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First Rock Real Estate Investments Registers Net Loss For Three Months Ended September 2024, Driven Primarily By Unrealised Foreign Exchange Losses

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First Rock Real Estate Investments Limited registered a net loss attributable to Ordinary Shareholders for the three months ended September 30, 2024, totalling US$674,536, which yielded an Earnings Per Share (EPS) of negative US$0.002. Net loss attributable to Ordinary Shareholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, totalled US$1,453,640, which yielded an Earnings Per Share (EPS) of negative US$0.005.

The results were driven primarily by unrealised foreign exchange losses on translation of foreign currency denominated liabilities, which amounted to US$72,034 for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and US$275,170 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. Additionally, interest expense amounted to US$118,839 for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and US$524,340 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

The Group’s financial performance continues to reflect the impact of the ongoing high-interest rate environment in Jamaica, which exerts downward pressure on property values, resulting in lower Property Income relative to prior year. Property Income totalled US$49,056 for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and US$1,916,074 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

To mitigate the impact on the bottom line from reduced revenues, the Group managed to reduce its overall Administrative & General expenses by 20% to US$2,274,250 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in the prior year. This cost management effort is part of our ongoing strategy to mitigate the impact of reduced revenues on the bottom line.

Outlook
The Group’s ongoing commitment to strategic growth remains steadfast as we navigate the headwinds that obtain in today’s real estate environment. By continuing to execute on our portfolio rebalancing strategy, which focuses on acquiring high-yield, income-generating properties across Latin America and the wider Caribbean region, we have built a resilient foundation that supports sustainable growth.

During the quarter our subsidiary, FirstRock Capital Cayman, entered into an agreement to acquire a fully tenanted investment property in Grand Cayman. As the largest acquisition in our portfolio, this property is poised to notably enhance our rental income stream, reinforcing our expansion across the region. Alongside this achievement, our two KFC locations in Costa Rica continue to deliver stable rental income under longterm lease agreements, with plans underway for additional site developments.

Looking ahead, we remain optimistic about finalizing additional acquisitions across the region, with several promising opportunities in advanced stages of negotiation. The Group remains committed to unlocking value through strategic investments, which we believe will yield substantial long-term benefits to our stakeholders.
Norman Reid J.P. Chairman First Rock Real Estate Investments Limited

For More Information CLICK HERE

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Higher Operating Costs And Margin Pressures Impacted Main Event’s Overall Q1 Profitability.

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Entering 2025 with a strategic focus on expanding revenue streams, strengthening client relationships, and maintaining financial discipline, the Company achieved revenue growth.
However, higher operating costs and margin pressures impacted overall profitability.

The Company reported revenues of $585.03M, representing a 3% or $17.28M increase over the $567.75M recorded in Q1 2024. This growth was primarily driven by a significant increase in revenue contribution from a previously underperforming segment, reflecting the success of targeted expansion efforts. While revenue remains below prior peak levels, the Company continues to recalibrate and drive demand through expanded service offerings and strengthened client engagements.

Gross profit for the quarter stood at $301.67M, reflecting a 4% decline from $315.82M in Q1 2024. This decline resulted from higher direct costs associated with event execution, infrastructure upgrades, additional non-recurring costs incurred during the period, and increased labour costs related to service delivery. Consequently, the gross margin contracted to 51.56% from 55.63% in the prior year. The Company remains focused on managing costs effectively to support long-term profitability.

Operating expenses increased to $218.72M, up 7.5% from $206.35M in Q1 2024. This rise was attributed to planned administrative enhancements, a significant one-off expenditure for the Company’s 20th Anniversary celebration, higher personnel costs, increased security and fuel expenses, and a 51% increase in amortisation expenses to $11.36M due to renegotiated lease agreements and the addition of a new lease.

Operating profit stood at $87.48M, a 24% decline from $115.28M in Q1 2024. Increased finance costs, stemming from renegotiated lease agreements and new lease additions, also impacted results.
Net profit for the quarter amounted to $73.67M, a 27% decrease from $100.25M in Q1 2024, influenced by lower gross margins, increased operational costs, and higher impairment charges. As a result, earnings per share (EPS) fell from $0.33 in Q1 2024 to $0.25 in Q1 2025.

Total assets grew by 6.4%, reaching $1,306.01M, up from $1,227.37M in Q1 2024. This increase was primarily driven by a 53% rise in receivables, reflecting expanded customer engagements, with several balances stemming from events executed near the period’s end. Short-term deposits increased to $250.24M from $236.50M, while cash and bank balances declined by 30% to $131.74M from $188.91M due to timing differences in collections and reinvestments.

Shareholders’ equity strengthened to $956.17M, reflecting a 5% increase over $912.66M in Q1 2024. This growth was primarily supported by retained earnings, demonstrating the Company’s ability to generate and reinvest profits efficiently.

Payables increased by 47%, rising to $229.58M from $156.38M in Q1 2024, mainly due to the timing of event executions towards the end of the quarter, resulting in higher accrued expenses related to supplier payments.

While the macroeconomic environment remains uncertain, the Company remains optimistic about the upcoming quarters. The focus will be on enhancing operational efficiencies to manage cost structures effectively and strengthening revenue streams through deeper market penetration and strategic partnerships. Additionally, the Company intends to use owned-events as a driver of revenue growth.
Our continued success is a testament to the dedication, creativity, and resilience of our exceptional team. Their ability to adapt and innovate in a dynamic industry ensures that we consistently exceed expectations and deliver outstanding experiences. Their dedication was especially evident during the holiday period, where they worked tirelessly to execute high-quality events, ensuring continued excellence in service delivery. We also recognise and appreciate the unwavering guidance of our Board; whose strategic leadership continues to drive our company’s growth and long-term vision.

Solomon Sharpe Chief Executive Officer

For More Information on Main Event Entertainment Group Limited (MEEG) Unaudited Results, Q1 – Three Months Ended January 31, 2025 (Revised) Click Here

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