TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dream Unlimited Corp. (TSX: DRM) (“Dream”, “the Company” or “we”) announces the launch of the Dream Impact Fund (the “Fund”) for private investors.
Dream is pleased to announce that in less than six months of fundraising, all conducted virtually, our private capital business has successfully secured $136 million of commitments for the first close of Dream Impact Fund, one of the world’s first open-ended funds dedicated exclusively to impact investing. Commitments were obtained from a broad investor base, comprising leading financial institutions, money managers and family offices. These include Oxford Properties Group, Scotiabank, TD, 1832 Asset Management on behalf of Dynamic Funds and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce as well as Dream Unlimited Corp., together with three family offices. Scotia Capital served as an advisor to the Fund.
“Dream has a great track record of developing and operating real estate to make communities better while achieving desirable financial returns,” said Michael Cooper, Founder of the Dream Group of Companies. “Impact investing is a strategic priority at Dream, an investment class where we have our highest conviction and now many investors are making substantial investments with the same purpose. We are committed to being a global leader in this space and Dream is well positioned to provide investors with access to double-bottom line investment opportunities and irreplaceable projects.”
The Fund’s impact strategy is consistent with Dream’s three impact verticals, which are aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (“UN SDGs”). The verticals include:
- Affordable and Attainable Housing: Investments in mixed-income communities that are transit oriented, located close to employment opportunities and offer a substantively lower cost of living relative to market;
- Inclusive Communities: Creating communities that generate positive social outcomes for under-supported groups, taking action to provide equal access to homes and opportunities for people who have traditionally faced barriers to access; and
- Resource Efficiency: Developing sustainable real estate that optimizes energy use, limits greenhouse gas emissions and reduces water use and waste.
“Whether it’s building the first zero carbon high-rise towers in Canada, or investing alongside our industry partners to effect positive change, Oxford is committed to ensuring our investments create social, environmental and economic impact for the benefit of our communities”, said Michael Turner, President of Oxford Properties. “Our commitment to the Dream Impact Fund will deliver these positive outcomes while generating long-term, stable returns for our pension stakeholders.”
Dream has contributed four high-quality, active development assets with strong impact qualities that are expected to generate attractive financial returns to form the Fund’s seed portfolio. This includes Dream’s interest in the Indigenous Hub (Canary Block 10), Block 8 in the West Don Lands, the Federal Government building under construction at Zibi and Dream’s interest in Zibi Community Utility, the system created in partnership with Hydro Ottawa to provide net zero heating and cooling to the entire Zibi project. Going forward, the Fund will continue to target investments in real estate properties and projects that we believe will have the ability to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside market-rate financial returns.
About Dream Unlimited Corp.
Dream is a leading developer of exceptional office and residential assets in Toronto, owns stabilized income generating assets in both Canada and the U.S., and has an established and successful asset management business, inclusive of $10 billion of assets under management across three Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") listed trusts and numerous partnerships. We also develop land and residential assets in Western Canada. Dream expects to generate more recurring income in the future as its urban development properties are completed and held for the long term. Dream has a proven track record for being innovative and for our ability to source, structure and execute on compelling investment opportunities.
