FORT ATKINSON, WIS., AND COLUMBUS, OHIO — Anheuser-Busch InBev (InBev) has agreed to sell four of its manufacturing plants to Ball Corp. for $577 million. The facilities are controlled by Metal Container Corp., InBev’s U.S. metal packaging subsidiary, and are used to produce cans and lids for soft drink production. The facilities include two can plants located in Fort Atkinson and Columbus, as well as a can plant located in Rome, Ga., and a lid plant located in Gainesville, Fla. As part of the agreement, Ball Corp. will continue to supply InBev with cans and lids from the divested plants. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the year or in the first quarter of 2010. Deutsche Bank AG and Lazard Frères & Co. are serving as financial advisors Sullivan & Cromwell is serving as legal counsel on behalf of InBev.
COPPELL AND CARROLLTON, TEXAS — Duke Realty Corp. has completed three leases totaling 506,035 square feet at three of its Dallas-area industrial properties. In the first transaction, imported furniture and accessories wholesaler Southern Enterprises has leased 154,744 square feet at Freeport IX, located at 600 Freeport Pkwy. in Coppell. This brings occupancy at the building to 50 percent. Mark Miller of NAI Robert Lynn represented Southern Enterprises in lease negotiations. Also in Coppell, Round 2, a computer and computer parts recycler, signed a lease for 115,989 square feet at Freeport III, a 297,903-square-foot building located at 445 S. Royal Lane. Seth Weinstein of Newmark Knight Frank represented Round 2 in lease negotiations. Finally, technology distributor Ingram Micro renewed its lease for 235,302 square feet at Frankford Interchange, a 380,002-square-foot building located at 1809 W. Frankford Rd. within Carrollton’s Trinity Mills industrial park. The property remains fully occupied. Tom Lynn of NAI Robert Lynn, along with Brian Netsky and Mike Morgan of Interstate Tenant Advisors, represented the tenant in lease negotiations. In all three transactions, Duke was represented in-house by Randy Wood of the firm’s Dallas office.
NEWPORT NEWS, VA. — Andon has purchased the 20,000-square-foot Hearth & Home warehouse from James River Associates for $1.5 million. The buyer will occupy a portion of the property, which is located at 11848 and 11850 Canon Blvd. in Newport News. Dawn Griggs and Kenneth Penrose of Thalhimer’s Newport News office brokered the sale.
FRASER, MICH. — Troy, Mich.-based L. Mason Capitani has brokered the sale of three industrial buildings totaling 62,364 square feet. The properties are located at 17300, 17350 and 17400 Malyn Blvd. in Fraser. The buyer, NOVA Industries, plans to expand its plastic injection molding operations into all three buildings. Jason Capitani and Joe DePonio of L. Mason Capitani represented both parties in the transaction. The seller’s name was not released. L. Mason Capitani is an affiliate of CORFAC International.
LEMONT AND WEST CHICAGO, ILL. — Lee & Associates of Illinois has arranged two Chicago-area industrial leases totaling 124,194 square feet. In Lemont, Sweet Holdings LLC leased 67,928 square feet of space at 19W661 101st St. Jim Planey and Jeff Janda of Lee & Associates represented the tenant. The landlord, First Industrial Realty Trust, was represented by Jim Estus of Colliers Bennett & Kahnweiler. In addition, Norix leased 56,266 square feet of warehouse space at 1800 Hawthorne in West Chicago. Planey and Janda represented the landlord, LaGrou Distribution, in the lease negotiations. Michael Marconi of Epic Realty Partners represented the tenant. Terms of both leases were not disclosed.
PLANO, TEXAS — UGL Equis has arranged a 30,985-square-foot lease at 801 Klein Rd. in Plano. The tenant, Underwriters Laboratories, is relocating its HVAC product testing facility to the new space from its previous location at 2805 Plano Pkwy., also in Plano. The warehouse and office facility will be fully operational within a year. Stuart Smith of UGL Equis’ Dallas office represented the tenant. The landlord, Weingarten Realty Investors, was represented in-house by Matt Smith.
ROGERS, MINN. — CB Richard Ellis Realty Trust has acquired a 335,400-square-foot, Class A warehouse, located at 13201 Wilfred Lane in Rogers. The facility is currently leased to Walgreens as one of the company’s distribution centers. Constructed in 1999, the building was renovated in 2008 to accommodate Walgreens’ package conveyor system; an air conditioning system was also installed in approximately 43,000 square feet of the warehouse. Walgreens is leasing the building through 2018. The property contains expansion capability up to an additional 75,000 square feet. It is situated within Diamond Lake Park, which currently has a 94 percent occupancy rate. The acquisition price and the seller were not disclosed.
ASHBURN, VA. — Glasstech has signed a lease with Merritt Properties for 20,747 square feet of warehouse and office space in Ashburn. The property is located at 44601 Guilford Drive. Steve Shaw and Keith Wallace served as in-house representation for Merritt Properties.
BOLINGBROOK, ILL. — Morgan/Harbour Construction Co. has completed the corporate headquarters for Saratoga Food Specialists in Bolingbrook. The manufacturer of spices and food flavorings is relocating to the 150,249-square-foot space, which is located at 771 W. Crossroads Pkwy., and consolidating from several existing area locations. The project features 20,000 square feet of offices, R&D space, locker-room facilities, and a common dining and kitchen area. The warehouse component features 30-foot clear ceiling heights and 25 loading docks. The tenant space is part of Crossroads I, a 269,662-square-foot multi-tenant building developed by Corum Real Estate Group.
ADDISON, ILL. — Whit Heitman and Samuel Badger Jr. of Paine/Wetzel•ONCOR International have negotiated an industrial sale on behalf of Earth Friendly Products, which has purchased a 100,000-square-foot facility located at 111 S. Rohlwing Rd. in Addison. The buyer, which specializes in developing and producing earth-friendly cleaning supplies, acquired the property to serve as its warehouse/distribution facility. John Gazzola of Entre Commercial Realty represented the seller, Minutemen International.