CALGARY, Oct. 1, 2015 /CNW/ – Boardwalk Real Estate Investment Trust (“BEI.UN” – TSX)
Boardwalk Real Estate Investment Trust (“Boardwalk REIT” or the “Trust”) announced today that it has entered into an automatic trust unit purchase plan with a broker in order to facilitate repurchases of its trust units under its previously announced normal course issuer bid.
On June 30, 2015, Boardwalk REIT announced that it had received approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) to make a normal-course issuer bid to purchase up to a maximum of 3,855,766 trust units representing approximately 10% of the publicly listed float. The normal course issuer bid commenced on July 3, 2015 and will terminate on July 2, 2016, or such earlier date as the Trust may complete repurchases under the bid.
Under the Trust’s automatic trust unit purchase plan, the Trust’s broker may repurchase trust units under the normal course issuer bid at times when the Trust would ordinarily not be permitted to due to self-imposed blackout periods.
Boardwalk REIT anticipates using the plan from time to time during the course of its normal course issuer bid to enable purchases of its trust units to be made during internal blackout periods. Purchases will be made by the Trust’s broker based upon the parameters prescribed by the TSX and applicable Canadian securities laws and the terms of the parties’ written agreement. The automatic trust unit purchase plan has been approved by the TSX and will be implemented effective as of October 1, 2015.
As of September 29, 2015, a total of 221,100 trust units have been repurchased for cancellation under the Trust’s current normal course issuer bid. Under its previous normal course issuer bid, which commenced on July 3, 2014 and expired on July 2, 2015, the Trust repurchased 320,800 trust units for cancellation.
Boardwalk believes that the current and recent market prices of its trust units do not reflect their underlying value. Boardwalk’s management is initiating this program as it feels that, at current market prices, an investment in Boardwalk’s own high quality portfolio will deliver solid returns for unitholders and represents an effective use of its capital. At the same time, Boardwalk plans to continue its property acquisition, development and capital improvement programs. Boardwalk will purchase the trust units for cancellation with the intention of increasing the proportionate interest of all remaining unitholders.
Corporate Profile
Boardwalk REIT strives to be Canada’s friendliest landlord and currently owns and operates more than 200 communities with over 32,000 residential units totaling approximately 28 million net rentable square feet. Boardwalk’s principal objectives are to provide its Residents with the best quality communities and superior customer service, while providing Unitholders with sustainable monthly cash distributions, and increase the value of its trust units through selective acquisitions, dispositions, development, and effective management of its residential multi-family communities. Boardwalk REIT is vertically integrated and is Canada’s leading owner/operator of multi-family communities with over 1,500 Associates bringing Residents home to properties located in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec. Boardwalk REIT’s Trust units are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol BEI.UN. Additional information about Boardwalk REIT can be found on the Trust’s website at www.BoardwalkREIT.com
CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Information in this news release that is not current or historical factual information may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of securities laws. Implicit in this information, particularly in respect of Boardwalk’s objectives for 2015 and future periods, Boardwalk’s strategies to achieve those objectives, as well as statements with respect to management’s beliefs, plans, estimates and intentions, and similar statements concerning anticipated future events, results, circumstances, performance or expectations are estimates and assumptions subject to risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Management’s Discussion & Analysis of Boardwalk REIT’s 2014 Annual Report under the heading “Risks and Risk Management”, which could cause Boardwalk’s actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information contained in this news release. Specifically Boardwalk has assumed that the general economy remains stable, interest rates are relatively stable, acquisition capitalization rates are stable, competition for acquisition of residential apartments remains intense, and equity and debt markets continue to provide access to capital. These assumptions, although considered reasonable by the Trust at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect. For more exhaustive information on these risks and uncertainties you should refer to Boardwalk’s most recently filed annual information form, which is available at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on Boardwalk’s current estimates, expectations and projections, which Boardwalk believes are reasonable as of the current date. You should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While the Trust may elect to, Boardwalk is under no obligation and does not undertake to update this information at any particular time.
SOURCE Boardwalk Real Estate Investment Trust
