Artis REIT announces renewal of normal course issuer bid

WINNIPEG, Dec. 13, 2012 /CNW/ - Artis Real Estate Investment Trust ("Artis" or the "REIT") today announced that it has received approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") to renew its existing normal course issuer bid (the "Bid") for a further year.  The period of the normal course issuer bid will extend from December 17, 2012, to December 16, 2013, or an earlier date, should Artis complete its purchases.

Under the terms of the Bid, Artis may purchase up to 10,940,334 trust units ("Units") (representing approximately 10% of the REIT's float of 109,403,338 Units).  For the past six months, the average daily trading volume of Artis Units was 225,123.  A maximum of 56,280 Units (being 25% of the average daily trading volume) may be purchased by Artis on any one day under its normal course issuer bid, except where purchases are made in accordance with "block purchases" exemptions under applicable TSX policies.  Purchases pursuant to the Bid will be made through the facilities of the Toronto Stock Exchange.  Artis will pay the market price at the time of acquisition for any Unit purchased through the facilities of the TSX and all Units acquired by the REIT under this Bid will be cancelled.

Artis is pursuing the normal course issuer bid because it believes that, from time to time, the market price of its Units may not fully reflect the underlying value of its business and its future business prospects.  The REIT believes that, in such circumstances, the outstanding Units represent an attractive investment for Artis.

During the past twelve months, Artis did not acquire units through the normal course issuer bid.

As at November 30, 2012, the number of Units issued and outstanding totaled 110,368,704.

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Artis is a diversified Canadian real estate investment trust investing in office, industrial and retail properties. Since 2004, Artis has executed an aggressive but disciplined growth strategy, building a portfolio of commercial properties in Canada and the United States, with a major focus on Western Canada. Artis' commercial property comprises over 23.4 million square feet of leasable area in 220 properties. Leasable area by asset class is approximately 18.3% retail, 32.1% office and 49.6% industrial. The portfolio is located 7.9% in British Columbia, 25.7% in Alberta, 5.1% in Saskatchewan, 15.4% in Manitoba, 16.0% in Ontario and 29.9% in the U.S.

The Toronto Stock Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

SOURCE: Artis Real Estate Investment Trust

Mr. Armin Martens, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Jim Green, Chief Financial Officer or Ms. Kirsty Stevens, Chief Administrative Officer of the REIT at [phone].