Granite REIT Completes C$500 Million Green Bond Offering

Rhea-AI Summary

Granite Real Estate Investment Trust has successfully completed a C$500 million offering of 2.194% Series 6 senior unsecured debentures due on August 30, 2028. These debentures, guaranteed by Granite and its subsidiary, are part of Granite's second green bond issuance. The net proceeds will finance or refinance expenditures associated with Eligible Green Projects, as outlined in their Green Bond Framework. The debentures carry credit ratings of BBB (high) from DBRS and Baa2 from Moody’s.

Positive

• Successful issuance of C$500 million in senior unsecured debentures.
• Funds allocated to Eligible Green Projects support sustainability initiatives.
• Credit ratings of BBB (high) and Baa2 indicate strong financial stability.

Negative

• Dilution concerns may arise from the issuance of new debentures.

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Granite Real Estate Investment Trust (“Granite” or the “REIT”) (TSX: GRT.UN / NYSE: GRP.U) announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary Granite REIT Holdings Limited Partnership (“Granite LP”) has completed its previously announced offering (the “Offering”) of C$500 million aggregate principal amount of 2.194% Series 6 senior unsecured debentures due August 30, 2028 (the “Debentures”). The Debentures are guaranteed by Granite and Granite REIT Inc. The Debentures are Granite’s second green bond issuance pursuant to its Green Bond Framework.

The Debentures were offered on an agency basis by a syndicate of agents co-led by Scotia Capital Inc. and RBC Capital Markets. DBRS Morningstar and Moody’s Investor Service, Inc. have provided Granite with credit ratings of “BBB (high)” with a stable trend, and “Baa2”, respectively, relating to the Debentures. The Debentures were sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated August 26, 2021 under Granite’s amended and restated base shelf prospectus dated November 26, 2020.

Granite LP intends to use an amount equal to the net proceeds of the Offering to finance or refinance, in whole or in part, expenditures associated with Eligible Green Projects as described in the Granite Green Bond Framework, which is available on Granite’s website at https://granitereit.com/sustainability.

Through a cross currency interest rate swap, Granite LP has exchanged the Canadian dollar denominated principal and interest payments for U.S. dollar denominated principal and interest payments, resulting in an effective fixed interest rate of 2.096% for the seven-year term of the Debentures.

ABOUT GRANITE

Granite is a Canadian-based REIT engaged in the acquisition, development, ownership and management of logistics, warehouse and industrial properties in North America and Europe. Granite owns 119 investment properties representing approximately 51.3 million square feet of leasable area.

OTHER INFORMATION

Copies of financial data and other publicly filed documents about Granite are available through the internet on the Canadian Securities Administrators’ Systems for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) which can be accessed at www.sedar.com and on the United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (EDGAR) which can be accessed at www.sec.gov.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, and securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

For further information, please see our website at www.granitereit.com or contact Teresa Neto, Chief Financial Officer, at 647-925-7560 or Andrea Sanelli, Manager, Legal & Investor Services, at 647-925-7504.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release may contain statements that, to the extent they are not recitations of historical fact, constitute “forward-looking statements” or “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information may include, among others, statements regarding Granite’s intended use of the net proceeds of the Offering to finance or refinance, in whole or in part, expenditures associated with Eligible Green Projects as described in the Granite Green Bond Framework, Granite’s intention and ability to make future investments and acquisitions on satisfactory terms, and Granite’s plans, goals, strategies, intentions, beliefs, estimates, costs, objectives, economic performance, expectations, or foresight or the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Words such as “may”, “would”, “could”, “will”, “likely”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “intend”, “plan”, “forecast”, “project”, “estimate”, “seek”, “objective” and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information should not be read as guarantees of Granite’s intended use of the net proceeds of the Offering, Granite’s intention and ability to acquire and develop properties on satisfactory terms, or other events, performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or the times at or by which future events or performance will be achieved. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are based on information available at the time and/or management’s good faith assumptions and analyses made in light of its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances, and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond Granite’s control, that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to, the risks set forth in the annual information form of Granite Real Estate Investment Trust and Granite REIT Inc. dated March 3, 2021 (the “Annual Information Form”) and management’s discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial position for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 (the “Q2 MD&A”). The “Risk Factors” section of the Annual Information Form and the Q2 MD&A also contain information about the material factors or assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information speak only as of the date the statements and information were made and unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, Granite expressly disclaims any intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained in this press release to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210830005362/en/

Teresa Neto

Chief Financial Officer

647-925-7560

Andrea Sanelli

Manager, Legal & Investor Services

647-925-7504.

Source: Granite Real Estate Investment Trust

FAQ

What was the recent offering by Granite Real Estate Investment Trust?

Granite completed a C$500 million offering of 2.194% Series 6 senior unsecured debentures due August 30, 2028.

How will Granite use the proceeds from the debenture offering?

The proceeds will finance or refinance expenditures related to Eligible Green Projects as per their Green Bond Framework.

What are the credit ratings for Granite's new debentures?

DBRS rated the debentures BBB (high) and Moody's rated them Baa2.

When do the new debentures mature?

The new debentures mature on August 30, 2028.

What is the impact of the new debentures on GRPU shareholders?

The issuance may lead to dilution concerns for existing shareholders.