Company News

Brookfield Asset Management Offers to Take Brookfield Property Partners Private for $5.9B

by Taylor Williams January 4, 2021

NEW YORK CITY — Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM) has submitted a non-binding proposal to acquire all outstanding shares of common stock of Brookfield Property Partners (NASDAQ: BPY), which would effectively take its commercial real estate division private. Brookfield Property Partners has about 357.6 million outstanding shares. Brookfield Asset Management’s bid to acquire those shares from public investors at $16.50 per share gives the deal a total price tag of $5.9 billion. The $16.50 per share price represents premiums of 14.9 percent and 14 percent, respectively, over the closing price of the BPY units on the Toronto Stock Exchange and NASDAQ on Dec. 31. This price also reflects premiums of 8.9 percent and 29.4 percent, respectively, over the 30-day and 180-day volume-weighted average prices of the BPY shares on NASDAQ. Brookfield Asset Management’s proposal does not include the purchase of shares of preferred stock or other securities of Brookfield Property Partners or its subsidiaries. Under the terms of the deal, for each share they hold, BPY shareholders can elect to receive $16.50 in cash, 0.4 BAM Class A shares or 0.66 of BPY preferred shares. Should the proposed transaction go forward, Brookfield intends to file a transaction statement and other …

January 4, 2021

Private Equity Firm Thoma Bravo Acquires Texas-Based RealPage for $10.2B

by Taylor Williams December 22, 2020

CHICAGO AND RICHARDSON, TEXAS — Chicago-based private equity firm Thoma Bravo has acquired RealPage (NASDAQ: RP), the Richardson, Texas-based provider of property management software, in a deal valued at $10.2 billion. The price tag includes the assumption of the debt of RealPage, which was founded in 1998 and serves owners worldwide that have more than 19 million apartments in their combined portfolios. Under the terms of the agreement, RealPage stockholders will receive $88.75 in cash per share of RealPage common stock upon closing of the transaction. The purchase price represents a premium of 30.8 percent over RealPage’s closing stock price of $67.83 on Dec. 18, 2020. The stock price of RealPage opened at $87.65 per share on Tuesday, Dec. 22, up from $53.65 a year ago. According to The Wall Street Journal, software providers have performed well during the pandemic as more companies have pivoted to digital marketing of goods and services. As a technology specialist within the private equity space, Thoma Bravo was drawn to this operational trend. RealPage CEO Steve Winn echoed this notion in an interview with the Journal, saying, “we were able to do quite well during the pandemic because there was a rush by our industry to go …

December 22, 2020

Company News Texas

Marcus & Millichap Acquires Houston-Based Financial Intermediary LMI Capital

by Taylor Williams December 22, 2020

HOUSTON — Marcus & Millichap has acquired LMI Capital, a Houston-based financial intermediary and Real Estate Capital Alliance (RECA) member. LMI Capital, which was founded in 1999, arranges debt and equity across all property types throughout Texas and the greater Southwest region. The 10-member LMI team has completed more than $1.2 billion in transactions over the last three years. Most recently, LMI principal Brandon Brown arranged a $29 million bridge loan for the acquisition of a 460-unit multifamily asset located in the Northshore/Woodforest submarket of Houston. The loan was structured with a floating interest rate and three years of interest-only payments.

December 22, 2020

Company News New York Northeast

Peloton Agrees to Acquire Fitness Equipment Maker Precor, Two Manufacturing Facilities for $420M

by Taylor Williams December 22, 2020

NEW YORK CITY — Interactive fitness company Peloton (NASDAQ: PTON) has entered into an agreement to acquire Precor, a producer of fitness equipment based in metro Seattle, for approximately $420 million. Under the terms of the deal, which is expected to close in early 2021, Peloton will also acquire two of Precor’s equipment manufacturing facilities totaling 625,000 square feet in North Carolina and Washington. Peloton’s stock price eclipsed $160 per share in early trading on Tuesday, Dec. 22, which represents a 13 percent increase from its closing price of $141.79 per share on Monday, Dec. 21, and a more than 400 percent increase from its mark of $30.15 per share a year ago.

December 22, 2020

Company News Florida Restaurant Retail Southeast

Darden Restaurants Reports 19.4 Percent Decline in Fiscal Second-Quarter Revenue

by Alex Tostado December 18, 2020

ORLANDO, FLA. — Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: DRI) has reported a 19.4 percent decline in total year-over-year revenues during its fiscal year 2021 second quarter, the company said Friday. Orlando-based Darden’s second quarter ended Nov. 29 with $1.66 billion in total revenue compared with $2.06 billion in fiscal second-quarter 2020. Darden owns restaurant brands including Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Yard House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze and Eddie V’s. Darden reports that Olive Garden year-over-year sales dipped 19 percent to $829.5 million. LongHorn Steakhouse sales fell 8.9 percent in that same time period to $407.4 million. As of Nov. 29, Darden operated 1,818 restaurants.

December 18, 2020

California Company News Retail Western

Court Approves Guitar Center’s Exit from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

by Jeff Shaw December 18, 2020

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIF. — Just over three weeks after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Guitar Center appears ready to already emerge from the process. In its original filings, the Westlake Village-based musical instrument and supplies retailer reported its business of instrument purchases, rentals, repairs and music lessons suffered amid the upheaval stemming from government-mandated shutdowns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At a virtual hearing Thursday, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Huennekens, based in Richmond serving the Eastern District of Virginia, approved Guitar Center’s bankruptcy plan, according to Bloomberg. The retailer expects to emerge from the Chapter 11 process before the end of next week, reducing its debt load by around $800 million. The company worked out a restructuring support agreement that includes new financing from existing creditors, $165 million in new equity from owner Ares Management Corp., Carlyle Group and Brigade Capital Management, Bloomberg reports. Recently sold bonds will also help pay for the move. The judge noted that creditors will still be paid in full as a result of the new structure, and creditors unanimously supported the deal. No plans were released regarding Guitar Center’s 297 brick-and-mortar locations. When it originally filed for bankruptcy, the company also hired A&G …

December 18, 2020

Acquisitions California Company News New Jersey Northeast Retail Top Stories Western

Bed Bath & Beyond Agrees to Sell Cost Plus World Market to Private Equity Firm, Including 243 Stores

by John Nelson December 15, 2020

UNION, N.J. AND LOS ANGELES — Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) has agreed to sell Cost Plus World Market, a specialty retail chain that sells home furniture, décor and international food products. The buyer, Los Angeles-based private equity firm Kingswood Capital Management, expects to continue operations under the Cost Plus World Market banner. The purchase agreement includes 243 brick-and-mortar locations, the World Market digital business, two distribution facilities and a corporate office located in Alameda, Calif. Both companies have agreed to a transition services agreement (TSA) following the close of the transaction to help ensure business continuity. The sales price was not disclosed. Cost Plus World Market opened its first store in 1958 on San Francisco’s famous Fisherman’s Wharf. Today the company operates stores in 39 states coast to coast, as well as one in Washington, D.C. Bed Bath & Beyond acquired Cost Plus World Market in 2012. The transaction is scheduled to close prior to the end of Bed Bath & Beyond’s fiscal year on Feb. 27, 2021, and is subject to customary closing conditions. Advisors to Bed Bath & Beyond on this transaction included B. Riley Securities Inc. and Bryan Cave. In addition to the sale …

December 15, 2020

Company News Texas

Reports: Oracle to Relocate Headquarters from Silicon Valley to Austin

by Taylor Williams December 14, 2020

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Multinational computer software firm Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) will relocate its headquarters from Redwood Shores, Calif., to Austin, according to reports from multiple outlets including Business Insider and The Austin-American Statesman. Oracle, which has been based in Silicon Valley since its founding in 1977, opened its new Austin campus in 2018. Oracle’s commitment to Austin is the latest move by major tech firms to target the state capital for relocation or other sizable investment, following Tesla’s summer announcement to open a $1.1 billion manufacturing plant in Austin. Oracle’s stock price opened at $60.83 per share on Monday, Dec. 14, up from $54.60 per share a year ago.

December 14, 2020

California Company News Hospitality Western

Market Cap of Airbnb Skyrockets to $86.5B in First Day of Trading on Nasdaq Exchange

by Amy Works December 11, 2020

SAN FRANCISCO — Yesterday, Airbnb (NASDAQ: ABNB) soared in valuation during its first day of trading with initial shares priced at $68 for the San Francisco-based home-rental platform. The company’s shares skyrocketed to 113 percent above the initial offering, closing at $144.47. The company’s market capitalization reached $86.5 billion, with its offering raising $3.5 billion — making it the biggest IPO year-to-date. “Airbnb’s strong debut come as little surprise in view of the enormous valuations accorded to anything ‘tech,’” says professor John Colley, associate dean at Warwick Business School and an expert on IPOs. “After all, the company is nearer to profit than many recent and current IPOs.” Prior to its IPO, Airbnb filed multiple updated S-1s with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in which the company announced plans to offer 51.9 million shares at $44 to $50 per share then increased its offering to $56 to $60 per share. The 13-year-old company has experienced growth since its founding with gross booking value (GBV) topping $38 billion in 2019, representing a 29 percent growth from $29.4 billion in 2018.

December 11, 2020

California Company News Restaurant Retail Western

DoorDash Stock Soars 86 Percent on Market Debut, Closes at $60.2B

by Amy Works December 11, 2020

SAN FRANCISCO — DoorDash, a technology-based food delivery company, debuted on the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday, Dec. 9 offering its initial public offering at $102 per share, which was above its previous range of $90 to $95. The company closed its first day of trading with an 86 percent increase in pricing to $189.51, for a total valuation of $60.2 billion, or 17 times revenue. The San Francisco-based door-to-door delivery service focuses primarily on restaurant deliveries, which resulted in a 268 percent revenue growth in the third quarter, up to $879 million, from the previous year. Additionally, during the first nine months of 2020, DoorDash’s order volume soared to $16.5 billion, from $5.5 billion last year. According to the company’s prospectus, it has 390,000 merchants on its platform, ranging from fast-food chains like Chick-fil-A, Chipotle and McDonald’s to upscale restaurants that have been forced to rely on delivery services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company has rapidly expanded its business and services to meet the needs of customers during the pandemic and has implemented practices and strategies that reduced its losses, resulting in profits on every order.

December 11, 2020

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