Choice Properties lowers its risk

Article Excerpt

Choice Properties REIT has completed its acquisition of Canadian REIT, a recommendation of TSI Dividend Advisor. The merger created Canada’s biggest real estate investment trust: 754 properties for a total of 69 million square feet of retail, industrial and office space. Loblaw Companies Ltd. (Toronto symbol L) created Choice Properties in 2013 to hold its real estate properties. That let it take advantage of the favourable REIT tax structure. In the past, we’ve recommended against buying Choice Properties due to its high exposure to Loblaw’s retail stores. However, the merger with Canadian REIT greatly broadens its tenant base. It should also spur its distributions. CHOICE PROPERTIES REIT $12 (Toronto symbol CHP.UN; Cyclical-Growth Payer Portfolio; Manufacturing & Industry sector; Units o/s: 277.2 million; Market cap: $3.3 billion; Divd. yield: 6.2%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.choicereit.ca) acquired Canadian REIT (old symbol REF.UN) on May 7, 2018. For each Canadian REIT unit investors held, they could have opted for either $53.75 in cash or 4.2835 Choice units. However, Choice Properties…