Dream cashing in to grow

Article Excerpt

DREAM OFFICE REIT $20.08 (Toronto symbol D.UN; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (416-365-3535; www.dream.ca/office; Units outstanding: 108.7 million; Market cap: $2.1 billion; Dividend yield: 5.0%) launched a threeyear strategic plan early last year to push up its unit price. That strategy included selling nonessential properties worth $3.0 billion in order to realize their full market value. Dream Office has now sold $3.2 billion in properties. That completes its sales plan, and leaves it with 49 properties (down from 166 about 18 months ago) valued at $2.9 billion. The REIT now plans to spend $440 million to buy back 25% of its units. It has also cut its annual distribution by 33.3%, to $1.00 from $1.50. Those units now yield 5.0%. That cut brings the shareholder payout down to 73% of cash flow. It will also leave Dream Office with lots of cash to acquire new properties in key markets like Toronto. Dream Office REIT is still a buy. buy…