Big moves for Primaris

Article Excerpt

PRIMARIS REIT, $14.85, is a buy. The trust (Toronto symbol PMZ.UN; Units outstanding: 103.3 million; Market cap: $1.5 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Yield: 5.8; www.primarisreit.com) owns 38 enclosed and open air shopping malls in Canada, totalling 15.0 million square feet. The occupancy rate is 94.8%. Primaris has now completed the acquistion of a 50% interest in Southgate Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, and a 100% ownership interest in Oshawa Centre in Oshawa, Ontario. The purchase price was $585.0 million. Meanwhile, Primaris also announced that it has agreed to sell the Sherwood Park Mall in Sherwood Park, Alberta, for $107.0 million. As well, the REIT recently closed the sale of Edinburgh Market Place in Guelph, Ontario, for $31.5 million. The trust has raised its monthly distribution by 2.4%. The units now yield a high 5.8% for investors. Primaris REIT is a buy. buy. …