Topic: How To Invest

Pat: What are your thoughts on Boston Pizza Income Fund? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund, $18.51, symbol BPF.UN on Toronto, (Units outstanding: 20.4 million; Market cap: $379.8 million; www.bpincomefund.com) holds certain trademarks and trade names used by Boston Pizza International at its Boston Pizza restaurants in Canada (but not including the U.S. and Mexico). The trademarks are licensed to Boston Pizza International for 99 years, for which Boston Pizza International pays the fund 4% of the franchise revenues of the 372 Boston Pizza restaurants in Canada. The fund first sold units to the public at $10 each and began trading on Toronto in July 2002. The fund’s royalty income grows from rising same-store sales, and from the opening of new Boston Pizza restaurants in Canada. Over the last year, Boston Pizza opened 12 new restaurants in Canada and closed six, raising its total to 372 from 366. Boston Pizza restaurants provide full-service, family-friendly casual dining and a separate sports bar. Most restaurants also have an outdoor patio for guests during the warmer…