SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust Releases Second Quarter Results for 2024

SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust
SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust

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TORONTO, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust (“SmartCentres” or the “Trust”) (TSX: SRU.UN) is pleased to report its financial and operating results for the quarter ended June 30, 2024.

“Building on Q1, we are pleased to report strong continued momentum in leasing demand and lease deals executed for space in Q2”, said Mitchell Goldhar, CEO of SmartCentres. “Occupancy has improved by 50 basis points to 98.2% with approximately 272,000 square feet of vacant space leased during the quarter and rent growth of 8.5% (excluding anchors). The Millway, our purpose-built rental project in the VMC continues to experience strong leasing momentum with occupancy at 88% by the end of the quarter, 90% currently, and expected to exceed 95% by year-end, all at average rental rates above our original budget. Our mixed-use development pipeline continues to add to the bottom-line with the completion this quarter of our self-storage project in Markham and the closing of 25 townhomes at our Vaughan NW project. Subsequent to quarter end, we also raised $350 million via a debenture issuance to repay our upcoming $100 million debenture maturity and outstanding floating rate debt on our operating lines, on an accretive basis, and extended the debt ladder maturity.”

2024 Second Quarter Highlights

Operations

  • Same Properties NOI excluding Anchors(1) for the three months ended June 30, 2024 increased by 2.2% and for the six months ending June 30, 2024 increased by 3.0% (1.3% and 1.9% respectively, including anchors) compared to the same period in 2023. The increase was driven by lease-up activities and lease extensions at improved rental rates.

  • Strong leasing momentum continued with approximately 272,000 square feet of vacant space leased in the quarter resulting in an in-place and committed occupancy rate of 98.2%, an improvement of 50 basis points compared to the prior quarter.

  • Renewed and extended 86.2% of all space maturing in 2024, with strong rent growth of 8.5% (excluding anchors).

Development

  • Our significant development pipeline will provide constant portfolio expansion and decades of profitable growth from the approximately 57.5 million square feet (at the Trust’s share) of zoned mixed-use development permissions, including 0.8 million square feet of sites currently under construction.

  • The Millway, a 458-unit purpose-built rental located in VMC, was completed in Q4 2023. Leasing activity is on track with 88% of the units leased and committed by quarter-end at average rental rates above budget. Leased and reserved units are expected to exceed 95% by year-end from continuing strong leasing momentum.

  • Siteworks for the 224,000 square foot Canadian Tire and ancillary retail units project on Laird Drive in Toronto continues, and possession is expected in approximately 20 months.

  • Construction of Phase I of the Vaughan NW townhomes is well underway, with 25 units completed and closed in Q2 2024, and approximately 83% of the Phase I townhomes have been pre-sold.

  • Self-storage facility in Markham opened in May 2024. This portfolio has now increased to ten operating facilities with four additional sites currently under construction.