BOSTON — CBRE Group has acquired CB Richard Ellis-N.E. Partners LP (CBRE/New England), a long-standing joint venture with Whittier Partners Group. The acquisition price was not disclosed. The CBRE/New England leadership team and professionals will join CBRE immediately with the CBRE/New England brand remaining through the end of the year. “We felt the timing was right for this transition to better serve our clients and our employees,” says Andy Hoar, president and co-managing partner at CBRE/New England. “Joining forces with CBRE and our new colleagues will ensure CBRE’s market leadership in the New England market for the foreseeable future.” CBRE/New England has seven offices throughout New England including Boston, Hartford, New Haven, Providence, Portsmouth, Manchester and Portland.
NEW YORK CITY — Moody’s Corp. (NYSE: MCO) has agreed to acquire all outstanding shares of Reis Inc. (NASDAQ: REIS) in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $278 million. Reis is a provider of commercial real estate (CRE) data. The acquisition expands Moody’s Analytics’ network of data and analytics providers in the CRE space, including recent investments in start-ups that apply innovative approaches and new technologies to source data and deliver tools to the market. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Moody’s will commence a tender offer to acquire all issued and outstanding shares of Reis common stock for $23 per share in cash. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Moody’s expects to complete the acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2018.
NEW YORK CITY — Two former Eastern Consolidated principals have launched a commercial division at Compass in the firm’s New York metropolitan region. Adelaide Polsinelli and Ronda Rogovin will help the residential brokerage firm build an investment sales team, following Eastern’s closure in July. Compass Commercial will focus on providing technology, marketing and support to help agents grow their business in the commercial real estate sector. The team also includes agents Mitchell Goldstick and Trystan Polsinelli.
MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Lowe’s Cos. Inc. (NYSE: LOW) has announced it will close all 99 of its Orchard Supply Hardware stores by Feb. 1. Founded in San Jose, Calif., in 1931 and acquired by Lowe’s in 2013, Orchard Supply Hardware operates locations in California, Oregon and Florida. Lowe’s is closing the stores to focus on its core home improvement business. “Our strategic reassessment is ongoing as we evaluate the productivity of our real estate portfolio and non-retail business investments,” said Marvin Ellison, president and CEO of Lowe’s, in an earnings statement. “While it was a necessary business decision to exit Orchard Supply Hardware, decisions that impact our people are never easy.” In addition to shuttering Orchard Supply stores, Lowe’s said it plans to “aggressively” tighten its store inventory, reducing lower-performing stock and increasing the depth of high-selling items. Mooresville-based Lowe’s increased sales 7.1 percent, year-over-year, in the second quarter of 2018. However, the company adjusted its full-year earnings and profits forecast to account for closing costs. The Orchard Supply closure is expected to cost the company between $390 million and $475 million. The company lowered the forecast for its full-year increase in sales from 5 percent to 4.5 percent. Store …
HUTTO, TEXAS — Paradigm Metals, a provider of precision machining and sheet metal fabrication, will relocate its headquarters from Pflugerville to Hutto, a northern suburb of Austin. Paradigm Metals expects to invest about $10 million to acquire and develop a new facility within Innovation Business Park, a 72-acre development that broke ground in 2017. Construction of the new facility, which will initially house 250 employees, is slated to begin later this year. Paradigm Metals plans to begin relocating to the new facility in 2019.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Grandbridge Real Estate Capital has promoted Matthew Rocco to president. Rocco will continue to serve as national production manager, overseeing the company’s national loan origination platform, but will take on additional responsibilities from a corporate perspective in his new role. In addition to overseeing Grandbridge’s loan origination efforts, Rocco will be responsible for the company’s Agency Underwriting (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA) and Balance Sheet Closing groups. Rocco joined Grandbridge in 1998. He is a member of the company’s Board of Managers, senior leadership team and risk committee, as well as a member of BB&T’s senior leadership team. “Matt brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his new role,” said Thomas Dennard, chairman of the board and CEO of Grandbridge. “His leadership skills and commercial real estate finance background are tremendous assets to the company as we continue to grow and expand both our loan product offerings and staffing nationwide.” In addition to Rocco’s appointment, Grandbridge has promoted Joe Lovell to chief operating officer, Dan Husak as head of business systems and corporate operations and John Boone as senior vice president and head of asset management. John Randall will also be taking on an expanded role, …
PLANO, TEXAS — CAVA Group Inc., a privately held restaurant group specializing in Mediterranean cuisine, will acquire Zoës Kitchen for approximately $300 million. The Plano-based fast casual chain has about 260 restaurant locations throughout the country. Under the terms of the agreement, shareholders of Zoës Kitchen will receive $12.75 in cash for each share of common stock, a premium of approximately 33 percent over the closing share price on August 16, 2018 (the stock price opened at $13.30 per share on Tuesday, August 21). The transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) has appointed Tom McCormick as its new CEO. McCormick, an industrial specialist based out of Irvine, Calif., has been an SIOR member for 33 years and has served as SIOR global past president, SIOR foundation past president, his local chapter’s past president and most recently as SIOR’s operations director on the board of directors. He is the first SIOR designee to hold an executive position within the organization. McCormick joins SIOR from Rockefeller Group International, where he served as senior vice president of national accounts before retiring a little over a year ago. Prior to that role, he held positions at Coldwell Banker Commercial and Panattoni. “I am thrilled that Tom has agreed to take on the challenge as our new leader,” said Del Markward, SIOR 2018 global president, in a statement. “His commitment and service to SIOR has been demonstrated across the board. Tom’s management skills and depth of knowledge make him a solid mentor and role model for our members, staff and the industry as a whole.” Founded in October 1940, SIOR is a Washington, D.C.-based organization comprising nearly 3,100 industrial and office real estate specialists. The broker network …
CHICAGO — Aries Conlon Capital has rebranded to Mag Mile Capital and is relocating its Chicago headquarter offices from River North to the 84th floor of Willis Tower. Rushi Shah will continue to serve as principal and CEO and retain the same sales team, pipeline and national commercial mortgage and investment banking platform. Shah bought out his partners’ interest in the company to become majority owner. Previous partners include Neil Freeman and Sean Conlon of Aries Capital LLC and Conlon and Co., respectively. The name change is a nod to Chicago’s Magnificent Mile on North Michigan Avenue.
CAMP HILL PA. AND BOISE, IDAHO — Rite Aid Corp. (NYSE: RAD) announced Wednesday it has called off its previously announced merger with Boise-based grocery chain Alberstons Cos. The $24 billion deal, first announced in February, would have allowed Albertsons to go public. Under the terms of the transaction, Rite Aid shareholders would have held a 29 percent stake in the combined company. The integrated company would have operated about 4,900 locations, 4,350 pharmacy counters and 320 clinics across 38 states and Washington, D.C. “While we believe in the merits of the combination with Albertsons, we have heard the views expressed by our stockholders and are committed to moving forward and executing our strategic plan as a standalone company,” said John Standley, chairman and CEO of Rite Aid, in a prepared statement. The merger has faced pushback from a number of stockholders and investors in the months leading up to a shareholder vote over the deal, which was originally scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 9, but has since been called off. In June, Highfields Capital Management, an investment management firm that holds approximately 47 million Rite Aid shares, said it would vote against the merger, claiming it did not offer compelling value …