
TSE:DIR.UN
Owns a little. At these levels it is looking a lot more attractive, especially considering the 7.7% dividend, which he feels is sustainable. Likes the industrial sector in Canada. There hasn’t been much construction during the last 2-3 years. Supply growth has been 1%-2%. Looking forward to a possible increase in manufacturing activity and the weakening Cdn$ should benefit the industrial sector. Occupancy and rents should start moving higher. Right now occupancy is in the mid-90s, so if that moves higher you really are going to get some leverage with respect to rents. Externally managed so tends to be put in the penalty box for this.
Industrial properties. Less affected by Alberta markets as it is more Ontario and Québec, but the 22% decline was crazy. You’re getting exposure to a US recovery, you’re getting a Canadian recovery, and you still have 30% Alberta exposure. Seeing great movements in rents with a little bit of increase coming through. 8.43% yield.
Got some of this when it was spun out of Dundee REIT (D.UN-T), a pure office REIT. This is pure industrial. If you are expecting weak economic growth, industrial real estate tends to not be the best performing asset class. More exposed to export, particularly in Ontario with the auto market. Thinks you can get in and realize some value here.
Dream International, Dream REIT and lots of assets going all over the place. He would prefer a more conservative stance. He doesn’t want to get involved because the restructuring hasn’t really gone on and they just hid the problems under the mat.