CPFV reports year end net profit of $4.05 million

Date: November 15, 2019

Eppley Caribbean Property Fund Limited (CPFV), for the year ended September 30, 2019 reported net rental income of $1.80 million (2018: $1.52 million), an 18% increase. In addition, share of profit of investments accounted for using the equity method grossly increased, moving from $1.56 million in 2018 to $2.95 million for 2019. The Company stated, “These increases are largely attributable to the Fund’s increased stake in the Cave Shepherd Building, realizing a full year’s income from the acquisition of Emerald City Mall in 2018 and the recent acquisition of assets in Jamaica and Barbados.”

Fair value gain on investment property closed the year at $2.15 million versus losses of $2.38 million. Management noted, “this was largely attributable the Fund’s acquisition of properties at favourable prices relative to market value and the extension of key long-term leases. These gains were compensated by a onetime foreign exchange loss of $1.5 million.”

Interest income amounted to $180,415 versus $21,833 booked for the previous year. Other income fell 72% to close at $1,869 versus $6,652 last year. Gain on bargain purchase closed at $74,325 (2019: nil).

As such, total investment income surged to total $7.16 million (2018: $612,524).

Total operating expenses amounted to $3.11 million (2018: $1.35 million). Total operating expenses can be broken down as follows:

o   Interest expenses totalled to $634,125 (2018: $480,000).

o   Fund management fees was $298,137 compared to $313,735 booked for 2018.

o   Professional fees totalled $187,339 (2018: $193,058).

o   Directors and subcommittee fees closed at $2,560 (2018: $18,527).

o   Office and administrative fees went up to $48,003 (2018: $11,905).

o   Impairment charge for receivables surged to $76,317 (2018: $20,892).

o   Investment advisor fees closed the year at $298,137 (2018: $313,735).

The Company highlighted, “The Fund’s improved performance is attributable to enhanced operational efficiency, receiving a full year’s benefit of acquisitions in 2018 and the acquisition of prime commercial real estate in Jamaica and Barbados in 2019. In addition, The Fund’s capital raise facilitated the immediate acquisition of commercial real estate assets with attractive capitalisation rates which instantly diversified the portfolio geographically and by type. The acquisitions consisted of two industrial assets and a retail building in Jamaica, along with an industrial property in Barbados.”

Consequently, this resulted in net profit for the year of $4.05 million versus a net loss of $739,328 booked in the previous year. Profits attributable to cellular property fund shareholders amounted to $4.02 million compared to a loss of $800,863 booked last year. Total comprehensive income for the year closed at $4.12 million compared to a loss of $738,328 twelve months earlier.

Earnings per share for the year ended September 30, 2019 totalled $0.03 compared to LPS of $0.01 for the corresponding period in 2018. The total amount of shares outstanding used for this calculation was 122,181,628 units. CPFV closed the trading period at $35.09 on November 15, 2019.

CPFV mentioned, “We are pleased to announce that subsequent to the end of the quarter, the Fund reached an agreement to acquire the Hastings Office Centre, a multi-storey commercial office building consisting of 20,167 square feet in Hastings, Barbados with KPMG, a global professional services firm as the anchor tenant. We expect that the building will generate an NOI yield in excess of 8% and add to the Fund’s portfolio of office properties.”

Balance Sheet Highlights:

As at September 30, 2019, total assets amounted to $99.90 million, 80% more than last year’s $55.63 million in 2018. This was attributed to a rise in Investment properties which closed the period at $39.47 million (2018: $17.77 million). Additionally, the growth in ‘Cash and Cash Equivalents’ and ‘Investments in associated companies and joint arrangements’ contributed to the overall increase in the company’s assets, closing at $38.28 million (2018: $10.24 million) and $21.23 million (2018: $20 million), respectively.

CPFV, as at September 2019, booked total shareholders’ funds of $88.26 million (2018: $42.64 million), which translated into a net asset value per share of $0.72 (2018: $0.35).

 

Disclaimer: Analyst Certification -The views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the personal views of Mayberry Investments Limited Research Department about those issuer (s) or securities as at the date of this report. Each research analyst (s) also certify that no part of their compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendation (s) or view (s) expressed by that research analyst in this research report.

Company Disclosure -The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Mayberry may effect transactions or have positions in securities mentioned herein. In addition, employees of Mayberry may have positions and effect transactions in the securities mentioned herein.

 

2019-11-27T09:01:48-05:00