Dundee REIT Buying Whiterock REIT

If you’ve been sitting on Whiterock Real Estate Investment Trust (Whiterock REIT) stocks waiting for your commercial property ship to come in, today would be the day to sell. Dundee Real Estate Investment Trust (Dundee REIT) announced today that it is buying Whiterock REIT in a transaction valued at C$580 million—causing Whiterock stock to rise rapidly in value.

This cash-and-stock merger would make Dundee REIT Canada’s fourth-largest REIT, according to a report released by the company. In the latest details about the merger, Reuters reports that Whiterock unitholders can choose between either C$16.25 in cash or 0.4729 of Dundee unit per unit held with the cash payment limited to C$360 million.

The cash part of the offer represents a 14 percent premium to Whiterock's Monday close on the Toronto Stock Exchange, according to Reuters. The agreement also includes safety net of a C$20 million break fee payable to Dundee if Whiterock accepts an unsolicited superior proposal from a third party.

RELATED ARTICLES

Top 5 Wealthiest Industries in Canada

Money Matters: To Lease or Buy?

Target Canada Announces 24 Store Locations for 2013

Check out Business Review Canada’s Best of 2011 issue!

Dundee REIT has been relatively unshaken by the global recession and has been expanding slowly over the past year. The Canada real estate market, in direct contrast to its American neighbors, has been recovering quickly with a growing economy, climbing rents, and relatively easy access to loans. This environment has also encouraged real estate investment trusts like Dundee to buy buy buy up properties and companies while the market is good.

TD Securities acted as adviser to Dundee.

Dundee's shares were trading down 4 percent at C$33.61, Whiterock's shares were up 12 percent at C$16.02 as of 12 p.m. Tuesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Information sourced from Reuters and The Globe and Mail.