TORONTO, March 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation (the “Corporation”) (TSX FC, FC.DB.F, FC.DB.G, FC.DB.H, FC.DB.I, FC.DB.J, FC.DB.K and FC.DB.L) released its financial statements for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2021.

NET INCOME
For the three months ended December 31, 2021, net income increased by 5.7% to $7,734,278 as compared to $7,318,366 reported for the same period in 2020. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased by 13.8% to $29,985,385, as compared to $26,353,473 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase is mainly a result of higher interest income due to a larger average investment portfolio size over the year (an annual average balance increase of $44 million), offset by a decrease in average interest rate on the investment portfolio.

EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic weighted average profit per share for the three months ended December 31, 2021 was $0.234, as compared to the $0.249 per share reported for the three months ended December 31, 2020. Basic weighted average profit per share for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $0.950, compared to the $0.913 per share reported for the year ended December 31, 2020.

PORTFOLIO
The Corporation’s investment portfolio increased by $83.5 million to $642.5 million as at December 31, 2021, in comparison to $559.0 million as at December 31, 2020 (in each case, gross of the impairment provision and fair value adjustment). During 2021, new investment funding was $515.5 million (2020 – $399.4 million), and repayments were $432.0 million (2020 – $321.5 million).

RETURN ON EQUITY
The Corporation continues to exceed its yield objective of producing a return on shareholders’ equity in excess of 400 basis points over the average one-year Government of Canada Treasury bill yield. Income for the year ended December 31, 2021 represented a return on total shareholders’ equity (based on the average of the month end shareholders’ equity in the year) of 8.46%, representing a return on total shareholders’ equity of 771 basis points per annum over the average one-year Government of Canada Treasury bill yield of 0.75%.

PRUDENT IMPAIRMENT ALLOWANCE

Management has always taken a proactive approach to the Corporation’s loan impairment allowance. This is a prudent approach that provides stability of dividends to our shareholders in the event there are any future issues with any of the loans within the Corporation’s investment portfolio. The allowance for impairment and fair value adjustment as of December 31, 2021 was $5,750,000 (December 31, 2020, allowance for impairment – $5,609,000).

INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO DETAILS
Details on the Corporation’s investment portfolio, as at December 31, 2021, are as follows:

• Total gross investment portfolio of $642,531,533, which is higher than the $559,007,922 reported at December 31, 2020.
• Conventional first mortgages, being those first mortgages with loan-to-values less than 75%, comprise 73% of the total portfolio (71% as at December 2020), and total conventional mortgages with loan-to-values less than 75% comprise 82% of the total portfolio (78% as at December 2020).
• Approximately 66% of the portfolio matures by December 31, 2022.
• The average face interest rate on the portfolio is 7.91% per annum, as compared to 8.20% at December 31, 2020.
• Regionally, the mortgage investment portfolio is diversified as follows: Ontario (88%), Western Canada (6%), Quebec (4%) and USA (2%).
  

Borrower repayment performance has remained consistent with pre-COVID-19 performance and no payment deferral arrangements have been implemented.

CASH DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTION
The Corporation is pleased to announce that its board of directors has declared a monthly cash dividend of $0.078 per common share (subject to adjustment at the discretion of the board of directors) payable on each dividend payment date set out below to holders of common shares of record at the close of business on each record date set out below:

DIVIDEND AND SHARE PURCHASE PLAN
The Corporation has in place a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP) and Share Purchase Plan that is available to its shareholders. The DRIP allows participants to have their monthly cash dividends reinvested in additional shares. The price paid per share is 97% (if the share price is higher than $14.85) of the weighted average trading price calculated five trading days immediately preceding each dividend date with no commission cost. Once registered with the Share Purchase Plan, participants have the right to purchase additional shares, totaling no greater than $12,000 per year and no less than $250 per month. Shareholders participating pay no commission.

For the three months and year ended December 31, 2021, the Corporation declared dividends on its common shares totaling $8,148,312 and $29,985,385, respectively, or $0.246 and $0.948 per share, versus $7,297,147 and $27,430,809 respectively, or $0.249 and $0.944 per share, for the three months and year ended December 31, 2020. The number of common shares outstanding at December 31, 2021 was 33,610,885, as compared to 30,843,166 at December 31, 2020.

About the Corporation
Where Mortgage Deals Get Done®

The Corporation, through its mortgage banker, Firm Capital Corporation, is a non-bank lender providing residential and commercial short-term bridge and conventional real estate financing, including construction, mezzanine, and equity investments. The Corporation’s investment objective is the preservation of shareholders’ equity, while providing shareholders with a stable stream of monthly dividends from investments. The Corporation achieves its investment objectives through investments in selected niche markets that are under-serviced by large lending institutions. Lending activities to date continue to develop a diversified mortgage portfolio, producing a stable return to shareholders. Full reports of the financial results of the Corporation for the year are outlined in the audited consolidated financial statements and the related management discussion and analysis of the Corporation, available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. In addition, supplemental information is available on the Corporation’s website at www.firmcapital.com. 

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws including, among others, statements concerning our objectives, our strategies to achieve those objectives, our performance, our investment portfolio and our dividends, as well as statements with respect to management’s beliefs, estimates, and intentions, and similar statements concerning anticipated future events, results, circumstances, performance, or expectations that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “outlook”, “objective”, “may”, “will”, “expect”, “intent”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “should”, “plans”, or “continue”, or similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events. Such forward-looking statements reflect management’s current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management.

These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are based on our estimates and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those described in our current Annual Information Form under “Risk Factors” (a copy of which can be obtained at www.sedar.com), which could cause our actual results and performance to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this news release.

Those risks and uncertainties include, among others, risks associated with the impact of existing or future waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, mortgage lending, dependence on the Corporation’s manager and mortgage banker, competition for mortgage lending, real estate values, interest rate fluctuations, environmental matters, shareholder liability, and the introduction of new tax rules. Material factors or assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making an estimate set out in the forward-looking information include, among others, that the Corporation is able to invest in mortgages at rates consistent with rates historically achieved; adequate mortgage investment opportunities are presented to the Corporation; adequate bank indebtedness and bank loans are available to the Corporation; and a non-material impact resulting from any future COVID-19 waves. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what management believes are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that actual results and performance will be consistent with these forward-looking statements.

All forward-looking statements in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Except as required by applicable law, the Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

For further information, please contact:

Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation
Eli Dadouch
President & Chief Executive Officer
(416) 635-0221