Press Release Details
SL Green Announces Recapitalization of Large West Coast Office Portfolio
New Ownership JV Includes Blackstone and Other Leading Commercial Real Estate Investors
Debt is Extended with Significant Capital Invested to Lease-Up the Portfolio
New York, NY, October 4, 2012 -- SL Green Realty Corp (NYSE: SLG), together with an affiliate of Blackstone Real Estate Partners VII, Gramercy Capital Corp. (NYSE: GKK) and Square Mile Capital Management LLC, today announced the formation of a joint venture for the recapitalization of a 31-property, 4.5-million-square-foot office portfolio in Southern California. Following the recapitalization, Blackstone is now the majority owner of the venture.
The portfolio comprises 59 buildings, located in various submarkets including Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. It includes assets such as the LA Corporate Center in Monterey Park, Skyview Center in Los Angeles, 350 South Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills and Carmel Valley Center in San Diego's Del Mar Heights.
Blackstone has invested approximately $85 million into the portfolio to de-leverage and establish significant leasing and capital reserves. Equity Office Properties, a Blackstone affiliate, will assume full responsibility for the portfolio's management and leasing, adding to its existing 11.2 million square foot portfolio in Southern California.
SL Green Co-Chief Investment Officer David Schonbraun said, "This recapitalization permits SL Green to retain upside in a portfolio that will enjoy the benefits of professional management, capital for leasing and an improving Southern California office marketplace. In arranging for this new equity structure, we took advantage of our strong reputation as an investor and benefited from our close existing relationships with many of the other parties involved, including Blackstone."
He continued, "We believe that with the experienced management of Equity Office, a company with years of experience in Southern California, this portfolio is primed for a rebound. The fact that more than a half dozen expert equity and debt investors agree, and have come together to make substantial financial commitments, speaks volumes about their confidence as well. SL Green is now well positioned to recoup its original investment in full, and to benefit from the anticipated upside as well."
Jacob Werner, Principal in Blackstone's real estate group, said, "We are excited about the opportunity to form a joint venture with such terrific partners, including SL Green, and to make an additional investment in high-quality office assets in Southern California. We believe our investment of capital should allow the portfolio to fully benefit from the continued market recovery."
The extended $678.8 million mortgage financing was led by New York Life Insurance Company, as Agent, and the following lenders: DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale, Westdeutsche ImmobilienBank AG, Muenchener Hypothekenbank eG and Wells Fargo Bank. Total financing on the portfolio after the recapitalization is $746.8 million.
Goldman, Sachs & Co. acted as advisor to SL Green, Gramercy and Square Mile on the transaction.
About SL Green:
SL Green Realty Corp., New York City's largest office landlord, is the only fully integrated real estate investment trust, or REIT, that is focused primarily on acquiring, managing and maximizing value of Manhattan commercial properties. As of June 30, 2012, SL Green owned interests in 71 Manhattan properties totaling more than 39.2 million square feet. This included ownership interests in 27.4 million square feet of commercial properties and debt and preferred equity investments secured by 11.8 million square feet of properties. SL Green also owns 385 residential units in Manhattan encompassing approximately 0.5 million square feet. In addition to its Manhattan investments, SL Green holds ownership interests in 32 suburban assets totaling 6.9 million square feet in Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, Westchester County, Connecticut and New Jersey, along with four development properties in the suburbs encompassing approximately 0.5 million square feet.
About Blackstone:
Blackstone is one of the world's leading investment and advisory firms. We seek to create positive economic impact and long-term value for our investors, the companies we invest in, the companies we advise and the broader global economy. We do this through the commitment of our extraordinary people and flexible capital. Our alternative asset management businesses include the management of private equity funds, real estate funds, hedge fund solutions, credit-oriented funds and closed-end funds. The Blackstone Group also provides various financial advisory services, including financial and strategic advisory, restructuring and reorganization advisory and fund placement services. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow us on Twitter @Blackstone.
About Equity Office:
Equity Office is a wholly owned portfolio company of Blackstone. The company manages more than 70 million square feet of Class A office space throughout the U.S., with concentrations in California, Boston and New York. Additional information about Equity Office is available on the company's website at www.equityoffice.com.
Forward Looking Statements
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