Top Stories

Ponte Gadea Acquires 800,000 SF Amazon-Leased Office Block in Seattle for $740M

by David Cohen March 27, 2019

SEATTLE — Real estate investment firm Ponte Gadea has acquired Troy Block, an 800,000-square-foot, Amazon-occupied office complex in Seattle. Although the price was not disclosed, The Puget Sound Business Journal was first to report it at $740 million. The full-block, two-building property is located at 300 Boren Avenue North in the South Lake Union district of Seattle. Miami-based Ponte Gadea is led by Spanish billionaire Amancio Ortega, a fashion mogul whose company is parent to retail brand Zara. Ortega’s net worth is $67 billion, making him the fifth richest person in the world, according to Bloomberg. Seattle-based developer Touchstone purchased the 2.5-acre property for $18.4 million in 2011 and built two L-shaped office buildings on the block, according to The Seattle Times. Amazon leases the entire office portion of the project, which opened in 2016 and 2017. Ground-floor retail at the development also includes an Amazon Go store, Maslow’s restaurant and Cascade Coffee Works. Mark Gibson, Stephen Conley, Manny De Zarraga, Michael Leggett, Gerry Rohm, Coleman Benedict, Kevin Freels and Logan Greer of HFF represented the seller, a partnership between USAA Real Estate and Touchstone, in the transaction. This transaction represents the largest single asset trade by volume in Seattle history, …

March 27, 2019

Acquisitions California Florida Illinois Industrial Minnesota Top Stories Wisconsin

WPT Industrial REIT Acquires U.S. Logistics Portfolio for $226M

by John Nelson March 26, 2019

TORONTO — WPT Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust, a publicly traded company based in Toronto, has increased its U.S. holdings by agreeing to acquire a 13-property logistics portfolio for approximately US$226 million. The industrial buildings total 2.2 million square feet and are situated in infill submarkets across the United States. The property names and addresses were not disclosed, but WPT says the portfolio will increase its scale in Chicago, Milwaukee and Minneapolis. The portfolio also includes assets in three new markets for the REIT, including Los Angeles and Miami. Additionally, WPT has confirmed that eight of the assets are leased to a single tenant and the other five are leased to multiple tenants. “We are very pleased to source a high-quality portfolio acquisition that advances the REIT’s strategic priorities to add scale and diversification with a focus on markets and properties that have the greatest potential to drive long-term growth,” says Scott Frederiksen, CEO of WPT. WPT plans to fund the acquisition with cash on hand and proceeds from its senior unsecured credit facility. In anticipation of the purchase, WPT has received lender commitments to amend and extend the credit facility from US$300 million to $450 million. The REIT expects …

March 26, 2019

Georgia Office Southeast Texas Top Stories

Cousins Properties, TIER REIT Merge to Become Office REIT Powerhouse in Sun Belt

by Taylor Williams March 25, 2019

ATLANTA AND DALLAS — Cousins Properties Inc. (NYSE: CUZ) and Dallas-based TIER REIT Inc. (NYSE: TIER), two of the larger office development and investment firms in the country, have entered into an all-stock merger agreement. The combined company, which will retain the Cousins name, will have an equity market capitalization of $5.9 billion and a total market cap of $7.8 billion. Following the merger, the company will continue to function as a Class A office REIT with a combined portfolio of approximately 21 million square feet spread across various markets in the Southeast and Southwest. Both firms are active in leading office markets like Atlanta, where Cousins is based, as well as Charlotte, Dallas and Austin. Cousins owns several trophy assets in Atlanta’s Buckhead area, including 3348 and 3350 Peachtree, which have about 670,000 square feet combined, as well as 816 Congress and 303 Colorado in downtown Austin. TIER REIT owns 3354 Peachtree, a 560,000-square-foot building in Atlanta, as well as the 40-story Burnett Plaza in Fort Worth and the 1.5 million-square-foot Domain office building in Austin. Under terms of the agreement, Cousins will issue 2.98 shares of common stock in exchange for each share of TIER stock. That rate …

March 25, 2019

Acquisitions California Office Top Stories Western

Japanese Investor Acquires 603,666 SF Tech Office Campus in Silicon Valley for $429M

by Kristin Harlow March 22, 2019

SAN JOSE, CALIF. — Mori Trust Co. Ltd. has acquired three office buildings totaling 603,666 square feet in San Jose through its subsidiary MORI America LLC. The purchase price was not disclosed, but The Mercury News reports the portfolio sold for $429 million. The properties are situated on approximately 9.7 acres and are fully leased to Idaho-based computer chip giant Micron Technology. The area is expected to undergo further development under San Jose’s master plan for urban development. Located on Holger Way, the buildings are LEED Gold certified. All three properties, built in 2010, are fully occupied. One of the buildings rises four floors, while the other two are seven floors. The sale also includes a 1,687-space parking garage. The seller on the transaction was Lane Partners, which acquired the campus for $225.5 million in 2017, according to The Mercury News report. The Mori Trust Group is a Japan-based owner and developer with a focus on real estate, hotel management and investment operations. The company previously acquired two office buildings in Boston’s Back Bay district in 2017, and has announced plans to greatly increase its overseas investments. — Kristin Hiller

March 22, 2019

Company News Retail Southeast Tennessee Top Stories

Christian Book Retailer LifeWay to Close All 170 Stores, Focus on Digital Platform

by John Nelson March 21, 2019

NASHVILLE, TENN. — LifeWay, a Christian bookseller based in Nashville, announced its plan to close all 170 of its physical bookstores. The bulk of the company’s stores are in the Southeastern United States, with a large concentration of locations in Texas and Ohio. A full list can be found here. LifeWay expects to close all of its physical locations by the end of the year, and the timing of store closings will vary depending on local circumstances. In January, the company announced it would reduce the number of its retail locations due to declining customer traffic and sales, but has since pivoted. “While we had hoped to keep some stores open, current market projections show this is no longer a viable option,” says Brad Waggoner, acting president and CEO of LifeWay following the retirement of Thom Rainer last month. “The decision to close our local stores is a difficult one. LifeWay has developed close connections with the communities where our stores are located, and we have been honored to serve those communities.” LifeWay is neither closing nor filing for bankruptcy, instead focusing on its digital platform, customer service center and its network of church partnerships. Details about the lease terms …

March 21, 2019

California Loans Retail Top Stories Western

George Smith Partners Arranges $101.3M Financing for Shopping Center in California

by David Cohen March 20, 2019

LA HABRA, CALIF. — George Smith Partners has arranged a $101.3 million bridge loan for La Habra Marketplace, a 375,000-square-foot, open-air shopping center in La Habra. Sprouts Farmers Market and Smart & Final anchor the 37-acre property, which is approximately 20 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. Steve Bram of George Smith Partners represented the borrower, DJM Capital Partners Inc., in the transaction. The loan, which includes $96.6 million in initial funding and $4.7 million in future funding, replaces senior and mezzanine loans on the property, and was negotiated at a floating interest rate of LIBOR plus 320 basis points. The lender is a private equity firm with a debt lending platform. “Dual-anchored by two top-name grocery stores, this is a large property in the midst of a successful repositioning,” says Bram, principal of George Smith Partners. “Led by experienced and well-respected ownership, the center has attracted national credit tenants and is situated in a prime location within the La Habra market. Our team was able to draw upon each of these elements to secure maximum leverage for this bridge loan.” Additional tenants at the center include Petco, Ulta Beauty, Hobby Lobby, Ross Dress for Less and LA Fitness. The center …

March 20, 2019

Acquisitions Company News Illinois Midwest Texas Top Stories

JLL Agrees to Acquire HFF for $2B in Massive Real Estate Brokerage Merger

by Alex Tostado March 19, 2019

CHICAGO AND DALLAS — JLL (NYSE: JLL) and HFF (NYSE: HF) have entered into a definitive agreement for JLL to acquire all outstanding HFF shares in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $2 billion. Chicago-based JLL, a giant in the commercial real estate industry with a total market cap of approximately $7.4 billion, is a professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. Dallas-based HFF is a full-service commercial real estate financial intermediary. Under the terms of the agreement, HFF shareholders will receive $24.63 in cash and 0.1505 JLL shares for each HFF share. Based on the closing price of JLL stock of $163.02 on March 18, the cash and stock consideration to be received by HFF shareholders at closing is valued at $49.16 per HFF share. When finalized, existing JLL shareholders are expected to represent 87 percent of shareholders, and existing HFF shareholders will make up the other 13 percent. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of this year. Two years ago, JLL unveiled Beyond, its global strategic vision to drive long-term and sustainable growth. As …

March 19, 2019

Acquisitions Multifamily Northeast Pennsylvania Southeast Top Stories Virginia

Morgan Properties Acquires Multifamily Portfolio in Philadelphia, Northern Virginia for $890.5M

by Taylor Williams March 18, 2019

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA. — Morgan Properties, a Pennsylvania-based investment and management firm, has acquired a portfolio of 10 apartment communities totaling 4,130 units in the metro areas of Philadelphia and Northern Virginia. The sales price was not disclosed, but The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the portfolio fetched a price of $890.5 million. The Philadelphia assets consist of seven properties totaling 2,346 units, which makes the transaction the largest multifamily acquisition in the city’s history. Two communities, Stonegate at Devon and Villas at Bryn Mawr, account for 947 units. The remaining five properties are located in the suburban submarkets of Conshohocken, West Chester, Downington, Jeffersonville and Bensalem. The portfolio’s Northern Virginia assets comprise three communities and 1,784 units. The bulk of those residences (1,387) are housed within a single property — Mount Vernon Square in Alexandria — while the other two are located in Fairfax and Sterling, both near Dulles International Airport. Morgan Properties, which is based in King of Prussia, Pa., will invest a combined $20 million in renovations and upgrades to the 10 Class B properties. Capital improvement plans will focus on both unit interiors and amenity spaces. “This acquisition is a game-changer for our organization,” says principal Jason …

March 18, 2019

Development Illinois Midwest Mixed-Use Top Stories

JDL Development to Break Ground on $850M Mixed-Use Tower in Chicago

by Kristin Harlow March 15, 2019

CHICAGO — JDL Development Corp. has received construction financing for One Chicago Square, an $850 million mixed-use tower in Chicago. The 76-story, 1.5 million-square-foot development will be located in the city’s River North submarket. The project’s senior construction lender is Bank OZK. Other sources of financing for this project include an investment from equity partner Wanxiang America Real Estate Group, as well as $260 million in preferred equity and mezzanine financing from Square Mile Capital Management LLC. One Chicago Square will include 735 apartment units and 77 condominium units. The project’s 193,000 square feet of retail space is largely pre-leased to Whole Foods Market and Life Time Athletic. Plans also call for office space, event space and 1,000 parking spaces. The property will occupy a full city block on the site of a former parking lot that JDL purchased from the Archdiocese of Chicago. Construction is expected to take three years, with completion slated for year-end 2022. Project architects include Goettsch Partners and Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture. JDL is a Chicago-based residential developer founded by Jim Letchinger. Wanxiang America Real Estate Group is a unit of a Chinese auto-parts company. New York-based Square Mile Capital is an integrated institutional real estate …

March 15, 2019

Acquisitions Loans New York Northeast Top Stories

Moinian Group Receives $595M CMBS Loan to Refinance 3 Columbus Circle in Manhattan

by John Nelson March 14, 2019

NEW YORK CITY — The Moinian Group has closed on a $595 million CMBS loan from J.P. Morgan and Deutsche Bank to refinance 3 Columbus Circle, a 26-story office tower in Manhattan that also houses the real estate investment firm’s headquarters. Formerly known as the Newsweek Building and originally built as the headquarters of General Motors Corp., 3 Columbus Circle is situated along Broadway and occupies a full city block just south of the Merchant’s Gate entrance to Central Park. The CMBS financing includes 10 years of interest-only payments at a fixed interest rate of 3.91 percent. The Moinian Group is using the loan to replace an existing $350 million CMBS loan. The property is fully leased, according to Moinian Group. Anchor office and retail tenants include global marketing firm VMLY&R, Moinian, Nordstrom, Chase Bank and CVS/pharmacy. History of ownership The Moinian Group originally purchased 3 Columbus Circle in 1999. The company’s path back to full control of the tower began in 2011, when the company first partnered with SL Green on the property. In 2012, together with architectural firm Gensler, Moinian completed the redevelopment of the building, including the design of a new facade, lobby, elevator system and the …

March 14, 2019

Newer Posts

Older Posts