Boardwalk's Board considers conversion to a Real Estate Investment Trust
06 November 2003 - 12:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
Boardwalk's Board considers conversion to a Real Estate Investment
Trust CALGARY, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BOARDWALK EQUITIES
INC. ("BEI") has recently engaged CIBC World Markets, Deloitte
& Touche LLP, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Stikeman Elliott
LLP to advise the Corporation on the reorganization of the
Corporation as a Real Estate Investment Trust. At a meeting held on
November 5, 2003, the Board of Directors of BEI reviewed the
proposal for the reorganization and concluded that the proposal had
the potential to increase shareholder value. The Board of Directors
determined to form a Special Committee of Independent Board members
to ensure that the reorganization is fair to all shareholders.
Management anticipates a further press release in the near future
outlining the effects of the proposed reorganization once annual
budgeting is completed and various technical aspects of the
reorganization are reviewed. As previously disclosed, the Company
will be holding it's normal third quarter financial results
conference call on November 17th, 2003, and at this time an update
on this process will be provided. Reasons for Consideration of
Reorganization Some of the reasons offered for reorganizing
Boardwalk's entire portfolio to a REIT are: a) Monthly cash
distributions are anticipated to provide an attractive return to
Unitholders without impairing Boardwalk's ability to finance
capital expenditures and to repay external debt; b) The Company's
diversified portfolio of multi-family rental properties provides a
relatively stable cash flow which is well suited for a REIT
structure; c) Boardwalk REIT involves a trust structure which will
result in a higher level of cash distributions than would be
available under the existing corporate structure of BEI; d) A
significant portion of Boardwalk REIT's distribution to Unitholders
will be tax deferred; e) It is anticipated that the reorganization
will provide Boardwalk REIT with greater access to the public
capital markets to fund growth initiatives than is or would be
available to BEI under current market conditions; f) Boardwalk REIT
would be the largest and most geographically diverse publicly
traded multi-family trust in Canada. This reorganization is subject
to shareholder and regulatory approval, as well as final approval
by the Board of Directors of BEI. Various consents of the
Corporation's lenders are also necessary. There is no certainty at
this time that the reorganization will be implemented. In addition
to continuing the normal course distribution of common shares
during this process, Messrs. Sam and Van Kolias, prior to the
conversion to a REIT, may divest a significant portion of their
current holdings for tax and structural considerations. Messrs. Sam
and Van Kolias will continue to hold a material interest in the
proposed REIT. Corporate Profile Boardwalk Equities Inc. is
Canada's largest owner/operator of multi- family rental
communities. Boardwalk currently owns and operates in excess of 250
properties with over 31,200 units totaling approximately 26 million
net rentable square feet. The Company's portfolio is concentrated
in the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec.
Boardwalk is headquartered in Calgary and its shares are listed on
both the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange and
trade under the symbol BEI. The Company has a total market
capitalization of approximately $2.2 billion. Forward-Looking
Statements This release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. The forward-looking statements are statements that involve
risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, changes in
the demand for apartment and town home rentals, the effects of
economic conditions, the impact of competition and competitive
pricing, the effects of the Company's accounting policies and other
matters detailed in the Company's filings with Canadian and United
States securities regulators available on SEDAR in Canada and by
request through the Securities and Exchange Commission in the
United States, including matters set forth in the Company's Annual
Report to Shareholders under the heading "Management's Discussion
and Analysis". Because of these risks and uncertainties, the
results, expectations, achievements, or performance described in
this release may be different from those currently anticipated by
the Company. DATASOURCE: Boardwalk Equities Inc. CONTACT: Boardwalk
Equities Inc.: Sam Kolias, President and CEO, (403) 531-9255;
Roberto Geremia, Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial
Officer, (403) 531-9255; Mike Hough, Senior Vice President, (416)
364-0849; Paul Moon, Director of Corporate Communications, (403)
206-6808
Copyright