Investors Real Estate Trust Announces Completion of Public Offering of 6,013,300 Common Shares of Beneficial Interest

MINOT, N.D., April 5, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Investors Real Estate Trust (NYSE:IRET) (the "Company"), a self-advised real estate investment trust that owns and operates multi-family residential properties and commercial office, medical, industrial and retail properties located primarily in the upper Midwest, today announced the completion of an underwritten public offering of 6,013,300 common shares of beneficial interest, no par value per share, including 263,300 shares issued pursuant to the underwriters' over-allotment option, at a public offering price of $9.25 per share, for net proceeds of approximately $53.0 million, after deducting the underwriting discount and other estimated offering-related costs.

The Company intends to contribute the net proceeds of the offering to its operating partnership, which will use the net proceeds for general business purposes, which may include acquiring, developing, renovating, expanding or improving land and income-producing real estate properties in accordance with the Company's investment strategy and reducing its debt.

BMO Capital Markets and Baird served as the joint book-running managers for the offering. D.A. Davidson & Co. and J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC acted as co-managers.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of or any solicitation of an offer to buy, these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Investors Real Estate Trust

Investors Real Estate Trust is an equity real estate investment trust. Its business consists of owning and operating income-producing multi-family residential and commercial properties located primarily in the upper Midwest. Investors Real Estate Trust is based in Minot, North Dakota, and has additional offices in Minneapolis and St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements, including estimates of offering-related expenses, are based upon the Company's expectations, but these statements are not guaranteed to occur. Investors should not place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements.

CONTACT: Diane Bryantt
         Chief Financial Officer
         1400 31st Ave SW, Suite 60
         PO Box 1988
         Minot, North Dakota 58702-1988
         phone: 701.837.4738
         fax: 701.838.7785
         email: dbryantt@iret.com
         www.iret.com