Artis REIT announces acquisition of $213.1 million of properties in Alberta & British Columbia

    WINNIPEG, June 12 /CNW/ - Artis Real Estate Investment Trust ("Artis" or the "REIT") announced today that it has entered into agreements with respect to the acquisition of properties (the "Proposed Acquisitions") for a total purchase price of $213.1 million. The proposed acquisitions are located in Alberta and B.C.     The total purchase price represents a weighted-average going-in un-levered cash return ("Capitalization Rate") of 6.6%. Artis anticipates the proposed acquisitions will close in June and July of 2007. The proposed acquisitions include: (i) two industrial buildings in Edmonton, Alberta; (ii) a four-building Class A retail complex in Nanaimo, BC; (iii) the Class A TransAlta Headquarters Building in Calgary, Alberta and (iv) a retail power centre located in Powell River, BC. The purchase prices for the proposed acquisitions will be satisfied by a combination of cash on hand and mortgage financing.     "We are extremely pleased to announce these high quality acquisitions and, in particular, to be strengthening our presence in the vibrant BC market," said Armin Martens, CEO of Artis REIT. "Each of the proposed acquisitions will be immediately accretive to our unitholders and additionally offers potential future upside; management estimated the average in-place rents are approximately 25% below current market lease rates."      <<                             Proposed Acquisitions       -------------------------------------------------------------------------                                       Gross Leasable                     Property                    Area             Year Built/     Property            Type  Location (000's sq.ft.) Occupancy  Redeveloped     -------------------------------------------------------------------------      Edmonton      Industrial  Edmonton,     Industrial(1)  Class A&B        AB            38      100.0%   1976/2004                      Retail &     Nanaimo          Class A   Nanaimo,     Portfolio(1)      Office        BC           159      100.0%   1991/1994      TransAlta         Office   Calgary,     Place(1)         Class A   Alberta           336      100.0%  1965/2000+                        Class A    Powell     Powell River      Retail,    River,                            1981/1996     Portfolio(2) Residential        BC           291       97.5%       /2006     -------------------------------------------------------------------------      Total                                        824       98.4%     -------------------------------------------------------------------------     -------------------------------------------------------------------------     (1) unconditional purchase and sale agreements     (2) conditional purchase and sale agreement     >>      "Artis is adding long term, stable credit-rated lease income to the portfolio with these acquisitions and will increase the weighted-average lease term to maturity across the portfolio," said Mr. Martens. "We are pleased to note that over 83% of the tenants are government and/or national credit worthy tenants."      Edmonton Industrial - Edmonton, Alberta      Artis has entered into an unconditional agreement to purchase two Class B flex-industrial buildings in northwest Edmonton, Alberta, totaling 37,700 square feet. The buildings are currently 100% occupied, with almost 50% of the tenants considered national, credit worthy tenants.      Nanaimo Portfolio - Nanaimo, B.C.      Artis has entered into an unconditional agreement to purchase the Windley Portfolio, a newly built Class A office and retail complex located in the Woodgrove commercial district of Nanaimo and an unconditional option to acquire the Leon's/United Furniture Warehouse property, also in Nanaimo. With a trading market of over 120,000 people, Nanaimo is the second largest City on Vancouver Island.     The Nanaimo properties are comprised of approximately 159,000 square feet of office and retail gross leasable area ("GLA"). Tenants include HSBC Bank, Canadian Western Bank, ICBC, Vancouver Island Health Authority and BCBC; the Leon's Furniture and United Furniture Warehouse building closing may be delayed until late 2007. Over 90% of the tenants are government or national credit worthy tenants.      TransAlta Place - Calgary, Alberta      Artis has entered into an unconditional agreement to purchase TransAlta Place, a three building Class A office complex occupying a full block of prime beltline space in Calgary. It is bordered by Centre Street and 1st Street SW and by 11th and 12th Avenue. The total building area comprises approximately 336,000 square feet of GLA. The parking stall ratio is one parking stall per 1,000 square feet of GLA; 298 parking stalls are underground plus an additional 15 surface stalls. The property was originally built in 1983, has been well-maintained and is in excellent condition. Since 2000 alone, over $18M has been invested by the tenant in building upgrades and improvements. The complex is home to the world headquarters of TransAlta Corporation, Canada's largest non-regulated electric generating and marketing company. TransAlta Corporation (TSX: TA and NYSE: TAC) provides a strong covenant, with over $7.5 billion in assets and market capitalization in excess of $5.1 billion.     TransAlta Corporation is in the fourth year of a 20 year (2023), care free and fully net lease to the Landlord. No property management or asset management fees will be incurred by Artis with this property. The tenant also has two consecutive renewal options, each for a five year term, at the then prevailing market rates. Management estimates the in-place rent to be between $10 - 12 psf below today's market rent.      Powell River Town Centre - Powell River, B.C.      Artis has entered into a conditional agreement to purchase Powell River Town Centre. Powell River Town Centre is the dominant retail mall and newly built box retail complex in Powell River, B.C. It enjoys an outstanding tenant roster, including Wal-Mart, Overwaitea, Staples, Shoppers Drug Mart, Canadian Tire, Rona's, Mark Work Wearhouse, A & W, CIBC, Starbucks and Coles. The total building area comprises approximately 291,000 square feet of GLA, with a parking stall ratio of four parking stalls per 1,000 square feet of GLA. The portfolio also includes a new residential complex comprised of 47 rental units, currently fully leased.     Powell River and its surrounding communities are located approximately 135 kilometres north of Vancouver on B.C.'s "Sunshine Coast". Powell River itself has a large, newer hospital facility and boasts schools, shopping, restaurants and other amenities that service the surrounding communities. Powell River region's economic base is founded on forestry, fishing, mining, agriculture and tourism. The region has experienced steady population growth and strong demand in housing sales and housing starts in recent years, becoming a popular retirement destination.      Artis is a growth-oriented real estate investment trust focused exclusively on commercial properties located in primary and growing secondary markets in western Canada, particularly in Alberta. The REIT's goal is to provide Unitholders the opportunity to invest in high-quality western Canadian office, retail and industrial properties, as well as to provide monthly cash distributions that are stable, tax efficient, and growing over time. Including the proposed acquisitions, Artis will have acquired approximately $870 million of commercial property; approximately 16.2% in Manitoba, 9.6% in Saskatchewan, 64.0% in Alberta, and 10.2% in B.C. The portfolio will consist of 54 properties, comprising approximately 4.8 million square feet of leasable area (37.9% retail, 49.0% office and 13.1% industrial).     The REIT's Distribution Reinvestment Plan ("DRIP") allows Unitholders to have their monthly cash distributions used to purchase trust units without incurring commission or brokerage fees, and receive bonus units equal to 4% of their monthly cash distributions. More information can be obtained at www.artisreit.com.      This press release contains forward-looking statements. For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "projects", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.     Artis is subject to significant risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the REIT to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Such risk factors include, but are not limited to, risks associated with real property ownership, availability of cash flow, general uninsured losses, future property acquisitions, environmental matters, tax related matters, debt financing, unitholder liability, potential conflicts of interest, potential dilution, reliance on key personnel, changes in legislation and proposed changes in the tax treatment of trusts. Artis cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with any forward-looking statements and Artis assumes no obligation to update or revise such forward-looking statements to reflect actual events or new circumstances. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are qualified by this cautionary statement.      The Toronto Stock Exchange does not accept responsibility for the     adequacy or accuracy of this press release.    

For further information: Mr. Armin Martens, President and Chief Executive Officer of the REIT, or Mr. Jim Green, Chief Financial Officer of the REIT, at (204) 947-1200 

Southeast False Creek and Olympic Village

Southeast False Creek (SEFC) will be a model sustainable community built on the last remaining large tract of undeveloped waterfront land near downtown Vancouver.

On July 2, 2003 Vancouver was awarded the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and the SEFC development site was chosen as the future site of the Vancouver Olympic Village.

The SEFC site comprises 32 hectares (80 acres) of which approximately 20 hectares (50 acres) is owned by the City. SEFC is bounded by Cambie Bridge on the west, Main Street on the east, and 2nd Avenue to the south. The Olympic Village will be located in Area 2A of the SEFC site.

Historically, the Southeast False Creek site was used for industrial and commercial purposes. While maintaining heritage ties to the past, SEFC is being planned as a model sustainable development based on environmental, social and economic principles where people will live, work, play, and learn. SEFC will be a mixed-use community, with a focus on residential housing for families. This complete community will ensure goods and services within walking distance and housing that is linked by transit and in proximity to local jobs. SEFC will eventually be home to 12,000 to 16,000 people.

For details on other phases, for information on the Official Development Plan, or for background reports and descriptions of public consultations, visit the Community Services website.

Project Office

The City of Vancouver established the Southeast False Creek and Olympic Village Project Office to manage the development of the City Lands in Southeast False Creek. The Project Office reports directly to the City Manager's Office and represents the development interests of the City Lands. The regulatory interests of the City are still represented by other departments.

The Project Office is working closely with the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) to ensure that the new community meets the design and operational needs of the Olympic Village with little or no temporary modifications.

Olympic Village Summary

During the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Southeast False Creek will be temporarily transformed into the Olympic Village.

For the 2010 Winter Games

• Area 2A of the SEFC site is the first phase of City-owned land to be developed. It will become Vancouver’s Olympic Village for the 2010 Winter Games. Area 2A is about seven hectares in size.
• Vancouver's Olympic Village will comprise 15-20 permanent buildings, as well as many temporary structures. It will primarily be a residential community, but also includes commercial/retail space.
• the Olympic Village will house approximately 2,800 athletes and officials.
• VANOC will outfit and operate the Olympic Village starting November 1, 2009, and will return the Olympic Village to the City of Vancouver on April 7, 2010.

After the 2010 Winter Games

• after the 2010 Winter Games, the buildings of the Olympic Village will become permanent residential housing, with a focus on housing for families.
• the Olympic Village is the first phase of a new mixed-use community, and will contribute about 1,100 residential units (250 of which will become affordable housing, and another 100 units will become modest market housing).
• while maintaining heritage ties to the past, SEFC is planned as a model sustainable development based on environmental, social and economic principles where people will live, work, play, and learn. This complete
  community will ensure goods and services within walking distance and housing that is linked by transit and in proximity to local jobs.
• SEFC buildings will be a showcase of sustainable development and designed to LEED® Gold, with a goal of LEED® Platinum* for the community centre.
• when fully developed , SEFC will have six million square feet of development. This will include: more than 5,000 residential units; full-size community centre and non-motorized boating facility; three to five licensed childcare facilities; two out-of-school care facilities; an elementary school; interfaith spiritual centre; restoration of five heritage buildings; and 10 hectares of park.
• shoreline works will include a new island and inter-tidal fish habitat, bridge, boardwalk, and seaside greenway and bikeway.
• other unique features will include urban agriculture; rainwater management systems; green roofs; and neighbourhood energy system.
• by 2020, Southeast False Creek will be home to 12,000 to 16,000 people.
  
  (* LEED® is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is the North American standard for measuring green building performance.)