Top Stories

REIT Merger: Global Net Lease to Acquire American Realty Capital Global Trust II for $247M

by John Nelson August 8, 2016

NEW YORK — Global Net Lease Inc. (NYSE: GNL) has approved a definitive merger agreement to acquire all of the outstanding common stock of American Realty Capital Global Trust II Inc., a non-traded REIT, for approximately $247 million. Both REITs focus on acquiring single-tenant net leased commercial properties in sale-leaseback transactions. The property types include office, retail and industrial. The combined companies create a larger global net lease REIT with an expected enterprise value of $3.3 billion. The transaction joins two complementary U.S. and European net lease portfolios with a combined asset base of 345 properties in seven countries spanning 23 million square feet. The portfolio is currently net leased to 99 tenants. “We are excited about GNL’s combination with Global II, which represents another positive step in the evolution of our company and reinforces our efforts to grow accretively, creating shareholder value,” says Scott Bowman, CEO and president of GNL. Under the terms of the agreement, Global II shareholders will receive 2.27 shares of GNL for each share of Global II common stock they own, which implies $19.59 per each share of Global II. Upon closing, Global II shareholders will own approximately 14 percent of the combined company. The …

August 8, 2016

Delaware Healthcare Northeast Top Stories

Skanska to Build $178M Women and Children’s Health Building in Delaware

by Christina Cannon August 5, 2016

NEWARK, DEL. — Skanska USA will build a $178 million Women and Children’s Health Building for Christiana Care Health System. The facility, to be located in Newark, is slated for completion in January 2020. The eight-story, 387,500-square-foot facility will serve as an expansion to the existing labor, delivery and C-section facility on the Christiana campus. Skanska USA is the general contractor for the project. Work on the site has already begun. The building will feature a neonatal intensive-care unit with private rooms and sleep-in space for families; new and expanded labor and delivery suites; a new labor lounge; private rooms for families after delivery; an expanded triage area; separate admitting and discharge areas; and a continuing care nursery for babies born with health issues. The facility will also offer lab, pharmacy and dietary clinical and support services. The project will also include the expansion of an existing four-level parking garage “Together with Christiana Care Health System and HKS Architects, we will complete a major expansion that provides the Christiana Medical Staff with the resources and space that is required to deliver the highest quality care to patients and their families,” says Ed Szwarc, executive vice president and general manager for New …

August 5, 2016

Florida Retail Southeast Top Stories

Office Depot to Close 300 Stores Over Three Years

by Katie Sloan August 4, 2016

BOCA RATON, FLA. — Boca Raton, Fla.-based Office Depot Inc. (NASDAQ: ODP) announced Wednesday that the company plans to close an additional 300 stores over the next three years in an attempt to cut $250 million in costs by 2018. Office Depot closed 42 stores in the second quarter of 2016, completing the company’s previously announced “U.S. retail store optimization plan,” which called for the shuttering of 400 stores nationwide. The company now has a total of 1,513 stores open in the United States, with plans to close an additional 25 throughout the year. The company hopes to expand the pilot program for its smaller, 15,000-square-foot format to 24 stores by the end of 2016, with 100 stores targeted for 2017. The new, smaller footprint is designed to provide customers with easier shopping using a smaller, more curated assortment of products, while expanding in-store services. The announcement comes on the heels of the termination of a merger with Staples Inc. in May, which resulted in a cash payment from Staples of $250 million. As a result, Office Depot has initiated a dividend of 2.5 cents per share, payable on Sep. 15 to shareholders of record at the close of business …

August 4, 2016

Features Industrial Top Stories

Declining U.S. Industrial Vacancy Rates Tied to E-commerce Growth

by Haisten Willis August 4, 2016

The U.S. industrial vacancy rate dropped 20 basis points (bps) to 8.8 percent during the second quarter of 2016, largely driven by companies building or leasing warehouse space to meet continued demand for e-commerce shopping, according to CBRE. The decline marked the 25th consecutive quarterly drop in available U.S. industrial space. “Plummeting U.S. industrial vacancy rates signify that this sector of the commercial real-estate market is benefitting from increasing acceptance of the e-commerce model,” says Chris Roach, president of BBG Valuation, an independent national commercial real estate valuation and assessment firm headquartered in Dallas. “We anticipate this downward trend in vacancy rates will continue for at least the remainder of this year.” According to CBRE’s second-quarter U.S. industrial and logistics report, the national industrial market expanded for a 25th consecutive quarter, logging 66.2 million square feet of positive net absorption. This was up 8 percent over the previous quarter. At the same time, a total of 41.6 million square feet of new supply was added nationally, which failed to keep up with demand. The growing trend in e-commerce shopping is expected to continue to fuel demand for warehouse space, which is needed to store inventory for shipping directly to consumers …

August 4, 2016

Office Texas Top Stories

Fortis Property Group Acquires Chase Tower in Downtown Dallas for Reported $300M

by Haisten Willis August 3, 2016

DALLAS — New York-based Fortis Property Group has purchased Chase Tower in downtown Dallas from Hines, a privately owned real estate investment firm based in Houston. The 55-story, 1.3 million-square-foot tower is located on a 1.5-acre site at 2200 Ross Ave. in the city’s central business district. According to the Dallas Business Journal, the tower sold for “upwards of $300 million.” The skyscraper was built in 1987. Architect Richard Keating designed the building. Though it was recently renovated, Fortis plans additional upgrades. “It is always exciting to acquire a premier and iconic skyline office tower,” says Jonathan Laudau, CEO of Fortis. “In line with our strategy to purchase best-in-class properties, Chase Tower represents the best of downtown Dallas and the Arts District. We anticipate upgrading the Ross Avenue curb appeal and building accessibility as well as the foodservice amenities at the property.” J.J. Leonard and Matthew Wieser of Stream Realty Partners’ office division in Dallas will lead leasing efforts for the property. Amenities at the Class A property include the Dallas Petroleum Club, conferencing/lounge facilities, a fitness center, concierge in the main lobby, Chase Bank retail banking facility, Starbucks, free Wi-Fi in the mezzanine, 24-hour security and a full-service car wash. …

August 3, 2016

California Seniors Housing Top Stories Washington Western

Welltower Agrees to Acquire West Coast Seniors Housing Portfolio for $1.15B

by John Nelson August 2, 2016

TOLEDO, OHIO — Welltower Inc. (NYSE: HCN), a seniors housing and healthcare facility REIT, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a portfolio of properties on the West Coast operated by Vintage Senior Living for $1.15 billion. The transaction spans 2,590 units in 19 independent living, assisted living and memory care communities concentrated in Southern and Northern California and in the state of Washington. Welltower will transition management of these communities to Senior Resource Group (11 properties), Sunrise Senior Living (seven properties) and Silverado (one property), once the acquisition has been completed. “This acquisition reinforces our high-quality healthcare real estate portfolio and leading presence in two of the top U.S. metro markets,” says Tom DeRosa, CEO of Welltower. “Together with our operating partners, we are excited about the opportunities to provide the best senior care with a focus on wellness and innovation.” Vintage Senior Living will continue to operate its communities until the purchase has been completed. The transaction is expected to close in tranches beginning in September and will be subject to lenders’ approvals and customary regulatory approvals. “These properties are in attractive markets, including irreplaceable locations near San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park and Nob Hill, with a …

August 2, 2016

Features Industrial Multifamily Office Retail Top Stories

Ten-X: Office, Apartment, Retail Sectors Drive Acquisition Prices Higher in July

by Haisten Willis August 2, 2016

IRVINE and SILICON VALLEY, CALIF. — Commercial real estate valuations increased by 1.1 percent in July, marking the strongest monthly increase this year and a 5.2 gain over last year, according to the latest Ten-X Nowcast. Ten-X, an online real estate transaction marketplace, uses Google Trends data, its own proprietary transaction data and investor surveys to forecast commercial real estate pricing trends. “The recent string of monthly increases confirms that overall pricing of commercial real estate remains on the upswing following the weakness seen earlier this year,” says Ten-X chief economist Peter Muoio. “That said, we are noticing distinct differences across the five major property sectors, with each telling its own story.” The office, apartment and retail sectors all saw monthly increases in July. The office sector posted the strongest gain for the second consecutive month, rising 4.8 percent from June and 7.6 percent above its level from one year ago. This was the best year-over-year gain for any of the commercial sectors since January. The multifamily sector, which has posted steady gains this year, increased 1.1 percent in July from the previous month and is 6.8 percent above last year’s level. “The apartment sector is unencumbered by technology-driven shifts …

August 2, 2016

California Healthcare Office Top Stories Western

Marin County Breaks Ground on $535M Marin General Hospital Replacement Near San Francisco

by Nellie Day August 1, 2016

SAN RAFAEL, CALIF. — Marin County officials have broken ground on MGH 2.0, the $535 million replacement for Marin General Hospital in the Greenbrae submarket of San Rafael, just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. The original hospital opened in 1952. It will continue to operate throughout the construction process. Phase I of MGH 2.0 will include two new towers that house 114 private rooms, an expanded emergency department and six new operating/procedural suites. The buildings will feature rooftop gardens, balconies and natural light in every patient room to support a healing environment for patients and families. The new facilities are scheduled to open to patients in mid-2020. Once Phase I is complete, work will commence on a five-story, 100,000-square-foot ambulatory services building and a second parking structure. The project team has already completed MGH 2.0’s first parking facility, a five-level structure with rooftop solar panels that will be functional for both the current and future hospitals. McCarthy Building Cos. is building the hospital, which Perkins Eastman designed. The hospital is represented by Vertran Associates, which specializes in healthcare capital projects and provides project management. — Nellie Day

August 1, 2016

Florida Retail Southeast Top Stories

Weingarten Realty Acquires 664,000 SF Shopping Center in Miami for $285M

by Christina Cannon July 29, 2016

MIAMI — Weingarten Realty (NYSE: WRI) has acquired The Palms at Town & Country, a 664,000-square-foot, open-air shopping center in Miami, for $285 million. WRC Properties, an affiliate of TIAA-CREF, is the seller, according to the Miami Herald. The property features 71 retailers including Publix, Kohl’s, Nordstrom Rack, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Marshalls. National retailers comprise 87 percent of the revenue for the property. The Palms at Town & Country is located on 70 acres at 8505 Mills Drive, and was renovated in 2010. JLL is the exclusive leasing agent for the property, and has created events such as the Festival De Primavera Fashion Show, the Palms Restaurant Crawl and the All-American 4th of July Celebration that attracts thousands. Weingarten Realty’s stock price closed Thursday, July 28 at $42.67 per share, up from $34.62 per share a year ago, a nearly 19 percent increase. Weingarten Realty, a Houston-based REIT, is an owner, manager and developer of shopping centers throughout the United States.

July 29, 2016

Midwest Minnesota Mixed-Use Top Stories

Minnesota Vikings Select Architect, General Contractor for $500M Practice Facility, Headquarters

by John Nelson July 28, 2016

EAGAN, MINN. — The Minnesota Vikings have selected Crawford Architects and Kraus-Anderson Construction Co. as the architect and construction manager for the football team’s new practice facility and headquarters. Located on the former Northwest Airlines campus in Eagan, the development will cost roughly $500 million to complete, according to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. The Vikings plan to debut their new campus in March 2018. “Establishing this leadership team is a major step forward on our new Eagan home,” says Steve Poppen, executive vice president and chief financial officer of the Vikings. “We are thrilled to once again engage in a large project with a Minnesota-based construction company such as Kraus-Anderson, as they have a tremendous body of work and strong reputation within the community.” The announcement of Crawford and Kraus-Anderson joining the project team comes on the heels of the opening of U.S. Bank Stadium, the Vikings’ $1.1 billion home arena in Minneapolis. Located at 401 Chicago Ave., the stadium opened on Friday, July 22. In late June, the Eagan City Council unanimously approved the development of the new practice facility and team headquarters on the site, which is located off I-494 at the intersection of Dodd Road and …

July 28, 2016

Newer Posts

Older Posts