Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the conference call for Granite REIT. Speaking to you on the call this morning is Mike Forsyth, Kevin Gorrie, Granite's new CEO and Ilias Konstantopoulos, Chief Financial Officer. Before we begin today's call, I would like to remind you that statements and information made in today's discussion may constitute forward looking statements and forward looking information and that actual results could differ materially from any conclusion, forecast or projection. These statements and information are based on certain material facts or assumptions, reflect management's current expectations and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties are discussed in Granite's material filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and the U.
S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including the Risk section of its annual information form for 2017 filed on March 1, 2018. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward looking statements and forward looking information. Granite undertakes no intention or obligation to update or revise any of these forward looking statements or forward looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. In addition, the remarks this morning may include financial terms and measures that do not have a standardized meaning under International Financial Reporting Standards.
Please refer to the Q2 2018 condensed combined financial results and management's discussion and analysis of Granite Real Estate Investment Trust and Granite REIT Incorporated and other materials filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission for additional relevant information. I will now turn the call over to Mike Forsyth. Please go ahead.
Thank you, Jose, and nicely done. With me here today is Granite's new CEO, Kevin Gorey Lauren Kummer, our EVP, Head of Global Real Estate Mike Ranparis, our VP, Global Real Estate and Ilias Konstantopoulos, our CFO, who will be taking you through some of the details of our financial results in a couple of moments. Although today is officially Kevin's first day, I can't tell you that we have been actively working with Kevin since his appointment was announced in June to ensure a smooth and successful transition. Today, since I signed off on all the Q2 filings up to yesterday, I'll give my usual report, which I'll limit to the Q2 results and subsequent events only. Then I'll turn it over to Elias for his report, then over to Kevin for a couple of comments, after which we'll take questions.
So let's get started. From an acquisition and divestment perspective, it was busy both during and after the quarter end, and it was good busy. We acquired 5 warehouse and logistic properties in the United States, having a total gross leasehold area of 4,200,000 square feet during the quarter. And on July 12, we acquired another 720,000 square foot property in Germany. Total purchase price for these 6 properties, excluding transaction costs, was $426,400,000 Together, they had an average in going yield of approximately 5.9% and a weighted average lease term of 7.2 years as at the date of acquisition.
On July 18, we sold a 254,000 square foot property in Tillsonburg, Ontario for 7,200,000 dollars You may remember that this property was previously occupied by CNM's, who a year ago gave us notice that they were exercising their early termination rights. In addition to the 2 years rent we received as a penalty, we sold the property for a nice little gain. Granite has 5 other properties held for sale with an aggregate value of just over $334,000,000 representing 1,900,000 square feet of leasable area located in Canada, United States and Germany. They are expected to be sold during the Q3 of 2018, one being Tillsonburg already has. These properties include Granite's 2 remaining special purpose properties in the United States, for which, as we announced this past Monday, Magna has exercised their rights of first refusal to acquire them in response to
a bonafide third party offer.
Total sales price of approximately $341,400,000 for these 6 properties represents a $65,100,000 or $1.42 per stapled unit in excess of the values reported for them in Granite's 2018 Q1 report. On a pro form a basis, using gross leasable area, Granite's exposure to Magna will reduce to 49%, just under that magical 50%. The 6 properties held for resale contribute approximately $23,000,000 in annual revenue. As a result of the increase in taxable income generated by transactions completed in 2018 to date and those 2018, Granite expects to make a special distribution to unitholders. Given the many variables in play, a lot can happen between now and the end of the year.
So we're not going to comment on the amount or form of consideration of such special distribution other than that it will be determined later in the year and it will be entirely dependent on the REIT's actual taxable income for 2018. We expect that this special distribution will be declared certainly before December 31, 2018.
Turning to the results,
we had another solid quarter. Not only have we been very active with sales and acquisitions, but we've also made good progress on the leasing front. Here's a quick recap of the highlights. Funds from operations on a comparable basis was $0.86 per unit in the Q2 of 2018. This is against the comparable FFO of $0.79 for Q2 of 2017.
Strong quarter over quarter results in a period that saw a lot of change in the composition and quality of our portfolio. Elias will give you more detail on the specific components of our FFO in a few moments. Our AFFO in the quarter reflects the improvement CapEx attributable to Novae and also the recently acquired property in Harlem branch, though in Mississippi is outside of Memphis that was re leased for 10 years to Milwaukee Tool and it also includes the related leasing commission paid in respect of that lease. As just mentioned, Granite acquired 5 warehouse and logistic properties in the United States, plus we closed another one in Germany a couple of weeks ago. The total purchase price for these 6 properties, including a planned expansion of 1 of them and excluding transaction costs, was approximately $450,000,000 We have over $340,000,000 assets held for resale.
We renewed the NCIB and spent almost $10,000,000 in the quarter in unit repurchases. We have just under 700,000 square feet of remaining 2018 lease expires to contend with. This excludes certain leases with Gubo Antolin, which are finalized but are just out for signature. 700,000 comprises 103,000 Square Feet in Portland that's under negotiation, 460,000 square feet listed for lease being bought like in the Netherlands and property in Tesma in Bonn and 130,000 square feet being 375 Edward and 330 Finsteen here in the GTA that we had listed for sale. We were set 97.3 percent occupied at the end of the quarter, reflecting the recent expected lease vacancy of the tenant in our Buttlig property in the Netherlands, the remaining space in Novi, a vacancy in Bahn, in our testment campus just mentioned and the property in Altbach, Germany that we are in the process of going through a complicated resold process.
And our weighted average lease term is 5.9 years. As a result of these announced initiatives and accomplishments, the management team, not me the whole Granite team, not just the work of any one individual, has made significant progress towards diversifying and enhancing the quality of Granite's real estate portfolio through the thoughtful deployment of its balance sheet and selected dispositions. With that, I'll turn it over to Elias to go over the financial highlights for the quarter.
Thanks, Mike. Welcome, Kevin, and good morning to all. I'll briefly summarize the operating results for the Q2 of 'eighteen, which include the impact of a recent and significant acquisition and disposition activity, as Mike referenced. Beginning with revenue. Revenue for the Q2 in 'eighteen increased $1,600,000 to $62,100,000 from the prior year period.
The main contributing factors to the slight increase in revenue for the Q2 include the acquisition of a total of 9 properties between October 2017 May 2018, which contributed to a revenue increase of $6,500,000 Recall the 9 properties comprise 1 in Olive Branch, Mississippi near Memphis 2 in Monroe, Ohio near the Cincinnati market one in Plainfield, Indiana, which was acquired in March 'eighteen, one in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, acquired in April of 2018, and 4 near Columbus, Ohio, which we acquired in May 2018. Another contributing factor is the contractual adjustments comprising CPI inflation and fixed contractual rent increases across our entire portfolio, which added a total of $900,000 to revenue. The leasing of most of the space in Novi that Mike referenced in January of 'eighteen increased revenue by $1,700,000 A net favorable impact in FX during the quarter of $300,000 as a result of the Canadian dollar depreciating against the euro added 1,000,000 dollars while the Canadian dollar strengthened against the U. S. Dollar, which reduced revenue by $700,000 netting up to $300,000 The above mentioned favorable factors were offset by mainly the impact of the sale of the 10 properties in Canada and the U.
S. In January, which decreased revenue by $7,400,000 and the vacancies from 3 lease expiries in Germany, Netherlands and Canada, which decreased revenue by $82,000 Turning to FFO. For the Q2, reported funds from operations in accordance with the Real Pacquiao paper definition was $37,600,000 or $0.82 per unit relative to the reported FFO of 31,600,000 dollars or $0.67 per unit in the prior year period. Excluding the foreign exchange losses from the remeasurement of the U. S.
Dollar cash proceeds from the sale of the investment properties in January, which amounted to $1,900,000 or $0.04 per unit, FFO would have been $39,500,000 or $0.86 per unit in the 3 month period ended June 30, 'eighteen. In comparison, excluding the proxy expenses of $5,900,000 or $0.12 a unit in the prior year period, FFO would have been $37,500,000 or $0.79 per unit. The corresponding FFO payout ratio for Q2 after the above noted adjustments was 79% as compared to 82% in the prior year period. Turning over to AFFO. For the Q2, reported AFFO in accordance with the Realpac white paper definition was $29,400,000 or $0.64 per unit relative to the reported AFFO of $32,500,000 or $0.69 per unit in the prior year period.
Once again, excluding the FX losses from the remeasurement of the U. S. Dollar proceeds, which amounted to $1,900,000 or $0.04 a share, AFFO would have been 31,300,000 dollars or $0.68 per unit for the 3 months ended June 30. And in comparison and once again excluding the proxy contest expenses, AFFO would have been CAD38.4 million or CAD0.81 per unit in the prior year period. The corresponding AFFO payout ratio for the Q2 after the above noted adjustments was 99% as compared to 80% in the prior year period.
The higher AFFO payout ratio during Q2 'eighteen is a result of $5,900,000 higher CapEx paid relative to the improvement projects at Novae and Olive Branch, which Mike referenced, that were released to a non Magna tenant in the Q1. Other factors impacting FFO and AFFO are further detailed and quantified in our MD and A of the Q2 financial report. Switching gears to the fair value gains. For Q2, we recorded fair value gains in connection with our investment properties totaling $128,000,000 approximately. Of this, half or roughly $65,000,000 of the gain relate to the 6 properties held for sale as of June 30, mainly the 2 special purpose buildings and the head office buildings in Aurora, Tillsonburg and Schweitz properties that Mike also talked about.
Turning to the balance sheet at quarter end, the IFRS value of our investment property portfolio, excluding the assets held for sale, was just over $3,000,000,000 implying an overall cap rate of 7% and which remained entirely unencumbered by unsecured debt. The fair value of our investment properties benefited by about $75,000,000 worth of FX gains since the beginning of
the year as a result of the
Canadian dollar depreciating against both the euro and the U. S. Dollar. Our income producing portfolio of 84 properties at quarter end comprised approximately 31,800,000 square feet, had an occupancy of 97.3 percent as measured by GLA, had a wealth of 5.9 years as measured by GLA, was 62% Magna tenanted if measured by revenue or 50% if measured by GLA. Mike mentioned the 49%.
Just to clarify, that would include the pro form a impact after the Q2. And therefore, the 49% reference Mike makes is on a pro form a basis. Our total debt was 817 $600,000 which includes a $77,000,000 swap mark to market and a $93,000,000 facility drop. Our debt was comprised only of unsecured debt, had a weighted average term to maturity of 4 years, had a weighted average interest cost of 2.65 percent and represents a net leverage ratio of 25%. When proceeds from the asset sale from the asset's held for sale are netted against debt, then the net leverage ratio would be 14%.
This in turn would provide Granite with debt capacity in excess of $1,250,000,000 at a 40% net leverage ratio target. At June 30, 'eighteen, Granite had available liquidity approaching $800,000,000 $50,000,000 in the form of cash and cash equivalents, dollars 407,000,000 from unused credit facility and $341,000,000 from the expected proceeds from assets held for sale. So once again, please note that the above noted financial information and property metrics exclude the property we purchased in Murfver, Germany subsequent to the quarter. Our credit rating is BBB mid with a stable outlook from each of DBRS and Moody's. Annualized distributions for 2018 are expected to be $2.72 per unit based on the current monthly distribution amount of $0.227 per unit.
And then recapping the total purchases made pursuant to our ANSID program, Since inception, we've purchased roughly 1,500,000 units for a total consideration of $73,000,000 which works out to about 49 $0.50 per staple unit. And then in the 6 months year to date, more specifically, Granite has repurchased about 1,200,000 staple units for total consideration of about 61,000,000 which equates to $49.41 per staple unit. Finally, we had 45,700,000 staple units outstanding as of June 30. And with that, I'll turn the call now over to Kevin.
Thanks, Ilyas. So if you go there, Ilyas. What I'd like to do is also right now is I'd like to think I'm leaving Granite in pretty good shape with lots of dry powder and well positioned for continued success under Kevin's leadership. I want to say it's no secret that Kevin is a proven leader who brings a broad range of experience in all aspects of the industrial asset class, and in particular, logistics and e commerce applications. I want to say that this makes him a great fit for Granite and for our management team.
Now I'll turn it over to Kevin.
Thanks, Mike.
Thanks, Mike, and good morning, everyone. I'll keep my prepared comments very brief, obviously, having been in the seat, albeit officially all of 45 minutes. First of all, I'd like to thank Kelly and the Board Trustees for their efforts in bringing me together with Granite. This is an exceptional team and a truly exciting opportunity. I would also like to thank Mike and the team for their support during the transition.
It is not an easy thing and Mike and everyone else in the organization have been extremely professional and supportive at every turn. We have truly a talented and dedicated team of industrial real estate professionals and the future is very bright. I also wish to acknowledge the tremendous progress that has been made by Mike and the team over the past 12 months in reducing our exposure to Magna as a tenant and replacing that income of modern logistics products and tenancies in leading markets. It is certainly a good problem to have when a lot of your income is being delivered by such a creditworthy tenant. But we will continue on that path of rebalancing under my leadership through dispositions, acquisitions and development in select major markets with a focus certainly on modern logistics and e commerce.
My focus over the next 60 to 90 days would be to continue to familiarize myself with the team, get to know them and let them get to know me and understand our current real estate portfolio. As well, I will meet with a number of our investors over the coming weeks to listen to their views on Granite and our direction. I will then work with our team and the Board to formalize a strategy that will plot our course in the next number of years. With that being said, we do not plan on being complacent in the near term. Although we will continue to be thoughtful in our approach on new acquisition opportunities, We have an industry leading balance sheet and enormous bench strength and we're not afraid to use them.
Thank you. And I will now turn it over to the operator for questions. Thank
And our first question comes from the line of Sam Damiani of TD Securities. Please proceed with your
Mike, congratulations on your retirement. And Kevin, congratulations and welcome to Granite. Kevin, first question is for you. Granite has communicated a strategy regarding leverage and magnet exposure historically. I'm just wondering if you could give us your at least your initial thoughts today on that strategy and how you see implementing that in the near term?
Well, I appreciate it. It is a valid question, but it is still very early days. I would say this though, Sam, it does feel I feel like referencing the Hippocratic Oath. The first thing a doctor should do is no harm. So I'm not looking to break the bank.
I don't feel any urgency to necessarily get money out the door and deploy it. But I do feel like we have tremendous firepower, as Mike referenced, through the recent sales particularly. And we are looking at a number of very interesting opportunities. A number of these opportunities came to us before my arrival here. So we will continue to pursue them.
I think they're in key markets that will be key markets for us in the future. So we expect to be active over the next 90 days despite the fact we still have to formalize strategy and that will include balance sheet deployment, including payout ratio, leverage, etcetera.
Thank you. That is helpful. I look forward to more on that, I guess, as you formulate, I guess, discuss with the Board and whatnot after you seen all the properties and whatnot? Just one follow-up. There's been a lot of leasing to do in 2018.
Just wondering if you could comment on the average renewal uplift that you've experienced so far.
Yes. Sam, I'll take that. The average uplift has been about 5% that we've seen to date in the recent renewals. We've still got a couple left to finalize as it relates to just negotiating that fair market rent, but we've seen some as it relates to the 2018 expiries, a nice lift.
Great. Thank you. I'll turn it back.
Our next question comes from the line of Mark Marckitas of Desjardins Capital Markets. Please proceed.
Kevin, I was just curious,
I know it's early days, but if you look at, you had a very successful run-in your prior post and there was certainly a strategy and a level of activity that you employed there. Notwithstanding the differences between Pure's business and what Granite has today, I'm just wondering within North America, how the industrial markets in North America may have changed over the past year or so and how that might impact your thought process with respect to where the right places to allocate capital will be going forward?
Well, Mike, it's a good question. I think what we've seen over the past 12 months is continued strengthening, I would say, effectively across all markets in North America, particularly the big six in the U. S. And in Canada, Toronto and Vancouver certainly have seen the greatest growth. I do think that, that trend will continue.
If you look at the Canadian markets, e commerce has become much more of a factor over the past 24 months. That will continue obviously as Amazon and Wayfair and others expand their presence in Canada. And then you have the other retailers that are catching up and improving their supply chain and responding to e commerce demand from their customers. So I certainly think that will continue. What we see or I have seen also continued growth in the major U.
S. Markets and in the markets that Granite frankly has been active in. So I think that the opportunities in North America will continue to be exciting. I do personally hope to be more active in Canada over the coming years, but I do not see us stopping. We may not be as active every quarter, but I do not see us halting our growth in the U.
S.
Okay. That's helpful. And just maybe a question for everybody or Elias, but just given that the you have 3 segments of properties, but the at least by fair value and catching up on income contribution, the modern logistics and warehouse properties are certainly becoming more prominent for Granite. Some of these properties have been recently acquired, but Granite also acquired some or acquired has owned some for a period of time. Curious if you could give us some insight into what for that segment the same property NOI growth profile is shaping up to be?
I'll take that, Mike. I think the year over year increase in that on the profile is probably 1% to 2% overall. And this market it depends, as you would know, on the specific market itself. But the profile of that, I'd say, in the near term is 1% to 2%.
Okay. And has there been any recent leases of over leasing activity on renewals or new leases where you've seen significant lift that you can see?
No, not on that portfolio specifically. But as I mentioned, the ones for 2018 that have come up, we have seen strong lifts on those leases.
Okay. Last question for me before I turn it back. Just on the special purpose facilities that you've sold this year, I guess 3 earlier this year that went to a 3rd party. Well, not even being a 3rd party, but went to someone other than Magna and the recent 2 that went to Magna. Were these unsolicited offers or were you guys out there actively marketing them?
I'd say it's an unsolicited offer, Mike.
Unsolicited? Okay. And when you look at the 2 special purpose facilities that Magnus acquired, was there anything that you can see that was different for those 2 versus the ones where they I guess they elected not to exercise their right of first refusal on the other 2?
Hard to say. I think you'd have to ask,
Yes. No, that's fair. Okay. Just wasn't interested to get some color if you have any, but that's it for me. Thanks.
I'll turn it back.
Thanks, Mike.
And our next question comes from the line of Mark Rothschild of Canaccord Genuity. Please proceed with your question.
Thanks. Good morning, everyone, and welcome, Kevin. It sounds like, Kevin, that you were somewhat involved of late in looking at the acquisitions. When I see the REIT buying properties in Germany or in Europe, would that imply that you plan on being a more global REIT as opposed to just focused in North America?
Well, Mark, it was not involved in the acquisition specifically in Germany. It was something that was done or sourced before my time. I will say it is early days to kind of plot long term strategy, but what we're going to be focused on in the near term certainly is continuing to strengthen the portfolios that we have and that certainly includes Europe. And I'm very happy with that acquisition and Hereford is becoming a real strong e commerce node for the market. So we'll continue to build out those portfolios in the near term and continue to strengthen them.
So long term, still to be seen, but in the near term, that's our goal.
Okay. And I see, obviously, understandably, you were somewhat reluctant to talk about strategy because you noted your first day. But as far as the special purpose properties, would you see those long term as core properties that you would want to own? Or would you be in favor of getting out of owning those types of properties?
Well, that would be an easy question if they weren't some of them weren't so bulky and large. So again, I think that that is still a strategy question. But I will say this, the color I will provide here is I think the progress in the direction that has been made under Mike's leadership will continue. And I think in the end game is to have the best platform possible in your markets and we will continue to do that. So I think modern logistics and e commerce is going to be our focus.
And those special purpose entities are going to have a hard time finding a core position in that type of portfolio.
Okay. And then just lastly, you talked about growing in Canada. You obviously know these markets well. Toronto and Vancouver prices have gone up quite significantly of late. Do you still see value in these markets considering the strength?
Or would you call these markets maybe a little expensive now?
I would call them expensive now, but I will say, I think we've seen very strong rental growth in the markets. Even when I was at Pure Industrial, we saw strong rental growth in Toronto and Vancouver. I do believe that Calgary and Edmonton, this is just my personal view, I believe that Calgary and Edmonton will be strong markets, particularly Calgary over the next 5 years. They may lead the country in terms of growth coming out of the weakness that oil has delivered on them. So even though the cap rates may appear on the surface to be very low and they are, certainly, I think that there is growth potential.
So we'll have to look at that, probably more development in the program over the coming years. We have the bench strength to do it. We should use it. We should good growth and good good growth and good returns in Canada. We have to be obviously very selective in what we do.
Got it. Great. Thank you very much.
Our next question comes from the line of Howard Leung of Veritas Investment Research. Please proceed with your question.
Thank you. Congratulations, Mike, on your retirement and welcome, Kevin. Kevin, just wanted to ask about what's your view of the ideal Magna exposure over time? You mentioned it's focused on the modern warehouse, but Magna is also a good tenant to have. So just want to get your thoughts on that.
Again, these are all big questions. I don't have any to a specific number, but I will tell you, I do agree. These special purpose entities, light manufacturing and manufacturing have a place in my mind any good industrial portfolio. There is not an industrial portfolio out there, whether it's Prologis or Duke or Goodman's or others that does not have a component of manufacturing. These are somewhat specialized assets to be sure, but the tenancy is quite sticky.
It is not uncommon and as I've learned more about Magna, it is quite common for the tenant to invest more behind the doors and the value of the property. So that to me provides an extremely sticky tenancy and stable cash flow and a growing cash flow. So it will have a place. That number, I don't know specifically what the right number is. I do know that we're moving in the right direction and certainly under 50% is where we should be.
Okay. That's really helpful. And on that, the recent special purpose property, they were sold, I think the cap rate was 6.9%. Is the remaining portfolio of special purpose properties that Granite still has, do you expect any further cap rate compression on there?
I don't think so, Mike. I think the sale of the special purpose properties, both in January and Magna's interest and also wanting to acquire the 2 in the U. S. Gives certainly additional perspective in terms of value as it relates to the remaining special purpose properties. And I'll leave it at that.
I think it's important to note that we're now down to a handful on a special purpose. We've got 2 in Gratz, we've got Lanik in Austria, Oberhausen in Germany, Albertstorff in Austria, and we've got the Milton properties. So it's the number is down, the percentage is down and the covenant of Magna is very strong.
Yes, if I could add something to that too is when I joined and learned that an asset like Tillsonburg was sold, I was quite happy about it, I will tell you. I didn't realize it was that small. But owning an asset like this in Austria or Germany to me is a completely different story than owning an asset like this in Tillsonburg or Bowling Green. So I think you know what I mean? I think the urgency around a grass to me is much, much less than you would see.
So I think the way the team has done this has been pretty exceptional. I may disagree with Mike on the cap rate. I think what we're seeing and I don't know this, but I think what we're seeing through these sales is a lot of interest. Number 1, a lot of interest in stable cash flows, a belief in Magna. And they obviously feel and the investors are out there that feel that this is such a stable credit and there is such stickiness around this location and the assets that they're going to be there for a very long time and continue to generate superior cash flows.
So I think there is interest in the other assets or there will be interest in the other assets. But again, owning these in Germany and Austria and not being subject to a lot of the discussions we're having around trade disagreements in North America kind of separates them from the assets that have been sold recently.
Right. That's really good. Thanks for the color, guys. And just one more for Elias maybe. I saw that there was you mentioned that there was gains on sales and future gains over the year that may need a special distribution.
But there's also over $200,000,000 of, I think, capital loss carryforwards that initially said that
it might not be able to be applied. But do you think they could be applied maybe
to offset some of those for the need for special distributions?
Short answer is it's factored in. The capital losses sit in an entity that don't naturally lend themselves to be used specifically for the special distribution, Howard. Rest assured though that we are constantly looking at ways to manage the tax profile in a way that it's optimal for our unit owners.
Okay. That's really helpful. Thanks guys. I'll turn it back.
And our next question comes from the line of Pammi Bir of Scotiabank. Please proceed with your question.
Thanks. Good morning. Just maybe going back to the fair value gain booked in the quarter, I believe you mentioned half is from the pending asset sales and the rest from changes in assumptions. Based on your current assumptions, do you feel that there's room for upside in any of those values, perhaps on the other two property types and not necessarily the SPPs? And if so, which of the 2 property types, modern warehouse or the multipurpose, do you feel that you've been the most conservative?
So do you want me to take a stab at that?
Sure. So yes, to your first part, there is upside, certainly more to the modern. It's a loaded question as to how much upside. I think what we're trying to do, Pammi, is put out what is a best estimate and judgment that is defensible. I think we've done that.
I think the process that we go through perhaps would be helpful. We get intelligence from whether it's precedent transactions or appraisals, etcetera, we do that regularly. And every quarter, we step back and go through the process of property by property, challenging ourselves to see that we're reflecting the current reality, which I think is what we're trying to capture. This all being said, we think there's upside particularly in the category 1 in terms of games or the modern logistics that is.
Well, I'll add a little bit to that one. Certainly, the GTA assets in the GTA, we've seen some lift in it. There's been continued lift there. The other aspect that's been influencing is we've had good success on the leasing front with lease terms and with some rental growth in certain areas. So you're seeing that being reflected in the current numbers.
Thanks. That's very helpful. And then just coming back again to the, I guess, potential asset sales. Can you comment on whether there's been any approaches or perhaps any discussions with potential interested parties
on the
remaining special purpose assets in Canada, Germany or Austria?
No.
Okay. Last one for me. Just looking at that Dutch vacancy, I think it was I think it's one property, but can you comment on where you are in terms of the re leasing progress there?
I'll let Lauren answer that.
The tenant has left now.
It is listed for lease. We it's early days since the tenant left, but we have had some activity. We've had a couple of tours of a local player who is looking at a consolidation and is going on a second tour, and there's an additional regional player that's looking at a consolidation of 3 logistic facilities and is also interested. So it's still early days, but we're pleased with the initial traffic through the profit.
And would you be confident to say that there's a good chance that, that should get re leased before year end?
That's certainly our intention.
Obviously, we don't have any control of it, but our goal is to have a new tenant in place, maybe not in occupancy but in place by the end of the year.
Great. Thanks very much.
Your next question comes from the line of Troy MacLean of BMO Capital Markets. Please proceed.
Good morning. For the acquisitions you're looking at now, generally speaking, would you say cap rates are in line with what you've acquired so far in 2018, kind of in the mid-5s? Or have cap rates compressed over the last 3 or 4 months?
It's Kevin, Troy. I think they're in that range.
And then you talked about maybe doing more development. What kind of yield spread would you want taking on development risk versus acquisitions?
It's dependent on the markets. It's dependent on the opportunity. I would say there are some markets where leasing activity is so strong that the development spread might be 50 basis points, where you might want to wait longer or the markets aren't quite as frothy, might be 100 basis points, 125 basis points, but it's kind of in that range. It's highly dependent on the market and the opportunity.
And would that be would you consider JVs for like development going forward? Or would that be just for Granite Element?
No, we would consider JVs. And I say that because it depends very much on who has control of the opportunity. There are times where you've had such a belief in a site or in a market and it's controlled by a developer. And as long as you have the right relationship and you get the right outcome out of it, we'd certainly be open to those relationships.
Thank you. That's it for me.
Okay. And there are no further questions at this time.
Okay. Well, thank you, Jose. Maybe in closing, I'd just like to take the opportunity to thank everyone I've worked with at Granite past, present, in Canada, the U. S. And Europe for their support of me and certainly in their contribution in making Granite what it is today.
It's been a very good run. And lastly, I wish Kevin, the Board and certainly the whole Granite team every success in the years to come. And with that, we'll sign off. Thanks very
much. Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes the conference call for today. We thank you for your participation in that. Please disconnect your lines.