TSX: MRC

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Nov. 7, 2012 /CNW/ - Morguard Corporation (TSX: MRC) announced its financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2012.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Total revenues in Q3 2012 increased by 11% to $107.0 million compared to $96.4 million in 2011;
• Total net operating income in Q3 2012, increased by 8.1% to $43.5 million compared to $40.2 million in Q3 2011;
• Net income attributable to common shareholders in Q3 2012 totalled $119.4 million compared to $44.6 million in 2011; and
• Funds from operations for the three months ended September 30, 2012, was $37.5 million, or $2.93 per share, compared to $34.9 million, or $2.69 per share in 2011.
• On September 12, 2012, the Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust completed the offering of $150.7 million for 12,720,000 trust units sold at a price of $11.85 per trust unit.

All amounts in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

NET INCOME

The Company's net income attributable to common shareholders for the three months ended September 30, 2012, was $119,449 ($9.32 per share) compared to $44,634 ($3.44 per share) for the same period in 2011. The increase in net income of $74,815 for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, was primarily due to an increase in fair value gains on real estate properties of $69,476, an increase in net operating income of $3,269, an increase in revenue from management and advisory fees of $4,109 an increase in interest and other income of $1,371, a fair value gain due to a decrease in the market price since June 2012 on the Residential REIT Units of $1,623 net of  the distributions of $1,663 to the Residential REIT Unitholders, an increase in the other income of $2,757 and a decrease in income taxes of $3,403. These items were partially offset by an increase in property management and corporate expense of $2,947 and a decrease in the equity income of $7,647 from MREIT.

NET OPERATING INCOME

Net operating income ("NOI") for the three months ended September 30, 2012, increased by $3.3 million to $43.5 million compared to $40.2 million in 2011, representing an increase of 8.1%.  The increase was predominantly the result of the following:

• Lower NOI in Canadian multi-unit residential properties primarily as a result of higher operating expenses  partially offset by higher rental rates;
  
• Higher NOI in Canadian retail properties predominantly due to higher rental rates and percentage rent achieved in 2012;
• Higher NOI in office and industrial primarily as a result of improved occupancy in industrial properties and vacancy tax rebates.
• Higher NOI in U.S. multi residential properties primarily as a result of acquisition of three new residential apartment buildings;
• Higher NOI in U.S. retail properties primarily as a result of acquisitions in late 2011 and lease cancellation fee;
• The change in the foreign exchange rate increased reported NOI by $0.2 million.

FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS ("FFO")

FFO was calculated as follows:

For the three months ended September 30, 2012, the Company recorded FFO of $37,545 ($2.93 per share) compared to $34,902 ($2.69 per share) in 2011.  The increase in FFO of $2,643 is mainly due to  an increase in NOI of $3,269, an increase in interest and other income of $1,371, an increase in management and advisory fees of $4,109, an increase in other income of $2,757 and an increase in Morguard REIT's equity accounted FFO of $301 partially offset by an increase in current tax of $3,407, an increase in property management and corporate expenses of $2,947 and distributions of $1,663 to the Residential REIT Unitholders. The change in foreign exchange rates had a positive impact on FFO of $30 or $0.002 per share.

MORGUARD NORTH AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST

On September 12, 2012 the REIT completed the offering of $150.7 million for 12,720,000 trust units sold at a price of $11.85 per trust unit. The proceeds from the offering after underwriters' commission, was $146.7 million. Morguard acquired 4,220,000 of the trust units issued on September 12, 2012. At September 30, 2012 Morguard owned a 56.1% interest in the REIT.

FOURTH QUARTER DIVIDEND

The board of directors of Morguard Corporation announced today that the fourth quarterly, eligible dividend of 2012 in the amount of $0.15 per common share will be paid on December 31, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 14, 2012.

Readers are cautioned that although the terms "Net Operating Income", and "Funds From Operations" are commonly used to measure, compare and explain the operating and financial performance of Canadian real estate companies and such terms are defined in the Management's Discussion and Analysis, such terms do not necessarily have a standardized meaning and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by the other publicly traded entities.

The Company's interim unaudited financial statements for the three months ended September 30, 2012, along with the Management's Discussion and Analysis will be available on the Company's website at www.morguard.com and will be filed with SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Morguard Corporation is a real estate company, which owns a diversified portfolio of 102 retail, multi-unit residential, office and industrial properties comprising 11,260 multi-unit residential suites and approximately 7.1 million square feet of commercial leasable space. Morguard Corporation also owns a 43.8% interest in Morguard Real Estate Investment Trust and a 56.1% effective interest in Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust. Morguard provides advisory and management services to institutional and other investors through Morguard Investments Limited and Morguard Residential. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.morguard.com.

SOURCE Morguard Corporation