REAL ESTATE TECHNOLOGY
Coretrust Capital Partners | September 27, 2021
Coretrust Capital Partners is one of the first office building owners in the country to install bi-polar ionization generators that purify the air within all elevator cars at its large office properties in Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Pasadena. Coretrust collaborated with three leading elevator companies to pioneer the innovative technology since each of its buildings has different elevator suppliers.
The bi-polar technology produces a natural bio-climate rich in positive and negative oxygen ions, each with an electric charge like those that exist in nature. The generator sends these ions into the entire elevator cab through the ventilation system. This is a pure and natural air purifying process that effectively restores the natural balance of ions in the air and neutralizes bacteria and virus cells, molds, odor causing particles, aerosols, and VOCs, Ricci states.
Fujitec installed the IONFUL developed with the Sharp Corporation, to purify elevator cab air and decrease the risk of inhaling airborne pathogens at 2 Liberty Place in Philadelphia. Several efficacy reports over the past 15 years proved ionization effectiveness in mitigating the transmission of airborne pathogens including viruses, bacteria and fungi.
- Joseph Rennekamp, Vice President, Operations, Fujitec America, Inc
In addition, Coretrust worked with the three companies to completely overhaul and modernize all elevators at its three buildings: FourFortyFour South Flower Street in Los Angeles; 2 Liberty Place in Philadelphia; and PASARROYO office campus in Pasadena CA. The elevator companies also installed touchless destination dispatch systems in each car, allowing tenants to use personalized access cards to call cars to their respective floors without touching buttons.
The elevator bi-polar ionization program is just one of the smart technologies that Coretrust has incorporated into its buildings to create a safe and healthy workplace for its tenants. Technologies include ADIBOT UV-C Robots placed in sensitive areas at night to disinfect air and surfaces against COVID-19 and other harmful airborne pathogens. The robots -- the first to be deployed at any office building in the country -- are created and manufactured by UBTECH Robotics, a global leader in intelligent humanoid robotics and AI technologies.
A central element in achieving virtually hospital grade indoor air quality at all Coretrust properties is the patented Biowall MAX, an Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation Air Disinfection system by Sanuvox Technologies, Inc., a global leader in ultraviolet air purification. The Biowall MAX sterilizes 99.9 percent of airborne bio-contaminants and virtually eliminates the HVAC (Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning) system as a mode of virus transmission in buildings.
Along with the Biowall MAX, Coretrust further enhanced indoor air quality by installing the highest effective MERV air filters allowable at each building, making frequent fresh air purges and allowing maximum fresh air ventilation throughout the day.
A major Coretrust innovation was hacking the curtain wall of the FourFortyFour tower to create a 1,000-square-foot terrace that brings fresh air and sunlight into the 22,500-square-foot Workplace Innovation Lab on the sixth floor. Similar fresh air indoor terraces can be created for occupants at all our properties as desired, said Ricci.
Coretrust also has added automatic doors, touchless parking garage entry, touchless security access for visitors and touchless restroom fixtures for tenant health and safety.
Its comprehensive programs to create a safe office environment have earned Coretrust the first three global UL Verified Healthy Buildings Marks for Indoor Air and Water Quality for FourFortyFour, 2 Liberty Place and PASARROYO. The buildings also have earned U.S. Green Building Council LEED Gold Certification, GBAC STAR™ accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council, a division of ISSA, and WELL Building Health-Safety certification. These certifications by third party independent organizations recognize Coretrust's technologies and operating processes that prioritize building occupants' safety and wellness.
Coretrust believes its comprehensive commitment to health, wellness and sustainability distinguishes its properties as Smart, Safe and Beautiful and among America's Best Workplaces, Ricci concludes.
About Coretrust Capital Partners
Coretrust Capital Partners, LLC is a Los Angeles-based private real estate operating company formed in 2014 by three original partners of Thomas Properties Group, Inc. Coretrust, a Registered Investment Advisor, provides fiduciary investment management services to institutional clients in both co-investment and separate account vehicles targeting opportunistic, value-add, core plus and core strategies in the office sector. Coretrust targets acquisitions in major urban centers located in the West Coast, Southwest and the Mid-Atlantic regions.
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REAL ESTATE TECHNOLOGY
CRED iQ | September 24, 2021
CRED iQ, a data, analytics and valuation platform serving the commercial real estate finance and investment communities today announced the launch of its property comps tool. The tool compares a subject's appraised value, rent, expenses, occupancy, cap rate, interest rate, as well as several other property and loan characteristics against its competitive set and the overall market.
Developed using a proprietary algorithm, the software selects similar properties from CRED iQ's data set based on several property and loan factors and assigns a score based on the relevance of each comp. The software automatically generates comps for properties in the CRED iQ database. Users can also enter property details to generate comps for almost any commercial property in the US.
Our platform was built using the latest data lake technologies so that commercial real estate professionals could instantly access relevant, timely, and verified property and loan data. The comps technology allows users to quickly gauge market fundamentals or underwrite a specific loan using detailed financials from intelligent market comps with a few clicks.
- Co-Founder Michael Haas
We developed this tool to provide a convenient way for users to compare performance, valuation and loan characteristics for any commercial property with its competitive set. Users have access to comps for all properties within our database, or search and generate comps for almost any commercial property in the country.
- Co-Founder Bill Petersen.
About CRED iQ
CRED iQ is a commercial real estate data, analytics and valuation platform serving professionals across the CRE investment, brokerage, and lending industries. Updated monthly, CRED iQ's robust database is powered by over $1.5 trillion of loan and property data from the securitized universe. CRED iQ tracks data on CMBS Conduit, SBLL, CRE CLO, and Agency debt combined with verified borrower and true ownership contact details. Headquartered in Radnor, PA, the company also has offices in Dallas and Portland, OR.
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REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT
CIM Group | September 23, 2021
CIM Real Estate Finance Trust, Inc. announced it has entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire CIM Income NAV, Inc. in a stock-for-stock, tax-free merger transaction. CMFT and INAV are non-traded REITs managed by affiliates of CIM Group, LLC (“CIM”).
The pro forma combined company would have approximately $6.0 billion in total enterprise value, creating a leading commercial credit-focused real estate investment trust (REIT) with greater tenant, industry, and asset type diversity, financial strength, and improved access to capital markets. This transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021, subject to certain closing conditions, including INAV stockholder approval.
The merger agreement was negotiated on behalf of CMFT and INAV by their special committees composed exclusively of disinterested independent directors. Each special committee recommended approval of the merger agreement to its respective Board of Directors. Each respective Board of Directors subsequently unanimously approved the entry by its REIT into the merger agreement.
We believe combining INAV and CMFT will benefit stockholders of both companies by creating a larger, more diversified and valuable company, positioning the company for a public market listing.
- Richard Ressler, Principal and Co-Founder of CIM Group.
Potential Strategic Benefits
The merger is expected to produce meaningful benefits for stockholders of CMFT and INAV, including:
Greater Scale & Relevance: With $6.0 billion and $3.2 billion1 in enterprise value and equity value, respectively, CC CMFT will be one of the largest credit-focused REITs, increasing its relevance in the capital markets and reducing its cost of debt and equity capital.
Diversification: CC CMFT's combined 590 property, 23.8-million-square-foot real estate portfolio will have greater tenant, industry and asset type diversity, providing CC CMFT with greater flexibility to opportunistically pursue growth strategies and recycle non-core assets. CC CMFT’s top five tenant concentration decreases from 22% at both CMFT and INAV to 19%, with no single tenant concentration above 5%.
Path to Liquidity: The merger transaction is one more step in the execution of CMFT’s business plan and is anticipated to better position CC CMFT for a public market listing, which, subject to market conditions, is expected to occur in 2022.2
Cost Savings: CC CMFT is expected to realize $2.8 million of annualized general and administrative synergies on a run-rate basis with additional cash flow improvement of $2.5 million to INAV stockholders through the elimination of ongoing stockholder servicing fees.
Transaction Terms
Subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement, INAV stockholders would receive an approximate 10.6% premium3 for each share of INAV common stock based upon the receipt of the following consideration:
Class D: 2.574 shares of CMFT common stock, which is valued at approximately $18.53 per share
Class T: 2.510 shares of CMFT common stock, which is valued at approximately $18.07 per share
Class S: 2.508 shares of CMFT common stock, which is valued at approximately $18.06 per share
Class I: 2.622 shares of CMFT common stock, which is valued at approximately $18.88 per share
Additionally, CMFT intends to increase its distribution rate, subject to approval by the CMFT Board of Directors, so that INAV stockholders will receive aggregate per annum distributions in an amount equal to or greater than INAV’s current annualized distributions after the closing of the proposed merger.
Advisors
RBC Capital Markets, LLC is acting as financial advisor to the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of CMFT, and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and Venable LLP are acting as legal advisors to the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of CMFT. Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP is acting as REIT and securities counsel in connection with the transaction. The Special Committee of the Board of Directors of INAV has engaged Jones Lang LaSalle Securities, LLC, an affiliate of Jones Lang LaSalle America, Inc. as their financial advisor, and Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP as their legal advisor.
About CIM Real Estate Finance Trust, Inc.
CMFT is a public non-traded corporation that has elected to be taxed and currently qualifies as a REIT. CMFT holds investments in net lease and multi-tenant retail assets as well as real estate loans and other credit investments. CMFT is managed by affiliates of CIM.
About CIM Income NAV, Inc.
INAV is a public, non-traded corporation that has elected to be taxed and currently qualifies as a REIT. INAV holds investments in office, industrial and retail assets. INAV is managed by affiliates of CIM.
About CIM Group
CIM is a community-focused real estate and infrastructure owner, operator, lender and developer. Since 1994, CIM has sought to create value in projects and positively impact the lives of people in communities across the Americas by delivering more than $60 billion of essential real estate and infrastructure projects. CIM’s diverse team of experts applies its broad knowledge and disciplined approach through hands-on management of real assets from due diligence to operations through disposition. CIM strives to make a meaningful difference in the world by executing key environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives and enhancing each community in which it invests.
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REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT
Douglas Elliman | September 22, 2021
New Valley Ventures, an investment vehicle managed by Douglas Elliman's parent company, Vector Group, announced a renter rewards program via strategic investment in Bilt Rewards, the first loyalty program and co-brand credit card for renters. The investment comes as Douglas Elliman officially joins the Bilt Rewards Alliance, a network of more than 2 million rental units across the country where renters can enroll in the loyalty program to earn points on rent with no fees.
We are proud to support and align ourselves with Bilt Rewards as its program fills a gap in the market to set renters up for financial success and encourage a path towards homeownership.
- Scott Durkin, CEO of Douglas Elliman.
New Valley Ventures is dedicated to investing in innovative tech-driven solutions for the greater real estate community.
- Dan Sachar, Managing Director of New Valley Ventures and Vice President of Enterprise Innovation for Vector Group.
The funding round, which also counts Mastercard, Wells Fargo and other leading real estate property owners including AvalonBay Communities, Equity Residential, GID, Lennar, The Moinian Group, Morgan Properties, Starwood Capital Group, and Related Group as investors, will propel Bilt Rewards to further expand its loyalty partner network, grow its organic distribution channels, and open the Bilt Rewards platform and Bilt Mastercard more widely to the public.
Launched this June by Kairos HQ, Bilt Rewards is the first-ever loyalty program and co-brand credit card for renters, enabling the country's 109 million renters to finally earn points on their largest monthly expense with no fees. By offering the Bilt Rewards program to tenants across Douglas Elliman's rental portfolio including new development projects, residents can now earn points with every on-time rent payment.
Additionally, Douglas Elliman residents will be among the first to receive an invitation for the Bilt Mastercard, the first credit card that allows users to pay their rent with no fee. With the card, Douglas Elliman residents can earn 1x points on every dollar of rent, 2x points on travel purchases, 3x points on dining, and 1x points on all other non-rent purchases, allowing them to maximize rewards potential, all with no annual fee.
Through Bilt, renters can redeem points for travel across over 100 major airlines and hotels, fitness classes at the country's top boutique studios, and can even use points towards rent credits or a future down payment on a home. When paying rent through the Bilt Rewards app, members can also have their rent payments reported to the credit bureaus at no cost, which can help build credit history for millions of young renters.
New Valley Ventures continues to invest in promising, next-generation technologies in order to propel the real estate industry into the future and further benefit the agent, renter and buyer experience. In doing so, New Valley Ventures utilizes its deep industry knowledge through Douglas Elliman to advise on meaningful digital development, tech solutions and financial software.
ABOUT VECTOR GROUP
Vector Group is a holding company for Liggett Group LLC, Vector Tobacco Inc., New Valley LLC and Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC.
ABOUT DOUGLAS ELLIMAN
Established in 1911, Douglas Elliman Real Estate is the largest brokerage in the New York Metropolitan area and one of the largest independent residential real estate brokerages in the United States. With approximately 7,000 agents, the company operates approximately 100 offices in New York City, Long Island, The Hamptons, Westchester, Connecticut, New Jersey, Florida, California, Colorado, Massachusetts and Texas. Moreover, Douglas Elliman has a strategic global alliance with London-based Knight Frank Residential for business in the worldwide luxury markets spanning 61 countries and six continents. The company also controls a portfolio of real estate services including Douglas Elliman Development Marketing, Douglas Elliman Property Management and Douglas Elliman Commercial.
ABOUT BILT REWARDS
Launched by Kairos HQ in June 2021, Bilt Rewards is the first-ever loyalty program that allows renters to earn points on rent with no fees and builds a path towards homeownership. Through a partnership with the nation's largest real estate owners including Avalon Bay Communities, Equity Residential, Related, Starwood Capital Group and more, Bilt Rewards enables renters in more than two million units across the country to earn points just by paying rent. Bilt Rewards boasts one of the highest value rewards programs on the market today, including one-to-one point transfers to 9 loyalty programs allowing travel across over 100 major airlines and hotel partners; fitness classes at the country's top boutique studios including SoulCycle, Rumble and Y7; limited-edition and exclusive collections of art and home decor through the Bilt Collection, and the ability to use Bilt points for rent credits or towards a future downpayment. Bilt has also partnered with Mastercard to create the Bilt Mastercard - the first and only credit card that can be used to pay rent with no fees.
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