 7.8 times, and a fixed charge coverage ratio of 2.9 times. The weighted average effective interest rate on its outstanding debt was 3.8%, down from 3.9% as at December 31, 2014, with a weighted average term to maturity on its mortgages payable of 5.4 years compared to 6.1 years as at December 31, 2014. The weighted average remaining lease term as at June 30, 2015 was 3.9 years.

As at June 30, 2015, availability on the REIT’s revolving credit facility was $75.0 million, of which the REIT had drawn $49.0 million, leaving remaining availability of $26.0 million.

DISTRIBUTION INCREASE
On August 12, 2015, the Board of Trustees approved an increase to the REIT’s annualized distribution rate from $0.70 per unit to $0.76 per unit (from $0.0583 to $0.0633 on a monthly basis), representing an 8.6% increase over the current annualized distribution rate.  The increase will be effective beginning with the distribution payable on or about October 15, 2015 to unitholders of record as of the close of business on September 30, 2015.

RECENT EVENTS
On May 18, 2015, the REIT announced that its Board of Trustees had formed a special committee to explore strategic alternatives. There can be no assurance that this exploration process will result in any transaction. The REIT does not currently intend to disclose further developments with respect to this process, unless and until its Board approves a specific transaction or otherwise concludes the review of strategic alternatives.

FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

INVESTOR CONFERENCE CALL
A conference call will be hosted by the REIT’s management team on Thursday, August 13, 2015 at 9:00 am ET.  The telephone numbers to participate in the conference call are Canada Toll Free: (855) 669-9657, U.S. Toll Free (888) 249-8268 and International: (412) 902-4153.  The live audio conference call will also be available as a webcast.  To access the live audio webcast please access the link on the “Investors” page on our web site at www.wptreit.com.  The telephone numbers to listen to the call after it is completed (Instant Replay) are Canada Toll Free (855) 669-9658, U.S. Toll Free (877) 344-7529 and International (412) 317-0088. The Passcode for the Instant Replay is 10067990#. A recording of the call will also be archived on the REIT’s web site at www.wptreit.com.

About WPT Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust
WPT Industrial 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. The REIT was formed for the purpose of acquiring and owning primarily industrial investment properties located in the United States, with a particular focus on distribution industrial real estate. WPT Industrial, LP (the REIT’s operating subsidiary) indirectly owns a portfolio of properties consisting of approximately 15.1 million square feet of gross leasable area, comprised of 46 industrial properties and two office properties located in 13 states in the United States. Welsh Property Trust, LLC is the external asset manager and property manager of the REIT. The REIT pays monthly cash distributions, currently at $0.0583 per Trust Unit, or approximately $0.70 per Trust Unit on an annualized basis, in US funds.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking information” as defined under applicable Canadian securities law (“forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements“) which reflect management’s expectations regarding objectives, plans, goals, strategies, future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities of the REIT. The words “plans”, “expects”, “does not expect”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “does not anticipate”, “projects”, “believes” or variations of such words and phrases or statements to the effect that certain actions, events or results “may”, “will”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “occur”, “be achieved” or “continue” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management of the REIT as of the date of this press release, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. The REIT’s estimates, beliefs and assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect, include the various assumptions set forth herein, including, but not limited to, the REIT’s and the property’s future growth potential, anticipated amounts of expenses, results of operations, future prospects and opportunities, the demographic and industry trends remaining unchanged, no change in legislative or regulatory matters, future levels of indebtedness, the tax laws as currently in effect remaining unchanged, the continual availability of capital, the current economic conditions remaining unchanged, and continued positive net absorption and declining vacancy rates in the markets in which the REIT’s properties are located.

When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, the REIT cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these statements, as forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not the times at or by which such performance or results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the factors discussed under “Risk Factors” in the REIT’s annual information form for the period ended December 31, 2014, which is available under the REIT’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and, except as expressly required by applicable law, the REIT assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE WPT Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust