International Housing Solutions Equity Investment
MMA Capital operates a multi-family real estate asset management company in South Africa called International Housing Solutions (IHS). IHS closed on their second multi-investor fund ($70MM) in the second quarter, and at the same time MMA Capital increased their ownership stake in IHS from 83% to 96% for $1.6MM. The GAAP balance sheet doesn't give credit for IHS at all, and the company conservatively only adjusts for their own investment ($3.7MM) in the South African funds along with the company's equity balance ($1.2MM) in the management company. This understates the value of the management company greatly, by taking the $1.6MM valuation for 13% of IHS and interpolating it over the 96% ownership stake and MMA Capital's equity in IHS should be closer to $11.6MM. Add the $3.7MM fund investment, and the company's total SA fund investment line item is worth $15.34MM.
Tax Credit Equity Business to Morrison Grove
Today MMA Capital announced they sold their LIHTC funds business to Morrison Grove Management for $15.9MM. This is the tax credit business that causes most of the accounting problems, and unfortunately those won't be going away as MMA Capital will still be on the hook for the investor yield guarantees. However it does unlock the value of the business that was previously hard to quantify and wasn't on the balance sheet. MMA Capital is providing seller financing for the entire amount, including a $17.3MM senior bridge loan and in $13MM subordinated debt for a total cash outlay of $14.4MM. MMA Capital is providing the bridge loan so Morrison Grove can buy out certain outside ownership interests, the loan is due in December with penalties if extended. But the end net effect will be additional net $15.9MM added to the adjusted NAV. The company also negotiated an option to purchase Morrison Grove starting in 5 years time, so the company monetizes the business today and maintains some of the future upside.
Below is the adjusted balance sheet as of 6/30/14:
So why didn't the stock price react on today's news? MuniMae/MMA Capital was already a forgotten company, but with the name and ticker change it almost seems like very few people are still paying attention anymore. The up-listing and reverse split could potentially widen the investor base, which should make it easier to raise capital to expand the business and monetize those NOLs. Management has made admirable progress in 2014, and I think it's arguably cheaper now than it was back in March at prices 40% lower due to value highlighting transactions made recently.
Disclosure: I own shares of MMAC
Another value adding transaction was announced today, lots of ways for MMAC to add value across their assets:
ReplyDelete"On November 13, 2014, the Registrant entered into a joint venture that immediately acquired a mixed-use development property in Spanish Fort, Alabama. The Registrant contributed approximately $9 million to the joint venture, for a stated interest of 80%, subject to certain waterfall provisions of the joint venture’s operating agreement. The Registrant will account for its interest in the joint venture under the equity method of accounting and is currently estimating that it will be allocated net income from the joint venture of approximately $6 million to $8 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. In addition to the Registrant’s equity interest in the joint venture, the Registrant holds investments in certain Capital Improvement Development District (“CID”) bonds that depend on the tax revenue generated by businesses and tenants of the mixed-use development. Collectively, the Registrant’s investment in the completion of the development may positively impact the performance of the CID bond investment. As of September 30, 2014, the unpaid principal balance and carrying value of the CID bonds are $28.7 million and $25.1 million, respectively."