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MONTREAL, Dec. 6, 2017 /CNW/ - PRO Real Estate Investment Trust ("PROREIT" or the "REIT") (TSXV: PRV.UN) is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced acquisition of 19 properties (the "portfolio") in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario, the majority of which is anchored by Rexall pharmacies. The properties comprise both stand-alone drug stores and community service centres. The purchase price of the portfolio was $51.6 million, representing a going-in capitalization rate of 7.1%.
Highlights
- Going-in capitalization rate of 7.1%, with built-in rent increases in 2018 and 2019.
- Accretive to unitholders.
- Brings year-to-date acquisitions to in excess of $110 million.
- Increases total assets by approximately 15% to over $350 million.
- Total gross leasable area of 172,677 sq. ft.
- The portfolio enjoys long-term leases with a weighted average lease term of 9.2 years overall, and 10.7 years for the Rexall drug stores.
- Portfolio occupancy rate is 99.25%.
- The acquisition was financed by $38.7 million of first mortgage debt from a Tier 1 Canadian Chartered Bank at a weighted average interest rate of 3.99% comprising a mix of 5, 10 and 15 year terms, and from lines of credit. Portions of the lines of credit were freed up from partial proceeds of the latest equity offering completed in June 2017.
- Rexall Pharmacy Group is part of McKesson Corporation, a Fortune 500 company.
- Rexall becomes the largest tenant of the REIT by base rent.
- Creates national footprint for the first time.
The Portfolio
The portfolio consists of 19 properties comprised of stand-alone stores or anchored community commercial strip centres in cities and towns, mostly in Western Canada. They include five properties in British Columbia, nine properties in Alberta, four properties in Saskatchewan and one property in Ontario. Of the 19 properties, 14 are Rexall Pharmacy Group anchored, representing approximately 72% of the portfolio net operating income, while five others are anchored by other strong tenants, including Shoppers Drug Mart.
The portfolio includes total gross leasable area of 172,677 square feet and enjoys an occupancy rate of 99.25%. The weighted average lease term of the portfolio is 9.2 years overall, with the weighted average lease term of the Rexall properties within the portfolio standing at 10.7 years. Rexall Pharmacy Group becomes the single largest tenant of the REIT, contributing approximately 11%to base rent.
The 19 properties include locations in Regina and Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Lacombe and Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Courtenay, British Columbia, and Kingston, Ontario. The balance of the properties is in towns and cities in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan that serve as strong commercial hubs in their economic area.
Wholly owned by McKesson Corporation, a Fortune 500 global pharmaceutical distribution company, Rexall Pharmacy Group is a strong covenant for the PROREIT portfolio.
About PROREIT
PROREIT (www.proreit.com) is an unincorporated open-ended real estate investment trust established pursuant to a declaration of trust under the laws of the Province of Ontario. PROREIT was established in March 2013 to own a portfolio of diversified commercial real estate properties in Canada, with a focus on primary and secondary markets in Québec, Atlantic Canada and Ontario with selective expansion into Western Canada. PROREIT's portfolio is diversified by property type and geography and is comprised of 64 properties with approximately 2.7 million square feet of commercial gross leasable area.
Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements relating to the impact of the acquisitions described herein on the REIT's future performance. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by such terms such as "may", "might", "will", "could", "should", "would", "occur", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "estimate", "predict", "potential", "continue", "likely", "schedule", or the negative thereof or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Forward‐looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond PROREIT's control, that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward‐looking statements. PROREIT's objectives and forward‐looking statements are based on certain assumptions, including that (i) PROREIT will receive financing on favourable terms; (ii) the future level of indebtedness of PROREIT and its future growth potential will remain consistent with PROREIT's current expectations; (iii) there will be no changes to tax laws adversely affecting PROREIT's financing capacity or operations; (iv) the impact of the current economic climate and the current global financial conditions on PROREIT's operations, including its financing capacity and asset value, will remain consistent with PROREIT's current expectations; (v) the performance of PROREIT's investments in Canada will proceed on a basis consistent with PROREIT's current expectations; and (vi) capital markets will provide PROREIT with readily available access to equity and/or debt. Additional information about these assumptions and risks and uncertainties is contained under "Risk Factors" in PROREIT's latest annual information form, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and in other filings that PROREIT has made and may make with applicable securities authorities in the future.
The forward‐looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward‐looking statements. All forward‐looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. PROREIT does not undertake to update any such forward‐looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
SOURCE PROREIT
PRO Real Estate Investment Trust, James W. Beckerleg, President and Chief Executive Officer514-933-9552; PRO Real Estate Investment Trust, Gordon G. Lawlor, CPA, CA, Chief Financial Officer, 514-933-9552
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