/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE
U.S./
QUÉBEC CITY, Feb. 28, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Cominar Real Estate Investment
Trust ("Cominar") (TSX: CUF.UN) announces today that it has closed its previously
announced public offering of 9,168,950 units (the "Units"). The Units include 1,195,950 units of Cominar which were issued upon
the exercise of an over-allotment option and were sold to a syndicate
of underwriters led by National Bank Financial Inc. and BMO Nesbitt
Burns Inc. for total net proceeds to Cominar of approximately $192.9
million, after deducting the underwriters' fee and the estimated
expenses of the offering. The net proceeds of the sale of the Units
will be used to pay down debt outstanding under current credit
facilities. Indebtedness incurred under such credit facilities was used
by Cominar to finance acquisitions and investments, and for general and
corporate purposes. The Units have been offered in all provinces of
Canada by way of a short form prospectus.
The Units have not been and will not be registered under the United
States Securities Act of 1933 and accordingly will not be offered, sold
or delivered, directly or indirectly within the United States, its
possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction or to, or for
the account or for the benefit of a U.S. person, except pursuant to
applicable exemptions from the registration requirements.
Cominar Profile as at February 28, 2012
Cominar is the largest commercial property owner in the Province of
Québec. Cominar owns a real estate portfolio of 269 high-quality
properties, consisting of 53 office, 55 retail and 161 industrial and
mixed-use buildings that cover a total area of 21.0 million square feet
in the Greater Québec City, Montréal and Ottawa-Gatineau areas as well
as in the Atlantic Provinces. Cominar's objectives are to deliver
growing cash distributions payable monthly to its unitholders and to
maximize unitholder value by way of integrated management and the
expansion of its portfolio. Cominar is the owner of approximately 95%
of the outstanding trust units of Canmarc Real Estate Investment Trust.
Canmarc Profile as at February 28, 2012
Canmarc (www.canmarc.ca) is an unincorporated open-ended real estate investment trust
established pursuant to a declaration of trust under the laws of the
Province of Québec. Managed internally, Canmarc owns a portfolio of
Canadian income-producing commercial properties, consisting of retail
and office properties with certain industrial properties. In total,
Canmarc properties comprise approximately 8.8 million square feet of
commercial gross leasable area (approximately 9.4 million square feet
including acquisitions which have been announced but have not yet
closed) and 464 multi-family residential units located in Québec,
Atlantic Canada, Western Canada and Ontario.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements with respect
to Cominar and its operations, strategy, financial performance and
financial condition. These statements generally can be identified by
the use of forward-looking words such as "may", "will", "expect",
"estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" or "continue" or the
negative thereof or similar variations. The actual results and
performance of Cominar discussed herein could differ materially from
those expressed or implied by such statements. Such statements are
qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties
surrounding future expectations. Some important factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include,
among other things, general economic and market factors, increased
indebtedness associated to Cominar's take-over bid for units of Canmarc
Real Estate Investment Trust, competition, changes in government
regulation and the factors described under "Risk Factors" in the Annual
Information Form of Cominar. The cautionary statements qualify all
forward-looking statements attributable to Cominar and persons acting
on its behalf. Unless otherwise stated, all forward-looking statements
speak only as of the date of this press release.
<p> Mr. Michel Dallaire, P.Eng.<br/> President and Chief Executive Officer, Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust<br/> (418) 681-8151 </p> <p> Mr. Michel Berthelot<br/> Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust<br/> (418) 681-6300 ext. 2266 </p>