+ Alberta to get new area code in 2016 . . . Area Code 825 (current codes 403, 587 and 780 expected to run out of numbers by July 2016)
+ AltaGas Ltd. and Idemistu Kosan Co. Ltd. have applied to NEB for an LNG export license … to be called TRITON LNG LP, to ship from Kitimat or Prince Rupert …
+ Brookfield Office Properties broke ground on its $1.3 billion Brookfield Place project; 56 storey, 1.4 million ft2 building will be tallest in Calgary; 1 million ft2 pre-leased to Cenovus
+ Canada Lands announced they will partner with Embassy Bosa for town-centre concept development on the former Currei Barracks lands
+ Canadian First Financial Group Inc. completed its acquisition of MonCana Bank of Canada
+ Carl Icahn increased his stake in Talisman Energy from 5.97% to 6.96%
+ ConocoPhillips got NEB approval for the first horizontal fracturing in Northwest Territories; two wells near Norman Wells
+ Edgefront Realty Corp. agreed to acquire 10 industrial properties (AB, SK, BC & NT) from RTL-Westcan Limited Partnership in a sale/leaseback transaction; REIT conversion planned to coincide with closing
+ Empire Company Limited closed sale of 46 theatres (397 screens) in transactions with Cineplex Inc. and Landmark Cinemas; proceeds $248 million
+ Enbridge Inc. to develop $1.6 billion Wood Buffalo Extension Pipeline for Fort Hills Partners and Suncor Energy Oil Sands Limited Partnership
+ Enbridge Inc. to develop $1.4 billion Norlite Diluent Pipeline to serve Fort Hills project
+ Finance Minister Flaherty promised a balanced budget … and surplus for 2015
+ Fort Hills oilsands project ($15.1 billion/180,000 barrels/day) going forward – JV between Suncor Energy and Shell
+ Government of Alberta released updated 2013 Flood Statistics; more than $170 million in disaster assistance provided to 14 municipalities & 2 First Nations to allow them to begin rebuilding – over 9,100 Albertans have applied for the disaster recovery assistance
+ Government of Albertaintroduced Bill 27 – establishing flood mitigation steps in law, restricting development in areas deemed floodways and funding mitigation steps
+ Government of Albertaintroduced Bill 31 – establishing a new agency – Alberta Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Agency (AEMERA)
+ Royal Dutch Shell plc announced it will go forward with its 80,000 barrels/day Carmon Creek project – thermal in situ project in Peace River area
+ Sears Canada selling leases back to Cadillac Fairview et al, 5 locations (including Toronto’s Eaton Centre in a $400 million transaction
+ Sea Dragon Energy Inc. closed its sale of Kom Ombo concession for US$6 million
+ Senate-gate continues between Senators (Duffy, Wallin and Brazeau) facing suspension over improper expense claims or expulsion in tug-o-war of words with the PMO (Prime Minister’s Office); hard to tell which scandal tops which … stay tuned as ‘what the prime minister knew and when he knew’ it shakes up Senate reform issues like never before
+ Servpro Cleaning merged with GDI Integrated Facility Services Inc.; will operate as Servpro Cleaning, a GDI Company
+ SNC-Lavalin put its AltaLink unit on the market, seeking $3.5 billion
+ Temple Hotels Inc. closed its $42 million acquisition of Acclaim Hotel
+ TransForce Inc. agreed to acquire Clarke Transport Inc. and Clarke Road Transport Inc.
+ Trez Capital Senior Mortgage Investment Corporation and Trez Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation - taking steps to become public company
+ U.S. mortgage firm Fannie Mae suing 9 banks for LIBOR rigging; seeking $800 million
+ Whitecap Resources Inc. acquiring Alberta Cardium and Saskatchewan Viking plays; $90 million & $78 million
FINANCINGS - proposed & closed
+ Agent Energy Trust closed $60 million convertible debt financing
+ American Hotel Income Properties REIT closed $40.3 million equity financing
+ CN is on the market to raise US$600 million in medium term debt
+ CT REIT closed $39,525,000 over-allotment of its recent IPO
+ DualEx Energy International Inc. closed $737,960 tranche of its common share & warrants offering
+ High North Resources Inc. closed $5,229,814 financing
+ MEG Energy Corp. is on the market to raise $209.2 million sr. debt financing
+ Peyto Exploration & Development Corp. is on the market to raise $120 million in new debt
+ Sahara Energy Ltd. is on the market to raise $600,000 in equity
+ Shoreline Energy Corp. closed $3,138,000 debt financing
+ Starlight U.S. Multi-Family (No.2) Core Fund is on the market to raise US$ 22 million in equity
+ Tricon Capital Group Inc. closed US$40 million financing
+ Twin Butte Energy Ltd. closed $70 million financing
INTERESTING REAL ESTATE NEWS OTHER PLACES
+ BRB Real Estate Investment Trust closed $14 million portfolio purchase of 3 buildings(Longueuil and Sherbrooke, QC)
+ First Gulf Corporation broke ground on its development on King St. East in Toronto – The Globe and Mail Centre; 500,000 sq. ft. LEED Gold project, 17 storey office tower. The Globe and Mail newspaper will occupy 130,000 sq. ft.. Completion in 2016
+ Capital Hotel Limited Partnership (Larco company), acquired the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa
+ One World Trade Centre in New York moves along toward occupancy; 104 storey building will receive first tenants in late 2014; they opened a show suite on the 63rd floor … base rent is $75 ft2/yr.
FACILITYCalgary current week data posted every Tuesday morning
CONVERSATIONS
FACILITYCalgary Publisher Mark Kolke visits with interesting Calgarians - to catch a glimpse of what drives them, how they see the world and what they see in Calgary's future - and shares what caught his attention.
This week's conversation with Vic Tucker, Tucker FX Photograhy
Last week's conversation with Ken King, Pres. & CEO, Calgary Flames Hockey Club
+ REITrag .. monthly newsletter and website archive – everything that is happening in the REIT industry, of interest to anyone investing in or doing business with REITs
+ OILSANDS Bulletin– monthly newsletter, website archive, employment marketplace for oilsands news, technology, employment and much more
SHAKERS AND MOVERS
+ Brian Porter to Pres. & CEO @ Scotiabank, replacing Rick Waugh who retired
+ David Campbell to COO @ Securefact Transaction Services Inc.
+ Jeff Funtasz to Revional VP Advertisting, Prairie Region @ Postmedia Network
+ John Chen to Interim CEO @ BlackBerry Ltd.
+ Kenny Watt to VP Global Sales and Services, McCoy Global @ McCoy Corporation
+ Paul Johnson to Pres. @ Petrotranz Inc.
+ Raymond Floyd to Pres. & CEO @ Plasco Energy Group Inc.
+ Robert Wright to CFO @ Morguard North American Residential REIT
+ Ron Roling to VP Technical and Product Dev. , McCoy Global @ McCoy Corporation
+ Scott Chandler to Pres.&CEO, Canada Operations @ Cushman & Wakefield
+ Encana Corp. slashing workforce by 20%, spinning off royalty producing properties into a separate company via an IPO; to focus on 5 North American plays in 2014
+ Ironhorse Oil & Gas Inc. agreed to sell its LeonLake interests for $7.2 million
+ Newfoundland and Labrador put a hold on fracking – declined permit application for activity near Gros Morne National Park; reviewing their regulations
+ Plazacorp Retail Properties Ltd. to convert to REIT structure; will be Plaza Retail REIT
+ SAC Capital Advisors LP hedge fund fined US$1.2 billion over insider trading irregularities
+ Sobeys Inc. closed its acquisition of Canada Safeway, $5.8 billion, purchase, added 29,000 Safeway employees, 70 Canada Safeway properties spun of to Crombie REIT
+ Alberta flood relief continues to go slowly; Federal bill to top $3 billion (no funds advanced yet) so Alberta will be carrying the costs for some time
+ Bow River bank restoration/stabilization work underway at 6 floor ravaged locations
+ FortCalgary announced $36 million plan to refurbish the site and facilities in a 3-stage process; first phase is $21.31 million ($8 million committed by Prov/Fed gov’t, $2.85 million from the city),FortCalgary will raise the rest
