Target Canada's stores hit the auction block this week

Target Canada is preparing to auction off dozens of store leases this coming week as its court-supervised windup continues.

``We're looking forward to next week's auction,'' said Tracy Sandler, partner at Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, which represents Target.

``We think it's going to be robust and we're looking forward to finalizing and entering into transactions that will let us maximize the value of our portfolio.''

The U.S. retailer announced in January it would shut all 133 of its Canadian stores, only two years after its highly anticipated launch north of the border.

The discount retailer said underwhelming sales figures indicated its Canadian locations would not be profitable for several years.

In March, Target struck a deal to sell 11 properties to Oxford Properties Corp. and Ivanhoe Cambridge for $138 million before taxes.

Sandler says it's possible that a number of other landlords will decide to buy back their properties during the upcoming auction.

But no bidders came forward for 55 other properties by the deadline for next week's auction and they have been returned to their landlords. Target is also terminating its lease agreements for 19 other facilities–a combination of offices and warehouses.

The auction will be held next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the Osler's Toronto offices, according to a filing with the Ontario Superior Court.