Diversified Royalty Corp. (TSX: DIV and DIV.DB.A) (the
“Corporation” or “DIV”) is pleased to announce developments at two
of its royalty partners, Sutton Group Realty Services Ltd.
(“Sutton”) and Oxford Learning Centres, Inc. (“Oxford Learning
Centres”).
Sutton
On December 11, 2023, Ross McCredie
(“McCredie”), through a newly formed holding company
(“AcquisitionCo”), completed the acquisition of all the shares of
Sutton. Following the acquisition, McCredie became the President
and Chief Executive Officer of Sutton.
McCredie is an experienced residential real
estate entrepreneur and executive in Canada and in the United
States with a successful 20-year track record of founding and
operating real estate firms:
- McCredie is the
principal of McCredie Investments, a boutique investment and
advisory firm focused on cutting edge real estate technology.
- In 2020,
McCredie founded RealWealth, an early-stage wealth management
platform for real estate and tangible assets.
- In 2016, Ross
was the Chief Global Strategist of Pacific Union and the Chief
Executive Officer of its subsidiary, The Mark Company.
- In 2011, Ross
co-founded Dundee 360, a global real estate investment company
specializing in development, sales/marketing and asset
management.
- In 2004,
McCredie founded Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, grew it to
30 markets across Canada with over 900 realtors generating over $25
billion in real estate sales in its first ten years.
McCredie’s acquisition of Sutton is expected to
enhance the competitive position of Sutton in the Canadian real
estate brokerage industry. McCredie expects to increase the support
services and provide opportunities for Sutton franchisees to
generate incremental revenue and expand the number of Sutton agents
across Canada.
Sutton is a residential real estate firm in the
business of franchising and licensing Sutton franchises in Canada.
DIV’s subsidiary, SGRS Royalties Limited Partnership (“SGRS LP”),
owns the Sutton trademarks and certain related intellectual
property rights (collectively, the “Sutton Rights”). SGRS LP
acquired the Sutton Rights from Sutton in June 2015. Sutton
licenses the Sutton Rights from SGRS LP for use in the Sutton
business in accordance with the terms of the license and royalty
agreement between Sutton and SGRS LP.
Sean Morrison, President and Chief Executive
Officer of DIV, stated, “I have known Ross for over 20 years. He
brings an entrepreneurial spirit as well as extensive residential
real estate services experience to Sutton. We look forward to
working with Ross and Sutton’s management team to continue to grow
the franchise across Canada.”
Ross McCredie, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Sutton, stated, “I’m excited to complete the acquisition
of Sutton. Sutton is an iconic brand in the Canadian real estate
industry. I look forward to revitalizing the brand, providing value
to its existing franchisees and building Sutton into a market
leader in Canada. We look forward working with DIV for years to
come.”
Oxford Learning Centres
On December 4, 2023, Oxford Learning Centres
announced the hiring of Joshua Cadoch (“Cadoch”) as its new
President.
Cadoch is a dynamic business executive with over
thirteen years of experience in the education and franchising
sectors. Cadoch began his career as a tutor and course instructor.
After operating a successful tutoring business for four years, he
decided to venture into the world of franchising. In 2014, he
joined Kumon North America Inc. (“Kumon”), a large multinational
education franchise, where he took on key roles in both franchise
operations and marketing. In his most recent position, he held the
role of Assistant Vice President of Canadian Field Operations and
served as a member of the North American Executive Team.
Sean Morrison, President and Chief Executive
Officer of DIV, stated, “The hiring of Joshua as President of
Oxford Learning Centres will bolster its management team and help
the business expand across Canada and into select markets in the
US.”
Nick Whitehead, founder of Oxford Learning
Centres, stated, “We are excited to have Joshua join Oxford
Learning Centres as a key executive. His experience in the learning
and franchise industry will help drive the growth of Oxford
Learning Centres for years to come.”
About Diversified Royalty Corp.
DIV is a multi-royalty corporation,
engaged in the business of acquiring top-line royalties from
well-managed multi-location businesses and franchisors in North
America. DIV’s objective is to acquire predictable, growing royalty
streams from a diverse group of multi-location businesses and
franchisors.
DIV currently owns the Mr. Lube + Tires,
AIR MILES®, Sutton, Mr. Mikes, Nurse Next Door, Oxford Learning
Centres, Stratus Building Solutions and BarBurrito trademarks. Mr.
Lube + Tires is the leading quick lube service business in Canada,
with locations across Canada. AIR MILES® is Canada’s largest
coalition loyalty program. Sutton is among the leading residential
real estate brokerage franchisor businesses in Canada. Mr. Mikes
operates casual steakhouse restaurants primarily in western
Canadian communities. Nurse Next Door is a home care providers with
locations across Canada and the United States as well as in
Australia. Oxford Learning Centres is one of Canada’s leading
franchisee supplemental education services. Stratus Building
Solutions is a leading commercial cleaning service franchise
company providing comprehensive environmentally friendly
janitorial, building cleaning, and office cleaning services
primarily in the United States. BarBurrito is the largest quick
service Mexican restaurant food chain in Canada.
DIV’s objective is to increase cash flow
per share by making accretive royalty purchases and through the
growth of purchased royalties. DIV intends to continue to pay a
predictable and stable monthly dividend to shareholders and
increase the dividend over time, in each case as cash flow per
share allows.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this news
release may constitute “forward-looking information” within the
meaning of applicable securities laws that involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the
actual results, performance or achievements to be materially
different from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. The use
of any of the words “anticipate”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”,
“intend”, “may”, “will”, ”project”, “should”, “believe”,
“confident”, “plan” and “intend” and similar expressions are
intended to identify forward-looking information, although not all
forward-looking information contains these identifying words.
Specifically, forward-looking information in this news release
includes, but is not limited to, statements made in relation to:
DIV’s expectation that the recent change of ownership to Sutton
will enhance the competitive position of Sutton in the Canadian
real estate brokerage industry; Sutton’s expectation to increase
the support services and provide opportunities for Sutton
franchisees to generate incremental revenue and expand the number
of Sutton agents across Canada; DIV’s plans to work with McCredie
and Sutton’s management team to continue to grow the franchise
across Canada; Sutton’s plans to revitalize the brand, provide
value to its existing franchisees and build Sutton into a market
leader in Canada; DIV’s expectation that the hiring of Cadoch as
President of Oxford Learning Centres will bolster its management
team and help the business expand across Canada and into select
markets in the US; Oxford Learning Centres’ expectation that
Cadoch’s experience in the learning and development industry will
help drive the growth of Oxford Learning Centres for years to come;
DIV’s objective to continue to pay predictable and stably monthly
dividends to shareholders and increase the dividend over time; and,
DIV’s corporate objectives. These statements involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause
actual results or events, performance, or achievements of DIV to
differ materially from those anticipated or implied by such
forward-looking information. DIV believes that the expectations
reflected in the forward-looking information included in this news
release are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these
expectations will prove to be correct. In particular, risks and
uncertainties include: competition in the real estate brokerage
industry; the expected benefits of the acquisition being realized;
DIV’s royalty partners may be unsuccessful in implementing their
corporate objectives; DIV may not be able to make monthly dividend
payments to the holders of its common shares; dividends are not
guaranteed and may be reduced, suspended or terminated at any time;
or DIV may not achieve any of its corporate objectives. Given these
uncertainties, readers are cautioned that forward-looking
information included in this news release are not guarantees of
future performance, and such forward-looking information should not
be unduly relied upon. More information about the risks and
uncertainties affecting DIV’s business and the businesses of its
royalty partners can be found in the “Risk Factors” section of its
Annual Information Form dated March 9, 2023 and in DIV’s
management’s discussion and analysis for the three and nine months
ended September 30, 2023, copies of which are available under DIV’s
profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
In formulating the forward-looking information
contained herein, management has assumed that the expected benefits
of the acquisition will be realized; DIV will generate sufficient
cash flows from its royalties to service its debt and pay dividends
to shareholders; lenders will provide any necessary waivers
required in order to allow DIV to continue to pay dividends;
lenders will provide any other necessary covenant waivers to DIV
and its royalty partners; the performance of DIV’s royalty partners
will be consistent with DIV’s and its royalty partners’ respective
expectations; recent positive trends for certain of DIV’s royalty
partners (including their respective franchisees) will continue and
not regress; AIR MILES will be successful in attracting more new
loyalty partners going forward; government mandated COVID-19
restrictions will not be re-imposed; the businesses of DIV’s
respective royalty partners will not suffer any material adverse
effect; and the business and economic conditions affecting DIV and
its royalty partners will continue substantially in the ordinary
course, including without limitation with respect to general
industry conditions, general levels of economic activity and
regulations. These assumptions, although considered reasonable by
management at the time of preparation, may prove to be
incorrect.
All of the forward-looking information in this
news release is qualified by these cautionary statements and other
cautionary statements or factors contained herein, and there can be
no assurance that the actual results or developments will be
realized or, even if substantially realized, that it will have the
expected consequences to, or effects on, DIV. The forward-looking
information in this news release is made as of the date of this
news release and DIV assumes no obligation to publicly update or
revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances,
except as may be required by applicable law.
THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE HAS NOT
REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR THE
ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
Additional Information
Additional information relating to the
Corporation and other public filings, is available on SEDAR+ at
www.sedarplus.com.
Contact:Sean Morrison, President and Chief
Executive OfficerDiversified Royalty Corp. (236) 521-8470
Greg Gutmanis, Chief Financial Officer and VP
Acquisitions Diversified Royalty Corp. (236) 521-8471
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