Big acquisition for H&R

Article Excerpt

H&R REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST $20.48 (Toronto symbol HR.UN; Units outstanding: 144.5 million; Market cap: $3.0 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; Dividend yield: 4.4%; www.hr-reit.com) has agreed to buy 595 Bay Street, 20 & 40 Dundas Street West and 306 Yonge Street in Toronto, which are collectively known as the “Atrium on Bay” property. The purchase price is $344.8 million. The property consists of 915,378 square feet of “class A” office space and 135,929 square feet of prime retail premises. Established firms, like CIBC, and government tenants, including Legal Aid Ontario, Public Guardian & Trustee, Land Registry Office, Hydro One Networks and University Health Network, occupy about 75% of the total rental area. The property is 98% occupied, and has an average lease term to expiry of five years. H&R REIT is still a buy. buy…