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Investments in Unconsolidated Real Estate Ventures
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2023
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]  
Investments in Unconsolidated Real Estate Ventures

Note 4. Investments in Unconsolidated Real Estate Ventures

As a result of the SST IV Merger, we acquired six self storage real estate joint ventures located in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada, all of which were operating properties as of March 31, 2023. As a result of the SSGT II Merger, we acquired three self storage real estate joint ventures located in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada, two of which were operating properties and one of which was under development as of March 31, 2023.

On May 25, 2022, we, as 50% owner and SmartCentres as the other 50% owner of a joint venture subsidiary, purchased a single tenant industrial building located in the city of Burnaby, British Columbia (the “Regent Property”), that we and SmartCentres intend to develop into a self storage facility in the future. Our 50% of the total purchase price for the Regent Property was approximately $3.5 million CAD (or approximately $2.7 million USD), plus closing costs.

On January 12, 2023, we as 50% owner and SmartCentres as the other 50% owner of a joint venture subsidiary, purchased a parcel of land in Whitby, Ontario, that we and SmartCentres intend to develop into a self storage facility in the future. Our 50% of the total purchase price for the North Whitby Property was approximately $2.7 million CAD (or approximately $2.0 million USD), plus closing costs.

These joint venture agreements are with a subsidiary of SmartCentres, an unaffiliated third party, to acquire, develop, and operate self storage facilities. In accordance with such agreements, we intend to fund development costs of approximately two million dollars during 2023 and an additional three million dollars, primarily during 2026 and 2027.

We account for these investments using the equity method of accounting and they are stated at cost and adjusted for our share of net earnings or losses and reduced by distributions and increased for contributions. Equity in earnings (loss) will generally be recognized based on our ownership interest in the earnings (loss) of each of the unconsolidated investments, and is recorded in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, we recorded net aggregate loss of approximately $0.4 million and $0.2 million respectively, from our equity in earnings related to our unconsolidated real estate ventures in Canada.

The following table summarizes our 50% ownership interests in investments in unconsolidated real estate ventures in Canada (the "JV Properties"):

 

JV Property

 

Date Real Estate Venture Became Operational

 

Carrying Value
of Investment as of
March 31, 2023

 

 

Carrying Value
of Investment as of
December 31, 2022

 

Dupont (1)

 

October 2019

 

$

4,165,843

 

 

$

4,245,434

 

East York (2)

 

June 2020

 

 

6,053,558

 

 

 

6,039,951

 

Brampton (2)

 

November 2020

 

 

2,153,385

 

 

 

2,166,186

 

Vaughan (2)

 

January 2021

 

 

2,588,556

 

 

 

2,625,089

 

Oshawa (2)

 

August 2021

 

 

1,478,252

 

 

 

1,506,798

 

Scarborough (2)

 

November 2021

 

 

2,329,895

 

 

 

2,364,175

 

Aurora (1)

 

December 2022

 

 

2,413,304

 

 

 

2,546,407

 

Kingspoint (2)

 

March 2023

 

 

3,625,055

 

 

 

3,342,969

 

Markham (1)

 

Under Development

 

 

1,193,093

 

 

 

1,038,541

 

Regent (3)

 

Under Development

 

 

2,657,661

 

 

 

2,646,532

 

North Whitby

 

Under Development

 

 

2,656,772

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

$

31,315,374

 

 

$

28,522,082

 

 

(1)
These joint venture properties were acquired through the SSGT II Merger.
(2)
These joint venture properties were acquired through the SST IV Merger.
(3)
This property is currently leased as a single tenant industrial lease. The joint venture plans to develop this property into a self storage facility in the future.

 

We as 50% owner and SmartCentres as the other 50% owner of a joint venture subsidiary were party to two purchase and sale agreements for the acquisition of land in Canada intended to be developed into self storage facilities which had not yet closed. Our 50% portion of the total purchase price for these properties was approximately USD $7.7 million, plus closing costs. There can be no assurance that we will complete these acquisitions. Additionally, we may assign some or all of such purchase and sale agreements to the Managed REITs. If we fail to acquire these properties, in addition to the incurred acquisition costs, we may also forfeit earnest money as a result.

Financing Agreement

In connection with the SST IV Merger, we, through our acquisition of the Oshawa, East York, Brampton, Vaughan, and Scarborough joint venture partnerships, also became party to a master mortgage commitment agreement (the “MMCA I”) with SmartCentres Storage Finance LP (the “SmartCentres Lender”) (collectively, the “SmartCentres Loan I”). The SmartCentres Lender is an affiliate of SmartCentres.

On August 18, 2021, the Kingspoint property was added to the MMCA I, increasing the available capacity. The SmartCentres Loan I includes an accordion feature such that borrowings pursuant thereto may be increased up to approximately $120 million CAD subject to certain conditions set forth in the MMCA I.

On June 1, 2022, in connection with the SSGT II Merger, we assumed another loan with the SmartCentres Lender. SSGT II had previously entered into a master mortgage commitment agreement on April 30, 2021, which was subsequently modified on October 22, 2021 (the "MMCA II"), with the SmartCentres Lender in the amount of up to approximately $34.3 million CAD (the “SmartCentres Loan II”) (collectively with SmartCentres Loan I, the "SmartCentres Financings"). The borrowers under the SmartCentres Loan II are the joint venture entities in which we (SSGT II prior to June 1, 2022), and SmartCentres each hold a 50% limited partnership interest with respect to the Dupont and Aurora joint venture properties. In connection with the SmartCentres Loan II assumption, we became a recourse guarantor for 50% of the SmartCentres Financings.

On September 13, 2022, the Markham property was added to the MMCA II, increasing the available capacity. The SmartCentres Loan II includes an accordion feature such that borrowings pursuant thereto may be increased up to approximately $120 million CAD subject to certain conditions set forth in the MMCA II.

As of March 31, 2023, approximately $119.2 million CAD or approximately $88.0 million in USD, was outstanding on the SmartCentres Financings. As of December 31, 2022, approximately $116.7 million CAD or approximately $86.1 million USD was outstanding on the SmartCentres Financings. The proceeds of the SmartCentres Financings have been and will generally be used to finance the acquisition, development, and construction of the JV Properties.

The SmartCentres Financings are secured by first mortgages on each of the JV Properties, excluding the Regent and North Whitby Properties. Interest on the SmartCentres Financings is a variable annual rate equal to the aggregate of: (i) the BA Equivalent Rate, plus: (ii) a margin based on the External Credit Rating, plus (iii) a margin under the Senior Credit Facility, each as defined and described further in the MMCA I and MMCA II. As of March 31, 2023, the total interest rate was approximately 7.1%.

The SmartCentres Financings, as amended, have a maturity date of May 11, 2024, and each contain two one year extension options. Monthly interest payments are initially capitalized on the outstanding principal balance. Upon a JV Property generating sufficient Net Cash Flow (as defined in the MMCA I and MMCA II), the SmartCentres Financings provide for the commencement of quarterly payments of interest. As of March 31, 2023, Dupont, East York, Brampton, and Vaughan were generating sufficient net cash flow and therefore were required to and were making such interest payments. The borrowings advanced pursuant to the SmartCentres Financings may be prepaid without penalty, subject to certain conditions set forth in the MMCA I and MMCA II.

The SmartCentres Financings contain customary affirmative and negative covenants, agreements, representations, warranties and borrowing conditions (including a loan to value ratio of no greater than 70% with respect to each JV Property)

and events of default, all as set forth in the MMCA I and MMCA II. We serve as a full recourse guarantor with respect to 50% of the SmartCentres Financings. As of March 31, 2023, we were in compliance with all such covenants.