Primaris jumps on hostile bid

Article Excerpt

PRIMARIS RETAIL REAL ESTATEINVESTMENT TRUST $26.77 (Toronto symbolPMZ.UN; Units outstanding: 97.8 million; Marketcap: $2.6 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk;Dividend yield: 4.8%; www.primarisreit.com) isup 16% after a $26-a-share in-cash hostiletakeover bid from a consortium led by Canadianprivate equity firm Kingsett Capital.As part of the bid, RioCan REIT $27.80 (seeat left) has agreed to buy eight of Primaris’sshopping malls from Kingsett if the $2.6-billiontakeover is successful.RioCan will pay $1.1 billion for these assets.However, the trust has a long history ofsuccessfully integrating properties and attractingnew tenants. These malls are also near majorcities. That cuts the risk of this purchase.In the October 2012 issue of Canadian WealthAdvisor, we said that Primaris’s strong cash flowand high-quality tenants could make it a takeovercandidate.Primaris is now trading at $26.77, or 3.0%above Kingsett’s bid. This indicates that investorsexpect a much higher bid from Kingsett oranother buyer.We’ll continue to say more about Primaris asthe situation develops. But for now, we see thetrust as a hold. hold…