RioCan continues to buy retail properties

Canada's largest REIT continues to make sizable retail acquisitions.
Toronto-based RioCan REIT announced Tuesday it has agreed to purchase a stake in four retail shopping centres in British Columbia and Alberta for $166 million. Under the deals expected to close at the end of the year, RioCan will purchase malls in Surrey, B.C., and Edmonton in joint ventures with CPP Investment Board and Sun Life, respectively.
RioCan will co-own Grandview Corners shopping Centre in Surrey and and the Edmonton West Retail Centre. The trust will hold 100% interests in retail centres in Lethbridge and Calgary.
“These four centres represent an excellent addition to RioCan's core portfolio and provide an opportunity to acquire a number of strategic assets while expanding our important relationships with CPPIB and Sun Life,” said Edward Sonshine, RioCan's president and CEO, in a news release.
With credit markets loosening, RioCan has arranged a five-year conventional first mortgage financing of $113 million whereby it will cover $94.5 million at a rate expected to be in the 5% range.
Last month, RioCan announced that it will spend $170 million on eight Canadian retail properties. The properties range from Ottawa to Winnipeg to Fort McMurray and offer a healthy 7.9 per cent cap rate.The move came after RioCan agreed to purchase seven grocery-anchored properties in the Northeastern U.S. as part a joint venture with U.S.-based Cedar Shopping Centers Inc. for $141 million.