MONT Montfort Capital Corp

VANCOUVER, BC, May 28, 2024 /CNW/ - Montfort Capital Corporation ("Montfort" or the "Company") (TSXV: MONT) (OTCQB: MONTF), today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024. All figures are reported in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company had the following highlights:

• Total revenue of $12.0 million, a decrease of $1.1 million or 8.4% from $13.1 million in the three months ended March 31, 2023 (the "Prior Year Period"). The change was driven by a reduction in portfolio size, as well as a decrease in fee generating activities year over year.
• Interest income from investments was $9.2 million, a decrease of $0.3 million or 2.7% from $9.5 million in the Prior Year Period, driven by a smaller portfolio overall and the return of a low-margin portfolio of loans under administration in July 2023.
• Income from transaction and other fees of $2.5 million, a decrease of $0.6 million or 19.1% from $3.1 million in the Prior Year Period, a result of fewer loan originations.
• Total expenses of $14.4 million, a decrease of $0.5 million or 3.3% from $14.9 million in the Prior Year Period. The change was driven by a one-time restructuring fee in the comparative period and a net decrease related to expected credit loss.
• Net loss of $2.2 million or three cent loss per common share compared to net loss of $1.9 million or three cent loss per common share in the Prior Year Period, largely driven by a decline in year over year revenue, offset by a decline in total expenses.
• As at March 31, 2024, the Company's cash balance was $8.1 million compared to $8.3 million as at December 31, 2023, while working capital was $26.6 million compared to negative $21.4 million as at December 31, 2023.
• Total assets of $432.5 million as at March 31, 2024 compared to $402.5 million at December 31, 2023.
• Montfort's loan investment portfolio (loans receivable) increased to $348.2 million in the first quarter 2024 compared to $320.6 million as of December 31, 2023.
• Adjusted net income (loss) (a non-GAAP measure)¹ attributable to shareholders and adjusted net income (loss) per common share (a non-GAAP measure)² were a loss of $1.4 million and $0.02 loss per share in the three months ending March 31, 2024 compared to adjusted net loss attributable to shareholders of $0.5 million and $0.01 adjusted net loss per share in the Prior Year Period.

On a comprehensive basis:

• Reported net comprehensive loss of $2.1 million or $0.03 per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to net comprehensive loss of $1.9 million or $0.03 per common share for the three months ending March 31, 2023. 

"While most of our lending segments performed on or ahead of plan in the quarter, originations in our mortgage lending segment encountered the industry-wide headwinds of reduced transaction activity in the Ontario single family housing market," said Ken Thomson, CEO of Montfort Capital Corporation. "We're optimistic that an active spring/summer housing market, combined with anticipated interest rate reductions from the Bank of Canada, will lead to higher mortgage origination volumes in the coming quarters.  In the meantime, we will continue to maintain our focus on controlling costs and responsibly deploying the capital that we have available to us."

The Company originates, underwrites and manages secured loans through the following operating divisions:

• Brightpath Capital, one of Canada's leading providers of alternative residential mortgages.
• Langhaus Financial, provides insurance policy-backed lending solutions to high-net-worth individuals and entrepreneurs in Canada.
• Nuvo Financial, is focused on providing net asset value (NAV) loans to small and mid-sized investment funds in Canada.
• Pivot Financial which specializes in asset-backed private credit targeting mid-market borrowers in Canada.
• TIMIA Capital, a technology lending platform that offers revenue-based investment to fast growing, business-to-business Software-as-a-Service (or SaaS) businesses in North America.

Montfort's overall Assets Under Management and Administration ("AUMA")³ includes assets under management plus loans managed on behalf of third parties. Montfort's overall AUMA, as at March 31, 2024, was $443 million compared to $411 million in overall AUMA as at December 31, 2023. Total assets were $436 million as at March 31, 2024, compared with $403 million as at Dec. 31, 2023.

The Company divides its private credit business into two distinct segments: consumer lending made up of Brightpath and Langhaus, and corporate lending which includes TIMIA Capital, Nuvo Financial and Pivot Financial.

Brightpath's consumer lending loan portfolio includes a portfolio of over 550 mortgages. Mortgages are secured by residential property, located mainly in Ontario, and have a maturity of one year or less.

Langhaus is primarily involved in providing loans to entrepreneurs that are ensuring their personal and corporate affairs are optimally structured to allow for planning opportunities that generate more after-tax liquidity.

The consumer lending segment reported over $320 million AUMA as at March 31, 2024.

TIMIA targets companies seeking capital primarily in the following three subsectors: Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), software-enabled service companies and hardware-enabled service companies. The Company is able to efficiently originate transactions, automate aspects of the underwriting process as well as manage the loan portfolio and investors on an ongoing basis.

Pivot addresses the borrowing needs of small to mid-sized enterprises in Canada with bespoke term debt structures, bridge loans, asset-based revolving loan facilities, and accounts receivable factoring facilities. Pivot portfolio companies typically have 1-100 employees and $1-$100 million in revenue.

Nuvo launched late 2023 and successfully funded its first investment in Q1 2024. Nuvo is focused on providing net asset value (NAV) loans to small and mid-sized investment funds in Canada.

Corporate lending segment reported $123 million of AUMA as at March 31, 2024.

This news release is qualified in its entirety by the Company's financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2024, and March 31, 2023, and the associated Management's Discussion & Analysis respecting the same periods, which can be downloaded from the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at https://www.sedarplus.ca/

Discussion & Analysis respecting the same periods, which can be downloaded from the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at https://www.sedarplus.ca/ 

Montfort manages a diversified family of specialized private credit brands that utilize focused strategies and experienced management teams combined with advanced technology to improve fee related performance. Montfort facilitates transparency for all of its investors through public company reporting. For further information, please visit www.montfortcapital.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

This release contains some non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) financial measures as defined in National Instrument 52-112 "Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure". Terms by which non-GAAP financial measures are identified include, but are not limited to, "adjusted net income", "adjusted net income attributable to shareholders", "adjusted net income per common share", "assets under administration" and "assets under management". Non-GAAP financial measures are used to provide management and investors with additional measures of performance to help assess results where no comparable GAAP (IFRS) measure exists. However, non-GAAP financial measures do not have standard meanings prescribed by GAAP (IFRS) and are not directly comparable to similar measures used by other companies. Investors may find these financial measures useful in understanding how management views the underlying business performance of the Company.

Adjusted net income attributable to shareholders presents shareholders' net income before stock-based compensation, business acquisition expenses, restructuring and amortization of intangible assets. Adjusted net income per common share is calculated as adjusted net income attributable to shareholders less dividends paid divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Management feels this metric is useful to understand the operating income of the Company's lending business before non-cash and expenses that are non-recurring or not directly related to lending activities.

Assets under management and administration is a non-GAAP financial measure that provides an indicator of the size and volumes of the Company's overall business. Management and administrative services are an important aspect of the overall business of the Company and should be considered when comparing volumes, size and trends. "Total assets" is the most directly comparable financial measure to AUMA that is disclosed in the Company's financial statements. AUMA includes assets under management plus loans managed on behalf of third parties. Assets under management include the current portion of loans receivable and loans receivable on the statement of financial position within Total Assets.

Certain information and statements in this news release contain and constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements as defined under applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements normally contain words like 'believe', 'expect', 'anticipate', 'plan', 'intend', 'continue', 'estimate', 'may', 'will', 'should', 'ongoing' and similar expressions, and within this news release include any statements (express or implied) respecting the future growth of the Company and the Company's future financial performance.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, actions, or developments and are based on expectations, assumptions and other factors that management currently believes are relevant, reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances, including, without limitation, the assumption that the Company and its investee companies are able to meet their respective future objectives and priorities and assumptions concerning general economic growth and the absence of unforeseen changes in the legislative and regulatory framework for the Company.

Although management believes that the forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could be substantially different due to the risks and uncertainties associated with and inherent to Montfort's business. Material risks and uncertainties applicable to the forward-looking statements set out herein include but are not limited to: intense competition in all aspects of business; reliance on limited management resources; continued availability of equity and debt financing; general economic risks; interest rates remaining elevated for longer; new laws and regulations and risk of litigation. Although Montfort has attempted to identify factors that may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those disclosed in the forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, predicted, estimated or intended. Also, many of the factors are beyond the control of Montfort. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Montfort undertakes no obligation to reissue or update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or events after the date hereof except as may be required by law. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are qualified by this cautionary statement.

SOURCE Montfort Capital Corp.