Wilmington Closes Sale of Self-Storage Business to StorageVault


TORONTO, April 15, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wilmington Capital Management Inc. (“Wilmington” or the “Corporation”) is pleased to announce that further to its February 6, 2019 and March 28, 2019 press releases that it, together with other vendors including certain insiders of the Corporation (collectively with the Corporation, the “Vendors”), has completed the closing of the sale of all of the equity interests in Real Storage Private Trust (the “Private Trust”), Woodfield Limited Partnership, SNS Storage (Ontario) Limited Partnership, Real Storage GP Inc. and 2242907 Ontario Inc., which includes all of the Corporation’s interests in the self-storage business owned and operated by the Private Trust (the “Self-Storage Business”), to Storage Vault Canada Inc. (“StorageVault or the Purchaser”) (the “Transaction”) for a gross purchase price payable to the Vendors of $275 million (the “Purchase Price”).

The Purchase Price is subject to, debt repayment approximating $106 million, aggregate holdbacks of $4.75 million and customary adjustments, in accordance with the Agreement and was paid in cash.  The portion of the net Purchase Price paid to the Corporation was approximately $53 million.

Mr. Christopher Killi, former CEO of Real Storage Private Trust and Wilmington’s Managing Partner of Real Estate commented that “the Transaction is the culmination of the efforts of a dedicated and successful team and affords Wilmington significant flexibility going forward.”

The Private Trust was one of the largest owner, operator and developers of self-storage facilities in Canada with 38 self-storage facilities located in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario, including a 33% indirect interest in a self-storage facility in Toronto, Ontario and a 24% indirect interest in a re-development property in Kitchener, Ontario.  

Wilmington After Closing

Wilmington will be retaining its assets that do not form part of the Self-Storage Business.  The Corporation now has the financial flexibility to continue to add value to its remaining operating platforms and to actively seek out additional investment opportunities where it can add value.

About Wilmington

Wilmington is a Canadian investment and asset management company whose principal objective is to seek out investment opportunities in the real estate and energy sectors, which provide shareholders with capital appreciation over the longer term as opposed to current income returns. Wilmington invests its own capital, alongside partners and co-investors, in hard assets and private equity funds and manages these assets through operating platforms.

WILMINGTON CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INC.

For further information, please contact:
Executive Officers
(403) 705-8038

READER ADVISORY

Cautionary Note on Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. These forward-looking statements contain statements of intent, belief or current expectations of Wilmington. Forward-looking information is often, but not always identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “plan”, “intend”, “forecast”, “target”, “project”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “estimate”, “predict” or similar words suggesting future outcomes or language suggesting an outlook.

The forward-looking statements included in this press release, including statements regarding the Transaction, net proceeds payable to Wilmington under the Transaction, the receipt of necessary approvals, the Wilmington Shareholder vote, the anticipated timing for mailing the Circular, holding the Meeting, completing the Transaction, repayment of debt, the nature of Wilmington’s post-closing operations and execution on any of the potential post-closing strategic alternatives are not guarantees of future results and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the potential results discussed in the forward-looking statements. In respect of the forward-looking statements and information concerning the completion of the Transaction and the anticipated timing for completion of the Transaction, Wilmington has provided such in reliance on certain assumptions that it believes are reasonable at this time, including assumptions as to the time required to prepare and mail Meeting materials, the ability of the parties to receive, in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms, the necessary regulatory and other third party approvals and the ability of the parties to satisfy, in a timely manner, the other conditions to the closing of the Transaction. These dates may change for a number of reasons, including unforeseen delays in preparing Meeting materials; inability to secure necessary shareholder, regulatory or other third party approvals in the time assumed or the need for additional time to satisfy the other conditions to the completion of the Transaction. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these times.

Risks and uncertainties that may cause such differences include but are not limited to: the risk that the Transaction may not be completed on a timely basis, if at all; the conditions to the consummation of the Transaction may not be satisfied; the risk that the Transaction may involve unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; the risk that, prior to the completion of the Transaction, Wilmington’s business may experience significant disruptions, including loss of customers or employees, due to transaction related uncertainty or other factors; the possibility that legal proceedings may be instituted against Wilmington and/or others relating to the Transaction and the outcome of such proceedings; the possible occurrence of an event, change or other circumstance that could result in termination of the Transaction; risks related to the diversion of management’s attention from Wilmington’s ongoing business operations; risks relating to the failure to obtain necessary shareholder approval; risks related to obtaining the requisite consents to the Transaction; other risks inherent in the real estate industry. Failure to obtain the requisite approvals, or the failure of the parties to otherwise satisfy the conditions to or complete the Transaction, may result in the Transaction not being completed on the proposed terms, or at all. In addition, if the Transaction is not completed, and Wilmington continues as an independent entity, the announcement of the Transaction and the dedication of substantial resources of Wilmington to the completion of the Transaction could have a material adverse impact on Wilmington’s share price, its current business relationships (including with future and prospective employees, customers, distributors, suppliers and partners) and on the current and future operations, financial condition and prospects of Wilmington. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect Wilmington’s operations or financial results are included in reports on file with applicable securities regulatory authorities and may be accessed through the SEDAR website (www.sedar.com).

The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date it was issued and Wilmington does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks that outcomes implied by forward-looking statements will not be achieved. Wilmington cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these statements.