NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust Releases Third Quarter Results

11-10-2011

TORONTO, Nov. 10, 2011 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) -- NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (the "REIT") (TSX: NWH.UN), Canada's largest non-government owner and operator of medical office buildings and healthcare real estate, today announced its results for the third quarter, 2011.

Highlights of the Quarter:

    --  AFFO per unit for the quarter of $0.20 was improved from the
        previous quarter's $0.19.
    --  Occupancy of 91.8% remained essentially unchanged from the
        previous quarter's at 91.9%.  Solid new leasing was done during
        the quarter, including a large family practice clinic at
        buildings in each of Montreal and Toronto, but this positive
        absorption was offset by the loss of three larger, non-medical
        tenants, including one whose space is required for the
        ancillary services associated with the new Toronto-area family
        health team clinic.
    --  On July 22, 2011, the REIT completed the acquisition of
        Polyclinique Val-Belair, a newly constructed 49,000 square foot
        mixed-use medical office and retail complex in Quebec City for
        $11 million.  Polyclinique Val-Belair is 97% leased on a long
        term basis and benefits from a quality roster of tenants that
        includes a large government affiliated medical clinic and other
        healthcare related users. The property was acquired free and
        clear of debt. The investment is the REIT's fourth property in
        Quebec City.
    --  On September 15, 2011, the REIT completed the acquisition of
        Canamera Medical Centre, an 82,500 square foot medical office
        complex in Cambridge, Ontario for $14.8 million. The project is
        100% leased to a diverse range of healthcare tenancies,
        including large, multi-practitioner clinics, a diagnostic
        imaging clinic and a laboratory. The existing mortgage of
        approximately $5.4 million, an interest rate of 6.14% and a
        2018 maturity was assumed. Subsequent to the quarter, an
        agreement was reached with the lender to transfer this mortgage
        to the REIT's Alexander Medical Building in Peterborough on the
        same terms and conditions, thereby making Canamera free and
        clear of debt.
    --  During the quarter the REIT closed a $35 million 9 year, fixed
        rate mortgage financing at 4.55% on Hys Centre.
    --  During the quarter, the REIT amended and extended the mortgage
        at the recently acquired Tawa Centre to increase the loan
        amount to $16 million and extend the term to 2018 at a blended
        interest rate of 4.12%.
    --  The REIT paid distributions of $0.06667 per unit on July 15,
        2011, August 15, 2011 and September 15, 2011 consistent with
        its annualized target of $0.80 cents per unit.
    --  The REIT's liquidity continues to be strong, with debt to gross
        book value at 49.8% at quarter end and approximately $76
        million of liquidity in the form of cash, the credit facility
        and financing potential from unencumbered assets.


Selected Financial Information:


(unaudited)                       Three Months Ended Three Months Ended

($000's, except unit and per unit September 30, 2011 September 30, 2010
amounts)



Revenue                                      $30,664            $20,706

Net Operating Income                         $16,637            $11,233

Funds from Operations ("FFO")                $10,009             $6,490

Adjusted Funds from Operations                $8,360             $5,464
("AFFO")

Debt to Gross Book Value                       49.8%                57%



Per unit data

FFO                                            $0.23              $0.24

AFFO                                           $0.20              $0.21

Distributions                                  $0.20              $0.20

AFFO Payout ratio                               102%                97%




Peter Riggin, CEO, said "We are pleased with the third quarter as it continued our progress in the key areas of FFO / AFFO per unit growth, the accretive acquisition of market dominant properties, and the strengthening of our portfolio through leasing to core medical tenancies on a longer term basis, specifically a large family practice clinic in each of Montreal and Toronto, ensuring solid performance of these properties for many years."

Some financial measures used in this press release, such as FFO and AFFO, are used by the real estate industry to measure and compare the operating performance of real estate companies, but they do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. As such, they are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other real estate companies. These non-IFRS measures are more fully defined and discussed in the REIT's management discussion and analysis (the "MD&A") for the second quarter of 2011, which is available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Also on SEDAR are the interim financial statements of the REIT.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements with respect to the REIT, its operations, strategy, financial performance and condition. These statements generally can be identified by use of forward-looking words such as "may", "will", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intends", "believe", or "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. The REIT's actual results and performance discussed herein could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations, including that the transactions contemplated herein are completed. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, among other things, general economic and market factors, competition, changes in government regulations and the factors described under "Risk Factors" in REIT's Annual Information Form and Prospectus and the risks and uncertainties set out in the MD&A which are available on www.sedar.com. These cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to the REIT and persons acting on its behalf. Unless otherwise stated, all forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and, except as expressly required by applicable law, the REIT assumes no obligation to update such statements.

The REIT invites you to participate in its conference call with senior management to discuss our third quarter 2011 results on Friday, November 11, 2011 at 12:00 p.m. (Eastern).

The conference call can be accessed by dialing 416-642-5212 or 1-866-321-6651. The conference ID is 9304242.

Audio replay is available until November 18, 2011 by dialing 647-436-0148 or 1-888-203-1112. The conference ID is 9304242.

The webcast of the conference call can be accessed from the "Investor Relations" page of the REIT's web site at www.nwhp.ca, and will be archived for 30 days.

To view this news release in HTML formatting, please use the following URL: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2011/10/c4711.html

SOURCE: NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust

Ernie Spraggs, CFO (416) 366-2000 ext. 262, orwww.nwhp.ca