Recently Announced New Business Strategy Positively Impacting Results

WASHINGTON and RESTON, Va., May 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Comstock Holding Companies, Inc., (NASDAQ:CHCI), announced results for the three months ended March 31, 2018:

Highlights of First Quarter 2018, as compared to First Quarter 2017:

  • Revenue from asset management operations of $2.8 million, a new revenue stream in 2018.
  • Revenue from real estate services increased 119% to $0.5 million, compared to $0.2 million.
  • G&A expense decreased 71% to $0.4 million, compared to $1.2 million.
  • Net loss attributable to common stockholders of ($0.7) million, or ($0.21) per diluted share, including impairment charges of $0.6 million, as compared to net income attributable to common stockholders of $0.3 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, including gain on extinguishment of Series B Preferred Stock of $1.0 million,
  • Total revenue of $8.8 million, as compared to $10.3 million.
  • Commenced development of a 318 unit transit-oriented, mixed use (residential & retail) project within the Loudoun Station development in Ashburn, Virginia,
  • Commenced development of an approximately 185,000 square foot transit-oriented, mixed use (office & retail) building within the Reston Station development in Reston, Virginia,
  • Continued winding down for-sale homebuilding operations on par with previously announced expectations that this process will be substantially completed by year-end 2018.
  • Average new home delivery price increased 72% to $0.7 million from 8 home deliveries, as compared to $0.4 million, on 25 home deliveries.
  • Homebuilding backlog represents forward revenue of $22.0 million on 31 home sales as compared to $24 million on 44 units,

Highlights of Comstock’s recently announced plan to transform its business strategy and focus:

On April 2, 2018, the Company announced it was transitioning its business strategy and operating platform from for-sale homebuilding to commercial development, asset management and real estate services. Anchoring the transition is a long-term asset management agreement entered into by CDS Asset Management, LC, a wholly owned subsidiary of CHCI, and privately held entities that own multiple mixed-use developments and stabilized assets in the Washington DC area. The assets under management (“AUM”) represent an estimated AUM value of $2.5 Billion to $3.0 Billion upon build out.

Ownership of the portfolio of assets covered by the initial asset management agreement includes the Company’s Chairman/CEO and largest individual shareholder, Christopher Clemente, a prominent high net worth family office, and Daito Trust Construction, Ltd., one of the largest publicly traded Japanese developers and managers of multi-family assets. 

For the three-month period ended March 31, 2018, the asset management segment generated $0.3 million of income for the Company. 

“I am pleased to report that the recently announced transformation of our operating platform is going well,” said Christopher Clemente, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CHCI.  “Having completed the integration of previously separate operating platforms, and added additional strategic management talent, Comstock is making progress on all elements of our new strategy. Our wholly owned subsidiary, CDS Asset Management, LC has assumed operational control of multiple completed and stabilized assets, commenced development of two new transit-oriented, mixed-use projects under the initial long-term asset management agreement, and identified additional asset management opportunities. Additionally, Comstock Real Estate Services, LC has made strategic operational enhancements designed to provide opportunity for additional growth while continuing to advance revenue enhancing initiatives.  As we complete the majority of our for-sale homebuilding projects during the next three quarters, we will be focusing our resources on advancing various strategic initiatives designed to expand revenue generated through development and management of assets under management (AUM) while also seeking to expand our fee-for-service based businesses.”

The Company’s latest investor relations presentation describing the strategic vision of the Company can be found at www.ComstockCompanies.com.

About Comstock Holding Companies, Inc.

CHCI is a multi-faceted real estate development, asset management and real estate related services company that, since 1985, has designed, developed, constructed and managed several thousand residential units and millions of square feet of residential and mixed-use projects throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan market and in other key markets in the southeastern United States. In early 2018, CHCI transitioned its operating platform from being primarily focused on developing on-balance sheet, for-sale, homebuilding projects to being focused on commercial real estate development, asset management and real estate related services. As a result, CHCI began operating through two real estate focused platforms, CDS Asset Management (“CAM”) and Comstock Real Estate Services (“CRES”). CAM provides real estate development, asset management, and property management services, while CRES provides development supply chain services, including capital markets, real estate brokerage, environmental consulting and design services in the Washington, DC metropolitan area and in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Anchoring the transition of CHCI is a long-term asset management agreement covering two of the largest transit-oriented, mixed-use developments in the Washington, DC area; Reston Station, a 3 million square foot transit-oriented, mixed-use development located in Reston, VA, and Loudoun Station, a 2.5 million square foot transit-oriented, mixed-use development in Ashburn, VA, as well as other additional development assets. Comstock’s substantial experience in entitling, designing, developing, and managing a diverse range of properties including apartments, single-family homes, townhomes, mid-rise condominiums, high-rise condominiums and mixed-use (residential and commercial) properties, as well as large scale commercial parking garages and infrastructure projects, has positioned the Comstock organization as a premier developer and real estate related service provider in the mid-Atlantic Region. The Company is a publicly traded company, trading on NASDAQ under the symbol CHCI. For more information about CHCI or its businesses, please visit www.ComstockCompanies.com.

About Reston Station

Strategically located mid-way between Tysons Corner and Dulles International Airport, Reston Station is among the largest mixed-use, transit-oriented developments in the Washington, DC area. Located at the terminus of Phase I of Metro’s Silver Line, Reston Station is already home to more than 1,000 residents, numerous businesses, multiple retail establishments, and several restaurants. With more than 1 million square feet of completed and stabilized buildings, more than 2 million square feet of additional development in various stages of entitlement, development and construction, and a 3,500-space underground parking garage and transit facility adjacent to the Wiehle Reston-East Metro Station, the Reston Station neighborhood is taking shape and quickly becoming Fairfax County’s urban focal point in the Dulles Corridor. For more information about Reston Station, please visit; www.RestonStation.com.

About Loudoun Station

Located at the terminus station on Metro’s Silver Line, minutes from Dulles International Airport, Loudoun Station represents Loudoun County’s first (and currently its only) Metro-connected development. Loudoun Station has approximately 700,000 square feet of mixed-use development completed, including hundreds of rental apartments, approximately 150,000 square feet of retail, restaurants, and entertainment venues, 50,000 square feet of Class-A office, and a 1,500-space commuter parking garage. More than 2 million square feet of additional development is slated for Loudoun Station.  Located adjacent to Metro’s Ashburn Station, the Loudoun Station neighborhood represents Loudoun County’s beginning transformation into a transit connected community with direct connectivity to Dulles International Airport, Reston, Tysons Corner and downtown Washington, DC. As Loudoun County’s only transit connected neighborhood, Loudoun Station has become the new downtown of Loudoun County in the Dulles Corridor. For more information about Loudoun Station, please visit; www.LoudounStation.com.

Comstock New Home Communities Currently Open

Comstock, having significantly reduced its focus on on-balance sheet development of new home communities is working through its remaining inventory of building lots to maximize revenue from all sources as it transitions away from the capital intensive for-sale homebuilding business toward commercial development, asset management and real estate services. Currently the Company has 6 remaining communities open for sale in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., including townhomes and single-family homes priced from the high $370s to the $900s.  For further details, see the attached Pipeline Report as of March 31, 2018, the Form 10-Q filed by the Company on May 16, 2018 or visit www.ComstockHolding.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes “forward-looking” statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “may,” “intend,” “expect,” “will,” “should,” “seeks” or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based largely on our expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement, which speaks only as of the date made. Some factors which may affect the accuracy of the forward-looking statements apply generally to the real estate industry, while other factors apply directly to us. Any number of important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, without limitation: completion of Comstock’s financial accounting and review procedures; general economic and market conditions, including interest rate levels; our ability to service our debt; inherent risks in investment in real estate; our ability to compete in the markets in which we operate; economic risks in the markets in which we operate, including actions related to government spending; delays in governmental approvals and/or land development activity at our projects; regulatory actions; fluctuations in operating results; our anticipated growth strategies; shortages and increased costs of labor or building materials; the availability and cost of land in desirable areas; adverse weather conditions or natural disasters; our ability to raise debt and equity capital and grow our operations on a profitable basis; the reliance of substantially all of our revenues derived from our provision of management services to a limited number of companies; the Asset Management Agreement and other agreements with clients are subject to termination; and our continuing relationships with affiliates. Additional information concerning these and other important risk and uncertainties can be found under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017. Our actual results could differ materially from these projected or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Comstock claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for all forward-looking statements contained herein. Comstock specifically disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Company:
Comstock Holding Companies, Inc.
Christopher Conover, 703-230-1985
Chief Financial Officer

Source: Comstock Holding Companies, Inc.

COMSTOCK HOLDING COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

           
    March 31,
2018
  December 31,
2017
 
    (unaudited)      
ASSETS          
Cash and cash equivalents    $   987     $   1,806    
Restricted cash        1,212         1,141    
Trade receivables        634         491    
Trade receivables – related party       3,976         145    
Real estate inventories        43,010         44,711    
Fixed assets, net        299         309    
Goodwill and intangibles       1,922         1,939    
Other assets, net       1,258         616    
      TOTAL ASSETS    $   53,298     $   51,158    
           
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities    $   8,486     $   9,116    
Deferred revenue       3,192         –     
Notes payable – secured by real estate inventories, net of deferred financing charges       22,890         23,215    
Notes payable – due to affiliates, unsecured, net of discount and deferred financing charges       15,346         14,893    
Notes payable – unsecured, net of deferred financing charges       1,220         1,285    
Income taxes payable       45         39    
     TOTAL LIABILITIES        51,179         48,548    
           
Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)          
           
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)           
Series C preferred stock $0.01 par value, 3,000,000 shares authorized, 579,158          
  shares issued and liquidation preference of $2,896 at March 31, 2018 and           
  December 31, 2017, respectively   $   442     $   442    
Class A common stock, $0.01 par value, 11,038,071 shares authorized, 3,374,461          
  and 3,295,518 issued, and outstanding, respectively        34         33    
Class B common stock, $0.01 par value, 220,250 shares authorized, issued,       2         2    
  and outstanding, respectively          
Additional paid-in capital        177,747         177,612    
Treasury stock, at cost (85,570 shares Class A common stock)       (2,662 )       (2,662 )  
Accumulated deficit        (190,526 )       (189,803 )  
     TOTAL COMSTOCK HOLDING COMPANIES, INC. DEFICIT       (14,963 )       (14,376 )  
Non-controlling interests       17,082         16,986    
     TOTAL EQUITY        2,119         2,610    
     TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY    $   53,298     $   51,158    
           

 

COMSTOCK HOLDING COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

         
    Three Months Ended March 31,
    2018   2017
         
Revenues        
Revenue—homebuilding   $   5,561     $   10,064  
Revenue—asset management       2,791         –   
Revenue—real estate services       447         204  
Total revenue        8,799         10,268  
         
Expenses        
Cost of sales—homebuilding       5,495         9,101  
Cost of sales—asset management       2,541         –   
Cost of sales—real estate services       177         224  
Impairment charges       558         –   
Sales and marketing       219         381  
General and administrative       360         1,246  
Interest and real estate taxes       85         –   
Operating loss       (636 )       (684 )
Other income, net        14         20  
Loss before income tax expense       (622 )       (664 )
Income tax expense       (6 )       –   
Net loss       (628 )       (664 )
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests       95         (17 )
Net loss attributable to Comstock Holding Companies, Inc.        (723 )       (647 )
Paid-in-kind dividends on Series B Preferred Stock       –          78  
Extinguishment of Series B Preferred Stock       –          (1,011 )
Net loss attributable to common stockholders   $   (723 )   $   286  
         
Basic net (loss) income per share   $   (0.21 )   $   0.09  
Diluted net (loss) income per share   $   (0.21 )   $   0.08  
         
Basic weighted average shares outstanding        3,448         3,343  
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding        3,448         3,373  
         

 

                     
  Pipeline Report as of March 31, 2018  
Project State Product Type (1)  Estimated Units at Completion   Units Settled   Backlog (8)   Units Owned Unsold   Units Under Control (2)   Total Units Owned, Unsettled and Under Control   Average New Order Revenue Per Unit to Date   
City Homes at the Hampshires DC SF   38   38   –    –    –    –  $   747  
Townes at the Hampshires (3) DC TH   73   73   –    –    –    –  $   551  
Estates at Falls Grove VA SF   19   19   –    –    –    –  $   545  
Townes at Falls Grove VA TH   110   110   –    –    –    –  $   304  
Townes at Shady Grove Metro MD TH   36   27   –    9   –    9 $   583  
Townes at Shady Grove Metro (4) MD SF   3   3   –    –    –    –  $   –   
Momentum | Shady Grove Metro (5) MD Condo   110   –    –    110   –    110 $   –   
Estates at Emerald Farms MD SF   84   84   –    –    –    –  $   426  
Townes at Maxwell Square MD TH   45   45   –    –    –    –  $   421  
Townes at Hallcrest VA TH   42   42   –    –    –    –  $   465  
Estates at Leeland VA SF   24   13   –    11   –    11 $   451  
Villas | Preserve at Two Rivers 28′ MD TH   6   6   –    –    –    –  $   458  
Villas | Preserve at Two Rivers 32′ MD TH   10   10   –    –    –    –  $   504  
Marrwood East (7) VA SF   35   23   9   3   –    12 $   644  
Townes at Totten Mews (6) DC TH   40   12   11   17   –    28 $   577  
The Towns at 1333 VA TH   18   6   3   9   –    12 $   920  
The Woods at Spring Ridge MD SF   21   3   7   11   –    18 $   691  
Solomons Choice MD SF   56   –    –    56   –    56 $   621  
Townes at Richmond Station VA TH   104   –    –    104   –    104 $   –   
Condominiums at Richmond Station VA MF   54   –    –    54   –    54 $   –   
Total       928   514   30   384       414    
                     
(1) “SF” means single family home, “TH” means townhouse, “Condo” means condominium, “MF” means multi-family.      
(2) Under land option purchase contract, not owned.      
(3) 3 of these units are subject to statutory affordable dwelling unit program.      
(4) Units are subject to statutory moderately priced dwelling unit program; not considered a separate community.      
(5) 16 of these units are subject to statutory moderately priced dwelling unit program.      
(6) 5 of these units are subject to statutory affordable dwelling unit program.      
(7) 1 of these units is subject to statutory affordable dwelling unit program.      
(8) “Backlog” means we have an executed order with a buyer but the settlement did not occur prior to report date.