Income Trusts & REITs
As the tax-free holiday on income distributed to unitholders of publicly-traded income trusts ends in 2011, management and trustees of income trusts must determine whether to convert to a corporation or pursue a sale, merger, MBO or spin-out transaction, conversion to a U.S. master limited partnership, restructuring (to improve tax efficiency) or another strategy. Bennett Jones provides authoritative counsel to management and trustees in navigating the complex strategic, tax, financial, market and legal considerations to be taken into account in making and implementing a decision. We also offer a broad range of expertise to other interested parties on acquisitions, financings or other transactions involving trusts.
Bennett Jones has extensive experience in advising clients with respect to transactions involving income trusts, royalty trusts and REITs, including conversions to and from corporations, tax-efficient reorganizations, domestic and cross-border acquisitions, and corporate finance and lending transactions. Our clients include publicly-traded trusts, special committees of independent trustees, acquirors, underwriters, financial advisors, creditors and other stakeholders. With a multi-disciplinary team of lawyers drawn from our mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, tax, employment and other practice areas, we offer a full range of legal services and solution-based advice to participants and stakeholders in the income trust sector.
Please click on "Publications" above to review our updates on developments in the income trust sector.