Top Stories

Natixis Provides $232.5M Loan for Acquisition of Apple’s Sunnyvale Office Complex

by Nellie Day February 22, 2017

SUNNYVALE, CALIF. — Natixis has provided a $232.5 million loan for the acquisition of Crossroads III, a 349,758-square-foot office property in Sunnyvale that is fully leased to Apple. The complex is located at 410, 420 and 430 N. Mary Ave. in the Silicon Valley submarket. Tristar Capital acquired the campus. The property was built between 1990 and 1992. Each building features two wings around one central core. There are also two courtyards with fountains between the buildings. The Santa Clara Light Rail station is situated approximately a half mile north of Crossroads III. The property also sits adjacent to the Technology Corners development along West Moffett Place Drive. Richard Horowitz of Cooper-Horowitz arranged the finance. David Edelstein heads Tristar Capital. — Nellie Day

February 22, 2017

Georgia Restaurant Retail Southeast Top Stories

Parent Company of Burger King Acquires Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen for $1.8B

by Katie Sloan February 21, 2017

ATLANTA — Restaurant Brands International Inc. (RBI) (NYSE: QSR) has agreed to acquire Atlanta-based Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc. (NASDAQ: PLKI) for $1.8 billion. Ontario, Canada-based RBI is the parent company of fast food giants Burger King and Tim Hortons. The company owns a portfolio of over 20,000 restaurants throughout the world. Popeyes will continue to be managed independently in the U.S. following the close of the transaction, which is slated for April of this year. RBI plans to expand the Popeyes brand at an increasing pace in both the U.S. and international markets over the next few years. The concept, founded in New Orleans in 1972, has over 2,600 restaurants in the U.S. and 25 other countries. “Popeyes is a powerful brand with a rich Louisiana heritage that resonates with guests around the world,” says Daniel Schwartz, CEO of RBI. “With this transaction, RBI is adding a brand that has a distinctive position within a compelling segment and strong U.S. and international prospects for growth.” Under the terms of the transaction, Popeyes shareholders will receive $79 per share in cash at closing. Following the successful completion of the tender offer, RBI will acquire all remaining shares through a second-step merger …

February 21, 2017

Features Top Stories

Rising Interest Rates Top Concern for Real Estate Executives, According to Seyfarth Market Sentiment Survey

by Kristin Harlow February 21, 2017

CHICAGO — Rising interest rates continue to dominate concerns for U.S. commercial real estate executives in 2017, according to Seyfarth Shaw’s second annual survey of the commercial real estate market. Seyfarth’s 2017 Real Estate Market Sentiment Survey found that respondents are even more hawkish about interest rate increases this year (98 percent concerned) compared to last year (90 percent concerned). Of these “hawks,” 77 percent expect multiple rate increases in 2017. Other topics rounding out the top three concerns include supply/demand issues and banking regulations. Notably, political change-over and tax policy rank fourth and fifth this year, overtaking maturing CMBS loans from the previous year. Concern regarding the industry’s ability to refinance record levels of maturing CMBS loans remains strong with 86 percent of respondents expressing concern, nearly matching the 87 percent in 2016. Participants were also asked their primary source of equity for 2017, to which 36 percent of respondents indicate that institutional investors would be their primary source of equity. Comparatively, 21 percent report no engagement of third-party equity. Over two-thirds of respondents believe that the Trump presidential administration will have a positive impact on the 2017 commercial real estate market. Of those respondents, deregulation was top of …

February 21, 2017

Office Texas Top Stories

Parkway to Sell Minority Interest in Houston’s Greenway Plaza, Phoenix Tower Office Properties for $512.1M

by Jeff Shaw February 20, 2017

HOUSTON — Parkway Properties (NYSE: PKY), a Houston-based REIT, has agreed to sell 49 percent interest in Greenway Plaza and Phoenix Tower, two Class A office properties in the Greenway submarket of Houston, for $512.1 million. Ownership of the two properties will now be a joint venture between Parkway, TH Real Estate, Silverpeak Real Estate Partners and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. Parkway will retain a 51 percent majority interest in the portfolio, with TH Real Estate and Silverpeak sharing a 24.5 percent interest, and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board owning the remaining 24.5 percent. Greenway Plaza is a 52-acre, master-planned, mixed-use development featuring 11 buildings totaling approximately 4.9 million square feet of office space as its focal point. On-site amenities include a full-service restaurant, an underground food court with 16 restaurants, multiple fitness facilities, three full-service banking centers and conference facilities. Although Phoenix Tower is technically a separate property, it’s located immediately adjacent to Greenway Plaza. The 34-story building totals 665,332 square feet and was built in 1984. Amenities include an on-site deli and a Jack Nicklaus-designed, nine-hole putting green. “This transaction helps to mitigate risk in a single office campus that represents 57 percent of our company’s overall …

February 20, 2017

Florida Industrial Southeast Top Stories

Cushman & Wakefield Brokers $67.1M Sale of Four Warehouse, Distribution Buildings in Orlando

by Katie Sloan February 17, 2017

ORLANDO, FLA. — Cushman & Wakefield has brokered the $67.1 million sale of four Class A warehouse and distribution buildings in Orlando totaling 946,379 square feet. The portfolio includes Beachline Distribution Center I and II and Crossroads Business Park V and VI. The buildings were fully leased at the time of sale to tenants including FedEx Smartpost, Dusobox, McKesson, Mattress One, Petco and US Mattress Depot. Each building offers front-load and cross-dock capabilities, tilt-wall construction, 26- to 30-foot clear heights, fire safety systems, parking and 120- to 150-foot truck courts with 55-foot concrete aprons. Mike Davis, Michael Lerner and Rick Brugge of Cushman & Wakefield represented the seller, a state pension fund advised by L&B Realty Advisors LLP. Los Angeles-based Colony NorthStar acquired the assets through its Dallas-based industrial fund, Colony Industrial. The transaction is the largest multi-tenant industrial portfolio sale in Orlando’s history in terms of square footage, according to Cushman & Wakefield. — Katie Sloan

February 17, 2017

New York Northeast Top Stories

Japanese Tech Conglomerate to Acquire Fortress Investment Group for $3.3B

by John Nelson February 16, 2017

NEW YORK AND TOKYO — SoftBank Group Corp., a Tokyo-based tech conglomerate, has entered into a definitive merger agreement under which the company will acquire equity firm Fortress Investment Group LLC (NYSE: FIG) for approximately $3.3 billion in cash. Founded in 1998, Fortress has 1,100 employees and $70.1 billion in assets under management as of Sept. 30, 2016. Private equity funds and permanent capital vehicles, including commercial real estate, comprise about 65 percent of the company’s portfolio. Within the multifamily sector, Fortress manages New Senior Investment Group Inc., a seniors housing REIT that as of Sept. 30 owned 154 properties in 37 states. “Fortress’ excellent track record speaks for itself, and we look forward to benefitting from its leadership, broad-based expertise and world-class investment platform,” says Masayoshi Son, chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group Corp. “For SoftBank, this opportunity will immediately help expand our group capabilities, and, alongside our soon-to-be-established SoftBank Vision Fund platform, will accelerate our SoftBank 2.0 transformation strategy of bold, disciplined investment and world class execution to drive sustainable long-term growth,” adds Son. SoftBank’s global portfolio of companies includes advanced telecommunications, internet services, artificial intelligence, smart robotics, clean energy technology and Internet of Things (IoT) providers. Last …

February 16, 2017

Conference Coverage Features Retail Top Stories

Building Emotional Connection to Visitors Paramount to Retail Success, Say EEE Panelists

by Katie Sloan February 16, 2017

SANTA MONICA, CALIF. — The retail landscape is changing, and the tried and true formulas for retail centers and malls are no longer cutting it. The convenience of e-commerce is cutting into purchases once almost exclusively entrusted to the local mall, and consumer tastes are evolving to demand better experiences from the centers they choose to shop at with their discretionary dollars. Those were the conclusions suggested by panelists at the third annual Entertainment Experience Evolution (EEE) conference, where over 550 retail experts and top industry players joined Shopping Center Business at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica Feb. 7-8. Panelists and attendees were there to discuss the future of retail and the brightest and best upcoming trends for success in today’s changing landscape. Overwhelmingly, the conversation focused on creating an emotional connection with visitors. When it comes to discretionary purchases, shoppers seek a space where they can create memories, not just pick up merchandise and leave. This connection is attained through thoughtful placemaking, a carefully chosen mix of unique shopping and dining, the hosting of community events and the creation of an environment through lighting, music and landscaping. Creating Memory-Making Destinations After opening remarks by Jerry …

February 16, 2017

Multifamily Texas Top Stories

Blakefield to Develop 2,200-Acre Master-Planned Community Near Austin, Texas

by Nellie Day February 15, 2017

AUSTIN, TEXAS — The Travis County Commissioners Court has approved Blakefield LLC’s plans to develop Thomas Ranch, a 2,200-acre master-planned community off Highway 71 and Paleface Ranch Road in Western Travis County near Austin. The community will be situated around the shoreline along the Pedernales River. Thomas Ranch will include approximately 3,300 single-family homes; apartments; a marketplace of shops, entertainment venues and restaurants; a resort hotel and spa; a town square; and community gardens. The property includes five ecosystems, direct access to Lake Travis, natural creeks and miles of nature trails. An extensive network of walking, jogging and hiking trails will connect the areas. Overall, approximately one third of the development — 700 acres — is reserved for parks and trails. Construction on the community’s infrastructure is scheduled to begin in 2018, with single-family homes following in 2019. Each section will be built in four to five phases over the course of 15 to 20 years, according to the developers. Blakefield is the lead developer of the project and is partnering with Dannenbaum Engneering, Sherwood Engineers, SWCA Environmental Consultants, Kimley Horn, Ten Eyke Landscape Architects and Integra Group. Blakefield LLC is a Wilmette, Ill.-based developer of large-scale mixed-use and master-planned …

February 15, 2017

Multifamily Texas Top Stories

Provident Realty Advisors Completes $95M Multifamily Redevelopment of the Former Texaco Building in Houston

by Katie Sloan February 14, 2017

HOUSTON — Provident Realty Advisors has completed the redevelopment of the former Texaco building in Houston as a luxury multifamily complex. The project costs were estimated at $95 million. The skyscraper, located at 1111 Rusk St., has been a historic landmark in Houston since its completion over 100 years ago. The 410,000-square-foot property was built in 1915, but has been vacant since 1989. The founders of Texaco originally commissioned the building, which the famed New York architectural firm Warren & Wetmore designed, according to the Houston Chronicle. The newly opened space, rebranded as The Star, offers 286 units ranging from 730 to 1,730 square feet with 21,000 square feet of street-front retail. The property features one- and two-bedroom units with bed-to-bath parity. Community amenities include a hotel-style lobby lounge, complimentary coffee and snack bar, 24/7 concierge and free valet services. Beginning this spring, the property will also offer a fitness center with on-demand cardio and spin classes; resort-style courtyard with heated pool, summer kitchen, gas grills and cabanas; climate-controlled storage area; media/theater room; covered dog run and grooming station; and business center. The 16th floor of the building will feature a recreation area including a two-story foyer, club room, commercial demonstration kitchen, …

February 14, 2017

Features Healthcare Top Stories

Looming Repeal of Affordable Care Act Shakes Up Otherwise Healthy Forecast for Healthcare Real Estate

by Katie Sloan February 14, 2017

In 2016, the national vacancy rate for medical office buildings hit an all-time low, net absorption rose to its highest mark since 2008, rents grew and investment activity remained strong. But despite last year’s strong performance, Colliers International’s 2017 Health Care Marketplace Report shows that questions loom for the year ahead in the medical office space. While every administration change causes some degree of uncertainty, this year’s shift is markedly different as healthcare providers and system owners face the possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act and the details of the coverage set to replace it. Healthcare providers are also grappling with the implementation of the final terms for the site-neutral payment rule — which limits the way off-campus facilities are reimbursed by Medicare — and a continued rise in costs, from services provided to construction materials and labor. The report predicts that decision-making in the sector is likely to be delayed for a time, especially if policy changes surrounding the Affordable Care Act evolve over a protracted process. An additional burden to the healthcare industry is the continued aging of a large segment of the U.S. population. Healthcare expenditures per capita surpassed $10,000 in 2016, and are forecast to …

February 14, 2017

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