/EINPresswire.com/ -- TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 05/05/16 -- DREAM OFFICE REIT (TSX: D.UN) or (the "Trust" or "we") today announced its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and provided an update to its three-year strategic plan (the "Plan").

PLAN UPDATE

On February 18, 2016, we announced our Plan to reduce the discount between our unit price and our net asset value, and surface value for the Trust's unitholders. Since the date of the announcement, Dream Office REIT's unit price has appreciated over 20%, outperforming the S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index by nearly 12% in the same period. The improvement in the Trust's unit price has added over $370 million to the Trust's market valuation.

Today, the Trust is pleased to report that it has made solid progress on the execution of the Plan:

--  Over $500 million of Private Market Assets sold, under contract or in
    various stages of discussion - We identified approximately $2.6 billion
    of high quality assets primarily in the Greater Toronto Area suburbs,
    Ottawa and Vancouver ("Private Market Assets"), which we believed were
    liquid, but not irreplaceable to the Trust. We set a three-year
    disposition target of $1.2 billion from the assets identified as Private
    Markets Assets.

    Year-to-date, the Trust has completed dispositions of $212.2 million, or
    18%, of the $1.2 billion target from the Private Market Assets and
    achieved the carrying value for these sales. An additional $123 million
    of transactions are firm and over $200 million of properties are
    currently under contract to be sold or in various stages of discussion.
    Upon completion, these transactions would amount to over $500 million of
    dispositions, representing over 40% of the Trust's three-year $1.2
    billion target or 7% of the Trust's portfolio as at December 31, 2015.

    "We continue to see strong interest in our assets across the Portfolio.
    The Plan we put in place allows us to remain flexible and opportunistic
    with respect to our capital structure and the composition of our
    portfolio to maximize value for our unitholders," said Jane Gavan, Chief
    Executive Officer of Dream Office REIT.

--  Successfully closed $800 million credit facility - During the quarter,
    the Trust successfully closed an $800 million demand revolving credit
    facility (the "$800 million Facility") with a syndicate of major
    Canadian and global financial institutions as announced earlier. The
    $800 million Facility provides the Trust with significant liquidity and
    financial flexibility to manage the business, with a long term focus on
    net asset value.

--  Strengthening balance sheet and reducing interest costs - The Trust
    intends to use the proceeds from the disposition program to de-lever its
    balance sheet and strengthen its financial position. During the quarter,
    the Trust redeemed its remaining 5.50% Series H Convertible Debentures,
    with an aggregate principal amount totaling $50.6 million. The
    redemption provides immediate interest savings and the elimination of
    any potential dilution on the convertible debentures. Further, on April
    26, 2016, the Trust repaid its maturing 5.95% Series K Debentures with
    an aggregate principal amount totaling $25.0 million.

--  Minimized dilution and improved retention of cash flow - In
    consideration of the objectives of the Plan, effective with the February
    2016 distribution, the Trust revised its monthly distribution to $0.125
    per unit, or $1.50 per unit on an annualized basis. In addition, the
    Trust suspended its distribution reinvestment plan until further notice
    to eliminate dilution and to preserve value for its unitholders.

OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

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SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(unaudited)                                                           As at
                                    ----------------------------------------
($000's except number of properties,   March 31,  December 31,    March 31,
 square footage and percentages)            2016          2015         2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Portfolio
Number of properties(1)                      160           166          174
Investment properties value(1)       $ 6,706,289   $ 6,956,189  $ 7,193,381
Gross leasable area ("GLA")(1)(2)         22,281        23,030       24,124
Comparative Portfolio
Occupancy rate - including committed
 (period-end)(1)(3)                         91.4%         91.4%        92.8%
Occupancy rate - in place (period-
 end)(1)(3)                                 89.4%         89.8%        91.4%
Average in-place and committed net
 rent per square foot (period-
 end)(1)(3)                          $     19.02   $     18.98  $     18.72
Market rent / average in-place and
 committed net rent (%)(1)(3)                0.9%          3.3%         8.1%
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Footnotes: please refer to definitions on page 5.

--  In-place and committed occupancy remain strong: At Q1 2016, our
    comparative portfolio in-place and committed occupancy was stable
    quarter-over-quarter at 91.4% and remains above the industry average of
    87.5% (CBRE, Canadian Market Statistics, First Quarter 2016). We have
    made good progress in securing lease commitments in the more challenging
    markets of Alberta and Toronto suburban. This resulted in a slight
    increase to our in-place and committed occupancy from last quarter in
    those regions. When compared to Q1 2015, our comparative portfolio in-
    place and committed occupancy declined 1.4% from 92.8% to 91.4%. The
    decline was attributed to all regions except for our largest market,
    Toronto downtown, and Edmonton, where occupancy increased by 40 and 70
    basis points, respectively.

--  438 University Avenue, Toronto: The Trust completed a 7-year lease for
    191,000 square feet with a government tenant commencing in December
    2018. This will replace the space being vacated by Loyalty Management in
    October 2017 and will increase the in-place and committed occupancy of
    the building to 99%.

--  Robust leasing activity: Leasing activity remained strong with
    approximately 1.3 million square feet of transactions completed during
    the quarter. We currently have commitments in place for approximately
    79% of our 2016 lease maturities, totaling approximately 3.2 million
    square feet. Of the 3.2 million square feet committed for 2016 lease
    maturities, approximately 2.2 million square feet were renewals. For
    Alberta, comprised of Calgary and Edmonton, we have lease commitments in
    place for approximately 71% of our 2016 lease maturities, amounting to
    approximately 1.0 million square feet.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

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SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(unaudited)                                       For the three months ended
                                       -------------------------------------
($000's except percentages and per unit   March 31, December 31,   March 31,
 amounts)                                      2016         2015        2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating results
Net operating income ("NOI")(4)          $  105,845  $   105,135  $  107,178
Comparative properties NOI(4)(5)         $  108,383  $   108,569  $  109,423
FFO(4)                                   $   78,223  $    79,672  $   77,439
Distributions
Declared distributions(6)                $   49,617  $    63,335  $   60,641
Per unit amounts(7)
Distribution rate(6)                     $     0.44  $      0.56  $     0.56
FFO (basic)(4)                                 0.69         0.70        0.71
FFO (diluted)(4)                               0.68         0.70        0.71
Net asset value(4)                       $    30.31  $     31.59  $    34.98
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Footnotes: please refer to definitions on page 5.

--  Comparative properties NOI: NOI from comparative properties for the
    quarter was $108.4 million, compared to $109.4 million in Q1 2015. We
    continue to see strength in Toronto downtown with comparative properties
    NOI increasing $1.2 million, or 3.4%, modest increases in British
    Columbia, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and Eastern Canada,
    offset by declines in the more challenging markets of Alberta and
    Toronto suburban.

    For the three months ended March 31, 2016, NOI from comparative
    properties decreased on a quarter-over-quarter basis by 0.2%, or $0.2
    million, with decreases mainly in the Alberta and Toronto suburban
    regions, offset by increases in the Toronto downtown and Eastern Canada
    regions. The overall decrease was mainly due to lower occupancy.

--  Basic FFO per unit for the quarter: Basic FFO on a per unit basis for
    the three months ended March 31, 2016 was $0.69, compared with $0.70 in
    Q4 2015 and $0.71 in Q1 2015. The decrease in basic FFO per unit for the
    three months ended March 31, 2016 was primarily a result of the
    disposition of non-core assets for approximately $81.5 million.
    Offsetting this decline were interest rate savings upon refinancing of
    maturing debt and general and administrative expense savings as a result
    of the elimination of the asset management agreement with Dream Asset
    Management Corporation (the "Reorganization"), net of the issuance of
    4.85 million units to Dream Asset Management Corporation as part of the
    Reorganization.

PORTFOLIO ACTIVITY

--  Disposition of non-core assets: During the quarter, the Trust completed
    the sale of four properties, totalling approximately 571,100 square
    feet, for net proceeds of $81.5 million. The net proceeds from the
    dispositions were used primarily to repay debt and invest in our
    properties. Subsequent to quarter end, the Trust further completed the
    sale of five properties located in Vancouver, Oakville and Markham
    totalling approximately 530,600 square feet, for net proceeds of $130.7
    million.


                                                   Mortgages
                             Disposed            discharged/
                                share                assumed
                               of GLA      Sales          by
                 Ownership    (square   price(i)   purchaser            Date
Property               (%)      feet) (in 000's)  (in 000's)        disposed
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2450 Girouard
 St W & 455
 Saint Joseph
 Ave (Intact
 Tower), Saint-                                                 February 26,
 Hyacinthe             100%   231,500  $  35,034  $  (15,123)           2016
8550 Newman
 Blvd.,
 Montreal              100%    66,397      6,589      (5,704)  March 1, 2016
1305 Chemin
 Sainte-Foy,
 Quebec City           100%    37,266      3,058      (2,441)  March 1, 2016
1 Riverside
 Drive, Windsor        100%   235,915     36,820           -  March 10, 2016
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total
 dispositions
 in Q1 2016                   571,078  $  81,501  $  (23,268)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2010 Winston
 Park Drive,
 Oakville               40%    31,655  $   7,890  $   (4,550)  April 1, 2016
4259-4299
 Canada Way,
 Burnaby               100%   119,570     27,625     (14,631) April 27, 2016
960 Quayside
 Drive, New
 Westminster           100%    61,849     19,800      (8,609) April 29, 2016
625 Cochrane
 Drive and
 Valleywood
 Corporate
 Centre,
 Markham               100%   317,566     75,429     (31,861)    May 2, 2016
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total year-to-
 date                       1,101,718  $ 212,245  $  (82,919)
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(i) Sales price reflects gross proceeds net of adjustments and before transaction costs.

CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

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KEY FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE METRICS
(unaudited)                                                           As at
                                  ------------------------------------------
($000's except percentages and        March 31,  December 31,     March 31,
 unit amounts)                             2016          2015          2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financing
Weighted average face interest
 rate (period-end)                         3.96%         4.05%         4.16%
Interest coverage ratio(1)            2.9 times     2.9 times     2.9 times
Net debt-to-adjusted EBITDFV
 (years)(1)                                 7.8           7.7           7.9
Net debt-to-gross book value(1)            48.6%         48.3%         47.6%
Net secured debt-to-gross book
 value(1)                                  41.8%         41.0%         40.5%
Unencumbered assets                $    387,000  $    825,000  $    820,000
Capital (period end)
Total number of units (REIT A and
 LP B Units)                        113,877,197   113,094,461   108,510,096
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Footnotes: please refer to definitions on page 5.

--  Closed $800 million Facility: On March 1, 2016, the Trust entered into
    an $800 million Facility in the form of rolling one-month bankers'
    acceptances ("BA"). The $800 million Facility bears interest at the BA
    rate plus 1.70% or at the bank's prime rate plus 0.70%. With this new
    $800 million Facility in-place, the Trust repaid its $183.5 million term
    loan facility prior to its maturity date of August 15, 2016. As at March
    31, 2016, borrowings on the $800 million Facility approximate $278.5
    million at a face rate of 2.64%.
--  Interest rate savings: The Trust also redeemed its outstanding 5.50%
    Series H Convertible Unsecured Subordinated Debentures, with an
    aggregate principal amount totalling $50.6 million on March 31, 2016.
    The redemption provides immediate interest savings and the elimination
    of any potential dilution on the convertible debentures. On April 26,
    2016, the Trust repaid its maturing 5.95% Series K Debentures with an
    aggregate principal amount totalling $25.0 million.
--  Stable and conservative capital structure: We have continued our
    commitment to maintaining a strong and flexible balance sheet. We ended
    the quarter with a stable net debt-to-gross book value ratio of 48.6%,
    net debt-to-adjusted EBITDFV of 7.8 years, and interest coverage ratio
    of 2.9 times. Our weighted average face rate of interest improved to
    3.96% compared to 4.05% at December 31, 2015 and 4.16% at March 31,
    2015. The Trust's pool of unencumbered assets declined from
    approximately $825 million as at December 31, 2015 to approximately $387
    million as at March 31, 2016, as unencumbered assets were included as
    security in the new $800 million Facility.
--  REIT A units repurchased for cancellation: For the three months ended
    March 31, 2016, the Trust has purchased for cancellation 406,573 REIT A
    units under the NCIB at an average price of $15.95 per unit and a total
    cost of approximately $6.5 million (excluding transaction costs).

INVESTOR PRESENTATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

A slide presentation of the Trust's Plan update is available on our website at www.dreamofficereit.ca.

Information appearing in this news release is a select summary of results. The condensed consolidated financial statements and management's discussion and analysis of the Trust are available at www.dreamofficereit.ca and on www.sedar.com.

Dream Office REIT is an unincorporated, open-ended real estate investment trust. Dream Office REIT is focused on owning, acquiring, leasing and managing well-located, high-quality central business district and suburban office properties. Its portfolio currently comprises approximately 22.3 million square feet of gross leasable area in major urban centres across Canada. Dream Office REIT's portfolio is well diversified by geographic location and tenant mix. For more information, please visit our website at www.dreamofficereit.ca.

FOOTNOTES

(1) Includes investment in joint ventures and excludes redevelopment
properties and assets held for sale at period-end.
(2) In thousands of square feet.
(3) Comparative periods excludes properties sold and properties held for
sale in Q1 2016.
(4) FFO, net asset value, comparative properties NOI, NOI, interest coverage
ratio, net average debt-to-EBITDFV, net debt-to-gross book value, and net
secured debt-to-gross book value are non-GAAP measures used by Management in
evaluating operating performance.  Please refer to the cautionary statements
under the heading "Non-GAAP Measures" in this press release.
(5) Comparative properties NOI (non-GAAP measure) includes NOI of same
properties owned by the REIT in the current and comparative period and
excludes lease termination fees and certain one-time adjustments, property
held for redevelopment, straight-line rent and amortization of lease
incentives.
(6) Effective with the February 2016 distribution, the Trust revised its
monthly distribution to $0.125 per unit or $1.50 per unit on an annualized
basis.
(7) A description of the determination of basic and diluted amounts per unit
can be found in section "Non-GAAP measure and other disclosures" under the
heading "Weighted average number of units" of the MD&A.
(8) Payout ratio (non-GAAP measure) is calculated as the distribution rate
as a percentage of basic FFO per unit.

Non-GAAP Measures

The REIT's condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). In this press release, as a complement to results provided in accordance with IFRS, the REIT discloses and discusses certain non-GAAP financial measures, Funds From Operations (excluding Reorganization) ("FFO (excluding Reorganization))", net asset value, comparative properties Net Operating Income ("NOI"), NOI, interest coverage ratio, net average debt-to-EBITDFV, net debt-to-gross book value, net secured debt-to-gross book value, and payout ratios as well as other measures discussed elsewhere in this release. These non-GAAP measures are not defined by IFRS, do not have a standardized meaning and may not be comparable with similar measures presented by other issuers. The REIT has presented such non-GAAP measures as Management believes they are relevant measures of the REIT's underlying operating performance and debt management. Non-GAAP measures should not be considered as alternatives to net income, cash generated from (utilized in) operating activities or comparable metrics determined in accordance with IFRS as indicators of the REIT's performance, liquidity, cash flow, and profitability. For a full description of these measures and, where applicable, a reconciliation to the most directly comparable measure calculated in accordance with IFRS, please refer to the "Non-GAAP Measures and Other Disclosures" in Dream Office REIT's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

Forward-looking information

This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Dream Office REIT's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general and local economic and business conditions; the financial condition of tenants; our ability to refinance maturing debt; leasing risks, including those associated with the ability to lease vacant space; and interest and currency rate functions. Our objectives and forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions, including that the general economy remains stable, interest rates remain stable, conditions within the real estate market remain consistent, competition for acquisitions remains consistent with the current climate and that the capital markets continue to provide ready access to equity and/or debt. All forward-looking information in this press release speaks as of the date of this press release. Dream Office REIT does not undertake to update any such forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional information about these assumptions and risks and uncertainties is contained in Dream Office REIT's filings with securities regulators, including its latest annual information form and MD&A. These filings are also available at Dream Office REIT's website at www.dreamofficereit.ca.

Contacts:
Dream Office REIT
P. Jane Gavan
Chief Executive Officer
(416) 365-6572
jgavan@dream.ca

Dream Office REIT
Rajeev Viswanathan
Chief Financial Officer
(416) 365-8959
rviswanathan@dream.ca
www.dreamofficereit.ca

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